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CBS 42, more commonly known as KEYE-TV, launched in 1982 as KBVO, an independent, before becoming an inaugural Fox affiliate. In 1995, Channel 42 switched networks with KTBC, becoming KEYE, a CBS affiliate. CBS bought the station in 1999; KEYE is currently being sold off to Cerebrus Capital Management, the company which also recently bought the Chrysler automobile company.

Whatever Happened To...

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Kristine Kahanek has been working the radars in Dallas recently, first at WFAA 8 and now as Chief Met at KTVT CBS 11. She was named Best Meteorologist 2005 by D Magazine. (Image: cbs11tv.com)

KXAN is a station that has evolved and changed in its forty year history; changed channel numbers and calls, has helped evolve local news and weather coverage through its own technological advances, and as a result has become one of the leading stations in the area.

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KXAN's story begins in 1965. But not as KXAN. And not on Channel 36. KHFI Channel 42 was KTBC's first competitor in the Austin market. Some would say there was aggressive competition to be the 'first' and 'best' in Austin. When color TV came into town, story goes, the stations battled it out to be the first to broadcast in color within mere hours of each other.

KHFI-TV, along with its sister radio station, were owned by the Kingsbury family. After bringing along Henry Tippie as partner, they filed an application with the FCC to move the station to Channel 36 and to re-call the station KTVV. The application was approved, and the change went through in 1973.

At this point, Austin's DMA rating was much lower, yet KTVV attempted to present itself as professionally as its network counterpart. So much so that the local newscast, NewsCenter 36, took on the set design of WNBC-TV in New York.

In 1987, LIN Broadcasting completed the purchase of the KTVV, and renamed the station once again, to KXAN, designed as a sister to Dallas station KXAS. To go along with the new calls were a stylized, conjoined '36,' in use to this day. LIN hired in more staff and set out to make KXAN "Your 24 Hour News Service," with live and/or pre-taped news updates at the end of each hour.

KXAN's set had more or less remained the same, given a fresh coat of paint and some additional decorative glass every once in awhile, but it wasn't until 2001 that Channel 36 got a new set, with a blue and purple motif, a glass city skyline, and interview area. That set has, itself, been redressed and refreshed several times, and is currently being taken down for a new one.

36's part in advancing technology has mainly taken place in the weather center. Meteorologist Shawn Rutherford developed a software program called LiveStrike, which detects lightning strikes virtually worldwide.

KXAN HD 21 has been on air since 2000