KOLO-TV
KOLO-TV is an ABC- and CW Plus-affiliated television station serving Reno and much of northern Nevada and northeastern California.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KOLO-TV is a local television station based in Reno, Nevada, broadcasting on channel 8. The station is affiliated with ABC and carries programming from The CW Plus on a digital subchannel. It is owned by Gray Media and operates alongside low-power Telemundo affiliate KXNV-LD, which is licensed to Incline Village. Both stations share facilities on Ampere Drive in Reno, while KOLO-TV's principal transmitter is located on Slide Mountain in unincorporated Washoe County. The station began broadcasting on September 27, 1953, under the call sign KZTV. It was the second television station to sign on in Nevada and the first in northern Nevada. Its launch followed a delay caused by a carpenters' strike, preventing it from becoming the state's first station. At the time, Reno had an exceptionally small television audience, but founder Donald W. Reynolds of the Donrey Media Group secured a CBS affiliation after NBC declined to commit to the market. KZTV initially carried programming associated with several networks, including CBS, ABC, NBC, DuMont and the short-lived Paramount Television Network, while also producing a substantial amount of live local programming. Its energetic, informal production style led to the nickname "Crazy TV." In 1956, Reynolds acquired KOLO radio and changed the television station's call sign to KOLO-TV. The station's early technical footprint was constrained by a short transmission tower at its Fifth Street studios. Because the signal did not adequately cover the Reno area and was difficult to receive at Lake Tahoe, the station constructed a transmitter facility on Slide Mountain. The site required specialized engineering because of heavy snow and high winds, and the transmitter building was designed with living accommodations for engineers who were required to remain at the facility under historical Federal Communications Commission rules. KOLO-TV subsequently developed a network of translators covering broad areas of Nevada and parts of northeastern California. KOLO-TV's network affiliations changed as the Reno market developed. It lost DuMont programming when that network ended operations in 1955, lost NBC to the newly launched KCRL-TV in 1962, and lost ABC to KTVN when that station began operating in 1967. KOLO-TV and KTVN exchanged affiliations in 1972, after which KOLO became the market's ABC affiliate. The station also carried Sesame Street until a dedicated PBS service began serving Reno in 1983. A fire in a closet destroyed the station's original Fifth Street studio, forcing a temporary move to facilities on Vassar Street and Terminal Way. KOLO-TV's present Ampere Drive facility opened in 1979. Donrey sold the station to Smith Broadcasting in 2001, and Gray Television acquired it in 2002. Gray later adopted the Gray Media name. The station completed its transition from analog to digital broadcasting in 2009, including a change in its digital transmission arrangement and work on the Slide Mountain transmitter. Local news remains a central part of KOLO-TV's identity. Its schedule includes the long-running Good Morning Reno morning program, multiple KOLO 8 News NOW broadcasts, a midday newscast, afternoon and evening editions, and a late-night newscast. The station has also differentiated itself through scheduling choices, including a market-leading 4:30 p.m. newscast introduced in 2015 and an early-morning newscast launched in 2014. Its service area is supported by numerous translators across Nevada and northeastern California, allowing the KOLO-TV brand to reach communities beyond the Reno metropolitan area.
History
KOLO-TV signed on September 27, 1953, as KZTV, becoming the second television station in Nevada and the first in the northern part of the state. The station was established by Donald W. Reynolds, founder of the Donrey Media Group. Reynolds initially sought an NBC affiliation, but NBC was reluctant to enter a market with very few television receivers. CBS agreed to provide programming, and KZTV began operating as a multi-network station with CBS as its principal affiliation. The station's early schedule reflected the fluid structure of 1950s television. In addition to CBS programming, KZTV carried selected material from ABC and NBC, and it was a strong affiliate of the Paramount Television Network. It also produced a large amount of live local programming. The station's unconventional and highly energetic style earned it the informal nickname "Crazy TV," a reputation that distinguished it in the small Reno market. Reynolds acquired KOLO radio in 1956 and changed the television station's call letters from KZTV to KOLO-TV. The radio and television operations became part of a broader Donrey media presence that later included Las Vegas properties. KOLO-TV's original transmission arrangement was inadequate for the mountainous region. Its first tower stood at the Fifth Street studios, but reception was poor even near Reno and was especially difficult around Lake Tahoe. The station therefore built a transmitter facility on Slide Mountain. The structure was engineered for severe winter conditions and included accommodation for transmitter engineers, who historically had to remain at the site under applicable FCC operating requirements. Translator stations were later added throughout a wide service area in Nevada and northeastern California. KOLO-TV's network relationships evolved as new stations entered the Reno market. It stopped carrying DuMont programming after that network ceased operations in 1955. When KCRL-TV, now known as KRNV-DT, began broadcasting in 1962, NBC moved to the new station. KTVN entered the market in 1967 and took ABC programming. In 1972, KOLO-TV and KTVN exchanged affiliations, making KOLO the market's ABC station. KOLO also carried Sesame Street for a period, ending that arrangement when Reno received its own PBS station in 1983. The station experienced a major facilities disruption when its original Fifth Street studio was destroyed by a fire that began in a closet. KOLO-TV temporarily operated from a facility on Vassar Street and Terminal Way before moving into its current Ampere Drive complex in 1979. The Ampere Drive site remains the station's principal studio location. Ownership changed during the early 2000s. Donrey sold KOLO-TV to Smith Broadcasting in 2001. Gray Television acquired the station in 2002, placing it within a larger national portfolio of local broadcast stations. Gray Television subsequently became known as Gray Media. KOLO-TV also underwent the technical changes associated with the American conversion to digital television. It shut down its analog signal in 2009 and completed work at the Slide Mountain transmitter to support its digital operation. The station's signal is distributed through a large collection of translators serving communities such as Battle Mountain, Elko, Ely, Eureka, Winnemucca, Susanville and other parts of the region. In local news, KOLO-TV has emphasized extensive scheduling and market-specific programming. Its output includes Good Morning Reno, the KOLO 8 News NOW franchise, a midday newscast running from 11 a.m. to noon, multiple afternoon and evening editions, and an 11 p.m. broadcast. The station added a 4:30 a.m. newscast in 2014 and introduced a 4:30 p.m. newscast in 2015. These expansions strengthened its competitive position against other Reno stations while reinforcing its role as a regional news and information service.
- 2015
Afternoon news expands
[1]The station introduces a 4:30 p.m. local newscast, the first such program in the Reno market.
- 2014
Early-morning news expands
[1]KOLO-TV launches a 4:30 a.m. newscast as part of its competition-focused schedule expansion.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]KOLO-TV shuts down its analog transmission during the federally mandated United States digital television transition.
- 2002
Gray acquires KOLO-TV
[1]Gray Television purchases KOLO-TV, bringing it into the company's local broadcast portfolio.
- 2001
Donrey sells the station
[1]KOLO-TV is sold by Donrey to Smith Broadcasting.
- 1983
Sesame Street carriage ends
[1]KOLO-TV stops carrying Sesame Street after a dedicated PBS station begins serving Reno.
- 1979
Ampere Drive facility opens
[1]The station begins operating from its current studio facility on Ampere Drive after a temporary relocation caused by a studio fire.
- 1972
KOLO-TV becomes an ABC affiliate
[1]KOLO-TV and KTVN exchange affiliations, establishing KOLO-TV as the Reno market's ABC station.
- 1967
ABC moves to KTVN
[1]KTVN begins operations and takes the ABC affiliation in the Reno market.
- 1962
NBC affiliation moves to KCRL-TV
[1]The arrival of KCRL-TV, now KRNV-DT, removes NBC programming from KOLO-TV's network mix.
Products and positioning
A long-established regional broadcast station positioned around local news, weather, community coverage and broad over-the-air service across northern Nevada and northeastern California.
Local television news
KOLO 8 News NOW
KOLO-TV's principal local news brand, presented in multiple morning, afternoon, evening and late-night editions. The format combines regional reporting, weather, traffic, sports and community information for viewers in Reno and the wider northern Nevada coverage area.
Morning television news
Good Morning Reno
KOLO-TV's extended weekday morning news program. It occupies an early-morning schedule beginning at 4:30 a.m. and provides local news, weather, traffic and other information intended for viewers preparing for or commuting to work and school.
Broadcast network affiliation · 1972
ABC network service
KOLO-TV's primary network service, carrying ABC entertainment, news and special programming for the Reno market. The station became an ABC affiliate after a 1972 affiliation exchange with KTVN.
Digital broadcast network affiliation
The CW Plus
A digital multicast service associated with KOLO-TV that delivers The CW Plus programming to viewers in the Reno area alongside the station's primary ABC service.
Brand decisions
2015
Launch of a 4:30 p.m. newscastStrategyBackground
Changes to syndicated programming created an opportunity for additional local news in the afternoon.
Action taken
KOLO-TV introduced a 4:30 p.m. newscast, becoming the first station in the Reno market to use that slot for local news.
Aftermath
KTVN later added local news at 4:30 p.m., creating direct competition in the time period.
- KTVN — KTVN subsequently added a competing 4:30 p.m. local newscast.
2014
Expansion into the 4:30 a.m. news periodStrategyBackground
KOLO-TV sought to compete more directly with rival Reno stations for early-morning audiences.
Action taken
The station launched a newscast beginning at 4:30 a.m.
Aftermath
KOLO-TV expanded its weekday local-news schedule and maintained a more competitive early-morning presence.
2009
Transition from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
United States full-power television stations were required to transition from analog to digital broadcasting.
Action taken
KOLO-TV ended its analog signal and completed transmitter work at Slide Mountain for digital operation.
Aftermath
The station continued as a digital broadcaster using channel 8.
2002
Gray Television acquires KOLO-TVM&ABackground
KOLO-TV was available for purchase after its sale by Donrey to Smith Broadcasting.
Action taken
Gray Television acquired KOLO-TV and became its owner.
Aftermath
KOLO-TV became part of Gray's expanding portfolio of local television stations and remains under the company's ownership.
2001
Ownership transfer to Smith BroadcastingM&ABackground
Donrey Media Group decided to exit ownership of KOLO-TV after decades of operating the station.
Action taken
Donrey sold KOLO-TV to Smith Broadcasting.
Aftermath
The station changed hands again the following year when Gray Television acquired it.
Recent events
- 2015
KOLO-TV introduces a 4:30 p.m. newscast[1]
Product launch
The station added a 4:30 p.m. local newscast, becoming the first Reno-market station to offer a program in that time slot.
- 2014
KOLO-TV launches a 4:30 a.m. newscast[1]
Product launch
KOLO-TV introduced a 4:30 a.m. edition of its morning news coverage, expanding its early-day schedule and competing directly with other Reno stations.
- 2009
KOLO-TV completes its analog-to-digital transition[1]
Product generation · Regulation
KOLO-TV ended its analog broadcasts as part of the United States full-power television transition to digital transmission and operated its digital service on channel 8.
Sources2 sources
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