sharing between the two stations in regards to news coverage, video footage and the use of reporters, although both outlets maintain their own primary on-air personalities (such as news and sports anchors) that only appear on one station. On April 6, 2009, KPLR debuted an hour-long midday newscast at noon on weekdays. This was followed on September 20, 2010, with the debut of an hour-long afternoon newscast at 4 p.m. On December 23, 2011, KPLR/KTVI opened a news bureau in the newly renovated Peabody Opera House in downtown St. Louis, to better serve the downtown and eastern portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area. On January 28, 2015, KTVI/KPLR introduced a new combined set with LED lighting, two video walls, and a new anchor desk. Both stations now share the set but KPLR has a separate weather center. They also introduced new graphics and music package for both stations the same day. Notable former on-air staff Julie Piekarski – entertainment reporter (1986–1988) Charles Jaco – political and war correspondent Technical information Subchannels The station's ATSC 1.0 channels are carried on the multiplexed digital signals of other St. Louis television stations: On May 31, 2006, KPLR added The Tube Music Network to digital subchannel 11.2; The Tube later abruptly suspended its operations on October 1, 2007. In 2010, the 11.2 subchannel became an affiliate of This TV. On January 1, 2016, the 11.3 subchannel became a Comet affiliate. Analog-to-digital conversion KPLR-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 11, on June 12, 2009, the official date in which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre-transition UHF channel 26. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 11. ATSC 3.0 References External links KPLR-TV Collection Finding Aid at the St. Louis Public Library ATSC 3.0 television stations The CW affiliates Court TV affiliates Comet (TV network) affiliates Rewind TV affiliates Nexstar Media Group 1959 establishments in Missouri Television channels and stations established in 1959 PLR-TV National Hockey League over-the-air television broadcasters