View source for KCEB

{{short description|Television station in Longview, Texas}}
{{For|the television station in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that formerly used the KCEB callsign|KCEB (Tulsa)}}
{{Update|date=May 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = KCEB
| city                   = Longview, Texas
| logo                   =
| branding               = KCEB-DT 54
| digital                = 35 ([[UHF]]), shared with [[KPKN-LD]]
| virtual                = 54
| subchannels            =
| translators            = 
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''54.1:''' [[Fubo Sports Network]]|'''54.2:''' [[Outlaw (TV network)|Outlaw]] |'''54.3:''' [[Infomercials]]}}
| owner                  = [[Innovate Corp.]]<ref name="kcebtohc2">{{cite web|title=Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101781932&formid=314&fac_num=83913|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=April 17, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018}}</ref><ref name="kcebsalecloses">{{cite web|title=Consummation Notice|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101789385&formid=905&fac_num=83913|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=July 30, 2018|access-date=August 19, 2018}}</ref>
| licensee               = HC2 Station Group, Inc.
| location               = [[Longview, Texas|Longview]]–[[Tyler, Texas]]
| country                = United States
| airdate                = {{start date and age|2003|7|27|p=y}}
| last_airdate           =
| sister_stations        = [[KPKN-LD]]
| former_callsigns       =
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 54 (UHF, 2003–2009)|'''Digital:''' 51 (UHF, 2010–2015), 26 (UHF, 2015–2018), 28 (UHF, share with [[KTBS-TV]], 2018–2020), 33 (UHF, 2020–2022)<ref name=tyler-tv>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=182593 Digital TV Market Listing for KPKN-LD]</ref><ref name=kpkn>[http://www.rabbitears.info/tvq.php?request=items&facid=182593 KPKN-LD TYLER, TX Station Profile at RabbitEars.info]</ref>|'''Virtual:''' 54 (2009–2018), 3.4 (2018–2020)}}
| former_affiliations    = {{ubl|[[UPN]] (via KTPN-LP/KLPN-LP, 2003–January 2006)|[[The WB]] (via [[The WB 100+|WB+]]; January–September 2006)|[[The CW]] (via [[CW+]]; September 2006–2012)|[[MeTV]] (2012–2013)|[[Cozi TV]] (2013–2015)|[[SonLife]] (2015–2019)|Infomercials (2019–2020, 2023)|[[Azteca América]] (2020–2022)|[[Novelisima]] (2023–2024)|[[beIN Sports Xtra]] (2024–2025)}}
| erp                    = 15 kW
| haat                   = {{convert|155.9|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id            = 83913
| coordinates            = {{coord|32|27|15.7|N|95|7|50.3|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                =
}}

'''KCEB''' (channel 54) is a television station in [[Longview, Texas]], United States, affiliated with the [[Fubo Sports Network]]. The station is owned by [[Innovate Corp.]] alongside [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]]-licensed [[low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power]] station '''KPKN-LD''', both of which share RF channel 35.

Although KCEB is licensed as a full-power station, it [[frequency sharing|shares spectrum]] with KPKN-LD, whose low-power signal only covers the immediate Tyler–Longview area. Therefore, KCEB relies on [[cable television|cable]] and [[satellite television|satellite]] carriage to reach the entire market.

==History==
The station first signed on the air on July 27, 2003; operating as a [[UPN]] affiliate, it originally served as the full-power [[Broadcast relay station#Satellite stations|satellite]] of low-power stations [[KTPN-LP]] (channel 48) in Tyler and KLPN-LP (channel 58, later 47; now defunct) in Longview. The stations were collectively branded as "UPN 58/54/48". The station's original analog transmitter facilities were located northwest of Longview, at the intersection of [[Texas State Highway 300|State Highway 300]] and [[Farm to Market Road 1844|FM1844]], near the town of [[East Mountain, Texas|East Mountain]].

On January 1, 2006, KCEB, KLPN-LP and KTPN-LP lost the UPN affiliation to [[CBS]] affiliate [[KYTX]] (channel 19), which carried the network on its second [[digital subchannel]]. The station immediately switched its affiliation to [[The WB]], effectively replacing "KWTL", a cable-only WB outlet that was part of [[The WB 100+ Station Group]], a service that was created in September 1998 to expand The WB's national coverage primarily through cable-only outlets in smaller markets, which were managed locally by cable providers (since it was cable-exclusive, the channel used the "KWTL" callsign in a fictional manner). During the transition, KTPN and KLPN became [[independent station (North America)|independent stations]].

[[File:KCEB54.png|200px|thumb|Former KCEB logo, used from 2008 to 2012.]]
Shortly after receiving the affiliation, on January 24, 2006, the [[Warner Bros.]] unit of [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]] and [[CBS Corporation]] announced that the two companies would shut down The WB and UPN and combine the networks' respective programming to create a new "fifth" network called [[The CW]], which would be aimed at young adults between the ages of 18 and 34.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ 'Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September], [[CNNMoney.com]], January 24, 2006.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 24, 2006.</ref>

One month later on February 22, the [[News Corporation]] announced the launch of a new network of its own called [[MyNetworkTV]], which would be operated by [[Fox Television Stations]] and its syndication division [[Twentieth Television]], which was created to give UPN and WB stations that did not strike affiliation agreements with The CW another option besides converting to independent stations.<ref>{{cite news|title=News Corp. to launch new mini-network for UPN stations|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-02-22-fox-my-network_x.htm|access-date=January 21, 2013|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=February 22, 2006}}</ref><ref>[http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php News Corp. Unveils MyNetworkTV], ''[[Broadcasting & Cable]]'', February 22, 2006.</ref> KCEB affiliated with The CW upon the network's launch on September 18, 2006 (affiliated with the network through The WB 100+ Station Group's successor The CW Plus), while KLPN and KTPN chose to join MyNetworkTV, which launched two weeks earlier on September 5.

In 2008, KCEB changed its on-air branding from "CW 54" to "CW 54/5", adding the station's cable channel assignment on Suddenlink Communications in the Tyler area. On November 6, 2009, the station was sold to the London Broadcasting Company, owner of KYTX. London initially operated the station under a [[Local marketing agreement|sales and management agreement]] prior to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] giving approval for London to acquire the license assets.<ref name="tmt-kceblbc">{{cite news|url=http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20091108/BUSINESS01/911080343|title=KYTX CBS19 Owners LBC Buy Tyler-Area CW Affiliate|date=November 8, 2009|work=[[Tyler Morning Telegraph]]|access-date=November 11, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The sale was finalized on August 31, 2010.<ref>[http://www.gilmermirror.com/view/full_story/9359004/article-LONDON-BROADCASTING-COMPLETES-ACQUISITION-OF-CW-AFFILIATE-KCEB-TV?instance=home_news_bullets London Broadcasting Completes Acquisition Of CW Affiliate KCEB-TV], ''Gilmer Mirror'', August 31, 2010.  Retrieved January 7, 2012.</ref> KCEB swapped affiliations with KYTX in May 2012, taking that subchannel's [[MeTV]] affiliation, while KYTX's second digital subchannel began carrying programming from The CW Plus.

On May 14, 2014, the [[Gannett Company]] announced that it would acquire KYTX and five other London Broadcasting stations in a $215&nbsp;million all-cash transaction. Gannett's CEO [[Gracia Martore]] touted that the acquisition would give the company a presence in several fast-growing markets, and opportunities for local advertisers to leverage its digital marketing platform.<ref name=tvnc-londongannett>{{cite web|title=Gannett Buys 6 London Broadcasting Stations|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/76329/gannett-buys-6-london-broadcasting-stations|work=TVNewsCheck|date=May 14, 2014 |access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> London exempted KCEB from the deal (as well as company [[flagship (broadcasting)|flagship]] [[KTXD-TV]] in the [[Dallas]] suburb of [[Greenville, Texas|Greenville]]), which will result in only the second instance in which a duopoly will be legally and operationally separated (the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] is similarly splitting up its [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] duopoly of [[WTTO]] and [[WABM]], to acquire [[WBMA-LD]] and its satellites as part of its purchase of [[Allbritton Communications]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Gannett adds to TV holdings with six Texas stations but London Broadcasting holds onto the big one in Dallas|url=http://unclebarky.com/dfw_files/2e807643db49b4cd5d164de6aa63dde6-3098.html|work=UncleBarky.com|date=May 14, 2014}}</ref><ref name="telegraphlondon">{{cite news|title=Gannett announces purchase of CBS 19, 5 others for $215M|url=http://www.tylerpaper.com/TP-News+Local/199824/gannett-announces-purchase-of-cbs-19-5-others-for-215m|newspaper=[[Tyler Morning Telegraph]]|date=May 14, 2014|access-date=May 15, 2014}}</ref>

On March 28, 2018, it was announced that KCEB had entered into a channel-sharing agreement with Shreveport-based ABC affiliate KTBS-TV.<ref name="kcebktbscsa">{{cite web|title=Modification of a Licensed Facility for DTV Application|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076f916267d43b016271cf04912686&id=25076f916267d43b016271cf04912686&goBack=N|work=Licensing and Management System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=March 29, 2018|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref> KCEB had previously agreed to go off the air after selling its spectrum in the [[Spectrum reallocation|2017 broadcast incentive auction]]. KCEB began broadcasting on KTBS' frequency on April 29, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff362bbf2a1016301edf8f40aae|title=KCEB Explanation of Circumstances for Suspension|format=PDF|work=Licensing and Management System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=May 7, 2018}}</ref> The station did not have to change its [[city of license]], as KTBS' signal completely covers Longview.<ref>[https://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=ff93d0f34974470da794cf6212b6c0ea&site=1&map=Y RabbitEars Contour Map for KTBS-TV]</ref>

===KPKN-LD===
The [[Federal Communications Commission]] granted the construction permit for the station, as K33KN-D, on February 25, 2010. The station's call letters were changed to the current KPKN-LD on March 29, 2016. The station signed on in April 2016 as an affiliate of [[FremantleMedia]]’s Buzzr network. Buzzr was previously on KDKJ-LD4 until that point. [[Katz Broadcasting]]’s male-oriented [[Grit (TV network)|Grit]] replaced Buzzr on KDKJ-LD4 upon KPKN’s sign on.<ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/tvq.php?request=items&facid=182588 KDKJ-LD TYLER, TX Station profile @ RabbitEars.Info]</ref><ref name=dtvam>[http://dtvamerica.com/stations/ Our Stations - DTV America]</ref>

On March 10, 2023, following the announcement of Scripps to combine the [[True Real]] and [[Defy TV]] networks in to one, KPKN-LD DT2 switched to [[Ion Television]], becoming the area's second affiliate, alongside [[KETK-TV]] DT3.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lafayette |first=Jon |date=2023-03-10 |title=E.W. Scripps Folding TrueReal Digital Network Into Defy TV |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ew-scripps-folding-truereal-digital-network-into-defy-tv |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Broadcasting Cable |language=en}}</ref>

==Programming==
KCEB was one of a handful of MeTV affiliates that preempted portions of the network's schedule (many of the network's affiliates carry at least the majority of the schedule, with any preemptions usually limited to local newscasts produced for the subchannel/station or any network programming that a co-owned major network affiliate chooses to shift to the subchannel to air live due to breaking news or severe weather coverage). The station preempted much of the network's Sunday morning schedule (which consists primarily of either a secondary block of [[E/I]] programming or classic television series depending on the market) with televised church services and [[Infomercial|paid programming]]. KCEB also carried a [[broadcast delay|rebroadcast]] of sister station KYTX's morning newscast, preempting classic television programs aired by MeTV from 7 to 9&nbsp;a.m. weekdays.

Beginning with the 2012 football season, KCEB carried [[Southland Conference]] [[college football]] and [[college basketball|basketball]] games from the Southland Conference Television Network, which included game telecasts from nearby [[Nacogdoches]]-based [[Stephen F. Austin State University]]. Southland Conference sports coverage was discontinued with the transition to the Azteca América network affiliation.
[[File:Azteca Tyler Logo.jpg|thumb|KCEB's logo as an Azteca America affiliate, used from 2020 to 2022.]]
With the discontinuance of the Azteca América programming on December 31, 2022, KCEB switched programming to "Timeless TV", an offering of infomercials mixed with older episodes of public domain programs such as ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]'', ''[[The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet]]'', ''[[Bonanza]]'', and ''[[The Lucy Show]]''. Timeless TV would then be replaced with [[Novelisima]], a network of [[telenovela]]s (or soap operas), returning KCEB to Spanish language programming, on January 13, 2023. This, too, would be a short lived programming change for KCEB, as just one week later, Novelisima programming would be dropped from the station as it flipped to another infomercial based network operated over many HC2 Holdings stations, Magnificent Movies Network. MMN programming is similar to Timeless TV, featuring infomercials, combined instead with old movie titles which are readily available in the public domain, as opposed to sitcoms.{{cn|date=January 2023}}

On May 16, 2023, HC2 Holdings moved the Magnificent Movies Network to the relaunched KCEB-DT2, and returned the Novelisima Network to the primary station. 

In early March 2024, Novelisima programming was discontinued from the main KCEB signal replaced by [[BeIN Sports (American TV channel)|beIN Sports Xtra Español]].

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of KPKN-LD and KCEB<ref>{{cite web|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KPKN-LD|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KPKN-LD#station|website=[[RabbitEars.info]]|accessdate=September 13, 2024}}</ref>
! License
! [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! Short name
! Programming
|-
! rowspan = "7" style="border-right: 4px solid #60B0FF;" | KPKN-LD
! scope = "row" | 33.1
| rowspan=7| [[480i]]
| rowspan=3| [[16:9]]
| rowspan=7| KPKN-LD
| [[Buzzr]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 33.2
| [[Defy (TV network)|Defy]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 33.3
| [[MovieSphere Gold]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 33.4
| [[4:3]]
| [[Infomercial]]s
|-
! scope = "row" | 33.5
| 16:9
| [[Cozi TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 33.6
| rowspan=2|4:3
| [[NBC True CRMZ]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 33.7
| [[Jewelry TV]]
|-
! rowspan = "3" scope = "row" style="border-right: 4px solid #0057AF;" | KCEB
! scope = "row" | 54.1
| [[720p]] || rowspan=2|16:9 || rowspan=3|KCEB || [[Fubo Sports Network]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 54.2
| rowspan=2| 480i || [[Outlaw (TV network)|Outlaw]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 54.3
| 4:3 || [[Infomercials]]
|}

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
Because it was granted an original [[construction permit]] after the FCC finalized the [[digital television]] allotment plan on April 21, 1997,<ref>[http://www.transmitter.com/FCC97115/chanplan.html Final Digital TV (DTV) Channel Plan from FCC97-115]</ref> the station did not originally receive a companion channel for a digital television signal. In May 2007, the station was granted a construction permit by the FCC to construct a digital transmitter facility to broadcast a signal on UHF channel 38, and move its transmitter to the [[KFXK-TV]] tower near [[New London, Texas|New London]]. In May 2008, they submitted an application to the FCC to move their digital allotment from channel 38 to channel 51, to use the antenna used by KFXK that would be effectively abandoned by that station when it terminated its analog signal upon the [[digital television transition in the United States|digital television transition]]. In January 2009, the application was approved, and a modification of the construction permit was granted for channel 51 at 1000&nbsp;kW.

On June 12, 2009, KCEB shut down its analog signal on channel 54, while KFXK ceased its analog signal on channel 51. KCEB then [[flash-cut]] its digital signal into operation on UHF channel 51 from the New London tower on a temporary 70&nbsp;kW transmitter under [[special temporary authority]] from the FCC. At that point, KCEB was under severe financial hardship and could not afford to build the digital signal out to its maximum authorization. On December 12, 2009, KCEB was issued a construction permit to install a 500&nbsp;kW transmitter.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.novelisima.com/}}
*[http://www.dtvamerica.com/ DTV America]

{{TLLN TV}}
{{Other Texas Stations}}{{Innovate Corp.}}
[[Category:2003 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Longview, Texas]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2003]]
[[Category:Television stations in Tyler, Texas|CEB]]