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the tubeNew TV Owners Plan Big ChangesBy ANDY PORTER Daily Times StaffSince beginning broadcasts in late 1972, KIVA-TV has remained Farmington’s single local television broadcaster. The station now reaches out to cover a 150-mile diameter “umbrella” centered around the station’s antenna perched atop the Shannon Bluffs almost due south of the city.March 1, the station cameunder new control as CenterGroup Broadcasting, a Texas-based corporation, took over. Doyle Hadden became general manager, following former manager and part-owner, John R. Catsis, who had been at KIVA’s helm since early 1977.In a recent interview, Hadden talked about the new owners’ intentions for KTVA and their plans for the future. According to Hadden, the new management intends to do more than just redesign the station’s logo, which replaces the old KTVA symbol starting this week.Center Group Broadcasting intends to put some $1.2 million in total expenses into KIVA over the next 12 months, Hadden said. This is to include both expansion of the jtaff, facilities and news coverage.“We’re serious about making the station a respectable property,” Hadden said.Personnel are expected to be increased from the present 30 full and part-time employees to a total of 50. Thesenew employees will be in allareas of the station’s operations, Hadden said, including sales, engineering and news.Initial plans for changes in local news coverage include the possible addition of two new members to KIVA’snews staff. One of these new staffers will probably be based in Durango to provide coverage there and the station also hopes to hire a Navajo-speaking correspondent to cover tribal affairs.The station intends to have a total staff of seven to eightfull-time newspeople workingwithin the next three months. Other changes in the format include a new news set and two additional sets for a proposed new Ideal show.This locally-produced program is intended to air at noon with a half-hour of local news, public service and commentary, according to Hadden. Although a title and host have not been de-.termined yet, he said, thetarget date for the show’s start is around April 20.Richard Draper will produce and direct all the station’s live or on-air shows, Hadden said.Also being planned is a 2,000 square foot expansion for the station’s facilities. A helicopter may even be in the station’s future, if an agreement can be worked out with a local flying service, Hadden said.Prior to coming to Farmington, Hadden, his wife Doris, and their two children, Holli Ann, 3fe, and Ryan Patrick, lMi, lived for eight yeah in Gainsville, Fla. During that time, Hadden said, he worked with WCJB, an ABC affiliate in Gainsville,This is the third change of management in the KIVA history. Built in 1972 hinder the ownership of Jerry Proctor, who headed the Four State Television Inc., it was purchased in April, 1977, by a Houston-based group headed by Catsis.According to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission in October, the price asked during the latest changeover for the station was $1.2 million plus assumption of debts not to exceed $700,000.MEXICANBUFFETWednesday5:30-10:00
Newspaper Details
Farmington Daily Times
Farmington, New Mexico, US
Sun, Mar 29, 1981
Page 81
Full Page
Clipped by
Sammi B.
NA 05 Dec 2021
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