KDUB-TV

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)

In January 1974 Green tried to block TH Inc. later WOODWARD COMMUNICATIONS, INC. from renewing its license for KDTH. (3) Green also fought the Federal Communications Commission over allegations that he paid a $14,000 bribe to ABC for the station to become one of its affiliates. He was cleared of the charges.

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. (4)

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. (5)

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. (6)

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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. Webber

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

5. Ibid.

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