KFGT-TV

KFGT-TV is an ABC affiliate that serves the Eloy, Arizona market. It broadcasts on Channel 31. Syndicated programming on Live! with Kelly and Michael, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! among others.

History
KFGT signed on the air back on October 28th, 1956 and signed on as an affiliate of ABC. Like the other ABC affiliates in the country, because ABC's ratings were less that spectacular, KFGT's ratings were coming in third behind KETY and KWFG. The station finally gained a traction in the ratings in the 1970s when, thanks to CBS and ABC on the rise and NBC on the decline, KFGT's saw their ratings rise and they became in a fierce ratings battle with KETY. From 1975-84, KFGT and KETY traded spots with each other. Suddenly in 1985, KWFG started rising thanks to NBC being no. 1 overall in the nation. Meanwhile, KFGT saw their ratings falling to a distant 3rd. Meanwhile, the original Capital Cities Communications (who owned the station) shocked the media when they bought ABC in 1985 and became an ABC owned and operated station.

In 1996, the Walt Disney Company bought the original Capital Cities/ABC company (which included KFGT) and changed the name of the company itself to ABC, Inc., and KFGT remained an O&O affiliate of ABC. KFGT was not affected by the 2014 fictional tv station realignment.

Station Slogans

 * Eloy's New Full Power Station (1956-1964)
 * Broadcasting In Color (1963-1971)
 * Let's Get Together on 31 (1970-1971)
 * In Touch with Eloyland (1971-1983)
 * This is the Place to Be on 31 (1971-1974)
 * Hello Eloyland, Hello 31 (1974-1975)
 * Welcome to the New Bright World on 31 (1975-1976)
 * Let Us Be the one on 31 (1976-1977)
 * You're Still Having Fun, 31 is Still the One (1977-1978)
 * We're the One on 31 (1978-1980)
 * You and Me and 31 (1980-1981)
 * Now is the Time, 31 is the Place (1981-1982)
 * Come on Along with 31 (1982-1983)
 * Eloy's Biggest News Force (1983-1987)
 * That Special Feeling on 31 (1983-1984)
 * We're With You on 31 (1984-1985)
 * You'll Love It on 31 (1985-1986)
 * Together on 31 (1986-1987)
 * Your 24-Hour News Source (1987-1996)
 * Something's Happening on 31 (1987-1990)
 * Eloyland's Watching 31 (1990-1992)
 * If It's in Eloy, It Must Be 31 (1992-1993)
 * Watched By More Eloyland, 31, ABC (1993-1996)
 * Number 1 in Eloy! (1996-present)
 * Nobody Does It Like 31 (1996-1997)
 * TV is Good on 31 (1997-1998)
 * We Love TV on ABC 31 (1998-1999)
 * ABC Eloy, Start Here (2009-2013)
 * ABC 31, Start Here (2013-present)

Ownership History
* 1956-1958: KFGT, Inc.

* 1958-1986: ABC

* 1986-1995: Capital Cities/ABC

* 1995-present: Disney/ABC

Current On-Air Staff
Janice Errington - News Director


 * Sheryl Ramoray - anchor; weekday mornings "ABC 31 Eyewitness News Good Morning Eloy" and "ABC 31 Eyewitness News Midday"


 * Lana Heidemann - anchor; weekday mornings "ABC 31 Eyewitness News Good Morning Eloy" and "ABC 31 Eyewitness News Midday"


 * Rich Robertson - anchor; weeknights at 5, 6, and 10


 * Lori Adams - anchor; weeknights at 5, 6, and 10


 * Daphne Mendoza - anchor; weekend evenings

ABC 31 Weather Lab Meteorologists

 * Trisha Williams - meteorologist; weekday mornings "ABC 31 Eyewitness News Good Morning Eloy" and "ABC 31 Eyewitness News Midday"


 * Patrick Burgess - chief meteorologist (AMS Seal of Approval); weeknights at 5, 6, and 10


 * Bailey Skoff - meteorologist; weekend evenings

ABC 31 Sportsdesk Team

 * Tracy Gallop - sports director; weeknights at 6 and 10


 * Heidi Richter - sports reporter; weekend evenings

Current On-Air Reporters

 * Sandra Lewiston  - general assignment reporter


 * Tyler Bateman - general assignment reporter


 * Randy Stokes - general assignment reporter


 * Quincy Johnson - general assignment reporter


 * Kathy Kirkland - general assignment reporter


 * Courtney Beard - general assignment reporter


 * Rob Conner - general assignment reporter

Newscast Titles

 * The Eloy News Report (1956-1964)


 * KFGT-TV News (1964-1968)


 * (Channel 31) Eyewitness News (1968-1998)


 * ABC 31 Eyewitness News (1998-2005; 2013-present)


 * NewsChannel 31 (2005-2009)


 * ABC Eloy Eyewitness News (2009-2013)

News Themes

 * Cool Hand Luke - Lalo Schifrin (1968-1985)
 * News Series 2000 - Gari Media (1985-1995)
 * Eyewitness News - Gari Media (1995-Present)