KTVE

KTVE is a broadcast television station licensed to El Dorado, Arkansas, and serving viewers across the Monroe, Louisiana–El Dorado, Arkansas designated market area. The station operates as an NBC affiliate and is owned by Mission Broadcasting. Nexstar Media Group manages and operates KTVE under shared-services, local-sales, and related operating arrangements, alongside Fox affiliate KARD. The stations share facilities in West Monroe, Louisiana, while KTVE retains its Arkansas identity through its license, South Arkansas reporting, advertising presence, and transmitter location northwest of Huttig, Arkansas. The station began broadcasting on December 3, 1955, under the call sign KRBB. Its original owner was South Arkansas TV Company, formed by Joe F. Rushton, W. C. Blewster, and William M. Bigley. The call letters reflected the initials of the founding owners. In 1958, after the station installed a larger transmitter intended to improve service across the Monroe–El Dorado region, it adopted the KTVE call sign. Over the following decades, ownership changed several times, including transfers to Veterans Broadcasting Company, J. B. Fuqua, Gray Communications, and Piedmont Television. KTVE's network affiliations have also shifted. It initially operated primarily as an NBC station while sharing ABC programming with KNOE-TV. On August 1, 1972, KTVE switched its primary affiliation to ABC, leaving NBC programming largely unavailable in the market until the launch of KLAA, now KARD. On December 6, 1981, KTVE returned to NBC as a full-time affiliate, while KLAA became the market's ABC station. The station has remained affiliated with NBC since that transition. In 1983, KTVE moved its principal studio operations to Monroe and adopted the regional brand “Region 10.” It kept a satellite facility and staff in El Dorado, but the change generated criticism from some Arkansas viewers who felt that coverage favored the Louisiana side of the market. In the late 1990s, an FCC license-renewal condition required split-anchor presentation on selected newscasts, with one anchor working from Monroe and another from El Dorado. Although that condition was later discontinued, KTVE continued to maintain South Arkansas coverage. Piedmont Television sold KTVE to Mission Broadcasting in January 2008. Nexstar assumed operational control through a local sales agreement, consistent with its arrangements for other Mission-owned stations. KTVE and KARD consolidated operations at KARD's West Monroe facility and began sharing a website and selected production resources. The arrangement allowed KTVE to maintain its NBC service while operating within a combined regional newsroom and technical infrastructure. KTVE's current business scope includes NBC network programming, local news, weather, sports, emergency information, community reporting, advertising sales, and digital publishing. Its signal reaches 18 counties and parishes in Arkansas and Louisiana, with occasional reception extending substantially beyond the core market. The station has emphasized South Arkansas coverage through El Dorado-based reporting and a weekday 4 p.m. newscast added in 2022. Its digital operations include high-definition local news and online content distributed through MyArkLaMiss.com.

KTVE began operations on December 3, 1955, as KRBB, a station established by South Arkansas TV Company. The company was associated with Joe F. Rushton, W. C. Blewster, and William M. Bigley, whose initials were reflected in the original call letters. Representative Oren Harris was involved in ownership for a period in 1957. On November 7, 1958, the station became KTVE after completing a transmitter expansion designed to provide stronger service across the Monroe–El Dorado area. Ownership passed to Veterans Broadcasting Company in 1960. The company was associated with WROC-TV in Rochester, New York. KTVE began color broadcasting in 1961 and was acquired by J. B. Fuqua in 1963. Gray Communications purchased the station in December 1967, making KTVE one of Gray's owned stations. In 1970, KTVE installed a translator south of Monroe after rival KNOE-TV improved its El Dorado-area service with a translator of its own. KTVE's network identity changed in 1972, when it moved its primary affiliation from NBC to ABC. The shift lasted until December 1981, when KTVE returned to NBC and KLAA, later renamed KARD, became an ABC affiliate. The change reflected Gray's view that NBC had stronger performance prospects in small and mid-sized markets. KTVE's first program as a full-time NBC affiliate was an NFL game between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. In 1978, the station closed its Monroe studio on Catalpa Street. Five years later, Gray moved KTVE's main studio to Kilpatrick Boulevard in Monroe and promoted the station under the “Region 10” identity. KTVE retained an El Dorado satellite operation, including news and production personnel. The relocation strengthened the station's ability to serve the broader market but also led to complaints from Arkansas viewers who believed that Louisiana stories received disproportionate attention. During the late 1990s, the FCC required a split-anchor format as part of a license-renewal process. Selected newscasts used one anchor in Monroe and another in El Dorado, reinforcing the station's obligation to serve both sides of the market. KTVE was acquired by Piedmont Television in 1996. In 2002, it assumed operational responsibility for KARD through a local marketing agreement, and operations were consolidated at KARD's West Monroe facility. The two stations subsequently shared resources and a website. On January 16, 2008, Piedmont completed the sale of KTVE to Mission Broadcasting. Nexstar Broadcasting Group, now Nexstar Media Group, took over operational control through a local sales agreement. This created the present ownership-and-operations structure in which Mission owns the station and Nexstar manages many of its practical functions. The station's branding and technology evolved in the twenty-first century. In 2006, KTVE won the Radio-Television News Directors Association's Ultimate News Makeover contest, receiving design, production, consulting, and coaching support. Around the same time, it moved away from the “Region 10” identity and adopted “NBC10.” In early 2012, KTVE began presenting local newscasts in high definition and updated its set, graphics, and music. It also launched Arkansas Today on April 2, 2012, a statewide midday newscast produced by sister station KARK-TV and shared with other Nexstar Arkansas outlets. KTVE completed its analog shutdown on April 16, 2009, retaining its digital service on UHF channel 27 while using virtual channel 10. The station had earlier launched a full-power digital signal and began carrying NBC in high definition in January 2007. In 2020, its high-definition simulcast of KARD was upgraded to 1080i. In 2022, KTVE broadened its local schedule with a weekday 4 p.m. newscast broadcast in El Dorado and aimed at South Arkansas viewers. Today, KTVE remains an active NBC station with a regional signal footprint, local news operation, digital presence, and continuing responsibility to viewers in Arkansas and Louisiana.

1. 2022South Arkansas 4 p.m. newscast launches

   KTVE added a weekday early-evening newscast broadcast from and focused on El Dorado and South Arkansas.

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2. 2012Local news moves to high definition

   KTVE upgraded its local news presentation and began carrying Arkansas Today.

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3. 2009Analog transmission ends

   KTVE ended analog broadcasting on April 16 and continued digitally on UHF channel 27.

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4. 2008Mission Broadcasting purchase completed

   Mission Broadcasting acquired KTVE, while Nexstar assumed operating control.

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5. 2006Wins Ultimate News Makeover

   KTVE won the Radio-Television News Directors Association's Ultimate News Makeover contest and introduced updated branding.

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6. 2002Operations of KARD are integrated

   KTVE began operating KARD under a local marketing agreement, with operations consolidated in West Monroe.

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7. 1996Piedmont Television acquires KTVE

   Piedmont Television purchased the station from Gray Communications.

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8. 1983Main studio moves to Monroe

   The station moved its principal studio to Monroe and adopted the Region 10 brand.

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9. 1981KTVE returns to NBC

   KTVE resumed full-time NBC affiliation on December 6.

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10. 1972Primary affiliation changes to ABC

    KTVE switched its primary network affiliation from NBC to ABC.

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11. 1961Color broadcasting begins

    KTVE began transmitting programming in color.

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12. 1958Call sign changes to KTVE

    The station adopted the KTVE call letters after installing a larger transmitter.

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13. 1955Station launches as KRBB

    KRBB began broadcasting on December 3 under South Arkansas TV Company ownership.

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A regional NBC television station combining Monroe-area broadcasting resources with a continuing South Arkansas service identity.

• Local NewsTelevision news

  KTVE's local news operation covers Monroe, El Dorado, South Arkansas, and northern Louisiana. Its output includes morning, midday, afternoon, evening, and late-night newscasts, with reporting from both the Monroe-area operation and El Dorado. The station's news identity has used both the Region 10 and NBC10 brands.

• Arkansas TodayStatewide television news2012

  Arkansas Today is a weekday midday newscast produced by KARK-TV and distributed across Nexstar's Arkansas NBC stations. KTVE carries the program with contributions from reporters around the state, a sports segment focused on University of Arkansas athletics, and a weather insert aimed at southern Arkansas viewers.

• NBC Network ProgrammingNetwork television1981

  KTVE provides NBC programming to the Monroe–El Dorado market, including the network's entertainment, news, sports, and special-event schedule. The station returned to full-time NBC affiliation in 1981 and has continued in that role.

• MyArkLaMiss.comDigital news

  MyArkLaMiss.com is the shared digital news and information platform associated with KTVE and KARD. It extends the stations' television coverage through online articles, video, weather information, alerts, and other market-focused content.

• 2006Ultimate News Makeover

  Monroe–El Dorado

  KTVE won the Radio-Television News Directors Association's Ultimate News Makeover contest. The award provided approximately $300,000 worth of design, consultation, manufacturing, production, and coaching resources for the station's news operation.

  Outcome. The station unveiled a new news set and graphics package and replaced the long-running Region 10 branding with NBC10.

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• 2022Add a South Arkansas 4 p.m. newscastProduct launch

  KTVE continued emphasizing its Arkansas service obligations while operating from a shared Monroe-area facility.

  What changed. The station introduced a weekday 4 p.m. newscast broadcast in El Dorado and focused on South Arkansas.

  Aftermath. The newscast expanded early-evening local coverage for viewers in the station's Arkansas service area.

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• 2012Launch Arkansas TodayProduct launch

  Nexstar's Arkansas NBC stations sought to provide a shared statewide midday news product.

  What changed. KTVE began airing the half-hour Arkansas Today program at noon on weekdays.

  Aftermath. The program provided KTVE with statewide reporting, Arkansas sports coverage, and a regional weather insert.

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• 2009Complete analog-to-digital transitionOther

  KTVE sought to end maintenance of its analog facilities before the nationwide transition deadline because of transmitter reliability and operating burdens.

  What changed. After the FCC declined an earlier request for an accelerated shutdown, KTVE ended its analog VHF service on April 16, 2009 and continued digitally on UHF channel 27.

  Aftermath. The station continued using virtual channel 10 for its digital broadcasts.

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• 2002Consolidate operations with KARDStrategy

  KTVE took over operational responsibilities for KARD under a local marketing agreement.

  What changed. The stations consolidated operations at KARD's West Monroe studio and shared selected infrastructure and digital resources.

  Aftermath. The combined operation continued after Mission acquired KTVE and Nexstar assumed operational control.

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• 1983Move principal operations to MonroeStrategy

  The station served a bi-state market but needed a central operating base for broader regional coverage.

  What changed. KTVE moved its main studio to Monroe and kept a smaller El Dorado satellite operation under the Region 10 identity.

  Aftermath. The move improved regional integration but produced complaints from Arkansas viewers about the balance of coverage.

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• 1981Return to full-time NBC affiliationStrategy

  After nearly a decade as an ABC station, KTVE sought to restore NBC service in the Monroe–El Dorado market.

  What changed. KTVE resumed full-time NBC affiliation on December 6, while KLAA became an ABC affiliate.

  Aftermath. KTVE retained NBC affiliation and became the market's established NBC station.

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• 1972Switch primary affiliation from NBC to ABCStrategy

  KTVE and sister station WJHG-TV changed their primary network affiliations during a period when Gray Communications believed ABC offered a stronger position for the stations.

  What changed. KTVE made ABC its primary affiliation and carried NBC programming only selectively.

  Aftermath. The station returned to NBC in 1981 after Gray concluded that NBC performed better in small and mid-sized markets.

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• 2022KTVE adds a weekday 4 p.m. newscast

  The station expanded early-evening local coverage with a newscast focused on El Dorado and South Arkansas.

  Product launch
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• 2012KTVE introduces Arkansas Today statewide midday newscast

  KTVE began carrying Arkansas Today, a weekday noon program produced by KARK-TV with contributions from Nexstar's Arkansas NBC stations.

  Product launch
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• 1981KTVE returns to NBC affiliation

  The station resumed full-time NBC affiliation, while KLAA became an ABC affiliate.

  Other
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• 1972KTVE switches primary affiliation from NBC to ABC

  KTVE became primarily affiliated with ABC, while NBC programming was later restored to the market through the launch and development of KLAA, now KARD.

  Other
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• 1958KTVE adopts the KTVE call sign after transmitter expansion

  The station changed its call letters from KRBB to KTVE after installing a larger transmitter intended to improve coverage of the Monroe–El Dorado region.

  Other
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1. KTVE
2. KTVE/KARD official website