Station Info

Bio

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Our Story

June 29, 1953 KCSJ-TV began its first broadcasting day in the Pueblo/Colorado Springs market. The broadcasting “day” lasted between 9 and 10 hours because Channel 5 was limited to only locally-produced programming. A few days later, on July 5, Channel 5 officially became an NBC affiliate.

What is DTV?

DTV, or digital television, is a new kind of over-the-air broadcasting that allows TV stations to provide dramatically clearer pictures and better sound quality.  The transition DTV represents the most significant advancement of television technology since color TV was introduced.

Why the switch to DTV?

DTV, or digital television, is a more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system.  The switch to digital broadcasting will enable television stations to offer dramatically clearer pictures, better sound quality and more programming choices.  

Who's affected by the DTV switchover?

People who watch over-the-air television signals through antennas on television sets that are not equipped with new digital tuners – and who do not subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider – will be affected by the transition.

Details about DTV converter boxes

A DTV converter box is easy to install; it hooks up to your analog television set and over-the-air antenna.  The box converts the digital television signal into analog, making it viewable on your analog TV.

Choosing a DTV antenna

In general, dependable reception of DTV will require the same type of antenna that currently works to provide good quality reception of analog TV signals.  However, after February 17, 2009, some TV stations will be moving to a different channel.

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Broadcast Information

KOAA-TV's Colorado Springs / Pueblo Coverage is quite extensive and also different than most the networks that are in this market.  KOAA-DT Began broadcasting on channel 5-1 on August 1st 2006. KOAA-DT signal and programming is free of charge on RF channel 42 or digital tuner channel 5.1.

Colorado Springs

530 Communications Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
(719) 632-5030

KOAA-TV Quick Connect

News Room - Use this link to submit potential news stories, or things you need us to know about

Assignment Desk - If you have breaking news send it right here.

Sports - Use this link to contact the sports team.

Weather - Use this link to contact the weather team.

Engineering - Use this link to contact our engineering staff. (HDTV, signals,etc)

Programming - Use this link for questions about our programming.

Sales - Use this link if you are interested in advertising on KOAA-TV, News First Now, or KOAA.COM.

KOAA.COM - Use this link if you are having difficulties with our online site such as viewing videos.

Site Content - Use this link if you need help with our website content.  This may include finding information, submitting information, etc.

Free Money Questions/Issues - Use this link if you have questions or you are having issues with our "Free Money" program.

Pueblo

2200 7th Avenue
Pueblo, CO 81003
(719) 544-5781

Management Team

David Whitaker - General Manager
Cindy Aubrey - News Director
Evie Hudson - Business Manager
Tom Wright - General Sales Manager
Cheryl Morford - Regional Sales Manager
Kerri Blanco - Local Sales Manager
Patricia Cone - Community Relations
Ethan Beute - Creative Services Director
Darin Dawson - Internet Director
Greg Boyce - News & Internet Operations
Ron Eccher - Programming Director
Quentin Henry - Director of Engineering
Tom Massmann - Commercial Production

Biographies

David Whitaker

David Whitaker

President and General Manager - A graduate of University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing, Whitaker began his broadcasting career in 1966 with Storer Television as director of sales research at WITI-TV in Milwaukee. He later served as a national sales representative for Storer Television Sales in New York and Chicago.

Cindy Aubrey

Cindy Aubrey

News Director -Cindy Aubrey is News Director at KOAA-TV News First 5 & 30. Aubrey is a Colorado native and a graduate of Colorado State University who began her TV career in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Lisa Lyden

Lisa Lyden

News Anchor, News First at 6pm and 10pm:  Lisa's been the 6pm and 10pm news anchor for the past 24 years.  She's part of a news team that's received numerous awards, including the Colorado Broadcasters Association "Best Newscast" over a dozen times during her tenure.

Rob Quirk

Rob Quirk

News Anchor, News First at 5, 6, and 10pm:   Rob's been working as a primary news anchor for News First since 1989.  He grew up in New York and worked in Arizona and Texas before making his home and raising his family in Colorado Springs.

Georgiann Lymberopoulos

Georgiann Lymberopoulos

News Anchor, News First Today and News First at 5pm:  Georgiann has been working for KOAA-TV since September of 1994.  First hired as a reporter, she now anchors "News First Today" from 5-7am, as well as "News First at 5pm."

Adam Atchison

Adam Atchison

News Anchor, News First Today and News First Mid-day:  Adam started here at News First in June, 2007.  A Colorado native, Adam previously worked at a TV station in Boise, Idaho as a reporter/anchor covering state politics and news throughout the Northwest.

Laura Rojas

Laura Rojas

News Anchor, News First at 4pm & 9 pm on News First Now:  Laura joined the News First team from anchoring and reporting jobs in San Antonio and Amarillo, Texas.  Along with Mike Madson, she delivers two live, local newscasts on our cable channel, News First Now.

Mike Daniels

Mike Daniels

Weather Anchor, News First at 5, 6, and 10pm:  Having been born and raised in Pueblo, Mike know what a challenge it is to forecast our weather here in Southern Colorado.  He's worked here at News First 5/30 for more than 20 years. 

Mike Madson

Mike Madson

Meteorologist, News First at 4pm and 9pm on News First Now:  Mike Madson has more than 20 years of experience tracking Southern Colorado's weather.  Before that, he spent 10 years at KUTV in Salt Lake City, UT.  He loves to teach science classes at the college level.

Craig Eliot

Craig Eliot

Weather Anchor, News First Today and News First Mid-day:  Craig is originally from Seattle, Washington and came to News First 5/30 in December, 1995.  He started in weather with CBS in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Kristen clark

Kristin Clark

Meteorologist:  Kristin joined News First here in Southern Colorado from her home state of Pennsylvania, where she was raised by two professional meteorologists and attended Penn State University's meteorology program.

Lee Douglas

Lee Douglas

Sports Director, Sports Anchor - 5, 6, and 10pm:  Lee has been a radio and television broadcaster here in Southern Colorado for more than 30 years.  His career began in 1973 at KFEL radio in Pueblo.  He's currently the voice of Air Force football.

Jordan Mason

Jordan Mason

Sports Anchor/Reporter: Jordan joined News First in October, 2006.  He's from the Seattle area, attended college at Pepperdine in Malibu, and started his broadcasting career in Medford, Oregon.

James Jarman

James Jarman

Investigative Reporter/Weekend Anchor:  James started working for News First in December of 1996.  He anchored the mid-day newscast and weekend newscasts and now reports for News First Investigates. He's won numerous awards for his reporting from such organizations as the Associated Press, Colorado Broadcasters Association and the Southern Colorado Press Club.

Bill Folsom

Bill Folsom

News Reporter:  Bill came to Colorado Springs from Salt Lake City.  In his opinion, one of the greatest benefits of reporting is meeting different and interesting people. He admires the unsung heroes and loves telling their stories.

Susan Davies

Susan Davies

News Reporter, specializing in Environmental Reporting.  I've been at News First since October of 2003.  I've worked in Green Bay, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland.

Mark Hanrahan

Mark Hanrahan

News/Military Reporter:  Mark came to News First in September, 2006, with experience in Portland, Oregon and Great Falls, Montana.  Though he covers general reporting assignments, his specialty is military reporting here in Southern Colorado.

Rachel Hoffenberg

Rachel Hoffenberg

News/Weather Reporter:  A Colorado native, Rachel Hoffenberg serves as a general assignment reporter on News First 5/30, plus anchors and produces weather reports on News First Now.

Andy Koen

Andy Koen

News/Education Reporter:  Andy started as a studio crew member on News First Today.  He went on to produce that show before becoming a photojournalist.  He's been a general assignment reporter since October, 2006, with an emphasis on our schools and education system. 

Abby Lane

Abby Lane

News Reporter: Abby joined News First as a reporter in October, 2006.  She's worked for MSNBC, NY1, and KTWO, a TV station in Casper, Wyoming.   

David Ortiviz

David Ortiviz

News Reporter/Photojournalist: I was born in Pueblo and I've lived here most of my life. KOAA 5/30 was my favorite station growing up and I am thrilled to be a member of this news team.

Nicole Vandeputte

Nicole Vandeputte

Reporter / Weekend Anchor:  Nicole started at News First in February 2007.  She's from Salisbury, Maryland, near the ocean, where you can get the best seafood.

David Tauchen photo

David Tauchen

News Reporter/Photojournalist:  David joined News First in August, 2007.  He's a Colorado native and a CU-Boulder graduate.  His previous reporting experience was for KGAN in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Don't Miss It

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Tip Form

News First Investigates welcomes your tips.  We want to track down corruption, waste, and fraud in Southern Colorado.  Your tip can be anonymous and is protected in part by the Colorado Press Shield Law. 

wacky stories

Wacky Stories

Weird and unusual stories from Colorado Springs and around the world. This stuff truly earns the title “WACKY”.

Most Wanted Predators

Most Wanted Predators

News First Investigates has a list of Southern Colorado's most wanted sexual predators.  Your anonymous tips can help authorities track them down.

Paradise - Moorea, Tahiti

Featured Picture

Upload your favorite photo to our website.  Others can see it and your photo may be featured on News First.

Free Money

Free Money Deals

Get gift certificates from your favorite local businesses for half of what they are worth.

Sponsored Events

Sponsored Events

Check out our station sponsored events. We have lots of things going on all the time.

Check For Life

Check For Life

News First has joined the fight against Breast Cancer. Click here to find out where to get your Check for Life kit.

Special Sections

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Weekend on the GO!

Lipizzaner Stallions

Mother's Day at Royal Gorge

Brew Ha-ha

Queen City Jazz Band

Woodland Park Colorado

Woodland Park

Not just a rest stop on your way to the mountains. Click here to see what we have to offer.

Peak Radar

Peak Radar

Plan your weekend right here. Theater, Dance, Music, Art, family and more.
What's on your radar?

Gas Tracker

Gas Tracker

Keep up with changing gas prices with gas tracker, track the cheapest gas in town.

Jobs First

Jobs First Colorado

Search for jobs locally and throughout Colorado.

 

Connect With Kids

Connect With Kids

Tough topics about kids and teens. Research-based parenting tips, teacher info, and news about kids.

Teachers First

Teachers First

Honor that special person who inpires kids to learn and grow. Nominate him or her for this monthly award from News First.