KQTV

KQTV, virtual channel 2 (VHF digital channel 7), is an ABC-affiliated television station located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, United States. The station is owned by the Nexstar Broadcasting Group. KQTV maintains studio and transmitter facilities located on Faraon Street in eastern Saint Joseph. On cable, the station is available on Suddenlink Communications channel 10, and in high definition on digital channel 610.

Although KQTV serves as the primary ABC affiliate for the Saint Joseph market, the network's Kansas City affiliate KMBC-TV (channel 9) is considered an alternate ABC affiliate for the area as its transmitter provides a city-grade off-air signal in Saint Joseph proper, and is carried alongside KQTV on some local cable providers.

History

The station first signed on the air on September 27, 1953 as KFEQ-TV. It was founded by local businessman Barton Pitts, owner of local radio station KFEQ (630 AM). The station originally operated as a primary CBS affiliate, and also carried programming from the DuMont Television Network. That year, a 750 feet (230 m) tall lattice steel transmission tower was constructed to house the station's transmitter; the tower, which had become landmark in the city of Saint Joseph, is often compared to the 1,042 feet (318 m) tower used by KCTV in Kansas City. The two stations, which signed on the air on the same date, built their respective towers at the same time as one another. In preparation for the digital television transition, on January 19, 2009, the KQTV tower was partially truncated in height to 587 feet (179 m).