Corpus Christi Broadcasting Needs A Little Pick-Me-Up

It's a very fine city in South Texas. It's a port city filled with hard-working, blue-collar people. The place has a very fine downtown and wonderful beachfront property for visitors. Poised for growth? I'd say so.

So, how come this television market can't do more for its viewers? Oh, sure, there is cable and all the thousands of offerings, but you still have to have some local news for your peeps. The two stations with everything going for them right now are KIII-TV (Channel 3) and KRIS-TV (Channel 6). Shall I analyze?

I'm going to do it anyway.

KIII - 3 - Good local news with longtime anchors. Joe Gazin is still the market's class act after four decades at the station. Rudy Trevino and Bill Vessey have also been there seemingly forever. Morning newscasts also good. Consistency matters, and this station does just that. Jockeying with the Rio Grande Valley's KRGV (Channel 5) for position as ABC's strongest South Texas station.

KRIS - 6 - Viewers are fortunate to have this station with the great history that it has. Lee Sausley and Drew Speier are also veteran anchors much like the guys at 3 and have a rapport with viewers. Journeyman Maclovio Perez handles the morning weather after so many years in San Antonio. Dale Nelson keeps on chugging in that weather department, having spent nearly four decades in CC. And I admit, I have the hots for morning anchor Rachel Cole.

Now, a look at two other stations that could, but haven't.

KZTV (Channel 10) - This CBS affiliate supposedly had made improvements with their production quality the moment they changed ownership last decade. Problem is, they ended up having a revolving door of anchors going in and out, never really giving viewers that much of a chance to develop loyalties akin to what people used to have with Walter Furley and Gene Looper. You Corpus Christi people remember them?? Well, now, the market has Andy Liscano (once an Austin sportscaster) at the news desk. After many years with a traditional format, Channel 10 has decided to go with a dressed-down, informal, tabloidish, MTV-themed format that adds a little more personality and chit-chat (I'd say way more). And they even have a heavy-metal news theme. It's killing everything. While they're trying to reach a younger generation, they're missing everybody else. Sadly, the ratings prove it, as they are a distant third with no end in sight. What they're doing now just doesn't work.

They also have John Rupolo, a very fine investigative reporter who is just not suitable as an anchor. Alongside Rupolo and Liscano are Tessa Barrera, a Corpus Christi native who really could succeed in this business under the right set of circumstances, and Sonya Hill, whose weathercasting style is better suited for a morning newscast than an evening one. And it doesn't help that the station shares ownership with Channel 6. I'd love to see another company take on Channel 10 and grow it back to having its own newscasts in the morning (which it doesn't right now) and noon and on the weekends. It's also possible for the current ownership to give them that freedom without ruining the station's identity. They need two polished anchors on the prime time product, plus a strong meteorologist to stand up and lead, and, for goodness sake, to tone down the irreverent nature of the newscasts. Stick with the local stories. Andy and John should continue as investigative reporters, as that should be Channel 10's strength. The newscast seriously needs an overhaul. In a market like this, KZTV has too much potential not to compete with 3 and 6. Walter Furley has to be rolling over in his grave right about now.

KUQI-TV (Channel 38) - A latecomer into the Corpus Christi broadcast scene, this FOX station has a miniscule amount of news by two dressed-down ladies, and relegated to just 60-second spots every few hours. I know it takes money to operate a newsroom, but this station has some potential. I suggest they start with a local newscast in the morning from 5 until 8 on weekdays, and a prime-time newscast, thirty minutes at 5 p.m., and a full hour at 9 p.m. weeknights. What they can try on weekends is prime-time, 30 minutes each at 5 and 9. At least, it's a start. I believe Corpus can support four news stations.

On the radio, KKTX-AM (1360) needs a new production clarity. They should go stereo. Have you ever heard them? That signal sounds a lot like something out of the 1960s. Time for an upgrade. They also need local reporters for their news product, seriously needing expanding. Currently, they are using two reporters from San Antonio's WOAI-AM (1200). Not good. Not what Corpus needs. You'd think that their closest competition, KEYS-AM (1440) would pick up on it. They, too, could use a local news product there. I suggest twelve new reporters for KKTX and six for KEYS.

Really, folks, this city deserves to have better programming from a local perspective all the time.