The KFVS transmitter tower was unbelievably tall!!!! I believe that at one time it was the tallest structure on Earth...
I used to wonder what it would be like to put a 2 meter ham radio repeater on it....
I have lived in Cape Girardeau, St louis City, Webster Groves and a few other places in MO...
In St Louis channel 11 once went off the air and we were able to pick up KFVS from Cape on 12, since 11 always bled over onto 12... that was from about 90 miles away.
For a couple of years, the KFVS tower was the tallest structure on earth..one reason the Cape Girardeau-Paducah-Harrisburg TV market is one of the largest (geographically) in the country (55 counties, across SE Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky and northwest Tennessee. Watching Channel 12 as a kid, I remember they would give regional weather forecasts for southwest Indiana and northeast Arkansas as well—they had enough viewers in those areas to give them the forecast as well.
KFVS was founded by a man named Oscar Hirsch, who also built the tallest building in Cape Girardeau to house the station and other tenents. He sold out in the early 80s when companies were snapping up TV stations (they were basically a license to print money in those days). New ownership looked at the ratings and had the good sense to retain the on-air staff. Even today, Channel 12’s ratings are up to 75% higher in some dayparts than their nearest competition, Channel 6 in Paducah.
Interestingly enough, one of my classmates from college is general manager of Channel 6, and another alum (about 3 years ahead of me) is the news director at that station (WPSD). On-air staff at WPSD was also known for its longevity....