View source for KSTC-TV

{{Short description|Television station in Minneapolis}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{redirect|45tv|TV stations on virtual channel 45|Channel 45 virtual TV stations in the United States}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = KSTC-TV
| city                   = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| logo                   = KSTC 2013 Logo.png
| logo_size              = 150px
| branding               = {{ubl|45tv; ''5 Eyewitness News on 45''|MeTV Twin Cities (5.3)}}
| digital                = 30 ([[UHF]])
| virtual                = 5.2
| subchannels            =
| translators            = ''see {{section link||Translators}}''
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''5.2:''' [[Independent station|Independent]] / [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (alternate)|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| airdate                = {{Start date and age|1994|6|19|p=y}}
| last_airdate           = 
| location               = [[Minneapolis]]–[[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]
| country                = United States
| callsign_meaning       = KSTP Twin Cities (co-owned with KSTP)
| former_callsigns       = KVBM (1994–2000)
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 45 (UHF, 1994–2009)|'''Digital:''' 44 (UHF, 2003–2009), 45 (UHF, 2009–2019)|'''Virtual:''' 45 (2003–2011)}}
| owner                  = [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
| licensee               = KSTC-TV, [[LLC]]
| sister_stations        = [[KSTP-TV]], [[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]], [[KSTP-FM]], [[KTMY]]
| former_affiliations    = [[HSN]] (1994–2000)
| erp                    = 1,000 [[kW]]
| haat                   = {{convert|436|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id            = 35843
| coordinates            = {{coord|45|3|45|N|93|8|22|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                = {{URL|https://www.45tv.com/}} 
}}

'''KSTC-TV''' (channel 5.2) is an [[independent television station]] licensed to [[Minneapolis]], Minnesota, United States, serving the [[Twin Cities]] area. Owned by [[Hubbard Broadcasting]], it is [[sister station|sister]] to [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]]–licensed [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate and company [[Flagship (broadcasting)|flagship]] [[KSTP-TV]] (channel 5), and radio stations [[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]] (1500 AM), [[KSTP-FM]] (94.5), and [[KTMY]] (107.1 FM). The five outlets share studios on [[University Avenue (Minneapolis–Saint Paul)|University Avenue]], on the Saint Paul–Minneapolis border; KSTC-TV's transmitter is located at [[Telefarm Towers]] in [[Shoreview]]. The station is branded as '''45TV''' in reference to its former [[analog television|analog]], [[digital terrestrial television|digital]], and [[virtual channel|virtual]] channel number; it is still carried on channel 45 on some [[cable television|cable]] systems in outlying areas of the market,{{cn|date=June 2022}} as well as on [[DirecTV]] and [[Dish Network]].

KSTC-TV also serves the [[Mankato]] market (via '''K14KE-D''' in nearby [[St. James, Minnesota|St. James]]<ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=K14KE-D#station RabbitEars – Digital TV Market Listing for K14KE-D]</ref> through the local municipal-operated Cooperative TV [CTV] network of translators<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://scea.cms.coopwebbuilder2.com/content/cooperative-tv-ctv |title=The Webpage of Cooperative TV (CTV) |access-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024142843/http://scea.cms.coopwebbuilder2.com/content/cooperative-tv-ctv |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://scea.cms.coopwebbuilder2.com/sites/scea/files/PDF/CTV%20CHANNELS%202019.pdf |title=CTV Channel Listing via the Cooperative TV (CTV) Website |access-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-date=October 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008142944/http://scea.cms.coopwebbuilder2.com/sites/scea/files/PDF/CTV%20CHANNELS%202019.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>), as that area does not have an independent station of its own.

KSTC-TV's main signal is also seen on the second subchannel of both of KSTP-TV's full-power satellite stations, KSAX (channel 42.2) in [[Alexandria, Minnesota|Alexandria]], and KRWF (channel 43.2) in [[Redwood Falls]]; both stations carry KSTC-TV over-the-air in [[widescreen]] [[standard definition]] due to transmitter [[Multiplexing#Digital broadcasting|multiplexer]] limitations, though it is available in [[high-definition television|high definition]] on pay-TV services otherwise. KSTC-TV is also carried in high definition on KSTP-TV's main signal and translator stations as a repeater signal, classed as KSTP-DT5.

KSTC-TV is the only television station in the area with its own [[mascot]], Dr. Chuck Ells, who is often seen at community events. The former mascot was the "45 Guy".

==History==
The station began operations under the KVBM [[call signs in North America|call letters]]. Although [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) records indicate that a license for this station was granted in 1987, it did not take to the airwaves until June 1994. The station aired [[Minnesota Department of Transportation]] traffic information as well as the Home Shopping Network ([[HSN]]) until it was purchased by Hubbard Broadcasting on April 24, 2000. Hubbard relaunched the station as KSTC on September 1. To get attention for the switch from KVBM to KSTC, Hubbard ran an advertising campaign around the theme of people with an assortment of ages saying "I'm 45!" to build [[word of mouth]] about what the phrase meant, knowing few in the market ever watched KVBM (or even knew a channel 45 existed) and would be curious about what the phrase actually referred to.

In 2003, KSTC began broadcasting its digital signal. KSTC-DT, on [[ATSC]] channel 45.1 in [[standard definition]], simulcast the station's regular content. On 45.2 was [[HDnet]] in [[high-definition television|high definition]] (the network's only ever over-the-air presence outside of encrypted over-the-air [[pay television|subscription services]]). After its contract with the network ended, channel 45.2 was taken off-the-air. It signed-on again December 1, 2006, as a high definition sports channel which included a schedule of live [[Minnesota Wild]] and [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] games in the format, along with [[Minnesota State High School League]] sports. On or around June 30, 2010, KSTC began carrying [[This TV]] in standard definition, with KSTC's main channel beginning to be transmitted in high definition with sports content merged into the main KSTC schedule.

Until late 2008, KSTC heavily promoted its ties to KSTP-TV. It branded itself as "FORTY5," and used a logo in which the "Y" in "FORTY" was converted into a digital "4" superimposed on channel 5's longtime "groovy 5" logo.

==Programming==
{{update|section|date=December 2021}}
As an independent station, the station runs a variety of [[broadcast syndication|syndicated]] programming mostly consisting of off-network shows. Indeed, Hubbard signed on KSTC primarily as a home for a large inventory of syndicated programming that KSTP-TV no longer had time to air. [[feature film|Movies]] considered one and two-star are aired frequently while some locally produced material is aired each week. In the decades it has been operating under the KSTC call letters, several other low-budget programs made specifically for this station have come and gone. These included a weekly [[horror movie]] broadcast under the name ''Horror Incorporated'' (hosted by [[Count Dracula]] played by Jake Esau, the actual owner of the countdracula.com [[domain name]]). The last incarnation of ''Horror Incorporated'' was hosted by Uncle Ghoulie (Thom Lange), [[Carbuncle]] (Tim McCall), 13 (Sasha Yvonne Walloch), Gordon the Gorilla, and [[werewolf|Wolfie]]. As of 2004, at least one KSTC-specific program was still airing: ''[[Nate on Drums]]'', a comedy and variety show hosted by Nate Perbix, is reportedly syndicated to a network of stations across Minnesota.

Today, most local programs come from KSTP including ''On the Road'' with longtime KSTP reporter Jason Davis and ''Sports Wrap''. In [[2004–05 Minnesota Timberwolves season|2004]], KSTC announced a six-year over-the-air partnership with the Minnesota Timberwolves allowing the station to broadcast a number of the team's regular-season and postseason [[basketball]] games. Also that year, the station entered into an eleven-year partnership with the Minnesota State High School League to broadcast state athletic tournaments as well as educational and student programs. KSTC pays the league $9.7&nbsp;million in rights fees and provides an additional $10.6&nbsp;million worth of promotion for those tournaments and other league programs. KSTC-TV also televised [[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball]] games from 2006 to 2007.

In 2009, KSTC and the MSHSL extended their broadcast partnership until 2021. Starting in 2010, some tournaments were broadcast online. Additionally in December 2004, they established a multi-year partnership to air Minnesota Wild hockey games. Other sports have also aired on the station in the past including [[Minnesota Twins]] and [[Saint Paul Saints]] [[baseball]], [[boxing]], and even ''[[Robot Wars (TV series)|Robot Wars]]''-style combat between mechanical competitors. As of summer 2006, KSTC has been including actual viewers in their programming promotions. Most include a viewer describing their favorite scene or character from one of the shows on the station. The station may also take on the responsibility of airing shows from ABC whenever KSTP cannot do so as a result of extended breaking news or severe weather coverage, or special programming.

==Newscasts==
In the early 2000s, KSTC experimented with carrying a two-hour extension of KSTP's weekday morning newscast from 7 to 9&nbsp;a.m., providing an all-local alternative to ''[[Good Morning America]]'' on channel 5. On July 19, 2009, KSTP began to produce daily newscasts for KSTC full-time. The newscasts run for two hours starting at 7 a.m. and hour-long noon newscast on weekdays and for an hour at 9 p.m, (a half-hour on Saturdays), which respectively compete with [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] [[owned-and-operated station]] [[KMSP-TV]] (channel 9)'s in-house morning newscast and KMSP's prime time newscast at 9&nbsp;p.m. In the late 2010s, the station also began to carry an hour-long noon newscast on weekdays from KSTP, along with the previous day's edition of ''Twin Cities Live'' at 9 a.m.

==Technical information==
{{#section:KSTP-TV|subchannels}}
===Analog-to-digital conversion===
KSTC-TV shut down its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 45, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States [[Digital television transition in the United States|transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts]] under federal mandate. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 44 to channel 45.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds |format=PDF |access-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="FCC Form 387">[http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101233476&formid=387&fac_num=10758 CDBS Print<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In October 2011, KSTP and KSTC unified all of their over-the-air channels as [[virtual channel|virtual]] [[digital subchannel|subchannels]] of KSTP. As a result, the virtual channels of KSTC changed. The main KSTC channel is now on 5.2, with This TV now being tuned to 5.6.<ref>[http://kstc45.com/article/12384/ KSTC: Channel rescan notice] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425062447/http://kstc45.com/article/12384/ |date=April 25, 2012 }}</ref>

On September 2, 2019, KSTC moved from physical channel 45 to 30 as part of the ongoing [[spectrum reallocation]]. The station continues to use the 45TV branding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kstp.com/news/kstc-move-new-transmitter-delayed-august-2/5395943/?cat=1|title=Having Problems Receiving Channel 5.2|work=KSTP.com|access-date=September 12, 2019|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126215357/https://kstp.com/news/kstc-move-new-transmitter-delayed-august-2/5395943/?cat=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Translators===
{{#section:KSTP-TV|translators}}
==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.45tv.com/ 45TV.com] – KSTC-TV official website 
* [https://kstp.com/ KSTP.com] – KSTP-TV official website 
* [http://metvnetwork.com/ MeTVTwinCities.com] – MeTV Twin Cities official website
* [http://twincities.antennatv.tv/ TwinCities.AntennaTV.tv] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502204909/http://twincities.antennatv.tv/ |date=May 2, 2014 }} – Antenna TV Twin Cities official website
* [http://www.twincities.thistv.com/ TwinCities.ThisTV.com] – This TV Twin Cities official website
* [http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=kstc RabbitEars.info website]

{{MSP TV}}
{{Other Minnesota Stations}}
{{Wisconsin TV}}
{{Hubbard Broadcasting}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kstc-Tv}}
[[Category:1994 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Get (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Hubbard Broadcasting]]
[[Category:Independent television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:MeTV affiliates]]
[[Category:MeTV Toons affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1994]]
[[Category:Television stations in Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]