History of KVUE in Timeline

KVUE is an ABC-affiliated television station located in Austin, Texas. Owned by Tegna Inc., its studios are situated on Steck Avenue in northwest Austin, with its transmitter positioned on the West Austin antenna farm. It serves the Austin metropolitan area with news and entertainment programming.

December 12, 1961: KVET files application for Channel 24

On December 12, 1961, Austin radio station KVET (1300 AM) filed an application for channel 24 with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), anticipating a future when a UHF station would be viable.

1962: FCC hearing designated for Cobb and KVET bids

In 1962, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated the bids from Dalton Homer Cobb and KVET for a hearing regarding channel 24.

March 13, 1963: KVET gets nod from FCC

On March 13, 1963, KVET received approval from the FCC for its bid for channel 24.

1965: KVET sold to Butler Broadcasting

In 1965, KVET was sold to Butler Broadcasting, including the construction permit for channel 24.

March 1966: Butler Broadcasting Announces Start Date

In March 1966, Butler Broadcasting announced that the start date would be February or March 1966.

1967: Butler Broadcasting Floats Launch Date

In 1967, Butler Broadcasting floated a fall 1967 launch date.

1968: KVET files to sell construction permit

In 1968, KVET filed to sell the construction permit to McAlister Television Enterprises, owner of KSEL-TV in Lubbock, for $44,000.

June 1970: FCC approves sale to Channel Twenty-Four Corporation

In June 1970, the FCC approved the sale of the construction permit to Channel Twenty-Four Corporation. The KVET-TV call letters were then changed to KVUE.

September 12, 1971: KVUE Signed on the Air

On September 12, 1971, KVUE officially signed on the air, becoming the market's first full-time ABC affiliate.

1971: KVUE goes on air

In 1971, KVUE, the third television station in Austin, began broadcasting as an ABC affiliate. It provided Austin with full program lineups from all three networks.

1978: KVUE Purchased by Evening News Association

In 1978, the Evening News Association acquired KVUE. At that time, KVUE was the last locally owned TV station in the Austin market to be sold.

May 1981: Action News Edges Out KTBC

In May 1981, KVUE's Action News surpassed KTBC in the 6 and 10 p.m. news ratings, marking a significant achievement.

1984: Attack by a gunman

In 1984, KVUE successfully repelled an attack by a gunman who wished to broadcast a political manifesto. Employees tricked him into thinking his statement was broadcast on the air, and he was arrested after reading his statement.

1985: ENA put itself up for sale

In 1985, Evening News Association (ENA) put itself up for sale after rebuffing a hostile takeover bid.

1985: Studio facility expansion

In 1985, an expansion of KVUE's studio facility began, adding 13,000 square feet to double its size.

February 1986: Gannett Company Purchases ENA

In February 1986, the Gannett Company purchased the Evening News Association (ENA).

1986: Gannett Ownership of KVUE

In 1986, Gannett took ownership of KVUE, marking a period where channel 24 became a prominent force in Austin news ratings.

1989: Carole Kneeland Guiding the KVUE newsroom

In 1989, Carole Kneeland started guiding the KVUE newsroom and scaled back crime coverage to reduce the level of "mayhem" it reported.

1991: Second expansion of studios

In 1991, a second expansion of the KVUE studios was conducted, adding another 9,400 square feet to house the newsroom.

1995: CBS and Fox Affiliations Switch

In 1995, the switch of CBS and Fox affiliations led to KXAN surging into second place and a slide for KTBC in the ratings.

1998: Death of Carole Kneeland

In 1998, Carole Kneeland died from breast cancer. She had guided the KVUE newsroom from 1989.

February 1999: Gannett Agrees to Trade with Belo

In February 1999, Gannett agreed to a trade with Belo Corporation: Belo received KVUE, while Gannett received KXTV in Sacramento, and $55 million.

1999: KVUE traded to Belo Corporation

In 1999, Gannett traded KVUE to the Belo Corporation in exchange for KXTV in Sacramento, California, and $55 million. This gave Belo a station in Austin and coverage of two-thirds of TV households in Texas.

February 17, 2009: KVUE ends analog signal programming

On February 17, 2009, KVUE ended regular programming on its analog signal as part of the FCC-mandated transition to digital television.

June 13, 2013: Gannett Announces Acquisition of Belo

On June 13, 2013, Gannett announced that it would acquire Belo for $1.5 billion.

2013: Gannett and Belo Merged

In 2013, Gannett and Belo merged, consolidating their media assets.

2014: KVUE wins Peabody Award

In 2014, KVUE won a Peabody Award for the documentary "The Cost of Troubled Minds", about Texas's underinvestment in addressing mental health care.

2015: Gannett Split

In 2015, Gannett split into print and broadcast companies, with the broadcast company taking on the name Tegna.

May 2021: KVUE came second to KXAN in early and late evening news

In May 2021, KVUE came second to KXAN in early and late evening news.

2021: KVUE promotes fake sexual wellness product

In 2021, KVUE was tricked into promoting a fake sexual wellness product called the "Venus Veil" as a way to illustrate how stations promote sponsored content without being upfront about the sponsorship.