KATC, channel 3, is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Lafayette, Louisiana. It began operations on September 19, 1962.
A 1000 kW transmitter for its digital broadcast is located near Branch, Louisiana and became operational November 6, 2007. KATC continued to use its transmitter for its analogue signal located south of Crowley, Louisiana until the mandated digital date of June 12, 2009.
KATC is also an affiliate of The CW, the signal of which is carried on digital subchannel 3.2. Before June 14, 2010, KLWB had the affiliation.
Ownership History[]
KATC Channel 3 is owned by Cordillera Communications, the television subsidiary of the Evening Post Publishing Company. At first, KATC Signed on September 19, 1962 and was locally owned by Acadian Television Company, but through the 70s and 80s was a sister station to New Orleans' WWL-TV under the ownership of Loyola University New Orleans. In 1984, Loyola divested their broadcast properties, with WWL going to a group of station employees and KATC going to investment firm Merrill Lynch and eventually being sold to Cordillera. In 1998 The Evening Post Publishing Company purchased the station along with WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky as the present owner. On June 12, 2009 KATC Channel 3 turns off the analog transmitter and turns on the digital transmitter on Channel 28 and the virtual channel is 3.
KATC is also the ABC affiliate of record for Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, since that area does not have an ABC affiliate of its own.
Newscasts[]
The station produces local news and talk programming, with such shows as Good Morning Acadiana, Friday Night Football and "hard-news" newscasts that air weekdays at 5, 6, and 10 p.m., Saturdays at 6 and 10 p.m., and on Sundays at 5:30 and 10 p.m.
Management Team[]
- Andrew Shenkan: General Manager
- Letitia Walker: News Director
Current On-Air Staff[]
Anchors
- Hoyt Harris: Co-Anchor, Acadiana's News Channel at 5,6 & 10pm
- Marcelle Fontenot: Co-Anchor, Acadiana's NewsChannel 5,6 & 10pm
- Tom Voinche: Good Morning Acadiana Co-Host
- Tracy Wirtz: Good Morning Acadiana Co-Host
Reporters
- Mike Magnoli:
- Melissa Hawkes
- Jim Hummel
- Herbie Smith
- Shawn Kline
- Carolyn Cerda
- Jenise Fernandez
Storm Team 3
- Rob Perillo: Chief Meteorologist, Acadiana's NewsChannel at 5:00, 6:00 & 10:00
- Dave Baker: Meteorologist, Good Morning Acadiana
- Natalie Noah: Meteorologist, Weekends
Sports Anchors/Reporters
- Hugh Keeton: Sports Director
- Travis Webb: Weekend Sports Anchor
Former On-Air Staff[]
- Agnes DeRouen: News Director / 5 & 6 p.m. Anchor(1982–2002), Now Managing Editor/Noon Anchor at KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, LA
- Scott Brazda: Sports Director/News Anchor(1989–2006),Left TV News to work for Stuller Family Foundations
- Eric Davis: Meteorologist(2001–2004), now at WECT in Wilmington, NC
- Suzzane Ferrara: Reporter, Left TV News, Now at KPEL-FM Radio
- Candice Gale: Good Morning Acadiana Anchor (1999–2005)
- Kari Hall: Meteorologist (January 2005 - August 24, 2009), Now at WKYT in Lexington, KY
- Avry Jones: Sports Director(1996–1998), Left TV News
- Julie Kelley: 5pm and 10pm co.anchor(1998–2008) contract not renewed, now with Miles Perret cancer center.
- Tonya LaCoste: Weekend Anchor(1999–2007), Now KPEL-FM Radio Anchor
- Bill Leger: Anchor, Now at KFDM in Beaumont, TX since 1994
- Parella Lewis: Meteorologist,now at KCPQ-TV as Weekend Meteorologist
- Kent Masson: Weekend Sports Anchor(1997–2003), Left TV News
- Pat Minnis: Sports Director(1998–2003), Left TV News
- Darla Montgomery: 6 & 10pm Anchor(2003–2006)
- Dave Osterberg: GMA Meteorologist(1995–1997), Now at WTVT Tampa, FL
- Nelson Robinson: Chief Meteorologist(1989–1995)
- Sarah Rosario: now at WBRZ Baton Rouge
- Deborah Terribile: Anchor(1982–2003), Left TV News in March 2003
- Kris Wartelle: 10pm Anchor/Reporter(1993–1999), left KATC in 1999
- Evan Anderson: Reporter (Now at WVUE-TV New Orleans.)
- Megan Schiering: Reporter (Now at WLOS-TV Asheville, N.C.)
News/Station presentation[]
Newscast titles[]
- TV-3 News (1960s)
- Total News (1970s)
- TV-3 Action News (1970s-1980s)
- Action 3 News (1980s & 1991-1995)
- Newswatch 3 (late 1980s)
- NewsChannel 3 (mid 1990s)
- KATC, Acadiana's NewsChannel (1995–present)
Station slogans[]
- Acadiana's News Leader (1986–1991)
- The Spirit of Acadiana (1991–2008; general slogan)
- Where Local News Comes First (1991–1998; news slogan)
- More Local News (1998–2003)
- News That Gets to the Point. (2003–present)
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