KNBC
NBC-owned television station serving the Los Angeles market on virtual channel 4.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KNBC is an NBC-owned-and-operated television station serving Los Angeles and much of Southern California. Broadcasting on virtual channel 4, it is the West Coast flagship station of the NBC television network and one of the network's most prominent local outlets. The station operates from the Brokaw News Center in Universal City, a facility shared with NBCUniversal's Spanish-language station KVEA and other NBCUniversal news operations. Its transmitter is located on Mount Wilson. The station began broadcasting on January 16, 1949, under the call sign KNBH, an abbreviation of NBC Hollywood. Its launch brought NBC television programming to the West Coast and completed the rollout of NBC's original group of owned-and-operated television stations. KNBH initially operated from NBC Radio City Studios at Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood. In 1954, NBC changed the call sign to KRCA, reflecting the identity of NBC's then-parent company, the Radio Corporation of America. In 1962, the station adopted the KNBC call sign after NBC transferred that identity from its San Francisco radio operation, which became KNBR. The change accompanied a move to NBC's large color-production complex in Burbank. KNBC's identity has historically been closely tied to local journalism. Its news operation has used several names, including KNBC News Service, NewsCenter 4, News 4 LA, Channel 4 News, and NBC 4 News. The station has generally emphasized government, politics, education, business, weather, and enterprise reporting, distinguishing its editorial profile from Los Angeles outlets that devote more airtime to crime and sensational breaking news. Its flagship programs include Today in L.A. and NBC 4 News broadcasts throughout the day and evening. The station also provides election coverage, special reports, severe-weather information, and locally produced programming connected to major regional events. Sports have been another important part of the station's history through NBC network rights. KNBC has carried selected Dodgers and California Angels games, Los Angeles Raiders games, Rose Bowl broadcasts, Lakers and Clippers games during periods when NBC held NBA rights, and selected Kings and Ducks games under NBC's NHL agreement. It has also provided local coverage of Super Bowls played in the Los Angeles area, including Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Beginning in 2024, the station carried selected UCLA and USC football games through NBC's Big Ten package. It is also expected to serve as a local broadcast outlet for NBC's coverage of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. KNBC has repeatedly adapted its distribution model as television technology changed. It introduced additional news and information services on digital subchannels, including News Raw and NBC California Nonstop, before adopting Cozi TV programming on a later subchannel. The station ended regular analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 4 through its digital transmission. In 2014, KNBC moved from Burbank to the newly constructed Brokaw News Center in Universal City, consolidating NBCUniversal's Los Angeles-area broadcast operations. Today, KNBC combines a major-market local news operation with NBC network entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming.
History
KNBC traces its history to January 16, 1949, when NBC launched KNBH on Los Angeles channel 4. The station was the last of NBC's five original owned-and-operated television stations to begin broadcasting and represented the network's arrival on the West Coast. Unlike several other NBC-owned stations, it did not have a directly associated NBC radio outlet in Los Angeles. Its first facilities were NBC Radio City Studios at Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood. On October 18, 1954, the station changed its call sign to KRCA, using the initials associated with the Radio Corporation of America, then NBC's corporate parent. On November 11, 1962, it became KNBC after NBC moved that call sign from its San Francisco radio station. The change coincided with a relocation to NBC Color City in Burbank, a substantially larger facility designed for color television production. The Burbank complex became the station's principal home for more than five decades. The station's local news identity evolved repeatedly. In 1968, its news operation became the KNBC News Service, forming an extended early-evening news block when combined with NBC's Huntley-Brinkley Report. It later adopted the NewsCenter 4 title, followed by News 4 LA in 1982 and Channel 4 News in 1985. Although the Channel 4 News name remained influential in Southern California for many years, the station adopted NBC 4 News branding in 2011. KNBC has traditionally emphasized serious local reporting, including public administration, politics, schools, the economy, weather, and regional issues. Its news schedule has changed over time in response to audience competition, network programming, and the wider Los Angeles television market. KNBC has also been a major local outlet for NBC sports rights. Through network agreements, it carried selected Dodgers and Angels baseball games, Los Angeles Raiders football during the team's Los Angeles tenure, Rose Bowl games, NBA games involving the Lakers and Clippers during NBC's basketball contract, and selected Kings and Ducks hockey games. The station has televised or locally presented coverage associated with multiple Super Bowls in Southern California, including Super Bowl LVI, played at SoFi Stadium. NBC's future Los Angeles Olympic coverage will give KNBC another major regional role when the city hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics. The station expanded beyond its primary channel as digital broadcasting developed. It introduced News Raw, an additional news-oriented service, and later participated in NBC California Nonstop with NBC-owned stations in San Diego and San Jose. California Nonstop ended in 2012, after which Cozi TV was launched on the relevant digital distribution. KNBC ended ordinary analog transmission on June 12, 2009, while retaining virtual channel 4 on its digital signal. In 2007, NBCUniversal announced plans to replace the Burbank facilities with a consolidated digital broadcast center near Universal Studios Hollywood. The resulting facility opened on February 1, 2014, bringing KNBC, KVEA, and NBC News's Los Angeles bureau into a shared Universal City complex. It was subsequently named the Brokaw News Center. The move reinforced KNBC's role as NBCUniversal's principal Los Angeles broadcast presence. The station remains an active NBC-owned outlet combining local journalism, network programming, sports, weather, traffic, community information, and digital news distribution.
- 2024
Big Ten football programming begins
[1]The station began carrying selected UCLA and USC football games through NBC's Big Ten Saturday Night package.
- 2014
Brokaw News Center opens
[1]KNBC moved into NBCUniversal's new Universal City broadcast center.
- 2011
NBC California Nonstop launches
[1]KNBC joined two other California NBC-owned stations in a shared regional digital news project.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KNBC ended regular analog programming and continued as a digital station using virtual channel 4.
- 2007
Universal City broadcast-center plan announced
[1]NBCUniversal announced plans for a new consolidated digital facility near Universal Studios Hollywood.
- 1982
News 4 LA branding begins
[1]The station replaced the NewsCenter 4 identity with News 4 LA and added a one-hour 4 p.m. newscast.
- 1968
KNBC News Service is introduced
[1]The station reorganized its local news under the KNBC News Service name as part of an expanded early-evening news block.
- 1962
Call sign changes to KNBC
[1]The Los Angeles station adopted the KNBC identity and moved to NBC Color City in Burbank.
- 1954
Call sign changes to KRCA
[1]NBC changed the station's call letters to KRCA.
- 1949
Channel 4 launches as KNBH
[1]KNBH began broadcasting on January 16, becoming NBC's Los Angeles station and introducing NBC television programming to the West Coast.
Products and positioning
A leading NBC-owned local television station focused on Los Angeles news, public affairs, weather, traffic, sports, and network programming.
Local television news · 2011
NBC 4 News
KNBC's principal local news service, covering Los Angeles and Southern California through morning, midday, afternoon, evening, and late-night broadcasts. Its reporting profile has traditionally emphasized government, politics, education, business, weather, traffic, and enterprise journalism. The service also produces election-night extensions, special reports, severe-weather coverage, and event-specific programming.
Local morning news · 1986
Today in L.A.
KNBC's flagship morning news program. It provides early-day local reporting, weather, traffic, consumer information, and regional headlines, and has been expanded at various times to compete in the highly competitive Los Angeles morning-news market. The program's schedule reached the 4 a.m. hour in 2017.
Digital news channel · 2006
News Raw
A digital subchannel service that supplied frequent news updates, supplemental information, and previews of stories planned for KNBC's main newscasts. It formed part of the station's early expansion into continuous digital news distribution.
Regional digital news service · 2011
NBC California Nonstop
A collaborative digital channel operated by KNBC, KNSD in San Diego, and KNTV in San Jose. The service combined regional branding with locally tailored news hours for each station's market. It ended in December 2012 when the stations moved to Cozi TV distribution.
Network television programming · 1949
NBC network programming
As an NBC-owned-and-operated station, KNBC carries NBC network news, entertainment, sports, specials, and public-service programming. Its network role is particularly significant during major national events and sports broadcasts that have local relevance in Southern California.
Brand decisions
2016
Restoration of the 4 p.m. newscastProduct launchBackground
Los Angeles television stations competed aggressively for afternoon news audiences, and KNBC had previously removed its 4 p.m. newscast to accommodate syndicated programming.
Action taken
KNBC restored a local 4 p.m. newscast as part of a broader daytime schedule revision.
Aftermath
The change returned the station to the afternoon-news competition with other major Los Angeles broadcasters.
2011
Launch of NBC California NonstopProduct launchBackground
NBC's California-owned stations experimented with shared digital-subchannel news services as over-the-air broadcasters expanded their digital offerings.
Action taken
KNBC joined KNSD and KNTV in launching NBC California Nonstop, including a locally tailored Los Angeles evening news hour.
Aftermath
The service ended in December 2012 and was replaced in the stations' digital-channel strategy by Cozi TV.
2009
Digital television transitionOtherBackground
United States broadcasting regulations required full-power television stations to end ordinary analog transmission and move to digital service.
Action taken
KNBC ended regular analog programming on June 12, 2009. Its digital signal continued using virtual channel 4, while a temporary informational analog loop operated under the transition's nightlight provision.
Aftermath
The station became a primarily digital broadcaster while retaining the familiar channel 4 identity for viewers.
2007
Consolidation into a new Universal City broadcast centerStrategyBackground
NBCUniversal sought to replace its aging Burbank facilities and bring several Los Angeles-area broadcast operations together in a modern digital complex near Universal Studios Hollywood.
Action taken
The company announced plans for a new facility serving KNBC, KVEA, and NBC News's Los Angeles bureau. The building opened in 2014 and was later named the Brokaw News Center.
Aftermath
KNBC moved from Burbank to Universal City, gaining a shared all-digital operating base with other NBCUniversal news organizations.
Recent events
- 2017
KNBC expands Today in L.A. to 4 a.m.[1]
Product generation
The station expanded its morning news schedule by adding an earlier half-hour, extending Today in L.A. into the 4 a.m. period.
- 2016
KNBC restores a 4 p.m. newscast[1]
Product launch
The station restored an afternoon local newscast as part of changes to its daytime schedule and competition among Los Angeles news providers.
- 2014
Brokaw News Center opens in Universal City[1]
Other
KNBC moved into NBCUniversal's new all-digital broadcast facility in Universal City, later named for former NBC anchor and reporter Tom Brokaw.
- 2011
NBC California Nonstop launches[1]
Product launch
KNBC joined NBC-owned stations KNSD and KNTV in operating NBC California Nonstop, a regional digital news service with locally tailored programming.
- 2011
KNBC becomes an NBC 4 News-branded operation[1]
Other
The station retired the long-running Channel 4 News branding in favor of NBC 4 News, aligning its local news identity more closely with NBC's corporate brand.
- 2009
KNBC completes its transition to digital broadcasting[1]
Regulation · Other
Regular analog programming ended during the federally mandated U.S. digital television transition. The station continued digitally using virtual channel 4.
- 2007
KNBC launches the News Raw digital service[1]
Product launch
The station introduced a news-oriented digital subchannel offering rolling updates and additional information alongside its primary broadcast.
- 1962
Los Angeles channel 4 becomes KNBC[1]
Other
The station took the KNBC identity and moved from NBC Radio City in Hollywood to NBC's color-production complex in Burbank.
- 1954
Station adopts the KRCA call sign[1]
Other
NBC changed the station's call letters from KNBH to KRCA, reflecting the Radio Corporation of America identity.
- 1949
KNBH begins broadcasting in Los Angeles[1]
Other
Channel 4 launched as KNBH, bringing NBC television programming to the West Coast and establishing the station that later became KNBC.
Sources2 sources
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