KTLA
KTLA is a Los Angeles television station and the West Coast flagship affiliate of The CW.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KTLA is television station KTLA, channel 5, based in Hollywood, Los Angeles. It serves as the West Coast flagship station of The CW and is one of the most historically significant broadcast outlets in the western United States. The station began commercial operations on January 22, 1947, making it the first commercially licensed television station in California, the first in Los Angeles, the first commercial station west of the Mississippi River, and the eighth commercial television station in the United States. Its predecessor, experimental station W6XYZ, was licensed in 1939 and began broadcasting in 1942. The station was established by Television Productions, a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures, and was originally managed and engineered by Klaus Landsberg. Its inaugural commercial broadcast, presented as the Western Premiere of Commercial Television, was hosted by Bob Hope from a Paramount lot and featured numerous Hollywood figures. KTLA initially affiliated with the DuMont Television Network, but became an independent station in 1948. Paramount also used KTLA as one of the flagships of an attempted Paramount Television Network, although that service never developed into a durable national network. During its early years, KTLA produced and distributed a substantial range of entertainment programs, including live variety, wrestling, detective, musical and children's shows. KTLA has repeatedly influenced television technology and station programming. In 1958, its operations moved to the former Paramount Sunset Studios in Hollywood, now known as Sunset Bronson Studios. That facility remains the station's home, giving KTLA a distinctive position among Los Angeles broadcasters that have relocated elsewhere in the region. In 1958, KTLA also pioneered the use of a helicopter as a live news-reporting platform, transmitting aerial coverage through equipment developed by engineer John D. Silva. During the 1970s, the station was distributed by satellite as a superstation, expanding its reach beyond Southern California and making its programming available through cable systems and later satellite platforms. Actor and singer Gene Autry acquired KTLA in the early 1960s and incorporated it into Golden West Broadcasters alongside KMPC radio. Under Golden West, the station developed a strong independent-station identity built around syndicated dramas, westerns, films, sports, talk programs and popular reruns. KKR purchased KTLA in 1982, and Tribune Broadcasting acquired it in 1985. Tribune ownership brought the station into the company that helped establish The WB Television Network. KTLA became a charter WB affiliate in 1995, while retaining much of its locally oriented independent-station programming approach. The station transferred to The CW when The WB and UPN were replaced by the combined network in September 2006. KTLA has continued to combine network programming with local news and syndicated content. Its news operation is a central part of the brand, with extensive coverage of Los Angeles breaking news, weather, traffic, public affairs, entertainment and community events. KTLA also distributes content through digital platforms and, since 2015, has operated a streaming news-radio channel on iHeartRadio. After Tribune Media was acquired by Nexstar Media Group in 2019, KTLA became a Nexstar-owned station and remains one of the company's most prominent directly owned properties.
History
KTLA's origins lie in experimental television. Paramount Pictures subsidiary Television Productions operated experimental station W6XYZ, licensed in 1939 and placed on the air in 1942. Klaus Landsberg served as the station's manager and engineer. On January 22, 1947, the Federal Communications Commission granted commercial authorization for KTLA on VHF channel 5. The launch broadcast, hosted by Bob Hope from the Paramount lot, introduced the station to Los Angeles audiences and established its connection with the film and entertainment industries. KTLA initially carried programming from the DuMont Television Network, in which Paramount held an ownership interest, but became independent in 1948. Paramount attempted to use KTLA and its Chicago station WBKB as flagships for a separate programming service in the same period. Although the proposed Paramount Television Network did not become a full national network, KTLA developed a substantial production and syndication operation. Its early output included variety, detective, musical, wrestling and children's programs that were circulated beyond Los Angeles. The station moved its operations to the Paramount Sunset Studios complex in Hollywood in 1958. The facility, later renamed Sunset Bronson Studios, remains KTLA's base. That same year, KTLA made an important contribution to broadcast-news technology when it used a transmitter-equipped helicopter for live aerial reporting. The innovation helped the station cover traffic, fires, pursuits and other breaking events with a speed that ground-based competitors could not match. Gene Autry acquired KTLA in late 1963, with the transaction completed in 1964. He combined the station with his other broadcasting interests under Golden West Broadcasters. Through the late 1960s and 1970s, KTLA emphasized its role as a major independent station, programming syndicated dramas and westerns, films, sports, talk shows and popular reruns. It was also uplinked to satellite during the 1970s and became a superstation, giving viewers outside Los Angeles access through cable and satellite distribution. KTLA changed hands again in the 1980s. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts purchased the station in 1982, and Tribune Broadcasting acquired it in 1985. Under Tribune, KTLA continued to compete for leadership among Southern California's independent stations, assembling high-profile syndicated sitcoms, dramas, films and talk programs. When The WB launched in January 1995, KTLA became one of its charter affiliates. The station initially retained a largely independent schedule because The WB offered limited prime-time programming, later adding the network's Kids' WB blocks. In 2000, Tribune's acquisition of Times Mirror temporarily placed KTLA and the Los Angeles Times under common corporate ownership through an FCC waiver. Tribune separated its publishing operations in 2014, leaving KTLA with Tribune's broadcasting group. The station moved between branding treatments during the WB era and subsequently adopted the KTLA 5, The CW identity when The CW launched in September 2006. KTLA celebrated its sixtieth anniversary in 2007 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that year, an unusual recognition for a television station. Tribune sold the Los Angeles studio property in 2008, but KTLA continued operating from the complex under the Sunset Bronson Studios name. In 2019, Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of Tribune Media, making KTLA part of Nexstar's station portfolio. Today, KTLA remains an active Los Angeles broadcaster, combining The CW programming with a large local-news operation and digital distribution. Its historic Hollywood location, early technical innovations and long-running local identity distinguish it from many newer network affiliates.
- 2019
Nexstar ownership
[2]Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tribune Media, bringing KTLA into the Nexstar portfolio.
- 2007
Hollywood Walk of Fame recognition
[1]KTLA receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during its sixtieth-anniversary period.
- 2006
CW affiliation
[1]KTLA becomes a charter affiliate of The CW.
- 1995
WB affiliation
[1]KTLA becomes a charter affiliate of The WB Television Network.
- 1985
Tribune acquisition
[1]Tribune Broadcasting purchases KTLA from KKR.
- 1970
Superstation distribution
[1]KTLA expands its national reach through satellite and cable distribution as a superstation.
- 1964
Golden West ownership
[1]Gene Autry incorporates KTLA into Golden West Broadcasters after acquiring the station.
- 1958
Hollywood facility and helicopter reporting
[1]KTLA moves to the Paramount Sunset Studios complex and pioneers live news reporting from a helicopter.
- 1948
Becomes independent
[1]KTLA ends its DuMont affiliation and operates as an independent station.
- 1947
Commercial launch
[1]KTLA signs on as the first commercially licensed television station in California and the western United States.
Products and positioning
A heritage Los Angeles broadcast brand combining extensive local news coverage, Hollywood-based identity, The CW network programming and broad digital distribution.
Local television news
KTLA 5 News
KTLA's local news service covers Los Angeles and Southern California with breaking news, weather, traffic, public affairs, entertainment and community reporting. The service is a core part of the station's identity and is distributed through broadcast and digital channels.
Network television programming · 2006
The CW on KTLA 5
KTLA carries programming from The CW as the network's West Coast flagship station. The network schedule is combined with locally produced news and other station programming.
Digital media
KTLA digital news
KTLA extends its local-news brand through web, mobile and streaming distribution, including online video and continuing updates for audiences beyond the station's linear broadcast schedule.
Marketing campaigns
- 2007KTLA 60th anniversary
Los Angeles · Southern California
KTLA marked sixty years of continuous broadcasting with archival entertainment, historical news retrospectives and anniversary branding. The station also received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star during the anniversary period.
Outcome. The anniversary reinforced KTLA's heritage positioning as a pioneering Los Angeles broadcaster.
Brand decisions
2019
Transfer to Nexstar Media GroupM&ABackground
Nexstar pursued and completed the acquisition of Tribune Media, whose assets included KTLA.
Action taken
KTLA became part of Nexstar's group of television stations after the transaction closed.
Aftermath
The station continued operating under the KTLA brand and remained affiliated with The CW.
2006
Join The CWStrategyBackground
The WB and UPN were being replaced by a combined network created by their parent companies. Tribune agreed to place KTLA among the new network's charter affiliates.
Action taken
KTLA changed from a WB affiliate to a charter CW affiliate on September 17, 2006, while retaining its local-news operation and station identity.
Aftermath
The move made KTLA The CW's West Coast flagship and continued its role as a hybrid network-affiliated and locally programmed station.
Recent events
- 2019
Nexstar completes acquisition of Tribune Media[2]
M&A
KTLA joins Nexstar Media Group following Nexstar's acquisition of Tribune Media.
- 2007
KTLA marks 60 years of broadcasting[1]
Campaign
The station commemorates six decades of continuous broadcasting with archival programming and historical news retrospectives.
- 2006
KTLA changes network affiliation to The CW[1]
Other
KTLA becomes a charter affiliate of The CW after The WB and UPN are consolidated into the new network.
- 1995
KTLA becomes a charter affiliate of The WB[1]
Other
The station joins The WB at the network's launch while continuing to operate with substantial independent-style programming.
- 1947
KTLA begins commercial television operations in Los Angeles[1]
Other
KTLA launches on channel 5 as the first commercially licensed television station in California and the western United States.
Sources2 sources
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