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KTUU-TV
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KTUU-TV (channel 2) is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with NBC and CBS. It is owned by Gray Media alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate KAUU (channel 5). The two stations share studios on East 40th Avenue in midtown Anchorage; KTUU-TV's transmitter is located in Knik, Alaska.
Key Information
Some of KTUU-TV's programming is broadcast to rural communities via low-power translators through the Alaska Rural Communications Service (ARCS).
History
[edit]
The construction permit for channel 2 in Anchorage was issued on July 29, 1953, to Keith Kiggins and Richard R. Rollins.[3] The permit took the call sign KFIA ("First in Anchorage") and then began construction, with an antenna being placed atop the Westward Hotel at Third Avenue and F Street. The same day the FCC granted a construction permit for channel 2, it also greenlit Anchorage's channel 11, KTVA, sparking a race to be the first broadcast television station in the territory (statehood for Alaska would come in 1959).
It appeared that KFIA was ahead when it announced it would broadcast its first test pattern on October 15, as KTVA was unpacking its equipment.[4] However, it failed to put out a picture that night. Two days later, on the October 17, the first television test pattern in Alaska was broadcast, but the station missed its announced November 1 start date. Picture quality control equipment was late getting to Anchorage, pushing back the start date twice. It was only a month and a half later that KFIA made it on the air, on December 14, but in that time, it had lost its claim to be first in Anchorage with programming, as KTVA had signed on December 11. Both stations had also been beat by a cable system in Ketchikan to be the first source of television programming anywhere in the territory. When the station did get on the air, it did so "quietly and without fanfare", in the words of its general manager.[4]
Midnight Sun Broadcasting (The Lathrop Company), owned by Alvin Oscar "Al" Bramstedt Sr. bought the station in 1954; the station's call letters were changed to KENI-TV in 1955; that year, it moved into the Fourth Avenue Theatre, also known as the Lathrop Building, downtown. Lathrop sold KENI-AM-TV plus its other radio and TV stations—KTKN in Ketchikan, KFAR-AM-TV in Fairbanks, and KINY-AM-TV in Juneau—to All-Alaska Broadcasting Company, which later became Midnight Sun Broadcasters in 1960.
On September 19, 1966, channel 2 became the first station in Alaska to transmit in color when it aired the premiere episode of the ABC sitcom That Girl (entitled "Don't Just Do Something, Stand There!"). The station had joint primary affiliation with NBC and ABC (with KTVA picking up some of the slack) until October 1, 1967, when it switched to ABC primary and NBC secondary, primarily because ABC had more programs on film. Channel 2 became a full-time ABC affiliate in 1970 when KHAR (channel 13, now KYUR) took the NBC affiliation. The two stations switched networks in October 1971, at which time KHAR became KIMO. Channel 2 also carried a few PBS programs (particularly The Electric Company) until KAKM signed on in 1975. Until KTVF in Fairbanks switched networks from CBS to NBC in April 1996, KTUU was the only full-time NBC affiliate in Alaska, clearing every network program. On June 3, 1981, Midnight Sun Broadcasters sold the station to Zaser and Longston of Bellevue, Washington, who changed the call letters to the current KTUU-TV the next week on June 10 in conjunction with the sale.
In August 2010, KTUU became the third Schurz-owned television station (after KWCH-DT and KSCW-DT in Wichita, Kansas, and WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia) to relaunch its website through a new partnership with the Tribune Company's Tribune Interactive division. Previously, the Web address was operated by the local media division of World Now. The other Schurz television station websites, which were operated by Broadcast Interactive Media, also followed after their CMS contract with BIM ran out.
On November 9, 2013, KTUU-TV was dropped by GCI in 22 rural communities, after the two sides were unable to come to a new retransmission agreement, though GCI still carries some KTUU and NBC programming in some of these areas through the Alaska Rural Communications Service. The dispute did not involve areas (including Anchorage) where GCI carries KTUU through must-carry. The move followed the sale of rival KTVA to a subsidiary of GCI a week earlier, which KTUU had opposed over concerns that this move could be made. KTUU's channel slot on most of the affected systems was filled by Starz Kids & Family. Despite this dispute, KTUU extended its newscast carriage agreement with KATH-LD in Juneau and KSCT-LP in Sitka (which were also acquired by GCI at the same time it acquired KTVA) through November 22;[5][6][7] that agreement was subsequently extended through December 6 as negotiations continued toward a long-term deal,[8] but talks ultimately broke down, and by December 7 KATH/KSCT no longer aired KTUU programming.[9] A deal between GCI and KTUU was finally reached on February 6, 2014; this allowed the station to return to GCI's rural systems (as well as separately-owned cable systems that receive KTUU through GCI) in time for NBC's broadcast of the 2014 Winter Olympics, as well as the eventual restoration of KTUU's newscasts to KATH/KSCT.[10]
Schurz announced on September 14, 2015, that it would exit broadcasting and sell its television and radio stations, including KTUU-TV, to Gray Television for $442.5 million.[11][12] Associated with the purchase, on October 1, 2015, it was announced that Gray would buy MyNetworkTV-affiliated KYES-TV for $500,000.[13] The acquisition of KYES created the first legal duopoly in the market (KTBY and KYUR operate as a virtual duopoly). The FCC approved the Schurz sale on February 12, 2016;[14] and the sale was completed on February 16.[15] The KYES acquisition was completed on June 27, 2016;[16] it had been approved on June 17 under the condition that KYES not affiliate with a network that would make that station one of the top-four stations in the Anchorage market.[17]
News operation
[edit]

KTUU presently broadcasts 22 hours, 25 minutes of locally produced newscasts each week (with 4 hours, 5 minutes each weekday and one hour each on Saturdays and Sundays). The two-hour weekday newscast Morning Edition, 6 p.m. hour, and 10 p.m. late newscast are simulcast with KAUU. A half-hour KTUU-exclusive newscast airs at 5 p.m., followed by the NBC Nightly News at 5:30 p.m. All newscasts are branded as Alaska's News Source, KTUU's longtime news slogan. KTUU does not carry a midday or weekend morning newscast.
Following Gray's purchase of the non-license assets of KTVA, that station's news operation was inherited by KYES-TV (now KAUU); with its existing ownership of KTUU-TV, this gave Gray control of two news operations in the Anchorage market.[18] On August 30, 2020, KTVA's news operation aired its final newscast from its facility. The next day, Gray launched Alaska's News Source, which hired 11 staffers from KTVA,[19] and acts as a combined news operation for both KTUU and KYES. The combined newscasts began to air August 31, 2020.
KTUU has been the top-rated station in the Anchorage market for decades; its ratings for their newscasts helped make them one of the strongest NBC affiliates in the country and its newscasts routinely receive several times more viewers than its competition.[20] The KTUU news team routinely wins regional and national awards and in 1999, became the first television station in Alaska with their own satellite uplink truck (NewsStar 2). The National Press Photographers Association named KTUU the Small Market Television News Photography Station of the Year in 2006, 2008 and 2010.[21] In 2013, KTUU was also the first in Alaska to broadcast their news in high definition.
Notable former staff
[edit]- Chuck Henry – anchor (1967–1968, later at KNBC in Los Angeles; now retired)
- Sarah Palin – fill-in sports anchor; former Alaska governor and U.S. vice presidential candidate[22]
Technical information
[edit]Subchannels
[edit]The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | KTUU-HD | NBC |
| 2.2 | 480i | H&I | Heroes & Icons | |
| 2.3 | StartTV | Start TV | ||
| 2.4 | Crime | True Crime Network | ||
| 5.11 | 1080i | CBS | CBS |
Analog-to-digital conversion
[edit]KTUU-TV ended regular programming over its analog signal, over VHF channel 2, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 10, using virtual channel 2.[24]
As part of the SAFER Act, KTUU-TV kept its analog signal on the air until July 12 to inform viewers of the digital television transition through a loop of public service announcements from the National Association of Broadcasters.[25]
Translators
[edit]KTUU-TV extends its over-the-air coverage through a network of translator stations.
See also
[edit]- Hawaii News Now (a combined news operation for sister stations KGMB and KHNL in Honolulu, Hawaii)
References
[edit]- ^ Mitchell, Elaine B., ed. (1973). Alaska Blue Book (First ed.). Juneau, AK: Alaska Department of Education, Division of State Libraries. p. 136.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KTUU-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "History Cards for KTUU-TV". Federal Communications Commission. (Guide to reading History Cards)
- ^ a b Reamer, David (October 24, 2021). "In the 1950s, the race to bring television to Alaska was marked by anticipation, suspense and mishaps". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ Torquiano, Neil (November 9, 2013). "GCI Drops KTUU-TV from 22 Communities in Broadcast Dispute". KTUU.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ Grove, Casey (November 9, 2013). "Deal fails; GCI drops KTUU to 7,000 rural subscribers". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "KTUU leaves 22 Alaska communities". SitNews. November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ Alexander, Rosemarie (November 25, 2013). "KTUU And GCI Cable Continue Talks". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
- ^ "KTUU service in Southeast to change". Juneau Empire. December 6, 2013. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ "Agreement finalized, KTUU-TV programming to return to rural Alaska on GCI cable systems". KTUU.com. February 6, 2014. Archived from the original on February 7, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
- ^ "Schurz Communications to sell WSBT and other TV, radio stations". South Bend Tribune. September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Kuperberg, Jonathan (September 14, 2015). "Gray Acquiring TV, Radio Stations from Schurz for $442.5 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Gray Television Sells Some, Buys Some - TVNewsCheck
- ^ FCC Approves Gray-Schurz TV Station Deal. Broadcasting & Cable, February 12, 2016, Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- ^ Gray Closes Schurz Acquisition, Related Transactions, And Incremental Term Loan Facility Press Release, Gray Television, Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ^ "Consummation Notice". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. June 27, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- ^ DA 16-692 - Federal Communications Commission
- ^ McDarban, Alex (August 1, 2020). "One company will own Anchorage's 2 local TV news stations after deal with GCI". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ L, Jeff; field (August 26, 2020). "Gray Television hires 11 KTVA employees". The Alaska Landmine. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Revamped KTVA still trails KTUU in Anchorage TV ratings". Anchorage Daily News. January 2, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ [1] Archived December 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Shea, Danny (September 30, 2008). "Sarah Palin: From TV Sports Anchor To Vice Presidential Candidate". Huffington Post. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KTUU". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
- ^ "UPDATED List of Participants in the Analog Nightlight Program" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. June 12, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
External links
[edit]KTUU-TV
View on GrokipediaHistory
Establishment and early years
KTUU-TV traces its origins to KFIA-TV, which began regular broadcasting on December 14, 1953, as Anchorage's second television station on VHF channel 2. The station was established by Keith Kiggins and Richard R. Rollins, broadcasters from San Diego, California, who secured the FCC construction permit on July 29, 1953, and initially operated from studios in the Westward Hotel in downtown Anchorage. Although a test signal had aired earlier on October 17, the formal launch marked a key milestone in Alaska's nascent broadcasting landscape, competing closely with rival KTVA in bringing television to the territory.[6][4] In late 1954, Midnight Sun Broadcasting Company, controlled by the Lathrop Company and managed by Al Bramstedt Sr., acquired KFIA-TV for an undisclosed sum, leading to a call sign change to KENI-TV in 1955. The new ownership upgraded facilities, including relocation of studios to the 4th Avenue Theatre Building in downtown Anchorage and construction of a transmitter on Flattop Mountain to enhance signal reach across the region. From its inception, KENI-TV served as a joint primary affiliate of ABC and NBC, providing Alaskans with network programming amid limited local media options. It became primary ABC with a secondary NBC affiliation in 1967 before transitioning to full primary NBC in 1971.[4][7][8] A pivotal early achievement came on September 19, 1966, when KENI-TV broadcast Alaska's first color television program, the ABC sitcom That Girl, pioneering color transmission in the state and requiring viewers to acquire compatible sets for the enhanced viewing experience. The station's transmitter on Flattop Mountain supported this technological leap, broadcasting to a growing audience in Anchorage and surrounding areas through the late 1960s and 1970s. KENI-TV also played a vital role in community service, notably during the 9.2-magnitude Great Alaska Earthquake on March 27, 1964, when its broadcasts—via both television and affiliated radio—delivered real-time updates, safety information, and messages to a shaken population, underscoring its foundational importance in emergency communications.[4][9]Ownership transitions
In 1959, Midnight Sun Broadcasting Company sold KENI-TV to All Alaska Broadcasting Company, which later became Midnight Sun Broadcasters Inc.[4] In 1981, Midnight Sun Broadcasters sold KTUU-TV's predecessor, KENI-TV, to Zaser and Longston Inc., a broadcasting company based in Bellevue, Washington, marking a significant ownership transition and prompting the station to adopt its current call letters as Channel 2 Broadcasting Company.[4][10] Zaser and Longston retained ownership for over two decades, during which the station solidified its position as Anchorage's leading NBC affiliate without further major corporate changes.[11] On March 19, 2008, Zaser and Longston sold KTUU-TV to Schurz Communications Inc., an Indiana-based media group, for $26 million, transitioning the station into a portfolio that emphasized local journalism and technological upgrades.[12][11] Under Schurz's ownership from 2008 to 2015, the station invested heavily in infrastructure, including a $22 million expansion to a new 40,000-square-foot facility on East 40th Avenue in midtown Anchorage, completed in 2014, which supported high-definition broadcasting and enhanced news production capabilities.[13][14] Schurz announced the sale of its entire television division, including KTUU-TV, to Gray Television on September 14, 2015, as part of a $442.5 million deal for 15 stations and related assets, with the transaction receiving FCC approval and closing on February 16, 2016.[15][16] This acquisition integrated KTUU into Gray's growing network of over 140 stations, focusing on operational synergies in smaller markets like Anchorage.[17] Since the Gray acquisition, KTUU-TV has seen operational consolidation with its sister station, KYES-TV (channel 5), particularly after Gray secured the CBS affiliation for the Anchorage market on July 31, 2020, by acquiring non-license assets from KTVA, leading to shared news resources and a unified branding as Alaska's News Source across both outlets.[18][5] As of November 2025, no further ownership changes have occurred, with Gray maintaining full control and emphasizing integrated local content delivery.[4]Affiliation and operational changes
KTUU-TV originally operated as a joint primary affiliate of NBC and ABC upon its launch in 1953, sharing some programming with KTVA (channel 11).[8] In 1967, the station shifted to ABC as its primary affiliation, while carrying select NBC programs.[8] This arrangement changed in October 1971, when KTUU-TV swapped networks with KHAR-TV (channel 13, now KYUR), becoming a full-time NBC affiliate—a status it has maintained since.[19] The affiliation was further solidified during Schurz Communications' ownership beginning in 2008, when the company acquired the station and invested in expanded facilities and programming.[16] In 2020, KTUU-TV expanded its service footprint by incorporating CBS programming through its sister station KYES-TV (channel 5), which launched "CBS 5 Anchorage" on July 31 following Gray Television's acquisition of KTVA's non-license assets and CBS affiliation.[20] This move ended KTVA's long-standing CBS role and allowed KTUU-TV to offer dual-network coverage, with CBS initially simulcast on KYES-TV's main channel and later available via KTUU-TV's subchannel 2.11.[21] A significant carriage dispute arose in 2013 with GCI, Alaska's largest cable provider, over retransmission consent fees. Negotiations failed, leading GCI to drop KTUU-TV from its systems in 22 rural communities affecting about 7,000 subscribers on November 9, 2013.[22] The blackout extended to Southeast Alaska markets like Juneau and Sitka by December.[23] After months of talks, the parties reached a new multi-year agreement on February 6, 2014, restoring KTUU-TV's carriage the following day.[24] Operational integration between KTUU-TV and KYES-TV advanced on August 31, 2020, with the formalization of a news sharing agreement under Gray Television's ownership. This merged news production resources while preserving separate on-air identities, rebranding the combined operation as Alaska's News Source to deliver unified local coverage across NBC and CBS platforms.[18] As of 2025, KTUU-TV continues its dual NBC/CBS service, with NBC on the primary channel and CBS simulcast via subchannels on both KTUU-TV and KYES-TV, reflecting ongoing adaptations to multi-network delivery without major affiliation shifts.[18]News and programming
News operation
KTUU-TV's news department, operating under the "Alaska's News Source" branding, produces approximately 32 hours of news, weather, and sports content each week, encompassing morning, midday, evening, and late-night newscasts broadcast across its primary channel and sister station KYES-TV.[4] This extensive schedule supports comprehensive coverage for Anchorage and extends statewide through digital platforms and simulcasts.[4] KTUU-TV dominated ratings in the Anchorage market during the 1990s and 2010s, leading in local news viewership among key demographics such as adults 25-54.[25] For instance, in November 2015 Nielsen ratings, KTUU captured 44% of the weekday 6 a.m. newscast audience share, underscoring its position as Alaska's most-watched news organization.[26] Technological advancements have been central to KTUU's news operations, including the launch of a state-of-the-art high-definition facility in 2014 following construction announced in 2013, which enhanced production capabilities for multi-platform delivery.[14] Earlier milestones include Alaska's first color television transmission in 1966 and pioneering live broadcasts from remote locations such as Prudhoe Bay and Denali base camp.[4] The integration of digital tools enables real-time live reporting, particularly for weather events and breaking news, supported by streaming apps and a website attracting 4-6 million monthly page views.[4] The newsroom employs around 50-85 personnel in total station operations, with a core news team comprising on-air talent, reporters, producers, and support staff dedicated to both Anchorage-focused and statewide reporting.[27] Following Gray Media's 2020 acquisition of assets from KTVA and relocation of the CBS affiliation to sister station KYES, the stations now share a unified newsroom structure, allowing integrated production for NBC and CBS affiliates while emphasizing collaborative coverage across Alaska.[28] In 2021, Alaska's News Source fully integrated news operations with southeast Alaska stations KATH and KYEX, as well as low-power KAUU, enhancing statewide reporting capabilities.[4] Coverage prioritizes Alaska-specific issues, including the oil industry, wildlife conservation, and natural disasters, with investigative reporting highlighting in-depth stories under the "Alaska's News Source" banner.[18] Journalists frequently deploy to remote areas using planes, boats, and snowmachines to document events like oil pipeline developments and seismic activity, contributing to the station's reputation for authoritative local journalism.[4]Syndicated and local programming
KTUU-TV's primary channel features the full NBC network schedule, including morning staples like Today and evening broadcasts such as NBC Nightly News.[29] The station complements this with syndicated programming in key slots, airing Wheel of Fortune at 6:30 p.m. and Jeopardy! at 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, while daytime hours include shows like The Kelly Clarkson Show and reruns of Dateline.[30] These offerings fill access and fringe periods, providing entertainment alongside the network lineup.[31] Sister station KYES, operating as the CBS affiliate on channel 5, carries the CBS primetime schedule and syndicated fare such as Last Man Standing in late-night slots, along with daytime court shows and sitcom reruns.[32][33] Multicast subchannels expand options further: 2.2 broadcasts Heroes & Icons, featuring classic action and adventure series like NCIS and Renegade, while 2.3 airs Start TV with female-led crime dramas including The Closer.[34][35] Local original programming emphasizes Alaska-specific content, such as lifestyle segments highlighting regional culture and outdoor activities, alongside comprehensive sports coverage of events like the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and local teams.[36] Typical weekday schedules bookend non-news blocks with these elements, optimizing viewer access to entertainment and community-focused material.[29] Since the 2020 rebranding to Alaska's News Source and subsequent integration of operations between KTUU and KYES, scheduling has evolved to streamline syndicated and local content across platforms for greater efficiency, including enhanced multicast distribution.[33] The stations also produce in-house special events programming, covering annual occasions like the Alaska State Fair and holiday celebrations.[37]Technical information
Subchannels and multicast services
KTUU-TV broadcasts in ATSC 1.0 format and utilizes its digital multiplex to offer multiple subchannels, providing a mix of network programming and syndicated content targeted at diverse audiences.[38] The primary channel airs in high definition, while subchannels operate in standard definition to accommodate additional programming streams.[38] The station's subchannel lineup is as follows:| Virtual Channel | Physical Channel | Resolution | Affiliation/Content | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | 10.3 | 1080i | NBC (KTUU-HD) | Carries the full NBC network schedule with local news inserts from Alaska's News Source.[38] |
| 2.2 | 10.4 | 480i | Heroes & Icons | Features classic television shows and movies, including action-adventure series, westerns, and crime dramas from the 1950s to 2000s.[38][39] |
| 2.3 | 10.5 | 480i | Start TV | Focuses on female-led crime dramas and mysteries, such as Rizzoli & Isles and Murder, She Wrote.[38][40] |
| 2.4 | 10.6 | 480i | True Crime Network | Dedicated to true crime documentaries and investigation series, including Forensic Files and The FBI Files.[38][41] |