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KTUU-TV
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

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KENI-TV personnel and mushing officials pose for a photo while covering the World Championship Sled Dog Race during the 1958 Fur Rendezvous Festival in downtown Anchorage. From left, general manager Al Bramstedt, news anchor Ty Clark, cameraman Jim Balog, Bill Stewart and master of ceremonies Orville Lake.

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

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Megan Baldino, former reporter and anchor, waits to begin her report from Front Street in Nome during the 2007 Iditarod.
KTUU's News Star truck parked alongside South Franklin Street in downtown Juneau, circa 2002.
Steve MacDonald, anchor and reporter from 1996 to 2016, prior to a live interview with Alaska Senate candidate Bob Bell at the Dena'ina Center in August 2012.

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

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Technical information

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Subchannels

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The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KTUU-TV[23]
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

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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

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KTUU-TV extends its over-the-air coverage through a network of translator stations.

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
KTUU-TV, virtual channel 2 (UHF digital channel 10), is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to , . Owned by Gray Television alongside low-power affiliate KYES (channel 5), it operates as the flagship of Alaska's News Source, delivering over 32 hours of , weather, and sports programming each week to Southcentral and more than 235 rural communities statewide via the Alaska Rural Communications Service (ARCS). The station traces its roots to October 15, 1953, when it signed on as KFIA, the first television station in , founded by investors Kiggins and Rolling. In 1954, it was acquired by the Lathrop Company's Broadcasting and relaunched as KENI-TV in 1955 with a new transmitter atop Flattop Mountain; it achieved a milestone in 1966 as the first Alaskan station to broadcast in color. Ownership changed hands in 1959 to All Alaska Broadcasting Company (later Broadcasters Inc.), and in 1981, it was purchased by Zaser and Longston, who renamed it KTUU-TV. Schurz Communications acquired it in 2008, forming Northern Lights Media, before Gray Television bought the station in 2016 for $442.5 million as part of a larger deal. In 2020, KTUU rebranded its news operation to Alaska's News Source and expanded with bureaus in Juneau and the Mat-Su Valley, while integrating KYES operations; by 2021, it also incorporated radio simulcasts on KHAR and KFQD. The station has earned numerous accolades, including multiple Regional Emmy Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, and honors, for its coverage of events like the , Prudhoe Bay oil developments, and statewide stories spanning over 586,000 square miles.

History

Establishment and early years

KTUU-TV traces its origins to KFIA-TV, which began regular broadcasting on December 14, 1953, as Anchorage's second on VHF channel 2. The station was established by Keith Kiggins and Richard R. Rollins, broadcasters from , , who secured the FCC construction permit on July 29, 1953, and initially operated from studios in the Westward Hotel in . 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. 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 change to KENI-TV in 1955. The new ownership upgraded facilities, including relocation of studios to the 4th Avenue Theatre Building in 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 , providing Alaskans with network programming amid limited local media options. It became primary ABC with a secondary affiliation in 1967 before transitioning to full primary in 1971. A pivotal early achievement came on September 19, 1966, when KENI-TV broadcast Alaska's first program, the ABC sitcom , 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 and surrounding areas through the late and . KENI-TV also played a vital role in community service, notably during the 9.2-magnitude Great 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.

Ownership transitions

In 1959, Broadcasting Company sold KENI-TV to All Alaska Broadcasting Company, which later became Broadcasters Inc. In 1981, Broadcasters sold KTUU-TV's predecessor, KENI-TV, to Zaser and Longston Inc., a broadcasting company based in , marking a significant ownership transition and prompting the station to adopt its current call letters as Channel 2 Broadcasting Company. Zaser and Longston retained ownership for over two decades, during which the station solidified its position as Anchorage's leading affiliate without further major corporate changes. 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. 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. 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. This acquisition integrated KTUU into Gray's growing network of over 140 stations, focusing on operational synergies in smaller markets like Anchorage. Since the Gray acquisition, KTUU-TV has seen operational consolidation with its , 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 Source across both outlets. As of November 2025, no further ownership changes have occurred, with Gray maintaining full control and emphasizing integrated local content delivery.

Affiliation and operational changes

KTUU-TV originally operated as a joint primary affiliate of and ABC upon its launch in 1953, sharing some programming with KTVA (channel 11). In 1967, the station shifted to ABC as its primary affiliation, while carrying select programs. This arrangement changed in October 1971, when KTUU-TV swapped networks with KHAR-TV (channel 13, now KYUR), becoming a full-time affiliate—a status it has maintained since. The affiliation was further solidified during Schurz Communications' ownership beginning in , when the company acquired the station and invested in expanded facilities and programming. In 2020, KTUU-TV expanded its service footprint by incorporating programming through its KYES-TV (channel 5), which launched "CBS 5 Anchorage" on July 31 following Gray Television's acquisition of KTVA's non-license assets and affiliation. This move ended KTVA's long-standing role and allowed KTUU-TV to offer dual-network coverage, with initially on KYES-TV's main channel and later available via KTUU-TV's subchannel 2.11. A significant carriage dispute arose in 2013 with GCI, Alaska's largest cable provider, over retransmission consent fees. Negotiations failed, leading GCI to drop from its systems in 22 rural communities affecting about 7,000 subscribers on November 9, 2013. The blackout extended to markets like Juneau and Sitka by December. After months of talks, the parties reached a new multi-year agreement on February 6, 2014, restoring 's carriage the following day. 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. 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.

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 KYES-TV. This extensive schedule supports comprehensive coverage for Anchorage and extends statewide through digital platforms and simulcasts. KTUU-TV dominated ratings in the Anchorage market during the and , leading in viewership among key demographics such as adults 25-54. 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. 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. Earlier milestones include Alaska's first color television transmission in 1966 and pioneering live broadcasts from remote locations such as Prudhoe Bay and base camp. The integration of digital tools enables real-time live reporting, particularly for weather events and , supported by streaming apps and a website attracting 4-6 million monthly page views. 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. 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 structure, allowing integrated production for NBC and CBS affiliates while emphasizing collaborative coverage across . In 2021, Alaska's News Source fully integrated news operations with southeast Alaska stations KATH and KYEX, as well as low-power , enhancing statewide reporting capabilities. Coverage prioritizes Alaska-specific issues, including the oil industry, , and , with investigative reporting highlighting in-depth stories under the "Alaska's News Source" banner. 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.

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 . 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 and reruns of . These offerings fill access and fringe periods, providing entertainment alongside the network lineup. 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. subchannels expand options further: 2.2 broadcasts , featuring classic action and adventure series like NCIS and Renegade, while 2.3 airs with female-led crime dramas including . Local original programming emphasizes Alaska-specific content, such as segments highlighting regional culture and outdoor activities, alongside comprehensive coverage of events like the and local teams. Typical weekday schedules non-news blocks with these elements, optimizing viewer access to and community-focused material. 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 distribution. The stations also produce in-house special events programming, covering annual occasions like the Alaska State Fair and holiday celebrations.

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. The primary channel airs in high definition, while subchannels operate in standard definition to accommodate additional programming streams. The station's subchannel lineup is as follows:
Virtual ChannelPhysical ChannelResolutionAffiliation/ContentDescription
2.110.3 (KTUU-HD)Carries the full network schedule with inserts from Alaska's News Source.
2.210.4Features classic television shows and movies, including action-adventure series, westerns, and crime dramas from the 1950s to 2000s.
2.310.5Focuses on female-led crime dramas and mysteries, such as and .
2.410.6Dedicated to documentaries and investigation series, including and .
Subchannel 5.11 simulcasts programming in on physical channel 10.7, branded as "CBS5 Anchorage," and includes shared local news content produced by KTUU-TV's team. This feed is also carried on low-power KYES-LD (virtual 5.1 on physical 22.7), extending coverage within the Anchorage market. As part of Gray Television's broader strategy, these subchannels expand the station's reach to niche audiences by leveraging unused digital bandwidth made available after the 2009 transition to , allowing viewers access to specialized programming without additional spectrum costs.

Digital transition and NextGen TV

KTUU-TV completed its analog-to-digital conversion on June 12, 2009, in compliance with the Federal Communications Commission's nationwide mandate for full-power stations to transition to . On that date, the station discontinued its analog signal on VHF channel 2, shifting exclusively to digital transmissions on physical VHF channel 10 ( 2). This transition aligned with the broader U.S. rollout, which aimed to free up for public safety communications while improving broadcast efficiency and quality. Following the switch, KTUU-TV's digital signal operates with an (ERP) of 50 kW from a transmitter site at the Knik TV Mast, approximately 20 miles northeast of Anchorage, enhancing signal reliability across the region. The station's digital facility, licensed under file number BLCDT-20090619ABI, supports VHF low-band operations optimized for the Anchorage market's challenges. This setup addressed some limitations of the prior analog system, particularly in rural Alaskan areas where signal can be hindered by mountains and distance. In the years after the transition, KTUU-TV upgraded its main channel to full programming, delivering sharper visuals and integrated audio for news, , and local content. The saw further enhancements, including the introduction of subchannels to diversify viewer options without compromising the primary feed. These developments improved accessibility for mobile devices and over-the-air reception, benefiting in remote locations by enabling more robust signal delivery and interactive features like real-time alerts by 2025. Regarding NextGen TV (), KTUU-TV has not yet deployed the standard in the Anchorage market as of November 2025, despite its parent company Gray Media's active role in rolling out the technology elsewhere. Gray Media, a pioneer in adoption, launched the format in select markets starting in 2020, offering features such as 4K HDR video for and weather segments, along with via hosted ATSC 1.0 simulcasts to ensure access for legacy devices. While no specific timeline exists for Anchorage, Gray's partnerships emphasize overcoming rural broadcasting hurdles through advanced compression and IP integration, potentially extending enhanced mobile interactivity and datacasting to Alaskan viewers in the future.

Broadcast coverage and translators

KTUU-TV's primary transmitter is situated at the Knik TV Mast near Knik, Alaska, delivering Grade A coverage to the and the Mat-Su Valley. Broadcasting on VHF channel 10 with an effective radiated power of 50 kW and an antenna height of 774 feet above ground level, the signal extends approximately 61 miles, encompassing about 11,749 square miles and serving an estimated population of 380,617 in Southcentral . To broaden its statewide footprint, KTUU-TV partners with the Alaska Rural Communications Service (ARCS), a network of low-power translators that rebroadcasts the station's programming to over 200 rural communities throughout 's remote regions. This system, managed by the state, addresses the challenges of the state's expansive terrain and mountainous obstacles by deploying low-power repeaters, enabling reliable over-the-air reception in areas beyond the primary signal's reach, such as the , including Fairbanks, and parts of . Examples of key ARCS translators carrying KTUU-TV include facilities serving on the and Fairbanks in the Interior, contributing to a combined market that covers more than 586,000 square miles—larger than the combined area of , , and —and reaches approximately 80% of Alaska's population. These translators play a critical role in providing access to , , and alerts in isolated communities. As of 2025, enhancements to network have focused on digital upgrades, converting additional analog translators to digital formats to deliver high-definition programming and improved signal quality to rural viewers, building on prior conversion projects that modernized over 185 sites.

References

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