TELEVISION KFBT TV-33’s investments of time, money paying off By Ken White Review-Journal A little more than two years ago, two UHF stations went on the air within months of each other. Both approached the market in dif ferent ways. KBLR TV-39 went on first, operating out of small quarters with a small staff. It grabbed some headlines by broadcasting a high defi nition system during the National As sociation of Broadcasters convention. Meanwhile, KFBT TV-33 built its own large facility complete with stu dio, editing rooms and a maze of of fices. Surprisingly, considering the initial outlay of cash for facilities and equip ment, it’s Channel 33 that’s survived. Channel 39, which was underfinanced for the long haul, has gone off the air and is looking for a buyer. For Channel 33, the first year of operation was tough, but things are looking up, says Steve Groesbeck, sta tion manager. “For us our growth has been phenomenal, in comparing our first year of operation with our second. But other stations may be flat right now.” Compared to Channel 39, Groesbeck says Channel 33’s owner, Dan Koker, “had a better idea of the investment required to make this station success ful. He knew it takes an investment of a lot of time and a lot of money.” Channel 33 also broadcasts on 1,350,000 watts, compared to KBLR’s 400,000, for a much sharper picture. Channel 33 has had to battle two foes: its newness in the market, and its UHF signal. “Las Vegans are wary of new busi nesses,” Groesbeck said. “But it’s true that some are here for a year, then they’re gone.” Major advertisers shy away from a new station, he said, but with time, Channel 33 has been able to pick them up. The market “is capable of sustaining independent stations,” Groesbeck said, even though Las Vegas is ranked 86th by the ratings services, based on popu lation base. But the advertising dollars available are higher than that rank ing, according to Groesbeck, a college business major. Being a new UHF station would have been much more difficult a few yeare ago, Groesbeck added. Thanks to KRLR TV-21, the first UHF station in Las Vegas, “I’m not sure the stigma once attached to UHF is there,” Groes beck said. Compared to years ago, “it’s easier to get UHF now.” Channel 21 blazed the trail by going on the air in the mid-1980s and getting Las Vegans to attach UHF antennas to their sets. And “with the advent of cable we’re in the lower tier of cable channels,” meaning the station is situated near the other local stations. “We owe Channel 21 a great debt. It Please see KBLR/4J