NBC-owned television station serving San Diego under the NBC 7 San Diego brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KNSD is a television station serving San Diego, California, and the surrounding regional market. It operates as an NBC-owned station and is commonly branded as NBC 7 San Diego. The station broadcasts on UHF channel 39 and is carried locally on cable channel 7. Its programming mix centers on NBC network content, locally produced news, weather, traffic, sports coverage, public-affairs material, and syndicated or independently acquired programming. KNSD also operates alongside KUAN-LD, a Telemundo station licensed to Poway, California, with which it shares facilities and transmission infrastructure under common NBCUniversal ownership. The station began broadcasting on November 14, 1965, as KAAR. It was established by San Diego Telecasters as San Diego's third commercial television station and the market's first independent station. As the area's first UHF commercial outlet, KAAR faced the technical and commercial disadvantages then associated with UHF broadcasting. It struggled to attract sufficient advertising and audience share, at one stage reducing its schedule to only a few evening hours. Its original programming included films, children's programming, youth-oriented entertainment, and local public-affairs content. After its sale to Bass Brothers Enterprises in 1967, the station went off the air for almost six months and returned in February 1968 as KCST. Bass repositioned KCST around local sports, including coverage involving the San Diego Rockets, San Diego Gulls, San Diego Padres, San Diego State Aztecs, and San Diego Chargers. This strategy helped establish the station as a more visible local outlet and expanded its staff and production capabilities. KCST subsequently became involved in a prolonged regulatory and legal dispute over the right to affiliate with ABC. The dispute concerned ABC's authorization to provide network programming to XETV, a station transmitting from Tijuana, at a time when San Diego lacked a third local commercial station. The Federal Communications Commission ultimately ruled in KCST's favor in 1972, and court challenges were unsuccessful. KCST began carrying ABC programming in 1973 and built a full local news department. In 1973 the station was sold to Storer Broadcasting. ABC later moved its affiliation to KGTV in 1976, while channel 39 became an NBC affiliate. The change connected the station to the network that remains its central brand identity. In 1988, following ownership changes involving Gillett Communications, the station adopted the KNSD call letters and underwent a substantial news operation overhaul. Its news ratings did not improve immediately, but the station became increasingly competitive during the 1990s, particularly in late-evening news. NBC acquired KNSD from New World Communications in 1996, making it a directly owned NBC station rather than an independently owned affiliate. KNSD moved its studios to the 225 Broadway office tower in downtown San Diego in 2001 and returned to the Kearny Mesa area in 2016. NBCUniversal also brought San Diego's Telemundo service under common local ownership in 2017, expanding the shared news and operational relationship between KNSD and KUAN-LD. Today, KNSD functions as a local broadcast and digital-news operation within NBCUniversal's owned-station portfolio, combining national NBC programming with San Diego-focused journalism and community coverage.
History
KNSD traces its origins to San Diego Telecasters, Inc., which applied in 1963 to construct a UHF station on channel 39. The FCC approved the application in 1964. Construction included development of a transmission route to San Miguel Mountain and installation of a General Electric antenna. The station opened studios in Kearny Mesa and began broadcasting on November 14, 1965, as KAAR. KAAR was San Diego's first independent television station and the market's first commercial UHF outlet. Its schedule included color films in prime time, children's programming, teen entertainment, and local discussion material. The station's UHF signal and limited established audience made commercial growth difficult. Advertising revenue was inadequate, and in 1966 the station shortened its broadcast day to a small evening schedule. It later restored some programming, including educational broadcasts arranged with local school authorities before the launch of KEBS-TV. San Diego Telecasters agreed to sell KAAR to Bass Brothers Enterprises in 1967. The station went silent during the transition and returned on February 2, 1968, as KCST, operated through a Bass subsidiary. The relaunch emphasized sports, using live and recorded coverage of regional teams and events. KCST carried games and programs involving the San Diego Rockets, San Diego Gulls, Padres, San Diego State Aztecs, and Chargers. Sports production increased the station's local profile and helped expand its workforce from a small start-up staff to a substantially larger operation. KCST then pursued an affiliation with ABC. ABC had been permitted to feed network programming to XETV, a station operating from Tijuana, because San Diego did not previously have a third commercial station. KCST argued that its local license and planned news operation made the cross-border arrangement unnecessary. The dispute proceeded through FCC hearings and appeals. Although an FCC hearing examiner initially favored preserving ABC's relationship with XETV, the full commission reversed that conclusion in 1972. Federal court challenges failed, and ABC programming moved to KCST in 1973. The affiliation transition coincided with KCST's creation of a full-service local news department. The station initially used the Eyewitness News format and recruited Harold Greene as news director. Newscasts at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. began in July 1973. Carol Ann Hutchison later became an evening anchor, notable as the first woman to anchor a local evening newscast in San Diego. The station was sold to Storer Broadcasting in 1973, with the transaction receiving FCC approval in 1974 after a separate employment-discrimination and ownership-overlap challenge by the local National Organization for Women chapter was resolved through commitments by Storer. ABC's national ratings improved substantially during the mid-1970s, and the network sought a return to a VHF outlet. In 1976 ABC moved its San Diego affiliation to KGTV, while channel 39 joined NBC. During the late 1970s and 1980s the station passed through additional ownership changes. In 1988, after acquisition by Gillett Communications, it adopted the KNSD call letters and overhauled its news department. The changes initially had limited effect on ratings, but KNSD became more competitive during the 1990s, especially in late-evening news. NBC acquired KNSD from New World Communications in 1996. The station moved its studios to 225 Broadway in downtown San Diego in 2001 and returned to Kearny Mesa in 2016. In 2017 NBC also brought the local Telemundo affiliation under its ownership through KUAN-LD, a Poway-licensed station that shares KNSD's facilities and transmitter infrastructure. KNSD now operates as an NBC-owned local television and digital-news brand, combining national network programming with reporting and service content for the San Diego region.
- 2017
Common ownership with San Diego Telemundo station
[1]NBC brought KUAN-LD, the local Telemundo station, into its owned-station structure and expanded shared operations with KNSD.
- 2016
Return to Kearny Mesa
[1]The station returned its studio operations to Kearny Mesa.
- 2001
Move to downtown San Diego
[1]KNSD relocated its studios to the 225 Broadway office tower.
- 1996
NBC ownership begins
[1]NBC acquired KNSD from New World Communications.
- 1988
KNSD call letters introduced
[1]The station adopted KNSD and reworked its local-news operation.
- 1976
Affiliation changes from ABC to NBC
[1]ABC moved to KGTV and channel 39 became an NBC affiliate.
- 1973
ABC affiliation and local-news launch
[1]KCST began carrying ABC programming and launched a full local news department.
- 1972
FCC awards KCST the path to ABC affiliation
[1]The FCC ruled that ABC should no longer rely on its cross-border authorization to serve San Diego through XETV.
- 1968
KCST relaunches
[1]Channel 39 returned to air as KCST with a strong emphasis on local sports.
- 1967
Sale to Bass Brothers Enterprises
[1]Bass Brothers Enterprises acquired the station and prepared a relaunch under new call letters.
Products and positioning
A locally focused, NBC-owned broadcast and digital-news operation serving the San Diego market, with emphasis on breaking news, weather, traffic, investigative reporting, community affairs, and regional sports.
Local television news · 1973
NBC 7 San Diego local news
KNSD's principal local product is its San Diego-focused news output, covering breaking events, public safety, politics, business, health, education, weather, traffic, and community affairs. The station distributes this content through scheduled television newscasts and associated digital channels.
Network television · 1976
NBC network programming
As an NBC-owned station, KNSD carries NBC entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming for the San Diego market. The affiliation began in 1976 after the station's earlier period as an ABC affiliate.
Sports broadcasting · 1968
Local sports coverage
Sports have been part of channel 39's identity since the KCST era, when the station built visibility through coverage of San Diego-area professional and collegiate teams. Contemporary sports content is distributed through local reporting and NBC network rights rather than the original station-centered sports format.
Digital media
Digital news and video
The NBC 7 San Diego digital operation extends local reporting beyond the broadcast schedule through web publishing, video, weather information, alerts, and other mobile or online news services.
Brand decisions
1996
NBC acquisitionM&ABackground
KNSD was owned by New World Communications before NBC acquired the station.
Action taken
NBC purchased KNSD and integrated it into its owned-station group.
Aftermath
KNSD became a directly NBC-owned local station rather than an independently owned NBC affiliate.
1988
News-operation overhaul and call-sign changeStrategyBackground
The station entered a new ownership phase and remained less competitive in local news than its principal market rivals.
Action taken
The station adopted the KNSD call letters and substantially redesigned its news operation.
Aftermath
The changes did not produce an immediate ratings turnaround, but KNSD became more competitive during the 1990s, particularly in late news.
1976
Transition from ABC to NBCStrategyBackground
ABC sought to move its San Diego affiliation to KGTV, a VHF station, after its national ratings improved.
Action taken
Channel 39 accepted the NBC affiliation after ABC programming moved to KGTV.
Aftermath
The affiliation change established the station's long-term relationship with NBC.
1972
Pursuit of the ABC affiliationStrategyBackground
KCST challenged ABC's continuing authorization to serve San Diego through XETV, arguing that a local third commercial station now existed.
Action taken
KCST pursued the matter through FCC proceedings and subsequent court review until the FCC ruled in its favor.
Aftermath
ABC programming moved to KCST in 1973, accompanied by the creation of a full-service local news department.
1968
Repositioning around local sportsStrategyBackground
The original KAAR independent format had struggled to attract viewers and advertisers after its 1965 launch.
Action taken
Following the Bass Brothers acquisition, the station relaunched as KCST with extensive professional, minor-league, and collegiate sports programming.
Aftermath
The sports-centered strategy expanded the station's staff, production capabilities, and local visibility.
Recent events
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