KPNX
NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Mesa, Arizona, serving the Phoenix metropolitan area under the 12 News brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KPNX is a television station licensed to Mesa, Arizona, and serving the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is affiliated with NBC and is marketed primarily as 12 News. The station broadcasts from a transmitter on South Mountain in Phoenix and maintains its main studios in the Republic Media Building on East Van Buren Street in downtown Phoenix. Its coverage extends beyond the metropolitan area through KNAZ-TV in Flagstaff, a full-power satellite station, and additional translators in northern and central Arizona. The station began broadcasting on May 2, 1953, as KTYL-TV, making it the Phoenix Valley's second television station. Its original owners were Harkins Broadcasting, a venture involving Harkins Theatres and theater operator Harry Nace. The station was an NBC affiliate from sign-on and was among the first local broadcasters to use South Mountain as a transmission site. A launch-day telethon benefiting United Cerebral Palsy introduced the station to viewers. In 1954, KTAR owner John J. Louis acquired KTYL-TV, ending KTAR's effort to obtain Phoenix's channel 3 and clearing the way for the eventual launch of KTVK. The station adopted the call sign KVAR after the transaction, moved its principal operations from Mesa toward central Phoenix, and became KTAR-TV in 1961. Its association with Phoenix radio station KTAR continued until the television and radio properties became part of Combined Communications Corporation in 1968. Combined Communications merged with Gannett in 1979. Because the radio properties were divested as part of the transaction, the television station changed its call letters from KTAR-TV to KPNX on June 4, 1979. The station developed a strong local-news operation and remained a leading Phoenix broadcaster. It benefited particularly from the 1994-95 network-affiliation changes, which left KPNX as the only major Phoenix station unaffected by the realignment. From 1996 through 2007, its 10 p.m. newscast recorded nearly 50 consecutive ratings-book victories. Gannett's 2000 acquisition of Central Newspapers brought The Arizona Republic into the same corporate family as KPNX. In 2011, the station moved from its long-standing Central Avenue facility into the Republic Media Building, creating a shared media complex while retaining separate newspaper and television operations. Gannett's 2015 corporate split placed KPNX with the broadcast and digital assets that became Tegna. Nexstar Media Group subsequently acquired Tegna, with the transaction announced in 2025 and completed in 2026 according to the cited reference material. KPNX's core output consists of local morning, daytime, evening, and late-night newscasts, weather coverage, investigative reporting, consumer and community features, sports programming, and NBC network content. The station has also carried selected local sports, including Phoenix Suns games during several historical periods, Arizona Cardinals preseason games from 2017 through 2023, and Arizona Diamondbacks games under a later partnership. Its digital operations complement over-the-air broadcasts through the 12 News website and associated digital platforms. Technically, KPNX began digital transmission in 2000, ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, and returned its digital signal to VHF channel 12 after the transition. In 2021, it moved its main digital transmission from VHF channel 12 to UHF channel 18 and participated in an ATSC 3.0 arrangement involving KASW. The station remains an active NBC affiliate and a major local-news brand in Arizona.
History
KPNX traces its history to an application filed in November 1952 by Harkins Broadcasting, a company associated with Harkins Theatres and Harry Nace. The proposed station was assigned channel 12 and licensed to Mesa. The Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit in February 1953. After local approval for use of the South Mountain transmission site, the station was built rapidly and began broadcasting on May 2, 1953, as KTYL-TV. It was affiliated with NBC from the beginning and operated from facilities connected to the KTYL radio stations in Mesa. The new station entered a complicated Phoenix television market. KTAR, a prominent Phoenix radio station, had long sought channel 3 and had expected to build a television outlet tied to its NBC radio affiliation. When that effort became uncertain, KTAR purchased KTYL-TV in 1954 for $250,000. The station became KVAR, moved its studios toward Phoenix, and was eventually permitted to identify its service as Phoenix/Mesa. A more powerful transmitter and tower were commissioned in 1960. In April 1961, the station adopted the KTAR-TV call sign. KTAR-TV became part of Combined Communications Corporation when the KTAR properties and Eller Outdoor Advertising combined in 1968. Combined expanded its media holdings before merging with Gannett in 1979. Regulatory requirements associated with the merger led to the separation of the television station from the KTAR radio properties. Since the radio stations retained priority over the KTAR call letters, channel 12 changed its call sign to KPNX on June 4, 1979. The station strengthened its news identity during the 1970s and 1980s. It experimented with a more informal, personality-driven format under the Action News name in the early 1970s, then dropped that branding in 1986. KPNX was an early Phoenix user of a news helicopter and became the first Phoenix television station to transmit in stereo in 1985. Its local-news operation reached a particularly successful period after the 1994-95 affiliation realignment. Because KPNX retained NBC while competitors changed affiliations or network relationships, it gained stability and benefited from NBC's strong late-1990s performance. Its 10 p.m. newscast won almost 50 consecutive ratings books between 1996 and 2007. KPNX converted local news production to high definition in 2006. Gannett acquired Central Newspapers in 2000, bringing The Arizona Republic into common ownership with KPNX. The two organizations combined their websites in 2001 and later shared a downtown facility. KPNX moved from Central Avenue to the Republic Media Building in January 2011, where its newscasts were produced from a street-facing studio. Although the station and newspaper occupied the same complex, they remained separate media operations. Gannett divided its print and broadcasting businesses in 2015; KPNX became part of the broadcasting and digital company named Tegna and regained an independent website after the separation from the newspaper's azcentral.com operation. KPNX has continued to expand its distribution beyond the Phoenix core. KNAZ-TV in Flagstaff functions as a full-power satellite, while translators extend reception into other parts of Arizona. The station also participates in shared technical and news-gathering arrangements. In 2009, it joined KPHO-TV and KTVK in using a common news helicopter following a helicopter collision involving other Phoenix stations. By 2021, the market's television newsrooms were sharing one helicopter. The station's digital transition began with a companion digital allocation in 1997 and a digital sign-on in 2000. KPNX ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, then moved its digital service to VHF channel 12. The FCC later approved a move to UHF channel 18, implemented on July 8, 2021. The station also participated in an ATSC 3.0 arrangement involving KASW. In sports, KPNX has carried Phoenix Suns games during different historical periods, Arizona Cardinals preseason games from 2017 until the rights moved elsewhere in 2024, and Arizona Diamondbacks games under a later local broadcast partnership. The cited material states that Nexstar completed its acquisition of Tegna in 2026, placing KPNX within Nexstar's station portfolio.
- 2026
Nexstar acquisition of Tegna closes
[1]According to the cited reference material, Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tegna and becomes KPNX's ultimate corporate owner.
- 2025
Diamondbacks simulcasts begin
[1]KPNX simulcasts ten regular-season Arizona Diamondbacks games, including Friday-night games.
- 2021
Digital transmission moves to UHF channel 18
[1]The station moves its primary digital signal from VHF channel 12 to UHF channel 18 and participates in an ATSC 3.0 redistribution arrangement.
- 2017
Arizona Cardinals preseason rights begin
[1]KPNX acquires local rights to Arizona Cardinals preseason games and related team programming.
- 2015
Becomes part of Tegna
[1]Gannett's broadcasting and digital assets, including KPNX, are separated into Tegna.
- 2011
Operations move to Republic Media Building
[1]KPNX leaves its Central Avenue site and moves into the downtown Phoenix building shared with The Arizona Republic.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KPNX shuts down its analog signal during the United States digital television transition.
- 2006
Local news converts to high definition
[1]KPNX becomes the first Arizona station described in the reference material as converting its news production to HD.
- 2000
Gannett acquires Central Newspapers
[1]The Arizona Republic joins KPNX within the Gannett corporate family.
- 1996
Begins extended 10 p.m. news ratings run
[1]KPNX enters a period of nearly 50 consecutive 10 p.m. ratings-book wins that continues through 2007.
Products and positioning
A leading Phoenix-area local-news and NBC television station with broad Arizona reach, emphasizing breaking news, weather, investigations, community reporting, and locally relevant sports.
Local television news
12 News local newscasts
KPNX's principal broadcast product is its locally produced news schedule, covering the Phoenix metropolitan area and wider Arizona. It includes morning, daytime, evening, and late-night editions, with reporting focused on breaking news, public safety, politics, consumer issues, investigations, traffic, and community affairs.
Weather broadcasting
12 News weather
Weather coverage is a central part of the station's local-news proposition. It includes daily forecasts, heat and monsoon reporting, severe-weather alerts, radar and situation updates, and digital weather information tailored to communities across central and northern Arizona.
Digital media
12 News digital journalism
The 12 News website and associated digital channels extend KPNX's reporting beyond scheduled broadcasts. They provide articles, live and on-demand video, weather information, breaking-news updates, investigations, local sports coverage, and audience-service content for the Phoenix market.
Sports broadcasting
Arizona sports programming
KPNX has carried selected local sports rights over its history. Its portfolio has included Phoenix Suns telecasts during earlier periods, Arizona Cardinals preseason games and team programming from 2017, and a later package of Arizona Diamondbacks regular-season games.
Network television · 1953
NBC network programming
As an NBC affiliate since its 1953 sign-on, KPNX distributes NBC entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming to viewers in the Phoenix television market, alongside its locally produced content.
Brand decisions
2021
KPNX moves its digital signal to UHF channel 18Generation changeBackground
The station's post-transition digital service had operated on VHF channel 12.
Action taken
KPNX moved its main digital transmission to UHF channel 18 and participated in a related ATSC 3.0 channel arrangement.
Aftermath
The change altered the station's digital transmission configuration while preserving its channel 12 market identity.
2011
KPNX consolidates at the Republic Media BuildingStrategyBackground
Gannett owned both KPNX and The Arizona Republic after acquiring Central Newspapers.
Action taken
KPNX moved from its Central Avenue facility into the newspaper's downtown Phoenix media complex.
Aftermath
The move enabled co-location and shared infrastructure while the station and newspaper continued as separate editorial operations.
1979
Station adopts the KPNX call signStrategyBackground
The Gannett-Combined Communications transaction required the related Phoenix radio properties to be separated from the television station.
Action taken
After the radio stations retained the KTAR call letters, the television station changed its identity to KPNX.
Aftermath
KPNX became the station's enduring call-sign and brand identity while continuing its NBC affiliation.
1954
KTAR chooses acquisition over the channel 3 contestM&ABackground
KTAR had pursued a Phoenix television assignment while channel 3 was contested by another applicant associated with Ernest McFarland.
Action taken
KTAR purchased KTYL-TV, obtaining an operating television station rather than continuing the channel 3 proceeding.
Aftermath
The station became KVAR and later KTAR-TV, while the channel 3 contest was cleared for the development of KTVK.
Purchase price. $250,000 (1954)
Recent events
- 2026
Nexstar completes acquisition of Tegna[1]
M&A
KPNX becomes part of Nexstar Media Group through Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna, according to the cited reference material.
- 2011
KPNX moves into the Republic Media Building[1]
Other
The station consolidates its operations with The Arizona Republic at the downtown Phoenix media complex.
- 1979
KTAR-TV becomes KPNX[1]
Leadership change · Other
Following the Gannett-Combined Communications transaction and the divestiture of the related radio properties, channel 12 adopts the KPNX call sign.
- 1954
KTAR acquires KTYL-TV[1]
M&A
The purchase gives KTAR a television outlet and leads to the station's renaming as KVAR.
- 1953
KPNX begins broadcasting as KTYL-TV[1]
Other
The station signs on in Mesa as the Phoenix Valley's second television station and an NBC affiliate.
Sources2 sources
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