[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 51 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E725-E726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   50TH ANNIVERSARY OF KSTP-CHANNEL 5

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRUCE VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 30, 1998

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th Anniversary of 
the Twin Cities' oldest television station, KSTP-Channel 5. As the 
first television station in Minnesota and surrounding areas in the 
Upper Midwest, KSTP holds a special place in Minnesota broadcast 
history.
  Radio pioneer Stanley E. Hubbard launched Channel 5 on April 27, 
1948. Over the years, KSTP played a leadership role in shaping news 
reporting and what was to become modern broadcast journalism. In 1950, 
KSTP become the first station in the country to offer a 10:00 PM 
newscast seven days a week. Two years later, KSTP introduced 
investigative reporting to television news. In 1961, KSTP made history 
again, by being the first station to go all-color, and in 1974 KSTP 
introduced electronic news gathering, making film clips a thing of the 
past. One of the proudest moments for the station was in 1993 when KSTP 
won a Peabody Award for ``Who's Watching the Store?'', an investigative 
report about racially biased security at Carson Pirie Scott department 
stores. Today the enterprise has flourished with broadcast franchises 
in several key markets. The pioneer quality of the Hubbard business 
acumen is evident in the satellite transmission joint venture that is 
leading the wave of modern communications.
  When Stanley E. Hubbard died in 1992, the state of Minnesota mourned 
the loss of this television pioneer. His legacy, Channel 5, has done 
Minnesota proud and has been a real

[[Page E726]]

trail blazer in television news over the years. I would like to take 
this opportunity to congratulate KSTP on fifty years of journalistic 
excellence and technical innovation, and offer my best wishes for 
continued success in the future.
  At this time, I would like to share with my colleagues an article 
highlighting the many achievements of KSTP from the Minneapolis Star 
Tribune [April 26, 1998]. I ask the Chair that this article be included 
in the Record with my remarks.

                          A Look Back at KSTP

       The first 50 years of KSTP-TV have been nothing if not 
     eventful. Here are some of the milestones and defining 
     moments in its history.
       April 27, 1948--Twin Cities radio pioneer Stanely E. 
     Hubbard launches Channel 5, the first television station in 
     Minnesota and the surrounding Upper Midwest. First-day 
     programming includes a Minneapolis Millers game from Nicollet 
     Park, a 10-minute evening newscast and ``Sunset Valley Barn 
     Dance,'' KSTP's local version of Nashville's ``Grand Ole 
     Opry.'' The station subsequently becomes the first NBC 
     affiliate not owned by the network.
       1950--KSTP becomes the first station in the country to 
     offer a 10 p.m. newscast seven days a week.
       1950--KSTP engineers begin a bitter wage-related strike 
     that lasts three years. Station is still nonunion.
       1952--KSTP introduces investigative reporting to TV news.
       1953--KSTP broadcasts the first color TV program in the 
     Upper Midwest, a Christmas episode of NBC's ``Dragnet.''
       1961--KSTP is the first station in the nation to go all-
     color.
       1967--Stanley S. Hubbard, the founder's son, assumes the 
     KSTP presidency. Stanley E. Hubbard remains Hubbard 
     Broadcasting chairman.
       1970--Appalled by anti-war protests at the University of 
     Minnesota and other campuses, KSTP officials announce an on-
     air campaign to rekindle patriotism and respect for the flag.
       1970--Hubbard Broadcasting becomes a client of Frank Magid 
     & Associates, an Iowa firm that consults TV stations and 
     networks about how to make newscasts viewer-friendly.
       1971--To combat WCCO-TV's ``The Scene Tonight,'' which has 
     pulled ahead of KSTP's 10 p.m. news, the station introduces 
     ``The World Today,'' with an all-new on-air team: anchor Ted 
     O'Brien, sportscaster Tom Ryther and ``peek-a-boo''weatherman 
     Barry ZeVan.
       1973--``The World Today'' gives way to Eyewitness News.''
       1974--KSTP introduces electronic news-gathering (ENG), 
     making news ``film'' obsolete.
       1974--With the arrival of new anchorman Ron Magers, a Magid 
     discovery from California, KSTP begins to reassert its 
     dominance over WCC-TV, Channel 4, in news.
       1975--KSTP hires the Twin Cities TV's first degreed 
     meteorologist, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee professor 
     Walt Lyons.
       1975--KSTP preempts the NBC News special, ``A Shooting 
     Gallery Called America,'' saying it was biased in favor of 
     gun-control proponents and might influence a handgun bill 
     under consideration in the Legislature.
       1977--Dave Dahl joins the weather staff.
       1979--After 31 years with NBC, KSTP switches affiliation to 
     ABC, which has surged to prime-time prominence on the 
     strength of shows such as ``Laverne & Shirley,'' ``Three's 
     Company'' and ``Charlie's Angels.''
       1980--Ron Magers leaves KSTP for Chicago's WMAQ-TV.
       1982--KSTP launches ``Good Company,'' a daily talk-service 
     show starring Sharon Anderson and Steve Edelman.
       1987--KSTP finishes third in the 10 p.m. news competition 
     for the first time.
       1990--KSTP introduces ``Eyewitness News All-Night,'' a wee-
     hours news service.
       1992--Stanley E. Hubbard dies.
       1993--The station wins a Peabody Award for ``Who's Watching 
     the Store?'', an investigative report about racially biased 
     security at Carson Pirie Scott department stores.
       1994--``Good Company'' is replaced by the syndicated 
     ``Regis & Kathie Lee.''
       1998--General manager Ed Piette and news director Scott 
     Libin are hired.

     

                          ____________________