Because
of the success of Channel 66 (which subsequently became KHSC,
Channel 16), Cocola pursued other low-power television permits
in Central California. KSDI, Channel 34, reintroduced a classic
form of television to Fresno – locally produced programs.
“I wanted to revive the broadcasting concept that launched
television in the 1950’s – live, local programming.”
Channel
34 invited individuals and organizations to produce their own television
programs. Virtually everyone – budding entertainers, bands,
comics, talk show hosts – became a part of the local programming
on Channel 34. KSDI moved to Channel 33 on March 1, 2003 and now
shows The Sportsman
Channel and AMG
TV Sports. Channel 33 is also home to Armenian
TV Fresno, showing an hour of Armenian programming every
evening, and the Ronnie Paul Show Saturdays from
8pm until midnight.
The
popularity of Cocola’s low-power television retail channels
prompted the company to launch KJKZ, Channel 28. The station later
moved to Channel 27 and now offers viewers Bohemia
Visual Music. Cocola then expanded his television retailing
services to the Southern San Joaquin Valley with KBFK, Channel 36
in Bakersfield, which airs HSN,
the Home Shopping Network, and KVPT, Channel 34, a second Bakersfield
station, offering rebroadcasts of KVPT,
Valley Public Television.
In
addition, Cocola Broadcasting has donated the use of its Channel
38 in Bakersfield to the Catholic
Diocese of Fresno so that the Church can rebroadcast
its Fresno station, KNXT, Channel 49, to residents of the South
Valley.
Cocola
Broadcasting Companies then expanded with the acquisitions of KVHF,
Channel 4 and KCWB, Channel 13. Channel 4 is the home of Jewelry
Television. Channel 13, Tvida Vision,
broadcasts Hispanic religious programming for Central Valley viewers.
KVVG began as Channel 31 in Visalia and recently moved to Channel
54. It also airs Tvida
Vision. In 2003, Cocola Broadcasting launched
Azteca America which airs on KMSG, Channel 39 and KBID, Channel
31 in Fresno, KFAZ Channel 8 in Visalia and KRHT Channel 58 in Redding
(in Chico on Comcast 180 Digital Basic & 621 Hispanic 1). Azteca
America is geared toward the Hispanic community with programming
that originates from Mexico. For more information, log on to Azteca
America.
In
2000, Cocola Broadcasting Companies acquired the call letters KJEO
for its Channel 32. Those call letters belonged to the CBS affiliate
in Fresno for 47 years and Cocola saw the opportunity to keep a
little bit of Valley television history from fading into the dust.
KJEO, Channel 32, broadcasts the America
One Television Network, featuring classic
television, sports, news, health and fitness tips, music, children's
programming and a terrific variety of great movies from yesteryear.
In addition, we are proud to also air local
sports including high school football, the Canadian
Football League, Fresno Falcons hockey and Central Valley Coyotes
arena football.

While
gaining ownership of most of the low-power television permits in
the Central Valley, Cocola also decided to refocus his energies
back into high-power television. The only remaining unused television
permit available at the time was for KGMC, Channel
43, assigned to the City of Clovis. Cocola acquired the highly coveted
station and decided to make it the true independent voice of the
Valley.
“I
wanted to be different,” says Cocola, “from everyone
in town affiliated with a network, and I wanted to have an independent
voice.” Channel 43 now offers viewers a mix of programs including
shopping, local news, lifestyle-based programming, and family entertainment.
In July 2006, KGMC moved in an exciting new direction when it joined
forces with CBS 47, KGPE-TV
to offer the Central Valley's earliest prime time local news by
rebroadcasting the "CBS 47 On Your Side at Six"
Monday - Friday newscast in its entirety starting at 9:00pm.
Other
California stations are KMCF, Channel 35 in Visalia showing religious
programming for the Hispanic community from Tele-Vida
Abundante and KSAO, Channel 49, in Sacramento, which
airs the popular Jewelry
Television.
Cocola
Broadcasting Companies has now expanded its operation into Boise,
Idaho. In Boise, Cocola acquired KBSE, Channel 33, KBTI, Channel
41, KIWB, Channel 43, KZAK, Channel 49, KCBB, Channel 51 (Cable
One Channel 20) and KKIC, Channel 16. “I saw an opportunity
too good to pass up,” said Cocola. KBSE is Boise’s home
of the popular Home Shopping
Network, KBTI shows Jewelry
Television, KZAK rebroadcasts the local NBC affiliate
KTVB's "24/7"
news channel and KCBB broadcasts Azteca
America. Viewers can find Spanish religious programming
from Tele-Vida
Abundante on KIWB. KKIC, Cocola's most recent
Boise station to come on-line, began broadcasting Telemundo
on March 27, 2007.
With
30popular stations and more to come, Cocola Broadcasting Companies
continues to grow with confidence – confidence in its belief
that the goal of broadcasters should not be how many people they
are able to capture in an audience, but how well that audience is
served.
To
read more about Gary Cocola and the Cocola Broadcasting Companies,
click here.

Cocola
Broadcasting Companies, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Company
policy prohibits any unlawful discrimination. When job openings
become available at our stations, we strive to reach all qualified
candidates.
If you are interested in applying for any of our current job opening(s),
please submit your resume with cover letter to: info@cocolatv.com
unless otherwise specified. Each opening has a description of
the position, minimum qualifications required and the cutoff date
for resume submissions. No phone calls, please.
We
have no vacancies at this time.
Updated
05/09/08
EEO
REPORTS
To
see KGMC-TV's latest EEO Public File Report, click
here.
To
see KFAZ-TV's latest EEO Public File Report, click
here.
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