KMIZ

KMIZ is a ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Columbia, Missouri, serving the Mid-Missouri area, including Jefferson City, Missouri, Fulton, Missouri, and Boonville, Missouri. The station is owned by News-Press & Gazette Company, a media conglomerate that also owns KNPN-LD and KQTV, and is affiliated with American Broadcasting Company (ABC), The CW, and MeTV. KMIZ broadcasts a range of programming, including Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and 20/20, as well as local news and sports, such as University of Missouri Tigers football and Kansas City Chiefs games.

● History

KMIZ was founded in 1971 by Scripps-Howard Broadcasting, a subsidiary of The E.W. Scripps Company, and initially broadcast analog television signals on UHF channel 17. Over the years, the station has undergone several ownership changes, including a sale to Young Broadcasting in 1992, and later to Gray Television in 2014, before being acquired by News-Press & Gazette Company in 2017. During this time, KMIZ has maintained its affiliation with ABC, while also adding subchannels for The CW and MeTV, and has broadcast a range of programming, including Monday Night Football, NBA on ABC, and Academy Awards ceremonies, as well as local events, such as the Missouri State Fair and Columbia Festival of the Arts. The station has also been affiliated with CBS and NBC at various points in its history, and has broadcast programming from PBS, including Sesame Street and Nova.

● Programming

KMIZ broadcasts a range of programming, including ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, Good Morning America with Robin Roberts, Lara Spencer, and George Stephanopoulos, and 20/20 with Amy Robach and David Muir. The station also airs local programming, such as University of Missouri sports, including Tigers football and Tigers basketball, as well as Kansas City Chiefs games, and has broadcast SEC Network events, including Southeastern Conference football and basketball games. Additionally, KMIZ broadcasts The CW programming, including The Flash (2014 TV series) and Arrow (TV series), as well as MeTV programming, including I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show. The station has also aired Syndicated programming, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Dr. Phil, and has broadcast Academy of Country Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards ceremonies.

● News operation

KMIZ operates a news department that produces local news programming, including ABC 17 News at 5, 6, and 10 pm, as well as a morning news program, ABC 17 News This Morning. The station's news team includes anchors such as Liz Lohuis and Chris Nagus, and meteorologists such as Tony Petrarca and Michelle Bogowith, who provide weather forecasts and coverage of severe weather events, such as tornadoes and blizzards. KMIZ has also broadcast news coverage of major events, including the 2016 United States presidential election, the 2018 Winter Olympics, and the COVID-19 pandemic, and has partnered with University of Missouri School of Journalism to provide training and resources for student journalists. The station has won several awards for its news coverage, including Emmy Awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards, and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association.

● Technical information

KMIZ broadcasts digital television signals on UHF channel 17, and is available on cable television systems, including Charter Spectrum and AT&T U-verse. The station's signal is also available over-the-air using a digital antenna, and can be streamed online through the ABC app and other online streaming services, such as Hulu and YouTube TV. KMIZ has also implemented ATSC 3.0 technology, which allows for 4K resolution and high dynamic range (HDR) broadcasting, and has partnered with Sinclair Broadcast Group to develop and implement NextGen TV technology. The station's technical team includes engineers and technicians who maintain the station's broadcast equipment and ensure compliance with FCC regulations, including those related to EAS and closed captioning.

● Controversies

KMIZ has been involved in several controversies over the years, including a dispute with Dish Network in 2017, which resulted in the station's signal being removed from the satellite television provider's lineup. The station has also faced criticism for its coverage of local issues, including a controversy surrounding the University of Missouri football team in 2015, and has been the subject of FCC complaints and fines, including a fine for violating children's television regulations. Additionally, KMIZ has been criticized for its handling of severe weather coverage, including a controversy surrounding the station's decision to preempt regular programming to cover a tornado outbreak in 2019. The station has also faced competition from other local stations, including KOMU-TV and KRCG, and has partnered with Missouri Press Association to promote media literacy and journalism education in the region.