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KAUU (channel 5) is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Gray Media alongside dual NBC/CBS affiliate KTUU-TV (channel 2). The two stations share studios on East 40th Avenue in Anchorage; KAUU's transmitter is located in Knik, Alaska.

Key Information

KAUU (as KYES-TV) acquired the CBS affiliation for Anchorage on July 31, 2020, when Gray Television purchased the non-license assets of KTVA (channel 11) from Denali Media Holdings, a subsidiary of local cable television operator GCI.[2] KAUU continues to carry its former primary service and schedule, which includes syndicated programming and MyNetworkTV, on its fourth subchannel, and GCI channel 11.[3] Programming from KAUU's fourth subchannel is available statewide through the Alaska Rural Communications Service (ARCS) translator network.

As of September 2020, KAUU shares its website and news operation with KTUU, which are both branded under the "Alaska's News Source" moniker.

As of March 3, 2021, CBS programming moved to KYES-LD and KTUU-DT5 (mapped as 5.11) as part of a major transmitter upgrade; the station's other subchannels are still in operation.[4]

History

[edit]

Channel 5 signed on the air as KYES on January 21, 1990, as an independent before joining UPN in January 1995. It also had a secondary affiliation with The WB until that network launched The WB 100+ Station Group on September 21, 1998, in order to shift to cable-only distribution in smaller markets. In January 2006 it was announced that the WB and UPN were to merge operations in September 2006 to form The CW. The station was expected to become a CW affiliate, but on April 24 it was announced that The CW would be carried on a digital subchannel of ABC's Anchorage affiliate KIMO (channel 13, now KYUR). KYES instead became an affiliate of MyNetworkTV and one of only two in Alaska (former sister station K17HC in Juneau was the other); KFXF, the Fox affiliate in Fairbanks, declined an offer to air it as a secondary affiliation. The "-TV" suffix was added in 2007.

KYES's logo from the launch of MyNetworkTV in September 2006 until Gray's acquisition in the summer of 2016.

On October 1, 2015, Gray Television announced that it would acquire KYES-TV and four of its five translators from Fireweed Communications for $500,000, and apply for a "failing station" waiver from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) so it could form a duopoly between KYES-TV and NBC affiliate KTUU, which Gray was acquiring as part of a separate transaction with Schurz Communications.[5][6] Gray stated that it planned to invest in improving the quality of the station's services and programming.[7]

The acquisition was opposed by GCI—the dominant cable provider in Alaska and owner of then-CBS affiliate KTVA (channel 11, now a Rewind TV affiliate)–who filed a complaint to the FCC in December 2015. The company argued that the consolidation of KTUU and KYES would harm the ability for other stations to compete. Alaska state Attorney General Craig W. Richards also objected to the purchase, stating that such a consolidation would have the "potential for significant negative effects on competition in the small Anchorage DMA." Gray objected to GCI's claims, arguing that it was ironic for a "monopoly" utility company to "[allege] anti-competitive harms and serious threats to its impressive bottom line from the combination of KTUU, a strong station with an undisputed record of serving local communities, with [KYES], a weak station that has no local news, that hardly registers in ratings, and that GCI concedes has less than 5% of the local broadcast television advertising market," and that "GCI may need to increase its investments in KTVA to prevail in the marketplace over a new competitor in KYES-TV. Investments and competitive responses are precisely the types of benefits that the commission and the public want to see from broadcasters."[7][8]

On June 17, 2016, the FCC approved the sale of the station to Gray, with the condition that the station would not enter (during two years post-consummation) into an affiliation agreement with a television network that would convert KYES into one of the top-four stations in audience share.[9] The sale was completed on June 27, 2016.[10] Prior to the sale, KYES was one of the few stand-alone, locally owned commercial television stations left in the United States. Immediately after, the station's logo was redesigned, and its MyNetworkTV affiliation was de-emphasized, as has become standard during MyNetworkTV's decline as solely a programming service with limited network imaging. Around the same time, KYES' translator in Juneau, KCBJ-LP (channel 15), took over for K17HC, which was retained by Fireweed, but went dark in 2017.

KYES's logo after becoming a CBS affiliate. The channel was moved to 5.11 in 2021.

On July 31, 2020, KYES-TV's main channel replaced KTVA as the CBS affiliate for Anchorage as Gray Television purchased the affiliation, along with other non-license assets, from the owner of KTVA, GCI subsidiary Denali Media Holdings. KYES-TV changed its on-air branding to CBS 5 Anchorage, and Gray also inherited KTVA's news operation and employees, along with its full slate of syndicated programming.[2] The same day, KYES-TV's full former main channel schedule, including MyNetworkTV programming, was shifted to a newly-launched fourth subchannel. On September 3, GCI took KTVA dark, leaving KYES as the CBS affiliate for Anchorage. The call letters were changed to KAUU on February 26, 2021, with translator K22HN-D in Anchorage becoming KYES-LD.

Newscasts

[edit]
Further information: KTUU-TV § News operation

KAUU presently broadcasts 27 hours, 25 minutes of locally produced newscasts each week (with 5 hours, 5 minutes each weekday and one hour each on Saturdays and Sundays). The two-hour weekday newscast Morning Edition, first half of the long-running KTUU 6 p.m. NewsHour, and 10 p.m. late newscast are simulcast from KTUU. KAUU-exclusive newscasts air at noon (Alaska's first ever midday newscast),[11] 4 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. following the CBS Evening News. All newscasts are branded as Alaska's News Source, KTUU's longtime news slogan.

In 1990, KYES-TV broadcast news from the USSR translated into English. It also aired Valley News, an independent production from Wasilla, Alaska, anchored by long-time Mat-Su Valley broadcaster Fred James. Until the Gray purchase, it ran Democracy Now! live (which in Alaska is at 4 a.m.), and carried France 24 on subchannel 5.4. After the Gray purchase, a repeat of KTUU's 5:30 a.m. newscast began airing at 7:30 a.m.

Following Gray's purchase of the non-license assets of KTVA, that station's news operation was inherited by KYES-TV; with its existing ownership of KTUU-TV, this gave Gray control of two news operations in the Anchorage market.[12] KTVA newscasts were simulcast on KYES for a period in August, and the KYES logo aired on the news programming.[13] On August 30, 2020, KTVA's news operation aired its final newscast from its facility. The next day, Gray Television launched Alaska's News Source, which hired 11 staffers from KTVA,[14] and will act as a combined news operation for both KTUU and KYES. The combined newscasts began to air August 31, 2020.

Technical information

[edit]

Subchannels

[edit]

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KAUU[15]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
5.2 480i 16:9 AntTV Antenna TV
5.3 Circle Outlaw
5.4 720p MyNet MyNetworkTV
5.5 480i theGRIO 365BLK
5.6 IONMyst Ion Mystery

Since 2016, KAUU airs programming in high definition.[16]

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

KAUU (as KYES-TV) signed on its digital signal on channel 22 with 20 watts of power on August 25, 2003—the first television station in the Anchorage market to have a digital signal, and the first in Alaska to offer high-definition television.

The means of getting the digital signal out, however, was extraordinary—KYES used a TTC 100-watt analog translator and a K-Tec digital exciter purchased on eBay, along with a temporary 30-foot (9.1 m) tower, originally used for an analog LPTV translator, on the roof of the hillside home of KYES' president and chief engineer manager, Jeremy Lansman. At only $5,000 to construct, it was sufficient to transmit a viewable digital signal throughout most of Anchorage,[17] with the exception of the road to the town dump.[18] KYES' initial digital programming included high-definition programming from HDNet and Wealth TV, along with an in-house audio music channel, rebroadcasts of KUDO-AM, KEUL FM and the Republic Broadcasting Network, and a standard-definition KYES broadcast.[19]

KYES briefly included Retro Television Network in its digital lineup for a few days in January 2009. However, this was discontinued only days later on January 4, when the network was acquired by Luken Communications. No explanation has been given by KYES as to why the programming was discontinued, though the reason was likely technical involving Alaska's geography, rather than directly involving the dispute between Luken and its former owners, Equity Broadcasting that ensued in the Lower 48. Equity's satellite setup had RTN uplinked from Galaxy 18 at 123° West. When Luken acquired the network, it was moved to AMC-9 at 83° West, an orbital location below the horizon from Anchorage.

The channel 22 signal was then licensed as K22HN (now KYES-LD) and operates at 2.8 kW ERP. KYES is authorized by the FCC to broadcast digital signals via VHF channel 5, broadcasting up to 45 kW. Thus, it has duplicate VHF and UHF signals.

In a DTV transition status report (FCC Form 387) filed by the station on October 7, 2008, Jeremy Lansman of KYES described the station's digital readiness:

The form asks: "licensee/permittee has other needs that must be addressed before it can fully construct and operate its post-transition facility. (if checked, explain.)"

1. Reliability and quality of using 1970's Harris transmitting gear is unknown.
2. No equipment is available to accurately measure DTV or ACLR power.
3. The 8VSB signal will originate at K22HN. Reliability of reception of the 8VSB signal is unknown, though it seems to work in spite of two path terrain obstacles.
4. Electricity supplies are unreliable at both sites; Hillside where K22HN will originate 8VSB signals for the region, and Eagle River where KYES-DT will translate those signals. Both sites are subject to winds in excess of 100 mph. Serial retransmission will compound the probability of off air time. The station needs back up generators, but has no money for one, no less two. Public safety will be compromised after the analog signal is switched off due to lack of back up power.

For example, power at K22HN failed last night (Oct 10, 2008) shortly after 4.30 am. It is still off as of this time, 6 pm. As a result, KYES has had no DTV signal at all for over 12 hours. This will not be a unique experience. The analog signal originates from a UPS-protected studio. the 8VSB signal is encoded at K22HN.

The FCC form asks what is needed. The answer? Funds from the spectrum auction as made possible by this conversion to DTV, said funds to be applied to equipment that may be needed, especially by stations in financial distress. Dumpster diving may result in an 8VSB signal, but the result will be less than ideal.[20]

The document then goes on to cite an Anchorage Daily News article,[21] explaining that a storm and 100 mph (161 km/h) winds had knocked out power in the area, taking K22HN dark, suggesting that the station's DTV status reports were filed without the aid of electricity.

Fireweed Communications LLC then requested FCC authorization to operate KYES-DT post-transition from multiple transmitter sites. The existing UHF 22 DTV facility would continue operation, and multiple transmitters would rebroadcast the signal onto the former analog channel (5) using the existing KYES low-power television facilities.

While the cash-strapped station expected this would allow rapid and less costly construction and provide replication of analog service, this was not a request for a DTx (distributed transmission system). The transmitters were not synchronous, and therefore could interfere with each other in certain narrow geographical areas. The affected locations were all unpopulated.[22]

KAUU (as KYES-TV) shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 5, on June 13, 2009. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition VHF channel 6 to channel 5.[23][24] In 2019, KAUU (as KYES-TV)'s transmitter was moved to the same tower as KTUU's as part of the FCC's spectrum re-allocation and an overall want by Gray to combine transmission facilities between the two stations. KAUU (as KYES) also shifted to physical channel 7, which due to its high-VHF location had better overall reception and antenna compatibility than its former low-band VHF channel 5.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

KAUU

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from Grokipedia

KAUU, 5 (VHF digital channel 7), is a licensed to , , serving as the affiliate for the Anchorage market. Owned by Gray Television as part of a duopoly with NBC affiliate (channel 2), KAUU maintains studios at shared facilities on East 40th Avenue in Anchorage's Northland Woodlands area, with its transmitter situated near Knik. The station, originally launched as KYES-TV in January 1990 as an independent outlet, underwent several affiliation changes—including stints with and —before adopting programming and acquiring the affiliation in July 2020 following Gray's purchase of assets from former station KTVA. Its call letters were updated to KAUU in February 2021. KAUU broadcasts on its primary channel, supplemented by subchannels featuring networks such as , , and , contributing to Gray's expanded local programming amid regulatory scrutiny over market ownership concentrations.

History

Launch and early years (1990–1995)

KAUU signed on the air as KYES-TV on , 1990, operating as Anchorage's newest independent commercial on VHF channel 5. Owned by Fireweed Communications, the station was established to serve Alaska's capital market, which was already served by network affiliates including (NBC on channel 2), KTVA (CBS on channel 11), and KIMO-TV (ABC on channel 13). Its studios were based at 3700 Woodland Drive in Anchorage, supporting foundational operations in a region characterized by geographic isolation and variable signal propagation. As an independent, KYES-TV programmed a schedule dominated by syndicated reruns, feature films, and occasional regional content to address gaps in network offerings, particularly during off-peak hours when major affiliates carried limited local or national material. The station faced initial hurdles in audience acquisition due to widespread cable and satellite penetration in households—estimated at over 70% by the early —which diluted over-the-air viewership and favored imported network signals over local independents. These factors, combined with competition from established VHF outlets, constrained early growth, though KYES-TV maintained viability through to Anchorage's urban demographic until its shift toward network affiliation in 1995.

UPN era (1995–2006)

In January 1995, following the launch of the United Paramount Network (UPN), KYES-TV (channel 5) in Anchorage, Alaska, transitioned from independent status to primary UPN affiliation, providing the market with access to the network's initial lineup of youth-oriented programming such as Star Trek: Voyager. The station, owned by Fireweed Communications, supplemented UPN content with syndicated fare including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and, from 1999 onward, WWF SmackDown!, which aired on UPN nationally and drew strong viewership among younger males in underserved demographics like Alaska's remote audiences. From 1995 to 1998, KYES-TV also carried network on a secondary basis, scheduling select programs in non-UPN slots until the Anchorage market received a full-time WB affiliate, KWBX, alleviating the dual-network burden. This period saw modest expansion in local production capabilities at the station's facilities, including imported syndication and occasional community-focused inserts to fill gaps in UPN's limited prime-time , which initially comprised only two hours weekly before gradual growth. UPN's programming strategy emphasized urban and action genres to compete with established networks, though ratings challenges and shifts—such as from targeted minority appeal to broader teen fare—highlighted underlying instability, including early merger overtures with that presaged consolidation pressures on affiliates like KYES-TV. By the mid-2000s, UPN's declining viability, exacerbated by low national carriage and audience erosion, culminated in its announced shutdown on , 2006, after failed synergies with led to their joint venture forming . KYES-TV maintained UPN affiliation through the network's final broadcasts, relying on a mix of wrestling, sci-fi reruns, and local filler to sustain operations amid syndication trends favoring and action content over scripted originals. The era underscored the risks of secondary-network dependence in small markets, where affiliate revenue hinged on volatile national deals rather than robust local advertising.

MyNetworkTV and Gray ownership (2006–present)

In September 2006, following the shutdown of UPN and The WB amid their merger into The CW, KYES-TV affiliated with the newly launched MyNetworkTV service, which emphasized a primetime block of original scripted dramas broadcast five nights a week. This affiliation positioned KYES-TV as Anchorage's primary outlet for MyNetworkTV's programming, including launch series such as Desire and Fashion House, amid a broader industry shift where many former UPN stations sought alternative network homes to maintain audience share. On October 1, 2015, Gray Television announced its agreement to acquire KYES-TV and four translators from Fireweed Communications for $500,000, with the purchase integrating the MyNetworkTV affiliate into Gray's existing Anchorage operations alongside NBC station KTUU-TV to achieve operational efficiencies such as shared facilities and staff. The Federal Communications Commission approved the deal on June 20, 2016, under a failing station waiver due to KYES-TV's low market share, and the acquisition closed on June 27, 2016. On July 31, 2020, KYES-TV temporarily assumed primary affiliation with after Gray acquired the non-license assets of that network's former Anchorage outlet, KTVA, relocating its programming schedule to channel 5.1 while integrating KTVA's newsroom staff and resources with and KYES-TV for consolidated production. This arrangement ended on March 3, 2021, when programming shifted to low-power translator KYES-LD and 's DT5 subchannel as part of a transmitter upgrade; returned to the main channel on DT1 thereafter. On February 26, 2021, the station's changed from KYES-TV to KAUU to better align with under .

Programming

Network affiliations over time

KAUU signed on the air as KYES-TV on January 21, 1990, operating as an serving the Anchorage market, which allowed flexibility in programming but limited national content access in the pre-cable era small-market environment. This independent status persisted until 1995, when the station affiliated with the , targeting a younger, urban demographic with edgier scripted programming to differentiate from established network affiliates. Concurrently, KYES-TV carried on a secondary basis from 1995 to 1998, filling additional prime-time slots until a dedicated WB affiliate launched, reflecting strategic opportunism in a market with limited secondary network options. The UPN affiliation continued through the network's existence until September 2006, when UPN and merged into ; KYES-TV then joined , a syndication service launched by and Twentieth Television as a lower-cost alternative emphasizing reality shows and older reruns, which suited small-market by requiring fewer hours of mandatory network programming and enabling more local content insertion. This shift preserved viewer retention amid affiliation realignments, as provided consistent evening blocks without the full prime-time commitments of major networks, allowing KYES-TV to expand syndicated fare and reduce clearance conflicts. On July 31, 2020, amid the collapse of rival KTVA's operations and loss of its CBS affiliation due to ownership changes by GCI, Gray Television—owner of sister station KTUU-TV—acquired KTVA's non-license assets, including the CBS affiliation, and relocated it to KYES-TV's primary channel to strengthen local news resources and stabilize programming in a consolidating market. This interim CBS primary role lasted until 2021, when the affiliation integrated into KTUU-TV's operations for duopoly efficiencies, while KYES-TV (rebranded KAUU on April 15, 2021) reverted MyNetworkTV to a digital subchannel (5.4), reverting to a lighter network load that facilitated extended local and syndicated scheduling. The CBS stint, though brief, enhanced news cross-promotion across Gray's properties but highlighted vulnerabilities in small-market affiliation dependencies on distressed competitors.

Syndicated and local content

KAUU fills its daytime and fringe-time schedule primarily with nationally syndicated programming, including off-network sitcoms, courtroom shows, and classic television reruns, complementing the primetime hours dedicated to MyNetworkTV scripted series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Chicago Fire. This approach allows flexible airing to accommodate Alaska's time zone differences from Eastern Standard Time, where syndicated content like classic sitcoms on Antenna TV subchannels (e.g., The Jack Benny Program) and daytime court dramas can be slotted without rigid network mandates. Local original content beyond newscasts remains limited, consisting mainly of paid programming blocks, community event calendars, and infrequent specials focused on regional interests such as Alaskan cultural highlights or public service announcements. These elements provide some hyper-local touchpoints, but the station's reliance on generic syndicated fare—legal dramas and movies aired via subchannels like —has drawn critiques for diminishing distinct Alaskan identity relative to major network affiliates in the market. Following Gray Television's acquisition of the station group in 2020, programming saw enhanced multicast synergies, with subchannels expanding classic syndication offerings to leverage shared resources across KTUU and KYES operations, though this has prioritized cost-efficient national content over local productions.

Newscasts

Production and branding

KAUU's newscasts are produced in conjunction with sister station under the unified "Alaska's News Source" branding, implemented in September 2020 following Gray Television's integration of former rival KTVA's assets. This shared operation leverages combined resources to generate approximately 32 hours of , weather, and sports content weekly, emphasizing coverage of Alaska-specific issues such as commercial , state elections, and resource extraction policies. Production occurs from joint studios located at 501 East 40th Avenue in midtown Anchorage. Prior to the 2020 acquisition, KAUU maintained limited output, relying minimally on syndicated programming; the merger enabled expansion by incorporating KTVA personnel and hiring additional staff, including 11 new journalists shortly after the asset transfer. This shift prioritized fact-based reporting on verifiable local events over editorial commentary, yielding recognitions such as Regional Awards for in-depth coverage of matters. Critics of the consolidation argue it has fostered content homogenization under single corporate , diminishing competitive incentives for diverse perspectives in Anchorage's duopolistic TV news market and potentially aligning coverage with Gray Television's broader operational efficiencies. Proponents counter that resource pooling enhances reporting depth and factual accuracy, as evidenced by the outlet's sustained high viewership and investigative outputs on empirical data like election integrity audits and fishery stock assessments, without reliance on unsubstantiated narratives prevalent in some national media. Independent evaluators have rated Alaska's favorably for reliability, though its corporate structure invites scrutiny for possible subtle influences on story selection.

Schedule and unique slots

KAUU airs a weekly lineup of approximately 27.5 hours of newscasts, featuring exclusive slots at noon, 4:00 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, supplemented by rebroadcasts of select KTUU programs. These slots provide dedicated time for local reporting tailored to viewers not primarily accessing KTUU's or feeds. The newscasts maintain a format centered on factual news reporting, detailed weather forecasts, and sports updates, with emphasis on causal factors affecting Alaska's economy, such as fluctuations in resource sectors like and . Coverage extends to real-time updates from remote regions via the station's network of , enabling broader reach across Alaska's dispersed population. This schedule differentiates KAUU by filling midday and early evening gaps in competitor lineups, such as those of ABC affiliate KTBY or independent stations, while leveraging shared resources from Gray Media's operations for efficiency. Overlaps with KTUU rebroadcasts have drawn commentary on redundancy for dual-channel households, though the unique slots enhance accessibility for audiences seeking timely local content without network preemptions.

Technical information

Transmitter and signal

KAUU operates as a full-service licensed to , broadcasting on virtual channel 5 via VHF digital channel 7 from a transmitter site in Knik, Alaska, at coordinates 61°25′20″N 149°52′28″W. The facility employs a non-directional antenna with an (ERP) of 50 kW horizontally and an antenna (HAAT) of 240.1 meters (788 feet). This setup enables a primary noise-limited contour extending approximately 63 miles, encompassing about 12,566 square miles and serving an estimated of 380,906, concentrated in the and Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Valley. Alaska's rugged , including surrounding mountains and vast distances, constrains the over-the-air signal beyond urban centers, creating reception challenges in shadowed valleys and remote areas despite the station's elevated site near Anchorage. The primary signal reliably covers the core market but fades in obstructed rural zones, necessitating supplementary distribution methods for broader accessibility. To mitigate signal gaps in communities, KAUU's programming is extended statewide through low-power translators affiliated with the (ARCS), a network serving over 235 remote Alaskan locations where direct VHF reception is impractical due to . This hybrid approach addresses the limitations of line-of-sight broadcasting in a state where populations are dispersed across expansive, topographically diverse regions, ensuring content reach to areas beyond the main transmitter's footprint.

Digital subchannels

KAUU's digital signal on VHF channel 7 carries multiple subchannels, enabling the station to offer diverse programming beyond its primary MyNetworkTV affiliation. Following the full-power transition to , the station has utilized multicasting to host niche networks, generating additional revenue through reverse compensation agreements and in a market affected by trends. This approach allows access to specialized audiences but risks audience fragmentation and strains VHF bandwidth limits due to higher compression demands for multiple standard-definition streams. The current subchannels, effective after a 2021 transmitter upgrade and affiliation adjustments, include:
Virtual ChannelAffiliationProgramming Focus
5.2Classic television series
5.3CircleCountry music and
5.4Syndicated primetime shows (station's primary affiliation)
5.5African-American targeted content
5.6Crime and mystery dramas
Prior to March 2021, the main channel (5.1) carried programming full-time, which was relocated to a low-power translator (KYES-LD) and a subchannel of co-owned during the upgrade to comply with FCC duopoly rules and enhance signal coverage. This shift allowed KAUU to repurpose its main signal for while filling subchannels with networks, reflecting broader industry strategies to monetize through affiliation with low-cost, ad-supported services.

Analog-to-digital conversion

KAUU, known at the time as KYES-TV, commenced digital television operations on August 25, 2003, transmitting a low-power signal on UHF channel 22 at 20 watts, marking an early adoption ahead of the national mandate. This initial phase allowed testing of ATSC digital standards in the Anchorage market, utilizing temporary equipment to simulate full-power conditions while analog VHF channel 5 continued primary service. The station fully transitioned by ceasing analog broadcasts on VHF channel 5 on June 13, 2009, one day after the federally mandated nationwide switchover date of June 12, as authorized by the Digital Television Delay Act and FCC regulations requiring all full-power stations to vacate analog spectrum. Post-transition, its digital signal operated on VHF channel 5 with PSIP mapping to 5, preserving viewer familiarity with channel numbering. This shift complied with FCC auction spectrum reclamation, reallocating analog frequencies for public safety and mobile broadband use. The conversion process involved substantial equipment overhauls, including encoder upgrades and antenna modifications to achieve licensed digital power levels, amid Alaska's logistical hurdles such as harsh weather and distances. Viewer was critical in rural and remote areas, where over-the-air reception dominates; the station aired PSAs and coordinated with state initiatives promoting NTIA converter box coupons, which subsidized digital-to-analog adapters for legacy sets at up to $40 per household. These efforts addressed potential signal loss risks from the "digital cliff" effect, where marginal analog viewers faced abrupt cutoffs without preparation. Operationally, the transition proceeded without reported major outages, facilitating compressed digital spectrum for high-definition syndication feeds and multicast capabilities, thereby enhancing content delivery efficiency over the prior analog limitations. This upgrade supported sharper imagery and audio for programs, aligning with industry shifts to ATSC 1.0 standards and setting the stage for future expansions under Gray Media ownership.

Regulatory issues and market position

FCC acquisition approvals

In October 2015, Gray Television announced an agreement to acquire KYES-TV (channel 5, later ), the affiliate serving , from Fireweed Communications LLC for $500,000. The deal positioned Gray, already the owner of affiliate (channel 2) in the same market, to form a duopoly in a market with limited independent broadcasters. Anchorage-based telecommunications firm GCI Communication, owner of affiliate KTVA (channel 11), filed objections in November 2015, arguing the acquisition would reduce competition in programming and , exacerbating the market's tendency toward concentrated where duopolies already dominated viewer options. GCI contended that combining KTUU's resources with KYES-TV's subchannel capacity could marginalize smaller operators, potentially leading to higher ad rates and less diverse content without corresponding benefits. The approved the transfer on June 17, 2016, determining that KYES-TV did not rank among the market's top-four stations by audience share, thus falling outside the strict prohibition on of multiple top-tier outlets under the agency's local television ownership rules. No divestitures or operational separations were imposed, as the FCC staff review found the merger unlikely to substantially harm competition or viewpoint diversity in Anchorage, a small market where failing stations and affiliate shifts had already strained viability. Post-approval data indicated Gray's combined for programming rose modestly, enabling shared production facilities that reduced operational costs by an estimated 15-20% through consolidated staffing, though critics like GCI highlighted risks of editorial homogenization without of bias shifts at the time.

Duopoly disputes and fines

In November 2022, the (FCC) issued a Forfeiture Order imposing a $518,283 fine on Gray Television, the parent company of licensee Channel Communications, LLC, for violating Section 73.3555 of the FCC's rules prohibiting common ownership or control of two or more top-four-rated stations in the same designated market area (DMA). The FCC concluded that Gray exercised control over both (an NBC affiliate ranked among the market's top stations) and KAUU (formerly associated with CBS programming acquired from KTVA assets), despite Gray's divestiture of certain station licenses to Media Holdings, arguing that operational, financial, and programming integrations demonstrated effective control rather than arm's-length separation. Gray contested the finding, petitioning the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in December 2022 and filing suit in May 2023, asserting that the FCC's interpretation exceeded statutory authority under the , which permits waivers for failing markets, and ignored market realities in Anchorage—the nation's 149th-ranked DMA by Nielsen estimates, with limited viable competitors and advertising revenue insufficient to support independent operations. Gray maintained that its arrangements enhanced and service in an underserved rural-adjacent market, where duopoly prohibitions could reduce programming diversity without of consumer harm, such as diminished journalistic output; both stations continued independent editorial operations, with KTUU maintaining high local news ratings. The FCC defended its enforcement as essential to preserving viewpoint diversity and competition in local media, rejecting Gray's waiver arguments on grounds that the market did not meet statutory failing criteria and that control circumvented prior divestiture conditions approved in Gray's KTUU acquisition. In March 2025, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the FCC's determination of a rules violation but vacated the forfeiture order, remanding for reconsideration of the penalty due to inadequate explanation of the fine's calculation under agency guidelines, leaving resolution pending as of October 2025. This outcome highlights tensions between rigid ownership caps and practical efficiencies in small markets, where FCC data shows no correlated decline in local news hours or factual reporting standards post-consolidation.

References

  1. https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_station&facility_id=21488
  2. https://tvstationsnearme.com/station/AK/KAUU
  3. https://graymedia.com/brands/markets/
  4. https://thedesk.net/2023/05/gray-television-sues-fcc-alaska-tv-station-fine/
  5. https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/KAUU
  6. https://www.anchoragememories.com/anchorage-radio-and-television.html
  7. https://signons-and-signoffs.fandom.com/wiki/KAUU-TV_Sign_on_and_sign_off
  8. https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/anchorage-alaskas-first-dtv-station-shows-entrepreneurial-spirit
  9. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/communication-and-mass-media/upn-television-network
  10. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gray-announces-new-acquisitions-and-divestitures-300152272.html
  11. https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2016/06/20/fcc-says-ktuus-owner-can-buy-another-anchorage-television-station/
  12. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2020/07/31/ktuu-expands-into-southeast-alaska-and-kyes-launches-cbs5-anchorage/
  13. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-83A1.pdf
  14. https://tvstations.fandom.com/wiki/KAUU
  15. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/2006_United_States_broadcast_television_realignment
  16. https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2023/05/26/ktuu-owner-sues-federal-government-to-halt-518000-fine/
  17. https://www.cooley.com/news/coverage/2023/2023-09-13-cooley-files-reply-brief-for-gray-television-after-fcc-fine-for-media-ownership-violation
  18. https://www.mynetworktv.com/show
  19. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/content/misc/New-Transmitter-FAQ-512490671.html
  20. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/programming/schedule/
  21. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/
  22. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/content/misc/Alaskas-News-Source-Expands-Its-Reach--512597821.html
  23. https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2020/07/31/one-company-will-own-anchorages-2-local-tv-news-stations-after-deal-with-gci/
  24. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/page/about-ktuu/
  25. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/about-us/contact-us/
  26. https://www.adn.com/opinions/2020/08/03/ktva-sale-signals-end-of-an-era-in-alaska-broadcast-news/
  27. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/10/17/have-tip-you-want-share-with-alaskas-news-source-heres-how/
  28. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/livestream/
  29. https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/mnt-kauutv4-anchorage-ak/9447
  30. https://www.channelmaster.com/pages/tv-antenna-map-anchorage-ak-99501
  31. https://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_report1/Anchorage_AK.pdf
  32. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2021/03/03/telling-alaskas-story-on-a-better-transmitter/
  33. https://www.engadget.com/2005-09-05-anchorage-goes-all-digital.html
  34. https://transition.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_current/Anchorage_AK.pdf
  35. https://law.alaska.gov/press/releases/2008/012308-DigitalConvertion.html
  36. https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/GRAY-MEDIA-INC-12844/news/Gray-Television-Inc-completed-acquisition-of-KYES-CHANNEL-5-from-Fireweed-Communications-Corporati-35416422/
  37. https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-fines-gray-tv-media-ownership-violation
  38. https://www.commlawblog.com/2022/11/articles/fcc/fcc-fines-gray-television-for-violation-of-ownership-rules/
  39. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca11/22-14274/22-14274-2025-03-07.html
  40. https://www.nexttv.com/news/gray-sues-fcc-over-anchorage-affiliation-purchase-fine
  41. https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposes-fine-against-gray-tv-media-ownership-violation
  42. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-11th-circuit/117024200.html
  43. https://communicationsdaily.com/news/2024/05/16/11th-circuit-judges-show-skepticism-of-fccs-518000-gray-television-penalty-2405150055
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