KCCI

KCCI is a commercial television station based in Des Moines, Iowa, and affiliated with the CBS television network. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 8 and is owned by Hearst Television, the broadcasting division associated with Hearst Corporation. Its studios are located on Ninth Street in downtown Des Moines, while its main transmitter is in Alleman. KCCI's primary business is the production and distribution of local news, weather, traffic, public-affairs programming, syndicated entertainment and network television across central Iowa. The station began broadcasting on July 31, 1955, as KRNT-TV. It was the third television station to sign on in the Des Moines market and the ninth in Iowa. Its original ownership was tied to the Cowles family, publishers of The Des Moines Register and the Des Moines Tribune, as well as operators of KRNT radio. The station's early identity and CBS relationship were closely connected to the radio operation's long-standing association with the CBS Radio Network. The call sign KRNT reflected the informal name associated with the Register and Tribune newspapers. Although KSO radio interests initially held part of the television permit, KRNT interests acquired the other share after regulatory approval. Ownership and identity changed as United States broadcast-ownership rules evolved. In 1974, the television station changed its call letters from KRNT-TV to KCCI-TV after the Cowles interests sold related Des Moines radio properties to Stauffer Communications. The new calls represented Cowles Communications, Inc. The Cowles media group later disposed of most of its assets. KCCI and WESH in Florida were sold to H&C Communications in 1983, then to Pulitzer in 1993. Hearst-Argyle Television acquired Pulitzer's television holdings in 1998; the station subsequently became part of Hearst Television. KCCI has historically been one of the strongest local news operations in the Des Moines market. Its competitive position benefited from the Cowles family's newspaper heritage and the station's long association with local reporting. KCCI has competed principally with WHO-TV and WOI-TV, and at various times has led the market in multiple news dayparts. Its newsroom has received national and regional Edward R. Murrow recognition, along with awards from the National Press Photographers Association. The station has also been associated with notable broadcasting personnel, including sports director Pete Taylor, reporter and sports director Heidi Soliday, and longtime local television figures such as Bill Riley Sr. and Dolph Pulliam. KCCI expanded its digital and multiplatform presence over time. It introduced high-definition digital television on its primary channel in 2002, launched a 24-hour weather service called Weather Now on digital subchannel 8.2 in 2006, and replaced that service with MeTV in 2011. The station later added a 9 p.m. local newscast to the MeTV outlet in 2016. KCCI's website has operated under KCCI.com since 2005, following an earlier period when the site was branded The Iowa Channel. The station began broadcasting local news in 16:9 widescreen in 2009 and completed its transition to high-definition local newscasts in 2011. KCCI's analog signal ended in 2009 as part of the United States digital television transition, with the digital signal moving to VHF channel 8. The station subsequently sought authorization for a fill-in translator to address reception issues but canceled that permit in 2013. A prominent downtown weather beacon, once attached to the station's auxiliary tower, was a recognizable Des Moines landmark. It was repaired after an ice storm in 2010 but permanently shut down in 2012. In July 2024, KCCI expanded its local schedule with an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast. The station remains an active local television brand focused on news, weather and community service for the Des Moines area.

KCCI began broadcasting on July 31, 1955, under the call sign KRNT-TV. It was established as the third television station in Des Moines and the ninth in Iowa. The station was developed by interests associated with the Cowles family, whose media holdings included The Des Moines Register, The Des Moines Tribune and KRNT radio. A competing KSO radio interest initially held a minority share connected with the channel 8 permit, but KRNT acquired that interest after the Federal Communications Commission approved the station. The original broadcast schedule was limited to roughly five or six hours per day, with a short late-evening news program. From its launch, KRNT-TV was affiliated with CBS. That relationship reflected the established CBS connection of KRNT radio and remained continuous as the station changed ownership and branding. In 1974, after the Cowles interests sold KRNT radio and the related FM property to Stauffer Communications, the television station changed its call sign to KCCI-TV. The change reflected Cowles Communications, Inc., and also complied with broadcast call-letter rules then affecting separately owned radio and television stations in the same market. The Cowles media empire expanded into other broadcasting properties but began a major breakup in the early 1980s. In 1983, KCCI and WESH were sold to H&C Communications. KCCI was later acquired by Pulitzer in 1993 after an earlier proposed transaction involving Young Broadcasting did not proceed. Hearst-Argyle Television purchased Pulitzer's television holdings in 1998. Hearst Television later became the station's operating owner and remains responsible for its management and broadcast-group affiliation. KCCI developed its digital operations in stages. It began high-definition digital television on its primary service in 2002. In 2006, the station launched Weather Now, a round-the-clock local weather service carried on digital subchannel 8.2, selected cable systems and the station website. Weather Now ended in 2011, when 8.2 became a MeTV outlet. KCCI subsequently used the subchannel for a 9 p.m. local newscast beginning in 2016, including schedule adjustments when network sports coverage displaced regular programming. The station's web identity also evolved. For several years it used The Iowa Channel branding, with KCCI.com redirecting to that address. In October 2005, the station restored KCCI.com as its principal web identity, while retaining the earlier address as a redirect. KCCI was the first Des Moines station to present local news in 16:9 widescreen in 2009. Its local newscasts remained enhanced-definition widescreen until April 2011, when the station completed its move to high-definition local news production. KCCI has traditionally been a major competitor in the Des Moines local-news market. Its connection to The Des Moines Register helped establish a strong local-news identity, and the station has frequently competed for first place with WHO-TV and WOI-TV. Ratings leadership has varied by period and daypart, but the station regained broad strength in 2013 after close competition in the preceding years. Its journalism has received national and regional Edward R. Murrow awards, while its visual journalism has been recognized by the National Press Photographers Association. The station has also played a visible role in the Des Moines civic landscape. A 200-foot weather beacon attached to the downtown studio tower became a local landmark. The beacon used different colors to communicate forecast conditions, was deactivated during the 1970s energy crisis, restored in 1987, repaired after a 2010 ice storm and permanently shut down in September 2012. KCCI ended its analog transmission on June 12, 2009, and continued digitally on VHF channel 8 after the national analog-to-digital transition. A proposed fill-in translator intended to improve reception was later canceled. In 2024, KCCI expanded its schedule with an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast, reinforcing the station's emphasis on local information programming. It continues to operate as a CBS-affiliated Hearst Television station serving Des Moines and central Iowa through broadcast, digital subchannels, its website and other digital distribution channels.

1. 2024KCCI expands afternoon news

   The station launches an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast.

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2. 2016MeTV subchannel adds local news

   KCCI begins a 9 p.m. newscast on its MeTV digital subchannel.

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3. 2012Downtown weather beacon is retired

   The station permanently shuts down its long-standing weather beacon after decades as a Des Moines landmark.

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4. 2011Local newscasts move to high definition

   KCCI completes its transition from enhanced-definition widescreen local news to full high-definition production.

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5. 2009Digital transition and widescreen local news

   KCCI ends analog broadcasting during the United States digital transition and begins presenting local news in 16:9 widescreen.

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6. 2002Digital high-definition service begins

   KCCI begins broadcasting high-definition digital television on its primary service.

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7. 1998Hearst-Argyle acquires Pulitzer television holdings

   KCCI becomes part of Hearst-Argyle Television, the predecessor to Hearst Television.

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8. 1993Pulitzer acquires KCCI

   Pulitzer purchases KCCI from H&C Communications.

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9. 1983KCCI leaves Cowles ownership

   KCCI and WESH are sold to H&C Communications during the breakup of the Cowles media empire.

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10. 1974Call sign changes to KCCI-TV

    Following the sale of associated radio properties, the television station adopts the KCCI-TV call sign, derived from Cowles Communications, Inc.

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11. 1955KRNT-TV begins broadcasting

    The station signs on July 31 as KRNT-TV, becoming the third television station in Des Moines and the ninth in Iowa.

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A leading local-news and weather broadcaster for Des Moines and central Iowa, combining CBS network affiliation with a strong regional newsroom and digital distribution.

• KCCI CBS 8Broadcast television1955

  KCCI's primary broadcast service carries CBS network programming along with locally produced news, weather, public-affairs and community programming for Des Moines and central Iowa. The service operates on virtual channel 8 and has been affiliated with CBS since the station launched as KRNT-TV in 1955.

• KCCI NewsLocal news1955

  The station's local-news operation produces daily reporting, weather, traffic, breaking-news coverage and regionally focused investigative and public-interest content. KCCI has expanded its schedule over time, including a 9 p.m. newscast on its MeTV outlet and an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast added in 2024.

• Weather NowDigital weather channel2006

  Weather Now was a 24-hour local weather service launched by KCCI on digital subchannel 8.2. It was also distributed through a local cable channel and the station's website before being replaced by MeTV in 2011.

• MeTV Des MoinesDigital multicast television2011

  MeTV Des Moines occupies KCCI's digital subchannel 8.2 and carries MeTV programming. KCCI also used the outlet for a locally produced 9 p.m. newscast beginning in 2016, with scheduling adjustments when other programming required the slot.

• KCCI.comDigital news platform

  KCCI.com is the station's online news, weather and video platform. The site returned to the KCCI.com identity in 2005 after a period in which the station used The Iowa Channel branding and redirected visitors through that domain.

• 2024Add an hour-long 4 p.m. newscastProduct launch

  KCCI continued expanding its local-news schedule and daytime news presence.

  What changed. The station launched a one-hour 4 p.m. local newscast and rearranged syndicated programming.

  Aftermath. The change increased the station's scheduled weekday local-news output.

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• 2016Launch a 9 p.m. newscast on MeTVProduct launch

  KCCI sought to compete in the late-evening local-news segment with a program on its digital multicast service.

  What changed. The station added a 9 p.m. newscast to its MeTV subchannel.

  Aftermath. The newscast provided an additional local-news outlet and competed with a WHO-produced program carried by KDSM-TV.

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• 2011Replace Weather Now with MeTVStrategy

  KCCI had operated a 24-hour weather service on digital subchannel 8.2 since 2006.

  What changed. The station ended Weather Now and assigned the subchannel to MeTV programming.

  Aftermath. The subchannel continued as a multicast entertainment outlet and later also carried a KCCI-produced 9 p.m. newscast.

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• 2024KCCI adds a 4 p.m. newscast

  KCCI launched an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast and adjusted the schedule of syndicated daytime programs.

  Product launch
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• 2016KCCI adds a 9 p.m. newscast on MeTV

  The station introduced a 9 p.m. local newscast on its MeTV subchannel to compete with a WHO-produced program carried by KDSM-TV.

  Product launchCampaign
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• 2011KCCI replaces Weather Now with MeTV

  KCCI changed the programming of digital subchannel 8.2 from its weather channel to MeTV.

  Product launch
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• 2008KCCI reorganizes staff and eliminates six positions

  KCCI president and general manager Paul Fredericksen announced a staffing reorganization that eliminated six positions, including on-air roles.

  Leadership changeOther
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• 2006KCCI expands digital programming with Weather Now

  The station launched a 24-hour local weather service on digital subchannel 8.2, cable and its website.

  Product launch
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1. KCCI
2. KCCI official website