Founded October 1997 | ||
Slogan "A Breath of Fresh Airtime" Channels Digital: 26 (UHF)
Virtual: 26 Subchannels 26.1 Retro Television
26.2 The Action Channel
26.3 The Family Channel
26.4 NASA Owner Cooper Communications, LLC (1997-2011, 2014-present) Call letters' meaning K George E. Cooper (founder-deceased) | ||
KGEC-LD Channel 26 (KGEC-TV on the air and formerly known as "FamilyTV 26") is an independent broadcast television station based in Redding, California. It is currently owned by Cooper Communications, LLC. The station's call letters are named after the station's primary founder, longtime owner and chief executive officer George E. Cooper. Millie Cooper-Brogan serves as the station's president and general manager. KGEC is seen on UHF (low-power) channel 26 from Redding south and is on Charter Digital Cable channel 94 in the Redding and Red Bluff areas only.
Contents
History
It was founded by Fresno, California, businessman George E. Cooper in 1997. It signed on for the first time in late October 1997 and became an America One network affiliate on January 14, 1998 and would remain so until that network went to KMCA-LP in 2000. George Cooper was quoted as saying, "We love the market and the people, and will do everything we can to serve it well!"
On July 1, 2000, KGEC became an affiliate of the fledging FamilyNet, a faith-based, family-oriented network. This brought more family-friendly programming that had been lacking among its major competition. Because of FamilyNet's ownership, management and programming changes, KGEC severed ties with FamilyNet on January 4, 2010 and became a full-time affiliate of Retro Television, which airs classic television series to keep with the station's tradition of providing good quality television.
On February 17, 2005, KGEC co-founder and chief executive officer George Cooper died after a long battle with cancer. His widow and station president, Millie, would assume the role of primary owner and C.E.O. as well.
In March 2011, KGEC was granted its digital license on channel 26 for four virtual channels and provides family-friendly programs from Retro Television (26.1), Tuff TV (26.2), The Family Channel (26.3) and NASA Television (26.4). It also airs Jewelry Television in the overnight hours on 26.1, 26.3 and 26.4.
Later in 2011, KGEC was sold to another group, but they basically ran the station as a repeater for Retro TV causing the station to lose money. However, Millie Cooper-Brogan, widow of founder George Cooper, bought the station back in 2014 in hopes of finding new ownership. KGEC once again flies under the Cooper Communications banner. Mrs. Brogan reassumes the position of owner, president and general manager. Jim McKeown is the station's chief engineer.