KCVU

KCVU is a full-power television station licensed to Paradise, California, and serving the Chico–Redding designated market area. The station historically operated as the market's Fox affiliate and was branded as Fox 20, while its business also included locally originated news, syndicated programming, network programming, advertising sales, and digital multicast services. According to the referenced station history, KCVU's main channel changed from Fox programming to the Roar digital multicast network in December 2025 after Fox programming moved to a second digital subchannel of KRCR-TV. The referenced material states that Sinclair completed its acquisition of KCVU on March 1, 2026. The station traces its roots to Sainte Partners II, L.P., a California broadcasting company founded by Chester Smith. KCVU was initially established in 1986 and began broadcasting on November 14, 1990, under the call sign KBCP. Its early schedule consisted of Christian and home-shopping programming, and it was the first Sainte station to broadcast in English. The call sign changed to KCVU in October 1992, and the station returned to the air in October 1993. It secured a Fox affiliation on January 1, 1994, replacing Fox programming that had previously appeared on KRCR-TV during hours when KRCR was not carrying ABC network content. KCVU's signal and distribution strategy have changed over time. The station operated an analog transmitter on UHF channel 30 before transitioning to digital-only broadcasting in December 2008. Its virtual channel subsequently became channel 20, supporting the Fox 20 identity. The station's digital service has also carried secondary networks, including This TV and later Cozi TV. KCVU has operated alongside KBVU in Eureka, which functioned as a semi-satellite by clearing programming supplied by the parent station while using separate station identifications. Local news has been supplied through arrangements with KRCR-TV. KRCR produced a KCVU newscast from February 2004 through June 2005, and local news returned in April 2013 under the title KRCR News Channel 7 at 10 on Fox 20. This arrangement illustrates the station's role within a shared regional news and sales operation rather than as an entirely standalone newsroom. Ownership changed substantially after Chester Smith died in 2008. Sainte Partners continued operating KCVU as part of its family-owned station group, but the group later announced plans to sell KCVU and KBVU to Esteem Broadcasting of California in 2012. In 2017, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced the acquisition of the Bonten stations, including KRCR, while its affiliated sidecar company Cunningham Broadcasting acquired the Esteem stations, including KCVU. The transaction closed on September 1, 2017. Sinclair subsequently sought to acquire KCVU directly from Cunningham, and the referenced material says that transaction closed in 2026. KCVU shares operational infrastructure with other Sinclair-controlled stations in Northern California. The stations use studios on Auditorium Drive east of downtown Redding, while maintaining a news bureau and sales office in Chico. KCVU's transmitter is located along Cohasset Road northeast of Chico, and the station's service is supplemented by digital translators in the surrounding region. Its current identity is therefore best understood as a regional broadcast-station brand within Sinclair's Northern California portfolio, rather than as a consumer-electronics brand.

KCVU was established in 1986 by Chester Smith's Sainte Partners II, L.P., although it did not begin broadcasting until November 14, 1990. It initially operated as KBCP on channel 30 and carried Christian and home-shopping programming. The station was the first Sainte station to broadcast in English. Its call sign changed to KCVU on October 16, 1992, and it returned to the air on October 6, 1993. On January 1, 1994, KCVU became a Fox affiliate. Before that change, Fox programming had been carried by KRCR-TV during periods when KRCR was not airing ABC programming. KCVU therefore became an important full-time Fox outlet for the Chico–Redding region. Cable distribution outside the core market later became a point of contention. In 2007, Northland Cable replaced Medford Fox affiliate KMVU with KCVU in parts of northern California after a carriage disagreement between Northland and KMVU. The dispute was subsequently resolved in a way that returned KMVU and other local services to the affected systems, and KCVU was no longer broadly carried outside its primary market. The station's technical history includes a transition away from analog broadcasting. On December 22, 2008, KCVU shut down its analog UHF channel 30 transmission, citing financial hardship, and continued with its digital facilities. The station adopted virtual channel 20 and used the Fox 20 Digital identity. Its digital multiplex has carried secondary services, including This TV beginning in 2009 and later Cozi TV. KCVU's news operation has largely been integrated with KRCR-TV. KRCR produced Fox 30 News at 10:00 pm for KCVU from February 2004 through June 2005. Local news coverage returned in April 2013 as KRCR News Channel 7 at 10 on Fox 20, airing on weeknights at 10 p.m. KCVU has also been associated with KBVU in Eureka, which operated as a semi-satellite and cleared programming supplied by KCVU while using its own hourly identifications. Chester Smith died on August 8, 2008. Sainte Partners nevertheless continued operating KCVU and its related stations as a family-controlled group. In 2012, Sainte announced plans to sell KCVU and KBVU to Esteem Broadcasting of California and to integrate their operations with ABC affiliates KRCR and KAEF. A later ownership restructuring connected KCVU to Sinclair Broadcast Group: in 2017, Sinclair announced the purchase of the Bonten stations, including KRCR, while Cunningham Broadcasting acquired the Esteem stations, including KCVU. The transaction closed on September 1, 2017. Sinclair later filed to purchase KCVU directly from Cunningham in August 2025. The referenced material links that move to a federal appellate decision affecting restrictions on ownership of highly rated television stations in a market. On December 9, 2025, Fox programming moved to KRCR-TV's second subchannel and KCVU's main channel began carrying Roar programming. The same material states that Sinclair's direct purchase of KCVU closed on March 1, 2026. KCVU's present operating structure is regional and shared. Its studios are located with related stations on Auditorium Drive east of downtown Redding, with a Chico bureau and sales office. The main transmitter is northeast of Chico along Cohasset Road, and digital translators serve additional communities. KCVU is consequently a local broadcast brand embedded in a wider Northern California station group, with its historical Fox identity forming the most recognizable part of its public positioning.

• 2026

  Sinclair direct acquisition completes

  [1]KCVUen.wikipedia.org

  The referenced history states that Sinclair completed its purchase of KCVU from Cunningham on March 1.

• 2025

  Main-channel programming changes to Roar

  [1]KCVUen.wikipedia.org

  The referenced history says KCVU's main channel moved to Roar while Fox programming shifted to KRCR-TV's second subchannel.

• 2017

  Cunningham and Sinclair ownership structure begins

  [1]KCVUen.wikipedia.org

  The transaction involving the Esteem stations, including KCVU, closed on September 1.

• 2013

  KRCR-produced local news returns

  [1]KCVUen.wikipedia.org

  KCVU introduced the KRCR News Channel 7 at 10 on Fox 20 evening newscast.

• 2008

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]KCVUen.wikipedia.org

  KCVU ended analog broadcasting and continued with digital facilities, using virtual channel 20.

• 1994

  Fox affiliation begins

  [1]KCVUen.wikipedia.org

  KCVU became a Fox affiliate on January 1, establishing the Fox 20 identity in the Chico–Redding market.

• 1992

  Call sign changes to KCVU

  [1]KCVUen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the KCVU call letters on October 16.

• 1990

  Broadcasting begins as KBCP

  [1]KCVUen.wikipedia.org

  The station began broadcasting on November 14 under the KBCP call sign on channel 30.

• 1986

  Station founded

  [1]KCVUen.wikipedia.org

  Chester Smith and Sainte Partners II, L.P. established the station project that later became KCVU.

Regional over-the-air television station serving the Chico–Redding market, historically positioned as a Fox affiliate and later as a Roar-affiliated Sinclair station.

• Broadcast television · 1990

  KCVU over-the-air television service

  KCVU's primary broadcast service covers the Chico–Redding region from a transmitter northeast of Chico. The station historically carried Fox programming and later adopted Roar programming on its main channel according to the referenced station history.

• Local news · 2013

  KRCR News Channel 7 at 10 on Fox 20

  A locally branded late-evening newscast produced through KRCR-TV's regional news operation. It returned to KCVU in 2013 and aired on weeknights at 10 p.m.

• Digital television · 2009

  Digital multicast services

  KCVU has used digital subchannels to carry secondary networks, including This TV and later Cozi TV. These services formed part of the station's multiplexed broadcast offering.

• 2026

  Sinclair completes direct acquisition of KCVUM&A

  Background

  Sinclair sought to acquire KCVU directly from Cunningham after a federal appellate decision affecting television-station ownership restrictions.

  Action taken

  The referenced history states that Sinclair's purchase of KCVU closed on March 1, 2026.

  Aftermath

  KCVU became directly owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group according to the referenced station history.

  Source

• 2025

  Shift of Fox programming to KRCR subchannelStrategy

  Background

  The referenced station history describes a change in the allocation of Fox programming within the regional station group.

  Action taken

  Fox programming moved to KRCR-TV's second subchannel on December 9, while KCVU's main channel switched to the Roar digital multicast network.

  Aftermath

  KCVU's main-channel identity changed from a Fox affiliate to a Roar-affiliated service, while Fox remained available through a KRCR-TV subchannel.

  Source

• 2017

  Transfer of KCVU to Cunningham BroadcastingM&A

  Background

  Sinclair's 2017 station transaction involved related Bonten and Esteem broadcast assets in Northern California.

  Action taken

  Cunningham Broadcasting acquired the Esteem stations, including KCVU, while Sinclair acquired the Bonten stations, including KRCR-TV. The transaction closed on September 1, 2017.

  Aftermath

  KCVU operated within a Sinclair-connected regional station structure alongside KRCR-TV and other Northern California outlets.

  Source

1. 1KCVUen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KCVU official websitekcvufox20.com