KGUN-TV
KGUN-TV is an ABC-affiliated broadcast television station serving Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KGUN-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Tucson, Arizona, and broadcasting on virtual channel 9. The station is affiliated with ABC and is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company. It operates alongside Sierra Vista-licensed independent station KWBA-TV, with both stations sharing production and studio facilities in east Tucson. KGUN's primary transmitter is located on Mount Bigelow northeast of the city, while a translator on Tumamoc Hill helps serve viewers in terrain-shadowed portions of the Catalina Foothills. The station began broadcasting on June 3, 1956, under the call sign KDWI-TV. It was Tucson's third commercial television station and initially operated without a network affiliation, relying heavily on motion pictures. The station's technical design was notable for its early use of a mountaintop transmission site. Within its first year, ownership changed, the call letters became KGUN-TV, and the station joined ABC. The affiliation completed the availability of the major commercial networks in Southern Arizona and supported the development of locally produced programs. Early local programming included the children's program Marshal KGUN, a local version of Romper Room, Mexican Theater, and the horror-film program Chiller. KGUN also became associated with coverage of Tucson's Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade, carrying the event for more than three decades before ending the broadcast after the 2004 edition because the production was not financially sustainable despite strong ratings. Local news has remained central to the station's identity. KGUN carried some local news in its earliest years, but the newsroom expanded substantially during the 1960s. The station launched Tucson's first local morning newscast in 1987 and later developed a more distinctive public-service positioning under news director Forrest Carr. His initiatives included a viewers' bill of rights and an ombudsman role, uncommon features in local television news. Although KGUN has historically competed with KVOA and KOLD for second- or third-place ratings, it became more competitive during the 1990s and 2000s. The station has passed through several ownership groups. After its founding period, it was acquired by interests associated with Henry S. Hilberg and Edwin G. Richter, then sold to Gilmore Broadcasting in 1964 and May Broadcasting in 1968. Lee Enterprises acquired KGUN in 1986, Emmis Communications bought Lee's television properties in 2000, and Journal Broadcast Group acquired the station in 2005. Journal later purchased KWBA-TV, creating a Tucson television duopoly after receiving regulatory approval for the transaction. Scripps acquired Journal Communications in 2015, making KGUN part of the Scripps broadcast portfolio. KGUN distributes ABC programming, locally produced news and information, syndicated and multicast programming, and selected sports coverage. In 2023, it became part of a Scripps Sports arrangement under which selected Arizona Coyotes games were carried in Tucson, principally through a secondary digital channel because of conflicts with ABC programming. The station continues to function as a local news, weather, sports, and community-information outlet for the Tucson market.
History
KGUN-TV traces its origins to a construction permit sought by Tucson lumber dealer D. W. "Doc" Ingram and his wife Kathleen in 1955. Their Tucson Television Company received authorization for channel 9 in April of that year. Construction included a transmitter and antenna on Mount Bigelow, making the facility Tucson's first television station to use a mountaintop transmission site. The station went on the air on June 3, 1956, as KDWI-TV. Its first studios were on North Sixth Avenue and included an unusual car lift installed by Ingram, allowing the property to be repurposed as a garage if the television project failed. KDWI initially operated without a network affiliation and filled its schedule largely with films. Ownership changed within months, and the station was sold to a separate Tucson Television Company led by Texas oilman Hugh U. Garrett. In March 1957, the call letters changed to KGUN-TV and the station joined ABC. The ABC affiliation enabled KGUN to expand its locally produced schedule. Programs remembered from the early period included Marshal KGUN, a children's show that continued until 1968, the local Romper Room franchise, Mexican Theater, and Chiller, a Saturday-night horror-film presentation hosted by program director Jack Jacobson. KGUN also built a long association with coverage of the Fiesta de los Vaqueros parade, a major Tucson community event. That coverage ended after the 2004 parade when its production costs exceeded its financial return. Ownership changed repeatedly over the following decades. Garrett sold the station in 1961 to a group led by Henry S. Hilberg and Edwin G. Richter. That group sold KGUN to Gilmore Broadcasting in 1964, and Gilmore sold it to May Broadcasting in 1968. Lee Enterprises acquired KGUN in 1986 and later invested in a new east-Tucson studio complex. Lee sold its television stations to Emmis Communications in 2000. Emmis began liquidating its television assets, and Journal Broadcast Group purchased KGUN in 2005. Journal expanded its Tucson television position in 2008 by acquiring CW affiliate KWBA-TV. Because the market had limited independent station ownership, Journal obtained a failing-station waiver from the FCC. The transaction was supported by financial representations concerning KWBA and by a commitment to produce local news for the station. KGUN subsequently supplied a weekday morning extension, Good Morning Tucson Extra, for KWBA. The station's news operation grew from limited local coverage in its early years into a major part of its identity. Mac Marshall helped develop the newsroom in the 1960s, while Pat Stevens became one of the station's prominent early journalists and later served as news director. KGUN introduced Tucson's first local morning newscast in 1987. Under Forrest Carr, the newsroom adopted a viewers' bill of rights and an ombudsman position, emphasizing accountability and audience service. The station has generally ranked behind or near its principal Tucson competitors, KVOA and KOLD, but achieved greater competitiveness in later decades. Scripps announced its acquisition of Journal Communications in 2014 and completed the transaction in April 2015. KGUN became part of Scripps' national broadcast group and a sister station to Phoenix ABC affiliate KNXV-TV. In 2023, Scripps Sports arranged to distribute selected Arizona Coyotes games through its Arizona stations after the club left Bally Sports Arizona. KGUN carried most of its assigned games through a secondary digital channel while continuing to use its main channel for ABC and local programming. KGUN remains an active ABC affiliate serving Tucson and Southern Arizona.
- 2023
Arizona Coyotes broadcasts added
[1]Selected Coyotes games began airing through Scripps Sports arrangements, with KGUN serving the Tucson market.
- 2015
Scripps ownership begins
[1]The E. W. Scripps Company completed its acquisition of Journal Communications, including KGUN-TV.
- 2010
The Morning Blend launches
[1]KGUN began producing the weekday lifestyle and entertainment program The Morning Blend.
- 2009
Digital television transition
[1]KGUN ended analog broadcasting and moved its digital operation to VHF channel 9.
- 2008
KWBA-TV acquisition approved
[1]Journal's purchase of KWBA-TV created a Tucson duopoly after FCC approval.
- 1987
First local morning newscast
[1]KGUN became the first Tucson station to air a local morning news program.
- 1967
Tumamoc Hill translator established
[1]A translator facility was introduced to improve reception in parts of the Catalina Foothills affected by terrain.
- 1957
KGUN-TV name and ABC affiliation begin
[1]The station changed its call sign to KGUN-TV and joined ABC.
- 1956
KDWI-TV signs on
[1]The station began broadcasting on June 3 from Tucson, initially operating without a network affiliation.
- 1955
Construction permit granted
[1]D. W. and Kathleen Ingram's Tucson Television Company received authorization to build a television station on channel 9 in Tucson.
Products and positioning
A Tucson-focused ABC affiliate combining local news, weather, community reporting, lifestyle content, network entertainment, and selected sports programming.
Local television news
KGUN 9 News
KGUN's local news operation covers Tucson and Southern Arizona through scheduled newscasts, breaking-news reports, weather, sports, investigations, and community features. The newsroom has been a central part of the station since its expansion during the 1960s.
Morning news · 1987
Good Morning Tucson
The station's weekday morning news franchise combines local reporting, traffic and weather information, interviews, and regional features. KGUN was an early entrant in Tucson morning television, launching a local morning newscast in 1987.
Lifestyle and entertainment · 2010
The Morning Blend
A weekday lifestyle and entertainment magazine program produced by KGUN. Its format includes interviews, community topics, consumer-oriented features, and entertainment content.
Network television · 1957
ABC programming
KGUN distributes the ABC network schedule to viewers in the Tucson market, supplemented by local news, weather, sports, and station-produced programming.
Multicast television
Digital multicast programming
KGUN uses digital subchannels for additional network and syndicated services. Secondary-channel capacity has also been used for selected sports broadcasts, including Arizona Coyotes games.
Marketing campaigns
- Fiesta de los Vaqueros parade coverage
Tucson · Southern Arizona
KGUN televised Tucson's Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade for more than 30 years, making the event one of the station's longest-running community programming commitments.
Outcome. Coverage ended after the 2004 parade because the production lost money despite attracting good ratings.
- Viewers' Bill of Rights
Tucson · Southern Arizona
Under news director Forrest Carr, KGUN promoted a newsroom accountability initiative known as a Viewer's Bill of Rights and added an ombudsman function.
Outcome. The initiative distinguished KGUN's news operation within the Tucson market and reflected an emphasis on transparency and audience service.
Brand decisions
2023
Add Arizona Coyotes game broadcastsProduct launchBackground
The Arizona Coyotes' agreement with Bally Sports Arizona ended after the regional sports network rejected the contract during its parent company's bankruptcy proceedings.
Action taken
Scripps Sports arranged for selected Coyotes games to air through Scripps stations, including KGUN-TV in Tucson, primarily on a secondary channel.
Aftermath
KGUN expanded its sports offering while preserving its main-channel commitments to ABC and local programming.
2015
Join the Scripps broadcast portfolioM&ABackground
The E. W. Scripps Company announced an all-stock transaction to combine with Journal Communications.
Action taken
The transaction was approved by the FCC and shareholders and completed on April 1, 2015.
Aftermath
KGUN became a Scripps-owned ABC affiliate and a sister station to KNXV-TV in Phoenix.
2008
Acquire KWBA-TV and form a Tucson duopolyM&ABackground
Journal Broadcast Group sought to purchase KWBA-TV even though Tucson's limited number of commercial station owners normally restricted additional duopolies.
Action taken
Journal applied for and received a failing-station waiver, presenting financial evidence and promising to provide local news for KWBA.
Aftermath
The acquisition was approved in June 2008, and KGUN began supplying local programming for the sister station, including a morning-news extension.
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