KATV is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Little Rock and central Arkansas.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KATV is a broadcast television station licensed to Little Rock, Arkansas, and serving the central Arkansas market. It operates on virtual channel 7 and is affiliated with the ABC network. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and combines network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs, and community content. The station traces its origin to a construction-permit application filed in December 1952 by Central South Sales Co., an enterprise associated with John T. Griffin and James C. Leake. The Federal Communications Commission granted the permit in June 1953, and KATV began broadcasting on December 19, 1953. It was initially licensed to Pine Bluff and launched as a CBS affiliate with a secondary ABC affiliation. After KTHV entered the market, KATV completed a transition to full-time ABC affiliation in 1956. The station changed its city of license to Little Rock in 1958, strengthening its position in the region's principal media market. KATV was part of the Griffin-Leake television interests, which also included stations such as KTUL in Tulsa and KWTV in Oklahoma City. During its early decades, the station developed a significant local-news operation and became one of central Arkansas's most recognizable television brands. It adopted the Circle 7 logo in 1965, a visual identity that linked the station to a broader ABC affiliate tradition while remaining distinctive in the Little Rock market. KATV also occupied several facilities over time, including downtown Little Rock locations and, later, a purpose-adapted site in the Riverdale area. Leake Industries sold KATV and KTUL to Allbritton Communications in 1982. Under Allbritton, KATV remained a major ABC affiliate and expanded its local programming. The station later faced a notable technical disruption when its Redfield transmission tower collapsed on January 11, 2008, during work on the tower's guy wires. KATV used temporary facilities and relay arrangements while restoring coverage, ultimately beginning digital transmission from a new Shinall Mountain facility in February 2009. In 2013, Allbritton announced the sale of its television group to Sinclair Broadcast Group. Regulatory review delayed completion, but the transaction was approved in July 2014 and closed on August 1, 2014. KATV consequently became part of Sinclair's national local-television portfolio while continuing to operate under its established call sign, ABC affiliation, and Circle 7 identity. KATV's core business is the production and distribution of local television news and related programming. It broadcasts more than 31 hours of locally produced newscasts each week, supplemented by ABC network programming and syndicated or independently produced content. Its schedule has included the Sunday public-affairs program Talk Business and Politics, which moved to KATV in 2014. The station also maintains digital and online publishing operations through its website and associated platforms. KATV has contributed to Arkansas media preservation. In 2009, it donated approximately 300 hours of film and 26,000 hours of videotape to the University of Arkansas David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History. The material represented a substantial archive of the station's historical coverage and was later digitized with philanthropic support. In 2019, KATV announced plans to move from its long-standing downtown facility to a renovated building in Little Rock's Riverdale district. The move was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic and was completed in January 2023, with the first newscast from the new facility airing on January 13. KATV remains an active local broadcast brand focused on news, information, and ABC entertainment programming for central Arkansas.
History
KATV's history began with a December 1952 application for a channel 7 construction permit in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Central South Sales Co., associated with John T. Griffin and James C. Leake, received the FCC permit in June 1953 after competing applications were dismissed or withdrawn. KATV signed on December 19, 1953, becoming the second television station serving central Arkansas. Its original schedule combined CBS programming with a secondary ABC affiliation. The arrival of KTHV led to a realignment of network affiliations. KATV and KTHV temporarily shared CBS and ABC programming between late 1955 and early 1956, after which KATV became a full ABC affiliate. The station purchased studio facilities formerly used by the closed KRTV and later operated from a building at 310 West Third Street in Little Rock. A fire damaged those studios in November 1957. In 1958, KATV successfully changed its city of license from Pine Bluff to Little Rock, completing a strategic shift toward the state's largest urban media market. KATV was initially controlled through the Griffin-Leake television interests. The ownership structure was reorganized during the 1960s, and Leake ultimately retained KATV along with other broadcast and cable properties. The station adopted the Circle 7 logo in 1965, an identity it has used for much of its subsequent history. KATV also moved into the Worthen Bank Building in downtown Little Rock in 1970. Its local programming and news operation made it a major competitor in the market. In 1982, Leake Industries sold KATV and KTUL to Allbritton Communications for an all-cash transaction reported at $80 million. FCC approval followed in February 1983. KATV continued as a major ABC affiliate under Allbritton, developing a substantial local-news schedule and maintaining a strong regional presence. A significant technical crisis occurred on January 11, 2008, when KATV's Redfield tower collapsed during work on its guy wires. The failure also affected facilities used by Arkansas Educational Television Network. KATV's analog signal was unavailable for approximately two weeks, while temporary arrangements used an auxiliary tower and digital relay capacity. The station later obtained approval for a new Shinall Mountain transmission facility and began transmitting its digital signal from there on February 1, 2009. KATV donated a large historical archive to the University of Arkansas David and Barbara Pryor Center in 2009, including approximately 300 hours of film and 26,000 hours of videotape. The materials were eventually digitized for preservation and public access. The station also continued expanding its public-affairs presence; Talk Business and Politics moved to KATV in 2014 after previously airing on KLRT-TV. Allbritton announced in 2013 that it would sell KATV and its other television stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group. FCC ownership and licensing issues delayed the transaction, which was approved in July 2014 and closed on August 1. KATV thereby became part of Sinclair while retaining its ABC affiliation and local identity. KATV announced in 2019 that it would relocate to a renovated building in Little Rock's Riverdale district. Planning included a proposed studio-to-transmitter link tower, which encountered local zoning and neighborhood opposition before approval. The move was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic but was completed in January 2023. KATV now operates from Riverdale and continues to produce local news, weather, public-affairs programming, and digital content for central Arkansas.
- 2023
Riverdale relocation completed
[1]KATV began originating newscasts from its renovated Riverdale facility.
- 2014
Sinclair ownership begins
[1]Sinclair completed its acquisition of Allbritton Communications' television stations.
- 2009
Digital transmission begins from Shinall Mountain
[1]KATV began transmitting its digital signal from a new Shinall Mountain facility.
- 2008
Redfield tower collapse
[1]The station's main analog transmission tower collapsed during maintenance work.
- 1982
Sold to Allbritton Communications
[1]Leake Industries agreed to sell KATV and KTUL to Allbritton Communications.
- 1965
Circle 7 logo introduced
[1]KATV began using the Circle 7 logo, which became a long-running part of its visual identity.
- 1958
License moved to Little Rock
[1]The station changed its city of license from Pine Bluff to Little Rock.
- 1956
Full ABC affiliation
[1]KATV became a full-time ABC affiliate after the temporary CBS-ABC sharing arrangement ended.
- 1953
KATV signs on
[1]KATV began broadcasting on December 19 as a CBS affiliate with secondary ABC programming.
- 1952
Construction permit application filed
[1]Central South Sales Co. applied for authority to build a channel 7 television station in Pine Bluff.
Products and positioning
A long-established local ABC television station positioned around central Arkansas news, weather, public affairs, and network entertainment.
Local television news · 1953
KATV local newscasts
KATV's principal offering is locally produced television news covering Little Rock and central Arkansas. The schedule includes weekday, weekend, and evening broadcasts supported by reporting, weather, traffic, public-safety, and community segments.
Public affairs · 2000
Talk Business and Politics
Talk Business and Politics is a Sunday business and political discussion program associated with Arkansas-focused interviews and analysis. The program moved to KATV in 2014 after previously airing on KLRT-TV.
Digital news
KATV.com
KATV.com extends the station's local-news, weather, video, and public-service coverage to digital audiences in central Arkansas.
Controversies
2007
FCC host-selling violation fine
The FCC fined KATV $8,000 for airing a commercial for Doug's 1st Movie during an ABC broadcast of Disney's Doug. Regulators determined that using characters from the children's program in the advertisement violated the Children's Television Act's host-selling rules. KATV argued that the placement resulted from a last-minute ABC insertion order, but its appeal was rejected in 2010.
Brand decisions
2019
Plan relocation to RiverdaleStrategyBackground
KATV planned to leave its long-standing downtown facility, which was expected to be redeveloped as part of the Little Rock Technology Park.
Action taken
Sinclair purchased and renovated a Riverdale building for KATV's operations.
Aftermath
The move was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and completed in January 2023.
Building purchase price. $4.36 million (2019)
2014
Join Sinclair Broadcast GroupM&ABackground
Allbritton sought to exit television ownership and concentrate on Politico, while Sinclair pursued the acquisition of the station group.
Action taken
Sinclair acquired Allbritton's television stations, including KATV, after regulatory review and ownership restructuring.
Aftermath
KATV became part of Sinclair's national local-broadcasting portfolio while retaining its ABC affiliation.
Reported transaction value. $985 million (2013 announced transaction)
2009
Rebuild transmission capability on Shinall MountainStrategyBackground
The collapse of KATV's Redfield tower disrupted its analog service and required temporary distribution arrangements.
Action taken
KATV obtained approval for a new Shinall Mountain facility and moved its digital transmission there.
Aftermath
The new facility restored a more permanent transmission setup in an area used by other major Little Rock stations.
1958
Move city of license to Little RockStrategyBackground
Although KATV began as a Pine Bluff station, Little Rock was the central Arkansas market's principal population and media center.
Action taken
The station secured approval to change its city of license to Little Rock and completed the move in October.
Aftermath
The change aligned KATV more directly with the Little Rock television market.
1956
Adopt full-time ABC affiliationStrategyBackground
KATV initially carried CBS programming with a secondary ABC affiliation, but network arrangements changed after KTHV entered the market.
Action taken
KATV ended its shared network arrangement and became a full-time ABC affiliate.
Aftermath
ABC affiliation became the foundation of KATV's long-term network and market identity.
Recent events
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