KODE-TV


KODE-TV, virtual channel 12, is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Joplin, Missouri, United States and also serving Pittsburg, Kansas. The station is owned by Mission Broadcasting; Nexstar Media Group, which owns NBC affiliate KSNF, operates KODE-TV under joint sales and shared services agreements. The two stations share studios and transmitter facilities on South Cleveland Avenue in Joplin.
On cable, KODE-TV is available on Suddenlink channel 4, and Mediacom channel 13, and on channel 12 on other cable systems in the area.
Although KODE's call letters sound like "code" if pronounced as a word, the station is never referred to in that manner, always mentioned on air as "K-O-D-E."

History

The station began broadcasting on September 26, 1954 as KSWM-TV and was a primary CBS affiliate, but shared ABC with then-NBC affiliate KOAM-TV. It was locally founded by Austin Harrison who also owned radio station KODE AM 1230. It originally operated from studios and transmitter located on West 13th Street in Joplin. Harrison sold the station to Friendly Broadcasting, owners of WSTV in Steubenville, Ohio in 1956. In 1957, the call letters were changed to the current KODE-TV. Friendly then sold both KODE and WRGP in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Massachusetts-based United Printers & Publishers in 1961. Gilmore Broadcasting of Kalamazoo, Michigan bought the KODE stations in 1962.
KODE became a sole ABC affiliate on January 1, 1968, and three days later KUHI-TV started and took over the CBS affiliation.
KODE was acquired by Mission Broadcasting in 2002, following its takeover of Quorum Broadcasting. Subsequently, KODE then entered into a shared services agreement with Nexstar Broadcasting, which owns NBC affiliate KSNF. The same year, it was announced KSNF and KODE would merge, with building expansion planned at the KSN studios.
On May 8, 2009, a powerful storm system slammed Joplin, knocking out power to KODE and knocking down the tower of sister station KSNF. KODE-TV returned to the air early on the morning of May 9, while KSNF didn't return to the air until June 17. Both stations moved to a rebuilt KSNF building in April 2010 making it the next-to-last Nexstar duopoly to do so.
On December 19, 2012, KODE began broadcasting its local newscasts in High Definition.
On June 15, 2016, Nexstar announced that it has entered into an affiliation agreement with Katz Broadcasting for the Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV networks, bringing the four networks to 81 stations owned and/or operated by Nexstar, including KODE-TV and KSNF.

Digital channels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
ChannelVideoAspectPSIP short nameProgramming
12.1720pKODE-DTMain KODE-TV programming / ABC
12.2480iGritGrit
12.3480iBounceBounce TV
12.4480iIONIon Television

Programming

Syndicated programming broadcast on KODE-TV includes The Dr. Oz Show, Jeopardy!, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Inside Edition, DailyMailTV, and Entertainment Tonight.

Former on-air staff