KGAN-TV announces that it will celebrate 70 years of news and broadcasting the viewers in Eastern Iowa. On Sept. 30, 1953, KGAN-TV began broadcasting under their original call letters, WMT-TV from its current studio at Broadcast Park in Cedar Rapids. The first live video broadcast to Eastern Iowans was of William Quarton, founder and station manager, addressing viewers and introducing Game 2 of the 1953 World Series.
KGAN-TV has produced a “70th Anniversary Special” Program to air Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. on CBS2. It will feature interviews with former journalists, reporters, anchors and meteorologists, including from legendary alumni, Dave Towne, John Bachman and Karen (Hoskins) Vander Sanden.
KGAN-TV will also host an invite only, celebration earlier that day for alumni, current employees and dignitaries. The Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Tiffany O’Donnell and the Mayor of Marion, Nick AbouAssaly will both be reading proclamations commemorating KGAN-TV’s contributions to Eastern Iowa over the past 70 years.
“This is an important day for KGAN-TV” said General Manager, Glen Callanan. “To reach this milestone is quite an accomplishment. While we honor the legacy of KGAN for our viewers, this is also a good time to reaffirm our commitment to Eastern Iowans.
KGAN News Director Kristen Hamilton said, “There is such a rich history of quality journalism here at Broadcast Park, I think that we’ll continue to build on that legacy long into the future.
KGAN-TV was the first television station to broadcast live in Iowa, the first in the market to switch to color and the first to use live radar in broadcasts. KGAN-TV currently produces more than 40 hours of local news content per week that is available on our over-the-air signals of CBS2 and Fox 28, as well as our streaming options. KGAN has received multiple awards in its 70-year history. The National Association of Television Arts and Sciences has awarded numerous Regional Emmy Awards to CBS2 for our news reports and programs, including awarded Best Breaking News coverage two years in a row! KGAN is also the only local news organization to have earned the prestigious Peabody Award.