KIII
KIII is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Corpus Christi and the surrounding South Texas market.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KIII is a broadcast television station based in Corpus Christi, Texas, and affiliated with the ABC television network. It serves the Corpus Christi market and nearby communities in South Texas, providing the full ABC schedule alongside locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs, and community programming. The station's studios are located on South Padre Island Drive, also designated State Highway 358, in Corpus Christi, while its transmitter is near Robstown, Texas. The station's history reaches back to June 20, 1954, when it began broadcasting as KVDO-TV on UHF channel 22. That original station was built by Coastal Bend Television and was the first television station in the Corpus Christi market. KVDO initially operated as a primary DuMont affiliate and carried secondary programming from NBC, CBS, and ABC at different points. Its business prospects were weakened by the arrival of VHF competitors, including KRIS-TV and KZTV, and by the collapse of the DuMont network. KVDO suspended operations in 1957 and did not return to the air. After the original UHF operation failed, South Texas Telecasting pursued a VHF channel allocation for Corpus Christi. The company competed with other applicants for channel 3 and ultimately received authorization from the Federal Communications Commission in December 1962. Following a challenge from another applicant, South Texas Telecasting reached an agreement that cleared the way for the channel award. The station relaunched on May 4, 1964, as KIII and began operating as a full-time ABC affiliate. KIII remained under the ownership of South Texas Telecasting and its successor, McKinnon Broadcasting, for decades. In 1969, it launched KXIX, a satellite station in Victoria, Texas, to extend ABC programming to that area. KXIX was sold to local ownership in 1976 and later became the Fox affiliate KVCT. KIII itself continued to serve as a major local television outlet in Corpus Christi, with its news operation becoming a central part of the station's identity. Ownership changed in 2010, when the London Broadcasting Company acquired KIII from McKinnon Broadcasting. In 2011, the station began presenting its local newscasts in high definition. Gannett announced the acquisition of KIII and five other London Broadcasting stations in 2014 for a reported aggregate price of $215 million; the transaction closed on July 8 of that year. When Gannett separated its publishing and broadcasting businesses in 2015, KIII became part of the broadcast and digital company that was renamed Tegna. KIII currently combines network programming with a substantial local-news schedule. Its regular output includes weekday, weekend, and late-evening newscasts, as well as a seasonal high-school football highlights program. During the high-school football season, the station delays ABC's Friday late-night programming by 30 minutes to accommodate an expanded local sports-news presentation. The station has also been described as a consistent ratings leader in its market. The station completed the federally mandated transition from analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009. Its digital service used VHF channel 8 while retaining virtual channel 3. KIII's role is therefore primarily regional rather than national: its value lies in local journalism, emergency and weather coverage, regional sports, ABC network access, and digital distribution to viewers and advertisers in the Coastal Bend. The reference material states that Nexstar Media Group acquired Tegna in a transaction announced in August 2025 and completed on March 19, 2026, placing KIII within Nexstar's station portfolio.
History
KIII developed from an earlier and unsuccessful Corpus Christi television operation. Coastal Bend Television launched KVDO-TV on June 20, 1954, using UHF channel 22. As the first television station in the local market, KVDO carried DuMont programming as its primary affiliation and supplemented it with NBC, CBS, and ABC programs. The station's prospects deteriorated as VHF services entered the market. KRIS-TV began broadcasting in 1956, followed by KZTV, while the DuMont network itself collapsed. KVDO became an independent station and was sold to H. J. Schmidt's South Texas Telecasting Company in April 1957. KVDO suspended operations in August 1957. Although the shutdown was initially described as a temporary studio reorganization, a federal tax lien was filed against the station, and its former studio building was sold without its equipment to KRIS-TV. KVDO never returned to the air. The original owners also faced legal action concerning construction debts, including a judgment obtained by RCA in 1959. South Texas Telecasting responded to the UHF station's failure by seeking a VHF allocation for Corpus Christi. The company petitioned the FCC for channel 3 and later competed for the authorization against Nueces Telecasting and the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. The newspaper withdrew from the proceeding after its owner acquired the San Antonio Express-News. South Texas Telecasting received the channel award in December 1962. Nueces Telecasting challenged the decision on media-concentration grounds but withdrew its protest in June 1963 after reaching an agreement with South Texas Telecasting. The new channel 3 service launched on May 4, 1964, under the KIII call sign. Unlike the earlier KVDO operation, KIII began as a full ABC affiliate. South Texas Telecasting later evolved into McKinnon Broadcasting, with Clinton D. McKinnon becoming a major shareholder and executive vice president. McKinnon Broadcasting retained KIII for most of the following decades. In 1969, KIII established KXIX on channel 19 in Victoria as a satellite to relay ABC programming. KXIX was sold in 1976 and eventually became KVCT, a Fox affiliate. In April 2010, London Broadcasting Company announced that it would acquire KIII, and the sale closed on August 31. Under London Broadcasting, KIII modernized its local news presentation and began broadcasting newscasts in high definition on September 18, 2011. Gannett announced in May 2014 that it would purchase KIII and five other London Broadcasting stations for $215 million. Gannett cited expansion in growing markets and the opportunity to combine local broadcasting with its digital-marketing capabilities. The transaction closed on July 8, 2014. A corporate separation in 2015 divided Gannett's publishing operations from its broadcasting and digital-media operations. KIII remained with the latter entity, which became Tegna. The station continued operating as an ABC affiliate and maintained a major local-news presence in the Corpus Christi market. KIII ended its analog transmission on June 12, 2009, in accordance with the nationwide transition to digital television. Its digital signal used VHF channel 8 while continuing to identify itself to viewers through virtual channel 3. The station's facilities remain in Corpus Christi, with its transmitter near Robstown. The station's programming mix includes the full ABC schedule, local news on weekdays and weekends, weather coverage, and seasonal high-school football reporting. During the UIL and TAPPS football season, KIII delays ABC's Friday late-night programming by half an hour so that it can carry an extended local football highlights broadcast. The station has also been identified as a ratings leader, regularly finishing ahead of its nearest competitor, KRIS. The supplied reference further states that Nexstar Media Group announced an acquisition of Tegna in August 2025 and completed the transaction on March 19, 2026. On that basis, KIII is now described as a Nexstar-owned station operating within the former Tegna broadcast portfolio.
- 2026
Nexstar acquisition of Tegna is completed
[1]The supplied reference states that Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tegna on March 19, placing KIII in the Nexstar portfolio.
- 2015
KIII becomes part of Tegna
[1]KIII remains with Gannett's broadcast and digital-media successor following the corporate split that created Tegna.
- 2014
Gannett acquisition closes
[1]Gannett completes its purchase of KIII and five other London Broadcasting stations.
- 2011
Local newscasts move to high definition
[1]KIII begins airing locally produced news in high definition.
- 2010
London Broadcasting acquires KIII
[1]KIII changes ownership from McKinnon Broadcasting to London Broadcasting Company.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]KIII shuts down its analog channel 3 signal as part of the United States digital television transition.
- 1969
Victoria satellite station begins operation
[1]KIII launches KXIX in Victoria to relay ABC programming to that part of South Texas.
- 1964
KIII launches as a full ABC affiliate
[1]The channel 3 station begins broadcasting under the KIII call sign on May 4.
- 1962
South Texas Telecasting receives the channel 3 award
[1]The FCC awards the Corpus Christi channel 3 allocation to South Texas Telecasting after a contested application process.
- 1957
KVDO-TV suspends operations
[1]KVDO goes off the air and does not resume broadcasting after financial and operational difficulties.
Products and positioning
A leading local broadcast television outlet for Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend, combining ABC network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, and community coverage.
Television news · 1964
Local news broadcasts
KIII produces recurring local newscasts for Corpus Christi and the surrounding Coastal Bend. The schedule includes weekday and weekend broadcasts covering regional news, weather, traffic, public affairs, and community events. The station's local-news operation is a primary component of its market identity and advertising proposition.
Network television · 1964
ABC network programming
KIII carries the ABC network schedule as its full-time network affiliate. It may adjust the timing of selected programming during the high-school football season to accommodate an extended local sports broadcast.
Local sports programming
High-school football highlights
During the UIL and TAPPS football season, KIII produces a Friday-night high-school football highlights program. The show follows the station's late local newscast and provides scores, highlights, and regional coverage of school football.
Broadcast distribution · 2009
Digital television service
KIII distributes its programming through a digital VHF signal associated with virtual channel 3. The station's digital service replaced its former analog transmission in 2009 and supports the delivery of network and local programming across its South Texas coverage area.
Brand decisions
2014
Sale to GannettM&ABackground
London Broadcasting sought to sell KIII and other stations, while Gannett was expanding its broadcasting and digital-marketing footprint.
Action taken
Gannett announced a reported $215 million purchase covering KIII and five other London Broadcasting stations; the deal closed on July 8.
Aftermath
KIII became part of Gannett's broadcast portfolio and later transferred to Tegna after the 2015 corporate separation.
Reported aggregate acquisition price for KIII and five other London Broadcasting stations. $215 million (Announced May 14, 2014; completed July 8, 2014)
2011
High-definition local news launchProduct launchBackground
KIII upgraded the technical presentation of its locally produced news operation.
Action taken
The station began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition on September 18.
Aftermath
KIII's local news product moved to the prevailing high-definition broadcast standard.
2009
Transition from analog to digital transmissionGeneration changeBackground
United States full-power television stations were required to transition from analog broadcasting to digital transmission.
Action taken
KIII ended its analog VHF channel 3 service on June 12 and continued digitally on VHF channel 8 using virtual channel 3.
Aftermath
The station continued serving viewers under the familiar channel 3 identity through digital broadcasting.
1964
Launch as a full ABC affiliate on channel 3StrategyBackground
After the original UHF station failed and South Texas Telecasting secured the Corpus Christi channel 3 allocation, the company established a new VHF operation.
Action taken
The station launched as KIII on May 4, 1964, with full-time ABC affiliation.
Aftermath
KIII became a long-running ABC outlet and a central local television service in the Corpus Christi market.
1956
Participation in UHF-versus-VHF litigationOtherBackground
KVDO joined other UHF stations in challenging the addition of VHF stations to markets, arguing that UHF broadcasters could be placed at a serious financial disadvantage.
Action taken
The participating stations pursued litigation seeking to prevent new VHF allocations. The challenge was unsuccessful.
Aftermath
KRIS-TV and KZTV began broadcasting, while KVDO later ceased operations. South Texas Telecasting subsequently pursued a VHF allocation for channel 3.
Sources1 sources
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