KTVF
A Gray Media-owned NBC-affiliated television station serving Fairbanks and Interior Alaska.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KTVF is a television station serving Fairbanks, Alaska, and the surrounding Interior Alaska market. Broadcasting on virtual channel 11, the station is affiliated with NBC and is owned by Gray Media. Its studios are located on Braddock Street in downtown Fairbanks, while its primary transmitter is located on Ester Dome. KTVF also supports the market-wide over-the-air distribution of other Gray-operated services, including KFXF-CD and KXDF-CD, through digital subchannels and simulcasts. The station began broadcasting on February 17, 1955, as the first television station in Fairbanks. It was established by Alaska broadcasting pioneer Augie Hiebert through Northern Television and was initially associated with KTVA-TV in Anchorage, which had launched two years earlier. KTVF originally operated as a CBS affiliate. During its early years it also had a brief relationship with the NTA Film Network and, for a period, carried programming from more than one major commercial network. KTVF's network affiliations changed as the Fairbanks television market developed. From 1971 to 1985 it served as a secondary ABC affiliate, carrying selected ABC entertainment and sports programs while remaining primarily affiliated with CBS. In 1985 it added NBC programming as a secondary affiliation. On April 1, 1996, KTVF became a full-time NBC affiliate. The change followed a broader restructuring of Alaska network affiliations and reflected NBC's stronger national position during the 1995–96 television season. KTVF also carried UPN programming on weekends from 1995 to 2000. The station has experienced several ownership transitions. Hiebert retired in 1997, and his family sold KTVF to the Ackerley Group in 1999. Ackerley subsequently merged with Clear Channel Communications, which sold its television division, including KTVF, to Newport Television in 2007. An attempted purchase option held by Media News Group, publisher of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, did not result in a completed transaction. In 2011 Newport announced a sale to Chena Broadcasting, a company owned by Michael Young; the transaction closed in March 2012, with operations coordinated through a shared-services arrangement involving other Fairbanks stations. Gray Television's Northern Lights Media subsidiary acquired KTVF and related Fairbanks stations in a transaction announced in 2016 and completed in January 2017. Gray Television later became Gray Media. KTVF progressively modernized its technical operation. It began airing NBC high-definition programming at the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics and completed a broader transition to high-definition broadcasting in 2012. The station ended its analog transmission on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated United States digital television transition, retaining virtual channel 11 on its digital signal. A Federal Communications Commission construction permit approved in 2010 enabled a digital fill-in translator intended to improve coverage in parts of the Fairbanks area. KTVF's role has included local news, weather, public-affairs material, syndicated programming, network programming, and distribution support for related stations. In November 2024, its locally focused newscasts ceased. News programming for KTVF and KXDF-CD thereafter came from sister station KTUU-TV, with KTUU's output reoriented toward a statewide Alaska focus. This change ended the last locally focused television news department in the Fairbanks market while leaving KTVF active as an NBC affiliate and broadcast outlet.
History
KTVF signed on February 17, 1955, becoming the first television station in Fairbanks and serving a market that was then considered the smallest television market in the United States. The station was founded by Alaska broadcasting pioneer Augie Hiebert through Northern Television. Its early corporate relationship with KTVA-TV in Anchorage connected the Fairbanks operation to one of Alaska's earliest commercial television ventures. KTVF began primarily as a CBS affiliate. Its network role broadened over time as national programming arrangements and the Fairbanks market changed. From 1971 through 1985, the station also served as a secondary ABC outlet, carrying selected high-profile ABC entertainment and sports programs. These included popular prime-time series, major sports broadcasts, and special events. In 1985, NBC programming was added as a secondary affiliation. During the late 1950s, KTVF also briefly carried programming from the NTA Film Network. A major interruption occurred in 1967, when flooding of the Chena River temporarily took the station off the air. KTVF rebuilt its facilities in the Northward Building and returned later that year with color broadcasting. The station remained in the Northward Building until 1990. These changes helped establish the technical and studio infrastructure that supported its continued operation in the geographically challenging Interior Alaska market. KTVF's most consequential programming change came on April 1, 1996, when it moved from CBS to NBC. The change followed the planned consolidation of KATN's NBC affiliation with ABC stations in Anchorage and Juneau into ABC Alaska's SuperStation. It also reflected the relative national strength of NBC and CBS during the 1995–96 season. KTVF carried UPN programming on weekends from 1995 until 2000, while later changes in the market allowed KFXF and, subsequently, KXDF-CD to carry CBS programming. Ownership changed repeatedly after the founding era. Augie Hiebert retired in 1997, and his family sold the station to the Ackerley Group in 1999. Ackerley merged with Clear Channel Communications in 2001. Clear Channel then sold its television division to Newport Television in 2007. Media News Group, owner of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, had received an option to purchase KTVF in connection with the 1999 transaction. The option depended on changes to Federal Communications Commission newspaper-broadcast ownership rules; although the FCC removed the relevant restriction in 2003, implementation was delayed by litigation, and the option expired in 2006 without producing a sale. Newport announced a sale to Chena Broadcasting in October 2011. Chena was a local company owned by Michael Young, who had previously held a partial interest in Tanana Valley Television, the owner of other Fairbanks stations. The sale closed on March 7, 2012, and operations were coordinated under a shared-services arrangement. This consolidation meant that the commercial Fairbanks stations were operated by only two companies at that point. KTVF also modernized its transmission system. It began airing NBC high-definition programming during the 2010 Winter Olympics and expanded to full high-definition broadcasting, including syndicated material, in 2012. The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 11 on its digital service. In 2010, the FCC authorized a digital fill-in translator to improve reception in parts of the Fairbanks area. On November 8, 2016, Northern Lights Media, a subsidiary of Gray Television, announced the purchase of KTVF, KFXF-LD, and KXDF-CD for $8 million in cash. The transaction closed on January 13, 2017. KTVF has since operated within Gray's Alaska station group. In November 2024, the station ended its locally focused newscasts. KTVF and KXDF-CD began carrying news produced by sister station KTUU-TV, whose coverage was reorganized around statewide Alaska reporting. The change ended Fairbanks' last locally focused television news department, although KTVF remained active as an NBC affiliate and local broadcast station.
- 2024
Local newscasts end
[1]KTVF ends locally focused newscasts and begins carrying news produced by sister station KTUU-TV.
- 2017
Gray Television acquisition closes
[1]Gray Television completes the acquisition of KTVF and related Fairbanks stations through Northern Lights Media.
- 2012
Chena Broadcasting acquisition closes
[1]Chena Broadcasting completes its acquisition of KTVF from Newport Television.
- 2012
Full high-definition broadcasting expands
[1]KTVF begins full high-definition broadcasting for NBC and syndicated programming.
- 2010
High-definition NBC service begins
[1]KTVF starts airing NBC programming in high definition during the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KTVF shuts down its analog signal as part of the United States digital television transition.
- 2007
Newport Television ownership begins
[1]Clear Channel sells its television division, including KTVF, to Newport Television.
- 2001
Ackerley merges with Clear Channel
[1]KTVF becomes part of Clear Channel Communications through its merger with Ackerley.
- 1999
Ackerley acquires the station
[1]The Ackerley Group purchases KTVF from the Hiebert family.
- 1996
KTVF becomes an NBC affiliate
[1]On April 1, KTVF changes its primary affiliation from CBS to NBC.
Products and positioning
A full-market broadcast television station providing NBC programming and related over-the-air services to Fairbanks and Interior Alaska, with a longstanding role in the region's local television infrastructure.
Broadcast television · 1955
KTVF NBC television service
KTVF's core offering is its over-the-air television service on virtual channel 11. It carries NBC network programming for Fairbanks and Interior Alaska, together with syndicated and station-produced material. The service operates from studios in downtown Fairbanks and uses a transmitter on Ester Dome to provide full-market coverage.
News broadcasting
Local television news
For much of its history, KTVF produced local news and related programming for the Fairbanks market. This locally focused news operation ended in November 2024. KTVF and KXDF-CD subsequently carried news produced by sister station KTUU-TV, whose coverage was reorganized around statewide Alaska reporting.
Digital television
Digital multicast and simulcast services
KTVF's digital transmission is also used to provide full-market over-the-air distribution of related Fairbanks services. KFXF-LD is simulcast on KTVF-DT2 and KXDF-CD is simulcast on KTVF-DT3, extending the reach of the stations associated with the Gray Media operation.
Brand decisions
2024
Centralization of local news productionStrategyBackground
Gray Media reorganized news operations serving Alaska and ended the locally focused news department associated with KTVF.
Action taken
In November 2024, KTVF and KXDF-CD stopped airing locally produced Fairbanks newscasts and began carrying news from sister station KTUU-TV.
Aftermath
KTUU's news operation was reoriented toward statewide coverage, and the change eliminated the last locally focused television news department in the Fairbanks market.
2012
Expansion to full high-definition broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
After beginning high-definition NBC service in 2010, KTVF continued upgrading the rest of its broadcast output.
Action taken
The station began full high-definition broadcasting for both NBC and syndicated programming on May 31, 2012.
Aftermath
KTVF's principal programming output was delivered in high definition.
2010
Launch of high-definition NBC programmingProduct launchBackground
The station was modernizing its technical facilities and transmission capabilities as broadcast television moved toward high-definition delivery.
Action taken
KTVF began airing NBC programming in high definition at the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Aftermath
The station expanded high-definition delivery to NBC and syndicated programming by 2012.
2009
Transition from analog to digital transmissionGeneration changeBackground
United States full-power television stations were required to complete the federally mandated analog-to-digital transition.
Action taken
KTVF ended its analog VHF channel 11 transmission on June 12, 2009, while retaining virtual channel 11 on its digital signal.
Aftermath
KTVF continued serving viewers through digital broadcasting and later added a fill-in translator to improve coverage in parts of Fairbanks.
1996
Switch from CBS to NBCStrategyBackground
KTVF had been primarily affiliated with CBS and had carried NBC as a secondary affiliation since 1985. The Alaska network landscape changed when KATN's NBC affiliation was incorporated into an ABC Alaska SuperStation arrangement. NBC also held a stronger national position than CBS during the 1995–96 season.
Action taken
KTVF made NBC its primary affiliation on April 1, 1996.
Aftermath
The station has remained an NBC affiliate, making the affiliation change a defining part of its modern identity.
Sources2 sources
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