News operation
The station's news department was founded upon the station's 1988 sign-on; KTMD was the first to produce full-length local newscasts in Spanish, as KXLN did not begin doing so until 1990.[11] However, by 1995, KXLN was recognized as having the higher-rated and higher-quality news product; Richard Vara of the Houston Chronicle commented, "Until more money is earmarked for news, channel 48 will have a death grip on second place."[12] In 1998, under the leadership of ex-KTRK news director Richard Longoria, the station began to air its late newscast live for the first time,[13] and it also became the first Spanish-language television station in the U.S. to add closed captioning to its newscasts.[14]
In 2001, the station debuted a morning newscast from 6 to 7 a.m.; it was the area's only Spanish-language morning newscast. Later that year, KTMD hired former KXLN anchor Roberto Repreza.[15] While KTMD was experiencing some news momentum, circumstances in the rest of 2001 led to layoffs. Tropical Storm Allison's strike on Houston in June 2001 caused lost revenue for all of the city's television stations,[16] but the economic downturn resulting from the September 11 attacks would have more severe impacts. In October, citing low advertising revenues, KTMD canceled the morning newscast and laid off 14 staffers; some of the morning newscast's on-air personnel were moved to the evening newscasts as reporters.[17]
While production of local news for KTMD was moved to a new regional production center in Fort Worth in 2006, the hub was unwound by 2010, with local newscasts once again originating from Houston.[18] Beginning in 2014, a series of local news expansions at Telemundo have added hours of news to KTMD's output. A 4:30 p.m. show debuted at KVEA and 13 other Telemundo stations in 2014.[19] In 2018, a noon newscast was added at 10 Telemundo stations, including KTMD.[20] However, KXLN continues to be far stronger in ratings; in January 2022, KXLN's late newscast beat all stations in English and Spanish and attracted more than double the ratings of KTMD.[21]
In September 2022, Telemundo started the regional morning newscast Noticiero Telemundo Texas, originating in Fort Worth and airing on Telemundo's owned-and-operated stations in the state and most of its affiliates.[22] Additionally, KTMD's late news block was extended with the addition of a new 10:30 p.m. half hour.[23] On November 1, 2024, Noticias Telemundo Texas was discontinued.[24]
- Martin Berlanga (anchor, 2012–2018)[25]
- Patricia Gras
- Daniella Guzman[26]
