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Cocola Broadcasting Companies, LLC are poised to define how television will serve its audiences in the new millennium. The company has already proven its position and importance in the industry by creating new and innovative uses of the medium. It continues to develop and nurture the dream that brought it into existence and is always looking for new opportunities and endeavors. |
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| “One
of my main goals,” says Gary Cocola, President and CEO of
Cocola Broadcasting Companies “is to always come up with new
ideas and then implement those ideas into reality.” |
Cocola
Broadcasting Companies have always been in the forefront of the
broadcast business, testing and using the latest technological advances.
With the advent of High Definition Television (HDTV), Cocola Broadcasting
is geared to use HDTV to better serve local communities with local
programming.
“We’re always exploring new possibilities and new markets that are underserved by local and specialized programming,” says Cocola. “So much of the television business is yet to be explored. Happy to accept these tasks, our company will be charting new and innovative territories for years to come.” |
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Cocola Broadcasting Companies began as a dream – one man’s dream to explore non-traditional uses of the television medium. Gary Cocola was a forty-year veteran of radio and television when he decided to create an independent television station which would offer viewers local and alternative programming.
“I wanted to give television viewers in Fresno something new to watch,” says Cocola. “I’ve always believed that providing local television programming to a local audience will win over national networks.” |
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The
dream came to fruition when Lowell “Bud” Paxson, former
president of PAX-TV, approached Cocola. At the time, Cocola owned
and operated KMSG, Channel 59, a high-power station. Paxson was
looking for an affiliate in Fresno to carry HSN, but since launching
a second high-power television station was a financial risk at the
time, Cocola devised a way to broadcast the Home
Shopping Network by using lower power signals, which
were readily available, and not being used.
“In the early 1980’s,” says Cocola, “I saw low-power television as the wave of the future. As network television began to lose its dominance to other mediums, I realized broadcasting to a specific audience was the way to go, and low-power television was the vehicle. That’s how KHST, Channel 66 in Fresno, was born.” Shortly
after Cocola launched Channel 66, the station became one of the
largest revenue generating stations for the Home
Shopping Network nationwide, and it remains one of the most successful
to date. “Home shopping is a fascinating business,”
says Cocola. “Viewers of the Home Shopping Network will watch
the station all day long, while viewers of network programs will
tune in and out to catch their favorite shows. Home Shopping viewers
are very loyal.” |
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| 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 Pursuit Channel, Central Valley Talk, airing Monday - Friday from 11am to 6pm, and the Ronnie Paul Show Saturdays from 8pm until midnight. The popularity of Cocola’s low-power television retail channels prompted the company to convert it's low power channel 33 to digital. Channels 33.1, 33.2, 33.3, 33.4, 33.5, and 33.6 are now on the air. Cocola also operates KBFK, Channel 36 in Bakersfield, which airs HSN, the Home Shopping Network and KPMC, Channel 43, showing Jewelry Television. Cocola Broadcasting Companies then expanded with the acquisition of KCWB, Channel 13, which airs Tvida Vision, broadcasting Hispanic religious programming for Central Valley viewers. KVVG, Channel 54, in Visalia is currently undergoing technical improvements and Tvida Vision has moved temporarily to KMCF, Channel 35. In 2003, Cocola Broadcasting launched Azteca America which airs on KMSG, Channel 39 in Fresno and KFAZ Channel 8 in Visalia. Azteca America also airs on full power KGMC 43.2, Comcast Digital Cable Channel 77, 199, and 625, DirecTV 39, Dish 39 and U-Verse 39. 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 is now a digital station featuring the Universal Sports Network from NBC on 32.1 digital. 32.2 is 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 and Fresno City College Basketball, the Canadian Football League, and Central Valley Coyotes arena football. All seen on 32.1 or 32.2.
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.” KGMC Channel 43 now broadcasts four streams of digital video 43.1, 43.2, 43.3 and 43.4, Comcast Cable Channel 10, Dish 39, and U-Verse 43. Channel 43.1 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. For programs on 43.2, 43.3 and 43.4 see our "Stations" web page. Other California stations are KSAO, Channel 49, in Sacramento and KPMC, Channel 43, Bakersfield, 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 (Cable One Channel 23). “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 and KCBB broadcasts Azteca America. KKIC, Cocola's most recent Boise station to come on-line, began broadcasting Telemundo on March 27, 2007. With 30 popular stations, 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 09/09/09 Cocola Broadcasting Companies is offering a 120 hour unpaid internship in Master Control operation. Interested candidates should have the following skills :
• High School Diploma/GED • Basic Microsoft Windows PC • Basic understanding of Microsoft Office (Word/Excel) • Basic understanding of electronic Audio/Visual equipment • Good Verbal/Written skills • Must be able to perform multiple tasks at once while staying on schedule
Interns will be trained in a wide variety of tasks to qualify them for an entry level position in Master Control (click here to see sample Training Plan). Upon completion of the program interns shall receive a copy of their training plan together with a letter stating that they have successfully completed the program and are ready to work in Master Control. To apply for an internship, please send an email to : info@cocolatv.com. No phone calls, please. To see KGMC-TV's latest EEO Public File Report, click here. To see KFAZ-TV's latest EEO Public File Report, click here. |
