KGTV
An ABC-affiliated television station serving San Diego, California, and the surrounding market.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
KGTV is a television station serving San Diego, California, and nearby communities. Broadcasting on virtual channel 10, the station is affiliated with the American Broadcasting Company and is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company. Its on-air news identity is commonly presented as 10News. KGTV operates from studios on Air Way in San Diego's Riverview-Webster area, while its main transmission facilities are located on Mount Soledad in La Jolla. The station also operates digital translator KZSD-LD, channel 20, helping households that have difficulty receiving KGTV's VHF signal or that rely primarily on UHF antennas. KGTV began broadcasting on September 13, 1953, as KFSD-TV, making it the San Diego area's third-oldest television station. It was initially associated with NBC and was owned by Airfan Radio Corporation, which also controlled KFSD radio. The station and its radio counterpart changed hands several times during their early history. Fox, Wells & Rogers acquired the properties in 1954, and Newsweek's publishing interests took a minority stake in 1957. Time-Life's broadcasting division acquired the San Diego outlets in 1962. A later transaction transferred the television station to McGraw-Hill, with the sale completed in 1972 after regulatory requirements concerning concentration and common ownership of radio and television operations. The call sign changed to KOGO-TV in 1961 and became KGTV in 1972. The latter change reflected Federal Communications Commission rules that restricted different owners of radio and television stations in the same market from sharing identical call letters. The station was an NBC affiliate during its first decades, but its network relationship changed during a major San Diego affiliation realignment. ABC programming had previously been carried by XETV, a station licensed in Tijuana, Mexico. After KCST-TV successfully challenged that arrangement and obtained ABC programming, KGTV announced in 1976 that it would join ABC. The switch took effect on June 27, 1977, after KCST-TV moved to NBC. KGTV has remained an ABC affiliate since then, and a 1994 long-term agreement between McGraw-Hill and ABC reinforced that relationship. Local news has been central to KGTV's identity. During the 1970s, anchors including Jack White and Harold Greene, weather presenter Mike Ambrose, and sportscasters Al Coupee and Hal Clement helped the station challenge the market position of longtime leader KFMB-TV. The hiring of Michael Tuck from KFMB in 1984 strengthened KGTV's evening news operation; his recurring commentary segment, "Perspectives," became a notable part of the station's presentation. KGTV also became the first San Diego station to use a female anchor team on its 11 p.m. newscast, with Carol LeBeau and Bree Walker, later followed by LeBeau's long-running partnership with Kimberly Hunt. Ratings leadership shifted over time as competitors strengthened, but local news, weather, sports, and investigative reporting remain the station's principal programming focus. KGTV began its transition to digital television in the 2000s and ceased analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, moving its digital signal to VHF channel 10. The station introduced a 4 p.m. local newscast in 2009, initially branded 10-4 and later renamed The NOW San Diego. It broadcasts a substantial weekly schedule of locally produced news and also produces Sports Xtra, a weekend sports highlights program. KGTV began broadcasting local news in high definition on August 30, 2008. In 2011, McGraw-Hill announced the sale of its television group, including KGTV and the station's low-power Spanish-language outlet then known as KZSD-LP, to Scripps for $212 million. The transaction closed on December 30, 2011. Under Scripps ownership, KGTV developed a news and weather relationship with former radio sister station KOGO, although KOGO is now owned by iHeartMedia. Because Scripps Health is a separate San Diego healthcare organization with no corporate connection to Scripps's media business, KGTV has periodically clarified that distinction in medical coverage. KGTV's digital subchannel lineup has changed over time. Its second digital channel carried TheCoolTV, then the Live Well Network, Laff, and later MeTV. In 2024, Laff returned to the over-the-air subchannel after Scripps News shifted its emphasis toward streaming distribution. KGTV remains an active local broadcast brand, combining ABC network programming, locally produced journalism, weather information, sports coverage, syndicated or multicast programming, and digital distribution through its 10News website.
History
KGTV began service on September 13, 1953, as KFSD-TV, an NBC affiliate and the San Diego market's third-oldest television station. Airfan Radio Corporation was the original owner and also operated KFSD radio. The station's ownership structure included minority interests associated with firms that had competed for the channel, followed by the acquisition of the KFSD properties by Fox, Wells & Rogers in 1954. Newsweek interests acquired approximately 46 percent of the stations in 1957. Time-Life's broadcasting division acquired the San Diego radio and television properties in 1962. In the early 1970s, Time-Life arranged the sale of several broadcasting assets to McGraw-Hill. The transaction, completed in June 1972, was valued at slightly more than $57 million for the group. FCC ownership rules required divestitures of several radio stations. The television station was retained, but changed from KOGO-TV to KGTV on June 1, 1972, because the applicable rules restricted the use of matching call letters by separately owned radio and television stations in one market. KGTV's most important programming change came during the 1970s San Diego network-affiliation dispute. ABC programming had been carried by XETV, a station licensed in Tijuana, under special FCC arrangements. KCST-TV, a San Diego-licensed UHF station, challenged that structure and ultimately secured the ABC affiliation. As ABC's national ratings improved, the network sought stronger U.S.-licensed affiliates. KGTV announced in June 1976 that it would join ABC, and the switch took place on June 27, 1977, after KCST-TV moved to NBC. KGTV has retained ABC affiliation ever since. A 1994 long-term agreement between McGraw-Hill and ABC further stabilized the relationship. The station expanded its local-news profile during the 1970s and 1980s. Jack White, Harold Greene, Mike Ambrose, Al Coupee, and Hal Clement helped KGTV challenge KFMB-TV's established ratings position. The recruitment of Michael Tuck from KFMB in 1984 was another important competitive move. Tuck's evening commentary, Perspectives, became associated with the station's news identity. KGTV was also notable for introducing San Diego's first female anchor team on an 11 p.m. newscast, initially featuring Carol LeBeau and Bree Walker. Kimberly Hunt later joined LeBeau, and their partnership became one of the market's longest-running anchor teams. Ratings leadership fluctuated as KNSD and other stations strengthened their news operations. KGTV continued to expand its news schedule and technical capabilities. It launched a 4 p.m. newscast in 2009 under the 10-4 name, later retitling the program The NOW San Diego. The station ended analog transmission on February 17, 2009, and moved its digital signal to VHF channel 10. Local newscasts were upgraded to high definition on August 30, 2008. The station also produces the weekend program Sports Xtra and maintains a substantial weekly schedule of locally produced news. On October 3, 2011, McGraw-Hill announced the sale of its entire television station group to the E. W. Scripps Company. KGTV and the associated low-power outlet KZSD-LP were included in the $212 million transaction, which closed on December 30, 2011. Scripps ownership brought KGTV into a larger local-television group and led to a news and weather relationship with former radio sister KOGO, now controlled by iHeartMedia. KGTV periodically distinguishes its media ownership from Scripps Health, the unrelated San Diego healthcare system, particularly when medical professionals from Scripps Health appear in news reports. KGTV's digital multicast services have changed repeatedly. The second digital channel carried TheCoolTV, then Live Well Network, Laff, and MeTV. In 2017, Scripps moved MeTV to KGTV-DT2 amid broader changes involving several San Diego stations and Spanish-language services. In November 2024, Laff replaced Scripps News on the station's over-the-air lineup after Scripps News shifted its distribution strategy toward streaming. KGTV remains an active ABC station serving the San Diego region through broadcast, digital subchannels, online news, and its 10News brand.
- 2024
Laff returns to the over-the-air lineup
[1]Laff replaces Scripps News on a KGTV digital subchannel.
- 2011
Acquired by Scripps
[1]Scripps completes its purchase of KGTV from McGraw-Hill on December 30.
- 2009
Digital transition and afternoon-news expansion
[1]The station ends analog transmission and introduces its 4 p.m. newscast.
- 2008
Local news moves to high definition
[1]KGTV begins broadcasting local newscasts in high definition on August 30.
- 1977
ABC affiliation begins
[1]KGTV takes over ABC programming on June 27 and has remained affiliated with the network.
- 1972
Adopts the KGTV call sign
[1]The station becomes KGTV during the McGraw-Hill ownership transition.
- 1961
Call sign changes to KOGO-TV
[1]The station adopts the KOGO-TV identity.
- 1953
First broadcast as KFSD-TV
[1]Channel 10 begins broadcasting on September 13 as an NBC affiliate.
Products and positioning
A San Diego local-news and information station built around ABC network affiliation, regional weather and traffic coverage, sports reporting, and multiplatform video journalism.
Local television news
10News local newscasts
KGTV's principal local-news service covers San Diego-area breaking news, public affairs, weather, traffic, consumer issues, and regional events. The station produces multiple daily editions and distributes related stories through its 10News digital platform.
Afternoon local newscast · 2009
The NOW San Diego
KGTV's 4 p.m. local newscast, originally introduced in 2009 under the title 10-4. The program provides an early-evening news block before the station's later scheduled newscasts.
Sports television program
Sports Xtra
A weekend sports highlights program produced by KGTV and scheduled after the late local news on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Digital television subchannel
KGTV-DT2 multicast service
KGTV's second digital stream has hosted several multicast networks over time, including TheCoolTV, Live Well Network, Laff, MeTV, and Scripps News. In November 2024, Laff returned after Scripps News moved away from over-the-air distribution.
Digital broadcast translator
KZSD-LD translator
A low-power digital translator on channel 20 that retransmits KGTV programming for viewers who have difficulty receiving the station's VHF signal or use UHF-only antennas.
Brand decisions
2011
Sale from McGraw-Hill to ScrippsM&ABackground
McGraw-Hill decided to sell its full television station group, including KGTV and the related low-power KZSD-LP outlet.
Action taken
The E. W. Scripps Company agreed to acquire the group for $212 million, completing the transaction on December 30, 2011.
Aftermath
KGTV became part of Scripps's television portfolio and later entered a news and weather relationship with former radio sister KOGO.
Purchase price for McGraw-Hill television group. $212 million (Announced October 3, 2011; completed December 30, 2011)
2009
Launch of the 4 p.m. local newscastProduct launchBackground
KGTV expanded its local-news schedule as San Diego stations competed for viewers across additional dayparts.
Action taken
The station launched a 4 p.m. newscast called 10-4, later renamed The NOW San Diego.
Aftermath
The afternoon program became part of KGTV's continuing local-news lineup.
1976
Move from NBC to ABCStrategyBackground
ABC programming in San Diego had been associated with XETV in Tijuana, while KCST-TV challenged that arrangement and eventually secured ABC. KGTV saw an opportunity to join ABC as the network pursued stronger U.S.-licensed affiliates.
Action taken
KGTV announced the affiliation change in June 1976 and moved to ABC on June 27, 1977, after KCST-TV shifted to NBC.
Aftermath
The station has remained an ABC affiliate, supported by a long-term McGraw-Hill–ABC agreement announced in 1994.
Sources3 sources
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