View source for KGAN

{{Short description|Television station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa}}
{{good article}}
{{redirect-distinguish|WMT-TV|WMTV}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = KGAN
| city                   = Cedar Rapids, Iowa
| logo                   = KGAN CBS2 2015.svg 
| logo_size              = 200px
| logo_alt               = In silver, a CBS eye next to a slightly squished bold italic numeral 2
| image                  = KGAN-DT2 Fox 28.svg
| image_size             = 200px
| image_alt              = In a blue box with a chevron-shaped divider, from left: the Fox network logo and a blue 28. Beneath in white text on a red box: "K G A N 2.2 Cedar Rapids".
| branding               = {{ubl|CBS 2; ''Iowa's News Now''|Fox 28 (DT2)}}
| digital                = 29 ([[UHF]])
| virtual                = 2
| subchannels            = 
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''2.1:''' [[CBS]]|'''2.2:''' [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]|'''2.3:''' [[Quest (American TV network)|Quest]]}}
| founded                = 
| airdate                = {{start date and age|1953|9|30|p=y}}
| location               = {{ubl|[[Cedar Rapids]]–[[Waterloo, Iowa|Waterloo]]–|[[Iowa City]]–[[Dubuque, Iowa]]}}
| country                = United States
| callsign_meaning       = [[Guy Gannett Communications]], former owner
| former_callsigns       = {{ubl|WMT-TV (1953–1981)|KGAN-TV (1981–1984)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 2 ([[VHF]], 1953–2009)|'''Digital:''' 51 (UHF, 2002–2014)}}
| owner                  = [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
| licensee               = KGAN Licensee, [[LLC]]
| sister_stations        = [[KFXA]]
| former_affiliations    = [[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]] (1953–1956)
| erp                    = 850 [[kW]]
| haat                   = {{convert|585|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id            = 25685
| coordinates            = {{coord|42|18|59|N|91|51|31|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                = {{URL|https://cbs2iowa.com/}} 
}}

'''KGAN''' (channel 2) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]], United States, serving Eastern Iowa as an affiliate of [[CBS]] and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]. It is owned by [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], which provides certain services to [[KFXA]] (channel 28, also licensed to Cedar Rapids) under a [[local marketing agreement]] (LMA) with Second Generation of Iowa, Ltd. The two stations share studios at Broadcast Park on Old Marion Road Northeast (along [[IA 100]]) in Cedar Rapids; KGAN's transmitter is located in [[Rowley, Iowa|Rowley]].

Channel 2 was the first television station in Eastern Iowa, signing on as WMT-TV on September 30, 1953. It was originally the radio adjunct to Cedar Rapids radio station [[WMT (AM)|WMT]]. A CBS affiliate from its first day on air, channel 2 was the market's leading station for most of its early history. Its original ownership, American Broadcasting Stations, sold WMT radio and television to [[Orion Broadcasting]] in 1981; when Orion merged with Cosmos Broadcasting, channel 2 was split from WMT and renamed KGAN by its new owner, [[Guy Gannett]]. After being second in news ratings in the 1980s, KGAN sank to third by the early 1990s, a position it continues to hold in the market. Sinclair acquired KGAN as part of its 1999 purchase of Guy Gannett. The Fox programming previously on KFXA relocated to a subchannel of KGAN on January 1, 2021.

==History==
===Construction and early years===
American Broadcasting Stations, Inc., the owner of Cedar Rapids radio station [[WMT (AM)|WMT]] (600 AM), applied to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) on January 10, 1951, for permission to build a new television station on channel 9.<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/b08e57f9-6436-1d44-df72-a34b7ca7bc44|title=FCC History Cards for KGAN|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref> In June 1952, after the FCC lifted its four-year freeze on television station grants and changed many channel allocations nationally, the application was amended to specify channel 2.{{r|hc}} In addition to the WMT application, the Davenport Broadcasting Company, owner of [[KBOB (AM)|KSTT]] in [[Davenport, Iowa|Davenport]], sought channel 2.<ref name="Gaze520701">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-three-apply-for-cedar-rapids/124217333/|date=July 1, 1952|page=1|title=Three Apply for Cedar Rapids TV|newspaper=[[The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)|The Gazette]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> American Broadcasting Stations charged that Davenport Broadcasting was not financially qualified to build the station.<ref name="DesM521012">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-rapids-contest-o/124217403/|date=October 12, 1952|page=7-G|title=Rapids Contest On TV Channel|newspaper=[[The Des Moines Register|The Des Moines Sunday Register]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

On April 8, 1953, after Davenport withdrew from contention, the FCC approved American Broadcasting Stations's application and granted a [[construction permit]].<ref name="DesM530409">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/des-moines-tribune-tv-station-for-rapids/124217424/|date=April 9, 1953|page=37|title=TV Station For Rapids|newspaper=[[Des Moines Tribune]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-04-13.pdf|date=April 13, 1953|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|page=52|title=New TV Authorizations Issued|id={{ProQuest|1285697864}}|access-date=May 9, 2023|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131031159/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-04-13.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> WMT-TV began regular broadcasting on September 30, 1953, as the first station in Eastern Iowa. After brief remarks by general manager and part-owner William B. Quarton, the station aired [[1953 World Series#Game 1|Game 1]] of the [[1953 World Series]].<ref name="Gaze530930">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-television-for-cedar-rapids/124218046/|date=September 30, 1953|page=10|first=Nadine|last=Subotnik|title=Television for Cedar Rapids Is Officially Begun|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> The Series was carried by special arrangement with [[NBC]], but WMT-TV was a primary affiliate of [[CBS]] with selected programs of the [[DuMont Television Network]]. When the station started, the studios on Old Marion Road were still being built and were expected to be completed in November; as a result, live local programming did not appear immediately.<ref name="Gaze530927">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-first-c-r-video-station-w/124217997/|date=September 27, 1953|page=27|title=First C. R. Video Station, WMT-TV, Opens Wednesday|first=Nadine|last=Subotnik|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> As a promotional tactic, the new TV station paid its employees in unusual [[United States two-dollar bill|two-dollar bills]].<ref>{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|1401205605}}|title=Seven New Video Stations Begin; Johnson City, Tenn., Gets First|pages=66, 71|work=Broadcasting|date=October 12, 1953|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-10-12.pdf|access-date=May 9, 2023|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131032651/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-10-12.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> It boasted that it was the first station to broadcast with an [[effective radiated power]] of 100,000 watts (the maximum for channels 2 through 6).<ref name="DesM531004">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-now-you-can-enjo/124217184/|date=October 4, 1953|page=10-W|title=Now You Can Enjoy Television At Its Best|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023|type=Advertisement}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

WMT-TV began construction of a new, taller tower near [[Walker, Iowa|Walker]] in June 1956. The structure, intended to be {{convert|1358|ft|m}} tall,<ref name="Post560606">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/postville-herald-wmt-tv-to-build-1358-f/124217218/|date=June 6, 1956|page=10|title=WMT-TV To Build 1,358 Foot Tower|newspaper=Postville Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> was toppled in a windstorm on December 10, having reached {{convert|1250|ft|m}} in height.<ref name="Gaze561210">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-new-wmt-tv-tower-topples-in/124217230/|date=December 10, 1956|page=8|title=New WMT-TV Tower Topples In High Wind|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The structure was rebuilt and put into use in July 1957.<ref name="Omah570719">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-new-tv-tower-rises-1/124314958/|date=July 19, 1957|page=15|title=New TV Tower Rises 1,358 Feet|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[Omaha World-Herald]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> In April 1967, the station converted to color for local programming.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Video of WMT-TV switching from black and white to color broadcasts goes viral |url=https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/video-of-wmt-tv-switching-from-black-and-white-to-color-broadcasts-goes-viral |access-date=March 24, 2024 |website=Iowa's News Now}}</ref>

In December 1967, American Broadcasting Stations announced it was negotiating to sell WMT radio and television to WAVE, Inc. of [[Louisville, Kentucky]];<ref name="Gaze671227">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-sale-of-wmt-radio-and-tv-bei/124218187/|date=December 27, 1967|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-wmt/124218211/ 3]|title=Sale of WMT Radio and TV Being Negotiated|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> the $9.98 million purchase was approved by the FCC in June 1968.<ref name="Cour680614">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-fcc-okays-sale-of-wmt-statio/124218242/|date=June 14, 1968|page=16|agency=Associated Press|title=FCC Okays Sale of WMT Stations|newspaper=Waterloo Daily Courier|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> In 1969, WAVE, Inc. renamed itself [[Orion Broadcasting]] in reflection of its broadcasting holdings beyond Louisville.<ref name="Cour690723">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-wave-hunts-for-new-n/124315096/|date=July 23, 1969|page=B2|title=WAVE Hunts For New Name, Chooses Orion|newspaper=[[Courier Journal|The Courier-Journal]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

===Guy Gannett ownership===
Orion Broadcasting announced in April 1980 that it would put all of its stations up for sale. The Morton and Norton families opted to sell the entire company in order to avoid paying inheritance taxes when 71-year-old Mrs. George Norton eventually died, taxes they were not sure the company could pay.<ref name="Cour800404">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-orion-announces-its/124315921/|date=April 4, 1980|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-wave-radio-tv-are-u/124315940/ B2]|first=Tom|last=Dorsey|title=Orion announces it's likely to sell WAVE radio, TV|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Two months later, Orion announced it would merge with Cosmos Broadcasting, a subsidiary of insurance and broadcasting conglomerate [[Liberty Corporation]]. However, the two companies together owned eight [[very high frequency]] (VHF) television stations, three more than the FCC allowed at the time. As a condition of the merger, Cosmos opted to sell WMT-TV as well as [[WFRV-TV]] in [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]], and [[WJMN-TV]] in [[Escanaba, Michigan]].<ref name="DesM800607">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-cedar-rapids-wm/124218379/|date=June 7, 1980|page=4A|title=Cedar Rapids' WMT TV, radio stations sold|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

[[Guy Gannett Publishing|Guy Gannett Broadcasting Services]] of [[Portland, Maine]], agreed to acquire WMT-TV in February 1981, becoming the company's third television station and first in the Midwest. As Cosmos retained WMT radio and the radio stations would retain the WMT call letters, a new designation was required for channel 2.<ref name="Gaze810225">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-guy-gannett-broadcasting-rep/124218499/|date=February 25, 1981|page=8B|title=Guy Gannett Broadcasting reports purchase of WMT-TV|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Guy Gannett selected KGAN, which mirrored the company's [[WGAN-TV]] in Portland.<ref name="DesM810607">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-first-you-start/124218547/|date=June 7, 1981|page=4-TV|first=Mark|last=Hainey|title=First, you start a little flame in our hearts|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The $13 million sale received FCC approval that August<ref>{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting|page=36|title=Changing Hands|id={{ProQuest|962731504}}|date=August 31, 1981}}</ref> and was completed on October 16, 1981, at which time WMT-TV became KGAN-TV.<ref name="Gaze811017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-sale-of-wmt-tv-completed-no/124241969/|date=October 17, 1981|page=4B|title=Sale of WMT-TV completed; now called KGAN-TV|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

===Sinclair ownership===
Motivated by the impending expiration of the family trust that owned the company, Guy Gannett Communications put itself up for sale in 1998.<ref name="Gaze980401">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-kgan-corporate-parent-will-b/124241990/|date=April 1, 1998|page=6C|first=George C.|last=Ford|title=KGAN corporate parent will be put up for sale|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> [[The Seattle Times Company]] acquired Guy Gannett's newspapers, while the firm's television stations were purchased by [[Baltimore]]-based [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]].<ref name="Gaze980909">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-kgan-sold-to-baltimore-chain/124242008/|date=September 9, 1998|page=5B|title=KGAN sold to Baltimore chain|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> The Guy Gannett purchase gave Sinclair diversification into affiliates of the [[Big Three (American television)|Big Three]] networks and beyond a portfolio heavy with Fox, [[The WB|WB]], and [[UPN]] stations.<ref name="Balt980909">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-sinclair-buys-guy-gann/124317459/|date=September 9, 1998|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-sinclair-purchases-guy/124317434/ 5C]|first=Mark|last=Ribbing|title=Sinclair buys Guy Gannett TV stations|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

Sinclair attempted later that year to sell KGAN and two ex-Guy Gannett stations in Illinois—[[WICS]] in [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]] and [[WICD (TV)|WICD]] in [[Champaign]]—to Sunrise Television. At the time, Sinclair was attempting to shed some of the smaller-market stations it had acquired in a string of recent purchases, as the company had made losses following the purchases.<ref name="Balt990401">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-sinclair-sells-station/124350410/|date=April 1, 1999|page=3D|first=Mark|last=Ribbing|title=Sinclair sells stations in Midwest to Sunrise|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The deal never received approval from the FCC or the [[United States Department of Justice]] because of the ownership structure of Sunrise, which was affiliated with investment firm [[Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst]]. That firm was also majority stockholder of the [[LIN TV Corporation]].<ref name="Balt000316">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-sinclair-keeping-3-sta/124350429/|date=March 16, 2000|page=1D|first=Ted|last=Shelsby|title=Sinclair keeping 3 stations: Deal terminated for TV properties in Illinois and Iowa|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> At the time, LIN owned [[WAND (TV)|WAND]] in [[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]], a rival to WICS/WICD, and could not own both stations.<ref>{{Cite news|page=News 1|title=Hickman leaving 6 p.m. news / Anchor still on at noon, will work more on reporting, specials|date=March 29, 2000|first=Matthew|last=Dietrich|work=[[The State Journal-Register]]}}</ref>

In 2002, Sinclair and Second Generation of Iowa, owner of [[KFXA]], entered into an outsourcing agreement whereby Sinclair began providing KFXA's sales and other non-programming services.<ref name="Gaze020719">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-outsource-agreement-links-kg/124242043/|date=July 19, 2002|page=6B|title=Outsource agreement links KGAN, KFXA|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Sinclair then acquired the assets of KFXA, except the license, in 2008.<ref name="twoat50">{{Cite web|title=CBS 2 at 50|website=KGAN-TV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814011557/http://www.kgan.com/sections/station/50/index.shtml|url=http://www.kgan.com/sections/station/50/index.shtml|archive-date=August 14, 2008|access-date=May 9, 2023|url-status=dead}}</ref> On January 1, 2021, the programming and Fox affiliation of KFXA's main subchannel became the 2.2 subchannel of KGAN.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/fox28-moving-to-22-january-1st|website=KGAN|title=FOX 28 moving to 2.2 January 1st|date=January 1, 2021|access-date=May 10, 2023|archive-date=January 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106202337/https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/fox28-moving-to-22-january-1st|url-status=live}}</ref>

KGAN began broadcasting a digital signal on channel 51 on October 26, 2002.{{r|twoat50}} The station has been digital-only since February 17, 2009;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|agency=Associated Press|title=List of TV stations ending analog broadcasts|date=February 17, 2009|work=NBC News|access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-date=January 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106052115/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|url-status=live}}</ref> however, the station later asked to move down from its original channel of 51.<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> At the time, the FCC permitted moves of stations off this channel pursuant to agreements with licensees of wireless and cellular services occupying the spectrum formerly allocated to channels 52-69, immediately adjacent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db0716/DA-13-1577A1.pdf|title=Notice of Proposed Rulemaking|date=July 15, 2013|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref> On the morning of April 5, 2014, the station moved to channel 29.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbs2iowa.com/news/features/channeltwoupgrade/#.UzY750DfJyJ|title=CBS 2 has something important to tell you. On Saturday, April 5th we're upgrading our signal.|publisher=KGAN|access-date=March 29, 2014|archive-date=March 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329083236/http://www.cbs2iowa.com/news/features/channeltwoupgrade/#.UzY750DfJyJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

==News operation==
[[File:KGAN reporters at Iowa City Jazz Fest 2013.jpg|right|thumb|alt=Two employees in KGAN polo shirts (with the CBS 2 logo on the chest and the Fox 28 logo on the sleeve), filmed by a KGAN cameraman, at an event|Filming of a KGAN segment at Iowa City Jazz Fest in 2013]]
The station established a local news department in early 1954 and immediately launched a weeknight 6{{nbsp}}p.m. newscast. That fall, a 10{{nbsp}}p.m. local newscast was added, followed by a noon news program in 1956.{{r|twoat50}} WMT-TV was the dominant television news source in Eastern Iowa in its early years. A February 1965 [[Arbitron]] survey found that 71,000 households—approximately 68 percent of the audience—watched WMT's late news, whereas competitors [[KWWL]] and [[KCRG-TV]] between them only attracted 33,000.{{r|Cour791102}} In part, this was due to the marketing consulting work of [[Marion, Iowa|Marion]]-based [[Frank Magid]] and his firm, Frank N. Magid Associates; WMT-TV was the firm's first client, and its success attracted other station groups to the company.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 26, 2007|first=George|last=Winslow|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Taking Its Own Medicine|id={{ProQuest|225316494}}}}</ref>

In the late 1960s, KWWL and KCRG began to make significant investments in local news programming that made them competitive in the market and eroded WMT-TV's lead, with KWWL pulling nearly level with channel 2 by 1979.<ref name="Cour791102">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-the-ratings-battle-is-not-ju/124349372/|date=November 2, 1979|page=Leisure Time 15|first=Linda|last=Kettner|title=The ratings battle is not just national|newspaper=The Courier|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> At the time, WMT-TV made what was perceived by viewers and television critics to be a mistake in ousting meteorologist Craig Johnson in favor of Bill Bailey, a popular comedic weatherman in the [[Quad Cities]] market at [[WOC-TV]]. However, in his time on air at channel 2, ratings fell, and KWWL surpassed the station in the ratings; Bailey left and returned to the Quad Cities.<ref name="Cour791109">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-on-air-talent-attracts-viewe/171528122/|date=November 9, 1979|page=Leisure Time 15|title=On-air talent attracts viewers|newspaper=[[The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier|The Courier]]|location=Waterloo, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="DesM811129">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-in-this-case-wa/124317986/|date=November 29, 1981|page=3-TV|first=Mark|last=Hainey|title=In this case, war is heck|newspaper=Des Moines Sunday Register|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> During the time KWWL ascended to first place in the market, its news director was Grant Price, who had previously parted ways with WMT-TV in 1972 over philosophical differences.<ref name="DesM900102">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-kwwl-veteran-pri/124349805/|date=January 2, 1990|page=2A|first=Jack|last=Hovelson|title=KWWL veteran Price retiring from Waterloo TV news|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

KGAN remained in second place in the 1980s, managing to hold off a challenge from KCRG.<ref name="DesM830109">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-the-ratings-game/124318047/|date=January 9, 1983|page=3-TV|first=Dave|last=Rhein|title=The ratings game: What do all those numbers mean?|newspaper=Des Moines Sunday Register|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --><ref name="Gaze880716">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-ratings-stable-but-change-in/124320175/|date=July 16, 1988|page=TV Vision 5|first=Dee Ann|last=Rexroat|title=Ratings stable but change in demographics for area stations|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> In 1989, the station reshuffled its anchor lineup. Dave Shay moved to the noon news after 30 years, a step toward retirement, and the station opted not to renew the contract of meteorologist Dave Towne,<ref name="Gaze890422">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-towne-leaving-kgan/124349627/|date=April 22, 1989|page=TV Vision 2|first=Cindy|last=Cullen Chapman|title=Towne leaving KGAN|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> who several weeks later began working at KCRG.<ref name="DesM890531">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-kgan-news-anchor/124349594/|date=May 31, 1989|page=4M|first=Dave|last=Rhein|title=KGAN news anchors shuffled|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> His replacement, Mark Strehl, lasted two years; when his contract was not renewed, he characterized KGAN as a "revolving door" with constant anchor changes.<ref name="Gaze910601">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-kgan-tv-changes-chief-weathe/124349692/|date=June 1, 1991|page=2A|title=KGAN-TV changes chief weathercaster|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> By 1994, KGAN was in third place in many news time slots; where KWWL and KCRG each had audience shares of 29% or greater at 5, 6, and 10 p.m., only at 10 p.m. did the station attract more than half as many viewers as second-place KCRG.<ref name="Gaze940702">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-more-newscasts-add-new-eleme/124320401/|date=July 2, 1994|page=28T|first=Rebecca P.|last=Lindwall|title=More newscasts add new element to local ratings|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

In March 2001, KGAN began producing a 9{{nbsp}}p.m. newscast for Sinclair-owned [[KDSM-TV]] in [[Des Moines]].<ref name="Gaze000727">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-cr-dm-stations-will-team/124350122/|date=July 27, 2000|page=9B|title=C.R, D.M. stations will team up for 9 p.m. newscast|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref name="DesM010208">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-details-at-9-wh/124350171/|date=February 8, 2001|pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-who-tv-and-fox-v/124350196/ 2E]|first=Mike|last=Kilen|title=Details at 9: WHO-TV 13 and Fox 17 compete for viewers with 9 p.m. newscasts|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> After KGAN began providing services to KFXA in 2002, the program was renamed to ''Fox News at Nine'' and began to air in Eastern Iowa that October.<ref name="Iowa021015">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/iowa-city-press-citizen-fox-to-broadcast/124242047/|date=October 15, 2002|page=3|title=FOX to broadcast local 9 p.m. news|newspaper=[[Iowa City Press-Citizen]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --><ref name="Gaze021016">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-local-news-show-slated-for-f/124350141/|date=October 16, 2002|page=3B|first=Rebecca|last=Lindwall|title=Local news show slated for Fox in Eastern Iowa|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> A 7{{nbsp}}a.m. news hour was added to KFXA in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news|page=A3|title=KFXA will air hour of local news on weekday mornings|work=Telegraph-Herald|date=September 17, 2011|id={{ProQuest|890561826}} }}</ref>

The station has won two [[George Foster Peabody Awards]]. The first award, in 1955, came for its role in developing ''The Secret of Flight'' television programs. These shows, focusing on [[aeronautical]] education, were made possible with the assistance of [[Alexander Lippisch]], who was the director of the [[Rockwell Collins|Collins Aeronautical Research Laboratory]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1956/1956-04-16-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=April 16, 1956|pages=148–154|title=Gleason, Como Share Peabody Award|id={{ProQuest|1285736639}}|access-date=May 10, 2023|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131023821/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1956/1956-04-16-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1994, KGAN won another Peabody for a report exposing a sewer solvent scandal in which the city bought solvent at an 800 percent markup from a local chemical company.<ref name="Gaze940907">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-city-worker-quits-amid-dispu/124350038/|date=September 7, 1994|page=3B|first=Lonnie|last=Zingula|title=City worker quits amid dispute|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="Gaze950331">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-kgan-wins-peabody/124350012/|date=March 31, 1995|page=6B|title=KGAN wins Peabody|newspaper=The Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The producer of the solvent pleaded guilty to paying 235 bribes to five Cedar Rapids city employees later that year.<ref name="DesM941012">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-bribery-kingpin/171528912/|date=October 12, 1994|page=2A|first=Debora|last=Wiley|title=Bribery kingpin pleads guilty in federal court|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

===Notable former on-air staff===
* [[Bob Hilton]] – newscaster, 1993–1996<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cullen Chapman|first=Cindy|date=October 16, 1993|title=KGAN news gets new faces, new show, new look|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-kgan-news-gets-new-faces-ne/153890711/|access-date=January 1, 2025|work=[[The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)|The Gazette]]|location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa|via= Newspapers.com|page=6T|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Gaze960727">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-bob-hilton-is-heading-west/162202772/|date=July 27, 1996|page=3T|first=Cindy|last=Cullen Chapman|title=Bob Hilton is heading west|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 3, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

==Subchannels==
KGAN's transmitter is located in [[Rowley, Iowa|Rowley]].{{r|FCC-LMS-25685}} The station's signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of KGAN<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KGAN#station|title=RabbitEars query for KGAN|website=[[RabbitEars]]|access-date=June 8, 2025|archive-date=September 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915195752/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KGAN#station|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming 
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.1 
| rowspan=2|[[720p]] || rowspan=3|[[16:9]] || KGANCBS || [[CBS]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.2 
| FOX28 || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.3 
| [[480i]] || Quest || [[Quest (American TV network)|Quest]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://cbs2iowa.com/}}

{{Cedar Rapids TV}}
{{Ottumwa TV}}
{{Iowa TV}}
{{SBGI}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kgan}}
[[Category:1953 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:CBS affiliates]]
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[[Category:Quest (American TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1953]]
[[Category:Television stations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa|GAN]]