KATH-LD

KATH-LD developed from a group of low-power television facilities created to improve network access in Southeast Alaska. Its related Sitka operation, KSCT, initially operated as a cable-only service beginning in December 1994. It went over the air on May 1, 1995, as KSCT-LP, with Fox as its primary affiliation. The station was established by Dan Etulain, a broadcaster who had previously owned KTNL. Fox was selected in part because it was then the only major U.S. network broadly willing to affiliate with low-power stations. Early non-Fox programming came from National Empowerment Television and, after technical distribution changes, from Channel America, the Outdoor Channel, and the American Independent Network. The station also briefly carried WB programming. In June 1998, Etulain announced plans to launch KATH-LP as an NBC affiliate for Juneau. KSCT also moved toward NBC programming during this period. Delays involving equipment and cable carriage postponed KATH's debut until August 17, 1998. The launch expanded access to NBC in Juneau: previously, the area's NBC service was mainly supplied through cable carriage of Seattle's KING-TV, which was not part of the basic cable tier. KATH carried NBC programming and filled some non-network hours with recorded community events and high-school sports. It did not initially produce a conventional local newscast. The operation expanded through the acquisition of a separately licensed facility, K05JR, in a transaction completed in May 1999. K05JR retained a secondary WB affiliation for a time and later added UPN programming. Its call sign changed to KATH-LP in November 2001, although the station had already been promoted on air as KATH. By early 2003, KATH was carrying local newscasts produced by KTUU-TV in Anchorage, establishing the news-production relationship that became central to the station's service model. KATH ended analog terrestrial broadcasts in November 2011 and continued as a digital low-power station. Ownership changed during the 2010s. In November 2012, GCI announced a proposed purchase of KATH-LD and KSCT-LP from Etulain's North Star Television Network, along with KTVA in Anchorage. The FCC approved the transaction on October 29, 2013, and the stations became part of GCI's Denali Media Holdings portfolio. A dispute between GCI and KTUU interrupted KATH's news partnership in December 2013. The parties reached an agreement in February 2014, allowing the KTUU-supported news service to resume. Gray Television announced the purchase of KATH-LD and KSCT-LP in May 2020, and the transaction closed on July 31 of that year. The acquisition placed KATH within a statewide Gray station family that included KTUU-TV and KYES-TV in Anchorage and KTVF in Fairbanks. It also consolidated Gray's NBC presence across Alaska. KATH-LD now serves Juneau and Douglas from its downtown Juneau transmitter, while KSCT-LD operates as a related translator or rebroadcast outlet in Sitka. KATH programming is distributed through terrestrial transmission as well as cable and satellite systems serving Southeast Alaska. Its current service combines NBC programming with Alaska news supplied through the KTUU relationship and a broader Gray Media infrastructure.

1. 2020Gray completes acquisition

   Gray Television completes its purchase of KATH-LD and KSCT-LP on July 31.

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2. 2014KTUU news relationship resumes

   KATH restores its news partnership with KTUU after a temporary suspension.

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3. 2013GCI ownership receives FCC approval

   The FCC approves GCI's acquisition of KATH-LD and related stations on October 29.

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4. 2011Analog broadcasts end

   KATH-LD ends analog over-the-air transmission and continues as a digital low-power station.

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5. 2003KTUU news programming begins

   KATH begins simulcasting local newscasts produced by KTUU-TV in Anchorage.

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6. 2001K05JR adopts the KATH-LP call sign

   The related facility changes its call sign to KATH-LP on November 15.

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7. 1999K05JR acquisition is completed

   Etulain completes the purchase of K05JR, a facility later associated with the KATH identity.

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8. 1998KATH-LP launches as Juneau's NBC affiliate

   After equipment and carriage delays, KATH begins broadcasting on August 17.

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9. 1995KSCT-LP launches over the air

   The related Sitka station signs on over the air as a Fox affiliate on May 1.

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10. 1994KSCT begins cable-only operation

    The predecessor Sitka service begins operating as a cable-only station before its later over-the-air launch.

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A local low-power NBC television service for Southeast Alaska, combining network programming with regional news and community coverage supported by Gray Media's wider Alaska station group.

• KATH-LD channel 2Broadcast television station1998

  The station's primary service is a low-power digital television signal licensed to Juneau and Douglas. It carries NBC programming and regional content for Southeast Alaska, with a transmitter located in downtown Juneau.

• KSCT-LDTranslator and related station1995

  KSCT-LD serves Sitka as a translator or rebroadcast outlet for KATH-LD, carrying substantially identical programming. Its additional subchannels also carry CBS and MyNetworkTV programming.

• Alaska news serviceLocal news programming2003

  KATH's regional news offering is supported through a partnership with KTUU-TV in Anchorage. The arrangement supplies daily Alaska news while allowing KATH to maintain a Southeast Alaska distribution outlet.

• 2020Sale to Gray TelevisionM&A

  Denali Media Holdings announced the sale of KATH-LD and KSCT-LP after several years of GCI ownership.

  What changed. Gray Television agreed to acquire the stations and completed the transaction on July 31.

  Aftermath. KATH became part of Gray's Alaska station group and a sister station to KTUU-TV, KYES-TV, and KTVF.

  Source
• 2012Proposed sale to Denali Media HoldingsM&A

  KATH-LD and KSCT-LP were owned by Dan Etulain's North Star Television Network.

  What changed. GCI announced plans to acquire both stations through Denali Media Holdings.

  Aftermath. The transaction received FCC approval in 2013 and moved the stations into GCI's Alaska media group.

  Source
• 2003Adopt KTUU-produced newscastsStrategy

  KATH did not initially operate a full local newsroom after its launch.

  What changed. The station began simulcasting local newscasts produced by KTUU-TV in Anchorage.

  Aftermath. The partnership became the principal source of daily Alaska news carried by KATH.

  Source
• 1998Launch as a local NBC outletStrategy

  NBC programming in Juneau had previously been available mainly through cable carriage of Seattle's KING-TV, which was not carried on the basic cable tier.

  What changed. Dan Etulain launched KATH-LP as a low-power NBC affiliate and supplemented network programming with recorded community and high-school sports coverage.

  Aftermath. The launch gave Juneau a more accessible local NBC service and established the KATH identity in the market.

  Source

• 2020Gray Television announces acquisition of KATH-LD and KSCT-LP

  Gray Television announced that it would purchase KATH-LD and KSCT-LP from Denali Media Holdings.

  M&A
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• 2020Gray completes acquisition of KATH-LD and KSCT-LP

  The sale closed on July 31, making the Southeast Alaska stations part of Gray's Alaska station group alongside KTUU-TV, KYES-TV, and KTVF.

  M&A
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• 2014KATH and KTUU reach agreement to resume news partnership

  An agreement reached between GCI and KTUU restored the news relationship that supplied KATH with Alaska news programming.

  Other
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• 2013FCC approves Denali Media Holdings acquisition

  The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction involving KATH-LD, KSCT-LP, and KTVA, allowing the stations to join GCI's Alaska media portfolio.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2013KATH news partnership with KTUU is temporarily suspended

  KATH's news arrangement with Anchorage station KTUU-TV was suspended during a broader dispute between GCI and KTUU.

  Other
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• 2012GCI announces planned acquisition of KATH-LD, KSCT-LP, and KTVA

  GCI, through Denali Media Holdings, announced plans to acquire KATH-LD and KSCT-LP from North Star Television Network and KTVA in Anchorage from MediaNews Group.

  M&A
  Source

1. KATH-LD
2. KATH-LD official website