KETV
An ABC-affiliated television station serving Omaha, Nebraska, and surrounding communities.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KETV is a commercial television station licensed to Omaha, Nebraska, and affiliated with the ABC network. It broadcasts on virtual channel 7 and is owned by Hearst Television. The station operates from the historic Burlington Station in downtown Omaha, a former railroad facility that Hearst converted into a broadcast and digital-media center. Its transmission facilities are located at a tower site near North 72nd Street and Crown Point Avenue in north-central Omaha. KETV began broadcasting on September 17, 1957, becoming Omaha's third television station. It has carried ABC programming continuously since launch, making it the only Omaha station to have retained the same major-network affiliation throughout its history. For several decades, the station also reached viewers in Lincoln, Nebraska, before a separate Lincoln television market developed. KETV continues to maintain a Lincoln news bureau and attract substantial audiences in the state capital. The station was initially owned by World Publishing Company, publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, and promoted under an identity connected to the newspaper. Peter Kiewit acquired World Publishing in 1962, but federal restrictions on common ownership of newspapers and television stations in the same market led to the sale of KETV to Pulitzer Broadcasting in 1976. Pulitzer sold its entire broadcasting division to Hearst-Argyle Television in 1998; Hearst-Argyle later became Hearst Television. KETV's principal business is local television news, weather, traffic, investigative reporting, community information, and the distribution of ABC network programming. Its local news output has traditionally been branded NewsWatch 7, later KETV NewsWatch 7. The station has emphasized weather technology and public-service reporting, including a full-time meteorology operation established in the early 1970s, early use of live weather radar, the Next Generation Super Doppler 7 system, the long-running Crimestoppers partnership, and the 7 Can Help community-assistance service. In November 2006, KETV became the leading local news station in the Omaha market according to the cited reference material. The station has also adapted its technical and programming operations over time. It introduced a local weather subchannel in 2006, replaced that service with MeTV in 2011, and added GetTV in 2021. KETV ended regular analog broadcasting in 2009 while retaining virtual channel 7 on its digital signal. A transmitter-tower collapse in 2003 temporarily forced the station to use an auxiliary facility until a replacement tower was completed in 2004. In 2015, the news operation moved from its former downtown studios to the renovated Burlington Station. KETV remains an active Hearst-owned ABC affiliate, combining network television, locally produced journalism, weather services, digital publishing, and community initiatives.
History
KETV signed on September 17, 1957, as Omaha's third television station. It joined ABC at launch and has remained an ABC affiliate ever since. The station was originally owned by World Publishing Company, the publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, and initially linked its identity to the newspaper. Peter Kiewit acquired World Publishing in 1962. Because federal communications rules restricted common ownership of a newspaper and television station in the same market, Kiewit sold KETV to Pulitzer Broadcasting in 1976. The station adopted a version of the Circle 7 logo in 1984 and made a modest update to the design in 2000. Pulitzer sold its broadcasting properties, including KETV, to Hearst-Argyle Television in 1998. Hearst-Argyle later became Hearst Television, which remains KETV's owner. During this period, KETV continued to serve both Omaha and viewers in Lincoln. Although Lincoln eventually became a distinct television market, KETV retained a Lincoln bureau and meaningful reach there. KETV developed a strong local-news identity under the NewsWatch 7 name. It was an early adopter of specialized weather operations, employing a full-time meteorologist in the early 1970s and using live weather radar later in that decade. It became the second Omaha station to use Doppler weather radar in the early 1980s. The station's current weather system, Next Generation Super Doppler 7, was built in 2007 and updated in 2016. KETV also developed public-service features such as Crimestoppers, introduced in 1982, and 7 Can Help, a community-assistance hotline and website. A major technical disruption occurred on July 4, 2003, when the main transmitter tower collapsed while a digital antenna was being added. The late-night timing prevented injuries, but the failure took KETV off the air and required temporary operation from an auxiliary tower. A replacement tower was completed in late 2004. KETV launched a 24-hour local weather service on digital subchannel 7.2 in 2006, later replacing it with MeTV in 2011. GetTV was added to another digital subchannel in 2021. The station ended regular analog broadcasts on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide digital transition. Its digital signal continued to use virtual channel 7. In 2013, Hearst announced the purchase of the historic Burlington Station in downtown Omaha. The building was renovated for television production and web-media work, and KETV moved its news operation there in October 2015. The facility is also associated with the station's nickname, 7 Burlington Station. KETV has periodically faced distribution disputes with pay-television providers. A 2012 conflict with Time Warner Cable temporarily removed the station from systems in the Lincoln market, while Spectrum dropped it from its Lincoln lineup in 2018. In local programming, KETV launched a 4 p.m. newscast in September 2022, initially filling the schedule position vacated by The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The station remains an active local-news organization and ABC affiliate serving the Omaha region.
- 2022
4 p.m. newscast debuts
[1]KETV launches a new weekday afternoon local-news program.
- 2021
GetTV added to the digital lineup
[1]GetTV becomes available on KETV digital subchannel 7.5.
- 2015
News operation relocates to Burlington Station
[1]KETV begins broadcasting from its renovated Burlington Station facility.
- 2011
MeTV replaces Weather Now
[1]The station replaces its local weather multicast service with MeTV on subchannel 7.2.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]KETV ends regular analog transmission during the federally mandated digital television transition.
- 2006
Local weather subchannel launches
[1]KETV launches Weather Now on digital subchannel 7.2.
- 2004
Replacement tower completed
[1]A new transmission tower is completed near the former tower site.
- 2003
Transmitter tower collapse
[1]The main tower collapses during digital-antenna construction, forcing temporary transmission from an auxiliary tower.
- 1998
Hearst-Argyle acquisition
[1]Pulitzer sells its broadcasting division, including KETV, to Hearst-Argyle Television.
- 1976
Sale to Pulitzer Broadcasting
[1]KETV is sold to Pulitzer Broadcasting following restrictions on newspaper and television cross-ownership in one market.
Products and positioning
A locally focused ABC affiliate positioned around trusted Omaha-area news, weather, public-service reporting, and community involvement.
Local television news
KETV NewsWatch 7
KETV's principal local-news franchise, covering Omaha, eastern Nebraska, and nearby Iowa communities. The operation includes daily newscasts, investigative reporting, consumer coverage, weather, traffic, and digital video and articles. The station produces approximately 32 hours of locally originated news each week according to the cited reference material.
Weather service · 2007
Next Generation Super Doppler 7
KETV's high-resolution local weather-radar operation, located near the station's transmitter site. The system was constructed in 2007 and updated in 2016, supporting on-air forecasts, severe-weather coverage, and digital weather information.
Community service
7 Can Help
A long-running KETV assistance initiative delivered through a hotline and website. It has connected residents with financial grants, utility-bill assistance, services for children, and help resolving benefit or service issues, including matters affecting older adults.
Public-service reporting · 1982
Crimestoppers
A weekly crime-information feature that KETV has presented since 1982. The station states that the initiative has contributed to arrests and convictions of more than 1,000 wanted individuals, although the cited material does not provide a detailed methodology for that figure.
Digital multicast television · 2011
MeTV on digital subchannel 7.2
A classic-television network service carried by KETV after replacing the station's Weather Now service in September 2011.
Marketing campaigns
- 1982KETV Crimestoppers
Omaha metropolitan area · Eastern Nebraska
A recurring crime-reporting and public-tip initiative built around weekly television segments and related community information.
Outcome. KETV reports that the initiative has assisted with more than 1,000 arrests and convictions.
- 7 Can Help
Greater Omaha
A community-help program using KETV's hotline and online presence to connect residents with grants, utility assistance, children's services, and help with disputed or denied benefits.
Outcome. The program is described as an ongoing community service; a specific launch year and quantified results are not provided.
Brand decisions
2022
Introduction of the 4 p.m. newscastProduct launchBackground
The end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show created an opening in the weekday afternoon schedule.
Action taken
KETV introduced an hour-long 4 p.m. local newscast on September 5.
Aftermath
The program competed with an existing WOWT newscast in the same time period. The cited material states that it was later shortened to 30 minutes in September 2025 when Jeopardy! was added.
2015
Relocation to Burlington StationStrategyBackground
Hearst sought a modern facility that could support television production and web-media operations.
Action taken
KETV moved its news operation into the renovated historic Burlington Station in downtown Omaha.
Aftermath
The facility became the station's principal broadcast and digital-media center and was associated with the 7 Burlington Station identity.
2006
Launch of Weather NowProduct launchBackground
KETV expanded its digital television offering with a dedicated local weather service.
Action taken
The station launched Weather Now on digital subchannel 7.2 and also made the service available through local cable and its website.
Aftermath
Weather Now was later replaced by MeTV in 2011.
Recent events
- 2022
KETV launches a 4 p.m. local newscast[1]
Product launch
The station introduced an hour-long weekday 4 p.m. newscast after the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
- 2018
Spectrum drops KETV from its Lincoln lineup[1]
Other · Pricing
KETV was removed from Spectrum's Lincoln-area channel lineup in June amid a carriage dispute.
- 2015
KETV moves its news operation to Burlington Station[1]
Other
After Hearst acquired and renovated the historic Burlington Station, KETV moved its news operation there and aired its first broadcast from the facility on October 28.
- 2012
Hearst Television and Time Warner Cable reach a carriage agreement[1]
Other · Pricing
A carriage dispute removed KETV from Time Warner Cable systems serving the Lincoln area from July 9 to July 19 before the companies reached an agreement.
- 2003
KETV transmitter tower collapses during digital-antenna work[1]
Other
The station's main transmission tower collapsed during installation of a digital television antenna. No injuries were reported, but KETV had to operate from a shorter auxiliary tower for more than a year.
- 1957
KETV begins broadcasting in Omaha[1]
Other
KETV signed on as Omaha's third television station and began its continuing relationship with ABC.
Sources3 sources
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