KLAS-TV

KLAS-TV is a commercial television station serving the Las Vegas, Nevada, market. Broadcasting on virtual channel 8, it is affiliated with CBS and operates under the 8 News Now news identity. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group and maintains studios on Channel 8 Drive near the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip in the Winchester area, with its transmitter located on Mount Arden in Henderson. KLAS began regular broadcasting on July 22, 1953, after transmitting a test pattern for approximately two weeks. Its launch made it Nevada's first television station. The station was established by Las Vegas Television Inc., a company associated with newspaper publisher Hank Greenspun, who also owned the Las Vegas Sun. KLAS has retained its CBS affiliation throughout its history. It also carried selected ABC programming during the 1950s, sharing that secondary relationship with the market's channel 3 station until a dedicated ABC affiliate began broadcasting in December 1957. The station's ownership history reflects several important stages in American television. Howard Hughes acquired KLAS through Hughes Tool Company in 1968 after reportedly taking a strong personal interest in the station's programming and operating schedule. Following Hughes's death in 1976, the station remained in an external trust for roughly two years before being sold to Landmark Communications in 1978. Landmark later became Landmark Media Enterprises. KLAS remained Landmark's last television property after the company sold WTVF in Nashville in 2012. Landmark placed KLAS on the market in 2008, but the sale process was interrupted by the financial crisis and the lack of a suitable buyer. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its purchase of the station in November 2014 for $145 million, completing the transaction on February 13, 2015. Nexstar Media Group is the station's current owner. KLAS has played a notable role in the development of television technology in Nevada. It became the first commercial television station in the state to transmit a digital signal in April 1996, initially demonstrating the service during the National Association of Broadcasters convention. The station began scheduled high-definition network broadcasts in Las Vegas in April 2000. It converted its local newscasts to high definition in September 2006 and ended its analog transmission on June 12, 2009, retaining channel 7 for its digital transmission while continuing to identify over the air as channel 8. News is central to the station's brand. KLAS introduced hour-long newscasts in 1981, became known as Eyewitness News for several decades, and adopted the 8 News Now title in late 2009. Its locally produced schedule includes morning, afternoon, evening, and late-night newscasts. The station has received more than 100 awards for news coverage, including recognition for investigative documentaries concerning organized crime and UFO-related subjects. Its sports role expanded in 2020 when Nexstar and KLAS became official television partners of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders. Through CBS's national sports rights, KLAS also carried the local Las Vegas broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII, played at Allegiant Stadium. Beyond its main channel, KLAS has operated a changing group of digital subchannels and has provided coverage through translators in communities including Ely, Pahrump, Laughlin, Overton, Pioche, and Caliente. Its current identity combines network programming, local journalism, sports, syndicated and multicast programming, and digital distribution through the Las Vegas Now news operation.

KLAS-TV's history begins with the development of television in postwar Las Vegas. The station transmitted a test pattern beginning July 8, 1953, and commenced regular programming on July 22. Operated by Las Vegas Television Inc. under the leadership of Hank Greenspun, it became Nevada's first television station. Its primary affiliation was CBS, a relationship that has continued to the present. For a period during the 1950s, KLAS also carried selected ABC programming while the local channel 3 station shared that secondary affiliation. The arrangement ended when KSHO-TV, now KTNV-TV, became the market's ABC affiliate in December 1957. The station changed ownership in 1968 when Greenspun sold it to Hughes Tool Company. Howard Hughes was known to take a personal interest in KLAS's schedule and reportedly wanted a full round-the-clock broadcasting service, along with more Western films and aviation-related movies. After Hughes died in 1976, KLAS was held by an outside trust until its sale to Landmark Communications in 1978. Landmark later changed its corporate name to Landmark Media Enterprises. KLAS expanded its news presence over subsequent decades. It introduced hour-long local newscasts in 1981 and used the Eyewitness News identity from 1982 until 2009. Earlier branding included Newscenter 8. In 2002, the station began producing a late-evening newscast for KTUD-CA, later adapting the program when that station became an independent outlet. KLAS also produced a daily interview program for the Las Vegas One channel before the program moved to another local station in 2010. The station adopted the 8 News Now identity in late 2009. Technological change was another major part of KLAS's development. In April 1996 it became Nevada's first commercial television station to transmit a digital signal, an achievement demonstrated at the National Association of Broadcasters convention. Scheduled high-definition network broadcasts began on its digital channel in April 2000. KLAS converted its local news programs to high definition in September 2006, becoming the first station in the Las Vegas market and Nevada to do so. On June 12, 2009, it ended analog broadcasting under the nationwide full-power television transition and continued digitally using channel 7 while preserving virtual channel 8. Landmark announced an intended sale of KLAS in January 2008. The station remained unsold after the financial crisis disrupted the market, and by 2012 it was Landmark's only remaining television station after WTVF was sold to Journal Broadcast Group. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its purchase of KLAS in November 2014 for $145 million. The transaction closed on February 13, 2015. Following the acquisition, Nexstar reorganized parts of the station's operations, including reductions affecting news, traffic, business, web, and helicopter functions. The station has continued to operate a substantial local news service under the 8 News Now name. Its schedule has included early-morning, daytime, evening, and late-night broadcasts, with programming adjustments over time. KLAS has also used digital subchannels for services including MeTV, Movies!, ION Television, Circle, Rewind TV, SportsGrid, Shop LC, Get, and Antenna TV, with the lineup changing as network agreements and distribution strategies evolved. KLAS's regional reach extends beyond Las Vegas through a network of digital translators serving parts of Nevada and nearby Arizona. Its programming role also broadened through sports. In 2020, KLAS and Nexstar became official television partners of the Las Vegas Raiders, with KLAS carrying CBS-produced Raiders games and related local programming such as The Silver & Black Show. In 2024, KLAS carried the Las Vegas local broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII, staged at Allegiant Stadium. The station therefore combines historic first-mover status in Nevada television with a modern mix of local journalism, network entertainment, sports, digital multicast services, and online news.

1. 2024Super Bowl LVIII local broadcast

   KLAS carried the local CBS broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII from Allegiant Stadium.

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2. 2020Las Vegas Raiders partnership

   KLAS and Nexstar became official television partners of the Las Vegas Raiders.

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3. 2015Nexstar ownership begins

   Nexstar completed its acquisition of KLAS-TV on February 13.

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4. 2009Analog transmission ends

   KLAS shut down its analog channel 8 signal and continued digital broadcasting on channel 7 with virtual channel 8.

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5. 2006Local news moves to high definition

   KLAS became the first station in the Las Vegas market and Nevada to broadcast local newscasts in high definition.

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6. 2000Scheduled high-definition network broadcasts begin

   The station began scheduled high-definition network programming on its digital signal.

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7. 1996Digital broadcasting begins

   KLAS became Nevada's first commercial television station to carry a digital broadcast signal.

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8. 1981First hour-long Nevada television newscast

   KLAS became the first station in Nevada to provide hour-long local newscasts.

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9. 1978Landmark Communications acquires KLAS

   Following a period in an external trust after Howard Hughes's death, the station was sold to Landmark Communications.

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10. 1968Acquisition by Hughes Tool Company

    Las Vegas Television sold KLAS-TV to Hughes Tool Company.

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11. 1957KLAS ends its secondary ABC role

    The station's temporary shared ABC affiliation ended when KSHO-TV became the market's dedicated ABC affiliate.

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12. 1953KLAS-TV begins broadcasting

    After beginning test transmissions on July 8, KLAS launched regular programming on July 22 and became Nevada's first television station.

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A long-established Las Vegas broadcast-news institution combining CBS network affiliation, locally produced journalism, emergency and weather coverage, regional sports, and free over-the-air television distribution.

• 8 News NowLocal television news2009

  KLAS-TV's principal local-news identity, covering Las Vegas and Southern Nevada through early-morning, daytime, evening, and late-night broadcasts. The service includes local reporting, weather, traffic, investigations, interviews, and breaking-news coverage. The name replaced the station's long-running Eyewitness News branding in late 2009 and is also used across the station's digital news presence.

• CBS programmingNetwork television affiliation1953

  KLAS has carried CBS programming since its launch in 1953. The affiliation supplies the station with network entertainment, news, daytime programming, sports, and special events, while KLAS provides the Las Vegas market with local news and public-service content around the network schedule.

• Las Vegas Raiders programmingSports broadcasting2020

  Through CBS's NFL rights and KLAS's partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders, the station carries qualifying Raiders games and related programming. Its sports output has included preseason coverage and team-oriented programs such as The Silver & Black Show.

• Digital multicast servicesMulticast television2010

  KLAS operates additional digital subchannels whose affiliations have changed over time. Past and present services associated with the station include MeTV, Movies!, ION Television, Circle, Rewind TV, SportsGrid, Shop LC, Get, and Antenna TV. These channels extend the station's free over-the-air offering beyond its main CBS service.

• 2020Official Las Vegas Raiders television partnershipOther

  The Raiders relocated to Las Vegas and required a local television partner for team-related content and locally relevant game coverage.

  What changed. Nexstar and KLAS became official television partners of the Las Vegas Raiders, with KLAS carrying qualifying games and ancillary team programming.

  Aftermath. The partnership strengthened KLAS's position as a regional sports broadcaster and connected its programming to the city's newest major professional sports franchise.

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• 2016Resolution of Cox retransmission disputeStrategy

  Cox Communications removed KLAS from its Las Vegas cable lineup during a retransmission-consent dispute with Nexstar affecting several markets, shortly before Super Bowl 50.

  What changed. Cox temporarily replaced access to the station and promoted an ESPN Deportes preview as a contingency for Spanish-language Super Bowl viewing. KLAS returned after Cox and Nexstar reached a new carriage agreement.

  Aftermath. The dispute ended without a permanent loss of the Cox distribution relationship.

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• 2014Nexstar agrees to acquire KLAS-TVM&A

  KLAS had remained Landmark Media Enterprises' only television station after Landmark sold WTVF in 2012. Nexstar announced an agreement to purchase the Las Vegas station.

  What changed. Nexstar Broadcasting Group agreed to acquire KLAS for $145 million. The transaction closed on February 13, 2015.

  Aftermath. KLAS became part of Nexstar's growing portfolio of local television stations, and subsequent operational changes affected portions of its news and digital departments.

  Acquisition price. $145 million (Announced November 21, 2014; completed February 13, 2015)

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• 2024KLAS carries the Las Vegas market broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII

  Because CBS held the relevant NFL broadcast rights, KLAS served as the local broadcaster for Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

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• 2020KLAS and Nexstar become official Las Vegas Raiders television partners

  KLAS expanded its sports role after Nexstar and the station became official television partners of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.

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• 2016KLAS-TV is removed from Cox Communications during retransmission dispute

  Cox temporarily dropped KLAS from its Las Vegas cable lineup during a retransmission-consent dispute with Nexstar. The channel returned after the companies reached a new agreement.

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• 2014Nexstar announces acquisition of KLAS-TV

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced an agreement to purchase KLAS-TV for $145 million; the transaction closed in February 2015.

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• 2008Landmark announces plans to sell KLAS-TV

  Landmark Communications announced that it intended to sell KLAS and its remaining television properties, but the station was not sold at that time.

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• 1996KLAS becomes Nevada's first commercial digital television station

  The station launched a digital broadcast signal during the National Association of Broadcasters convention, marking an early Nevada television transition to digital transmission.

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• 1968Hughes Tool Company acquires KLAS-TV

  Hank Greenspun sold the station to Hughes Tool Company, bringing KLAS into Howard Hughes's corporate sphere.

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• 1953KLAS-TV begins regular broadcasting as Nevada's first television station

  KLAS-TV began regular service on July 22, establishing Nevada's first television station and launching its long-running CBS relationship.

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1. KLAS-TV