kmiz

KMIZ
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KMIZ

Columbia / Jefferson City, Missouri
Branding ABC 17
Slogan The Spirit of Missouri
Channels Analog: 17 (UHF)
Digital: 22 (UHF)
Affiliations ABC (1971-1981, since 1986),
K38II (Fox) on DT2
KZOU-LP (MNTV) on DT3
K02NQ "StormTrack 24/7" on DT4
Owner JW Broadcasting, LLC
Founded December 5, 1971
Call letters meaning MIZ-Missouri, Mizzou
Former affiliations NBC (1982-1985)
Transmitter Power 1,580 kW Analog
48.4 kW Digital STA
52.8 kW Digital CP
Website www.kmiz.com

KMIZ "ABC 17" is the ABC network affiliate serving the entire Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri metropolitan area. KMIZ ABC 17 is owned and operated by JW Broadcasting. Its transmitter is located near Jamestown, Missouri.

Contents
1 History
2 Programming
3 Digital channels
4 Personalities
4.1 Current
4.2 Former
5 External links

[edit] History
KMIZ began its broadcasting operation on December 5, 1971 with the call letters KCBJ-TV. The station was the market's original ABC network affiliate, but in 1982, KCBJ and KOMU-TV (NBC) switched network affiliations. The stations eventually reverted to their original affiliations in 1986, and in the process, KCBJ changed its call letters to KMIZ.

KMIZ also owned KJWB from 1998-2002. In 2002 KMIZ's parent company Benedek Broadcasting went bankrupt. KJWB went to KOMU. KMIZ was bought by JW Broadcasting, LLC in May 2003.

[edit] Programming
KMIZ currently carries all ABC programming, with the exception of America This Morning. KMIZ stays with ABC's World News Now until 5AM, when the station begins its early morning local news. Syndicated programs on KMIZ include Live with Regis & Kelly, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Jeopardy! (since 2003, prior to that it aired on KOMU, which also airs sister show Wheel of Fortune).

Charles Thongklin (pronounced Tonk-linn) is a friendly and knowledgeable personality that you will find on Action 3 News Live This Morning and Live at Midday. If you are wondering about his nationality*he's Thai. He is the first to be born in the U.S., among his entire family from Thailand. He likes to be called "CT." which has been a popular nickname since childhood.

Just like Action 3 News Chief Meteorologist Ryan McPike, he grew up in the Kansas City area and served as a weather intern at KMBC-TV under the popular chief meteorologist Bryan Busby, one of the best in the business. He also earned a B.S. in Soil and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2002, despite a struggle with calculus and physics.

CT is a member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the National Weather Association (NWA). In May 2003, he was awarded the AMS Seal of Approval for Television Weathercasting. He has also been a member of the University of Missouri Storm Chase Team and the University of Missouri Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association (UMCAMSNWA).

Before coming to Action 3 News, CT worked for KMIZ-TV in Columbia, MO, for 6 years, of which nearly 5 years was on air. He held a variety of titles from weather intern, production assistant, and ultimately, morning weathercaster. It's easy to see why he loves working on Action 3 News Live This Morning and Live at Midday. He likes to chat, crack some lousy jokes, but most importantly, sharing his interest in meteorology with the viewers in an understandable way.

His interest in weather began around the age of 3, when he became terrified of bad summertime thunderstorms. From that time, his fear "sparked" a lifelong interest in weather, by eagerly reading weather books in school and writing the local television meteorologists.

CT combines his meteorology with technological interests, by holding a ham radio license. His FCC call sign is WXD, which allows him to use his amateur band two-way radios to report severe weather observations to the National Weather Service. With his ham radio experience, he is a Volunteer Examiner (VE) for the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and W5YI Organization. He also has been chasing storms since 1997, and saw his first tornado near Tonganoxie, KS, during the 4 May 2003 severe weather outbreak.

On the side, he is a violinist, and had the privilege of performing with the Philharmonia of Kansas City and the Columbia, Missouri, Civic Orchestra. He has been playing since the age of 10. The most rewarding part of his musical career is becoming a student assistant/section leader with the Missouri Symphony Society Youth Orchestra, helping to return his education to grade school violinists in the orchestra.