KRNV-DT
KRNV-DT is a television station serving Reno and Northern Nevada, historically associated with NBC and currently carrying programming from the Roar digital multicast network.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KRNV-DT is a full-power television station licensed to Reno, Nevada, and serving the Reno–Northern Nevada market. The station broadcasts from a transmitter on Slide Mountain and operates from shared facilities on Vassar Street in Reno alongside KRXI-TV and KNSN-TV. Its current operating structure reflects a combination of license ownership by Cunningham Broadcasting and management, sales, and service relationships with Sinclair Broadcast Group. The station began broadcasting on September 30, 1962, as KCRL. It was established by Circle L, a company associated with Nevada businessman E. L. Cord, and became Reno’s second television station. KCRL was affiliated with NBC from its launch and also carried selected ABC programs until the arrival of KTVN in 1967. The station’s origins followed a lengthy licensing process involving competing applicants and FCC scrutiny of an earlier permit holder. After Cord’s death in 1974, control of the station became entangled in disputes involving his estate and the Cord Foundation. In 1989, the Cord Foundation sold KCRL to Sunbelt Communications Company for a reported $27 million. Sunbelt, which also operated the NBC affiliate in Las Vegas, replaced much of the station’s management and on-air personnel and relaunched it as KRNV on January 22, 1990. The new branding accompanied a substantial overhaul of local news. By the middle of the 1990s, KRNV had moved from third place to second place in several local ratings surveys, and its 5 p.m. newscast became a notable competitive success. Sunbelt later adopted the name Intermountain West Communications Company. KRNV’s brand was extended beyond its main Reno signal. The company created radio and television relationships built around local news, including an FM service that simulcast portions of KRNV’s news output during the 1990s. It also established semi-satellite stations in Northern Nevada, including KENV in Elko and KWNV in Winnemucca. These services allowed KRNV programming and selected local inserts to reach communities outside the immediate Reno area, although the associated operations were later reduced or discontinued. The station introduced local high-definition newscasts on December 19, 2006, becoming the first Reno-market station identified in the reference material to do so. It ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the United States digital television transition. Its digital transmission later moved from channel 7 to channel 12 on July 3, 2020, following the federal spectrum-repacking process. Sinclair announced in 2013 that it would acquire KRNV’s non-license assets and operate the station under joint sales and shared services agreements. Cunningham Broadcasting subsequently pursued the station license and also sought the license for KENV; the FCC approved the transaction in 2017. Sinclair already owned KRXI-TV and operated other Reno-area television services, creating a closely integrated local broadcast group. According to the supplied reference material, KRNV’s long-standing NBC affiliation and programming moved to a subchannel of KRXI-TV on December 1, 2025. KRNV-DT’s main channel then adopted programming from the Roar digital multicast network. The change was associated with the continuing deployment of ATSC 3.0 technology in the Reno area. The same material states that a January 2026 transmission-line failure at the KRXI-TV antenna temporarily led KRNV-DT to carry KRXI’s Fox and NBC services from the KRNV transmitter. KRNV-DT therefore remains a local broadcast outlet whose role has evolved from a conventional network affiliate into part of a multi-station, digitally integrated television operation.
History
KRNV-DT traces its history to the early Federal Communications Commission proceedings over Reno television channel 4. Western Television Company first applied for the channel in 1953. The FCC later granted a permit to Nevada Telecasting Corporation, but questions about the company’s ownership disclosures led to an FCC examiner’s recommendation that the permit be revoked. The commission canceled that permit in 1959. E. L. Cord, a Nevada businessman, state senator, and owner of Los Angeles radio station KFAC, applied for channel 4 after the earlier permit became subject to litigation. His Circle L application ultimately prevailed after most competing applicants withdrew. The FCC awarded Circle L a construction permit in June 1961. Construction followed at a site on Vassar Street and Harvard Way, together with a transmitter installation in rural Washoe County. The resulting station began broadcasting on September 30, 1962, under the call sign KCRL. It was Reno’s second television station and carried NBC programming from its inception. Until KTVN began broadcasting in 1967, KCRL also shared selected ABC programming with KOLO-TV. A related Cord-controlled radio operation, also using the KCRL call sign, began in 1970 and was sold in 1981. Cord’s death in 1974 produced a prolonged dispute over control of his estate and the station. A proposed 1980 sale to 20th Century Fox did not proceed, in part because of ownership-limit concerns involving Fox and its then-existing television holdings. During the 1980s, Washoe Broadcasting Company, partly associated with James Rogers, challenged Circle L’s position and sought control of channel 4. The Cord Foundation eventually placed the station on the market in 1989. Sunbelt Communications Company reached an agreement to acquire KCRL in July 1989 for a reported $27 million. Sunbelt saw strategic value in owning another NBC affiliate that could complement its Las Vegas operation. After taking control in October, the company changed station management and substantially revised the on-air team. The station received approval for the KRNV call letters and formally relaunched as KRNV on January 22, 1990. Sunbelt’s news strategy improved KRNV’s competitive standing. The station introduced a 5 p.m. newscast and revised its news presentation, helping it move from third place to second place in several ratings surveys by 1994. Sunbelt expanded the KRNV identity through radio and regional television services. In 1994, it bought KTHX-FM and launched KRNV-FM, which combined local radio news coverage with audio simulcasts of KRNV television newscasts. The company also developed semi-satellite operations, including KENV in Elko, which began broadcasting in 1997, and KWNV in Winnemucca, which operated from 1998 until its closure in 2008 for economic reasons. KENV continued to relay NBC programming with local Elko inserts until the NBC affiliation ended in 2017. Sunbelt exited radio in 1999, after which the related stations received Spanish-language programming under new operating arrangements. Sunbelt later changed its corporate name to Intermountain West Communications Company. KRNV began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition in December 2006. It ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 4 while using a digital RF channel. The station later moved its digital signal to channel 12 on July 3, 2020, as part of the United States spectrum-repacking process. In November 2013, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced the acquisition of KRNV’s non-license assets. Cunningham Broadcasting subsequently sought the station license, and the FCC approved that purchase in September 2017. Sinclair operated the station through joint sales and shared services arrangements. KRNV, KRXI-TV, and KNSN-TV share Reno facilities and form an integrated local television cluster. The supplied reference material describes a later change in the station’s network role. On December 1, 2025, NBC programming moved to a KRXI-TV subchannel, while KRNV-DT’s main signal adopted programming from the Roar digital multicast network. The change was connected with the continued rollout of ATSC 3.0 in the Reno market. The reference also states that a transmission-line failure at KRXI-TV in January 2026 led KRNV-DT to temporarily carry KRXI’s Fox and NBC services from the KRNV transmitter.
- 2026
Temporary KRXI service relay
[1]A KRXI-TV antenna transmission-line failure led KRNV-DT to temporarily relay KRXI’s Fox and NBC services.
- 2025
NBC programming moves to KRXI subchannel
[1]The station’s long-standing NBC programming moved to a KRXI-TV subchannel, with KRNV-DT’s main channel switching to Roar programming.
- 2020
Digital RF channel changes to 12
[1]KRNV-DT moved its digital signal from RF channel 7 to RF channel 12 as part of spectrum repacking.
- 2017
FCC approves Cunningham license purchase
[1]The FCC approved Cunningham Broadcasting’s purchase of the KRNV and KENV license assets.
- 2013
Sinclair acquires non-license assets
[1]Sinclair announced an agreement to acquire KRNV’s non-license assets and began the process of integrating the station into its Reno operations.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KRNV shut down its analog signal during the nationwide full-power television digital transition.
- 2006
Local newscasts move to high definition
[1]KRNV began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition, described in the reference as a Reno-market first.
- 1997
KENV begins relaying KRNV programming
[1]The Elko semi-satellite KENV began broadcasting KRNV programming with locally inserted morning news.
- 1994
KRNV expands into radio
[1]Sunbelt purchased KTHX-FM and launched KRNV-FM with local news and television-news simulcasts.
- 1990
Station relaunches as KRNV
[1]The station adopted the KRNV call sign and introduced a substantially revised local-news operation on January 22.
Products and positioning
A Reno-based local broadcast television service focused on regional news, over-the-air programming, and digital multicast distribution within the Northern Nevada market.
Local broadcast news · 1962
KRNV local television news
The station’s core branded service has historically been its locally produced news operation for Reno and Northern Nevada. Sunbelt’s 1990 relaunch reorganized the newscasts, retained only a limited portion of the previous on-air team, and added a successful 5 p.m. program. KRNV later became the first Reno-market station identified in the reference material to broadcast its local newscasts in high definition.
Television broadcasting · 1962
KRNV-DT over-the-air service
KRNV-DT provides full-power terrestrial television service to the Reno area from its Slide Mountain transmitter. The station originally operated as an NBC affiliate and later became part of a multi-station digital distribution structure involving Sinclair, Cunningham Broadcasting, KRXI-TV, and KNSN-TV.
Digital multicast television · 2025
Roar programming service
According to the supplied reference material, KRNV-DT’s main channel began carrying programming from the Roar digital multicast network after NBC programming moved to a KRXI-TV subchannel in December 2025. The change reflects the station’s evolving role within a digitally managed local broadcast group.
Radio news simulcast · 1994
KRNV-FM
KRNV-FM was a related radio service launched in 1994 after Sunbelt acquired KTHX-FM. It combined local morning and daytime rolling news with audio simulcasts of KRNV’s evening television newscasts. Sunbelt exited radio in 1999, after which the stations were programmed under a Spanish-language format.
Regional television rebroadcaster · 1997
KENV
KENV was a semi-satellite serving Elko and surrounding Northern Nevada. It relayed KRNV programming while inserting local morning news. Its NBC affiliation ended at the close of 2017 after NBC declined to renew the affiliation because Elko was assigned to the Salt Lake City television market.
Regional television rebroadcaster · 1998
KWNV
KWNV was a related semi-satellite serving Winnemucca. It operated from 1998 until 2008, when the service was discontinued for economic reasons.
Brand decisions
2026
Temporary relay of KRXI servicesOtherBackground
A transmission-line failure affected the KRXI-TV antenna, temporarily taking its normal transmission facilities out of service.
Action taken
KRNV-DT temporarily broadcast KRXI-TV’s Fox and NBC services from the KRNV transmitter.
Aftermath
Sinclair estimated that restoring KRXI-TV would take approximately two months, according to the supplied reference material.
2025
Move NBC programming to KRXI-TV subchannelStrategyBackground
The reference material attributes the programming realignment to the continued rollout of ATSC 3.0 in the Reno area and the integrated operation of the local Sinclair-related stations.
Action taken
NBC affiliation and programming moved from KRNV-DT’s main channel to a KRXI-TV subchannel, while KRNV-DT’s main channel switched to Roar programming.
Aftermath
KRNV-DT remained an operating television signal within the local station group and later served as a temporary relay point for KRXI services after an antenna failure.
2013
Separate operating and license transactionsM&ABackground
Sinclair already owned or operated other Reno television services and sought to integrate KRNV into a larger local broadcast cluster.
Action taken
Sinclair acquired KRNV’s non-license assets and operated the station through joint sales and shared services agreements; Cunningham Broadcasting pursued the license assets.
Aftermath
The FCC approved Cunningham’s license purchase in 2017, while the stations continued sharing facilities and operational relationships.
Reported non-license asset purchase price. $26 million (2013 announcement)
1994
Extend the KRNV news brand into radioStrategyBackground
Sunbelt sought to create additional distribution for KRNV’s local news and to develop synergies between its television and radio holdings.
Action taken
After acquiring KTHX-FM, Sunbelt launched KRNV-FM with rolling news and audio simulcasts of the station’s principal television newscasts.
Aftermath
The radio initiative ended after Sunbelt exited radio in December 1999 and the stations adopted new programming arrangements.
1990
Relaunch under the KRNV identityStrategyBackground
Sunbelt acquired KCRL with the aim of applying its experience operating an NBC affiliate in Las Vegas to a historically underperforming Reno station.
Action taken
Sunbelt replaced station management and much of the on-air staff, obtained the KRNV call letters, and introduced a substantially revised local-news schedule and presentation.
Aftermath
By 1994, KRNV had moved from third to second place in several local ratings surveys, while its 5 p.m. newscast led its time period.
Recent events
- 2026
KRNV-DT temporarily carries KRXI services after antenna failure[1]
Other
Following a transmission-line failure affecting the KRXI-TV antenna, KRNV-DT temporarily broadcast KRXI’s Fox and NBC services from its own transmitter, according to the supplied reference material.
- 2025
KRNV-DT moves NBC programming to KRXI subchannel[1]
Product generation
The supplied reference material states that KRNV’s NBC affiliation and programming moved to a KRXI-TV subchannel, while KRNV-DT’s main channel began carrying Roar programming.
- 2017
FCC approves Cunningham license transaction[1]
M&A · Regulation
The FCC approved Cunningham Broadcasting’s purchase of the KRNV and KENV license assets after the transaction had remained pending for several years.
- 2013
Sinclair announces acquisition of KRNV non-license assets[1]
M&A
Sinclair Broadcast Group announced an agreement to acquire KRNV’s non-license assets for a reported $26 million, while the station license remained subject to a separate transaction.
Sources2 sources
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