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KFSN-TV (channel 30) is a television station in Fresno, California, United States, serving as the market's ABC network outlet. It is owned and operated by the network's ABC Owned Television Stations division, and maintains studios on G Street in downtown Fresno; its transmitter is located on Bear Mountain, near Meadow Lakes, California.

Key Information

Fresno is the smallest television market in California with a "Big Four" network O&O.[2]

History

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KFRE

[edit]

After the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)'s four-year-long freeze on awarding television station licenses was lifted in 1952, two radio stations—KARM (1430 AM, now KFIG) and KFRE (940 AM, now KYNO) competed for the construction permit to operate a station on channel 12, the sole VHF allocation given to Fresno. KFRE won the permit, and the station first signed on the air on May 10, 1956, as KFRE-TV (for Fresno). It is the third-oldest television station in the Fresno market in a three-year timeframe and upon signing on, KFRE-TV took the CBS affiliation from KJEO (channel 47, now KGPE). This made Fresno one of the smallest markets where each network gained full-time affiliations at the time.

The KFRE stations were acquired by Triangle Publications in 1959. On February 17, 1961, KFRE-TV reluctantly moved to UHF channel 30 to make Fresno an all-UHF market under orders from the FCC. It was known by the term deintermixture, the move was made for the purpose of leveling the playing field and eliminating the potential of unfair competition between the VHF and UHF bands. A similar situation occurred in nearby Bakersfield where that city's lone VHF station, KERO-TV on channel 10, moved to UHF channel 23 in 1963. The move of KFRE-TV to channel 30 opened up channel 12 for use by KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, which went on the air in 1964.

KFSN

[edit]

Triangle began its exit from broadcasting in 1971, and sold the KFRE stations to Capital Cities Communications. The new owners sold off the AM and FM radio stations as a condition of the purchase and kept the television station, changing its call letters to KFSN-TV on May 1 of that year (the KFRE-TV calls are now used on Fresno's CW affiliate on channel 59; that station is unrelated to the current KFSN-TV).

On March 18, 1985, Capital Cities announced it would purchase ABC. Nearly six months later, on September 9, 1985, KFSN-TV traded network affiliations with KJEO and became an ABC affiliate. The transaction was finalized on January 3, 1986, making channel 30 an ABC owned-and-operated station. It marked the first time a Big Three network owned a UHF television station since NBC sold WNBC (now WVIT) in New Britain, Connecticut, to Plains Television in 1960 (NBC would buy the station back from the original incarnation of Viacom in 1997).[3] In 1996, The Walt Disney Company acquired Capital Cities/ABC.

KFSN-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 30, at noon 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 relocated from its pre-transition VHF channel 9 to UHF channel 30.[4][5]

ABC News Now was launched in 2004 on digital subchannels of ABC O&O stations[6] and lasting until January 31, 2005, as the channel ended its experimental phase.[7] The group changed its programming on secondary channels to ABC Plus, a local news and public affairs format. ABC teamed up with AccuWeather to launch a multicast service starting on ABC stations' third subchannel with the second station taking on the service was KFSN-TV in late 2005.[8] On April 27, 2009, KFSN began carrying the Live Well Network on a second digital subchannel digital subchannel.[9][10]

The station carried a Live Well Network standard definition simulcast that was carried on digital subchannel 30.3 until it was replaced with Laff on April 15, 2015.[11] ABC Owned Television Stations took its Localish digital media venture promoted by KFSN and other stations[12] then rebranded its Live Well Network as Localish on February 17, 2020.[13]

Programming

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KFSN-TV serves as the production company for two programs seen on the Live Well Network, now called Localish, Motion and My Family Recipe Rocks.[14]

News operation

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KFSN-TV presently broadcasts 42 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with seven hours each weekday and 3+1⁄2 hours each on Saturdays and Sundays); in regards to the number of hours devoted to news programming, it is the highest local newscast output among the broadcast television stations in the Fresno market. Unlike most ABC affiliates in the Pacific Time Zone, the station does not broadcast a 5:30 p.m. newscast on weekdays, opting to fill the half-hour with ABC World News Tonight (as a result of that program airing one hour earlier than other ABC stations in the time zone, KFSN airs an extension of its 6 p.m. newscast in World News' recommended 6:30 timeslot). In addition, the station produces the public affairs program Valley Focus, which airs Sunday mornings at 10 a.m.

KFSN has dominated the local news ratings in the San Joaquin Valley for decades, dating back to its pre-ABC-merger years as a CBS affiliate. Its 5 p.m. newscast, Live at Five frequently attracts more viewers than all other area stations combined. Due to Fresno's CBS affiliate using the branding, KFSN's newscasts are not branded Eyewitness News, nor does it use the Gari Media Group-composed "Eyewitness News" music package, like most of ABC's other owned-and-operated stations. Instead, KFSN retains the Action News branding made famous at Philadelphia sister station WPVI-TV, when the format debuted on that station in 1970. KFSN also used the original version of 615 Music's "News One" music package from 1994 to 2014, also used at the time by San Francisco sister station, KGO-TV.

In 2003, the station began pooling resources with sister stations KABC-TV in Los Angeles and KGO-TV to hire a full-time reporter and photographer to staff a Sacramento bureau following Arnold Schwarzenegger's election as Governor during the 2003 California recall election; the Sacramento bureau was shut down in September 2013.[15] On April 23, 2007, beginning with the 5 p.m. newscast, KFSN-TV became the seventh ABC owned-and-operated station to begin broadcasting their local newscasts in high definition (following its sister stations KABC-TV, WPVI-TV, WABC-TV in New York City, WLS-TV in Chicago, KGO-TV in San Francisco and KTRK-TV in Houston) and updated its news branding to ABC 30 Action News HD.

On September 12, 2011, KFSN launched an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast, which replaced The Oprah Winfrey Show.[16] This follows the trend of the four other sister stations (WABC-TV, WPVI-TV, KGO-TV and WTVD in Durham, North Carolina) that started their own 4 p.m. newscast after Oprah ended its syndication run. On January 7, 2013, KFSN began producing a half-hour 10 p.m. newscast for then-MyNetworkTV affiliate KAIL (channel 7); the program, titled ABC 30 Action News Live at 10:00,[17] ended in July 2014.

Notable former on-air staff

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Subchannels

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The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KFSN-TV[18]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
30.1 720p 16:9 KFSN-HD ABC
30.2 LOCLish Localish
30.3 480i Charge! Charge!
30.4 HSN HSN

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

KFSN-TV

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from Grokipedia
KFSN-TV, branded on-air as ABC30, is an ABC owned-and-operated licensed to , , serving the Central Valley region including Fresno, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, Tulare, and Kings counties. The station signed on the air on May 10, 1956, as KFRE-TV on VHF channel 12, operating part-time and initially affiliated with under the ownership of California Inland Broadcasting Company. It later relocated to UHF channel 30, adopted its current call letters in 1979, switched its primary network affiliation to ABC on September 9, 1985, and was acquired by ABC (through its purchase of Capital Cities Communications) on January 3, 1986, becoming the network's first owned UHF station in a major market. Since its transition to ABC affiliation, KFSN-TV has maintained studios on G Street in downtown Fresno and a transmitter atop Meadow Lakes in the , broadcasting on 30 (UHF digital channel 30 with 400 kW ). As the sole full-power ABC outlet in the Fresno–Visalia market (DMA #55), it provides comprehensive local news under the Action News banner, which has dominated Nielsen ratings in the for decades, alongside syndicated programming, ABC network shows, and subchannels featuring , Charge!, and . The station pioneered high-definition local newscasts in on April 23, 2007, and continues to lead in multiplatform engagement, including its abc30.com website and 24/7 . Under the ownership of via , KFSN-TV has evolved from its early CBS days—when it competed with NBC affiliate KMJ-TV (now ) and future CBS outlet KJEO-TV (now )—into a cornerstone of regional broadcasting, emphasizing , weather coverage via its StormWatch team, and community-focused initiatives. Notable milestones include its role as an ingest hub for the former Live Well Network and ongoing technological innovations tested for the ABC group, solidifying its status as the top-rated station for news and information in .

History

KFRE-TV origins and early operations (1956–1961)

The Federal Communications Commission lifted its four-year freeze on new television station construction permits in April 1952, enabling applications for channels across the United States, including VHF channel 12 in Fresno, California. In the Central Valley market, two established radio stations—KFRE (940 AM) and KARM (1430 AM)—competed for the permit, with KFRE Broadcasting Co. ultimately awarded the authorization later that year. This victory allowed construction to proceed, positioning KFRE-TV as the third commercial television station in Fresno, following the earlier UHF launches of KMJ-TV (channel 24) in 1953 and KJEO-TV (channel 47) in 1953. KFRE-TV signed on the air for the first time on , 1956, operating on VHF channel 12 from studios in downtown Fresno and a transmitter site serving the . As the market's newest entrant and the only VHF outlet in an otherwise UHF-dominated area, the station quickly established itself by securing a primary affiliation with , which it assumed full-time on June 5, 1956, taking the network's programming from KJEO-TV due to KFRE radio's existing ties to the Network. Early operations emphasized a mix of network fare, including popular CBS shows like and , alongside locally produced content such as news bulletins, variety programs, and community affairs segments tailored to the agricultural and rural interests of viewers. A key milestone in the station's early years came in , when Triangle Publications, a Philadelphia-based owning newspapers and broadcast outlets like WFIL-TV, acquired KFRE-TV along with its sister AM and FM stations. Under new ownership, KFRE-TV continued its focus on robust , including Fresno State University sports broadcasts and farm reports, while solidifying its role as the dominant affiliate in the region and benefiting from its superior VHF signal propagation over the mountainous terrain. This period marked the station's growth into a vital information and entertainment hub for the Central Valley, reaching thousands of households previously underserved by television.

UHF transition and pre-ABC era (1961–1985)

In 1961, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandated a shift in Fresno's television allocations to create an all-UHF market, part of broader deintermixing efforts to promote UHF broadcasting development amid VHF channel scarcity. As Fresno's sole VHF station, KFRE-TV was ordered to relinquish channel 12 and relocate to UHF channel 30, with channel 12's deletion from the Fresno table effective July 7, 1960. The FCC authorized dual operation on channels 12 and 30 to ensure service continuity, permitting KFRE-TV to broadcast simultaneously until April 15, 1961. The transition commenced on February 15, 1961, with full relocation to channel 30 completed by February 17, marking the first voluntary VHF-to-UHF move by a major affiliate, though compelled by regulatory order. This realignment left Fresno with three UHF stations—KFRE-TV on 30, KMJ-TV on 24, and KJEO on 47—fostering a competitive UHF environment. The UHF shift posed challenges for KFRE-TV's signal , particularly in the rural expanses of California's Central Valley, where UHF transmissions typically offered shorter range and greater susceptibility to interference compared to VHF. Rival KJEO-TV protested the dual-operation period, arguing it would skew audience ratings in KFRE-TV's favor by maintaining VHF accessibility during critical surveys, potentially diverting up to $100,000 in national advertising revenue. Despite these hurdles, KFRE-TV marked the transition with a special broadcast featuring addresses from FCC Commissioner , Fresno Mayor Arthur Seiland, and Triangle Publications executive Roger Clipp, emphasizing regulatory compliance and market stability. The vacated channel 12 was reassigned to Santa Maria, enabling to launch on March 16, 1964, as the region's newest VHF outlet. Under continued ownership by Publications, KFRE-TV retained its CBS affiliation through the 1960s and into the 1970s, delivering a mix of network primetime fare—such as popular series like and —alongside local programming including news, weather, and community-focused shows tailored to Central Valley viewers. The station solidified its market dominance, leveraging its established infrastructure to outpace competitors in viewership despite the UHF constraints. In 1971, as exited , it sold the KFRE cluster—including the TV station—to Capital Cities Communications for an undisclosed portion of a larger transaction valued at $110 million across multiple properties. The new owners divested the AM and FM radio outlets but preserved KFRE-TV's call sign and operations. This era cemented KFRE-TV's role as Fresno's leading CBS outlet, with steady audience growth amid evolving broadcast technologies.

ABC affiliation, ownership changes, and modern developments (1985–present)

On September 9, 1985, KFSN-TV swapped network affiliations with KJEO (channel 47), transitioning from to ABC, which marked the end of its long-standing partnership that had begun in 1956. This change was driven by Capital Cities Communications' acquisition of ABC earlier that year, positioning KFSN as an ABC owned-and-operated (O&O) station upon finalization of the transaction on January 3, 1986. The affiliation shift allowed KFSN to leverage ABC's stronger programming lineup, including popular primetime shows, boosting its market position in the Fresno-Visalia area. Ownership evolved significantly in the mid-1990s when acquired for $19 billion in a deal announced on August 1, 1995, and completed in 1996, integrating KFSN into Disney's expanding media portfolio as one of ABC's O&O stations. Under Disney ownership, the station focused on enhancing local content production and digital capabilities, with no major ownership transitions since. In terms of broadcasting technology, KFSN shut down its on UHF channel 30 at noon on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide DTV transition mandated by federal regulations. Its evolved over time: 30.2 carried ABC News Now from 2004 to 2005, followed by ABC Plus until 2009, and then the Live Well Network from 2009 to 2020; meanwhile, subchannel 30.3 briefly aired from 2006 to 2015 before also transitioning to Live Well in standard definition. Following the discontinuation of the Live Well Network in February 2020, subchannel 30.2 transitioned to , with further changes introducing Charge! and on additional subchannels in subsequent years. In recent years, KFSN has emphasized leadership stability and community-focused journalism amid regional challenges. On October 22, 2024, Martin Ortiz was promoted from news director to president and general manager, overseeing operations for the station that has dominated local news ratings in the San Joaquin Valley. That same month, the station's website underwent a redesign to align with ABC's network-wide digital standards, improving user engagement for online news delivery. KFSN provided extensive coverage of major events, including the 2020 Creek Fire—one of California's largest wildfires, which scorched nearly 400,000 acres in the Sierra National Forest and prompted a station-produced documentary, Mountain Strong: Surviving the Creek Fire—and the historic 2023 winter floods that inundated communities like Planada and Corcoran in Merced and Kings Counties, displacing thousands and causing widespread infrastructure damage. Through November 2025, the station maintained its role as the top local news source without significant operational disruptions or ownership shifts.

Facilities and operations

Studios and production facilities

KFSN-TV maintains its primary studios at 1777 G Street in downtown , a location that has served as the station's operational hub for decades. These facilities support the production of , programming, and , including multi-platform storytelling for television, online, and distribution. The station's production infrastructure has undergone significant expansions to enhance high-definition capabilities, with a new news studio debuting on April 23, 2007, making KFSN the first television station in to broadcast all local newscasts in HD. This upgrade integrated advanced production tools aligned with ABC network standards, enabling seamless incorporation of network resources for enhanced content quality. Further enhancements included a studio redesign led by station leadership around 2020 and a new broadcast set featuring panoramic LED video walls introduced in October 2022, supporting immersive visual production for news and programming. From 2003 to 2013, KFSN operated a shared Sacramento bureau as part of ABC's statewide coverage initiative, staffed by reporters like Nannette Miranda who contributed political and regional stories to the station alongside other ABC-owned outlets in . The bureau, established following Arnold Schwarzenegger's as , was closed in 2013 amid cost adjustments by . As of 2025, under , the G Street facilities facilitate live streaming and multi-platform content delivery, including integration with and digital extensions of to reach broader audiences via apps and platforms.

Transmitter and broadcast coverage

KFSN-TV transmits from a facility atop Bear Mountain near Meadow Lakes, , at coordinates 37° 4' 37" N, 119° 26' 4" W. The site sits at a ground elevation of 4,781 feet above mean , with the antenna's (HAAT) measuring 2,051 feet. The station operates with an (ERP) of 400 kW in the horizontal polarization, enabling robust on UHF channel 30. Licensed by the (FCC) as a full-service commercial , KFSN-TV holds 8620, with its current license granted on September 9, 2024, and set to expire on December 1, 2030; no amendments or changes to the authorization have been recorded as of November 2025. The transmitter's pattern is designed to optimize coverage toward the Central Valley while minimizing interference. The station's signal blankets the Central San Joaquin Valley, serving Fresno, Madera, Merced, Tulare, and Kings counties, with a broadcast contour extending approximately 64 miles and covering about 13,000 square miles populated by roughly 1.88 million residents. Fresno-Visalia ranks as the 55th-largest designated market area (DMA) in the United States according to the 2024-2025 Nielsen rankings, encompassing 636,260 television households and representing the smallest California market hosting a Big Four network owned-and-operated station. However, reception faces challenges in rural Sierra Nevada areas due to the region's rugged terrain, which can cause signal attenuation and multipath distortion, particularly for UHF transmissions. Historically, KFSN-TV's shift from VHF channel 12 to UHF channel 30 in —following the cessation of shared-time operations with KCFR-TV—impacted over-the-air reception, as UHF signals generally propagate shorter distances and are more susceptible to obstacles like hills and foliage compared to VHF, necessitating stronger antennas for reliable viewing in fringe and rural zones.

Programming

Network and syndicated content

KFSN-TV has served as the ABC owned-and-operated station for the Fresno–Visalia market since September 9, 1985, when it switched affiliations from following Capital Cities Communications' acquisition of ABC. Prior to this, from its sign-on in 1956 until 1985, the station carried network programming, including primetime dramas, daytime soaps, and sports events like games on . The affiliation swap with crosstown ABC affiliate KJEO (now KGPE-TV) allowed KFSN to fully integrate into ABC's lineup, providing comprehensive coverage of the network's offerings without significant deviations. As an ABC O&O, KFSN-TV airs the full slate of ABC network programming, encompassing primetime scripted series and reality competitions from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. PT daily, as well as late-night shows following the 11:00 p.m. newscast, alongside daytime staples such as Good Morning America, The View, and soap operas like General Hospital. The station also broadcasts ABC's sports content, including Monday Night Football games, NBA Finals matchups, and college football bowl games, typically preempting local programming during live events but resuming the standard schedule afterward. Scheduling follows the national ABC grid, with local news insertions during morning and midday blocks, ensuring seamless integration of network feeds. In addition to network content, KFSN-TV features a mix of syndicated programming typical for ABC O&Os, including game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune in the 7:00 p.m. access period, which have aired consistently since the 1980s to bridge local early evening news and primetime. Daytime syndication includes Tamron Hall, renewed for its seventh season in 2025 by ABC Owned Television Stations and Hearst Television, alongside Live with Kelly and Mark, the top-rated syndicated talk show produced by sister station WABC-TV. These programs occupy slots between ABC daytime and afternoon news, maintaining a balanced lineup that leverages national resources for special events like awards shows or holiday specials.

Local non-news programming

KFSN-TV has a history of producing local variety and talk programs during its pre-digital era, particularly in the mid-20th century when it operated as KFRE-TV before transitioning to its current ABC affiliation. One notable example was "Fun Time," a children's hosted by local personality Al Radka, which aired weekday mornings in the and featured segments tailored to young audiences in the Fresno area. Earlier, Radka hosted "," a weekday afternoon variety program from 5 to 6 p.m. that included talk elements, performances, and community features, helping pioneer local television content for the Central region starting in the . These shows exemplified the station's early efforts to engage viewers with homegrown beyond network fare. In terms of public affairs programming, KFSN-TV produces "Valley Focus," a weekly show that airs Sunday mornings and delves into community issues relevant to the Central Valley, such as , environmental challenges, and local initiatives. For instance, episodes have explored topics like water allocation impacts on farming, abandoned farmlands due to regulatory pressures, and volunteer efforts in environmental conservation, providing in-depth discussions with experts and residents. This program underscores the station's commitment to addressing regional concerns like effects on and sustainable , often featuring on-location reporting from Fresno and surrounding counties. As an ABC owned-and-operated station, KFSN-TV's non-news production volume remains limited compared to its extensive news operations, focusing instead on initiatives coordinated across the group. Much of the current output emphasizes digital-first content for the subchannel (30.2), where the station contributes to national programming with a local flavor. Notable examples include "Motion," an outdoor adventure series exploring national parks and activities, and "My Family Recipe Rocks," a hosted by that highlights family culinary traditions. These shows, produced in collaboration with ABC's digital ventures like 18Thirty Entertainment, reflect ongoing O&O efforts but show no major new local launches since 2020, prioritizing streaming and short-form videos over traditional broadcast specials.

News and public affairs operation

KFSN-TV's news department, branded as , operates from a central newsroom in Downtown Fresno with satellite bureaus in Visalia and Merced to cover the expansive Central Valley region. The operation emphasizes comprehensive local reporting, producing 42 hours of news programming each week, the most in the Fresno market, including extended morning shows from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. on weekdays and evening broadcasts at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. (extended to 6:30 p.m.), and 11 p.m., while notably skipping a traditional 5:30 p.m. slot to accommodate network programming. Key expansions have bolstered the department's reach over the years. The station launched high-definition newscasts on April 23, 2007, becoming one of the first in the market to upgrade its production and broadcast capabilities for enhanced visual quality. In September 2011, KFSN introduced an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast, replacing syndicated fare to capitalize on afternoon viewership. Further growth occurred in July 2023 with the addition of a 3 p.m. newscast anchored by Vanessa Vasconcelos, alongside anchor team adjustments including moving to mornings and Graciela Moreno to evenings. From January 2013 to July 2014, the station produced a half-hour 10 p.m. newscast for low-power affiliate KAIL, extending its prime-time presence. ABC30 Action News has maintained ratings dominance in the Fresno-Visalia market since its affiliation switch, consistently leading all time slots and often outperforming competitors combined in key evening periods like 5 p.m. This leadership was evident in its extensive coverage of major local events, such as the devastating 2023 floods that inundated communities like Planada, prompting evacuations and ongoing recovery efforts. Public affairs programming integrates investigative journalism focused on regional challenges, including agriculture and environmental threats. The department has produced in-depth segments on the impacts of wildfires, notably the 2020 Creek Fire that scorched nearly 400,000 acres in the Sierra National Forest, featuring documentaries like "Mountain Strong: Surviving the Creek Fire" that highlighted first responders and community rebuilding. Similar reporting addresses agricultural issues vital to the Valley's economy, such as water management and crop resilience amid climate variability. As of 2025, the news operation continues without significant cutbacks following 2023 expansions, offering live streaming of all newscasts and breaking coverage via ABC30.com, ensuring multiplatform accessibility for viewers across Central California.

Technical information

Digital subchannels

KFSN-TV broadcasts four digital subchannels as part of its multiplexed signal on virtual channel 30, utilizing ATSC 1.0 standards to deliver a mix of high-definition (HD) and standard-definition (SD) programming. The primary channel, 30.1, carries the ABC network feed in 720p resolution at a 16:9 aspect ratio with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, providing local and national content to viewers in the Fresno-Visalia market. Subchannel 30.2 features Localish in 720p, offering lifestyle and community-focused programming curated by ABC Owned Television Stations. Channel 30.3 airs Charge!, a 24/7 action and crime drama network, in 480i widescreen format with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio; this affiliation began on April 1, 2024, following a new agreement between Sinclair Broadcast Group and ABC Owned Television Stations. The fourth subchannel, 30.4, broadcasts the Home Shopping Network (HSN) in 480i, focusing on direct-response retail programming.
Virtual ChannelProgrammingResolutionAspect RatioAudio
30.1ABC16:9DD 5.1
30.216:9DD 2.0
30.3Charge!480i (w)16:9DD 2.0
30.4480i (w)16:9DD 2.0
This configuration complies with FCC multiplexing requirements for full-power stations, allowing ABC owned-and-operated (O&O) outlets like KFSN-TV to allocate bandwidth efficiently across HD primary feeds and SD multicasts while maintaining signal integrity. The blend of HD on the main and Localish subchannels supports high-quality viewing for network and local content, whereas the SD formats on Charge! and HSN optimize bandwidth for additional services without compromising over-the-air accessibility. Historically, subchannel 30.2 carried the Live Well Network from its launch on April 27, 2009, until the network's discontinuation on February 16, 2020, when it was rebranded and expanded as to emphasize urban lifestyle stories across ABC O&O stations. Prior to Charge! on 30.3, the slot featured Laff, a comedy network, starting April 15, 2015, which focused on sitcoms and humorous films until its replacement in 2024. No further changes to the subchannel lineup have occurred as of 2025, following the January 2024 renewal of the Charge! affiliation, reflecting stable multicast strategies amid evolving viewer habits. These subchannels are available over-the-air via antenna throughout the Central Valley, reaching approximately 636,000 television households (as of the 2024-2025 television season), and are also carried on major cable and satellite providers such as Comcast Xfinity, , and in the Fresno-Visalia designated market area. Integration with streaming platforms, including the ABC app and + Live TV, allows cord-cutters to access the ABC 30.1 feed and select subchannel content on demand, enhancing distribution beyond traditional broadcast.

Analog-to-digital conversion and signal upgrades

KFSN-TV commenced full-power on VHF channel 9 prior to the national transition, while maintaining its on UHF channel 30. On June 12, 2009, at noon, the station executed a flash cut, terminating analog operations in alignment with the federal Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act, and relocating its digital signal to UHF channel 30 for improved stability. In preparation for the transition, KFSN-TV provided extensive viewer education through on-air segments and its website, addressing converter box usage and antenna requirements, though the station did not participate in the FCC's voluntary analog program following the switch. The shift particularly affected rural viewers in the Central and surrounding areas, where terrain and distance from the transmitter atop Meadow Lakes led to signal disruptions for those relying on over-the-air reception without updated equipment. Post-transition, the station implemented high-definition programming across its primary channel, having already upgraded local newscasts to HD production on April 23, 2007, as the sixth ABC-owned station to do so. Subsequent enhancements included mobile signal optimizations and integration with ABC's digital platforms, such as the launch of enhanced graphics in resolution later in 2009, improving accessibility for portable devices. By , KFSN-TV aligned with ABC's national digital upgrades, adopting a redesigned platform for streamlined streaming and interactive features. As of 2025, KFSN-TV has not deployed (NextGen TV) in the Fresno-Visalia market, where adoption remains limited to other local stations since ; however, as an ABC-owned property, it benefits from ongoing network preparations amid FCC efforts to accelerate the standard's rollout. Reception challenges persist for UHF digital signals in the Sierra Nevada foothills, where elevation and foliage contribute to weaker over-the-air coverage compared to urban areas, prompting recommendations for amplified antennas in remote locations. KFSN-TV broadcasts with an (ERP) of 400 kW from its transmitter atop Meadow Lakes, covering approximately 13,000 square miles and an estimated population of 1.88 million.

References

  1. https://abcotvpress.com/stations/kfsn-tv-fresno/
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  5. https://abc30.com/archive/8068098/
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  8. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-TV-Digest/50s/Television-Digest-1956-05.pdf
  9. https://www.broadcastpioneers.com/wfilhistory.html
  10. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1961-03-31/pdf/FR-1961-03-31.pdf
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  15. https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/retro-fresno-ca-monday-september-9-1985-affiliation-swap.749549/
  16. https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/KFSN-TV
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  23. https://abc30.com/post/mountain-strong-surviving-creek-fire-abc30-central-california-documentary/10556634/
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  27. https://abcotvpress.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2022/03/press-release-5-1162751.pdf
  28. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2022/10/27/abc30-set-design-2022-led/
  29. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-dec-06-me-kabc6-story.html
  30. https://thedesk.net/2013/08/abcs-sacramento-california-bureau-to-close-after-10-years/
  31. https://abcotvpress.com/
  32. https://nationalmediaspots.com/DMA-Ranks.pdf
  33. https://abc30.com/
  34. https://abc30.com/archive/7238238/
  35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_ahi4maGew
  36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsUOGJzLsBo
  37. https://abc.com/news/cd5e63c8-c463-4a5f-b64b-bcda875c5506/category/1138628
  38. https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/abc-kfsn-fresno-ca/2686
  39. https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/jeopardy-wheel-of-fortune.577289/page-2
  40. https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/tamron-hall-daytime-talk-show-renewed-season-7-1236310325/
  41. https://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2025/09/02/tamron-hall-debuts-groundbreaking-season-7-on-monday-sept-8-617512/20250902abc01/
  42. https://www.itsabouttv.com/2023/09/whats-on-tv-wednesday-september-5-1973.html
  43. http://www.cocolatv.com/meetgary2.html
  44. https://abc30.com/valleyfocus/
  45. https://abc30.com/post/central-valley-is-seeing-increase-abandoned-farms-causing-more-issues-farmers/17268570/
  46. https://abc30.com/post/valley-focus-fowler-clinic-accepting-new-patients/5392275/
  47. https://abc30.com/ag/
  48. https://abcotvpress.com/abc-owned-television-stations-to-air-special-programming-and-spotlight-community-resources-across-its-eight-stations-throughout-mental-health-awareness-month-in-may/
  49. https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/45131-my-family-recipe-rocks
  50. https://abc.com/news/fdf3bece-4be5-4127-8ecb-53cdc56d6a69/category/1138628
  51. https://abc30.com/tvlistings/
  52. https://www.ontvtonight.com/guide/listings/channel/69022717/kfsn-hdtv.html
  53. https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/kfsn-set-to-replace-oprah-with-4-p-m-newscast/
  54. https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/fresno-station-announces-anchor-changes-and-3-pm-afternoon-newscast/
  55. http://dig.abclocal.go.com/kfsn/PDF/ActionNewsLiveatTen.pdf
  56. https://abc30.com/post/abc30-action-news-continues-dominance/14729760/
  57. https://abc30.com/news/
  58. https://abc30.com/watch/live/
  59. https://sbgi.net/charge-and-abc-owned-television-stations-enter-into-new-network-affiliation-agreement/
  60. https://abc30.com/659997/
  61. https://abc30.com/archive/6862919/
  62. https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/fresnos-kfsn-goes-hd-for-local-news
  63. https://abc30.com/archive/5961089/
  64. https://abc30.com/archive/6867677/
  65. https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/kfsntv-implements-enhanced-traffic-reporting-system
  66. https://www.nexstar.tv/major-broadcasters-launch-nextgen-tv-on-five-local-television-stations-in-fresno-visalia/
  67. https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=atsc3&mktid=15
  68. https://abc30.com/archive/6330829/
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