It uses digital channel 18 and has a PSIP of Channel 4, reflecting its heritage status in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Since Oct. 4, 1953, KGBT-TV has been a voice of South Texas.
Today an Antenna TV and MyNetwork TV affiliate, KGBT has since September 2021 been owned by Nexstar Media Group. In recent weeks, the station’s tower has caused concerns due to structural issues. Now, the tower has been successfully decommissioned.
The process began at 10am Central on Friday (3/8), with no injuries or damages to nearby homes, the station reported via its ValleyCentral.com website.
Leading the tower’s deconstruction was a team of professional engineers, construction experts and specialized personnel. A safety zone was enforced around the tower, effecting a nearby school’s classes.
The tower is located in La Feria, and residents were told on Wednesday to leave the area in the event of an unforeseen problem with the decommissioning process. This was a realistic possibility, as a structural issue with the KGBT tower resulted from a broken supporting cable — one of 24.
The 1,337-foot tower remained upright. “In the event of a critical problem, the tower is designed to collapse in a downward spiral limited to a 150-yard radius of the center,” a statement read.
That worry did not arise.
