List of television stations in the San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area is currently defined by Nielsen Media Research as the tenth-largest television market in the United States,[1] with all of the major U.S. television networks having affiliates serving the region. All the major network affiliates are directly owned by the networks.
Despite the fact that Philo Farnsworth first demonstrated fully electronic television in San Francisco in 1928, there were no experimental prewar television stations broadcasting in the Bay Area. KPIX, San Francisco's first television station, started broadcasts in 1948, with KRON and KGO soon following suit. Until 1952, the FCC had allocated only 6 television channels to the Bay Area, but in 1954 KSAN [2] began transmitting on UHF channel 32 and KQED began educational programming on channel 9. By 1956, the San Jose area had KNTV, and San Francisco had KRON, KPIX, KGO, KQED, and KSAN broadcasting. The ownership and programming of these stations has changed significantly over the decades, but most of these channel assignments and call signs remain the same. With the conversion from analog NTSC to digital ATSC broadcast modulation in 2009 and the subsequent "repacking" of the frequency assignments, only KICU and KMTP (originally KSAN) have kept their original RF channel. For branding and audience-familiarity reasons, most broadcasters have kept their virtual channel numbers through all the transitions.
Thanks to the sub-channels that are enabled by ATSC modulation, over 350 channels broadcast on the 33 RF frequencies allocated for digital television may be received within the Bay Area (UHF channels 16 and 17 are allocated for T-band business radio). Television stations whose terrestrial broadcast signals can be received in the San Francisco Bay Area include:[3][4][5]
| Callsign | Owner | City of License | VC | RF | Power (kW ERP) | Antenna Location & Height (ft. HAAT) | Network | Notes* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAXT-CD | Weigel Broadcasting | San Francisco, San Jose | 1-1 | 22.8 | 15 | Mount Allison @ 2257 ft. | Catchy Comedy | |
| KTVU | Fox Television Stations | Oakland | 2-1 | 7.1377 | 50 | Sutro Tower @ 1664 ft. | FOX | ATSC-3 / 4K resolution |
| 2-1 | 31.3 | 1000 | Sutro Tower @ 1680 ft. | FOX | "KTVU Fox 2" | |||
| 2-2 | 31.4 | FOX Weather | "FOXWX" | |||||
| 2-3 | 31.5 | Movies! | ||||||
| 2-4 | 31.6 | Buzzr | ||||||
| San Jose (Translator) | 2-1 | 26.3 | 2 | Monument Peak @ 2149 ft. | FOX | "KTVU Fox 2" | ||
| 2-2 | 26.4 | FOX Weather | ||||||
| 2-3 | 26.5 | Movies! | ||||||
| 2-4 | 26.6 | Buzzr | ||||||
| KURK-LD | One Ministries | San Francisco | 3-1 | 3.3 | 2.5 | Mt. Tamalpais @ 2156 ft. | theDove TV | |
| 3-2 | 3.2 | CMC-USA | ||||||
| 3-3 | 3.1 | CMC | ||||||
| 3-4 | 3.4 | Ace TV | ||||||
| 3-5 | 3.5 | Blues Television Network[6] | "BTN" | |||||
| 3-6 | 3.6 | Family Channel | ||||||
| 3-7 | 3.7 | Retro TV | ||||||
| 3-8 | 3.8 | KTSF | ||||||
| 3-9 | 3.9 | Heartland | ||||||
| 3-10 | 3.10 | AUN | ||||||
| KRON | Nexstar Media Group | 4-1 | 7.1376 | 50 | Sutro Tower @ 1664 ft. | The CW | ATSC-3 / 4K resolution | |
| 4-1 | 31.7 | 1000 | Sutro Tower @ 1680 ft. | The CW | KTVU transmitter | |||
| 4-2 | 13.8 | 95 | San Bruno Mountain @ 1375 ft. | Antenna TV | KNTV transmitter | |||
| 4-3 | 28.9 | 1000 | Sutro Tower @ 1609 ft. | Rewind TV | KPYX transmitter | |||
| 4-4 | 28.10 | Roar | ||||||
| 4-5 | 12.7 | 47 | Sutro Tower @ 1708 ft. | Defy | KGO-TV transmitter | |||
| KPIX | CBS News and Stations | 5-1 | 7.1379 | 50 | Sutro Tower @ 1664 ft. | CBS | ATSC-3 / 4K resolution | |
| 5-1 | 29.1 | 1000 | Sutro Tower @ 1679 ft. | CBS | "CBS Bay Area" | |||
| 5-2 | 29.2 | Start TV | ||||||
| 5-3 | 29.3 | Dabl | ||||||
| 5-4 | 29.4 | Fave TV | ||||||
| 5-5 | 29.5 | Comet | ||||||
| KBKF-LD | Venture Technologies Group | San Jose | 6-1 | 6.1 | 2 | Loma Prieta @ 2549 ft. | Suno 87.7 | FM radio station "Suno" at 87.7 MHz |
| 6-2 | 6.2 | UChannel[7] | ATSC-3 | |||||
| KGO-TV | ABC Owned Television Stations | San Francisco | 7-1 | 7.138 | 50 | Sutro Tower @ 1664 ft. | ABC | ATSC-3 / 4K resolution |
| 7-1 | 12.3 | 47 | Sutro Tower @ 1708 ft. | ABC | "ABC7" | |||
| 7-2 | 12.4 | Localish | ||||||
| 7-3 | 12.5 | Charge! | ||||||
| 7-4 | 12.6 | HSN | "HSN" | |||||
| San Jose | 7-1 | 35.3 | 12 | Mount Allison @ 1959 ft. | ABC | "ABC7" | ||
| 7-2 | 35.4 | Localish | ||||||
| 7-3 | 35.5 | Charge! | ||||||
| 7-4 | 35.4 | HSN | ||||||
| KQSL | One Ministries | Cloverdale | 8-1 | 8.1 | 26 | Cahto Peak @ 2441 ft. | TLN | |
| 8-2 | 8.2 | Daystar | ||||||
| KQED | KQED, Inc. | San Francisco | 9-1 | 30.1 | 1000 | Sutro Tower @ 1679 ft. | PBS | |
| 9-2 | 30.2 | PBS | "KQED Plus" | |||||
| 9-3 | 30.3 | PBS World | ||||||
| 9-4 | 30.4 | PBS Kids | ||||||
| KNTV | NBC Owned Television Stations | San Jose | 11-1 | 7.1378 | 50 | Sutro Tower @ 1664 ft. | NBC | ATSC-3 / 4K resolution |
| 11-1 | 13.3 | 95 | San Bruno Mountain @ 1375 ft. | NBC | "NBC Bay Area" | |||
| 11-2 | 13.4 | Cozi TV | ||||||
| 11-3 | 19.5 | 500 | Mount Allison @ 2306 ft. | NBC | KSTS transmitter | |||
| 11-4 | 19.6 | Cozi TV | KSTS transmitter | |||||
| 11-5 | 13.7 | 95 | San Bruno Mountain @ 1375 ft. | NBC American Crimes | ||||
| KPJC-LD | Jeff Chang | San Francisco | 12-1 | 11.1 | .07 | San Bruno Mountain @ 1170 ft. | News of the World[8] | |
| 12-2 | 11.2 | RVTV | ||||||
| 12-3 | 11.3 | Infomercials | ||||||
| 12-4 | 11.4 | OnTV4U | ||||||
| 12-5 | 11.5 | American Country Network[9] | ||||||
| KDTV | TelevisaUnivision | 14-1 | 7.1381 | 50 | Sutro Tower @ 1664 ft. | Univision | ATSC-3 / 4K resolution | |
| 14-1 | 20.1 | 475 | Mount Allison @ 2301 ft. | Univision | "Univision 14" | |||
| 14-3 | 20.3 | GetTV | ||||||
| 14-4 | 20.4 | Ion Mystery | ||||||
| KQTA-LD | One Ministries | 15-1 | 14.5 | 15 | Sutro Tower @ 1574 ft. | Jewelry TV | KDTS-LD Multiplex | |
| 15-2 | 14.6 | KQSL | ||||||
| 15-3 | 14.7 | Crossings TV[10] | ||||||
| 15-4 | 14.8 | MBC America[11] | ||||||
| 15-5 | 14.9 | Newsmax2 | ||||||
| 15-6 | 14.4 | KEDB | ||||||
| 15-7 | 14.18 | K-Love audio | ||||||
| 26-11 | 14.10 | KTSF | ||||||
| KFMY-LD | One Ministries | Petaluma | 15-1 | 6.5 | .1 | Sonoma Mountain @ 1331 ft. | Jewelry TV | |
| 15-2 | 6.6 | KQSL | ||||||
| 15-3 | 6.7 | Crossings TV[12] | ||||||
| 15-4 | 6.8 | MBC America[13] | ||||||
| 15-5 | 6.9 | Newsmax2 | ||||||
| 15-6 | 6.4 | KEDB | ||||||
| 15-7 | 6.18 | K-Love audio | ||||||
| 26-11 | 6.10 | KTSF | ||||||
| 30-1 | 6.11 | Estrella TV | ||||||
| KZHD-LD | One Ministries | Rohnert Park | 15-1 | 22.5 | 2.6 | Sonoma Mountain @ 1331 ft. | Jewelry TV | |
| 15-2 | 22.6 | KQSL | ||||||
| 15-3 | 22.7 | Crossings TV[14] | ||||||
| 15-4 | 22.8 | MBC America[15] | ||||||
| 15-5 | 22.9 | Newsmax2 | ||||||
| 15-6 | 22.4 | KEDB | ||||||
| 15-7 | 22.18 | K-Love audio | ||||||
| 26-11 | 22.10 | KTSF | ||||||
| 30-1 | 22.11 | Estrella TV | ||||||
| KSCZ-LD | Venture Technologies Group | San Jose, San Francisco | 16-1 | 23.3 | 15 | Mount Allison @ 2263 ft. | KDHL[16] | |
| 16-2 | 23.4 | VCAL[17] | "Hahn Le" | |||||
| 16-3 | 23.5 | VietSky[18] | ||||||
| 16-4 | 23.6 | VLife | ||||||
| 16-5 | 23.7 | QHTV | ||||||
| 16-6 | 23.8 | NetViet[19] | ||||||
| 16-7 | 23.9 | AWM-TV[20] | ||||||
| 16-8 | 23.10 | VBS[21] | KJLA 57.6 | |||||
| 16-9 | 23.11 | UChannel[22] | ||||||
| 16-10 | 23.12 | VNA-TV[23] | ||||||
| 16-11 | 23.13 | SBTN | KJLA 57.22 | |||||
| 16-12 | 23.14 | IBC-TV[24] | ||||||
| 16-14 | 23.15 | Viet Vegas TV | ||||||
| 16-15 | 23.16 | Ventana TV[25] | ||||||
| 16-16 | 23.17 | VietMedia TV[26] | ||||||
| 16-17 | 23.18 | ChidaTV[27] | ||||||
| KQSL-LD | One Ministries | San Rafael | 17-1 | 4.1 | 3 | Mt. Tamalpais @ 2156 ft. | theDove TV | |
| 17-2 | 4.2 | CMC-USA | ||||||
| 17-3 | 4.3 | CMC-USA | ||||||
| 17-4 | 4.4 | Ace TV | ||||||
| 17-5 | 4.5 | Blues Television Network[28] | "BTN" | |||||
| 17-6 | 4.6 | Family Channel | ||||||
| 17-7 | 4.7 | Retro TV | ||||||
| 17-9 | 4.9 | Heartland | ||||||
| 17-10 | 4.10 | AUN | ||||||
| 26-2 | 4.8 | KTSF | ||||||
| KMPX-LD | CNZ Communications | Petaluma | 18-1 | 21.3 | 15 | San Bruno Mountain @ 1312 ft. | Jewelry TV | KCNZ-CD Multiplex |
| KOFY-TV | CNZ Communications | San Francisco | 20-1 | 21.7 | 15 | San Bruno Mountain @ 1312 ft. | Merit Street | KCNZ-CD Multiplex |
| 20-2 | 21.8 | Grit | ||||||
| 20-3 | 21.6 | Positiv | ||||||
| 20-7 | 21.14 | CRTV | ||||||
| 20-8 | 21.10 | Fun Roads[29] | ||||||
| KRCB | Rural California Broadcasting Corp. | Cotati | 22-1 | 5.1 | 18.6 | Sutro Tower @ 1520 ft. | PBS | |
| 22-2 | 5.2 | Create | "KRCB-C" | |||||
| 22-3 | 5.3 | NHK World | ||||||
| KMMC-LD | Major Market Broadcasting | San Francisco | 24-1 | 14.16 | 15 | Sutro Tower @ 1574 ft. | Diya TV | KDTS-LD Multiplex |
| 24-7 | 14.15 | OAN Plus | ||||||
| 24-8 | 14.13 | AWE Plus | ||||||
| 30-1 | 14.11 | Estrella TV | ||||||
| 30-2 | 14.12 | Novelisima/Infomerciales en español | ||||||
| 30-6 | 14.14 | VBS[30] | KJLA 57.6 | |||||
| KTSF | Lincoln Broadcasting Company | 26-1 | 20.5 | 475 | Mount Allison @ 2301 ft. | Asian | KDTV Multiplex | |
| 26-3 | 20.6 | Sino TV | ||||||
| 26-5 | 20.7 | Vietday | ||||||
| KUKR-LD | One Ministries | Santa Rosa | 26-2 | 26.8 | 6 | Santa Rosa @ 873 ft. | KTSF | |
| 27-1 | 26.1 | theDove TV | ||||||
| 27-2 | 26.2 | CMC-USA | ||||||
| 27-3 | 26.3 | CMC | ||||||
| 27-4 | 26.4 | Ace TV | ||||||
| 27-5 | 26.5 | Blues Television Network[31] | "BTN" | |||||
| 27-6 | 26.6 | Family Channel | ||||||
| 27-7 | 26.7 | Retro TV | ||||||
| 27-9 | 26.9 | Heartland | ||||||
| 27-10 | 26.10 | AUN | ||||||
| KCNZ-CD | CNZ Communications | San Francisco | 28-1 | 21.1 | 15 | San Bruno Mountain @ 1312 ft. | LATV | |
| 28-2 | 21.2 | Mariavision[32] | ||||||
| 28-4 | 21.4 | Jewelry TV | ||||||
| 28-5 | 21.5 | Jewelry TV | ||||||
| 28-6 | 21.6 | ShopLC | ||||||
| KDTV-CD | TelevisaUnivision | Santa Rosa | 28-1 | 21.1 | 11 | Mount Saint Helena @ 2949 ft. | Univision | |
| 28-2 | 21.2 | UniMás | ||||||
| 28-3 | 21.3 | Get TV | ||||||
| 28-4 | 21.4 | Ion Mystery | ||||||
| 28-5 | 21.5 | True Crime Network | ||||||
| KMTP | Minority Television Project | San Francisco | 32-1 | 32.1 | 15 | San Bruno Mountain @ 1312 ft. | K-pop, NASA TV, DW-TV | KCNS Multiplex |
| KICU-TV | Fox Television Stations | San Jose | 36-1 | 36.3 | 550 | Monument Peak @ 2251 ft. | MyNetworkTV | "KTVU Plus" |
| 36-2 | 36.4 | KBS America | ||||||
| 36-3 | 36.5 | Nosey[33] | ||||||
| 36-4 | 36.6 | Catchy Comedy | ||||||
| 36-5 | 36.7 | QVC | ||||||
| KCNS | RNN | San Francisco | 38-1 | 32.1 | 1000 | Sutro Tower @ 1679 ft. | Shop LC | |
| 38-2 | 32.2 | Sky Link TV | ||||||
| 38-3 | 32.12 | Sonlife | "SBN" | |||||
| 38-5 | 32.5 | blank | ||||||
| 38-6 | 32.10 | NTD America | ||||||
| KTNC-TV | Tri-State Christian Television | Concord | 42-1 | 32.3 | 1000 | TCT | KCNS Multiplex | |
| 42-2 | 32.6 | Jewelry TV | ||||||
| KPYX | CBS News and Stations | San Francisco | 44-1 | 28.1 | 1000 | Sutro Tower @ 1609 ft. | Independent | "KPIX+" |
| 44-2 | 28.2 | The Nest | ||||||
| 44-3 | 28.3 | MeTV | ||||||
| 44-4 | 28.4 | Confess | ||||||
| 44-5 | 28.5 | QVC2 | ||||||
| KQRO-LD | Innovate Corp. | Morgan Hill | 45-1 | 2.1 | 3 | Loma Prieta @ 2388 ft. | Sports First TV | |
| 45-2 | 2.2 | Fubo Sports Network | ||||||
| 45-3 | 2.3 | Timeless TV | ||||||
| 45-4 | 2.4 | 365BLK | ||||||
| 45-5 | 2.5 | Outlaw | ||||||
| 45-6 | 2.6 | Binge TV | ||||||
| 45-7 | 2.7 | Salem News Channel | ||||||
| KSTS | NBCUniversal Telemundo Station Group | San Jose | 48-1 | 19.3 | 500 | Mount Allison @ 2306 ft. | Telemundo | "Telemundo 48" |
| 48-2 | 19.4 | TeleXitos | ||||||
| 48-3 | 13.5 | 95 | San Bruno Mountain @ 1375 ft. | Telemundo | "Telemundo 48" | |||
| 48-4 | 13.6 | TeleXitos | KNTV transmitter | |||||
| 48-5 | 19.5 | 500 | Mount Allison @ 2306 ft. | NBC American Crimes | ||||
| 48-6 | 19.6 | Oxygen | ||||||
| KEMO-TV | Innovate Corp. | Fremont | 50-1 | 32.7 | 1000 | Sutro Tower @ 1679 ft. | QVC+ Everyday Refresh | KCNS Multiplex |
| 50-2 | 32.8 | New Tang Dynasty Television | ||||||
| 50-3 | 32.9 | Timeless TV | ||||||
| 50-4 | 32.11 | Outlaw | ||||||
| 50-5 | 32.13 | CRTV | ||||||
| KDTS-LD | Word of God Fellowship | San Francisco | 52-1 | 14.1 | 15 | Sutro Tower @ 1574 ft. | Daystar | |
| 52-2 | 14.2 | Daystar Español | ||||||
| 52-3 | 14.3 | Daystar Reflections | ||||||
| KDAS-LD | Word of God Fellowship | Santa Rosa | 52-1 | 25.1 | 3 | Santa Rosa @ 873 ft. | Daystar | |
| 52-2 | 25.2 | Daystar Español | ||||||
| 52-3 | 25.3 | Daystar Reflections | ||||||
| KQEH | KQED, Inc. | San Francisco | 54-1 | 30.2 | 1000 | Sutro Tower @ 1679 ft. | PBS | "KQED Plus" |
| 54-2 | 30.1 | PBS | ||||||
| 54-3 | 30.3 | PBS World | ||||||
| 54-4 | 30.4 | PBS Kids | ||||||
| KPJK | Rural California Broadcasting Corp. | San Mateo | 60-1 | 27.3 | 465 | Sutro Tower @ 1699 ft. | non-commercial Independent | |
| 60-2 | 27.4 | France 24 | ||||||
| 60-3 | 27.5 | NHK World | ||||||
| 60-4 | 27.6 | DW-TV | ||||||
| 60-5 | 27.7 | First Nations Experience | FNX | |||||
| 60-6 | 27.8 | KRCB-FM Audio | ||||||
| KKPX-TV | E. W. Scripps Company | San Jose | 65-1 | 33.3 | 510 | San Bruno Mountain @ 1417 ft. | Ion | |
| 65-2 | 33.4 | Bounce TV | ||||||
| 65-3 | 33.5 | Court TV | ||||||
| 65-4 | 33.6 | Ion Plus | ||||||
| 65-5 | 33.7 | Laff | ||||||
| 65-6 | 33.8 | Busted | ||||||
| 65-7 | 33.9 | Game Show Central | ||||||
| 65-8 | 33.10 | QVC | ||||||
| KFSF | TelevisaUnivision | Vallejo | 66-1 | 34.1 | 370 | Sutro Tower @ 1634 ft. | UniMás | "UniMás 66" |
| 66-2 | 34.2 | Univision | KDTV | |||||
| 66-3 | 34.3 | MovieSphere Gold | ||||||
| 66-4 | 34.4 | Grit | ||||||
| 66-5 | 34.5 | True Crime | ||||||
| 66-6 | 34.6 | Infomercials | ||||||
| KTLN-TV | Weigel Broadcasting | Palo Alto | 68-1 | 22.3 | 15 | Mount Allison @ 2257 ft. | Heroes & Icons | KAXT-CD Multiplex |
| 68-2 | 22.4 | MeTV | ||||||
| 68-3 | 22.5 | Story Television | ||||||
| 68-4 | 22.6 | MeTV+ | ||||||
| 68-5 | 22.7 | Quest | ||||||
| 68-6 | 22.9 | MeTV Toons | ||||||
| 68-7 | 22.10 | WEST |
- Words in quotation marks indicate what is broadcast in the "station info" area instead of the call sign or the network being broadcast.
KBKF-LD additionally transmits with an experimental analog FM radio subcarrier that is accessible at 87.7 MHz.[34]
Defunct stations
[edit]- 27 KEXT-CD/San Jose (1994–2017)
- 32 KSAN-TV–KNEW-TV–KQEC/San Francisco (1954–1972, 1977–1979, 1980–1988)
- 38 KUDO–KVOF-TV/San Francisco (1968–1985)
- 42 KCFT-TV/Concord (1966)
San Francisco/San Jose Cable Stations
[edit]- CBS News Bay Area - Pairs with KPIX (CBS) & KPYX (KPIX+)
- Comcast Hometown Network - Defunct
- CreaTV San Jose - Public access channel
- NBC Sports Bay Area - Broadcasts some games on KNTV/San Jose & KSTS/San Jose
- NBC Sports California - Broadcasts some games on KNTV/San Jose & KSTS/San Jose
References
[edit]- ^ "2024-2025 Nielsen DMA Ranking". October 27, 2022.
- ^ "KSAN". May 24, 2024.
- ^ "Station Index – San Francisco – Oakland – San Jose". Retrieved March 18, 2013.
- ^ "Stations for San Francsico". Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ "Digital Television / HDTV Channels for San Francsico". Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ "Blues Television Network". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "UChannel". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "News of the World". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "American Country Network". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Crossings TV". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "MBC America". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Crossings TV". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "MBC America". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Crossings TV". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "MBC America". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "KDHL". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "VCAL". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "VietSky". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "NetViet". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "AWM-TV". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "VBS". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "UChannel". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "VNA-TV". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "IBC-TV". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Ventana TV". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "VietMedia TV". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "ChidaTV". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Blues Television Network". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Fun Roads". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "VBS". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Blues Television Network". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Mariavision". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Nosey". December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Re: Request for Special Temporary Authority: KBKF-LD, San Jose, CA" (correspondence from Barbara A. Kreisman, Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau), June 10, 2021 (FCC.gov)