KEKI, virtual and VHF digital channel 4, is a NBC-affiliated television station serving the U.S. territory of Trishel that is licensed to Forest Town. Owned by HC2 Holdings, it is a sister station to Fox affiliate KEKI-CD (channel 14), MyNetworkTV affiliate KFTT-LD (channel 18), MTV Classic/CW+ affiliate KFTT-CD (channel 19), and Azteca América affiliate KHLA-TV (channel 20) and a sister property to radio stations KEKI-AM (1420 AM; News/Talk format), KEKI-FM (104.5 FM; Top 40/CHR format) and KXPG-FM (88.5 FM; Active Rock format). The eight outlets share studios at 2 Avenida Marco Polo in Forest Town; its transmitter is located on Rachel Corrie Hill.
History[]
KEKI was Trishel's third television station after WTHL-TV (channel 10) and KTEB-TV (channel 3), signing on December 10, 1975 on analog channel 4. It became the market's NBC affiliate, taking away the affiliation from WTHL-TV.
Like WTHL and KTEB, KEKI was hindered by time zone differences, and the fact that most shows, especially those from the network, were sent via air mail, meaning viewers had to wait weeks or a month to see any of the offerings.
KEKI was originally owned by Dallas, Texas resident Franklin Mazower, an amateur radio operator and former radio personality at WBAP in Fort Worth. Mazower had purchased the KEKI AM-FM radio duopoly in 1970 for $1,000. In 1980, Bonneville International (the for-profit media arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), owners of the mainland's KSL-TV and KIRO-TV, bought the KEKI stations. Bonneville implemented a long-distance microwave feed of NBC supplied by Trishel Phone & Microwave Cooperative and AT&T via VHF deflector systems, allowing KEKI television to catch up with the mainland at last.
In 1990, Bonneville signed-on a sister station to the KEKI stations, Fox affiliate K14FT (now KEKI-CD). In 1995, Block Communications purchased the KEKI stations and K14FT from Bonneville.
In 2017, Block Communications sold the KEKI stations, KEKI-CD and KXPG-FM to HC2 Holdings, making KEKI a sister station to Azteca América affiliate KHLA-TV (channel 20), MyNetworkTV affiliate KFTT-LD (channel 18), and MTV Classic/CW+ affiliate KFTT-CD (channel 19). KHLA-TV, KFTT-LD and KFTT-CD would subsequently move into the KEKI group's studios on 2 Avenida Marco Polo in Forest Town.
Alumni[]
- Sam Giafferi - reporter; now at CKAZ-DT in Ottawa
- Alice Escoboza - reporter; now an anchor at WRKM-TV in Miami
- Melissa Black - reporter and weekend anchor; now anchor of TCN News Nightcap