Possible Structure Fire At Former Ogden TV Studio

[David]

I'm not 100% positive on this, but it appears there was a structure fire on Christmas Eve at the former KVOG/KOET TV studio building at 1538 Gibson Ave. in Ogden. I compared the photo of the front of the building pictured in the KTVX TV article to the photo of 1538 Gibson on Google Maps, and it sure looks like the fire was at the old KVOG/KOET TV building. IIRC, this building was also the original home of KVOG/KOGN radio, and also the home of KSVN radio for a few years. According to the article, damage is estimated at $30,000.
www.abc4.com/news/transients-inside-vacant-building-possibly-responsible-for-starting-ogden-structure-fire/

[friendlee]

David, I just read this......! Yes, that's KSVN - KVOG - KOET.....

[David]

I drove past the site of the former KVOG/KOET studio on Gibson Avenue earlier this afternoon, and it's already in the process of being demolished. The old KOGN/KJQN studio building and the AM tower are still standing, but from the looks of things they're next on the chopping block. The radio station building is almost right next to the old TV studio, and I suspect both lots are going to be cleared to build apartments or possibly storage units before long. There's a lot of development taking place along the 12TH ST corridor in Ogden, and I noticed there's already new apartments or townhomes on the lots behind the buildings on Gibson. Sorry FriendLee, but it looks like both buildings will be gone by the end of January. From what I could see from my car, it looked like only the back wall of the old TV studio was still standing. I can't say I'm surprised they're being torn down after the fire at the TV studio on Christmas Eve. Whoever owns the property now is probably being pressured by Ogden City to get the buildings torn down ASAP to prevent more homeless people from starting fires in them.

[friendlee]

Thanks for the update! It's sad to see it go but like many tower sites and studios, what was once the outskirts of town is no longer quite so rural anymore. I'll be in SLC this weekend so I will have to remember to make a detour on the way there to "pay my respects" to radio and television history.

[David]

I was reading the Wikipedia article about KVOG/KOET TV earlier, and I noticed something that I had overlooked before. When Arch Webb still owned KVOG-TV and it was an independent commercial station, channel 9 broadcast the first 9 PM newscast in Utah, "News At 9 on 9". Just some Utah TV history trivia for your "gee whiz" file. 🙂