View source for KTVD

{{Short description|Television station in Denver}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = KTVD
| city                   =
| logo                   = KTVD 20 (2017).svg
| logo_size              = 200px
| logo_alt = A navy blue thick numeral 20 with the top of the 2 delineated from the otherwise overlapping 0. In the base of the 2 is the 9News logo, a stylized 9 next to the italicized word NEWS.
| branding               = KTVD 20
| digital                = 31 ([[UHF]])
| virtual                = 20
| translators            = ''see {{section link||Translators}}''
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''20.1:''' [[MyNetworkTV]]|'''[[KUSA (TV)|9.4]]:''' [[NBC]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| owner                  = {{ubl|[[Tegna Inc.]]|''(sale to [[Nexstar Media Group]] pending{{r|NexacqTegna}})''}}
| licensee               = [[Multimedia, Inc.|Multimedia]] Holdings Corporation
| location               = [[Denver]], Colorado
| country                = United States
| airdate                = {{Start date and age|1988|12|1|p=y}}
| last_airdate           = 
| callsign_meaning       = "Television Denver"
| sister_stations        = [[KUSA]]
| former_callsigns       = 
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 20 (UHF, 1988–2009)|'''Digital:''' 19 (UHF, 2008–2019)}}
| former_affiliations    = {{ubl|[[Independent station|Independent]] (1988–1995)|[[UPN]] (1995–2006)}}
| erp                    = 960 kW
| haat                   = {{convert|374|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id            = 68581
| coordinates            = {{coord|39|43|50.6|N|105|13|55.6|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline, title}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                = {{url|www.my20denver.com}} 
}}

'''KTVD''' (channel 20) is a [[television station]] in [[Denver]], Colorado, United States, affiliated with [[MyNetworkTV]]. It is owned by [[Tegna Inc.]] alongside [[NBC]] affiliate [[KUSA]] (channel 9). The two stations share studios on East Speer Boulevard in Denver's [[Speer, Denver|Speer]] neighborhood; KTVD's transmitter is located atop [[Lookout Mountain Park|Lookout Mountain]] (near [[Golden, Colorado|Golden]]).

KTVD began broadcasting as Denver's third major [[independent station]] on December 1, 1988. Its initial owner, Twenver Inc., sank under the weight of a weak local advertising market and expensive programming purchases and filed for bankruptcy reorganization within two years of launching the station; Twenver's financial issues caused the station's primary programming attraction, [[Denver Nuggets]] basketball, to break ties. In 1993, the station was acquired out of bankruptcy by the Chicago-based [[Newsweb Corporation]], which focused the station on entertainment and sports programming with the new [[UPN]] network and broadcasts of the Nuggets, [[Colorado Avalanche]], and [[Colorado Rockies]].

The station was acquired by [[Gannett]]—the predecessor to Tegna—in 2006. KTVD's operations were consolidated with KUSA, and it added morning and evening newscasts to expand that station's market-leading news presence. As a consequence of being bypassed in the merger of UPN and [[The WB]] into [[The CW]], the station affiliated with [[MyNetworkTV]]. KTVD is the primary preseason broadcaster of [[Denver Broncos]] football and airs 20 Nuggets and Avalanche games per year.

==History==
Channel 20 had been among the earliest television channel assignments to Denver, and two unsuccessful attempts to activate it preceded KTVD. In 1952, the Mountain States Television Company filed for the channel;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/new-denver-firm-seeks-uhf-video-channel-20/tnrtyupgflpenruqscusoguiljwmqoib_ip-10-166-46-104_1727565595740|work=The Denver Post|title=New Denver Firm Seeks UHF Video Channel 20|date=July 25, 1952|page=15|first=Dan|last=Partner}}</ref> while the application was pending at the [[Federal Communications Commission]], theatrical producer and major stakeholder [[Irving Jacobs]] died of a heart attack.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/producer-irving-jacobs-dies-after-heart-attack/tnnfvpgsheyeqegbpdrfwiefvhmfhgds_ip-10-166-46-183_1727565631936|page=26|title=Producer Irving Jacobs Dies After Heart Attack|work=The Denver Post|date=August 4, 1952}}</ref> The permit was awarded on September 18, 1952,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/jacobs-firm-wins-permit-uhf-tv/rtkdzayifgkmmlhjdlzrwqrbcxeemvhb_ip-10-166-46-75_1727565704777|page=33|title=Jacobs Firm Wins Permit For UHF-TV|work=The Denver Post|date=September 18, 1952}}</ref> after which time Irving's wife Anne also died. The remaining owners—the Sigman family, the brothers of Anne Jacobs—held off on construction in hopes that a national network could form and extend affiliation to the proposed KIRV.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/sigmans-threatened-channel-20-loss/kmfxuaelxpmdsdvhgxqrjgqptgkvmtne_ip-10-166-46-173_1727565890713|date=September 17, 1953|title=Sigmans Threatened With Channel 20 Loss|work=The Denver Post|page=58}}</ref> Ultimately, Mountain States surrendered the permit in December 1953.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/want-tv-franchise-uhf-channel-owner-here-surrenders-bid/yuxpederrczizoutqfjqxpbrboomoioy_ip-10-166-46-162_1727565919412|date=December 13, 1953|page=2A|title=Want a TV Franchise? UHF Channel Owner Here Surrenders Bid|work=The Denver Post}}</ref> The second permit was granted to publishing firm [[Harcourt, Brace & World]] in 1966. Harcourt, which had filed for three [[UHF]] stations in western states,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/fcc-approves-uhf-tv-station-denver/ndkflhqkdtbfpgotjanjmtdcteuntnsv_ip-10-166-46-159_1727565992405|title=FCC Approves UHF TV Station for Denver|date=December 22, 1966|work=The Denver Post|page=2}}</ref> later sold the permit to ''[[The Denver Post]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/denver-paper-acquires-tv-station-permit/nvreftgdnvphlboeoxncwloqawvlgdgm_ip-10-166-46-136_1727566023512|work=Daily Camera|date=January 9, 1968|page=3|title=Denver Paper Acquires TV Station Permit}}</ref>

New interest bubbled around channel 20 beginning in the late 1970s. In 1977, Denver-based American Television & Communications—the pay-television division of [[Time, Inc.]]—applied for the channel as a hybrid commercial and [[subscription television]] station.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/uhf-channel-20-cable-unit-asks-denver-outlet/bykuurqnqvtnsapqjblakedatvtgkwye_ip-10-166-46-75_1727566139910|title=UHF Channel 20: Cable Unit Asks Denver Outlet|page=32|date=January 20, 1977|work=The Denver Post}}</ref> A firm headed by John H. Gayer, originally known as Family Television Inc. but later as Colorado Television Inc., applied in 1978, specifying a lineup of religious and family-oriented secular programming.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/2-religious-tv-stations-sought-denver/suhhijtwcrkiohginxaiiyqkqfkirkyy_ip-10-166-46-101_1727566248300|page=97|first=Clark|last=Secrest|work=The Denver Post|title=2 Religious TV Stations Sought in Denver|date=March 15, 1978}}</ref> The FCC took these two applications as well as those of Alden Communications of Colorado and [[ON TV (TV network)|Oak Television of Denver]] and designated them for [[comparative hearing]] in October 1980.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/notice/ragfefwymoxhwyunqqltduojtcaxmwoh_ip-10-166-46-72_1727580621746|page=30|title=Notice|work=The Denver Post|date=October 14, 1980}}</ref> American Television & Communications had withdrawn by August 1983, when FCC [[administrative law judge]] Frederic J. Coufal ruled in favor of Alden's application. He disqualified Colorado Television, finding it lacked access to a suitable transmitter site, and selected Alden over Oak owing to diversification of media ownership policy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Denver TV Channel Approved|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/denver-tv-channel-approved/iecamdsjpjgglcbuckevquqkyajejwpr_ip-10-166-46-75_1727580704207|page=2A|date=August 4, 1983|work=The Denver Post}}</ref> A principal reason for the Colorado Television disqualification was the withdrawal by [[KWGN-TV]] (channel 2) of permission to set up its transmitter facility at that station's site on [[Lookout Mountain Park|Lookout Mountain]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/license-granted-challenged-10th-denver-tv-station/cglzkzdzstfbqizldklimpwpxwbddwiy_ip-10-166-46-148_1727580732436|title=License granted, challenged for 10th Denver TV station|first=Pat|last=McGraw|work=The Denver Post|date=January 16, 1985|page=6A}}</ref>

===Twenver ownership===
Alden Communications of Colorado sold the channel 20 permit—still unbuilt and then bearing the call sign KTZO-TV—to Twenver, Inc., headed by N. Richard Miller, in January 1988.<ref>{{cite news|title=Changing Hands|page=103|work=Broadcasting|date=January 18, 1988|id={{ProQuest|1014726695}} }}</ref> After the sale to Twenver, activity accelerated. In August, the station—now KTVD—reached a five-year<ref name="RMN900417">{{Cite news|title=KTVD executives blast reports that troubled station will close|page=42|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|work=Rocky Mountain News|date=April 17, 1990}}</ref> deal with the [[Denver Nuggets]] basketball team to air 30 road games a season. The KTVD–Nuggets contract was part of a major shakeup of the club's television rights. They abandoned their longtime broadcaster, KWGN-TV, for a split arrangement between KTVD and [[KMGH-TV]] (channel 7), which took on 10 road games; signed a deal with [[AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain|Prime Sports Network]], a new [[regional sports network]], for 25 home games on cable; and assumed production duties for all telecasts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/nuggets-set-new-tv-deal-boulder-viewers-could-suffer-station-switches/ksbbchjonnorrnxholasyxyvbbajnkrv_ip-10-166-46-188_1727580923646|title=Nuggets set new TV deal: Boulder viewers could suffer in station switches|page=4D|first=Barney|last=Hutchinson|work=Daily Camera|date=August 24, 1988}}</ref><ref name="Denv881204">{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/nuggets-widen-their-exposure-tv-viewers/swzmemowgqougcgguuqwtcmlvpvpmdue_ip-10-166-46-71_1728960900190|work=The Denver Post|page=TV/Cable Week 5|first=Joanne|last=Ostrow|title=Nuggets widen their exposure to TV viewers|date=December 4, 1988}}</ref>

After setbacks in construction caused channel 20 to miss airing some of the first Nuggets games in its new deal,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/nuggets-tv-outlet-delays-opening-again/nqkdtewahsslovepsrgsmhdqdgmwamgo_ip-10-166-46-171_1727580998694|work=Daily Camera|pages=1C, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/nuggets-tv-outlet-delays-opening-again/nmasalgauyaadmbmcqmxkobvfnmodkoz_ip-10-166-46-113_1727581320351 4C]|first=Neill|last=Woelk|date=October 26, 1988|title=Nuggets' TV outlet delays opening again}}</ref> KTVD began broadcasting on December 1, 1988. The Nuggets were the anchor of a lineup that included syndicated sitcoms, classic movies, and wrestling. KTVD's backers believed Denver—the 19th-largest television market at the time—could, like other similarly sized markets, support three competing independent TV stations. Its main competitors, KWGN-TV and [[KDVR]], captured less audience share than the three independents in comparable cities.{{r|Denv881204}}{{efn|Though KDVR had been a Fox affiliate since 1986, Fox affiliates continued to be considered independent stations for a number of years after Fox launched, particularly as Fox did not program a full seven-night schedule early on.<ref>{{Cite news|page=43|title=INTV ponders Fox factor, future venue|work=Broadcasting|date=December 31, 1990|id={{ProQuest|1014741394}} }}</ref> The Fox owned-and-operated stations did not leave the trade association for independent stations, INTV, until 1992.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fox O&O's out of INTV|first=Joe|last=Flint|pages=5–6|work=Broadcasting|date=March 9, 1992|id={{ProQuest|1014745589}} }}</ref> }}

KTVD's debut into the marketplace came at a time when the Denver economy had flatlined. In 1987 and 1988, television ad revenues had posted year-over-year declines, with only minimal increases projected for the years to come.<ref>{{Cite news|page=88|date=April 5, 1989|title=Airwave competition is heating up, but where's all of the dough?|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|id={{ProQuest|1438527822}}}}</ref> Also during this time, the Nuggets were sold to [[Bertram Lee]] and [[Peter Bynoe]]; former owner [[Sidney Shlenker]] retained the Nuggets' ownership stake in KTVD.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Kiszla|title=Nuggets deal finalized at last - Video executive's assist helps bring Lee, Bynoe purchase to fruition |date=October 22, 1989|work=The Denver Post}}</ref> Unlike Shlenker, who believed increased television revenue would make up for any shortfalls in attendance, the new Nuggets ownership believed it was overexposed on television, with 67 of 82 games aired in the [[1989–90 Denver Nuggets season|1989–90 season]], depressing gate revenue.<ref>{{Cite news|page=1D|title=Nuggets bid for an end to Ch. 20 deal|date=May 12, 1990|work=The Denver Post}}</ref>

By April 1990, the station was facing financial difficulties. When Prime Sports Network told its affiliates—in error—that it would carry two late-season road games in light of the station closing, it brought to the fore a payment dispute between KTVD and the Nuggets and the station's financial struggles;{{r|RMN900417}} the station had lost $7.5 million in 1989 on $6.2 million in gross revenue.{{r|DBJ910719}} That May, Twenver agreed to sell a majority stake in KTVD to Pennsylvania BancShares, Inc., an investment company,<ref>{{cite news|title=Philly firm buying control of KTVD|work=Denver Business Journal|date=May 7, 1990|first=Tom|last=Locke|id={{Gale|A8542260}} }}</ref> but BancShares did not want to advance any funding to Twenver until the FCC approved the transaction amid other disputes. This proved to be a major problem. On June 7, 1990, Chrysler Capital Corporation—a secured creditor—declared Twenver in default on its loan and drew a $1 million line of credit. On top of the station's existing issues with cash flow problems and a large outlay on syndicated programming, this forced Twenver to file for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] reorganization on July 11, 1990.<ref name="DBJ910719">{{Cite news|first=Tom|last=Locke|date=July 19, 1991|title=Bidders vie to purchase KTVD out of bankruptcy proceedings |work=Denver Business Journal|id={{Gale|A11114886}} }}</ref> Nine of the top twenty creditors were program distributors. Two days later, the Nuggets—owed nearly $1 million—and KTVD terminated their agreement,<ref>{{Cite news|first=Mary|last=Voelz Chandler|title=Nuggets, Channel 20 cancel broadcast plan|page=75|work=Rocky Mountain News|date=July 14, 1990}}</ref> and before the end of the month, general manager Jack Moffitt was fired as a cost-saving move.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Channel 20's top executive fired in cost-cutting move|page=21|date=July 23, 1990|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|work=Rocky Mountain News}}</ref> During this time, in November 1990, channel 20 rented three hours of prime time on Election Day to [[KCNC-TV]] in a first-of-its-kind arrangement to present extended election coverage.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 7, 1990|page=64|title=KCNC rents channel to present 3-hour election coverage bonus|work=Rocky Mountain News|first=Dusty|last=Saunders}}</ref> The station experimented with local comedy; in 1992, it aired the series ''Denver Friday Night'', similar in format to ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|page=134|first=Bill|last=Husted|title='Denver Friday Night' cranks up this week|work=Rocky Mountain News|date=February 25, 1992}}</ref>

===Newsweb ownership and UPN affiliation===
KTVD remained in bankruptcy for more than three years until the Chicago-based [[Newsweb Corporation]] acquired KTVD and paid $7.5 million to creditors, who received 25 cents on the dollar. Newsweb owned the Chicago market's [[WPWR-TV]], a similarly situated independent with similar programming.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Channel 20 sold for $7.5 million as station pulls out of Chapter 11|page=77A|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|work=Rocky Mountain News|date=December 15, 1993}}</ref> Newsweb held the construction permit for channel 14 in Boulder, which it sold to [[Roberts Broadcasting]] in order to acquire channel 20.<ref>{{cite news|page=1E|first=Joanne|last=Ostrow|work=The Denver Post|date=December 16, 1993|title=Chicago broadcaster bails out Channel 20 }}</ref> Newsweb programmed the station with talk shows in prime time as a strategy to mitigate the impact of its relatively meager syndicated inventory, particularly compared to KWGN and KDVR, but an upturn in the Colorado economy increased advertising revenue as the station increased its audience share.<ref>{{Cite news|page=204|title=Station to Station: KTVD the talk of Denver|work=Variety|first=Jim|last=Benson|id={{ProQuest|1401391453}}|date=May 9, 1994}}</ref>

In 1995, KTVD debuted two new program packages. One was a network affiliation as [[UPN]] started up with channel 20 as its Denver affiliate.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Stations to debut new networks: Affiliations give local Channels 2 and 20 prime-time programs, advertising revenue|page=49A|work=Rocky Mountain News|date=January 11, 1995|first=Lynn|last=Bronikowski}}</ref> The other was the [[Colorado Avalanche]], Denver's new [[NHL]] team. In the Avs' first season, KTVD aired 19 games.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 16, 1995|title=Avalanche to appear on TV 52 times|first=Rick|last=Sadowski|page=18B|work=Rocky Mountain News}}</ref> The Avs, who made the playoffs in their first season, were credited with immediately boosting channel 20's image; general manager Terry Brown noted that KTVD had better ratings in the team's first season than [[KTXA]] did in the first season of [[Dallas Stars]] hockey.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHL success rubs off on Channel 20|date=May 13, 1996|page=18C|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|work=Rocky Mountain News}}</ref> Though the team switched to a six-game over-the-air package with KMGH in 1996–97,<ref>{{cite news|page=D2|first=Todd|last=Phipers|work=The Denver Post|title=All but 15 Avs games on TV|date=September 24, 1996}}</ref> KTVD aired playoff road games;<ref>{{Cite news|title=Avs put pay-per-view on ice: In change from '96, early playoff games on FSR, Channel 20|page=1C|first=Rick|last=Sadowski|date=April 9, 1997|work=Rocky Mountain News}}</ref> it returned to broadcasting Avs regular-season games in 1997–98.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Denver Nuggets TV's latest victim of the ratings game|page=F1|first=Joanne|last=Ostrow|date=August 27, 1997|work=The Denver Post}}</ref>

Owner Ascent Sports packaged Avs and Nuggets games with [[KPXC-TV]] (channel 59) for the 1998–99 season,<ref>{{Cite news|title=FSR reveals Avs, Nuggets partner|date=October 1, 1998|first=Todd|last=Phipers|page=D7|work=The Denver Post}}</ref> but after one season, the package moved to KTVD. The station also experimented with local program production, including a documentary series and a weekly talk show hosted by [[Denver Broncos]] players [[Ed McCaffrey]] and [[Rod Smith (wide receiver)|Rod Smith]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Rookie Tandem: Bronco veterans learning the ropes as TV teammates|work=The Denver Post|date=December 16, 1999|page=G5|first=Diane|last=Eicher}}</ref> as well as high school football telecasts.<ref>{{Cite news|title=KTVD-Channel 20 reels in local sports|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|work=Rocky Mountain News|page=2C|date=September 16, 2002}}</ref> All rights to the Avalanche and Nuggets moved to [[Altitude Sports and Entertainment]], a new team-owned regional sports network, in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kroenke hitches name to games: Avalanche, Nuggets airing under network's moniker|date=April 17, 2004|first=Chris|last=Walsh|work=Rocky Mountain News}}</ref> In 2003, KTVD took over from KWGN-TV as the over-the-air broadcaster of the [[Colorado Rockies]], with 75 baseball games a year;<ref>{{cite news|date=March 31, 2003|title=Somewhere, McGuire smiling|page=3C|work=Rocky Mountain News|first=Dusty|last=Saunders}}</ref> Rockies games remained on channel 20 through the 2008 season, by which time telecasts had been restricted to Sunday afternoons.<ref>{{Cite news|title=FSN focusing on return of Rockies|date=April 6, 2009|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|page=B2|work=The Denver Post}}</ref>

Newsweb acquired [[KTVS]] (channel 3) in [[Sterling, Colorado]], some {{convert|120|mi}} north of Denver, from [[Benedek Broadcasting]] in 1999. The station switched to rebroadcasting KTVD.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 7, 1999|title=UPN Affil Snags Sports Rights and 2nd Signal|work=Mediaweek|first=Megan|last=Larson|page=16|id={{Gale|A54944363}}}}</ref>

===Duopoly with KUSA===
On December 15, 2005, Newsweb announced it would sell KTVD to [[Gannett]], owner of Denver's [[NBC]] affiliate, [[KUSA]] (channel 9). This would form the second [[duopoly (broadcasting)|duopoly]] within Gannett, after the [[First Coast News]] stations in [[Jacksonville, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|date=December 16, 2005|page=C1|first=Dick|last=Kreck|work=The Denver Post|title=Ch. 9 owner to buy Ch. 20 - Gannett Co. would have two stations in Denver if deal OK'd }}</ref> The agreement required adjustment when, amid final negotiations, UPN announced its merger with [[The WB]] into [[The CW]]. That network would affiliate with KWGN-TV, which had been the WB affiliate.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 27, 2006|page=2D|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|title=KTVD deal in works}}</ref> The deal received FCC approval in June 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gannett.com/news/pressrelease/2006/pr062606.htm |title=Gannett completes the acquisition of KTVD-TV Channel 20 in Denver |work=Gannett Press Release |date=June 26, 2006 |access-date=August 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419114136/http://www.gannett.com/news/pressrelease/2006/pr062606.htm |archive-date=April 19, 2008 }}</ref> and was shortly followed by an affiliation agreement with [[MyNetworkTV]] to replace the closing UPN.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6352108.html?display=Breaking+News |title=MNT Signs Up Seven More |last=Romano|first=Allison |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=July 12, 2006 |access-date=August 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013195937/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6352108.html?display=Breaking+News |archive-date=October 13, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Denv060717">{{Cite news|title=Channel 20's 9 p.m. news to feature Channel 9 talent |page=F9|work=The Denver Post|date=July 17, 2006|first=Dick|last=Creck}}</ref> Few employees moved with KTVD from its offices in [[Englewood, Colorado|Englewood]] to KUSA.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 10, 2006|title=9News picks up Channel 20|page=2D|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|work=Rocky Mountain News}}</ref> Newsweb retained KUPN, the former KTVS, in the deal.<ref>{{Cite news|page=3|date=February 13, 2006|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|id={{ProQuest|225319614}}|first=John Michael|last=Higgins|title=Fast Track}}</ref>

KTVD, along with KUSA and several other Denver stations, was among the last major-market TV stations to provide high-power digital television. The reason related to myriad siting, permitting, and other challenges that impeded construction of a new digital TV tower on Lookout Mountain for the "Lake Cedar Group" (KCNC, KMGH, KUSA, KTVD) until an act of Congress broke the impasse.<ref>{{Cite news|title=New DTV Tower Boosts Four Stations|first=Glen|last=Dickson|date=March 10, 2008|work=Broadcasting & Cable|id={{Gale|A176365979}}|page=24}}</ref> KTVD provided high-power digital service before KUSA, by July 2008,<ref>{{Cite news|page=K2|first=David|last=Migoya|work=The Denver Post|title=Consumer Shopping Bag|date=July 20, 2008}}</ref> and both stations ceased analog broadcasting on April 16, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.westword.com/news/channel-12-host-aaron-harbers-digital-dilemma-5848311|work=Westword|date=April 21, 2009|first=Michael|last=Roberts|title=Channel 12 host Aaron Harber's digital dilemma}}</ref>

Gannett split in two on June 29, 2015, with one side specializing in print media and the other side specializing in broadcast and digital media. KUSA and KTVD were retained by the latter company, named [[Tegna Inc.|Tegna]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Separation of Gannett into two public companies completed|date = June 29, 2015|url = http://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/|publisher=Tegna|access-date = June 29, 2015}}</ref>

On August 19, 2025, [[Nexstar Media Group]] agreed to acquire Tegna for $6.2 billion.<ref name="NexacqTegna">{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark K. |date=August 19, 2025 |title=Nexstar Buying Tegna For $6.2 Billion |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/ |access-date=August 19, 2025 |website=TVNewsCheck |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819205146/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/ |archive-date= August 19, 2025}}</ref> In Denver, Nexstar already owns KDVR and KWGN-TV.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 19, 2025 |title=9News parent company Tegna sold to Nexstar, which owns Denver and Colorado Springs Fox affiliates |url=https://coloradosun.com/2025/08/19/colorado-9news-sold-tegna-nexstar/ |access-date=August 19, 2025 |work=[[The Colorado Sun]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Programming==
===Newscasts===
{{see|KUSA (TV)#News operation}}
Within months of Gannett's acquisition, KTVD began airing local news. On September 5, 2006, coinciding with the launch of MyNetworkTV, KTVD debuted a half-hour 9 p.m. newscast from KUSA;<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 2, 2006|title=Three stations premiere local news additions - 9News to produce nightly half-hour on Channel 20|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|work=Rocky Mountain News|page=8D}}</ref> three months later, the station added a weekday morning newscast extension from 7 to 9 a.m.<ref>{{Cite news|page=2D|date=December 4, 2006|title=9News team changes channels for two hours|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|work=Rocky Mountain News}}</ref> The 9 p.m. newscast was expanded to a full hour in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2010/04/19/channel-9-expands-newscasts/|date=April 19, 2010|title= Channel 9 expands newscasts |first=Joanne|last=Ostrow|work=The Denver Post}}</ref>

===Sports programming===
With KUSA, KTVD shares rights to the preseason games of the [[Denver Broncos]] of the [[NFL]]. In some years—such as 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2023—KTVD carried the entire preseason schedule, then comprising four games.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2014 |title=Preseason Broadcast Team Announced |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/preseason-broadcast-team-announced-13266069 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Denver Broncos |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2015 |title=Broncos and 9NEWS announce preseason broadcast team |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-and-9news-announce-preseason-broadcast-team-15655492 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Denver Broncos |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mason |first=Andrew |date=April 14, 2016 |title=Times, dates for Broncos' 2016 preseason schedule set |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/times-dates-for-broncos-2016-preseason-schedule-set-17023580 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Denver Broncos |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=May 17, 2023 |title=Broncos' 2023 preseason schedule finalized |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-2023-preseason-schedule-finalized |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Denver Broncos |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, of three preseason games, one was a national telecast, and the other two were split by KTVD and KUSA.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=May 15, 2024 |title=Broncos announce 2024 preseason schedule |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-announce-2024-preseason-schedule |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Denver Broncos|language=en-US}}</ref>

Beginning with the [[2024–25 NBA season]] and the [[2024–25 NHL season]], KTVD reached an agreement with [[Altitude Sports and Entertainment]] to simulcast 20 [[Denver Nuggets]] games and 20 [[Colorado Avalanche]] games. Ten games will also be simulcast on KUSA.<ref>{{cite web |title=Altitude Sports Announces New Ways to Watch Nuggets and Avalanche Games |url=https://www.altitudesports.com/newwaystowatch |work=Altitude Sports |date=September 26, 2024|access-date=September 26, 2024}}</ref> Altitude had previously distributed two nights of the [[2019–20 Denver Nuggets season|2019–20 Nuggets season]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.9news.com/article/sports/nba/denver-nuggets/denver-nuggets-home-opener-ktvd/73-16db1ccf-4866-40ee-99df-fb84d0643eb1|title=Nuggets home opener to air on KTVD on Friday|last=Oravetz|first=Janet|website=9news.com|publisher=[[Tegna Inc.]]|date=October 18, 2019|accessdate=January 15, 2022}}</ref> and two nights of the [[2019–20 Colorado Avalanche season|2019–20 Avalanche season]] in light of a near-total blackout of Altitude by pay television providers that caused ratings for the channel to drop by more than 70 percent.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.9news.com/article/sports/nhl/colorado-avalanche/avalanche-november-7-airs-ktvd/73-aa2270a4-a76d-4549-a1f6-106ca97d04a9|work=KUSA|first=Janet|last=Oravetz|title=Tonight's Colorado Avalanche game to air on Ch. 20|date=November 4, 2019|access-date=October 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.westword.com/news/altitude-tv-free-nuggets-and-avs-broadcasts-and-comcast-lawsuit-update-11652250|date=February 28, 2020|work=[[Westword]]|title=Nuggets, Avs on Free TV This Weekend, but No Break in Comcast Deadlock|first=Michael|last=Roberts}}</ref> KTVD agreed to simulcast ten [[Colorado Rockies]] games produced by [[MLB Local Media]] in the [[2025 Major League Baseball season|2025 MLB season]], with five of those scheduled for simulcast on KUSA.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirk |first=Alexander |date=March 26, 2025 |title=Colorado Rockies games are coming to 9NEWS |url=https://www.9news.com/article/sports/mlb/colorado-rockies/watch-colorado-rockies-games-9news-ktvd/73-ddbcf589-9f61-443e-9ebc-4edb92f1fd3f |website=[[KUSA]]}}</ref>

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
KTVD's transmitter is located atop [[Lookout Mountain Park|Lookout Mountain]] (near [[Golden, Colorado|Golden]]).{{r|FCC-LMS-68581}} The station's signal is [[Multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]: 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of KTVD<ref name="rei">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KTVD#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KTVD|website=[[RabbitEars]]|accessdate=September 18, 2024}}</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" | 20.1 
| [[720p]] || rowspan=6|[[16:9]] || KTVD-HD || [[MyNetworkTV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 20.2 
| rowspan=3|[[480i]] || H & I || [[Heroes & Icons]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 20.3 
| ShopLC || [[Shop LC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 20.4
| || [[Quest (American TV network)|Quest]] (soon)
|- style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"
! scope = "row" | [[KUSA (TV)|9.4]] 
| [[1080i]] || KUSA-HD || [[NBC]] ([[KUSA]])
|-
! scope = "row" | 9.7 
| 480i || ROAR || [[Roar (TV network)|Roar]]
|}
{{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}}

===Translators===
KTVD is broadcast by translator systems in parts of Colorado. Note that most transmitters listed only broadcast the main subchannel of KTVD, typically on the same transmitter as the main channel of other stations.{{r|rei}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 23, 2021|title=List of TV Translator Input Channels|url=https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/tv-translator-input-channels-07232021.xlsx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209195336/https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/tv-translator-input-channels-07232021.xlsx|archive-date=December 9, 2021|access-date=December 17, 2021|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>

* [[Anton, Colorado|Anton]]: K16NJ-D (20.1 and 20.2)
** [[Wray, Colorado|Wray]]: K14SA-D
* [[Holyoke, Colorado|Holyoke]]: K23OX-D (20.1 and 20.2)
** [[Idalia, Colorado|Idalia]]: K24EZ-D
** [[Pleasant Valley, Colorado|Pleasant Valley]]: K28IX-D
* [[Jacks Cabin, Colorado|Jacks Cabin]]: K24KR-D (20.1 only)
* [[Wray, Colorado|Wray]]: K16NH-D (full multiplex)

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.my20denver.com}}

{{Denver TV}}
{{MNTV Colorado}}
{{Nebraska TV}}
{{Wyoming TV}}
{{Tegna}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ktvd}}
[[Category:1988 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Heroes & Icons affiliates]]
[[Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates]]
<!-- [[Category:Quest (American TV network) affiliates]] -->
[[Category:Tegna Inc.]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1988]]
[[Category:Television stations in Denver|TVD]]