KTRK-TV
An ABC-owned television station serving Houston, Texas, known for its locally focused ABC13 news operation.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KTRK-TV is a television station serving the Houston, Texas, market as an owned-and-operated affiliate of the ABC network. The station broadcasts on virtual and digital channel 13 and markets itself primarily as ABC13. Its studios are located on Bissonnet Street in Houston's Upper Kirby district, while its transmitter is near Missouri City in northeastern Fort Bend County. KTRK began broadcasting on November 20, 1954, after the Federal Communications Commission adjudicated Houston's final VHF television allocation. Several competing applicants consolidated into Houston Consolidated Television, which received the construction permit. The station selected the KTRK-TV call sign after the FCC declined the proposed KTRH-TV designation because the radio station did not control the television company. KTRK became Houston's first full-time ABC affiliate. The station's early identity included local programming, including the children's show Kitirik. The program used a black-cat mascot and played on the supposed unlucky nature of channel 13. In 1961, KTRK moved into purpose-built facilities on Bissonnet Street. The original building's rounded studio design, associated with architect Hermon Lloyd, became one of the station's recognizable physical features. Capital Cities Broadcasting acquired KTRK in 1967. Under that ownership, the station invested heavily in local journalism and expanded its news programming. KTRK adopted the Eyewitness News name in 1969 and developed a strong local-news franchise during the 1970s and 1980s. Its news operation became a major source of the station's audience identity, with long-serving personalities including anchor Dave Ward, consumer reporter Marvin Zindler, sports director Bob Allen, and meteorologist Ed Brandon. KTRK's investigative and consumer journalism, particularly Zindler's restaurant-health reports and coverage of the Chicken Ranch, became closely associated with the station's public image. Capital Cities purchased ABC in 1985, making KTRK an ABC-owned-and-operated station. The Walt Disney Company acquired Capital Cities/ABC in 1996, placing KTRK within Disney's ABC Owned Television Stations division. Disney-era investment included an expansion of the Houston studio complex and continued development of the station's broadcast and digital news operations. KTRK has progressively expanded its local schedule beyond traditional evening newscasts. It added a 4 p.m. newscast in 2001, became the first Houston station to begin a weekday morning newscast at 4:30 a.m. in 2009, introduced a 3 p.m. newscast in 2018, and has developed additional weekend and late-evening programming. In 2020, it began producing a 9 p.m. newscast for KIAH under an agreement with Nexstar Media Group. In addition to ABC network programming and local news, KTRK carries Houston Texans preseason programming and related team shows, and serves as a local television outlet for the Houston Marathon. The station transitioned from analog to digital broadcasting in 2009 and later introduced affiliated digital-subchannel services, including Live Well Network, Laff, and Localish. KTRK remains an active ABC-owned station whose principal brand promise is locally relevant news, weather, consumer reporting, sports, and community coverage for the Houston area.
History
KTRK-TV traces its origins to the allocation of Houston's channel 13 after the FCC lifted its freeze on new television applications. Several local business groups initially competed for the license. By early 1954, the principal applicants had combined as Houston Consolidated Television, which secured the construction permit. The company selected the KTRK-TV call letters after the FCC rejected KTRH-TV because the related radio station did not hold controlling ownership in the television venture. Construction began in 1954, including a transmitter site southwest of Houston in Fort Bend County. KTRK leased former KNUZ-TV studio space for its launch and went on the air on November 20, 1954. It was Houston's first full ABC affiliate. Early local programming included Kitirik, a children's program whose black-cat mascot referenced the superstition surrounding channel 13. The station opened its long-standing Bissonnet Street studio complex in November 1961. The original facility was designed with rounded studio spaces and became an important part of KTRK's visual identity. Capital Cities Broadcasting announced the purchase of KTRK in late 1966, with the transaction closing in 1967. Because Capital Cities already owned the regulatory maximum number of VHF stations, it sold WPRO-TV in Providence in a simultaneous transaction. The new owner expanded KTRK's local programming and news resources. The station extended its local news programs, adopted the Eyewitness News name in 1969, and gradually moved from a weak competitive position to the leading local-news operation in Houston. By the early 1970s, it was regularly winning local news ratings, a position it maintained through much of the following two decades. The news department's identity was built around long-serving personalities. Dave Ward joined KTRK in 1966 and became a principal evening anchor, eventually completing a half-century association with the station. Marvin Zindler joined in 1973 and became famous for consumer investigations, restaurant health reports, and the recurring Rat and Roach Report. His coverage of the Chicken Ranch in La Grange became one of the station's best-known investigative stories and later entered popular culture. KTRK also developed a prominent morning and afternoon schedule, including Good Morning Houston and Live at Five. The evening newscast expanded to an hour in 1982. Capital Cities acquired ABC in 1985, making KTRK an ABC-owned-and-operated station and the first Houston television station to hold that status. The Walt Disney Company purchased Capital Cities/ABC in 1996. KTRK consequently became part of Disney's ABC Owned Television Stations group. The station continued to invest in its physical plant, adding a substantial studio expansion in 1993, and later upgraded its production technology. KTRK expanded its news schedule in the twenty-first century. A 4 p.m. newscast launched in 2001. The station expanded its weekday morning broadcast to 4:30 a.m. in 2009, split its traditional 6 p.m. hour into separate 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. programs in 2013, and introduced a 3 p.m. newscast in 2018. It also expanded weekend late-evening news and began producing a 9 p.m. newscast for KIAH in 2020. Personnel changes included the retirement of Dave Ward in 2017 and chief meteorologist Tim Heller in 2019. KTRK ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the national digital transition, relocating its digital signal to channel 13. Its multicast history included local news and features, the Live Well Network, Laff, and later Localish. Alongside news, KTRK has carried Houston Texans preseason games and team programming since the franchise began play in 2002, and it has served as a local television outlet for the Houston Marathon. Today, the station combines ABC network distribution with a large local-news, weather, consumer-reporting, sports, and digital operation.
- 2020
KTRK produces a newscast for KIAH
[1]The station began producing a 9 p.m. newscast for KIAH under an agreement with Nexstar.
- 2019
Wendy Granato becomes general manager
[1]News director Wendy Granato was promoted to general manager, becoming the first woman to lead the station.
- 2018
Texas's first 3 p.m. newscast
[1]KTRK launched a weekday 3 p.m. newscast, described as the first of its kind among Texas television stations.
- 2009
Digital television transition
[1]KTRK ended analog transmission and moved its digital service to VHF channel 13.
- 2002
Houston Texans relationship begins
[1]KTRK became the official local television home for Texans preseason games and related programs.
- 1996
Disney acquires Capital Cities/ABC
[1]KTRK entered The Walt Disney Company's ABC station group.
- 1985
KTRK becomes an ABC-owned station
[1]Capital Cities' acquisition of ABC made KTRK an ABC-owned-and-operated station.
- 1969
Eyewitness News branding adopted
[1]KTRK introduced the Eyewitness News name for its local newscasts.
- 1967
Capital Cities ownership begins
[1]Capital Cities completed its acquisition of KTRK and increased investment in local news.
- 1961
Bissonnet Street studios open
[1]The station inaugurated its purpose-built Houston studio complex, including distinctive rounded studio architecture.
Products and positioning
A locally dominant ABC network station positioned around Houston news, severe-weather coverage, consumer advocacy, investigative reporting, and community service.
Local television news · 1969
ABC13 Eyewitness News
KTRK's principal local-news brand, covering Houston-area breaking news, politics, public affairs, community issues, investigations, traffic, sports, and weather across multiple daily time periods. The brand was adopted in 1969 and became central to the station's competitive identity.
Consumer journalism · 1973
Action 13
The station's consumer-help and investigative reporting identity, historically associated with Marvin Zindler. Coverage has included business complaints, public accountability, restaurant inspections, and other consumer-facing issues.
Sports broadcasting · 2002
Houston Texans programming
KTRK's Texans package includes locally televised preseason games not carried nationally, along with programs such as Texans Extra Points, Texans 360, and Houston Texans Inside the Game.
Digital television · 2009
Digital multicast services
KTRK has used digital subchannels for additional news and features and for network affiliations including Live Well Network, Laff, and Localish.
Brand decisions
2009
Analog-to-digital transitionGeneration changeBackground
Federal policy required full-power U.S. television stations to end regular analog broadcasting.
Action taken
KTRK discontinued its analog VHF service and relocated its digital signal to channel 13.
Aftermath
The station continued broadcasting digitally and expanded its use of multicast channels.
1985
ABC ownership conversionM&ABackground
Capital Cities acquired ABC, which owned the network to which KTRK had long been affiliated.
Action taken
KTRK became an ABC-owned-and-operated station.
Aftermath
The station gained direct membership in ABC's owned-station portfolio while retaining its Houston-focused local identity.
1967
Capital Cities acquisitionM&ABackground
KTRK was a major VHF television property in Houston and was being acquired during a period of consolidation in American broadcasting.
Action taken
Capital Cities Broadcasting purchased KTRK, completing the transaction while divesting WPRO-TV to satisfy ownership limits.
Aftermath
The new owner expanded local news and programming investment, helping KTRK become Houston's leading local-news station.
Recent events
- 2020
KTRK begins producing a 9 p.m. newscast for KIAH[1]
Other
KTRK started producing an hour-long evening newscast for KIAH through an agreement with Nexstar Media Group.
- 2009
KTRK completes the transition to digital television[1]
Product generation · Regulation
The station ended regular analog broadcasting and moved its post-transition digital operation to VHF channel 13.
- 1985
KTRK becomes an ABC-owned-and-operated station[1]
M&A
Capital Cities' purchase of ABC converted KTRK from an independently owned ABC affiliate into an ABC-owned station.
- 1967
Capital Cities acquires KTRK-TV[1]
M&A
Capital Cities Broadcasting completed its acquisition of the Houston station, beginning a period of substantial investment in local news and programming.
- 1954
KTRK-TV begins broadcasting[1]
Other
KTRK launched as Houston's first full ABC affiliate after a consolidated group received the channel 13 construction permit.
Sources2 sources
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