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KPLC
KPLC
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KPLC (channel 7) is a television station in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with NBC and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Media, which provides certain services to Fox/ABC/Univision affiliate KVHP (channel 29) under a shared services agreement (SSA) with American Spirit Media. The two stations share studios on Division Street in downtown Lake Charles; KPLC's transmitter is located near Fenton, Louisiana.

Key Information

History

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KPLC-TV signed on September 29, 1954, with NBC's airing of the 1954 World Series. Owner T. B. Lanford of Shreveport had previously signed on KPLC radio (1470 AM, now KLCL, and 99.5 FM, now KNGT) and was eager to expand into television, giving the new station the same callsign as their radio sisters. On the same day, Lanford helped sign on then- and current sister station KALB-TV in Alexandria.[citation needed]

KPLC was a major beneficiary of a quirk in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)'s plan for allocating stations. In the early days of broadcast television, there were twelve VHF channels available and 69 UHF channels (later reduced to 55 in 1983). The VHF bands were more desirable because they carried longer distances. Since there were only twelve VHF channels available, there were limitations as to how closely the stations could be spaced.

After the FCC's Sixth Report and Order ended the license freeze and opened the UHF band in 1952, it devised a plan for allocating VHF licenses. Under this plan, almost all of the country would be able to receive two commercial VHF channels plus one noncommercial channel. Most of the rest of the country ("1/2") would be able to receive a third VHF channel. Other areas would be designated as "UHF islands" since they were too close to larger cities for VHF service. The "2" networks became CBS and NBC, "+1" represented non-commercial educational stations, and "1/2" became ABC (which was the weakest network usually winding up with the UHF allocation where no VHF was available).

However, what would become of the Lake Charles market was sandwiched between Houston (channels 2, 8, 11 and 13), BeaumontPort Arthur (channels 4, 6, and 12) and Lufkin (channel 9) to the west, Lafayette (channels 3 and 10), Baton Rouge (channels 2 and 9) and New Orleans (channels 4, 6, 8 and 12) to the east, and Alexandria (channel 5), Shreveport (channels 3, 6, and 12) and Monroe (channels 8, 10, and 13) to the north. This created a large "doughnut" in southwestern Louisiana where there could only be one VHF license. KPLC-TV was fortunate to gain that license and eventually became the only station to be based in Lake Charles when the market's original TV station, KTAG-TV (channel 25), went off the air due to being on the UHF frequency (before all-channel tuning was made mandatory on TVs in 1962) and unable to compete with KPLC in 1961. This changed in the early 1980s when LPB outlet KLTL (channel 18) signed on in 1981, and independent-turned-Fox affiliate KVHP (channel 29) signed on a year later.

In 1964, Lanford sold KPLC to a St. Louis group headed by investor Elliot Stien. He visited KPLC frequently along with his friend, St. Louis Cardinals baseball legend Stan Musial. Shortly after this sale, ABC programming began to disappear from the station's lineup, as then-recently launched stations KBMT in Beaumont provided a grade A signal to Lake Charles and Lafayette's KATC a grade B signal.[2] Lanford continued to own fellow NBC affiliate KALB in Alexandria until 1993.

In 1970, G. Russell Chambers purchased KPLC-TV from the St. Louis group and dramatically increased the station's coverage by adding a 1,500-foot (460 m) tower, providing a quality signal for the NBC affiliate as far north as Leesville, as far east as Lafayette and to the Gulf of Mexico. FCC regulations required that the radio stations be sold. Perry Sanders purchased the AM/FM combo and changed its call letters to KLCL. Chambers established a company, Calcasieu Television & Radio, Inc., to operate KPLC.

On August 9, 1983, Chambers, acting both in his individual capacity and on behalf of CTR, entered into a purchase agreement to sell the station's facilities and broadcast license to respondent NASCO, Inc., for a purchase price of $18 million. The agreement was not recorded in the parishes in which the two properties housing the station's facilities were located. Consummation of the agreement was subject to the approval of the FCC; both parties were obligated to file the necessary documents with the FCC no later than September 23, 1983. By late August, however, Chambers had changed his mind and tried to talk NASCO out of consummating the sale. NASCO refused. On September 23, Chambers, through counsel, informed NASCO that he would not file the necessary papers with the FCC.[3] In 1986, the U.S. District Court ordered Chambers to sell the station to NASCO, and the deal was consummated on August 26, 1986.[4]

Less than two months after the sale of KPLC to NASCO, Cosmos Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Liberty Life Insurance Company, purchased the station and KAIT of Jonesboro, Arkansas, from NASCO.[5] This resulted in KPLC becoming a sister station to New Orleans NBC affiliate and first Louisiana TV station WDSU until that station was sold in 1989. Within the next two years, the station adopted a circle 7 logo and its current slogan "7 at your service". KPLC was one of the first television stations in the U.S. to launch its own website in the 1990s.

In 2004, KPLC began broadcasting in digital as well as analog with the launch of KPLC-DT. Later in the year, the station launched its first local 24-hour weather channel, "KPLC WeatherPlus". Simultaneously, the station launched a service specifically for cellphones and PDAs, "7 On Your Cell".

In March 2004, while workers were installing a new transmission tower in high winds, the old transmission tower fell, causing a service disruption lasting about two weeks to over-the-air viewers in Southwest Louisiana. Service to cable customers was not interrupted due to the station's signal being delivered by fiber lines. A lower-power temporary tower was erected on top of the station's broadcast studios a couple of days after the tower fell, allowing viewers within a few miles of the station to again receive the signal over the air. KPLC was also simulcast on KJEF-CA in Jennings.

In January 2006, Liberty and KPLC were purchased by Raycom Media, which also owned two other Louisiana television stations, KSLA in Shreveport and WAFB in Baton Rouge.

In August 2012, KPLC started broadcasting in HD with a new HD studio.

Until 2015, KPLC doubled as the default NBC affiliate for the Lafayette market, since that market did not have an NBC affiliate of its own. Before its purchase by Raycom, it even included Lafayette as one of the cities it served in station identifications. It operated a "virtual station" for Acadiana cable systems and sold advertising in the area. On July 1, 2015, KLAF-LD became Lafayette's first local NBC affiliate since KLNI's shutdown in 1975, and local cable providers removed KPLC and Baton Rouge NBC affiliate WVLA from channel lineups.

On August 31, 2017, KPLC-DT2 became the market's CW affiliate. Virtual sister KVHP, which formerly operated as an affiliate of The CW Plus on its DT2 subchannel, launched a new station, "SWLA ABC" on that day over KVHP-DT2, carrying ABC and syndicated programming.[6] Grit, which formerly occupied DT2, was subsequently moved to a new fourth subchannel. By September 2017, the over-the-air signal of KPLC-DT2 had been upgraded into 720p 16:9 HD.[7]

On June 25, 2018, Gray Television announced its intent to acquire Raycom for $3.65 billion.[8][9][10] Coincidentally, in 1983, Gray attempted to purchase KPLC from Chambers at the same time NASCO considered purchasing the station.[11] The sale was approved by the FCC on December 20[12] and completed on January 2, 2019.[13]

On December 30, 2023, KPLC parent company Gray Television announced it had reached an agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans to air 10 games on the station during the 2023–24 season.[14]

On September 17, 2024, Gray and the Pelicans announced a broader deal to form the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, which will broadcast nearly all 2024–25 Pelicans games on Gray's stations in the Gulf South, including KPLC.[15]

Effects of Hurricanes Laura and Delta

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KPLC and KVHP began 24-hour continuous coverage of Hurricane Laura on August 25, 2020, from their shared studio building, a few days after it provided some coverage of Hurricane Marco, which had affected Louisiana earlier that week; KPLC and KVHP were forced to relocate their operations to that of Baton Rouge sister station WAFB in the late afternoon hours of August 26, as mandatory evacuation orders had been issued for the city of Lake Charles ahead of the hurricane's landfall.[16] When the hurricane made landfall in the early morning hours of August 27, both stations were forced off the air after their studio-to-transmitter-link tower collapsed onto the roof of their shared studio building and punctured a hole in the building's roof; the city's NWS radar was also destroyed in the storm.[17][18][19] Staff returned to the KPLC building on September 26; the anchor desk was moved to the station's newsroom.[20][21] While KPLC was able to resume operations following the hurricane, KVHP remained silent due to a lack of an alternate transmitter; as a result, Fox provided a Foxnet-like feed to cable companies in Southwestern Louisiana for a temporary period until KVHP resumed full operations at the end of 2020.

News operation

[edit]

KPLC presently broadcasts 27 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with five hours each weekday and two hours each on Saturdays and Sundays).

KPLC's makeshift studio during Hurricane Rita coverage

During Hurricane Rita, which struck in September 2005, the station delivered around-the-clock news from a temporary, makeshift studio in a safer location than its normal studios in downtown Lake Charles. Similarly, during Hurricane Laura in August 2020, the station evacuated to the studios of sister station WAFB in Baton Rouge.[22] At the time, KPLC's tower ripped and partially collapsed during the storm.

Notable former on-air staff

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Technical information

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Subchannels

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The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KPLC[23]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
7.1 1080i 16:9 KPLC-DT NBC
7.2 720p CW The CW Plus
7.3 480i Bounce Bounce TV
7.4 Grit Grit
7.5 DABL Dabl
7.6 MYSTERY Ion Mystery

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

KPLC shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 7, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition VHF channel 8 to channel 7 for post-transition operations.[24]

Translators

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In 2021, KPLC launched two UHF translators, K36QM (now KNGC-LD) in Iowa and K32PB (now KGCH-LD) in western Calcasieu Parish between Starks and Vinton to help strengthen its signal along Interstate 10 and Lake Charles' southwestern suburbs and into Lafayette to the east (with KNGC-LD's signal covering that city). KGCH-LD and KNGC-LD's main channels serve as affiliates of Gray Media's Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network.

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
KPLC (virtual channel 7) is a television station licensed to Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States, serving southwestern Louisiana as an NBC affiliate. The station is owned by Gray Media, which provides certain services to Fox affiliate KVHP (channel 29) under a shared services agreement (SSA) with owner American Spirit Media. KPLC maintains studios at 320 Division Street in downtown Lake Charles, while its transmitter is located near Fenton in Allen Parish. It also carries programming from The CW Plus on its 7.2 subchannel. KPLC first signed on September 29, 1954, with its inaugural broadcast being Game 1 of the . Gray Media acquired the station in 2019 as part of its merger with .

History

Founding and early years

Kenya Power traces its origins to the late , with early provision in beginning in 1875 when Seyyid Barghash, Sultan of , acquired a generator to power his palace and nearby streets. This equipment was later purchased in 1908 by Mombasa-based merchant Harrali Esmailjee Jeevanjee, leading to the formation of the Mombasa Electric Power and Lighting Company to supply on the island. In the same year, engineer Clement Hirtzel received an exclusive concession to electrify , establishing the Nairobi Power and Lighting Syndicate. On January 6, 1922, these two entities merged to form the East African Power and Lighting Company Limited (EAP&L), marking the official founding of what would become Kenya Power. EAP&L initially focused on urban centers like and during the colonial era, expanding hydroelectric generation, including settling on the first fall of the River in 1906 as a power source. By the 1930s, EAP&L had grown regionally, acquiring a in the Tanganyika Electricity Supply Company Limited (now ) in 1932 and obtaining generating and distribution licenses in in 1936. The company exited in 1948 following the establishment of the Uganda Electricity Board.

Ownership changes

On February 1, 1954, the Kenya Power Company (KPC) was established as a of EAP&L to build a from to in , facilitating power import from the Owen Falls Dam. That same year, EAP&L listed its shares on the , becoming one of the exchange's first listed companies. EAP&L divested from in 1964 by selling its stake in to the Tanzanian government, refocusing operations domestically. Due to its exclusively Kenyan operations, EAP&L was renamed The Limited on October 11, 1983. The has held a majority stake since at least the post-independence period, currently owning 50.1% of ordinary shares, with the remaining 49.9% held by local and foreign investors. In 1997, KPC demerged from KPLC to form the (KenGen). The transmission function was separated in 2008, transferring assets to the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO). The company rebranded to Kenya Power in June 2011 while retaining its legal name as The Kenya Power and Lighting Company Plc. In 2019, it transitioned from a private to structure. Board governance was restructured in November 2023, with five directors appointed by the government and four elected by minority shareholders.

Key developments and expansions

The Programme, launched in 1973 through an agreement with the government, marked a shift toward national coverage, extending services beyond urban areas. By the 2023/24 financial year, KPLC had connected 447,251 new customers, surpassing targets, and operated a network of 320,762 km of lines. In 2022, Power signed a 25-year with for 200 MW (expandable to 400 MW), starting November 1, 2022, to diversify sources. As of the 2024/25 financial year, the company reported a after-tax profit of KSh 24.47 billion, driven by higher , improvements, and lower costs, with ongoing investments in substations and renewable integration.

Programming

Network affiliations

KPLC has maintained a primary affiliation with since its sign-on in 1954, delivering a wide array of national programming including evening newscasts from , primetime scripted series, and live sports coverage such as NFL games through . This longstanding partnership has positioned KPLC as the primary outlet for content in the Lake Charles market, ensuring viewers access to high-profile events like the Olympics and major awards shows. In addition to its NBC affiliation, KPLC carries a secondary affiliation with on 7.2, which began in August 2017 following the relocation of CW programming from KVHP. This subchannel features a mix of syndicated programming, such as dramas and reality series, alongside occasional local promotional inserts to tailor content for the Southwest Louisiana audience. KPLC also operates under a agreement with Gray Television, its parent company, which facilitates the provision of content and operational support to KVHP (channel 29), an affiliate of , ABC, and . This arrangement, established after Gray's acquisition of related assets in 2016, enables coordinated programming strategies and resource sharing across the duopoly, enhancing local content delivery without direct ownership of KVHP by American Spirit Media.

Local programming

KPLC produces a range of original local programming that emphasizes community engagement and regional interests in southwest . These shows feature content created by station staff, focusing on , sports, and public service topics to connect with viewers in the Lake Charles area and surrounding communities. One of the station's flagship local programs is KPLC Midday, a daily show that airs weekdays at 11 a.m. Hosted by Amie Herbert and , it spotlights southwest events, profiles local businesses, explores restaurants, and discusses healthcare topics through interviews and segments. The program aims to promote community vitality by highlighting area happenings and providing practical information for residents. In sports programming, KPLC offers dedicated coverage of local through Touchdown Live, a weekly highlight show that recaps games from southwest teams. Airing Friday nights after the 10 p.m. newscast during the football , it includes scores, key plays, interviews with coaches and players, and analysis of regional matchups, such as weeks and playoff rounds. Additionally, since the 2023-2024 NBA , KPLC has broadcast select games as part of the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, making professional accessible over-the-air to local viewers and expanding the station's sports offerings. Beyond these core shows, KPLC features other local content including weather specials tailored to regional concerns, such as hurricane guides produced by the Weather team. The station also covers community events through dedicated segments and calendars, fostering local involvement in festivals, charity drives, and civic activities. Furthermore, KPLC incorporates investigative segments via its partnership with InvestigateTV, a Gray Media initiative that airs in-depth reports on issues, , and topics relevant to audiences. These elements integrate briefly with the station's news schedule to provide seamless community-focused viewing.

News operations

News format and schedule

KPLC produces 27 hours of local news programming each week, encompassing a mix of morning, midday, and evening newscasts tailored to the needs of southwest viewers. The flagship morning program, Sunrise, airs from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays, providing extended coverage of breaking developments, updates, and community events to start the day. Additional weekday slots include the Midday newscast at 11:30 a.m., followed by the Noon edition, and evening broadcasts at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m., each typically lasting 30 minutes and focusing on timely updates. Weekend programming features abbreviated schedules with newscasts at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sundays. The news format prioritizes hyper-local stories from southwest , such as regional , , and economic issues, alongside dedicated segments for from the team and local sports coverage. Weather reports incorporate live radar imagery and feeds from multiple Skycams positioned across key locations in the region to deliver real-time storm tracking and forecasts. For extended accessibility, KPLC streams select newscasts and live events through digital platforms like Zeam, enabling viewers to access content beyond traditional broadcast hours. During major events like hurricanes, this supports continuous coverage across air and online streams.

On-air staff

Jillian Corder serves as the News Director at KPLC, having joined the station in 2015 as a reporter and anchor before being promoted to assistant news director in 2017, a role she held until 2024. Among the key anchors, Arceneaux has anchored evening newscasts including 7News Live at Five, 7News at Six, and 7News Nightcast for over 27 years. Rhonda Kitchens co-anchors the 7 News Sunrise morning program, drawing on her extensive experience as a , including prior roles at and FOX29. Rob Bocage joined as co-anchor of 7 News Sunrise in July 2025, replacing longtime anchor John Bridges. Morgan Babineaux anchors the midday newscasts at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., while also serving as a journalist with a focus on investigative reporting. Recent changes to the on-air team include the retirement of veteran anchor Agnes DeRouen in March 2025 after 20 years at KPLC. In August 2025, Kaitlyn Wadulack joined as weekend sports , bringing experience from previous roles in . Devin Cruice started in May 2025 as a multimedia and weekend , covering a range of local stories from his base in Lake Charles. Notable former staff include John Bridges, who anchored 7 News Sunrise for many years before retiring in 2025, and environmental reporter Theresa Schmidt, who retired in July 2025 after 47 years of service to Southwest Louisiana.

Awards and recognition

In 2025, KPLC was named Small Market Station of the Year by the (LAB) and won seven Prestige Awards, including Multimedia Journalist of the Year for Stephanie Obediku, Reporter of the Year for Morgan Babineaux, Best Series/Investigative Reporting, and others recognizing journalistic excellence. KPLC has received multiple honors from the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters (LAB) for its journalistic excellence. In 2024, the station was named Small Market Station of the Year and won a total of seven LAB Prestige Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in broadcasting. Specific accolades included Best Newscast for 7News at 6, Best Use of Digital Media for 7News Digital, Best Documentary for Murders at KK’s Corner, Best Sports Show for 7Sports, and Breaking News Coverage for the Southwest Louisiana Wildfire Coverage. Additionally, longtime meteorologist Ben Terry was inducted into the LAB Hall of Fame for his contributions to weather reporting and community service. In 2022, KPLC earned four LAB Prestige Awards, highlighting its innovative programming and digital engagement. Among these were Best Sports Show for , the station's recap program, and Best Use of for its content strategy. The station also received Multimedia Journalist of the Year for Andrea Robinson and Best Weathercast for Ben Terry. In 2025, retired KPLC journalist Theresa Schmidt was honored with the Coastal Stewardship Award from the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) for her 47-year career focused on environmental reporting. Schmidt's work, which covered topics such as , dune protection, and impacts on local shrimpers, was recognized for informing the public and driving conservation efforts along 's coast. She retired from KPLC on July 7, 2025, after 47 years of service.

Technical information

Subchannels

KPLC broadcasts six digital subchannels as part of its over-the-air signal on virtual channel 7. The primary subchannel, 7.1, carries KPLC's main affiliation in high definition at 1080i resolution with 5.1 audio. Subchannel 7.2 airs affiliation in 720p high definition with stereo audio. The remaining subchannels are standard definition multicast services: 7.3 features in 480i widescreen with stereo audio; 7.4 carries Grit in 480i widescreen with stereo audio; 7.5 broadcasts in 480i widescreen with stereo audio; and 7.6 provides in 480i widescreen with stereo audio.
Virtual ChannelProgrammingResolutionAudio
7.1DD 5.1
7.2DD 2.0
7.3480i (w)DD 2.0
7.4Grit480i (w)DD 2.0
7.5480i (w)DD 2.0
7.6480i (w)DD 2.0

Analog-to-digital conversion

KPLC, the affiliate in , began pre-transition on VHF channel 8 in 2004, while continuing to operate its analog signal on VHF channel 7. This initial digital launch allowed for testing and gradual implementation of high-definition programming alongside the legacy analog service. The station's used 7.1 via PSIP mapping to maintain continuity with its longtime analog channel number for viewer familiarity. As part of the national shift to , KPLC completed its full-power analog-to-digital conversion on , 2009, ceasing analog broadcasts at 11:15 a.m. . This date aligned with the deadline established by the DTV Delay Act, which postponed the original February 17, 2009, transition to provide additional preparation time for consumers and broadcasters. Following the shutdown, KPLC's digital operations continued on VHF channel 8, with viewers required to rescan their receivers to access the signal. In anticipation of the conversion, KPLC conducted extensive viewer education campaigns from through early 2009, fulfilling FCC requirements under Form 388 quarterly reports. These efforts included airing over 440 announcements (PSAs) in the second quarter of alone, with 298 nationally produced spots tagged locally and 148 original local productions, alongside 330 crawls, snipes, and tickers. The station broadcast four 30-minute informational programs in May and June , produced three news packages, and created five video presentations for community distribution. By the third quarter, efforts intensified with 320 additional PSAs, 355 crawls, and ten 30-minute specials, complemented by a dedicated webpage featuring stories and resources, as well as speaking engagements at local groups like the Kiwanis Club. These initiatives, including a 100-day countdown starting November 10, , aimed to inform Southwest Louisiana households about converter boxes, antenna adjustments, and the benefits of .

Broadcast facilities and translators

KPLC's primary broadcast transmitter is situated near Fenton, , at coordinates 30°23'46.7"N 93°0'3.5"W, with an antenna height of 1,476 feet above ground level. This facility enables over-the-air transmission on VHF channel 7 at an of 62 kW, delivering a signal contour that spans approximately 74.7 miles and covers about 17,547 square miles. The coverage area encompasses southwest Louisiana, including Calcasieu, Beauregard, and parishes, as well as portions of near the border, serving an estimated population of 1,337,021. The station's studio facilities are located at 320 Division Street in downtown , a site that has housed operations since the mid-20th century. Following significant damage from in August 2020, when a 400-foot tower collapsed onto the building, Gray Television invested in reinforcements and a full rebuild to enhance structural resilience and create a more secure workspace. The upgraded studio was unveiled in September 2025 during celebrations of KPLC's 70th anniversary, ensuring continued broadcast capabilities for the region. To improve signal reach in underserved rural zones, KPLC operates two low-power digital translators: KNGC-LD on UHF channel 27 in , , and KGCH-LD on UHF channel 32 serving western Calcasieu Parish between Starks and Vinton. These translators, launched in 2021, rebroadcast KPLC's primary programming to bridge coverage gaps in remote areas of southwest . As part of the Federal Communications Commission's 2017 spectrum incentive auction , KPLC was assigned VHF channel 7, with the transition completed by 2019 while preserving full-power operations without site relocation. This adjustment ensured minimal disruption to the station's VHF service, which continues to provide robust analog-era compatible across its footprint.

References

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