KDUB-TV

Being written

KDUB-TV. The founder and president of KDUB-TV was Gerald L. Green who died on June 2, 1993 in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition to the station, Green was the general manager of CLEMENS MOTOR SALES. In 1982 he moved to Arizona where he operated a financial services business. (1)

KDUB-TV, owned by Dubuque Communication Corporation, was Dubuque's first television station. In October, 1969 the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a zoning reclassification for 3.2 acres of land west of Key West so that studios for the station could be constructed. Green had previously announced plans for full-color telecasting of local and ABC-network programs on UHF-Channel 40 by January or February, 1970. (2)

The formation of the station caused many changes in local broadcasting. Dubuque TV-FM Cable Company gave the new station its channel 13 slot then held by WREX-TV from Rock Island. The cable company said the cable had 13 openings which were all being used, but KDUB-TV being a local station had to be accommodated. WREX-TV was moved to channel 4 where it shared a slot with Rock Island station WHBF-TV. Viewers not using cable could access KDUB-TV with an antenna. The effect of KDUB-TV on Cedar Rapids's station KCRG-TV, also an ABC affiliate was to be studied by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). KCRG was then the only station with ABC programming available through use of a translator in East Dubuque. Since KDUB-TV could offer local and ABC programming, the recommendation was expected that KCRG-TV be banned. (3) KDUB-TV alternated local features with ABC programs during its broadcast day.

The ban did take place, but in October 1971 KCRG petitioned the FCC to reactivate its UHF translator. KCRG officials cited as its reason was that KDB-TV Channel 40 had cut its broadcast hours in half on September 22nd leaving many viewers in Dubuque without ABC programming. (4)

On November 1, 1971 KDUB-TV was named as one of five television stations involved in an FCC investigation of bribes offered to ABC to become an affiliate. (5) Green was later cleared of the charges.

Channel 40 announced in January, 1972 that it would be one of nine stations in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan to broadcast a 10-week extension course on drugs in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The course offered undergraduate or graduate credit to viewers who paid tuition and passed two objective examinations. (6)

In January 1974 Green tried to block TH Inc. later WOODWARD COMMUNICATIONS, INC. from renewing its license for KDTH. (7)

The station failed in September 1975 and RCA Corporation repossessed all the equipment. Two area colleges had attempted to keep the equipment in Dubuque using it for an education station, but those ideas failed. (8)

Several stockholders of Channel 40 began efforts in January 1976 to put the station back on the air. Local businesses were approached about investing in a reorganized station operation as an affiliate of the American Broadcasting Company. The station would used miniaturized broadcasting equipment from a downtown studio. (9)

KDUB did resume operations in 1976 under different owners.

The 1977 through 1993 Dubuque City Directory listed 930 Cycare Plaza. In early 1994 KDUB-TV announced that it would be broadcasting from TOWN CLOCK PLAZA. The station purchased the building that had been previously owned by Square Meals restaurant. (10)

---

Source:

1. Webber, Steve. "Colorful KDUB-TV Founder Dies in Arizona at 65," Telegraph Herald, June 5, 1993, p. 3A

2. TC Station's Zoning Gets County Okay," Telegraph-Herald, October 29, 1969, p. 4

3. Walters, Steve. "KDUB-TV Going On Airwaves Sunday," Telegraph Herald, May 28, 1970, p. 11

4. "KCRG-TV Seeks Service Here," Telegraph Herald, October 26, 1971, p. 10

5. Miller, Jim. "Link KDUB-TV to FCC Bribe Probe," Telegraph Herald, November 3, 1971, p. 1

6. "KDUB to Televise Course on Drugs," Telegraph Herald'7, January 16, 1972, p. 5

7. Webber

8. "Money Sought to Put KDUM-TV Back on the Air," Telegraph Herald, January 28, 1976, p. 7

9. Ibid.

10. Bergstrom, Kathy. "KDUB-TV to Move to New Broadcast Site," Telegraph Herald, August 28, 1993, p. 3A