History of KTLA in Timeline
KTLA, the largest directly owned property of Nexstar Media Group, is a Los Angeles-based television station and the West Coast flagship of The CW network. Its studios are situated at the Sunset Bronson Studios on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, while its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.
1927: "The Jazz Singer" Filmed at Warner Bros. Sunset Studios
Al Jolson's groundbreaking film, "The Jazz Singer," was filmed in 1927 at the Warner Bros. Sunset Studios, now known as Sunset Bronson Studios.
1939: FCC Licenses Experimental Station W6XYZ
The FCC licensed W6XYZ as an experimental station in 1939.
September 1942: W6XYZ Experimental Station Begins Broadcasting
W6XYZ, licensed by the FCC in 1939, began broadcasting on VHF channel 4 in September 1942.
January 1947: KTLA Begins Operations as First Commercial Station West of the Mississippi River
KTLA began operations as the first commercially licensed television station in the western United States in January 1947.
January 22, 1947: KTLA Becomes First Commercial Television Station in California
On January 22, 1947, KTLA received its commercial broadcasting license for channel 5, becoming the first in California and west of the Mississippi River.
1948: KTLA Disaffiliates from DuMont, Launches Paramount Television Network
KTLA disaffiliated from the DuMont Television Network and became an independent station in 1948. That same year, Paramount, KTLA's former owner, launched the Paramount Television Network, with KTLA as one of its flagship stations.
1948: KTLA Begins Annual Broadcast of Rose Parade
Since 1948, KTLA has been the only English-language station in Los Angeles to provide continuous coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade.
1956: DuMont Network Ceases Operations
The DuMont network, from which KTLA disaffiliated in 1948, ceased operations in 1956.
July 4, 1958: KTLA Pioneers Helicopter News Broadcasting
On July 4, 1958, KTLA engineer John D. Silva spearheaded the first successful in-flight news broadcast using a helicopter equipped with transmitters.
1958: KTLA Introduces "Telecopter" for News Coverage
In 1958, KTLA made a significant advancement in newsgathering by introducing the "Telecopter," a state-of-the-art helicopter equipped for aerial broadcasting.
1958: KTLA Relocates to Paramount Sunset Studios
In 1958, KTLA moved its operations to the Paramount Sunset Studios on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
November 1963: Gene Autry Purchases KTLA
Gene Autry purchased KTLA for $12 million in November 1963.
May 1964: Gene Autry Merges KTLA with Golden West Broadcasters
Upon the finalization of the sale in May 1964, Gene Autry merged KTLA with his other broadcasting properties, forming Golden West Broadcasters.
1964: KTLA Becomes Broadcast Home of the Los Angeles/California Angels
Following Gene Autry's acquisition of KTLA, the station became the television home for the Los Angeles/California Angels baseball team in 1964.
1965: KTLA Launches 10 p.m. Newscast
In 1965, KTLA launched a 10 p.m. newscast called "Newscene," later renamed several times.
1967: KTLA Begins Broadcasting Lakers and Kings Road Games
KTLA started broadcasting select away games of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings in 1967.
August 1, 1977: KTLA's "Telecopter" Crashes
Tragically, KTLA's news helicopter, the "Telecopter," was involved in a fatal crash on August 1, 1977, while being operated by KNBC, resulting in the deaths of pilot Francis Gary Powers and cameraman George Spears.
1977: KTLA Ends Regular Broadcasts of Lakers and Kings Games
KTLA's regular broadcasts of Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings road games concluded in 1977.
1978: Mark Evanier Debunks Stage 6 Filming Myth
Mark Evanier, a writer who worked on Stage 6 at KTLA in 1978, debunked the myth that Stage 6 was the filming location of "The Jazz Singer." He pointed out that Stage 6 didn't exist in 1927.
1979: KTLA Acquires KBSC-TV Programming, Expands Syndicated Offerings
KTLA obtained a significant portion of struggling competitor KBSC-TV's programming inventory in 1979, including classic shows like "The Little Rascals," "The Three Stooges," and "Gilligan's Island."
1981: KTLA Adds "Laverne & Shirley" and "Little House on the Prairie" to Lineup
KTLA added popular sitcoms "Laverne & Shirley" and "Little House on the Prairie" to its programming schedule in 1981.
November 1982: Golden West Sells KTLA to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
Golden West sold KTLA to the investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for $245 million in November 1982.
1982: KTLA Airs Preseason Games of the Los Angeles Raiders
During their time in Los Angeles, KTLA broadcast preseason games of the Los Angeles Raiders, syndicated through the Las Vegas Silver and Black Network.
1982: KTLA Acquires "Taxi" and "CHiPs," Emphasizes Hour-Long Dramas and Recent Sitcoms
In 1982, KTLA acquired the popular shows "Taxi" and "CHiPs." The station maintained its focus on hour-long dramas during weekdays while incorporating recent sitcoms into its evening lineup.
May 1985: KKR Sells KTLA to Tribune Broadcasting for Record Price
KKR sold KTLA to Tribune Broadcasting for a record-breaking $510 million in May 1985.
1985: KTLA Begins Broadcasting Los Angeles Clippers Games
KTLA first became the broadcaster for Los Angeles Clippers games in 1985.
October 1986: KTLA Became Top-Rated Independent Station
After KTTV became a Fox charter station in October 1986, KTLA became the highest-rated independent station in Southern California.
March 1991: KTLA Airs Rodney King Beating Video
KTLA made headlines in March 1991 by being the first station to air the video of Rodney King's beating by LAPD officers.
July 1991: KTLA Debuts "KTLA Morning News"
In July 1991, KTLA launched its live, local two-hour morning newscast, "KTLA Morning News," becoming a pioneer in the Los Angeles market.
1991: KTLA Debuted Two-Hour Weekday Morning Newscast
In 1991, KTLA premiered its two-hour weekday morning newscast.
1991: KTLA Concludes Initial Run of Broadcasting Clippers Games
KTLA's initial period of airing Los Angeles Clippers games ended in 1991.
1992: Los Angeles Riots Following Acquittal in Rodney King Case
The acquittal of the officers involved in the Rodney King beating, aired by KTLA, sparked riots in Los Angeles in 1992.
November 2, 1993: Warner Bros. Television and Tribune Company Announced The WB Television Network
On November 2, 1993, Warner Bros. Television, a division of Time Warner, and the Tribune Company announced the creation of The WB Television Network.
1993: KTTV Launches Competing Morning Newscast
Inspired by the success of "KTLA Morning News," rival station KTTV debuted its own morning newscast, "Good Day L.A.," in 1993.
1993: KTLA First Becomes Local Broadcaster for Dodgers Games
KTLA initially secured the local broadcasting rights for Los Angeles Dodgers games in 1993.
January 1994: KTLA Joins MGM/UA Premiere Network, Adds "Action Pack" Block
KTLA became an affiliate of the MGM/UA Premiere Network, a film-based television network, and incorporated the syndicated "Action Pack" programming block into its schedule starting in mid-January 1994.
1994: KTLA Provides Extensive Coverage of O.J. Simpson Trial
From 1994 to 1995, KTLA provided gavel-to-gavel coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial, anchored by Marta Waller, which was picked up by other stations.
1994: Raiders Relocate, Ending KTLA's Preseason Game Broadcasts
The Los Angeles Raiders' relocation back to Oakland in 1994 marked the end of KTLA's broadcasts of their preseason games.
January 11, 1995: KTLA Became a Network Affiliate for the First Time in 47 Years
On January 11, 1995, KTLA became a network affiliate for the first time in 47 years, when The WB was launched.
September 1995: KTLA Added Afternoon and Saturday Morning Cartoons from Kids' WB
In September 1995, KTLA brought back weekday children's programs for the first time in almost 25 years by adding afternoon cartoons and Saturday morning cartoons from the network's newly launched Kids' WB block.
1995: KTLA Debuts and Cancels Midday Newscast
KTLA experimented with a midday newscast starting in 1995. Initially airing at noon, it was moved to 11 a.m. the following year but was canceled in 1997.
1995: KTLA's Run as Angels Broadcaster Ends
KTLA's tenure as the broadcaster for the Los Angeles/California Angels concluded in 1995.
1996: Angels Broadcasting Rights Move to KCAL-TV
The rights to broadcast Los Angeles Angels games shifted to KCAL-TV in 1996.
1997: KTLA Rebranded to "KTLA 5, L.A.'s WB"
KTLA continued to use "Channel 5" branding until 1997 when they rebranded to "KTLA 5, L.A.'s WB".
1997: KTLA Cancels Midday Newscast
KTLA's midday newscast, which had been moved to 11 a.m. the previous year, was canceled in 1997 after failing to gain traction.
October 28, 1998: KTLA's Pioneering Move into HD Broadcasting
On October 28, 1998, KTLA marked a significant milestone by becoming the first station on the West Coast to commercially broadcast in high definition (HD). This pioneering move was a testament to KTLA's commitment to technological advancement and delivering a superior viewing experience to its audience.
September 1999: The WB Expanded Prime Time Shows to Six Nights a Week
By September 1999, The WB expanded its prime time shows to six nights a week, airing Sunday through Friday.
2000: KTLA News Department Relocates to Former Warner Bros. Studio
In 2000, KTLA's news department was moved to the former Warner Bros. Cartoons studio, which was renamed the Hal Fishman Newsroom.
2000: Tribune Company Purchased the Times Mirror Company
In 2000, the Tribune Company purchased the Times Mirror Company, the then-owner of the Los Angeles Times, which brought the newspaper into common ownership with channel 5.
2000: KTLA Dedicates News Studio to Hal Fishman
In recognition of his contributions to the station, KTLA dedicated its news studio to Hal Fishman in 2000.
2001: KTLA's First Stint as Dodgers Broadcaster Concludes
KTLA's initial period as the broadcaster for Los Angeles Dodgers games ended in 2001.
2002: KTLA Resumes Broadcasting Los Angeles Clippers Games
In 2002, KTLA resumed broadcasting Los Angeles Clippers games.
2004: KTLA Launches "The Audition" Segment
In 2004, KTLA introduced "The Audition" on its morning newscast, a competition for aspiring weathercasters.
January 1, 2005: KTLA Unveiled New Branding Campaign
On January 1, 2005, KTLA unveiled a new branding campaign that removed any mention of its over-the-air channel 5 position.
January 24, 2006: Time Warner and CBS Corporation Announced The CW
Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner, and CBS Corporation announced on January 24, 2006, that they would be shutting down The WB and UPN and merging the networks' respective programming to establish a new "fifth" network called The CW.
September 17, 2006: KTLA Changed Branding to "KTLA 5, The CW"
On September 17, 2006, the station immediately changed its branding to "KTLA 5, The CW" following the airing of The WB's final broadcast, The Night of Favorites and Farewells.
January 13, 2007: KTLA Transitions to High-Definition Newscasts
KTLA became an early adopter of high-definition broadcasting in the Los Angeles market when it transitioned its local newscasts to HD on January 13, 2007.
January 22, 2007: KTLA Celebrated 60th Anniversary of Continuous Broadcasting
KTLA celebrated its 60th anniversary of continuous broadcasting on January 22, 2007.
January 24, 2007: KTLA Became the First Television Entity to be Honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
On January 24, 2007, KTLA became the first television entity to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
July 30, 2007: Hal Fishman Anchors Final KTLA Newscast
Beloved KTLA anchor Hal Fishman anchored his final newscast for the station on July 30, 2007.
August 7, 2007: Hal Fishman Passes Away
Following a brief illness, Hal Fishman, a fixture at KTLA, died on August 7, 2007, leading to an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and viewers.
February 14, 2008: Tribune Company Sold Tribune Studios and Related Real Estate
The Tribune Company sold Tribune Studios and the related real estate in Los Angeles to Hudson Capital LLC for $125 million on February 14, 2008.
June 12, 2009: KTLA's Transition to Digital Television
As part of the federally mandated transition, KTLA shut down its analog signal on June 12, 2009, marking the end of an era in broadcasting history. The move to digital television brought about enhanced picture and sound quality, ushering in a new era for viewers.
October 14, 2009: KTLA Unveiled a New Logo and Redesigned News Set
On October 14, 2009, KTLA debuted a new logo and a redesigned news set, reviving the classic stylized number "5" the station had used from 1981 to 1997 and discontinuing regular use of The CW's logo.
2009: KTLA Ends Second Stint of Broadcasting Clippers Games
KTLA's second stint as the broadcaster for Los Angeles Clippers games concluded in 2009.
April 2011: KTLA Adds Weekend Morning Newscasts
KTLA expanded its news programming in April 2011 by adding weekend morning newscasts, initially with a one-hour Saturday broadcast and a three-hour Sunday broadcast.
August 2011: KTLA Debuts "KTLA 5 Sunday Edition"
August 2011 saw the premiere of "KTLA 5 Sunday Edition," a two-hour prime time newscast airing from 8 to 10 p.m. on Sunday evenings.
February 2, 2012: "KTLA Morning News" Expands to 4 a.m. Start Time
On February 2, 2012, "KTLA Morning News" expanded its weekday edition to begin at 4 a.m., further solidifying its presence in the early morning timeslot.
September 2012: KTLA Expands Saturday Morning Newscast
In September 2012, KTLA expanded its Saturday morning newscast to two hours, starting at 5 a.m., providing more comprehensive coverage on the weekends.
September 2013: Dish Network Limits Availability of KTLA Superstation Package
Dish Network halted sales of its a la carte superstation tier to new subscribers in September 2013, limiting the availability of the KTLA superstation package.
September 2013: KTLA Shortens "KTLA 5 Sunday Edition"
KTLA shortened "KTLA 5 Sunday Edition" in September 2013, dropping the 8 p.m. hour while retaining the 9 p.m. hour.
May 9, 2014: KTLA Expands and Standardizes Weekend Morning Newscasts
On May 9, 2014, KTLA's Saturday morning newscast was expanded to three hours and moved to a 6–9 a.m. slot, aligning it with the Sunday morning newscast.
May 2014: KTLA Expands Saturday Morning Newscast
In May 2014, KTLA expanded its Saturday morning news broadcast, leading to scheduling adjustments for other programs.
August 4, 2014: Tribune Spun Off its Publishing Division
On August 4, 2014, KTLA and the Times were separated when Tribune spun off its publishing division into a separate company.
December 2014: KTLA Launches Mid-Afternoon Newscast
KTLA introduced a new newscast in its mid-afternoon lineup in December 2014, necessitating program rescheduling.
December 26, 2014: KTLA Adds Weekday Afternoon Newscasts
Responding to programming changes at competitor KCAL-TV, KTLA launched hour-long weekday afternoon newscasts at 2 and 3 p.m. on December 26, 2014, bolstering its presence in the afternoon timeslot.
December 31, 2014: KTLA's 2 p.m. Newscast Ends
KTLA's 2 p.m. newscast, introduced just a few days prior, concluded its run on December 31, 2014, highlighting the fluidity of programming decisions in the competitive Los Angeles market.
January 2, 2015: KTLA Replaces 2 p.m. Newscast with "Celebrity Name Game"
On January 2, 2015, KTLA opted to fill the 2 p.m. slot vacated by its short-lived newscast with a double-run of the game show "Celebrity Name Game," indicating a strategic shift in programming.
July 5, 2015: KTLA Expands Sunday Morning Newscast to Four Hours
KTLA expanded its commitment to morning news on July 5, 2015, by extending its Sunday morning newscast to four hours, showcasing its dedication to comprehensive weekend coverage.
July 2015: KTLA Newscasts Available on iHeartRadio
Expanding its reach and embracing digital platforms, KTLA became the first Los Angeles television station to offer live audio simulcasts of its newscasts on the iHeartRadio app starting in July 2015.
2015: KTLA Launches Internet-Only News Radio Channel on iHeartRadio
In 2015, KTLA launched an internet-only news radio channel on iHeartRadio.
2015: KTLA Resumes Role as Host Broadcaster for Hollywood Christmas Parade
In 2015, KTLA returned as the primary broadcaster for the Hollywood Christmas Parade after The CW obtained national broadcast rights.
August 6, 2016: KTLA Expands Saturday Morning Newscast, Impacts The CW Programming
Further expansion of KTLA's weekend morning news on August 6, 2016, with the Saturday edition growing to four hours, resulted in The CW's children's programming block being pushed back an hour.
September 2, 2016: KTLA Simulcasts Dodgers Games with Spectrum SportsNet LA
KTLA began simulcasting select Los Angeles Dodgers games in partnership with Charter Communications and Spectrum SportsNet LA on September 2, 2016.
March 8, 2017: SportsNet LA Expands Dodgers Simulcasts on KTLA
On March 8, 2017, Spectrum SportsNet LA increased the number of Los Angeles Dodgers games to be simulcast on KTLA.
May 8, 2017: Sinclair Broadcast Group Agreed to Acquire Tribune Media
On May 8, 2017, Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to acquire Tribune Media for $3.9 billion.
June 12, 2017: KTLA 5 Morning News Expansion
On June 12, 2017, KTLA expanded the weekday edition of the KTLA 5 Morning News to 11 a.m., providing viewers with an additional hour of news coverage.
September 30, 2017: KTLA Adjusts CW Children's Block Schedule
On September 30, 2017, KTLA altered the broadcasting time of The CW's children's programming block, "One Magnificent Morning."
December 30, 2017: KTLA Concludes Two-Hour Delay for CW Children's Block
KTLA's temporary two-hour delay in airing "One Magnificent Morning" came to an end on December 30, 2017.
January 6, 2018: KTLA Implements Three-Hour Delay for CW Children's Block
Starting January 6, 2018, KTLA began airing "One Magnificent Morning" three hours later than the network's recommended schedule.
May 1, 2018: Debut of 11 a.m. Newscast
KTLA premiered a new hour-long newscast at 11 a.m. on May 1, 2018, expanding its midday news coverage.
October 7, 2018: KTLA Adjusts Sunday Evening Newscast Time
On October 7, 2018, KTLA moved its Sunday evening newscast from 9 p.m. to 7 p.m. to accommodate changes in The CW's programming schedule.
December 3, 2018: Nexstar Announces Purchase of Tribune Media
On December 3, 2018, Nexstar Media Group announced its intention to purchase Tribune Media, including KTLA, for $6.4 billion.
December 27, 2018: Death of Chris Burrous
Tragedy struck KTLA on December 27, 2018, when weekend anchor and reporter Chris Burrous was found dead from a drug overdose in a Glendale hotel room.
2018: KTLA Continues Simulcasting Arrangement with SportsNet LA
From the 2018 season onward, KTLA maintained its agreement to simulcast Los Angeles Dodgers games in collaboration with Spectrum SportsNet LA.
January 12, 2019: Launch of KTLA 5 Sports Final Weekend Edition
On January 12, 2019, KTLA introduced a 30-minute weekend edition of KTLA 5 Sports Final, airing at 11:35 p.m. after the 11 p.m. newscast, catering to sports fans.
February 9, 2019: New 5 p.m. Weekend Newscast
Expanding its weekend news offerings, KTLA added an hour-long 5 p.m. newscast on February 9, 2019.
September 19, 2019: Nexstar Completes Acquisition of Tribune Media
Nexstar Media Group finalized its acquisition of Tribune Media on September 19, 2019, bringing KTLA under its ownership.
September 21, 2020: Launch of 12 p.m. Weekday Newscast and "LA Unscripted"
On September 21, 2020, KTLA made two significant programming additions. They implemented a new hour-long 12 p.m. weekday newscast, which had been temporarily running due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and debuted a lifestyle show called "LA Unscripted".
May 3, 2021: Launch of "Off the Clock"
KTLA launched a new program called "Off the Clock" on May 3, 2021, initially on streaming platforms. The show featured the Morning News team in a more casual setting and was later brought to broadcast television.
May 20, 2021: Nexstar Renews Affiliation with The CW, Covering KTLA
On May 20, 2021, Nexstar Media Group extended its affiliation agreement with The CW, ensuring KTLA's continued broadcasting of The CW's programming.
September 2021: The CW Returns Weekday Hour to Affiliates
The CW returned a specific hour of weekday programming to its affiliates in September 2021, prompting potential schedule changes for stations like KTLA.
October 4, 2021: Addition of 5 p.m. Weekday Newscast
On October 4, 2021, KTLA further expanded its news programming with the addition of an hour-long 5 p.m. weekday newscast.
2022: David Lazarus Joins KTLA Full-Time
Having previously contributed consumer reports, David Lazarus became a full-time member of the KTLA team in 2022.
2022: KTLA Becomes Over-the-Air Home of the Los Angeles Clippers
Starting in the 2022-2023 season, KTLA became the primary free-to-air broadcaster for Los Angeles Clippers games, marking a renewal of their previous broadcasting agreement.
February 20, 2023: New 4 p.m. Weekday Newscast
KTLA continued to expand its news coverage with the introduction of a new hour-long 4 p.m. weekday newscast on February 20, 2023, solidifying its commitment to providing continuous news and information throughout the day.
