KTHV

KTHV is a television station serving Little Rock and the surrounding Central Arkansas market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 11 and is affiliated with CBS. Its studios are in downtown Little Rock on South Izard Street, while its transmission facilities are located on Shinall Mountain. In addition to its main broadcast service, KTHV distributes programming through digital subchannels and online platforms under the THV11 brand. The station was created by the Arkansas Television Company, a consortium whose participants included radio station KTHS, the Arkansas Democrat Company, Radio Broadcasting Inc., Clyde E. Lowry, and National Equity Life Insurance Company. The group originally sought a construction permit for channel 4 but changed its application to channel 11 in 1953. After competing applicants withdrew, the Federal Communications Commission granted the company a construction permit in January 1955. KTHV began broadcasting on November 27, 1955, initially carrying both CBS and ABC programming. It became Little Rock's exclusive CBS affiliate on April 1, 1956, after KATV's network arrangement changed. For much of its early history, KTHV remained behind KATV and KARK-TV in local-news ratings. A change in ownership interests in 1977 brought new Arkansas-based control and Robert L. Brown Sr. into the general manager's office. Brown had previously built competitive television operations elsewhere, but KTHV continued to struggle with limited newsroom resources, lower personnel budgets, and a comparatively small local-news schedule. By 1990, it was the only one of Little Rock's three major commercial stations without local newscasts at both 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Gannett acquired KTHV in 1994 through a reported stock transaction and assumed control on December 1 of that year. The company invested in newsroom technology, staffing, weather capabilities, sports coverage, and branding. The station adopted the name “Today's THV,” a change intended to distinguish it more clearly from KATV and create a broader consumer identity. The modernization helped transform the station's competitive position. Coverage of the March 1, 1997 tornado outbreak, supported by improved Doppler radar and strong on-air meteorological reporting, became an important visibility moment. KTHV subsequently rose from a long-standing third-place position, overtook KARK at 10 p.m. in 1999, and recorded an outright late-news ratings win in 2001. During the 2000s and 2010s, KTHV expanded its schedule and upgraded its technology. It added a 6:30 p.m. newscast in 2009, launched a Saturday morning newscast in 2010, moved its weekday morning program to 4:30 a.m. later that year, and introduced local high-definition newscasts in December 2010. The station refreshed its identity as “THV11” in 2013. In 2015, Gannett separated its broadcasting and digital businesses into Tegna, and KTHV became part of Tegna's station portfolio. A new news set and additional programs, including “Wake Up Central” and “630 Central,” were introduced in 2019. The station's technical history mirrors the broader transition from analog to digital television. KTHV began digital broadcasting in April 2002, became the first station in the Little Rock market to operate a second digital subchannel in 2006, and ended regular analog programming on June 12, 2009. Its post-transition digital signal operated on VHF channel 12 while retaining virtual channel 11. The station remains a local-news, weather, sports, CBS-network, and community-information outlet, with its brand increasingly extending across broadcast, web, mobile, and social channels.

KTHV was established by the Arkansas Television Company, a consortium assembled to bring a new commercial television station to Little Rock. The group included interests connected with KTHS radio, the Arkansas Democrat, The Shreveport Times, and local investors. Its initial FCC application sought channel 4, but the company shifted to channel 11 in 1953. After rival applicants withdrew, the FCC approved the construction permit in January 1955. KTHV began operations on November 27, 1955. It initially carried both CBS and ABC programming while broadcasting from temporary facilities associated with KTHS. A permanent building shared by the radio and television operations was completed in March 1956. On April 1, KTHV became the full-time CBS affiliate for the market. Ownership changed substantially in 1977. The Arkansas Democrat Company acquired shares from the estate of Clyde E. Lowry, while Radio Broadcasting Inc. sold its substantial interest after Gannett acquired The Shreveport Times. The resulting ownership was centered in Arkansas interests, including the K. A. Engel Trust and executives Stanley Berry and Marcus George. Robert L. Brown Sr. became general manager and attempted to improve competitiveness through stronger staffing and compensation. Those efforts did not immediately overcome the station's limited newsroom resources, and KTHV remained a distant third in local-news ratings for many years. Gannett's 1994 acquisition marked the station's most important modern turning point. Gannett assumed control on December 1 and replaced retiring general manager Bob Brown with Paul Trelstad. The new owner upgraded newsroom equipment, expanded personnel and sports coverage, recruited new talent, and rebranded the station as Today's THV. The changes improved the station's visibility and helped it compete more effectively with KATV and KARK-TV. Severe-weather coverage was central to the turnaround. During the March 1, 1997 tornado outbreak, chief meteorologist Ed Buckner and Tom Brannon used improved Doppler radar and extensive live reporting to demonstrate the value of the station's new investment. KTHV's ratings improved during the late 1990s, and it passed KARK at 10 p.m. in April 1999. In February 2001, it recorded an outright victory at 10 p.m., although KATV continued to lead in some early-evening and later morning periods. KTHV expanded its schedule during the following decade. A 6:30 p.m. newscast was added in 2009, followed by a Saturday morning program in 2010. Its weekday morning show moved to 4:30 a.m. in September 2010, making KTHV an early entrant in the market's pre-5 a.m. news competition. The station also became the first in its market to present local high-definition newscasts, beginning in December 2010. In 2013, the public-facing brand was revised to THV11. In 2015, Gannett separated its broadcasting and digital operations under the Tegna name, and KTHV became a Tegna station. The station continued developing local programming, introducing a new set and programs such as Wake Up Central and 630 Central in 2019. KTHV also adopted digital broadcasting early, launching a digital signal in 2002 and a second digital subchannel in 2006. It ended regular analog broadcasting in 2009 and retained virtual channel 11 on its post-transition digital signal. The supplied reference material states that Nexstar Media Group announced an acquisition of Tegna in 2025 and completed it in 2026, while litigation temporarily restricted integration of the acquired stations. Because those events are future-dated relative to portions of the station's published history, the present ownership field should be verified against current FCC, corporate, and station records.

• 2015

  Transfer to Tegna

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  KTHV became part of Tegna after Gannett separated its broadcasting and newspaper businesses.

• 2013

  THV11 branding introduced

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  The station refreshed its logo and adopted the THV11 identity.

• 2010

  Morning expansion and high-definition news

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  KTHV moved its weekday morning show to 4:30 a.m. and introduced local high-definition newscasts later that year.

• 2009

  6:30 p.m. newscast added

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  The station expanded its evening local-news schedule with a half-hour 6:30 p.m. program.

• 2002

  Digital broadcasting begins

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  KTHV became the first station in the Little Rock market to transmit a digital television signal.

• 2001

  Late-news ratings win

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  KTHV recorded an outright 10 p.m. ratings victory.

• 1999

  KTHV reaches second place at 10 p.m.

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  The station surpassed KARK in late-news ratings for the first time in nearly three decades.

• 1997

  Tornado coverage becomes a competitive turning point

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  Coverage of a major Arkansas tornado outbreak showcased the station's upgraded weather operation.

• 1994

  Gannett acquisition and relaunch

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  Gannett acquired KTHV and began a major newsroom and brand overhaul.

• 1977

  Ownership restructuring

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  Transactions reorganized the Arkansas Television Company's ownership around Arkansas interests.

• 1956

  Exclusive CBS affiliation

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  KTHV became Little Rock's full-time CBS affiliate on April 1.

• 1955

  Broadcast launch

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  KTHV began broadcasting on November 27.

• 1953

  Application shifted to channel 11

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  The applicant changed its proposed allocation from channel 4 to channel 11.

• 1952

  Initial construction application

  [1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  The Arkansas Television Company filed with the FCC for authority to build a Little Rock television station.

A locally focused CBS affiliate positioned around Central Arkansas news, weather, sports, community coverage, and accessible multiplatform video journalism.

• Broadcast television · 1955

  THV11 broadcast service

  The station's main over-the-air service on virtual channel 11 combines CBS network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs, and community content for Central Arkansas viewers.

• Local television news · 1955

  THV11 local news

  KTHV's local-news operation covers Little Rock and surrounding communities through morning, midday, evening, and late-night broadcasts, with a strong emphasis on severe weather, public safety, regional events, and local sports.

• Morning television program · 2019

  Wake Up Central

  A refreshed morning program introduced as part of KTHV's 2019 programming development, combining local news, weather, traffic, interviews, and lifestyle segments.

• Evening lifestyle program · 2019

  630 Central

  An evening local program introduced in 2019 to provide lifestyle, community, and feature-oriented coverage alongside KTHV's conventional newscasts.

• Digital television · 2006

  Digital subchannels

  KTHV expanded beyond its primary service through digital multiplexing. It launched a second subchannel in 2006, making it an early participant in the market's digital multichannel development.

• 2010

  Early-morning and high-definition expansionStrategy

  Background

  Local television competition was extending into earlier morning hours while broadcasters were transitioning to high-definition production.

  Action taken

  KTHV moved its weekday morning newscast to 4:30 a.m. and launched local high-definition newscasts later in the year.

  Aftermath

  The station became an early entrant in both pre-5 a.m. news and local HD broadcasting in Arkansas.

  Source

• 2009

  Expansion of evening newsProduct launch

  Background

  KTHV was seeking additional scheduled opportunities for local reporting and audience growth.

  Action taken

  The station added a half-hour 6:30 p.m. newscast to its existing 6 p.m. broadcast.

  Aftermath

  It became the only such 6:30 p.m. local newscast in the Little Rock market at the time.

  Source

• 1994

  Gannett purchases KTHVM&A

  Background

  KTHV had remained commercially viable but underperformed its principal Little Rock competitors in local-news ratings.

  Action taken

  Gannett acquired the station and assumed operational control on December 1, 1994.

  Aftermath

  The new owner invested in equipment, staffing, sports coverage, branding, and weather technology, helping KTHV improve its ratings position.

  Source

• 1994

  Today's THV rebrandStrategy

  Background

  The station sought to create a clearer identity and reduce confusion with similarly named Little Rock station KATV.

  Action taken

  Management introduced the Today's THV branding while rebuilding the news operation.

  Aftermath

  The rebrand accompanied stronger ratings and a broader competitive recovery during the late 1990s.

  Source

• 2019

  KTHV introduces refreshed local programs and news facilities[1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The station unveiled a new news set and launched or refreshed programming including Wake Up Central and 630 Central.

• 2015

  Tegna assumes ownership of KTHV's broadcasting operations[1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  KTHV moved into Tegna when Gannett separated its broadcasting and digital businesses from its newspaper operations.

• 1994

  Gannett acquires KTHV[1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Gannett took control of KTHV and began a long-term investment and repositioning of the station's news operation.

• 1956

  KTHV becomes an exclusive CBS affiliate[1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station ended its temporary dual affiliation with CBS and ABC and became the market's exclusive CBS outlet.

• 1955

  KTHV begins broadcasting[1]KTHVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  KTHV signed on November 27 as Little Rock's channel 11 television station.

1. 1KTHVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KTHV official websitethv11.com