KCBA

KCBA is a full-power television station licensed to Salinas, California, and serving viewers across the Monterey Bay and Central Coast region. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 35 and transmits from Fremont Peak. Its current programming identity is associated with The CW Plus, while many operational and production functions are provided through a shared services arrangement with the News-Press & Gazette Company, owner of KION-TV, the market's CBS, Fox, and Telemundo affiliate. KCBA's programming is produced or coordinated from KION facilities on Moffett Street in Salinas. The station began broadcasting on November 1, 1981, after KLOC Broadcasting Corporation secured authorization to build a channel 35 outlet. It initially served as a Spanish-language station carrying programming from the Spanish International Network, the predecessor of the Univision network. This gave Central Coast viewers an over-the-air Spanish-language service at a time when Spanish programming was otherwise limited to cable distribution from stations in larger nearby markets. KCBA changed direction in 1986 after its sale to Ackerley Communications. The station moved from Spanish-language programming to an English-language schedule made up of children's programming, sitcoms, films, and sports. The transition generated concern among local Latino organizations, including the League of United Latin American Citizens. A separate station, KSMS-TV, subsequently launched with Spanish-language programming, allowing KCBA to proceed with its planned format change. In April 1987, KCBA became an affiliate of the newly launched Fox network. A local news department was introduced in 1990. The station's news operation helped establish KCBA as a significant local broadcaster and recruited journalists and presenters who later became prominent in television, including Alex Witt and Craig Kilborn. The news schedule changed several times, moving from early-evening and late-evening programs to a principal 10 p.m. newscast. KCBA also became closely linked operationally with KION-TV. In 1996, Ackerley took over most operations of KCCN-TV, later KION-TV, through a local marketing agreement, and the two stations shared facilities and personnel for many years. Ownership and operating arrangements changed repeatedly. Ackerley sold KCBA to Seal Rock Broadcasters while continuing to operate it, and subsequent changes involving Clear Channel Communications, Newport Television, and Cowles Publishing affected the station's relationship with KION. In 2013, Entravision Communications assumed operational responsibilities through a joint sales agreement. During that period, KCBA's local news output moved to a KION digital subchannel, while KCBA carried substantial news programming from KTVU in Oakland. The station's network identity changed again at the beginning of 2022. News-Press & Gazette acquired the Fox affiliation and program stream for carriage on KION's second digital subchannel, while the CW affiliation was assigned to KCBA. This arrangement preserved continuity for many cable and satellite viewers while changing the over-the-air distribution of the network services. KCBA was subsequently sold by Seal Rock Broadcasters to VistaWest Media, with the transaction completed in June 2023. VistaWest's ownership structure is linked operationally to NPG through shared services agreements. KCBA remains an active local television station whose role combines network programming, syndicated content, news carriage, and market-specific broadcasting.

KCBA's history began with an application filed by KLOC Broadcasting Corporation in November 1976 to construct a television station on UHF channel 35 in Salinas. The proposed service was intended primarily for Spanish-language broadcasting, supplemented by English-language religious programs. A competing applicant later withdrew, and the Federal Communications Commission granted KLOC a construction permit in September 1979, subject to the disposal of one of the company's existing Modesto broadcasting properties. KCBA commenced operations on November 1, 1981. Its launch brought the Spanish International Network to viewers who had not previously received the service over the air in the Central Coast market. The station remained Spanish-language until 1986, when Ackerley Communications acquired it. The proposed change raised concerns among Latino community representatives, including the League of United Latin American Citizens. Ackerley ultimately introduced an English-language format in September 1986, while Spanish-language network programming shifted to the newly launched KSMS-TV. KCBA joined Fox in April 1987. Ackerley expanded the station's local role by starting a news department in 1990. The operation initially produced 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts and recruited personnel from other Central Coast stations. Among the people associated with its early news operation were anchor Romney Dunbar, entertainment contributor Jeremy Slate, sports anchor Craig Kilborn, and reporter and anchor Alex Witt. The station later reduced its schedule to a single late-evening newscast, briefly experimented with a 6 p.m. family-oriented program in 1994, and then discontinued that format. KCBA became part of a wider shared-management structure involving KION-TV. In 1996, Ackerley assumed operational control of KCCN-TV, KION's predecessor, under a local marketing agreement with owner Harron Corporation. KCCN's operations moved from Monterey to Salinas, where the two stations shared facilities. Ackerley later bought KION outright and sold KCBA to Seal Rock Broadcasters while retaining operational responsibilities. Corporate changes involving Ackerley, Clear Channel Communications, Newport Television, and Cowles Publishing altered the ownership and management framework, but the operational relationship between KCBA and KION continued. In 2013, Entravision Communications took over KCBA's operations under a joint sales agreement. The change affected the station's news presentation: the KCBA 10 p.m. newscast moved to a KION digital subchannel, and KCBA began carrying KTVU news simulcasts. By the end of 2021, the station was carrying a substantial amount of KTVU's news output. A major programming transition occurred on January 1, 2022. The Fox program stream was transferred to KION's second digital subchannel, and KCBA received The CW affiliation. The change followed a new shared services agreement between Seal Rock and the News-Press & Gazette Company, replacing the earlier Entravision operating arrangement. KCBA's operations moved back to Salinas, and the affiliation change did not materially alter cable and satellite availability in the market. Seal Rock agreed in 2022 to sell KCBA to VistaWest Media. The transaction was completed on June 5, 2023. VistaWest's station portfolio and management relationships include other markets in which NPG provides shared services, and NPG retained an option to acquire KCBA. KCBA continues to operate as a Salinas-licensed station serving the Monterey Bay region. Its technical service is transmitted from Fremont Peak, and its current schedule includes CW Plus programming and a local 10 p.m. newscast.

• 2023

  VistaWest Media acquisition completed

  [1]KCBAen.wikipedia.org

  VistaWest Media completed its acquisition of KCBA from Seal Rock Broadcasters.

• 2022

  Network affiliation switches to The CW

  [1]KCBAen.wikipedia.org

  KCBA became a CW outlet after the Fox program stream moved to KION's second digital subchannel.

• 2013

  Entravision assumes operations

  [1]KCBAen.wikipedia.org

  Entravision took over KCBA's operations through a joint sales agreement.

• 1996

  KCCN-TV operations taken over

  [1]KCBAen.wikipedia.org

  Ackerley entered an agreement to operate KCCN-TV, later KION-TV, creating a long-running shared operational relationship.

• 1990

  Local news department launched

  [1]KCBAen.wikipedia.org

  KCBA began producing local news and moved into facilities suitable for a news operation in Salinas.

• 1987

  Fox affiliation begins

  [1]KCBAen.wikipedia.org

  KCBA joined the Fox network in April.

• 1986

  English-language format introduced

  [1]KCBAen.wikipedia.org

  Following its acquisition by Ackerley Communications, KCBA changed from Spanish-language broadcasting to an English-language schedule.

• 1981

  KCBA begins broadcasting

  [1]KCBAen.wikipedia.org

  KCBA launched on November 1 as a Spanish-language station affiliated with the Spanish International Network.

• 1979

  Construction permit granted

  [1]KCBAen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC granted the construction permit after requiring the applicant to sell one of its existing Modesto broadcasting properties.

• 1976

  Construction application filed

  [1]KCBAen.wikipedia.org

  KLOC Broadcasting Corporation applied to build a Spanish-language television station on channel 35 in Salinas.

A local free-to-air television station serving the Monterey Bay market, combining CW Plus network programming with local news, syndicated entertainment, and regional advertising.

• Network television programming · 2022

  CW Plus programming

  KCBA's current network offering is The CW Plus, a package designed for smaller television markets. It forms the core of the station's entertainment schedule and gives KCBA a national network identity while it continues to serve the Monterey Bay region as a local broadcast outlet.

• Local news broadcasting · 1990

  KCBA local news

  KCBA has maintained a local-news role since launching its news department in 1990. Its news schedule has changed over time, including periods of internally produced late news, KION-produced programming, KTVU simulcasts, and a current 10 p.m. local newscast.

• 2022

  Fox and CW affiliations exchangedGeneration change

  Background

  A new shared services arrangement was established between Seal Rock Broadcasters and the News-Press & Gazette Company.

  Action taken

  The Fox program stream moved to KION's second digital subchannel, and The CW affiliation moved to KCBA on January 1.

  Aftermath

  KCBA continued operating as a network-affiliated station under The CW Plus, with no reported change for cable and satellite viewers.

  Source

• 2022

  Sale to VistaWest Media announcedM&A

  Background

  Seal Rock Broadcasters sought to transfer ownership of KCBA after the station's affiliation and operating arrangements had changed.

  Action taken

  Seal Rock filed to sell KCBA to VistaWest Media for a reported one million dollars.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed in June 2023, with NPG continuing to provide shared services and holding an option to acquire the station.

  Reported transaction value. $1 million (2022 announced sale)

  Source

• 2013

  News distribution moved to a KION digital subchannelStrategy

  Background

  The original KCBA operating agreement with KION ended as Entravision assumed operations.

  Action taken

  KCBA moved its 10 p.m. newscast to KION's 46.2 digital subchannel and carried KTVU news simulcasts.

  Aftermath

  KCBA became increasingly dependent on externally produced news content, later carrying extensive KTVU output.

  Source

• 1986

  Switch from Spanish-language to English-language programmingStrategy

  Background

  Ackerley Communications planned a new format after acquiring KCBA, while Spanish-language programming was expected to move to the forthcoming KSMS-TV.

  Action taken

  KCBA introduced an English-language schedule in September 1986.

  Aftermath

  The station joined Fox the following year, while KSMS-TV became the area's principal Spanish-language outlet.

  Source

1. 1KCBAen.wikipedia.org