KPRC-TV

KPRC-TV. KPRC-TV is a NBC-affiliated television station located in Houston, Texas, owned by Graham Media Group. The station is Houston's second-oldest television station, signing on the air on January 1, 1949, and was founded by Houston Endowment, with the help of William A. Kirkland and R.E. Smith. KPRC-TV has been affiliated with NBC since its inception, and has been owned by several companies, including The Washington Post Company and Graham Holdings Company.

● History

KPRC-TV was launched on January 1, 1949, as the second television station in Houston, Texas, after KLEE-TV, which later became KUHT. The station was founded by Houston Endowment, a philanthropic organization established by Jesse H. Jones and Mary Gibbs Jones. KPRC-TV was originally affiliated with DuMont Television Network and NBC, but became a sole NBC affiliate in 1950. The station has been owned by several companies, including The Washington Post Company and Graham Holdings Company, and has been a part of the Graham Media Group since 2014. KPRC-TV has also been affiliated with other networks, such as NTA Film Network and Operation Prime Time. The station has broadcast several notable programs, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Saturday Night Live, and Meet the Press, hosted by Tim Russert and Chuck Todd.

● Programming

KPRC-TV broadcasts a variety of programming, including NBC network shows, such as The Voice, This Is Us, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, starring Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T. The station also airs local programming, including the popular morning show, Houston Life, hosted by Courtney Zavala and Derrick Shore. KPRC-TV has also broadcast several notable sports events, including Houston Texans games, Houston Rockets games, and Wimbledon tennis matches, featuring players like Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic. The station has also been the home of several popular syndicated shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil, and Entertainment Tonight, hosted by Mary Hart and John Tesh.

● News operation

KPRC-TV operates a news department, which produces several newscasts throughout the day, including KPRC 2 News at 6:00 and 10:00 p.m., anchored by Bill Balleza and Dominique Sachse. The station's news team includes several notable journalists, such as Keith Garvin, Andy Cerota, and Jennifer Reyna. KPRC-TV has won several awards for its news coverage, including Emmy Awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards, presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association. The station has also been recognized for its investigative reporting, including a series of reports on the Hurricane Harvey flooding in Houston, Texas, which featured interviews with Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.

● Technical information

KPRC-TV broadcasts on UHF channel 35, and is available on several cable and satellite providers, including Comcast Xfinity, AT&T U-verse, and DirecTV. The station's signal is also available over-the-air, and can be received in several surrounding counties, including Harris County, Texas, Fort Bend County, Texas, and Montgomery County, Texas. KPRC-TV has also launched several digital subchannels, including MeTV and H&I, which feature classic television shows, such as I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show, starring Lucille Ball and Andy Griffith.

● Controversies

KPRC-TV has been involved in several controversies over the years, including a dispute with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over the station's license renewal in the 1970s. The station has also faced criticism for its coverage of certain events, including the Rodney King beating in 1991, which was widely reported by CNN and other news outlets. KPRC-TV has also been sued by several individuals and organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which filed a lawsuit against the station in 2013 over its coverage of a local Houston event. The station has also been criticized for its handling of certain news stories, including a series of reports on the Houston Independent School District, which featured interviews with Annise Parker and Sylvester Turner.