Prelude
The following is an excerpt from the proposal to accept an offer made to the university by Mid-America television. It was considered and accepted by the university Board of Regents on February 23, 1977. Carl B. Foster, head of Public Relations, made the presentation and university Regent Alvin Brooks moved for tentative acceptance pending final approval (which occurred in April 1977.)
Proposal: Acquisition and Operation of Channel -- Sedalia
Mid-America Television, a subsidiary of Kansas City Southern Industries, has offered to sell all equipment and furnishing of the Channel 6 television operation, located in Sedalia, to Central Missouri State University with the understanding that the university would operate the station on a non-commercial basis, serving the central Missouri area with public television programming. The sale price is $1,000 which will include all equipment and furnishings except the tower.
Advantages to CMSU and to Missouri
The potential advantages of owning and operating a public television station are tremendous – both to the university and to the state:
1. It would exemplify the motto “Education for Service” since CMSU would be providing educational, cultural and informational programming to a large part of the State which is not now being served.
2. Although there are more than 200 public television stations in the United States, many of which are operated by universities, CMSU would be the only educational institution in Missouri to operate one. The resulting statewide exposure would be enormous.
3. The observation of station operations and programs, participation in the broadcasting operations, and the apprenticeship experience with the faculty and staff specialists responsible for its activities are all essential to the educational processes leading to the preparation of media representatives of the future. It would provide opportunities for student involvement from a number of departments such as graphics, electronics, mass communication, music, business, data processing, theatre, and speech.
4. It would also provide commercially comparable training for students interested in public affairs, sports broadcasting, and the televising of theatrical and musical events.
5. Many departments and schools have educational obligations to off-campus groups; systematic programs of continuing education to reach such special audiences as teachers, nurses and other members of the medical profession, law enforcement officials, and industrial hygiene and safety personnel can be facilitated through public television.
6. Such an operation could eventually lead to the development of a two-way microwave system for teaching at remote locations.
KMOS-TV
The offer to sell KMOS, formerly a CBS station, came about as KCRG 13 in Jefferson City became the CBS station for the region. The deal did include the use of the tower for repeating the CBS signal to the Sedalia area. Although the sale included equipment, much of it was not used because it was black and white. The transmitter, a 1940s vintage RCA system purchased from an ABC station in Indianapolis, was adapted for color broadcasting.
KMOS signed on for the first time as a PBS station in December 1979, finally receiving permission from the FCC just days before Christmas. The license was approved on Friday, and the station went live at 3:00 the next afternoon – Saturday December 22.
The staff was comprised university faculty, staff and students, some of whom had previously operated the cable-based CMS-TV. Led by John Bradley, a Missouri native who spent his military career installing broadcast stations around the world - with the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Chief engineer Dan Davis, also a Missouri native, first came to the station as part of the technical consultant team, but stepped in after the original chief left.
As a television station, KMOS is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to operate in the public interest, necessity and convenience. Every eight years KMOS must reapply to the FCC for renewal of the license, which assesses the station’s technical and content-related activities. In addition, the operation of towers for microwave and broadcast antennas are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) provides to 212 stations nationwide programming rights and a variety of related services. PBS, and the stations, receive Community Service Grants (CSG) from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, a quasi-governmental entity charged by the federal government to distribute public funding for public broadcasting. These funds are used for national program production, local program license fees and other uses in service of the communities to which stations are licensed.
KMOS Master Control initially occupied only part of the north wall. Three three-quarter inch video cassette recorders (VCR) were used to playback parts of the breaks. Station IDs and various other messages were on slide film, which reached the air via a film chain device (and audio from cart machines. Changes in the technology and room configuration occurred incrementally to get us to the current state with server storage and automation. These included the addition and removal of one inch reel-to-reel VTRs and better VCRs, synching all the devices with a common device, removing the film chain, and removing tape storage. Many students helped engineers pulling cable and installing equipment, and were heavily involved in all aspects of the station, on-air operations, in-studio and field productions, creating on-air promotions.
Governor Joseph Teasdale signs S.B. 835. To his left Senator Harold Caskey and manager John BradleyThe station formed a citizen advisory board (CAB) to help guide the station in the early days, they helped with fundraising. The first few pledge drives used phone banks at remote locations in the region – most likely coordinated by the CAB members. One of the original members was Maurine Achauer, a very active member of the community and university. She worked with Bradley and other board members as they sought state funding for all Missouri public television stations through S.B. 835.
KMOS-TV Programming
In first years the station was operated for only a few hours each day, totaling 67 hours per week. PBS had begun only a decade earlier, and so KMOS evolved with it, becoming one of the first, if not the first, to sign on using a ten-meter satellite dish. Previously, programming was delivered on tape or via phone lines. Currently KMOS broadcasts three signals 24/7, using a six meter dish located in the parking lot. The other dishes are used as back-up and for occasional programming delivered via other satellites.
Through the years KMOS produced many series. In the first few years they included a regional magazine (Mid-Missouri Images,) in-studio battle of the bands on (Country Spectacular,) a co-production with the art department (Scanning the Visual Arts,) a pair of talk shows - Conversations (community focused) and one on senior citizen issues (Silver Set Generation,) and a review of local sports of all kinds on Missouri at Play. In the 1990s a new regional magazine show called Central Missouri Focus joined University Magazine and Sportspage in the local line-up. In 1998 KMOS produced a live call-in show to follow a national presentation of The Farmer’s Wife, a documentary film portrait of a Nebraska farm couple. In 2004 similar call-in programs were launched under the title KMOS Live, beginning with The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s. Other editions covered the economy - based on local sessions we convened, Investment Fraud with Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, as well as domestic abuse, the digital TV transition, Countdown to UCM, and UCM Study Abroad.
Locally-produced specials include: Sedalia: A City Prepared about the 1977 tornado that hit the city, The Magic of Hot Air Ballooning, which covered the last of the Great Pershing Balloon Derby events in 1977 at Pershing State Park. These programs were produced by students and staff prior to sign-on. Other early programs included Jimmy Kirkpatrick: A Portrait of Service, The 1980 Missouri State Fair, In the early 80s, a local writer/actor named Steve Scearcy. Performed in the studio a one-man play that he wrote about Jonah inside the whale (Hey, It’s Dark in Here!). A year or so later he wrote, and KMOS produced Those Yesterdays, which portrayed small-town life from the front porch. Both specials were taped and broadcast on KMOS. Over the years other specials produced included Show-Me the Vote, The Dirt on Racing, They Speak Chinese.
Instructional Television
Within a year of launching, KMOS provided Instructional Television (ITV) service comprised of 15 minute programs with supporting materials to K-12 schools in the region. Under an agreement with KCPT in Kansas City, KMOS relayed six hours of instructional programs to central Missouri between 1980 and 1989. In 2003 KMOS launched its local service that could focus delivery of content to meet Missouri educational standards. This service included broadcast of programs with comprehensive print materials, and early online email and list-serve. Funding for this service came primarily from the state of Missouri through legislation establishing a tax on the sales and rentals of home video.
This service changed over time to the Instructional Telecommunications Service (ITS) and included support for educators through workshops. When the CPB, PBS, and the U.S. Department of Education launched the early education Ready to Learn initiative, KMOS successfully applied for grants that allowed the station to provide training in the community. Between 2006-2009, the RTL Train the Trainer workshops included educators, Parents As Teachers programs, and others.
In addition, workshops supported other initiatives, including promotion of healthy lifestyles for children through nutrition, fitness, practical parenting strategies, and children’s health issues, such as immunization, hand sanitization, and communicable diseases. Other grants were awarded for the station’s activities related to support for parents, veterans, immigration, mobile technologies and literacy through distribution of thousands of books to families in the region. KMOS continues to distribute donated books every year. This funding came directly to public television stations, to K-12 schools to pay for the service, and to higher education institutions for satellite teleconference equipment, fiber optic feed to multiple buildings on campus, and fees.
The satellite-based service from PBS Adult Learning Satellite Service (PBS ALSS) was replaced on campus by the university’s first interactive video classroom located in Wood 17 & 19. It was built, and initially maintained and operated by KMOS-TV in partnership with the Distance Education department. These activities established KMOS-TV’s integral role in the university’s Statewide Technology Mission until the state funding was diverted away from public television and higher education towards K-12 computer technology. This allowed KMOS to test market a service delivering content via portable hard drives. Funding for this did not last long after 2003, and since then PBS and other online services have been launched.
Digital Transition
In 2003 KMOS began broadcasting in digital, in order to meet the federal mandate to switch away from the analog broadcasting standard. The deadline to complete this was in 2009, which KMOS completed successfully. Along the way were several decisions and deadlines. In consultation with D.L. Markley recognized that moving from channel 6 to the newly assigned channel 15 would reduce our coverage area and potential audience, especially to the east. To counteract the fact that channel 15 does not travel through the terrain as easy as does channel 6, it was determined that the installation of a 2,000 foot tower would help keep, and possibly add to, our coverage. The alternative would have been to increase the output power, but that would have been very expensive. Determining the location involved the FCC, the Federal Aviation Administration and Whiteman AFB. Several sites were considered before the current one was chosen (which is about 10 miles due south of one of the sites originally considered in 1976-77.)
KCMW-FM / KTBG-FM
KCMW operated as a public radio station in the top floor of the administration building for years, and also served the university and the community. In 1985 it was moved to Martin 23, and operated under what became the Broadcasting Services of the university, overseen by John Bradley until he retired, and then by Donald Peterson. KCMW became KTBG, 90.9 the Bridge in September 2001, when it replaced jazz and classical music with the AAA format. The staff, led by program director Jon Hart successfully built audience and membership for the station with this format, in-studio interviews and compilation CDs. The station was sold to KCPT in 2014.
Timeline Highlights
1976 Conversations with Department of Health, Education and Welfare regarding funding
St. Louis based consultant Ralph J. Bitzer was hired to survey the Sedalia area to determine feasible tower sites and specs and the potential population to be reached
1977 Board of Regents approves acquisition
1978 to 79 Applications to FCC, grants sought, equipment installed
1979 Community Advisory Board established
FCC approval received, KMOS signed on in the afternoon of Saturday, December 22
1980 Local production: Political debate for 113th Missouri District (Sedalia)
Local production: The 1980 Missouri State Fair
ITV broadcast from KCPT begins
Local series premiere: Mid-Missouri Images
1981 John Bradley and station managers successfully push for state funding for Missouri stations
National show host Scott Devenney and KC Chief Mike Bell join KMOS pledge drive
1982 Local production: Documentary, Jimmy Kirkpatrick: A Portrait of Service
Local series premiere: Conversations and Scanning the Visual Arts
Premiere production with KETC- Missouri Journal, weekly roundtable in Jefferson City
Local production: Hey, It’s Dark in Here! written by Steve Scearcy
Nationwide premiere of the film Annie benefits PBS stations.
KMOS hosts event at Forum Theater in Columbia, attendance 500.
1983 Local premiere: Silver Set Generation and Country Spectacular
1984 Production of Those Yesterdays. Directed by Dr. John Smead over Easter weekend
Partnership with Lee Mace brings his Ozark Opry series to KMOS.
1985 KCMW moves to Martin Building
1986 Bradley, Davis and Harclerode travel to Grenada
Fire sprinklers flood KMOS but Pledge Drive begins on time
RCA transmitter replaced with a Larcan system
1987 Mrs. Ucola Katzentine endows Broadcasting Services with major gift used for equipment and ITV services.
1989 Launched local ITV service
1990 Ken Burns The Civil War debuts
1992 Coordinated local broadcast and national distribution & publicity of Handel’s Messiah Concert,
performed by the Independence Symphony Orchestra and Choir
1993 For 13 weeks Inspector Ken Leslie appeared after each new episode of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
to challenge viewers with geography quiz. Prizes included T-shirts and stickers.
1997 Local Production: Muddy Waters, a look at life on and around the Missouri River
1999 Purchased used ‘F’ line RCA transmitter from Indianapolis station to broadcast from the new location
2000 September - Shawn Jones took over as host of Sportspage
2001 First Kids Day in Sedalia @ Liberty Center/Park
KCMW becomes KTBG, changes format to AAA
Local production premieres:
Show-Me Ag - Shelly Beyer as the first host
Kiss the Cook with Chef Anna Holderby and husband Bruce
Adventures in Film, a limited series with Ted Jacobs
Construction on 2,000 foot tower begins
2002 Kyle Vickers takes over as host of Show-Me Ag
Channel 6 begins broadcasting from Syracuse
Kids Day in Jefferson City @ YMCA
2003 Kids Day in Columbia @ Activities and Recreation Center
Online digital broadcast, run simultaneously with analog until 2009
Official launch of the Syracuse transmitter
ITV service ends
Local production: Lee Mace's Ozark Opry: Celebrating 50 Years
2004 Kids Day in Camdenton @ Elementary School
KMOS 25th Anniversary Reunion Celebration
2005 Kids Day in Marshall @ High School
Local production: Jerry Adams Outdoors
2006 Kids Day in Sedalia @ Matthewson Center, MO State Fair Grounds
2007 Kids Day in Moberly @ Community College
2008 Kids Day in Clinton @ Benson Center
Outreach staff made multiple presentations at the NETA Conference
Local production: documentary Montserrat Poetry Festival
Local production: limited series - Cooking with Giuliano - host, Giuliano Monetti
2009 Conducted DTV Walk-in Clinic and eight Mobile DTV Clinics with financial help from the
Federal American Recovery and Revitalization Act
The DTV transition is final, analog transmitter is turned off
Kids Day in Warrensburg @ Sterling Elementary School
Economic Leadership roundtable 32 community leaders, led to KMOS Live broadcast on the economy grant
(funded by National Community Engagement Center)
2010 Kids Day in Columbia @ Rock Bridge High School
Local production: documentary - Montserrat Poetry Festival
2011 Kids Day in Columbia @ Expo Center
Michigan equipment acquired and installed
Downton Abbey debuts on Masterpiece Classic
Started full production webcast of Mules and Jennies sports.
President Clinton's visit to UCM
Local production: KMOS Live: Investment Fraud with Robin Carnahan
Local production: documentary - Poet Laureate David Clewell
2012 First Video scoreboard productions of Mules and Jennies Sports
Season to Season Outdoors - host, Tony Edgar
Central Missouri Tomorrow - host, President Chuck Ambrose
2013 Local production: series - AgriLegacy - hosts, Galen Dody and Wes Hentges
President Obama visits UCM. Building vacated, UCM guard posted outside Master Control
Students began hosting Sportspage in November.
2014 Sale of KTBG to KCPT complete
2015 Local premiere: Pause
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