KERO-TV
KERO-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Bakersfield and the southern San Joaquin Valley in California.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KERO-TV is a commercial television station serving Bakersfield, California, and the surrounding Kern County market. Branded in local promotion as 23ABC, the station broadcasts ABC network programming and locally produced news, weather, and public-affairs content. Its studios are located on 21st Street in downtown Bakersfield, while its main transmitter is located on Breckenridge Mountain. A low-power digital translator, KZKC-LD, extends the station's signal to households that have difficulty receiving KERO's VHF transmission or rely on UHF-only antennas. The station began broadcasting on September 26, 1953, as an NBC affiliate on channel 10. It was initially operated by Kern County Broadcasters alongside KERO radio, and the two outlets shared facilities in the lobby of Bakersfield's El Tejon Hotel. The radio and television properties were separated in 1955. KERO-TV subsequently passed through several ownership groups, including Wrather-Alvarez Broadcasting, Marietta Broadcasting, Transcontinent Television Corporation, Time-Life, McGraw-Hill, and eventually the E. W. Scripps Company. KERO moved from channel 10 to channel 23 in 1963 after federal channel-allocation changes made the Bakersfield and Fresno markets all-UHF markets. The station briefly simulcast on both channels before ending its channel 10 transmission. The move established the channel identity that remains central to the station's branding. In its early decades, KERO also developed a notable local-programming tradition. Programs such as Cousin Herb's Trading Post and The Uncle Woody Show reflected Bakersfield's regional culture, while Cousin Herb host Herb Henson helped showcase musicians associated with the emerging Bakersfield Sound, including Buck Owens and Tommy Collins. The station's facilities were also used for Casey Kasem's music-variety program SheBang during the 1960s. KERO has been affiliated with each of the traditional American broadcast networks. It began with NBC, switched to CBS in March 1984 in an exchange with KGET-TV, and became an ABC affiliate on March 1, 1996, when it obtained the affiliation from KBAK-TV. The ABC change followed a broader corporate affiliation arrangement involving McGraw-Hill and ABC. This history made KERO one of the relatively small number of U.S. stations to have carried NBC, CBS, and ABC during its existence. The station's news operation has been an important part of its local identity. Burleigh Smith, who anchored and produced news at KERO during two periods between 1954 and 1990, is widely associated with the development of television news in Bakersfield. Other notable personnel included Don Rodewald, George Day, Sunny Scofield, Rita Cosby, Lloyd Lindsay Young, and Rusty Shoop. KERO later expanded its digital and multiplatform presence through the Turnto23.com website and related online video and news distribution. McGraw-Hill announced the sale of its entire television group to Scripps in October 2011. The transaction, valued at $212 million, closed on December 30, 2011, placing KERO within the Scripps station portfolio. KERO continues to operate as a local ABC affiliate, combining network programming with regional news and community-oriented coverage.
History
KERO-TV signed on September 26, 1953, as an NBC station on channel 10 in Bakersfield, California. It was established by Kern County Broadcasters and operated alongside KERO radio. The two outlets initially shared a studio in the El Tejon Hotel before the television operation later moved to its current 21st Street facilities. The radio and television stations were separated in late 1955. Ownership changed in the late 1950s. Wrather-Alvarez Broadcasting acquired KERO-TV in early 1957, and after that partnership dissolved, Jack Wrather retained the station through Marietta Broadcasting. Marietta was merged into Transcontinent Television Corporation in 1959. Transcontinent sold most of its stations to Taft Broadcasting in 1964, but KERO was instead sold to Time-Life. McGraw-Hill acquired Time-Life's broadcasting division in 1972, bringing KERO into the same group as stations including KOGO-TV in San Diego, KLZ-TV in Denver, and WFBM-TV in Indianapolis. A major technical and regulatory change came in 1963. Federal channel reallocation converted the Bakersfield and Fresno markets to all-UHF configurations, prompting KERO to move from channel 10 to channel 23 on July 1. For approximately two months the station transmitted on both channels, after which channel 10 was discontinued. The channel 23 identity became the foundation of KERO's later branding. KERO built a strong local-programming profile during its early decades. Cousin Herb's Trading Post, hosted by country musician Herb Henson, featured regional performers and helped expose audiences to artists associated with the Bakersfield Sound. Among those appearing in the program's orbit were Buck Owens and Tommy Collins. The Uncle Woody Show was another locally remembered program in the 1960s and 1970s. During the same general period, Casey Kasem used KERO's facilities to record SheBang, a weekly music-variety program produced while he was working as a Los Angeles radio personality. The station's network identity changed several times. Although McGraw-Hill's other stations eventually moved toward ABC, KERO remained with NBC until March 1984, when it exchanged affiliations with KGET-TV and joined CBS. On March 1, 1996, KERO took over ABC programming from KBAK-TV. The change followed a broader corporate arrangement involving McGraw-Hill and ABC and made KERO one of a limited number of American stations to have carried all three traditional major networks: NBC, CBS, and ABC. KERO's news operation became one of its most durable institutional features. Burleigh Smith anchored and produced news from 1954 to 1960 and again from 1973 until 1990 and is often credited with helping establish television news in Bakersfield. Other long-serving or notable personalities included Don Rodewald, George Day, Sunny Scofield, and Rita Cosby. Weather coverage also became a recognizable part of the station's presentation. Lloyd Lindsay Young served as chief weathercaster from 2005 to 2008. Rusty Shoop returned to television as his replacement in 2008 but retired in 2009 for medical reasons related to an earlier brain aneurysm. Jack Church then served as chief meteorologist from January 2010 through May 2011. KERO added a low-power sister station, KZKC-LP, in 2006. The station later developed a digital distribution presence through Turnto23.com and an associated translator, KZKC-LD, which helps viewers receive KERO programming where the main VHF signal or antenna configuration presents reception difficulties. KERO ended regular analog broadcasting during the nationwide U.S. digital transition on June 12, 2009; its post-transition digital operation retained virtual channel 23 while using its pre-transition VHF channel 10 frequency. In October 2011, McGraw-Hill announced that it would sell its entire television group to E. W. Scripps Company. The $212 million transaction closed on December 30, 2011, and KERO became part of Scripps' local television portfolio. Under Scripps, the station adopted a cost-conscious programming strategy in 2014, removing Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune in favor of lower-cost local or Scripps-produced programming. KERO remains an active ABC affiliate and local news provider for the Bakersfield market.
- 2011
Acquisition by E. W. Scripps Company
[1]Scripps completes its purchase of McGraw-Hill's television group on December 30.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]KERO ends regular analog transmission as part of the nationwide U.S. digital television transition.
- 2006
KZKC-LP becomes a sister station
[1]The station group adds KZKC-LP, then an Azteca América affiliate.
- 1996
ABC affiliation begins
[1]KERO takes ABC programming from KBAK-TV on March 1.
- 1984
CBS affiliation begins
[1]KERO exchanges affiliations with KGET-TV and becomes a CBS station.
- 1963
Move to channel 23
[1]KERO relocates from channel 10 to channel 23 after federal channel reallocation, briefly operating both signals during the transition.
- 1953
KERO-TV begins broadcasting
[1]The station signs on September 26 as an NBC affiliate on channel 10 in Bakersfield.
Products and positioning
A local broadcast and digital news brand focused on Bakersfield, Kern County, and the southern San Joaquin Valley, combining ABC network content with regional journalism, weather, traffic, and community coverage.
Local television news
23ABC News
KERO's local news service supplies reporting, interviews, weather, traffic, and community coverage for Bakersfield and the wider Kern County area. The operation has historically included prominent anchor, reporting, and meteorological personnel and remains central to the station's identity.
Digital news platform
Turnto23.com
The station's website extends KERO's broadcast operation into online news, weather, video, and local information. It provides a digital access point for audiences who do not consume the station solely through over-the-air television.
Broadcast transmission service
KZKC-LD translator
KZKC-LD retransmits KERO programming in digital form to help households that have difficulty receiving the station's VHF signal or use antennas optimized for UHF channels.
Historical local variety program
Cousin Herb's Trading Post
This 1950s local variety program was hosted by country musician Herb Henson. It featured regional performers and became associated with Bakersfield's developing country-music culture and the artists later identified with the Bakersfield Sound.
Historical local entertainment program
The Uncle Woody Show
A locally remembered KERO entertainment program that ran during the 1960s and 1970s, reflecting the station's earlier emphasis on locally produced programming.
Brand decisions
2014
Replacement of syndicated game showsStrategyBackground
Scripps pursued a chain-wide effort to replace higher-cost syndicated programming with local or company-produced content.
Action taken
KERO dropped Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune on September 8 and replaced them with The List and Let's Ask America; Inside Edition later replaced Let's Ask America.
Aftermath
The two Sony game shows moved to KBAK, while KERO's schedule shifted toward Scripps-produced and lower-cost programming.
2011
Sale from McGraw-Hill to E. W. Scripps CompanyM&ABackground
McGraw-Hill decided to exit television broadcasting by selling its entire station group.
Action taken
E. W. Scripps Company agreed to acquire the group for $212 million; the transaction closed on December 30, 2011.
Aftermath
KERO joined the Scripps portfolio and later participated in Scripps-wide programming and operating initiatives.
Purchase price. $212 million (Announced October 3, 2011; completed December 30, 2011)
1996
Switch from CBS to ABCStrategyBackground
A broader corporate affiliation arrangement involving McGraw-Hill and ABC led to changes among stations in the Bakersfield market.
Action taken
KERO took the ABC affiliation from KBAK-TV on March 1, 1996.
Aftermath
KERO became an ABC affiliate and completed a rare three-network history spanning NBC, CBS, and ABC.
1984
Switch from NBC to CBSStrategyBackground
KERO and KGET-TV exchanged network affiliations in the Bakersfield market.
Action taken
KERO joined CBS in March 1984, citing the network's stronger programming position locally.
Aftermath
The change made CBS KERO's second major-network affiliation after its long NBC period.
1963
Relocation from channel 10 to channel 23StrategyBackground
Federal Communications Commission channel-allocation changes made the Bakersfield and Fresno television markets all-UHF markets.
Action taken
KERO moved to channel 23 on July 1, initially simulcasting its programming on channels 10 and 23 before shutting down the channel 10 transmission.
Aftermath
Channel 23 became the station's enduring broadcast and consumer-facing identity.
Recent events
23ABC partners on a Mother's Day high tea and symphony event[3]
Reported:
23ABC partnered with ShePower, the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and other sponsors to bring the community a Mother's Day high tea and symphony event. 23ABC also partnered with Macy's and Upstart Village for the event; Macy's donated 500 dresses for attendees.
Disney's Magic of Storytelling campaign distributes books in Kern County[4]
Reported:
Through Disney's Magic of Storytelling campaign, 23ABC will give 500 books to the Kern Literacy Council for distribution to local children. Disney is collaborating with First Book, and 23ABC and the Kern Literacy Council are participating in the campaign.
Sources4 sources
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