KICU-TV

KICU-TV is a television station licensed to San Jose, California, and serving the broader San Francisco Bay Area. Broadcasting on channel 36, the station is operated by Fox Television Stations as a sister outlet to KTVU, the Fox affiliate licensed to Oakland. Although its signal and license are associated with San Jose, KICU’s principal operations are based at KTVU’s facilities in Oakland’s Jack London Square, while its transmitter is located on Monument Peak near Milpitas. The station began broadcasting on October 3, 1967, under the call sign KGSC-TV. It was established as a local independent station at a time when UHF television faced significant technical and economic obstacles in the Bay Area. Its early schedule combined syndicated series, older films, talk and religious programs, local sports, Spanish-language programming, children’s shows, and locally produced features. The station developed a distinctive identity through overnight movie presentations and highly informal local promotions, including the long-running “Movies 'Til Dawn” format and the “Perfect 36” image used during the 1970s. In 1979, the station was sold to Ralph Wilson Enterprises, the business associated with Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson. The new ownership introduced additional local programming and, on March 27, 1981, changed the call sign to KICU-TV, a wordplay on “I see you.” During the following decades, KICU remained primarily an independent station, carrying syndicated entertainment, films, children’s programming, local news simulcasts, and a wide range of Bay Area sports. Its sports portfolio at various times included games involving the Golden State Warriors, Oakland Athletics, San Jose Sharks, San Jose Earthquakes, and other professional, collegiate, and high-school teams. Cox Broadcasting acquired KICU in 1999, completing the transaction in 2000 and pairing the station with KTVU. The combination formed the first television duopoly in the Bay Area. KICU’s operations were subsequently consolidated with KTVU in Oakland, although the station retained its San Jose license and channel identity. Under Cox, the station continued to function as an independent outlet and also served at different times as a place for programs preempted by NBC affiliates or for sports and special-event overflow. Fox Television Stations acquired KICU and KTVU from Cox in a 2014 station transaction involving WFXT in Boston and WHBQ-TV in Memphis. The deal was completed on October 8, 2014, making KICU part of Fox’s owned-station portfolio. Fox later replaced the “TV 36” identity with “KTVU Plus” on April 25, 2016, emphasizing the station’s relationship with KTVU while preserving its role as a complementary local outlet. KICU continued to carry independent programming, KTVU news simulcasts, selected Fox programming when KTVU was unavailable, and overflow or replacement programming. On September 17, 2024, KICU began carrying MyNetworkTV after the service’s previous Bay Area affiliation with KRON-TV ended. The service is scheduled in an overnight period, generally Tuesday through Saturday mornings from 3:00 to 5:00 a.m., and remains secondary to KICU’s broader independent-station role. In practical terms, KICU operates as a companion station to KTVU: it extends the group’s Bay Area programming capacity, provides a venue for schedule overflow, and supplies an additional platform for syndicated, sports, entertainment, and local-news content.

The origins of KICU-TV date to an application filed with the Federal Communications Commission on May 20, 1964, by Continental-Urban Television Corporation for a new San Jose UHF station on channel 48. The FCC granted a construction permit on September 30 of that year, but a nationwide reassignment of UHF allocations moved the proposed station to channel 36 before construction began. The station signed on October 3, 1967, as KGSC-TV. Its studios were initially located on Kerley Drive in San Jose. As an independent station, it relied on a flexible schedule built around syndicated off-network series, talk shows, religious programs, films, children’s programming, local sports, Spanish-language blocks, and locally produced features. The station also became known for overnight movies. During the early 1970s, portions of the overnight schedule featured comedic hosts and fictional personas who commented on the films and interacted with local advertisers and guests. Later versions of the format were promoted as “Movies 'Til Dawn.” KGSC-TV used unconventional local marketing during the 1970s, including the “Perfect 36” identity and promotional appearances by Carol Doda. The station’s programming and promotional style reflected the economics of independent UHF television: it used inexpensive syndicated material, local personalities, specialty programming, and strong community or regional associations to distinguish itself from larger network outlets in San Francisco and Oakland. A proposed 1978 sale to Booth American Corporation did not proceed. In 1979, Continental sold the station to Ralph Wilson Enterprises. Wilson’s company dropped the “Perfect 36” image and introduced additional local programming, including the talk program Noonday. The station adopted the KICU-TV call sign on March 27, 1981. The call letters were designed as a play on “I see you,” giving the station a memorable identity while retaining its channel 36 position. During the 1980s and 1990s, KICU developed a substantial Bay Area sports presence. It carried games involving the Golden State Warriors and Oakland Athletics, among other professional and local teams. It also aired older films, drama series, classic sitcoms, and children’s programs. Children’s programming was gradually reduced between 1998 and 2002, apart from Saturday-morning offerings. In 1992, William Hirshey and several station managers acquired minority interests, while Ralph Wilson Enterprises retained majority control. In 1999, Wilson announced that KICU would be sold. The decision followed the FCC’s relaxation of certain same-market television ownership rules, which made it possible for a company to own two stations in the same market under specified conditions. Cox Broadcasting acquired KICU, and the transaction was completed in March 2000. KICU was paired with KTVU, creating the Bay Area’s first television duopoly. The stations’ operations were eventually consolidated at KTVU’s Jack London Square studios in Oakland; KICU’s former San Jose facility was later used for KTVU’s South Bay news bureau. KICU remained an independent station under Cox. Its role included syndicated programming, films, sports, locally produced content, and occasional broadcasts of programs displaced from other stations. It also carried selected NBC programs preempted by Bay Area affiliates at different points, although this arrangement became less practical after KICU joined Fox’s corporate station group. Fox Television Stations announced the acquisition of KTVU and KICU from Cox Media Group on June 24, 2014. The deal involved Fox transferring WFXT in Boston and WHBQ-TV in Memphis to Cox. Completion on October 8, 2014, placed KICU within Fox’s owned-station portfolio and made the station part of the company’s strategy of owning television outlets in markets associated with National Football Conference teams. Following the acquisition, Fox reduced KICU’s standalone digital presence. In 2014, the station’s independent website was discontinued and its online information was incorporated into a limited KICU section on the KTVU website. On April 25, 2016, the station changed its on-air identity from TV 36 to KTVU Plus. The new branding stressed the station’s relationship with KTVU while maintaining KICU as a distinct broadcast outlet. KICU has continued to operate primarily as a complementary independent station. It may carry Fox network programs when KTVU is occupied by breaking news, sports, or special programming, and it can provide a venue for KTVU newscasts when those programs are displaced. On September 17, 2024, it began airing MyNetworkTV programming after KRON-TV’s agreement with the service ended. MyNetworkTV occupies an overnight slot on KICU, leaving the station’s principal schedule centered on independent programming and its role as KTVU’s companion outlet.

• 2024

  MyNetworkTV affiliation begins

  [1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KICU began carrying MyNetworkTV on September 17 after the service left KRON-TV, placing the programming in an overnight slot.

• 2016

  Rebranded as KTVU Plus

  [1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station replaced its TV 36 branding with KTVU Plus on April 25.

• 2014

  Fox Television Stations acquisition completed

  [1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Fox Television Stations completed its acquisition of KICU and KTVU from Cox on October 8.

• 2000

  KICU and KTVU form a duopoly

  [1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The Cox transaction closed and KICU became a sister station to KTVU, forming the Bay Area’s first television duopoly.

• 1999

  Cox acquisition announced

  [1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Ralph Wilson Enterprises announced an agreement to sell KICU-TV to Cox Broadcasting.

• 1992

  Management group obtains minority ownership

  [1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  William Hirshey and three station managers acquired minority stakes, while Ralph Wilson Enterprises remained the majority owner.

• 1981

  Call sign changes to KICU-TV

  [1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the KICU-TV call letters on March 27, using a name associated with the phrase “I see you.”

• 1979

  Acquired by Ralph Wilson Enterprises

  [1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Ralph Wilson Enterprises purchased the station and introduced a revised local programming and promotional strategy.

• 1967

  KGSC-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station signed on October 3 as KGSC-TV, an independent outlet broadcasting from San Jose.

• 1964

  Construction permit application filed

  [1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Continental-Urban Television Corporation applied to build a new UHF station for San Jose. The proposed channel was later shifted from 48 to 36 during a nationwide UHF allocation revision.

A complementary independent television station for the San Francisco Bay Area, positioned alongside KTVU as an additional platform for local news, syndicated entertainment, sports, schedule overflow, and limited network programming.

• Television station brand · 2016

  KTVU Plus

  The current on-air identity of KICU-TV, introduced in 2016 to emphasize its relationship with sister station KTVU. The brand represents a complementary Bay Area television service rather than a conventional standalone network affiliate. Its schedule combines independent programming, syndicated entertainment, sports, KTVU news and special-programming overflow, and selected network content.

• Television programming · 1967

  Independent programming

  KICU’s core schedule has historically consisted of syndicated series, films, classic sitcoms, drama programs, children’s content, local features, and other programming acquired outside a primary network affiliation. This independent format has remained central even after the station began carrying MyNetworkTV in an overnight period.

• News broadcasting

  Local news and schedule overflow

  KICU provides an additional broadcast outlet for KTVU newscasts and other programming when KTVU’s schedule is occupied by Fox Sports, breaking news, special programming, or other events. This function became especially important after Fox acquired both stations and integrated their operations.

• Television network programming · 2024

  MyNetworkTV

  KICU carries MyNetworkTV programming in an overnight window beginning in September 2024. The service is scheduled Tuesday through Saturday mornings, generally from 3:00 to 5:00 a.m., and is secondary to the station’s independent and companion-station role.

• Sports broadcasting

  Bay Area sports broadcasts

  Across different ownership periods, KICU has broadcast games involving Bay Area professional, collegiate, and high-school teams. Notable historical relationships included Golden State Warriors basketball and Oakland Athletics baseball, along with other local sports properties.

• 2016KTVU Plus rebrand

  San Francisco Bay Area

  KICU replaced its TV 36 identity with KTVU Plus to communicate its connection to KTVU and Fox’s Bay Area station operation.

  Outcome. KTVU Plus became the station’s principal public-facing brand.

  Source
• 1970The Perfect 36

  San Francisco Bay Area

  A 1970s station-image campaign that used the channel number as a memorable promotional device and helped distinguish the independent UHF outlet through unconventional local advertising.

  Outcome. The identity was discontinued after Ralph Wilson Enterprises acquired the station in 1979.

  Source

• 2024

  Add MyNetworkTV in an overnight slotStrategy

  Background

  KRON-TV’s affiliation agreement with MyNetworkTV ended in September 2024.

  Action taken

  KICU began carrying MyNetworkTV programming from 3:00 to 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday through Saturday mornings.

  Aftermath

  KICU gained the Bay Area service’s affiliation while continuing to operate principally as a complementary independent station to KTVU.

  Source

• 2016

  Adopt the KTVU Plus identityStrategy

  Background

  Fox sought to align KICU more closely with its better-known sister station while retaining a separate channel and schedule.

  Action taken

  KICU changed its branding from TV 36 to KTVU Plus.

  Aftermath

  The station’s role as an extension of KTVU’s programming and news operation became more visible to viewers.

  Source

• 2014

  Acquire KICU as part of a Bay Area station strategyM&A

  Background

  Fox Television Stations sought station ownership in markets associated with National Football Conference teams, including the San Francisco–Oakland–San Jose market.

  Action taken

  Fox exchanged WFXT and WHBQ-TV with Cox in a transaction that brought KICU and KTVU into Fox’s station group.

  Aftermath

  KICU became a Fox-owned companion independent station, while KTVU remained the group’s primary Fox network outlet in the market.

  Source

• 2000

  Combine KICU with KTVU under Cox ownershipM&A

  Background

  Changes to FCC ownership rules permitted qualifying same-market television combinations.

  Action taken

  Cox completed its acquisition of KICU and paired it with KTVU, consolidating operations in Oakland.

  Aftermath

  The combination became the Bay Area’s first television duopoly and made KICU a companion outlet to KTVU.

  Source

• 1979

  Reset the station identity after ownership changeStrategy

  Background

  Ralph Wilson Enterprises acquired the independent station after an earlier proposed sale to Booth American Corporation failed.

  Action taken

  The new owner dropped the Perfect 36 image and added local programming, including the Noonday talk show.

  Aftermath

  The station later adopted the KICU-TV call sign in 1981 and continued operating as a locally oriented independent outlet.

  Source

• 2024

  KICU begins carrying MyNetworkTV[1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  KICU added MyNetworkTV programming after KRON-TV’s affiliation agreement with the service ended. The programming occupies an overnight schedule and is only lightly promoted relative to the station’s independent programming.

• 2016

  KICU adopts the KTVU Plus brand[1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  KICU replaced its TV 36 identity with KTVU Plus, highlighting its operating relationship with sister station KTVU.

• 2014

  Fox Television Stations announces acquisition of KTVU and KICU[1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Fox Television Stations announced a transaction to acquire KTVU and KICU from Cox Media Group in exchange for WFXT in Boston and WHBQ-TV in Memphis.

• 2014

  Fox completes acquisition of KTVU and KICU[1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The station transaction closed on October 8, bringing KICU into Fox Television Stations’ owned-station group.

• 2000

  KICU becomes part of the Bay Area’s first television duopoly[1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The Cox acquisition was completed, creating common ownership of KICU and KTVU and leading to the consolidation of their operations at KTVU’s Oakland facility.

• 1999

  Ralph Wilson Enterprises agrees to sell KICU-TV to Cox Broadcasting[1]KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Ralph Wilson Enterprises announced the sale of KICU-TV to Cox Broadcasting after changes to United States television ownership rules made a same-market station combination possible. The transaction ultimately paired KICU with KTVU.

1. 1KICU-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KICU-TV official information pagektvu.com