History
Alaskan broadcast pioneer August G. "Augie" Hiebert (1916–2007) applied for the license in May 1953 through his company, Northern Television. He received FCC approval for construction permits in July 1953, and KTVA signed on the air on December 11, 1953 (broadcasting initially from 6 to 11:30 p.m.).[4] The studio and office were originally housed on the first floor and the transmitter on top of the pink 14-story McKinley Tower,[5] with an analog signal on VHF channel 11.[6] The station aired a few NBC programs in the late 1960s, until KHAR-TV (channel 13, now ABC affiliate KYUR) took the NBC affiliation in 1970. The station was a DuMont affiliate in the early 1950s.[7] KTVA also carried Sesame Street from 1970 until PBS member station KAKM (channel 7) signed on in 1975.
On January 3, 1971, KTVA aired Anchorage's first-ever live satellite broadcast from the lower 48 states, the 1970 NFC Championship Game.[8] Until the 1980s, when the networks went to full satellite distribution, KTVA and other TV stations in Alaska aired network programming on a tape-delayed basis via kinescoped and, later, videotaped recordings of network programs provided by fellow CBS affiliate KIRO-TV in Seattle (and KING-TV during KTVA's NBC affiliation), which were then flown to Alaska.
Hiebert retired in 1997, and three years later in 2000, KTVA was acquired by the newspaper publisher MediaNews Group. KTVA brought in $6.8 million of revenue in 2009, second to NBC affiliate KTUU-TV (channel 2) with $10 million (40% of the market).[10]
On November 9, 2012, GCI, through subsidiary Denali Media Holdings, announced plans to purchase KTVA, as well as KATH-LD and KSCT-LP in Southeast Alaska.[11] The Federal Communications Commission approved the deal on October 29, 2013.[12] The sale was formally closed on November 1.
On December 2, 2013, KTVA moved to a new high definition-capable studio on the second floor of the headquarters of the Anchorage Daily News, and unveiled a new set and logo.[14] KTVA became the first television station in Alaska to broadcast local news in high definition.[15]
In 2017, KTVA was received a prestigious James Beard Award for its Harvesting Alaska series, beating out CBS This Morning and WLS-TV in Chicago.[16] KTVA has also received many accolades, including an Emmy, RTNDA awards, NPPA awards, Alaska Press Club awards and Alaska 'Goldie' Awards.
Channel 11's studios were severely damaged following major earthquakes that hit Anchorage on the morning of November 30, 2018, which also temporarily knocked the station off the air. Part of the structure, equipment and water were strewn about the facility, which one reporter for the station called "absolutely destroyed".[17]
In 2020, GCI/Denali Media Holdings announced their intention to sell its broadcast holdings. Atlanta-based Gray Television, which already owned KTUU-TV and KYES-TV (channel 5) in Anchorage, and NBC affiliate KTVF in Fairbanks, purchased KATH-LD and KSCT-LP in May.[18] On July 31, Gray and GCI/Denali announced that the former company had acquired KTVA's non-license assets, including its news department and CBS affiliation, and would move that programming to KYES-TV; the on-air transfer took place that same day. As Gray already owned two full-power stations in Anchorage, it could not directly purchase nor operate KTVA;[19] a GCI spokesperson said that it had not determined its plans for the KTVA license and facilities.[20] However, KYES-TV was simulcast on KTVA for a period for the benefit of viewers. On August 13, KYES-TV's CBS service permanently moved to GCI channel 5, while KYES-DT4, which also launched on August 1 and carries the former primary schedule and MyNetworkTV affiliation of KYES-TV, moved to GCI channel 11.[21]
After the final newscast for the KTVA news operation aired on August 30, 2020, the station notified the FCC it would go dark as of September 3, as it searched for a buyer. It stated that the expected time off the air was six months, although it had to resume broadcasting by September 3, 2021, to avoid automatic cancellation of its license.[22] Its website was then directed to a new combined KTUU/KYES website, with that news operation now known as Alaska's News Source. At the end of February 2021, KYES-TV's calls were changed to KAUU to coordinate with KTUU.
On September 2, 2021, KTVA resumed broadcasting as an affiliate of Rewind TV. In October 2024, GCI filed to sell the station to Alaska Public Media, operator of Anchorage PBS station KAKM.[23][24] The sale was completed on February 18, 2025.[25] Alaska Public Media runs KTVA as a straight repeater of KAKM. Management cited GCI's plans to shut down its cable television systems in 2025, potentially increasing dependence on broadcast TV in the area. KTVA's centrally located tower provides better coverage of Anchorage than the more distant and partially terrain shielded Knik TV Mast; Alaska Public Media estimated 86,000 households in Anchorage would see an improved signal.[26]
