History of KCCI in Timeline

KCCI is a CBS-affiliated television station located in Des Moines, Iowa, owned by Hearst Television. Its studios are situated on Ninth Street in downtown Des Moines, with its transmitter based in Alleman. As a local news outlet, KCCI provides coverage of events and information relevant to the Des Moines metropolitan area.

1932: Cowles Family Purchased KSO

In 1932, the Cowles family purchased KRNT radio's predecessor, the original KSO. The Cowles earned a handsome return on the purchase.

1935: KSO Changed Call Letters to KRNT

In 1935, KSO changed its call letters to KRNT.

1942: Cowles Interests Acquired KSO Radio

In 1942, KSO radio (now KXNO) was owned by the Cowles interests until 1942. Cowles family and KSO radio both applied for the channel 8 construction permit. A decision was held up due to issues with the Cowles' ownership of Look magazine. Eventually, the two stations reached a settlement that allowed KRNT to own 60 percent of the TV station and KSO to own 40 percent.

July 31, 1955: KCCI On-Air Debut as KRNT-TV

On July 31, 1955, KCCI began broadcasting as KRNT-TV, becoming the third television station in Des Moines and the ninth in Iowa. It was owned by the Cowles family, who also owned the Des Moines Register and the Des Moines Tribune newspapers, along with KRNT radio. The call letters KRNT represented the newspapers' nickname in central Iowa, "the R 'n T".

1974: KRNT-TV Changes to KCCI-TV

In 1974, due to FCC ownership rules, the Cowles interests sold KRNT radio and KRNQ-FM to Stauffer Communications and retained the newspapers and KRNT-TV. As a result, KRNT-TV changed its callsign to KCCI-TV on February 25, 1974. The new calls represented owner Cowles Communications, Inc.

1983: Cowles Family Breaks Up Media Empire

In 1983, the Cowles family announced it was breaking up its vast media empire, selling off most of its assets except the Minneapolis Star Tribune. KCCI and WESH went to H&C Communications, while the Register went to the Gannett Company and the Register and Tribune Syndicate went to the Hearst Corporation's King Features Syndicate division.

1987: Weather Beacon Powered Back Up

In 1987, the KCCI weather beacon was powered back up by the station. The beacon was inactive until the 1970s energy crisis.

1992: H&C planned to sell TV group to Young Broadcasting

In 1992, H&C initially planned on selling its entire television station group to Young Broadcasting.

1993: KCCI Sold to Pulitzer

In 1993, KCCI and WESH were sold to Pulitzer.

1998: Hearst-Argyle Television Buys Pulitzer's Television Holdings

In 1998, Hearst-Argyle Television bought all of Pulitzer's television holdings.

2002: KCCI Begins Broadcasting in High-Definition

In 2002, KCCI began broadcasting in high-definition television on channel 8.1.

October 2005: KCCI Website Returns to kcci.com

In October 2005, KCCI switched back to the kcci.com name for its web site, with theiowachannel.com serving as a redirect to kcci.com. Prior to this, the station's website was known as www.theiowachannel.com.

July 24, 2006: KCCI Launches "Weather Now" Channel

On July 24, 2006, KCCI launched "Weather Now", a 24-hour local weather channel on digital subchannel 8.2, local Mediacom digital cable channel 247, and the station's website.

December 10, 2008: KCCI Announces Staffing Reorganization

On December 10, 2008, KCCI President and General Manager Paul Fredericksen announced a staffing reorganization which eliminated six positions, including on-air talent.

April 20, 2009: KCCI Broadcasts Local News in 16:9 Widescreen

On April 20, 2009, KCCI became the first station in Des Moines to broadcast local news in 16:9 widescreen.

June 12, 2009: KCCI Shut Down Analog Signal and Transitioned to Digital Broadcasts

On June 12, 2009, KCCI shut down its analog signal, and the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 31 to its analog-era VHF channel 8.

2009: KCCI Wins Awards

In 2009, KCCI won National Edward R. Murrow Awards for Best Newscast and Overall Excellence. In 2009 KCCI also won the Photography Station of the Year award in the small market division from the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA).

January 2010: Ice Storm Damages Weather Beacon

In January 2010, an ice storm damaged the weather beacon at KCCI, but it was repaired later that year.

February 2010: KCCI Ratings Fall Behind WHO in Mornings and 6 p.m.

In the February 2010 sweeps period, KCCI fell to second behind WHO in the mornings and at 6 p.m. This marked the first time KCCI had lost the lead in that timeslot.

2010: KCCI Wins Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards

In 2010, KCCI won Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for Best Newscast and Overall Excellence.

April 26, 2011: KCCI Upgrades Local Newscasts to High Definition

On April 26, 2011, KCCI upgraded its local newscasts to high definition beginning with the 5 p.m. newscast.

May 2011: KCCI Loses Lead at 5 p.m. in May 2011 Sweeps

In the May 2011 sweeps, KCCI lost the lead at 5 p.m. as well, but still held a narrow lead at 10 p.m.

June 30, 2011: "Weather Now" Channel Discontinued

On June 30, 2011, KCCI discontinued the "Weather Now" channel on its digital subchannel, Mediacom, and the station's website.

July 1, 2011: KCCI Replaced "Weather Now" with MeTV

On July 1, 2011, KCCI replaced the weather channel with MeTV on subchannel 8.2.

2011: KCCI Wins Photography Station of the Year Award

In 2011, KCCI won the Photography Station of the Year award in the small market division from the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA). The NPPA also named Photojournalist Cortney Kintzer as the Photographer of the Year in Region 5 (Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois).