KXTV Channel 10 Broadcast Tower

KXTV’s “aesthetic” broadcast tower was thought to be the first of its kind in North America, reflecting the future of digital broadcasting.  Channel 10′s previous broadcast tower was only 70 feet tall, relatively insufficient compared with others in the area that rose as much as 550 feet. Downtown Sacramento high-rise buildings and trees surrounding KXTV’s property were becoming an increasing problem, causing interruptions of the station’s analog signals. The new tower corrected these problems and ensured the integrity of the station’s digital transmission capabilities. KXTV, long an anchor facility and advocate of improvements to the Broadway Street Corridor, elected not to construct a conventional broadcast tower, examples of which may be seen throughout Sacramento. The tower design melded the demanding engineering requirements for communications towers with sensitivity to the suggestions of the surrounding businesses and residents while creating an icon and gateway for the Broadway Street Corridor. Vibrant colors and illumination at night draw attention to the geometrical form as a landmark and “public art” in Sacramento.

The steel tower is triangular and tops out at 302 feet at the top of the pole mounted FAA warning light. Six and eight feet diameter broadcast dishes, placed at two levels of the tower and shielded from view behind radio frequency panels, send and receive the digital television signals. Ample room was provided for Personal Communications System (PCS) companies to lease space for mounting the antennas that support mobile devices – reducing the need to build smaller communication towers in the future in the area.