History of KSAT-TV in Timeline

KSAT-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station located in San Antonio, Texas. It is owned and operated by Graham Media Group. The station's studios are situated on North St. Mary's Street in downtown San Antonio, and its transmitter is positioned off US Highway 181 in Wilson County.

June 1952: Channel 12 application

In June 1952, Bexar County Television Corporation, a subsidiary of Alamo Broadcasting Company, applied for the Channel 12 allocation to operate as an ABC affiliate due to KABC radio's affiliation with ABC radio network.

January 1954: Walmac Corporation joins Channel 12 bid

In January 1954, the Walmac Corporation, owners of KMAC radio, entered the competition for the Channel 12 license.

May 1954: Walmac and Mission reach agreement

In May 1954, Walmac and Mission met to negotiate an agreement to avoid lengthy hearings for the Channel 12 license.

March 12, 1956: FCC hears final arguments

On March 12, 1956, the FCC held final oral arguments between Walmac and Mission for the Channel 12 license, after an FCC examiner favored Mission's application the previous year.

May 1956: FCC grants license to Mission

In May 1956, the FCC granted the Channel 12 license to Mission and denied Walmac's bid. Mission officials then began constructing a new studio and tower on North St. Mary's Street.

December 1, 1956: Original sign-on date target

The original target sign on date for KONO-TV was December 1, 1956, but regular testing was delayed.

January 14, 1957: KONO-TV begins regular testing

On the evening of January 14, 1957, KONO-TV began regular testing, with the test pattern reportedly received as far as Corpus Christi, Austin, Kerrville, Boerne, and Camp Wood.

January 21, 1957: KONO-TV goes on the air

On January 21, 1957, KONO-TV officially began broadcasting as San Antonio's fourth television station and third to broadcast in English. The station became a full-time ABC affiliate and the first program broadcast was the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

July 31, 1967: Mission sells Channel 12

On July 31, 1967, Mission announced the sale of Channel 12 to The Outlet Company for $10.5 million, citing increasing costs in the television industry as the reason.

January 1968: Outlet takes control

In January 1968, The Outlet Company took control of KONO-TV and announced the call letters would change to KSAT-TV on February 1 due to FCC regulations about co-owned stations sharing call signs.

1986: Outlet taken private, KSAT sold

In 1986, The Outlet Company was taken private, and the new owners sold KSAT to H&C Communications.

1990: KSAT ABC affiliation threatened

In 1990, KENS considered switching to ABC, potentially causing KSAT to lose its affiliation. KENS management cited poor performance of CBS programming as the reason. However, both KENS and KSAT signed new affiliation agreements with CBS and ABC respectively in August.

1992: Sale to Young Broadcasting cancelled

In 1992, the sale of KSAT to Young Broadcasting was cancelled due to Young's inability to secure financing.

April 22, 1994: H&C sells KSAT to Washington Post Company

On April 22, 1994, H&C sold KSAT and Houston sister station KPRC-TV to The Washington Post Company, which placed the two stations within its Post-Newsweek Stations subsidiary.

March 26, 1999: Death of Michelle Lima

On March 26, 1999, KSAT anchor/reporter Michelle Lima was struck by a truck while reporting live from a search scene in southern Bexar County. She died two days later at the age of 30.

2000: KSAT equipment used in Miss Congeniality

In 2000, the film Miss Congeniality, set in San Antonio, used KSAT live trucks and microphones with the station's mic flags in a fictional sense during a scene filmed at The Alamo. Actors played a KSAT reporter and news photographer.

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2002: Leslie Mouton diagnosed with breast cancer

In 2002, weeknight co-anchor Leslie Mouton was diagnosed with breast cancer and courageously anchored the evening newscasts without a wig while undergoing chemotherapy.

2003: Aired Spurs NBA Finals victory

In 2003, KSAT aired one of the San Antonio Spurs' NBA Finals victories through its contract with the NBA.

2004: Brief rebrand as "Local 12"

In 2004, KSAT briefly rebranded as "Local 12" as part of Post-Newsweek's unified "Local" brand, before reverting to "KSAT 12".

2004: Leslie Mouton on The Oprah Winfrey Show

In 2004, Leslie Mouton recounted her battle with breast cancer on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The Oprah Winfrey Show aired on KSAT at the time.

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2005: Aired Spurs NBA Finals victory

In 2005, KSAT aired one of the San Antonio Spurs' NBA Finals victories through its contract with the NBA.

2007: Aired Spurs NBA Finals victory

In 2007, KSAT aired one of the San Antonio Spurs' NBA Finals victories through its contract with the NBA.

February 5, 2009: KSAT broadcasts newscasts in High Definition

On February 5, 2009, KSAT became the second television station in the San Antonio market to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition.

June 12, 2009: Analog signal discontinued

On June 12, 2009, KSAT-TV discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, transitioning to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal relocated from UHF channel 48 to VHF channel 12.

May 2011: Announcement of newscast expansion

In May 2011, KSAT-TV announced that it would expand its 10 p.m. newscast to one hour.

May 25, 2011: The Oprah Winfrey Show ends its syndication run

On May 25, 2011, The Oprah Winfrey Show ended its syndication run.

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May 26, 2011: Debut of First News At Four

On May 26, 2011, KSAT debuted a half-hour late afternoon newscast at 4 p.m., titled First News At Four. The program replaced The Oprah Winfrey Show.

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September 12, 2011: Expansion of 10 p.m. newscast

On September 12, 2011, KSAT-TV expanded its 10 p.m. newscast to one hour, becoming one of the few Big Three network affiliates to air an hour-long late evening newscast. Inside Edition was reduced to one daily airing and Nightline remained in its timeslot. Jimmy Kimmel Live! later occupied the 11:05 p.m. timeslot.

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March 2012: Expansion of Good Morning San Antonio

In March 2012, KSAT expanded its weekday morning newscast Good Morning San Antonio to 2+1⁄2 hours, and added Saturday and Sunday editions. The weekend editions surrounded the weekend editions of Good Morning America.

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2013: Aired Spurs NBA Finals appearance

In 2013, KSAT aired the San Antonio Spurs' NBA Finals appearance through its contract with the NBA.

March 2014: KSAT relocates to new studios

In March 2014, KSAT relocated from its longtime St. Mary's Street studios to a new, state-of-the-art two-story facility built in the station's former parking lot.

May 2014: Demolition of old studios

Demolition began on the former KSAT studio building shortly after the station relocated, and by May 2014, the space was transformed into a new parking lot.

September 5, 2014: End of First News At Four

On September 5, 2014, First News At Four ended its run on KSAT.

2014: Aired Spurs NBA Finals victory

In 2014, KSAT aired one of the San Antonio Spurs' NBA Finals victories through its contract with the NBA.

February 2017: Launch of Good Morning San Antonio at 9

In February 2017, KSAT announced the launch of a new hour of programming in the 9 a.m. block, called Good Morning San Antonio at 9.

September 2018: Launch of 9 p.m. newscast on app

In September 2018, KSAT launched a 9 p.m. newscast, exclusive to the station's app on major digital media player platforms.

2019: Late newscast reduced to 35 minutes

At the start of 2019, KSAT, along with other ABC affiliates carrying extended newscasts, reduced their late newscasts to the traditional 35 minutes due to ABC's affiliation contract requiring all affiliates to carry Jimmy Kimmel Live! as scheduled at 10:35 p.m.

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May 6, 2024: Transition to ATSC 3.0

On May 6, 2024, KSAT-TV transitioned from an ATSC 1.0 signal to ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) broadcasting. KSAT-TV became the "lighthouse" host for the ATSC 3.0 transmission of KENS, KLRN, KSAT-TV, KWEX-DT and KVDA.