KOLO-TV

KOLO-TV is a local television station based in Reno, Nevada, broadcasting on channel 8. The station is affiliated with ABC and carries programming from The CW Plus on a digital subchannel. It is owned by Gray Media and operates alongside low-power Telemundo affiliate KXNV-LD, which is licensed to Incline Village. Both stations share facilities on Ampere Drive in Reno, while KOLO-TV's principal transmitter is located on Slide Mountain in unincorporated Washoe County. The station began broadcasting on September 27, 1953, under the call sign KZTV. It was the second television station to sign on in Nevada and the first in northern Nevada. Its launch followed a delay caused by a carpenters' strike, preventing it from becoming the state's first station. At the time, Reno had an exceptionally small television audience, but founder Donald W. Reynolds of the Donrey Media Group secured a CBS affiliation after NBC declined to commit to the market. KZTV initially carried programming associated with several networks, including CBS, ABC, NBC, DuMont and the short-lived Paramount Television Network, while also producing a substantial amount of live local programming. Its energetic, informal production style led to the nickname "Crazy TV." In 1956, Reynolds acquired KOLO radio and changed the television station's call sign to KOLO-TV. The station's early technical footprint was constrained by a short transmission tower at its Fifth Street studios. Because the signal did not adequately cover the Reno area and was difficult to receive at Lake Tahoe, the station constructed a transmitter facility on Slide Mountain. The site required specialized engineering because of heavy snow and high winds, and the transmitter building was designed with living accommodations for engineers who were required to remain at the facility under historical Federal Communications Commission rules. KOLO-TV subsequently developed a network of translators covering broad areas of Nevada and parts of northeastern California. KOLO-TV's network affiliations changed as the Reno market developed. It lost DuMont programming when that network ended operations in 1955, lost NBC to the newly launched KCRL-TV in 1962, and lost ABC to KTVN when that station began operating in 1967. KOLO-TV and KTVN exchanged affiliations in 1972, after which KOLO became the market's ABC affiliate. The station also carried Sesame Street until a dedicated PBS service began serving Reno in 1983. A fire in a closet destroyed the station's original Fifth Street studio, forcing a temporary move to facilities on Vassar Street and Terminal Way. KOLO-TV's present Ampere Drive facility opened in 1979. Donrey sold the station to Smith Broadcasting in 2001, and Gray Television acquired it in 2002. Gray later adopted the Gray Media name. The station completed its transition from analog to digital broadcasting in 2009, including a change in its digital transmission arrangement and work on the Slide Mountain transmitter. Local news remains a central part of KOLO-TV's identity. Its schedule includes the long-running Good Morning Reno morning program, multiple KOLO 8 News NOW broadcasts, a midday newscast, afternoon and evening editions, and a late-night newscast. The station has also differentiated itself through scheduling choices, including a market-leading 4:30 p.m. newscast introduced in 2015 and an early-morning newscast launched in 2014. Its service area is supported by numerous translators across Nevada and northeastern California, allowing the KOLO-TV brand to reach communities beyond the Reno metropolitan area.

KOLO-TV signed on September 27, 1953, as KZTV, becoming the second television station in Nevada and the first in the northern part of the state. The station was established by Donald W. Reynolds, founder of the Donrey Media Group. Reynolds initially sought an NBC affiliation, but NBC was reluctant to enter a market with very few television receivers. CBS agreed to provide programming, and KZTV began operating as a multi-network station with CBS as its principal affiliation. The station's early schedule reflected the fluid structure of 1950s television. In addition to CBS programming, KZTV carried selected material from ABC and NBC, and it was a strong affiliate of the Paramount Television Network. It also produced a large amount of live local programming. The station's unconventional and highly energetic style earned it the informal nickname "Crazy TV," a reputation that distinguished it in the small Reno market. Reynolds acquired KOLO radio in 1956 and changed the television station's call letters from KZTV to KOLO-TV. The radio and television operations became part of a broader Donrey media presence that later included Las Vegas properties. KOLO-TV's original transmission arrangement was inadequate for the mountainous region. Its first tower stood at the Fifth Street studios, but reception was poor even near Reno and was especially difficult around Lake Tahoe. The station therefore built a transmitter facility on Slide Mountain. The structure was engineered for severe winter conditions and included accommodation for transmitter engineers, who historically had to remain at the site under applicable FCC operating requirements. Translator stations were later added throughout a wide service area in Nevada and northeastern California. KOLO-TV's network relationships evolved as new stations entered the Reno market. It stopped carrying DuMont programming after that network ceased operations in 1955. When KCRL-TV, now known as KRNV-DT, began broadcasting in 1962, NBC moved to the new station. KTVN entered the market in 1967 and took ABC programming. In 1972, KOLO-TV and KTVN exchanged affiliations, making KOLO the market's ABC station. KOLO also carried Sesame Street for a period, ending that arrangement when Reno received its own PBS station in 1983. The station experienced a major facilities disruption when its original Fifth Street studio was destroyed by a fire that began in a closet. KOLO-TV temporarily operated from a facility on Vassar Street and Terminal Way before moving into its current Ampere Drive complex in 1979. The Ampere Drive site remains the station's principal studio location. Ownership changed during the early 2000s. Donrey sold KOLO-TV to Smith Broadcasting in 2001. Gray Television acquired the station in 2002, placing it within a larger national portfolio of local broadcast stations. Gray Television subsequently became known as Gray Media. KOLO-TV also underwent the technical changes associated with the American conversion to digital television. It shut down its analog signal in 2009 and completed work at the Slide Mountain transmitter to support its digital operation. The station's signal is distributed through a large collection of translators serving communities such as Battle Mountain, Elko, Ely, Eureka, Winnemucca, Susanville and other parts of the region. In local news, KOLO-TV has emphasized extensive scheduling and market-specific programming. Its output includes Good Morning Reno, the KOLO 8 News NOW franchise, a midday newscast running from 11 a.m. to noon, multiple afternoon and evening editions, and an 11 p.m. broadcast. The station added a 4:30 a.m. newscast in 2014 and introduced a 4:30 p.m. newscast in 2015. These expansions strengthened its competitive position against other Reno stations while reinforcing its role as a regional news and information service.

• 2015

  Afternoon news expands

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station introduces a 4:30 p.m. local newscast, the first such program in the Reno market.

• 2014

  Early-morning news expands

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KOLO-TV launches a 4:30 a.m. newscast as part of its competition-focused schedule expansion.

• 2009

  Analog broadcasting ends

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KOLO-TV shuts down its analog transmission during the federally mandated United States digital television transition.

• 2002

  Gray acquires KOLO-TV

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Gray Television purchases KOLO-TV, bringing it into the company's local broadcast portfolio.

• 2001

  Donrey sells the station

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KOLO-TV is sold by Donrey to Smith Broadcasting.

• 1983

  Sesame Street carriage ends

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KOLO-TV stops carrying Sesame Street after a dedicated PBS station begins serving Reno.

• 1979

  Ampere Drive facility opens

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station begins operating from its current studio facility on Ampere Drive after a temporary relocation caused by a studio fire.

• 1972

  KOLO-TV becomes an ABC affiliate

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KOLO-TV and KTVN exchange affiliations, establishing KOLO-TV as the Reno market's ABC station.

• 1967

  ABC moves to KTVN

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KTVN begins operations and takes the ABC affiliation in the Reno market.

• 1962

  NBC affiliation moves to KCRL-TV

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The arrival of KCRL-TV, now KRNV-DT, removes NBC programming from KOLO-TV's network mix.

• 1956

  Call sign changes to KOLO-TV

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  After Donald W. Reynolds acquires KOLO radio, KZTV adopts the KOLO-TV call sign.

• 1955

  DuMont programming ends

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KOLO-TV's predecessor stops carrying DuMont programming after the network ceases operations.

• 1953

  KZTV begins broadcasting

  [1]KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station signs on as KZTV on September 27, becoming the first television station in northern Nevada.

A long-established regional broadcast station positioned around local news, weather, community coverage and broad over-the-air service across northern Nevada and northeastern California.

• Local television news

  KOLO 8 News NOW

  KOLO-TV's principal local news brand, presented in multiple morning, afternoon, evening and late-night editions. The format combines regional reporting, weather, traffic, sports and community information for viewers in Reno and the wider northern Nevada coverage area.

• Morning television news

  Good Morning Reno

  KOLO-TV's extended weekday morning news program. It occupies an early-morning schedule beginning at 4:30 a.m. and provides local news, weather, traffic and other information intended for viewers preparing for or commuting to work and school.

• Broadcast network affiliation · 1972

  ABC network service

  KOLO-TV's primary network service, carrying ABC entertainment, news and special programming for the Reno market. The station became an ABC affiliate after a 1972 affiliation exchange with KTVN.

• Digital broadcast network affiliation

  The CW Plus

  A digital multicast service associated with KOLO-TV that delivers The CW Plus programming to viewers in the Reno area alongside the station's primary ABC service.

• 2015

  Launch of a 4:30 p.m. newscastStrategy

  Background

  Changes to syndicated programming created an opportunity for additional local news in the afternoon.

  Action taken

  KOLO-TV introduced a 4:30 p.m. newscast, becoming the first station in the Reno market to use that slot for local news.

  Aftermath

  KTVN later added local news at 4:30 p.m., creating direct competition in the time period.

  • KTVN — KTVN subsequently added a competing 4:30 p.m. local newscast.

  Source

• 2014

  Expansion into the 4:30 a.m. news periodStrategy

  Background

  KOLO-TV sought to compete more directly with rival Reno stations for early-morning audiences.

  Action taken

  The station launched a newscast beginning at 4:30 a.m.

  Aftermath

  KOLO-TV expanded its weekday local-news schedule and maintained a more competitive early-morning presence.

  Source

• 2009

  Transition from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  Background

  United States full-power television stations were required to transition from analog to digital broadcasting.

  Action taken

  KOLO-TV ended its analog signal and completed transmitter work at Slide Mountain for digital operation.

  Aftermath

  The station continued as a digital broadcaster using channel 8.

  Source

• 2002

  Gray Television acquires KOLO-TVM&A

  Background

  KOLO-TV was available for purchase after its sale by Donrey to Smith Broadcasting.

  Action taken

  Gray Television acquired KOLO-TV and became its owner.

  Aftermath

  KOLO-TV became part of Gray's expanding portfolio of local television stations and remains under the company's ownership.

  Source

• 2001

  Ownership transfer to Smith BroadcastingM&A

  Background

  Donrey Media Group decided to exit ownership of KOLO-TV after decades of operating the station.

  Action taken

  Donrey sold KOLO-TV to Smith Broadcasting.

  Aftermath

  The station changed hands again the following year when Gray Television acquired it.

  Source

1. 1KOLO-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KOLO-TV official websitekolotv.com