By Crystal Harrell
On September 11, KESQ News Channel 3 launched its groundbreaking, state-of-the-art news set to revolutionize daily newscasts throughout the Coachella Valley. Designed and constructed by the renowned FX Design Group, the new set features two expansive LED screens, enhancing the visual experience for viewers and enabling the KESQ News Channel 3 team to deliver stories with greater depth and clarity.
This advanced setup is utilized across all English-language newscasts, including morning, noon, evening, and late-night broadcasts on KESQ News Channel 3 and KPSP CBS Local 2. Additionally, it serves the 6:30 p.m. newscast on KPSP CBS Local 2 and KDFX Fox 11, as well as the 10 p.m. news on KDFX Fox 11.
“Our investment in this cutting-edge news set underscores our unwavering commitment to the future of television news in our community. Paired with our comprehensive local coverage, investigative journalism, and impactful storytelling, this upgrade delivers the dynamic, big-market look that our viewers expect and deserve,” said Jerry Upham, General Manager of Gulf California Broadcast Company.
The Gulf California Broadcast Company is the proud owner of KESQ News Channel 3 and five other prominent television and radio stations in the Palm Springs market—dedicated to delivering essential local news, information, and fostering community connections that bring individuals and organizations together.
From a personal standpoint, I have been a writer for Coachella Valley Weekly for nearly half a decade now, and funny enough, my first article was actually a profile on Chief Meteorologist Haley Clawson in 2019. I have also had the privilege of serving as a Promotions Producer for KESQ News Channel 3 since 2022. As a lifelong Coachella Valley resident and viewer of News Channel 3, it was an absolute pleasure to see this new set come to fruition first-hand—and work among all of the essential players that made the idea of this endeavor a reality.
Of the key department heads who brought their teams together to plan and execute the complicated set launch of this endeavor, Creative Director Kent Kay had a plan similar to the set KESQ News Channel 3 currently has in place since 2013.
“Due to budget constraints, I had to scale it back. At that time, we were in the process of completely renovating our current location, which was a significant expense. As a result, we had to make compromises that led to the set KESQ has been using for the past twelve years. As a result, my heart hurt every time I would see a shot on that set when I knew what could have been,” explained Kay.
Collaboration with FX Design Group began in September of 2023 about what technological advances had come to pass in the last few years that could help KESQ News Channel 3 incorporate various storytelling methods in the small space available. Discussions between Kay and Upham took place, highlighting what they wanted the future of KESQ to look like and the best ways to deliver the viewing experience the Coachella Valley deserved.
“[FX Design Group] took those dreams and measurements and devised an all-inclusive plan that revisited my original plan from 2012 with significant updates. They really knocked it out of the park from the beginning to the end. We took that plan to our corporate management and showed them what was possible, and they signed off on it, which shows our company’s immense commitment to local journalism in our valley. I’m really proud of that, considering we live in a time where other journalistic organizations are making significant cuts and consolidations in our community,” stated Kay.
Hispanic Promotion Director Gustavo Ibarra, who recently celebrated 26 years working for Gulf California Broadcast Company, played a crucial part in taking down the old set and installing the new one—a process he has done twice before in his years working at the station.
“I think that the future of this set is for many, many years. It brings a very advanced technology… I know our audience is satisfied with what they see on air. I have heard people expressing good comments and that is the pay-off for our work and so many hours climbing up ladders [during the installation]. This is what we have done together; it wasn’t just me… I really think that there are families that say, ‘let’s tune in to News Channel 3 and watch and enjoy the new set.’ It is appealing to the eye,” said Ibarra.
The old KESQ News Channel 3 set was donated to Desert Sands Unified School District. The former desk and the backgrounds will be utilized at La Quinta High School, where the school is starting a broadcasting academy. Kay works as a digital arts professor at College of the Desert as well, and finds happiness in the fact that the first set he created for KESQ will continue to live on helping high school students learn about the news industry. The new features of the state-of-the-art set also elevate the storytelling capabilities in a broadcast format.
“Our new digs are incredibly flexible. Our anchors can present in many different locations. Our meteorologists, for example, have had a considerable upgrade. I see Patrick Evans doing the weather from his working weather lab, sometimes he goes over to our BAM monitor (Big Awesome Monitor) and stands there. Or he can go present in front of the traditional chromakey like he has been for the last near quarter century… Our reporters used to have to present their stories in front of a tiny TV. Now it’s really easy to see what they’re talking about. The BAM is taller than all of our reporters! Our anchors can be more conversational with our field reporters as they speak to them in the monitors on set and those conversations tend to lend to a better exchange of information and can be more informative…. We’re done with all the people in boxes. I’m excited for the interactions. I’m excited that this new set will help us create moments of great live TV,” explained Kay.
While this cutting-edge set may be a new addition, KESQ News Channel 3 is a legacy station that has been here in the desert ever since there was television in the Coachella Valley. News Channel 3 is committed to the future of our community—providing better newscasts for viewers and more opportunities to elevate local stories and voices.
“I am extremely proud of the team at News Channel 3. It was a collective effort, from our General Manager, Jerry Upham, who championed this initiative with corporate management, to everyone in our newsroom, including Kade Atwood, our news director, our anchors, and all the hardworking reporters, producers, and editors who diligently produced two or more news stories every day for the Coachella Valley. Our engineering team, led by John Cook and many other individuals in our building, came together to make this a reality. Our Operations manager, Beto Guerra, literally worked for nearly a month without a day off to make sure everything was perfect for launch day. Everyone in our building has staked ownership in our future. What started as my dream has now become everyone’s reality. Each member of our news team is dedicated to the craft of journalism, and it brings me joy to see that our company’s owners recognize and appreciate the contribution KESQ makes to our community and the company as a whole by supporting this amazing investment,” said Kay.
