KNXV-TV
An ABC-affiliated television station serving Phoenix, Arizona, branded as ABC15 Arizona.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
KNXV-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Phoenix, Arizona, and affiliated with the ABC television network. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 15 and uses the consumer-facing brand ABC15 Arizona. It is owned and operated by the E. W. Scripps Company, which also owns Phoenix-area sister station KASW. KNXV's main studios are on East 44th Street in Phoenix, while its transmitter is located on South Mountain. Its signal is supplemented in northern Arizona by a network of low-power translators. The station originated with the New Television Corporation, which received a Federal Communications Commission construction permit in 1975 for a new UHF station on channel 15. The project was led by Edwin Cooperstein, but financing and construction delays postponed the launch for several years. KNXV-TV eventually began broadcasting on September 9, 1979, as the Phoenix area's second independent station. Its call sign was associated with the proposed Newswatch 15 concept, reflecting the original owners' intention to emphasize local news. At launch, the station operated partly as a commercial independent and partly as an outlet for ON TV, a subscription-television service supplied by Oak Industries. ON TV occupied evening hours and carried selected sports and entertainment programming, while KNXV filled other periods with syndicated series, films, and children's programs. The subscription business deteriorated as cable television expanded. Oak ended ON TV service in Phoenix in May 1983, after which KNXV became a full-time general-entertainment independent station. Scripps-Howard Broadcasting acquired the station in the mid-1980s. KNXV became a Fox affiliate when that network launched in October 1986 and quickly developed into one of Fox's strongest affiliates. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, it competed successfully with established independent KPHO-TV and built a substantial entertainment schedule, although it did not yet operate a conventional local news department. KNXV's most consequential transformation came from the 1994 affiliation realignment involving Fox, New World Communications, CBS, ABC, and Scripps-owned stations. After KSAZ-TV agreed to join Fox, ABC selected KNXV as its new Phoenix affiliate, replacing long-time affiliate KTVK. The transition took place in stages, with ABC news and entertainment programs moving to KNXV during late 1994 and the complete affiliation beginning on January 9, 1995. Scripps accelerated the construction of a local newsroom, and KNXV launched its first full local newscast, News 15, on August 1, 1994. The news operation experienced uneven ratings and production quality in the late 1990s and early 2000s but later expanded and recovered. It became a major part of the station's identity and has received three George Foster Peabody Awards. The station also expanded its digital and local-programming operations, including coverage, investigative reporting, weather, traffic, and community features under the ABC15 brand. In 1999, KNXV moved into a purpose-built studio complex with two studios and a helipad. In 2007, a helicopter leased to KNXV collided with another helicopter leased to KTVK while the aircraft were covering a police pursuit in downtown Phoenix. All four people aboard the two aircraft died, including KNXV pilot Craig Smith and photographer Rick Krolak. KNXV completed the United States digital television transition in 2009, ending analog broadcasting on channel 15 and moving its digital transmission to that channel. Scripps later expanded its Phoenix presence by acquiring KASW in 2019, creating a local station duopoly. In late 2023, the station temporarily carried The CW on a KNXV subchannel while KASW was prepared for sports programming associated with the Arizona Coyotes and Scripps Sports. The CW moved to KAZT-TV in February 2024. KNXV remains an active ABC affiliate whose principal business is local television news, network programming, syndicated content, digital publishing, and advertising.
History
KNXV-TV's history began in February 1975, when the FCC granted the New Television Corporation a construction permit for a Phoenix UHF station on channel 15. Edwin Cooperstein led the project. The proposed station was initially intended to emphasize local news, and the call letters reflected the Newswatch 15 concept. Difficult economic conditions prevented the station from launching on the original timetable. In 1977, Cooperstein and his investors sold a majority interest in the company to Arlington Corporation, associated with Byron Lasky. A revised financing and programming plan emerged in 1978. Oak Industries agreed to support the station while using evening hours for ON TV, its subscription-television service. KNXV finally began broadcasting on September 9, 1979, as a hybrid operation: commercial programming during some dayparts and encrypted subscription programming during others. The station carried syndicated entertainment, films, children's shows, and selected sports. ON TV's Phoenix service obtained rights to events involving Arizona State University, the Phoenix Suns, the Phoenix Giants, and the Los Angeles Kings at various times. The subscription model weakened rapidly as cable systems expanded. ON TV's Phoenix subscriber base fell substantially, and disputes arose over how much of KNXV's schedule should be reserved for the service. ON TV ultimately closed its Phoenix operation on May 4, 1983. KNXV then became a conventional full-time independent, assembling a schedule from movies and syndicated series not already controlled by the market's established stations. Scripps-Howard Broadcasting purchased KNXV in a transaction agreed in 1984 and completed in 1985. Under Scripps ownership, the station developed a stronger entertainment identity and introduced locally produced programs, including the hosted horror-film series Friday Night at the Frights. KNXV also regained broadcast rights to some Phoenix Suns games for a period. On October 9, 1986, it became a Fox affiliate. Because Fox initially offered very little network programming, KNXV functioned largely as an independent while benefiting from Fox's growth. By 1990, it had overtaken KPHO in total-day ratings and was recognized as one of the network's strongest affiliates. The station's affiliation changed dramatically during the 1994 network realignment. New World Communications reached an agreement under which KSAZ-TV would join Fox. CBS then pursued Scripps-owned ABC stations in other markets, while Scripps sought favorable treatment for its Phoenix station. ABC announced on June 15, 1994, that KNXV would become its Phoenix affiliate. The transition took place in stages during late 1994 and was completed on January 9, 1995. The change required KNXV to build a substantial local newsroom quickly. Its first local newscast aired on August 1, 1994, several months before the full ABC conversion. The News 15 operation received early critical recognition but suffered ratings and quality problems in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It subsequently expanded its output and rebuilt its competitive position. Local news became the core of the station's brand, alongside ABC programming, weather, traffic, investigative reporting, and community-oriented content. The news operation has received three George Foster Peabody Awards. In 1999, KNXV moved into a new studio complex costing approximately $31 million, with two studios and a helipad. In 2007, a KNXV-leased helicopter and a KTVK-leased helicopter collided while covering a police pursuit. The accident killed all four people aboard, including KNXV pilot Craig Smith and photographer Rick Krolak. KNXV ended analog transmission and moved its digital signal to channel 15 on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide digital transition. Scripps expanded its Arizona broadcast footprint through the 2015 Journal Communications transaction, which included Tucson stations KGUN-TV and KWBA-TV. In 2019, Scripps acquired Phoenix CW station KASW from Nexstar, creating a duopoly with KNXV. The relationship became operationally significant in 2023 when Scripps Sports reached an agreement to distribute Arizona Coyotes games after the team left Bally Sports Arizona. The CW was temporarily placed on KNXV's second subchannel so KASW could carry the games. That arrangement ended in February 2024 when The CW moved to KAZT-TV. KNXV continues to operate as an active ABC station serving Phoenix and surrounding parts of Arizona.
- 2024
CW affiliation moves to KAZT-TV
[1]The short-lived CW carriage arrangement on KNXV ended in February.
- 2023
Begins temporary CW subchannel carriage
[1]The CW moved to KNXV's second subchannel in connection with Arizona Coyotes sports distribution.
- 2019
Acquires KASW
[1]Scripps completed its purchase of KASW, establishing a Phoenix duopoly with KNXV.
- 2009
Completes digital transition
[1]KNXV ended analog broadcasting and shifted its digital transmission to UHF channel 15.
- 1999
Moves to new studio facility
[1]The station opened a purpose-built complex with two studios and a helipad.
- 1995
Becomes Phoenix ABC affiliate
[1]KNXV assumed the full ABC affiliation on January 9.
- 1994
Launches local newsroom
[1]The station began local newscasts as it prepared for the transition to ABC.
- 1986
Joins Fox
[1]KNXV became a Fox affiliate at the network's launch.
- 1985
Scripps ownership begins
[1]Scripps-Howard Broadcasting completed its acquisition of the station.
- 1983
Becomes a full-time independent
[1]The end of ON TV service in Phoenix left KNXV with a full-time general-entertainment schedule.
Products and positioning
A locally focused Phoenix television news and information brand combining ABC network programming with regional reporting, weather, traffic, investigative journalism, and digital news distribution.
Local television news · 1994
ABC15 Arizona local news
KNXV's principal service is its locally produced news operation, which covers breaking news, politics, public safety, investigations, consumer issues, weather, traffic, and community events across the Phoenix area. The operation was established in 1994 ahead of the station's ABC affiliation and later expanded its newscast schedule and digital output.
Broadcast television · 1995
ABC network programming
As Phoenix's ABC affiliate, KNXV distributes the network's scheduled news, entertainment, sports, and special-event programming over its primary broadcast channel. ABC programming became the station's central network offering in January 1995 after the affiliation moved from KTVK.
Digital news
ABC15.com
The station's website extends the ABC15 brand beyond linear television with digital reporting, video, weather information, traffic updates, alerts, investigations, and other Phoenix-area news content.
Subscription television · 1979
ON TV Phoenix service
During KNXV's early years, evening hours carried Oak Industries' ON TV subscription service. The offering included entertainment and selected sports, but declining subscriptions led to its closure in the Phoenix market in 1983.
Brand decisions
2023
Carry The CW on a KNXV subchannelStrategyBackground
Scripps Sports arranged local distribution for Arizona Coyotes games, creating a need for KASW to carry sports programming.
Action taken
The CW moved to KNXV's second digital subchannel beginning November 20, 2023, while KASW was made available for Coyotes broadcasts.
Aftermath
The arrangement lasted less than three months; The CW moved to KAZT-TV in February 2024.
2019
Acquire KASWM&ABackground
Scripps sought to expand its Phoenix broadcast portfolio while Nexstar divested stations in connection with its Tribune Media transaction.
Action taken
Scripps acquired KASW, creating a commonly owned KNXV-KASW station group.
Aftermath
The two Phoenix stations shared facilities and later coordinated channel and sports-programming arrangements.
1999
Open a new Phoenix studio complexOtherBackground
The station required expanded facilities for its growing ABC and local-news operations.
Action taken
KNXV moved into a new facility containing two studios and a helipad.
Aftermath
The facility became the station's principal Phoenix production base.
Construction cost. $31 million (1999)
1994
Build a local newsroom for the ABC transitionStrategyBackground
KNXV was preparing a local news operation when ABC selected it to replace KTVK as the Phoenix affiliate.
Action taken
Scripps expanded the news staff and launched the first local newscast on August 1, 1994, before completing the ABC affiliation switch.
Aftermath
Local news became a core part of the station's identity and later achieved major journalism recognition.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
ABC15 wins duPont-Columbia Award for investigations[3]
ABC15 was jointly awarded the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award for its investigations “Full Disclosure” and “Politically Charged.”
Reported
ABC15 wins Peabody Award for Full Disclosure[4]
ABC15’s investigative team won a George Foster Peabody Award for its investigative series Full Disclosure.
Sources4 sources
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