KEYT-TV
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KEYT-TV (channel 3) is a television station licensed to Santa Barbara, California, United States, serving the Central Coast of California as an affiliate of ABC, CBS, and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by the News-Press & Gazette Company (NPG) alongside San Luis Obispo–licensed low-power, Class A Fox affiliate KKFX-CD (channel 24); NPG also provides certain services to Santa Maria–licensed Telemundo affiliate KCOY-TV (channel 12) through a shared services agreement (SSA) with VistaWest Media, LLC. KEYT-TV's studios are located on Miramonte Drive on TV Hill, overlooking downtown Santa Barbara; KCOY-TV and KKFX-CD share separate facilities at West McCoy Lane and Skyway Drive in Santa Maria north of Santa Maria Public Airport. KEYT-TV's transmitter is located atop Broadcast Peak, between Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez in the Santa Ynez Mountains.
Key Information
History
[edit]Early years
[edit]KEYT-TV first signed on the air on July 26, 1953, after obtaining a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on November 13, 1952.[4][5][6] It was owned by the Santa Barbara Broadcasting & Television Corporation. Harry Butcher, who owned KIST (1340 AM), was a 14% owner of the new TV station.
During the 1950s, the station ran programming from all four TV networks: ABC, CBS, NBC and the DuMont Television Network.[7] DuMont discontinued operations in 1956. The original owners sold the station to Key Television in 1957. KEYT-TV lost its NBC affiliation in 1964 when KCOY-TV in nearby Santa Maria signed on. KEYT then shared CBS with KCOY until 1969, when the inclusion of San Luis Obispo County into the Santa Barbara—Santa Maria media market resulted in KEYT becoming exclusively affiliated with ABC. KCOY became the CBS affiliate, and KSBY in San Luis Obispo became the region's NBC affiliate. KEYT was purchased by Shamrock Broadcasting in 1984.
Later developments
[edit]In September 1998, KEYT-TV owner Smith Broadcasting purchased radio station KTMS (1250 AM) for $1.6 million[8] and launched an all-news format with new call letters KEYT to match those of its new TV sister. "KEYT 1250" featured news reports from the Associated Press and simulcasts of KEYT-TV newscasts. (The previous news/talk format and call letters of KTMS moved to 990 AM upon the sale to Smith.) The radio operation was a financial drain on Smith Broadcasting from the beginning, losing $1 million over five years, and the station was sold to Lazer Broadcasting in October 2003.[9]
Between March and September 2007, as the station transitioned to a high definition signal, KEYT-HD was initially unavailable to cable subscribers in the Central Coast due to a carriage dispute with the local cable companies. KEYT eventually reached an agreement with Cox Communications in Santa Barbara, Comcast in Santa Maria, and Charter Cable in San Luis Obispo to carry its HDTV signal. In 2012, Time Warner Cable in Ventura County began carrying the HDTV signal.
On September 7, 2012, News-Press & Gazette Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to purchase KEYT-TV from Smith Media for $14.3 million.[10] The transaction was approved by the FCC on November 6[11] and was completed on November 19, 2012.[12][13] Smith Media had owned KEYT since 1987.
On January 28, 2013, KEYT retired the longtime KEY News branding and, with the new owner's purchase, rebranded as NewsChannel 3. The branding is similar to that of Palm Springs sister station KESQ-TV. KEYT's newscasts and site now include a graphics package that is similar to all NPG stations and is operated by Internet Broadcasting.
On April 1, 2013, KEYT began broadcasting its news in high definition. Up to that point, KEYT aired network and syndicated programming in HD but the newscasts were still in standard definition.
News Now
[edit]
When KEYT acquired the MyNetworkTV affiliation in June 2006, it initially showed only MyNetworkTV programming, with a test pattern running outside of network programming hours.[14] By the fall of 2007, the station had managed to obtain syndication broadcast rights to Family Guy and South Park, and officially launched its second digital subchannel under the branding "MyNetworkTV Central Coast" in October 2007, replacing Los Angeles–based MyNetworkTV affiliate KCOP on all cable systems in the Central Coast region.
The subchannel initially ran a standard-definition simulcast of KEYT's primary channel outside of MyNetworkTV programming. On October 30, 2007, KEYT-DT2 added a secondary affiliation with the Luken Communications-owned Retro Television Network to RTV programming outside of MyNetworkTV prime time program slots.[15] The subchannel subsequently changed its branding to "My RTN" to coincide with the new affiliation, later changing to "My RTV" after the network modified its on-air acronym to "RTV", then finally "My Retro TV".
On April 18, 2017, the 3.2 subchannel dropped Retro TV because station management was unsure of it continuing as a going concern with a declining affiliate base, along with contractual restrictions on using it as an overflow channel for breaking news. (Before that date, it was the only "Big Four" network affiliate nationwide left still carrying the network as a subchannel). In the interim, the station relaunched KEYT-DT2 as News Now, airing simulcasts and rebroadcasts of newscasts from KEYT-TV and KKFX-CD, along with live rolling coverage of local political events, news coverage and other public affairs and local interest programming; the subchannel continues to carry MyNetworkTV programming in prime time.[16][17][18]
The News-Press & Gazette Company announced on October 10, 2018, that it was converting KSBB-CD to ATSC 3.0 operations, airing News Now in that format, with its own ATSC 1.0 signal and programming being moved to a subchannel of KEYT-TV.[19]
On January 1, 2021, CBS programming moved from sister station KCOY to KEYT-DT2, moving News Now and MyNetworkTV programming to a new third subchannel.
Notable former on-air staff
[edit]- Christine Craft, anchor/reporter (1970s)
- Giselle Fernández, reporter (circa 1983)
- Michelle Franzen, reporter/fill-in anchor (1993–1994)
- Edie Lambert, anchor/reporter
- Indra Petersons, reporter
Technical information
[edit]Subchannels
[edit]The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 720p | 16:9 | KEYT-HD | ABC |
| 3.2 | 1080i | CBS-HD | CBS[1] | |
| 3.3 | 480i | Now | Local news & events / MyNetworkTV | |
| 3.4 | Bounce | Bounce | ||
| 3.5 | Telemun | Telemundo (KCOY-TV) | ||
| 3.6 | Nosey | Nosey | ||
| 3.7 | Confess | Confess |
Analog-to-digital conversion
[edit]KEYT-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 3, on February 17, 2009, the original target date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate (which was later pushed back to June 12, 2009). The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 27,[21] using virtual channel 3.
Translators
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b How to find NewsChannel 12 keyt.com (NewsChannel 3-12) January 1, 2021 (same-day retrieval)
- ^ "TV Station Gets Call Letters KEYT". Santa Barbara News-Press. Santa Barbara, California. December 12, 1952. p. A-9. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KEYT-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Telecasting Yearbook 1953–1954 page 66.
- ^ "New TV Station On Air Today; Tests Successful". Santa Barbara News-Press. Santa Barbara, California. July 25, 1953. p. A-1. Retrieved May 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "New TV Station To Try Again". Santa Barbara News-Press. Santa Barbara, California. July 26, 1953. p. A-1. Retrieved May 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ellwanger, Jim. "TV Guide: Los Angeles Metropolitan Edition".
- ^ "Chancellor Becomes The Biggest With Capstar Buy" (PDF). Radio & Records. September 4, 1998. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ Savage, Sam (July 5, 2005). "KZSB News-Press Radio Heralds Return of Community News and Talk". redorbit.com. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
- ^ "NPG Paying $14.3M For KEYT Santa Barbara". tvnewscheck.com. September 11, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Consent to Assignment" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ Staff, FCC Internet Services. "Application Search Details". licensing.fcc.gov.
- ^ "New Owners Complete Acquisition of KEYT Television". Noozhawk. November 16, 2012.
- ^ "MyNetworkTV Adds 10 Affils - Business solutions from AllBusiness.com".
- ^ "RTN To Launch This Week in Santa Barbara" (Press release).
- ^ Martin, Jeff (April 7, 2017). "KEYT, Fox 11 Launching News Now Channel". Noozhawk. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ "Station response to viewer feedback regarding KEYT-DT2". Facebook, via KEYT Facebook page. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
There were a number of issues that led us to launch our News Now channel. One was the future of retro television itself was uncertain, we didn't want to be left in the lurch with no programming to offer if they suddenly went off the air. Second, we wanted to be able provide a home for community events that normally wouldn't be broadcast on the KEYT primary channel. Our affiliation agreement with retro prevented us from using our secondary channel to bring community events such as State of the City addresses or live coverage of press conferences of news events around town.
- ^ "KEYT-TV SANTA BARBARA, CA". www.rabbitears.info.
- ^ "News-Press Gazette Readies 3.0 Launch in Santa Barbara". October 10, 2018.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KEYT". www.rabbitears.info.
- ^ "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.
External links
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KEYT-TV
View on GrokipediaHistory
Early years
KEYT-TV signed on the air on July 25, 1953, as the first television station in Santa Barbara, California, marking the arrival of broadcast television to the region. The station was established by the Santa Barbara Broadcasting & Television Corporation following a Federal Communications Commission construction permit granted on November 13, 1952. Its original studios were built on TV Hill (also known as Mesa Hill) in Santa Barbara, designed by the architectural firm Pereira and Luckman, providing a vantage point overlooking downtown. From the outset, the transmitter was located atop Broadcast Peak in the Santa Ynez Mountains, operating at 50,000 watts visual power to serve the Central Coast area.[5][6] In its formative years, KEYT-TV operated in a small market environment, simultaneously carrying affiliations with all four major television networks—ABC, CBS, NBC, and the DuMont Network—to maximize programming availability for viewers. This arrangement was typical for nascent stations in underserved areas, where a single outlet often served multiple networks due to limited competition and infrastructure. The station's early schedule featured a mix of network shows, local productions such as Sunset Home, The Magic Window, and Pacific Bandstand, and test patterns prior to full commercial operations. Representation was handled by George P. Hollingbery Inc., and the station quickly became a hub for community programming in Santa Barbara. In 1957, KEYT-TV was purchased by Key Television, Inc. for $1,640,000, under which it continued operations.[5] KEYT-TV's news and public affairs efforts in the 1950s and 1960s emphasized local coverage, including natural disasters that impacted the region, such as wildfires and seismic events. The station provided on-the-ground reporting for incidents like the 1955 Refugio Fire, which scorched thousands of acres near Santa Barbara, and various earthquakes, including aftershocks from the 1952 Kern County event that affected the Central Coast. These broadcasts helped inform residents during emergencies, leveraging the station's growing role as a vital information source in an era before widespread cable or additional outlets.[5][7] The multi-network era began to shift in the mid-1960s as the market expanded. In 1964, KCOY-TV signed on in nearby Santa Maria as the primary NBC affiliate, prompting KEYT-TV to drop NBC and share CBS programming with the newcomer. This secondary affiliation arrangement persisted until January 12, 1969, when KCOY-TV became a full-time CBS affiliate, coinciding with KSBY-TV assuming NBC duties in San Luis Obispo, allowing KEYT-TV to transition to an exclusive ABC affiliation that it has maintained since.[8]Later developments
Following its establishment as an exclusive ABC affiliate in 1969, KEYT-TV maintained that primary affiliation through the 1970s and 1980s while expanding local programming to better serve the Central Coast region. In 1987, the station was acquired by Smith Broadcasting Group from previous owners for $30 million, marking a significant investment in the property that supported operational growth during that era.[9] Under Smith ownership, KEYT relocated its studios to 730 Miramonte Drive in Santa Barbara during the 1990s, enhancing production capabilities on TV Hill overlooking the city. The station also broadened its market reach in the 2000s, forging partnerships such as a 2007 carriage agreement with Charter Communications to deliver its high-definition signal to San Luis Obispo County viewers and extending coverage into Ventura County through enhanced local reporting bureaus.[10] On September 6, 2012, Smith Media LLC agreed to sell KEYT-TV and its MyRTV digital subchannel to the News-Press & Gazette Company (NPG), a Missouri-based broadcaster, for $14.3 million; the transaction closed on November 16, 2012, pending FCC approval.[4][11] In early 2013, under NPG ownership, the station rebranded its news service from the longtime "KEY News" to "NewsChannel 3" to align with the new corporate branding, and it launched high-definition newscasts later that year to upgrade production quality.[12] NPG further expanded KEYT's footprint in 2013 by entering a shared services agreement with KCOY-TV in San Luis Obispo, allowing consolidated news operations across Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties while retaining distinct local identities. More recently, on December 3, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board certified a 17-13 vote by KEYT employees—including videographers, editors, multimedia journalists, directors, and producers—to unionize with IATSE Local 600, marking the first such union at an NPG station in California and establishing collective bargaining representation for workplace issues like wages and safety.[13] In 2025, the University of California, Santa Barbara Library completed the preservation and digitization of the KEYT Television Archive, providing online access to over 1,600 hours of news footage dating back decades.[14][15]News operations
Primary newscasts
KEYT-TV's primary newscasts operate under the NewsChannel 3 branding and produce local news content for its ABC-affiliated station as well as sister CBS affiliate KCOY-TV, serving the Central Coast region.[1] These broadcasts emphasize timely coverage of regional events, including breaking news, weather updates, traffic reports, and investigative journalism through initiatives like the Tipline Investigations series.[16] The format integrates live reporting from bureaus and field teams across Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties to provide comprehensive local perspectives.[17] The weekday schedule features key evening newscasts from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., alongside morning and midday segments, while weekends include editions at 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. to 11:35 p.m.[18] Production occurs from advanced studios at 730 Miramonte Drive in Santa Barbara, with collaborative elements shared with sister station KKFX-CD to support Fox 11 News segments.[1] This setup enables seamless multi-platform delivery, focusing on high-impact stories such as severe weather events and community investigations. Since the 2010s, NewsChannel 3 has earned multiple regional Emmy Awards for its coverage, including a 2018 honor for breaking news during the Thomas Fire and a 2020 award for the special production The Music of Footloose – 35th Anniversary.[19][20] In late 2024, a significant labor development occurred when newsroom staff, including journalists, producers, and technical personnel, voted 17-13 to unionize with the International Cinematographers Guild Local 600, a move certified by the National Labor Relations Board in December and aimed at addressing wages, safety, and working conditions, which has influenced ongoing newsroom operations.[13]News Now
News Now is a 24/7 digital news channel operated by KEYT-TV, providing continuous local news, weather, and community programming to the Central Coast region. It debuted on April 18, 2017, on digital subchannel 3.2, replacing the Retro TV affiliation to offer viewers around-the-clock access to news content through live simulcasts, rebroadcasts of KEYT and sister station KKFX-CD (Fox 11) newscasts, and original reports. The channel was launched by News-Press & Gazette Company (NPG), KEYT's owner, to leverage the combined resources of its newsrooms for enhanced local coverage, including breaking news, sports, and weather updates tailored to Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties.[21] The programming mix emphasizes local relevance, featuring live newscasts from KEYT and KKFX-CD during their scheduled times, followed by repeats during off-hours, as well as coverage of political events, debates, and public affairs programming. In prime time on subchannel 3.3, MyNetworkTV airs from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. weeknights, after which News Now resumes with additional news blocks until 8:00 a.m. This format ensures non-stop availability of informational content, with a focus on community interest stories and timely updates, accessible over-the-air on digital channel 3.3 and via cable providers in the region.[21][22] On January 1, 2021, News Now shifted from subchannel 3.2 to 3.3 to make room for CBS programming on 3.2, which relocated from sister station KCOY-TV under NPG's restructuring of affiliations. The channel also became available in ATSC 3.0 format on KSBB-CD starting October 11, 2018, marking one of the early small-market implementations of NextGen TV technology, with KSBB lighthouseing its ATSC 1.0 signal on a KEYT subchannel. Technically, News Now broadcasts in 480i standard definition resolution with stereo audio, optimized for over-the-air reception, while emphasizing on-demand access through mobile devices and streaming platforms.[22][23] The channel has significantly extended KEYT's news footprint, offering uninterrupted coverage during critical events such as wildfires and elections, where repeats and live extensions provide vital updates to viewers without traditional schedule interruptions. It integrates seamlessly with KEYT's website and mobile apps, allowing streaming of its feed alongside on-demand video clips and alerts, thereby serving modern audiences seeking flexible news consumption.[21][24]Notable on-air staff
C.J. Ward serves as the evening anchor for KEYT News Channel 3-12 and leads the station's investigative reporting efforts, delivering in-depth coverage of local issues since joining the team.[25] Beth Farnsworth co-anchors the evening newscasts at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 6:30 p.m., bringing her award-winning journalism experience to stories across the Central Coast; she previously worked at the station earlier in her career before returning.[26] Tracy Lehr, a multi-Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award winner, anchors weekend newscasts and reports on community and environmental topics, having contributed to the station for over two decades.[27] John Palminteri, a senior reporter since 1988, specializes in breaking news, politics, and environmental stories, including extensive coverage of Central Coast wildfires that has earned him Emmy and Golden Mike awards for his on-scene reporting and photography.[28][29] Scott Hennessee anchors evening newscasts at 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 11 p.m., focusing on major regional events such as wildfires and public safety updates, with his team earning an Emmy for wildfire coverage.[30] Mike Klan, the sports director since the mid-1990s, hosts the Emmy-winning Friday Football Focus and covers local high school and college athletics, establishing himself as a longstanding voice in Central Coast sports broadcasting.[31] Joey Vergilis co-anchors the morning news from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and handles play-by-play sports duties, drawing on his prior experience at Bally Sports West for sideline reporting and production.[32] Andie Lopez Bornet joined as a reporter and weather fill-in in April 2024 and was promoted to morning news anchor in July 2025.[33] Dave Alley, a reporter since 1997, contributes to news and sports coverage, including community affairs and the Friday Football Focus program, after earlier roles as weekend sports anchor.[34] Among former staff, King Harris anchored and directed news at KEYT during the 1980s and 1990s, shaping the station's coverage of major events before his death in 2022 at age 75.[35] Kelsey Gerckens, chief meteorologist from 2019 to 2022, provided critical weather forecasts during severe storms and wildfires before transitioning to Santa Barbara County's public information officer role.[36] Christa Kurkjian anchored morning newscasts from 2022 until her departure in July 2025, contributing to digital and on-air content during her three years at the station.[37] Earlier figures like Debby Davison anchored newscasts for nearly two decades starting in the 1980s, becoming a familiar face in community events before her passing in 2015.[38] These on-air personalities, spanning anchors, reporters, meteorologists, and sports specialists, have diversified KEYT's coverage by emphasizing local impacts—from environmental hazards to community stories—while photographers and producers like those involved in Emmy-winning segments have enhanced the station's visual storytelling and regional identity.[39]Technical information
Subchannels
KEYT-TV broadcasts seven digital subchannels using its physical channel 27, with all subchannels mapped to virtual channel 3.x via PSIP to maintain consistent branding across the Santa Barbara–San Luis Obispo market.[2] The station's subchannel lineup is as follows:| Virtual | Physical | Resolution | Aspect Ratio | Affiliation/Programming | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 27.3 | 720p | 16:9 | ABC | Primary ABC feed, branded as KEYT 3 HD. |
| 3.2 | 27.4 | 1080i | 16:9 | CBS | Branded as News Channel 12; simulcast of former KCOY-TV CBS feed. |
| 3.3 | 27.5 | 480i | 16:9 | News Now / MyNetworkTV | Local news repeats (10 p.m.–8 a.m.) and MyNetworkTV prime-time programming (8–10 p.m.). |
| 3.4 | 27.6 | 480i | 16:9 | Bounce TV | Multicast network featuring African American-focused entertainment and movies. |
| 3.5 | 27.7 | 480i | 16:9 | Telemundo | Simulcast of sister station KCOY-TV's Telemundo feed for Spanish-language programming. |
| 3.6 | 27.8 | 480i | 16:9 | Nosey | 24/7 true crime and reality TV channel. |
| 3.7 | 27.9 | 480i | 16:9 | Confess | Courtroom reality programming network. |