View source for KPHO-TV

{{Short description|Television station in Phoenix, Arizona}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = KPHO-TV
| logo = KPHO 2019 Logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_alt = A CBS eye in blue next to a thick sans serif "5", also in blue.
| image = Gray Arizona's Family logo.svg
| image_size = 200px
| image_alt = In an orange box, from top left: The white lettering "Arizona's Family" in a sans serif. Beneath, six yellow rays. To the right is a white line separating it from three symbols: the 3TV logo, the CBS 5 logo, and a black rounded rectangle with the uppercase white lettering "A Z F" and orange lettering "S" on two lines.
| branding = CBS 5; Arizona's Family
| digital = 17 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 5
| translators = ''see {{section link||Translators}}''
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''5.1:''' [[CBS]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| owner = [[Gray Media]]
| licensee = Gray Television Licensee, [[LLC]]
| location = [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
| country = United States
| airdate = {{start date and age|1949|12|04|p=y|br=yes}}
| callsign_meaning = "Phoenix"
| sister_stations = [[KTVK]], [[KPHE-LD]]
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 5 ([[VHF]], 1949–2009)
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|CBS (1949–1955)|[[NBC]] (secondary, 1949–1953)|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (secondary, 1949–1954)|[[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]] (secondary, 1949–1955)|[[Independent station|Independent]] (1955–1994)|[[NTA Film Network|NTA]] (secondary, 1956–1961)}}
| erp = 1,000 [[kW]]
| haat = {{ubl|{{convert|507|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}|{{convert|530|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (CP)}}
| facility_id = 41223
| coordinates = {{coord|33|20|2|N|112|3|43|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.azfamily.com/}}
}}

'''KPHO-TV''' (channel 5) is a [[television station]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]], United States, affiliated with [[CBS]]. It is owned by [[Gray Media]] alongside [[independent station]]s [[KTVK]] (channel 3) and [[KPHE-LD]] (channel 44), a group known together as "Arizona's Family". The three stations share studios on North Seventh Avenue in [[Encanto, Phoenix, Arizona|Uptown Phoenix]]; KPHO-TV's transmitter is located on [[South Mountains (Arizona)|South Mountain]] on the city's south side.

KPHO-TV signed on in 1949 as Arizona's first television station and the only one approved prior to a [[Federal Communications Commission#Freeze of 1948|nearly four-year freeze]] on new TV stations. It initially aired programming from all of the national networks, though it gradually lost them from 1953 onward as new stations signed on in the Phoenix area once the freeze ended. After losing CBS to [[KOOL-TV]] (channel 10) in 1955, channel 5 operated as an independent station for nearly 40 years, during which time it sometimes measured as the most-watched independent within its market in the United States; one of its productions, ''[[The Wallace and Ladmo Show]]'', was among the longest-running local children's programs in the country. However, in the 1980s and early 1990s, it faced stiff competition in the guise of new independent outlets [[KNXV-TV]] and [[KUTP]] and saw declining ratings.

The station rejoined CBS in 1994 as the result of a group affiliation deal between the network and the [[Meredith Corporation]], which owned the station for nearly 70 years, in the wake of channel 10 dropping CBS to affiliate with [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]. Though it had lower ratings than KTVK, CBS chose KPHO because of ties to Meredith in other cities. The CBS affiliation also forced the expansion of what had been a small news department into one broadcasting dozens of hours of local news a week.

In 2014, Meredith acquired KTVK as a spin-off of the merger of [[Gannett]] and the [[Belo Corporation]]; the two stations were combined under the Arizona's Family moniker, long associated with channel 3, in the KTVK studios but under KPHO-TV's management. Gray Television acquired Meredith's television division in 2021.

==History==

===Early history===
[[File:Westward Ho Tower.jpg|left|thumb|upright|The mast atop the [[Westward Ho (Phoenix, Arizona)|Westward Ho]] was built for and served as the first transmitter site of KPHO-TV.|alt=Refer to caption]]
On March 4, 1948, a consortium of four men doing business as the Phoenix Television Company—R. L. Wheelock, W. L. Pickens, H. H. Coffield, and John B. Mills—filed an application with the [[Federal Communications Commission]] for a construction permit to build a new television station on channel 5, which was granted on June 2.<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=85308 |title= History Cards for KPHO-TV|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}} ([[Wikipedia:WikiProject Radio Stations/History Cards|Guide to reading History Cards]])<!--Converted from {{FCC letter}}--></ref> This was the first application—and permit—for a television station in Arizona. The venture united Mills, the owner of downtown Phoenix's [[Westward Ho (Phoenix, Arizona)|Westward Ho]] hotel, with three Texas oilmen.<ref name="Ariz480401">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89544178/television-permit-asked/|date=April 1, 1948|page=13|title=Television Permit Asked|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 25, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011601/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89544178/television-permit-asked/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> By the time it incorporated with the state in June 1949, Phoenix Television, Inc. had gained several new shareholders, notably including John Mullins, who later owned other radio and television properties.<ref name="Ariz490602">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89544847/phoenix-video-firm-files-for/|date=June 2, 1949|page=1|title=Phoenix Video Firm Files For Incorporation|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 25, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011608/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89544847/phoenix-video-firm-files-for/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Another was Rex Schepp, the owner and manager of [[KGME|KPHO]] (then at 1230 AM; it moved to 910&nbsp;kHz in 1949), which was Phoenix's ABC radio outlet; Mills then bought a 29 percent interest in KPHO.<ref name="Tucs490623">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89544555/mills-buys-share-in-phoenix-radio/|date=June 23, 1949|page=1|agency=United Press|title=Mills Buys Share In Phoenix Radio|newspaper=Tucson Daily Citizen|location=Tucson, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 25, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011559/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89544555/mills-buys-share-in-phoenix-radio/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

By summer, construction had begun on a building adjacent to the Westward Ho, at 631 N. First Avenue, to house offices and studios for the station, which initially had the call letters KTLX. Phoenix Television also began work on a steel mast to be affixed to the structure for its antenna.<ref name="Ariz490729">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89544000/phoenix-video-station-goes-on-air/|date=July 29, 1949|page=27|title=Phoenix Video Station Goes On Air November 27|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 25, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89544000/phoenix-video-station-goes-on-air/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The KTLX call sign was dropped on October 4 in favor of KPHO-TV, to match the radio station.<ref name="Ariz491005">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89545750/tune-in-radio-readies-complete-world/|date=October 5, 1949|page=18|first=Ralph|last=Mahoney|title=Tune In: Radio Readies Complete World Series Coverage|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011605/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89545750/tune-in-radio-readies-complete-world/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Arizona's first television station began broadcasting on December 4, 1949; network coaxial cables had not reached Phoenix, so all programs were either on film or live.<ref name="Ariz491204">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28881076/phoenix-video-to-make-debut-today-as/|date=December 4, 1949|page=22|first=Ralph|last=Mahoney|title=Phoenix Video To Make Debut Today As New Audience Awaits Images|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011601/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28881076/phoenix-video-to-make-debut-today-as/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

For the next three and a half years, while the FCC froze all new awards of TV station construction permits, KPHO-TV remained the only television station in Phoenix and the state. In 1952, Phoenix Television sold the KPHO stations for $1.5 million to the [[Meredith Corporation]] of [[Des Moines, Iowa]], whose only broadcast holdings at the time consisted of [[WHEN-TV]] in [[Syracuse, New York]], and WOW [[KXSP|radio]] and [[WOWT|television]] in [[Omaha, Nebraska]].<ref name="DesM520626">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89546148/phoenix-tv-to-merediths/|date=June 26, 1952|page=9|title=Phoenix TV To Meredith's|newspaper=Des Moines Tribune|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011621/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89546148/phoenix-tv-to-merediths/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> [[Loretta Young]] and [[Irene Dunne]] were reported to be interested in the months leading up to the sale, offering $1.25 million, but the owners of KPHO were looking for $2 million at the time, only lowering their price because of the impending arrival of new TV stations.<ref>{{Cite news|title=KPHO (AM & TV) $1,5000,000 [sic] Sale|page=30|date=May 7, 1952|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|id={{ProQuest|962784715}} }}</ref> By 1953, KPHO-TV was programming 100 hours a week of network programming, with all four major networks of the time—[[CBS]], [[NBC]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], and [[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]]—represented.<ref name="Ariz530427">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89547002/tv-shows-likely-to-be-split-despite/|date=April 27, 1953|page=16|first=Maggie|last=Wilson|title=TV Shows Likely To Be Split Despite Bickering Over NBC|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011605/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89547002/tv-shows-likely-to-be-split-despite/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon -->

Local programming of the time included, at one point, three different live variety shows, as well as a show hosted by a young [[Marty Robbins]].<ref name="Ariz711205">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89549604/when-there-was-only-one-channel-the/|date=December 5, 1971|page=76, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89549642/ 78]|title=When there was only one channel: The wild and woolly days of television|newspaper=Arizona|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126024556/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89549604/when-there-was-only-one-channel-the/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> Other shows catered to women, kids, and sports fans.{{r|mccune}} In the station's last year as a network affiliate, another major event occurred in station history. Ken Kennedy had created a character called "Gold Dust Charlie" to host Western movies. A sidekick was added when [[Bill Thompson (television host)|Bill Thompson]], a 23-year-old artist, joined Charlie in the role of Wallace Sneed, Charlie's eastern cousin. Wallace soon became so popular that he received his own show of comedy sketches, ''It's Wallace''. A studio cameraman, [[Ladimir Kwiatkowski]], joined the show with his character Ladmo, and what would become known as ''[[The Wallace and Ladmo Show]]''—a KPHO-TV fixture for decades—was born.{{r|mccune}}

===The independent years===
[[File:"In Phoenix KPHO-TV is champ!" ad - from, The Radio Annual and Television Yearbook, 1955 (IA radioannua00radi) (page 354 crop).jpg|right|thumb|380x380px|"In Phoenix KPHO-TV is champ!" ad from the Radio Annual and Television Yearbook, 1955|alt=Refer to caption]]
The end of the FCC freeze in 1952 started the process that would bring to the Phoenix area three new television services within less than two years. The first of these stations launched on May 2, 1953: [[KTYL-TV]] channel 12 in [[Mesa, Arizona|Mesa]]. KTYL-TV took on NBC programming from KPHO-TV; it was speculated that Meredith might have let that network go on purpose, reasoning it was likely to lose it anyway if [[KTAR (AM)|KTAR]] radio, the Phoenix NBC radio affiliate, had its proposed television station approved.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85830286/networks-split-made-official/|first=Maggie|last=Wilson|title=Networks Split Made Official|page=3:6|work=The Arizona Republic|date=April 30, 1953|access-date=September 23, 2021|archive-date=September 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925044435/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85830286/networks-split-made-official/|url-status=live}}</ref> Phoenix got a second channel in October 1953, shared by [[KSAZ-TV|KOOL-TV and KOY-TV]], but channel 10 did not have a network affiliation; at the same time, CBS added KPHO-TV to the "must-buy" list on the rate card, which meant that the station would begin carrying some CBS programs (such as ''[[See It Now]]'') whose sponsors did not buy into Phoenix.<ref name="Ariz531020">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89546436/kpho-tv-on-must-buy-list/|date=October 20, 1953|page=12|first=Maggie|last=Wilson|title=Tune In: KPHO-TV On 'Must Buy' List|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011600/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89546436/kpho-tv-on-must-buy-list/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> However, channel 10 took on ABC programming in early 1954.<ref name="Ariz540115">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89546635/tune-in-channel-10-embraces-abc/|date=January 15, 1954|page=18|first=Maggie|last=Wilson|title=Tune In: Channel 10 Embraces ABC|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011605/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89546635/tune-in-channel-10-embraces-abc/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> KOOL-TV then relinquished ABC to KTVK, which went on the air in February 1955, and became the new CBS affiliate on June 15 of that year—starting nearly four decades of independent television at channel 5.<ref name="Ariz550615">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89546723/tune-in-cbs-switch-is-met-with-laughter/|date=June 15, 1955|page=27|title=Tune In: CBS Switch Is Met With Laughter|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89546723/tune-in-cbs-switch-is-met-with-laughter/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

As an independent station, KPHO-TV programming consisted of movies—during the late 1950s, the station was briefly affiliated with the [[NTA Film Network]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1956/1956-09-17-BC.pdf|date=September 17, 1956|work=Broadcasting|pages=56, 58|id={{ProQuest|1285731096}}|title=104 Sign Up For NTA Film Network, Due to Begin Operations on Oct. 15}}</ref>—and off-network series, as well as local news and other productions. The station moved its transmission facility from the Westward Ho to South Mountain (where channels 3, 10, and 12 were located) on July 15, 1960; the new, 100,000-watt signal at a greater height expanded the station's range, and it also resulted in the cable system in [[Flagstaff, Arizona|Flagstaff]] adding channel 5 for the first time.<ref name="Ariz591126">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89547736/kpho-quits-westward-ho-towers-use/|date=November 26, 1959|page=4|title=KPHO Quits Westward Ho Tower's Use|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011604/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89547736/kpho-quits-westward-ho-towers-use/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref name="Ariz600722">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89547946/tv-channel-5-starts-broadcasting-in/|date=July 22, 1960|page=10|title=TV Channel 5 Starts Broadcasting in Flagstaff|newspaper=Arizona Daily Sun|location=Flagstaff, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126011620/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89547946/tv-channel-5-starts-broadcasting-in/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> From 1966 to 1967, the station was the subject of a 13-month [[NABET]] strike, then the longest in state history, which ended when the workers disavowed the union by a vote of 49 to 3.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=2 Phoenix TV Stations Dump NABET and IBEW; Long KPHO Strike Ends|id={{ProQuest|1017154554}}|date=March 29, 1967|page=39}}</ref> In 1970, ground was broken on a new, {{convert|42000|ft2|m2|sp=us|adj=on}} studio facility on Black Canyon Highway south of Indian School Road, which the station occupied in 1971.<ref name="Ariz701115">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89549417/construction-of-new-kpho-studios-begun/|date=November 15, 1970|page=151|title=Construction of new KPHO studios begun|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126024551/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89549417/construction-of-new-kpho-studios-begun/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> During the 1970s, KPHO became a regional [[superstation]] that was available on [[cable television]] in much of Arizona and [[New Mexico]], as well as parts of [[California]]. By 1979, the station was on 43 cable systems serving more than 76,000 total subscribers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1979/1979-BC-YB.pdf#page=133|page=B-87|title=KPHO-TV|work=Broadcasting Yearbook|date=1979|via=World Radio History|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=October 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030223620/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1979/1979-BC-YB.pdf#page=133|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Meredith_TV5_logo.svg|thumb|upright=0.7|The Meredith-era "TV5" logo used from 1980 to 1993|alt=The stylized letters "tv" in lowercase, connecting, next to and matching a numeral 5]]
While KPHO-TV gained its first independent competition in 1967, with the arrival of [[KPAZ-TV]] on channel 21, the new outlet focused more on specialty and Spanish-language programs. It was little competition for channel 5, which was found by an American Research Bureau survey in 1975 to be the number-one independent station in the country in terms of viewing share. By this time, KPHO-TV was the third highest-rated station in Phoenix in total-day ratings, ahead of KTVK, long an underperforming ABC affiliate.<ref name="Ariz750701">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89551208/kpho-gets-top-rating/|date=July 1, 1975|page=B-12|first=Thomas|last=Goldthwaite|title=KPHO gets top rating|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126032653/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89551208/kpho-gets-top-rating/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> KPAZ-TV closed and reopened as a full-time religious outlet in 1977. Two years later, though, [[KNXV-TV]] channel 15, a hybrid independent and subscription television station, launched; it became a full-time independent in 1983. Even though channel 5 was the leading independent in the market, the upstart [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] opted to affiliate with channel 15 in 1986 after [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps-Howard Broadcasting]] purchased the station; Fox and KPHO could not agree on a time slot for ''[[The Late Show (1986 talk show)|The Late Show]]''.<ref name="Ariz860702">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29343682/pbs-series-provides-a-close-up-look-at/|date=July 2, 1986|page=E9|first=Bud|last=Wilkinson|title=PBS series provides a close-up look at life of Soviet citizens|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126080402/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29343682/pbs-series-provides-a-close-up-look-at/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Landing the Fox affiliation made KNXV a very strong competitor against KPHO. As the station attempted to move into a new era, another ended: ''The Wallace and Ladmo Show'' aired its last episode on December 29, 1989, when Wallace retired.<ref name="Ariz891129">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35699725/wallace-ladmo-to-sign-off-dec-29/|date=November 29, 1989|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89560426/ A2]|first=Hal|last=Mattern|title='Wallace & Ladmo' to sign off Dec. 29|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126073613/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35699725/wallace-ladmo-to-sign-off-dec-29/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> By 1991, with KNXV and 1985 startup [[KUTP]] cutting into channel 5's ratings alongside the rise of cable TV and the VCR, Barbara Holsopple, media writer for the ''[[Phoenix Gazette]]'', declared that KPHO was "fighting for its life".<ref>{{cite news|id={{ProQuest|245744919}} |page=C1|first=Barbara|last=Holsopple|title=Valley's premier station, KPHO, fighting for its life|date=July 18, 1991}}</ref>

Early in 1994, Meredith verbally agreed to affiliate KPHO with [[The WB]], which was set to launch the following year in January 1995, though the affiliation was never solidified in a written contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-05-30.pdf|date=May 30, 1994|work=Broadcasting & Cable|via=World Radio History|pages=6, 8|first=Geoffrey|last=Foisie|title=Fox and the New World order|id={{ProQuest|1505563545}}|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725013818/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-05-30.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Returning to CBS===
{{see|1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment}}
On May 23, 1994, [[New World Communications]] signed an [[1994 United States broadcast TV realignment|agreement with Fox to convert twelve of its stations]] to the network, resulting in a massive wave of affiliation switches throughout the country;<ref name=nytbusinessdigest>{{cite news|last=Carter|first=Bill|title=Fox Will Sign Up 12 New Stations; Takes 8 From CBS|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/24/us/fox-will-sign-up-12-new-stations-takes-8-from-cbs.html?pagewanted=4|access-date=October 22, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 24, 1994|archive-date=June 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625021414/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/24/us/fox-will-sign-up-12-new-stations-takes-8-from-cbs.html?pagewanted=4|url-status=live}}</ref> locally, KSAZ-TV—which New World was in the process of acquiring from [[Citicasters]]—was included in the deal. A month later, seeking to head off what would have been a disastrous outcome for the network, ABC renewed its affiliation agreement with the Scripps-owned ABC affiliates in Detroit and Cleveland and moved to Scripps stations in Tampa, Baltimore and Phoenix; Scripps successfully pressured ABC, which wanted to remain with top-rated KTVK, to move over to soon-to-be former Fox affiliate KNXV.<ref name="millerdec">{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=William |date=October 29, 1995 |title=Declaration of William Miller |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/151886 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630063726/https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/151886 |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=Comments of Southern Broadcast Corporation of Sarasota |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>

CBS now had two choices for a new Phoenix affiliate: KTVK and KPHO-TV. While the former was higher-rated, the latter had several strategic advantages relating to Meredith's ownership of other stations. It owned [[KCTV]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], a longtime CBS affiliate in a market where the NBC affiliation had become available, and it owned [[WNEM-TV]] in [[Bay City, Michigan]], an NBC affiliate whose signal covered the outer fringes of Detroit—a market where the network was about to be relegated to the UHF band. On June 30, 1994, CBS announced it had affiliated with KPHO-TV and WNEM-TV; Tony Malara, the head of CBS affiliate relations, noted that the Meredith–CBS partnership was a factor in the decision and denied that it had been pressured by threats from Meredith to change network affiliations in Kansas City.<ref name="Ariz940630">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33050928/eye-say-channel-5-called-up-to-majors/|date=June 30, 1994|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33051073/cbs-calls-up-channel-5-to-televisions/A7]|first=Hal|last=Mattern|title=Eye say! Channel 5 called up to majors; Homeless CBS picks longtime independent|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=June 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630063726/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33050928/eye-say-channel-5-called-up-to-majors/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> (It was not the first time CBS had looked at a return to channel 5. It had attempted to negotiate a purchase of the station from Meredith in 1988; despite CBS's long relationship with what was then KTSP-TV, network officials were interested in owning a station in the fast-growing [[Sun Belt]]. Ultimately, the two parties could not agree on a purchase price.<ref name="Ariz881129">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33915994/cbs-eye-looking-at-kpho/|date=November 29, 1988|page=C5, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33915986/cbs-reportedly-wants-to-buy-kpho-drop/ C10]|first=Bud|last=Wilkinson|title=CBS eye looking at KPHO?|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126075903/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33915994/cbs-eye-looking-at-kpho/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->)

CBS officially returned to KPHO on September 10, 1994,<ref name="Ariz940910" /> three days after New World's purchase of KSAZ-TV—which became an independent before affiliating with Fox three months later—was finalized. A $1 million promotion blitz was undertaken by Meredith and CBS, along with a planned doubling of the station's local news output.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/29/business/murdoch-s-raid-brings-a-shuffling-of-tv-stations-in-phoenix.html?pagewanted=1|title=Murdoch's Raid Brings a Shuffling of TV Stations in Phoenix|date=August 29, 1994|work=New York Times|page=2|access-date=October 22, 2009|first=Andy|last=Meisler|archive-date=June 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613154035/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/29/business/murdoch-s-raid-brings-a-shuffling-of-tv-stations-in-phoenix.html?pagewanted=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Becoming part of the "Family"===
{{see|KTVK#Sale to Meredith}}
In 2013, [[Gannett]]—owner of KPNX and ''[[The Arizona Republic]]''—announced it would merge with [[Belo Corporation|Belo]], which owned KTVK and [[KASW]] (channel 61). As FCC rules restrict one company from owning more than two television stations in the same market, Gannett announced that it would spin off KTVK and KASW to Sander Media, LLC, a company operated by former Belo executive Jack Sander, with their operations to remain largely separate from KPNX and ''The Republic''.<ref name="stlpd-saletosander">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Lisa |date=June 13, 2013 |title=Gannett to buy TV station owner Belo for $1.5&nbsp;billion |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/gannett-to-buy-tv-station-owner-belo-for-billion/article_31e7fb91-676f-50cb-825f-9f9f6a6e6f8c.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906170400/https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/gannett-to-buy-tv-station-owner-belo-for-billion/article_31e7fb91-676f-50cb-825f-9f9f6a6e6f8c.html |archive-date=September 6, 2020}}</ref> However, in St. Louis, Gannett owned NBC affiliate [[KSDK]] while Belo owned CBS affiliate [[KMOV]]. The [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] required the outright sale of one of the two St. Louis stations in lieu of a transfer to Sander, noting a combination of the two would put Gannett in a dominant position in the local advertising market.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ingram |first1=David |last2=Saba |first2=Jennifer |date=December 17, 2013 |title=U.S. clears Gannett purchase of Belo minus one TV station |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/16/us-gannett-belo-idUSBRE9BF17520131216 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217115258/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/16/us-gannett-belo-idUSBRE9BF17520131216 |archive-date=December 17, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2021 |work=Reuters|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Concurrent with the closure of the merger on December 23, 2013, Meredith announced it would acquire KMOV, KTVK, and assets used in KASW's operation, with the KASW license being transferred to [[SagamoreHill Broadcasting]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 23, 2013 |title=Meredith Buying Three Stations From Gannett |language=en |work=TVNewsCheck |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/meredith-buying-three-stations-from-gannett/ |access-date=November 26, 2021 |archive-date=November 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126052830/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/meredith-buying-three-stations-from-gannett/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The transaction closed in mid-2014, kicking off a period of integration of the two stations. On August 7, Meredith announced plans to merge the two stations' operations at KTVK's studio in the [[Central Avenue Corridor]], citing its significantly larger size in comparison to KPHO's facilities.<ref name=pbj-ktvkstudio>{{cite web|title=Channel 5 buys Channel 3's Phoenix studios for $9.9 million|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2014/08/07/channel-5-buys-channel-3-s-phoenixstudios-for-9-9.html|website=Phoenix Business Journal|access-date=August 7, 2014|date=August 7, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811194837/http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2014/08/07/channel-5-buys-channel-3-s-phoenixstudios-for-9-9.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The union of KTVK and KPHO-TV's news operations, marketed under the "Arizona's Family" banner long associated with KTVK, came with the loss of 14 jobs across both stations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Brandon |date=June 26, 2015 |title=TV merger leads to layoffs at Channel 3 and Channel 5 |work=Phoenix Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2015/06/26/tv-merger-leads-to-layoffs-at-channel-3-and.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418025741/http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2015/06/26/tv-merger-leads-to-layoffs-at-channel-3-and.html |archive-date=April 18, 2017}}</ref> KPHO general manager Ed Munson headed the combined operation until his 2018 retirement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gallen |first=Tim |date=July 10, 2018 |title=Long-time Phoenix TV station executive to retire |work=Phoenix Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2018/07/10/long-time-phoenix-tv-station-executive-to-retire.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630063743/https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2018/07/10/long-time-phoenix-tv-station-executive-to-retire.html |archive-date=June 30, 2021}}</ref>

===Sale to Gray Television===
On May 3, 2021, [[Gray Television]] announced its intent to purchase the Meredith Local Media division, including KPHO and KTVK, for $2.7&nbsp;billion. In Arizona, Gray already owned CBS affiliate [[KOLD-TV]] in [[Tucson]]. The sale was completed on December 1.<ref name=meredithdone>{{cite press release |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/12/01/2344524/0/en/GRAY-TELEVISION-CLOSES-ON-ACQUISITION-OF-MEREDITH-CORPORATION-S-LOCAL-MEDIA-GROUP.html |title=Gray Television Closes on Acquisition of Meredith Corporation's Local Media Group |agency=[[Globe Newswire]] |publisher=[[Gray Television]] |date=December 1, 2021}}</ref>

In 2024, Gray became the official television partner of the [[Arizona Cardinals]], taking over from KPNX. KPHO-TV and KOLD-TV will air preseason games, while the Arizona's Family group will offer additional team-related programming as well as [[high school football]] and [[flag football]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cortez |first=Alexis |date=June 3, 2024 |title=Arizona's Family & Arizona Cardinals launch multi-year partnership deal |url=https://www.azfamily.com/2024/06/03/arizonas-family-arizona-cardinals-launch-multi-year-partnership-deal/ |access-date=June 8, 2024 |website=Arizona's Family |language=en}}</ref>

==News operation==
KPHO-TV has operated a news department since it signed on. In the early days, there were no news film facilities that permitted [[Photographic processing|processing of film]] in the state; all film had to be processed in California. This changed in 1952, when Ralph Painter figured out how to project processed film from a [[Negative (photography)|negative]], saving time; this allowed him to get footage of a ballroom fire on the air—which he had processed in his own bathtub—in hours, not days.<ref name="mccune">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89560192/channel-5-celebrates-50-years/|date=November 28, 1999|page=E7, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89560209/ E8]|first=Bill|last=McCune|title=Channel 5 celebrates 50 years: Recalling the rise of KPHO-TV, state's first outlet|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126073614/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89560192/channel-5-celebrates-50-years/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> When it became independent in 1955, KPHO was one of the few such stations of the time with a functioning news department. It aired a noon and early evening newscast and a late news brief.<ref name="Ariz700426">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89550992/video-news-content-weighs-heavily-on/|date=April 26, 1970|page=N-5|first=Vic|last=Wilmot|title=Video news content weighs heavily on shoulders of local newscasters|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126045353/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89550992/video-news-content-weighs-heavily-on/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> In 1973, KPHO became the first independent to go up against the major network stations directly with a seven-day 10 p.m. newscast.<ref name="Ariz730527">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89551113/will-the-real-coy-stand-up/|date=May 27, 1973|page=N-7|first=Jack|last=Swanson|title=Will the real Coy stand up?|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126045358/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89551113/will-the-real-coy-stand-up/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> This program shifted to 9:30&nbsp;p.m. in 1975, where it remained for more than 15 years, with the station producing an hour of news a day: a midday show at 11:30&nbsp;a.m. and a 9:30&nbsp;p.m. newscast. This lasted until 1991, when the 9:30&nbsp;p.m. show was expanded to a full hour at 9.<ref name="Ariz910920">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77134379/kpho-adds-news-keeps-team/|date=September 20, 1991|page=D17|first=Greg|last=Joseph|title=KPHO adds news, keeps team|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126045351/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77134379/kpho-adds-news-keeps-team/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Even then, KPHO's news department was one-third the size of its network competitors.{{r|Ariz910920}} Despite being an independent station, KPHO news was competitive through the 1970s and 1980s. It often out-rated KTVK and by 1985, in the words of ''The Arizona Republic'' television columnist Bud Wilkinson, had managed to "stake a firm claim as the third-rated news department in town".<ref name="Ariz850624">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89551462/channel-10-expands-lead-in-valleys-tv/|date=June 24, 1985|page=B11|first=Bud|last=Wilkinson|title=Channel 10 expands lead in Valley's TV news ratings|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126045351/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89551462/channel-10-expands-lead-in-valleys-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> By May 1994, the station was in the early stages of planning a two-hour morning news program from 7 to 9 a.m., which would have been only the second such show from a non-Fox independent station.<ref>{{Cite news|id={{Gale|A15225713}}|first=Laureen|last=Miles|title=Phoenix indie to rise early|work=Mediaweek|volume=4|issue=19|date=May 9, 1994}}</ref>

KPHO reassuming the CBS affiliation required massive changes in the newsroom, including an expanded staff, in order to begin production of a variety of newscasts that channel 5 did not offer. A 6 p.m. newscast was added with the switch, and the 9 p.m. program was replaced with the "Arizona 5-Minute News", which led into a rerun of ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' at 10:05.<ref name="Ariz940910">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28879847/tv-switch-channel-5-to-carry-cbs-today/|date=September 10, 1994|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89556043/channel-5-begins-carrying-cbs-today/ A20]|first=Dave|last=Walker|title=TV switch: Channel 5 to carry CBS today|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126045400/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28879847/tv-switch-channel-5-to-carry-cbs-today/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The latter—paired with ''[[Seinfeld]]'' instead of ''M*A*S*H'' after 1995 and later adjusted to eight minutes—was intended as a stopgap, but it turned out to be a massive money-maker for the station and finished second in the time slot.<ref name=v-kphonewsseinfeld>{{cite news|title=Syndie titans spark sked struggle|url=https://variety.com/1995/tv/features/syndie-titans-spark-sked-struggle-99129433/|access-date=February 4, 2014|newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 24, 1995|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304132445/http://variety.com/1995/tv/features/syndie-titans-spark-sked-struggle-99129433/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ariz980211">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43277462/latest-news-channel-5-re-creates/|date=February 11, 1998|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43277487/ C5]|first=Dave|last=Walker|title=Latest news: Channel 5 re-creates itself — again|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126045406/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43277462/latest-news-channel-5-re-creates/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

Over time, KPHO's news offerings grew more typical for a CBS affiliate. The station began airing a 5 p.m. newscast in 1995 intended to appeal to younger audiences; assignment reporters for the show included Tim and Willy, the morning hosts at country music radio station [[KMLE]].<ref>{{cite news|first=David|last=Tobenkin|work=Broadcasting & Cable|id={{ProQuest|1016935299}}|date=April 24, 1995|title=KPHO-TV launches younger-skewing news|pages=26–27|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1995/BC-1995-04-24.pdf|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151314/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1995/BC-1995-04-24.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1997, channel 5 started an hour-long morning newscast<ref name="Ariz970225">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89556554/dance-duo-earns-spot-on-speical/|date=February 25, 1997|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89556583/ C5]|first=Dave|last=Walker|title=Dance duo earns spot on special|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126045350/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89556554/dance-duo-earns-spot-on-speical/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> which had grown to 4:30&nbsp;a.m., well before such a start was common in the industry, by 2000. The 10 p.m. newscast was expanded to a full 35 minutes on January 1, 2001, at which time the morning newscast was changed to start at 5.<ref name=pbj-kphofullnewsat10>{{cite news|last=Robertson|first=Anne|title=Viewer campaign spurs changes at KPHO-TV 5|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2001/01/01/newscolumn2.html?page=all|access-date=February 4, 2014|newspaper=Phoenix Business Journal|date=December 31, 2000|archive-date=March 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314154103/http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2001/01/01/newscolumn2.html?page=all|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, KPHO began airing the ''[[CBS Evening News]]'' at 6 p.m. and presenting a 6:30&nbsp;p.m. newscast, the market's first.<ref name="Ariz040809">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89556842/channel-5-to-air-630-pm-newscast/|date=August 9, 2004|page=E6|first=Randy|last=Cordova|title=Channel 5 to air 6:30 p.m. newscast|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126045353/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89556842/channel-5-to-air-630-pm-newscast/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon -->

On March 1, 2009, KPHO-TV began sharing a news helicopter as part of an agreement with KTVK and KPNX. The helicopter was operated by Helicopters Inc. and known as "News Chopper 20", a combination of the channel numbers of the three stations—3, 5 and 12.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2009/02/24/20090224abrk-helicoptersharing.html|title=3 TV stations to share helicopter to cover the news|date=February 24, 2009|work=azcentral|access-date=February 25, 2009|archive-date=September 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925044554/https://help.azcentral.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kpho.com/news/18791257/detail.html#-|title=Channels 5, 3, 12 To Share Chopper|date=February 25, 2009|work=KPHO|access-date=February 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614065823/http://www.kpho.com/news/18791257/detail.html#-|archive-date=June 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1092013|title=Phoenix TV stations to share news helicopter|date=February 25, 2009|work=KTAR|access-date=February 26, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220223234/http://news.ktar.com/?nid=6|archive-date=February 20, 2009}}</ref> All four Phoenix television newsrooms shared a helicopter {{asof|2021|lc=y}}.<ref name="royale">{{Cite news |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=February 15, 2021 |title=Local News Battle Royale in Phoenix |language=en |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://www.nexttv.com/features/local-news-battle-royale-in-phoenix |url-status=live |access-date=March 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303190327/https://www.nexttv.com/features/local-news-battle-royale-in-phoenix |archive-date=March 3, 2021}}</ref> Further pooling of resources—with a different set of local stations—came later that year when KPHO-TV entered into an agreement to pool certain newsgathering resources with KSAZ-TV and KNXV-TV.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://broadcastengineering.com/news/chicago-stations-join-0508/|title=Chicago stations join to share video crews for ENG|date=May 8, 2009|work=BroadcastEngineering|access-date=May 28, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516184503/http://broadcastengineering.com/news/chicago-stations-join-0508/|archive-date=May 16, 2009}}</ref> Each station provided employees to the pool service in exchange for the sharing of video.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/191108-Fox_Scripps_Create_Local_News_Service.php|title=Fox, Scripps Create Local News Service|date=April 1, 2009|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=May 28, 2009|archive-date=September 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928075456/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/191108-Fox_Scripps_Create_Local_News_Service.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

===On-air staff===
* [[Sean McLaughlin (meteorologist)|Sean McLaughlin]], anchor<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 13, 2006 |title=KPHO brings Sean McLaughlin back to Phoenix |language=en |work=TVNewsCheck |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/kpho-brings-sean-mclaughlin-back-to-phoenix/ |access-date=November 26, 2021 |archive-date=November 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126174730/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/kpho-brings-sean-mclaughlin-back-to-phoenix/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Former on-air staff===
* [[Robert Ivers]], anchor<ref name="Ariz030218">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89575136/bob-ivers-television-news-reporter-and/|date=February 18, 2003|page=B7|title=Bob Ivers, television news reporter and former film actor|newspaper=Arizona Republic|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126174712/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89575136/bob-ivers-television-news-reporter-and/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->
* [[Brandon Lee Rudat]], anchor<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goodykoontz |first=Bill |date=September 16, 2019 |title=Brandon Lee back on Phoenix TV less than a year after departing |language=en-US |work=The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2019/09/16/brandon-lee-returns-phoenix-tv-anchor-cbs-5-and-3-tv/2347840001/ |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127205905/https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2019/09/16/brandon-lee-returns-phoenix-tv-anchor-cbs-5-and-3-tv/2347840001/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Goodykoontz |first=Bill |date=November 4, 2021 |title=Why beloved news anchor Brandon Lee is leaving Arizona's Family TV stations |language=en-US |work=The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2021/11/04/arizona-family-tv-brandon-lee-leaves/6284258001/ |access-date=November 26, 2021 |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127210049/https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2021/11/04/arizona-family-tv-brandon-lee-leaves/6284258001/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Tammy Leitner]], investigative reporter<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 12, 2002 |title=Lavidge & Baumayr lands Fox Sports Grill as client |work=Phoenix Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2002/08/12/newscolumn4.html |access-date=November 26, 2021 |archive-date=January 5, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060105063403/http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2002/08/12/newscolumn4.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Technical information==

===Subchannels===
The station's signal is [[Multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of KPHO-TV<ref name="re">{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KPHO#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KPHO|website=[[RabbitEars.info]]|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126074748/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KPHO#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" | 5.1
| [[1080i]] || rowspan=5| [[16:9]] || KPHO HD || [[CBS]]
|-
! scope="row" | 5.2
| rowspan=4| [[480i]] || Cozi || [[Cozi TV]]
|-
! scope="row" | 5.3
| DABL || [[Dabl]]
|-
! scope="row" | 5.4
| Shop LC || [[Shop LC]]
|-
! scope="row" | 5.5
| TBD || [[TBD (TV network)|TBD]]
|- style="background-color:#DFEBF6; border-top: 2px solid #003399;"
! scope="row" | [[KFPH-CD|35.4]]
| 480i || 16:9 || Mystery || [[Ion Mystery]] ([[KFPH-CD]])
|}
{{legend|#DFEBF6|Broadcast on behalf of another station}}

On December 20, 2006, KPHO began broadcasting a local weather multicast service called CBS 5 Weather Now on [[digital subchannel]] 5.2, displaying a loop of current weather conditions and graphics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2006/12/20/daily.8/ |title=KPHO Phoenix launches 24-hour local weather channel |work=TVNEWSDAY |date=December 20, 2006 |access-date=December 1, 2008 |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127210027/http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2006/12/20/daily.8/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The service was moved to KTVK as subchannel 3.3 in 2015, at which time Cozi TV was added to 5.2.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azfamily.com/story/28766463/changes-coming-to-ktvk-digital-subchannels |title=Changes coming to KTVK digital subchannels |work=AZFamily.com |date=April 9, 2015 |access-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-date=April 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414013224/http://www.azfamily.com/story/28766463/changes-coming-to-ktvk-digital-subchannels |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2006]] and [[2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2007 NCAA men's basketball tournaments]], KPHO used pop-up digital subchannels and split the analog and 5.1 digital channels to air four games at once in the early rounds.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89561150/|title=Men's tournament on TV|work=Arizona Republic|page=C7|date=March 13, 2007|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127205957/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89561150/mens-tournament-on-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref>

KPHO-TV's primary subchannel is available in [[ATSC 3.0]] format on KASW. As part of the Phoenix-area hosting plan for subchannels of KASW and [[KFPH-CD]]—Phoenix's two ATSC 3.0 stations—KFPH-CD's subchannel of Ion Mystery is placed on the KPHO multiplex.{{r|re}}

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
KPHO-DT was the first digital television facility in operation in Phoenix, going on the air in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-2001/BC-2001-08-13.pdf|first=Michael|last=Grotticelli|work=Broadcasting & Cable|id={{EBSCOhost|5051762}}|date=August 13, 2001|via=World Radio History|title=Near, and yet so far|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308034433/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-2001/BC-2001-08-13.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The station ended regular programming on its analog signal, over [[VHF]] channel 5, at 11:59&nbsp;p.m. on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States [[Digital television transition in the United States|transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts]] under federal mandate. The station's digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre-transition [[UHF]] channel 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |access-date=March 24, 2012 |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 }}</ref><ref name="FCCForm387">{{cite web |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101231100&formid=387&fac_num=41223 |title=DTV Transition Status Report |work=FCC CDBS database |date=February 4, 2008 |access-date=December 1, 2008 |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127205914/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101231100&formid=387&fac_num=41223 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As part of the [[SAFER Act]],<ref name="FCC Nightlight">{{cite web|url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-291375A1.pdf|title=Updated: List of Participants in the Analog Nightlight Program|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=June 12, 2009|access-date=June 4, 2012|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225603/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/wnbc-ch-4-trims-promo-featuring-nypd-commissioner-ray-kelly-super-bowl-airing-article-1.1018204|url-status=live}}</ref> KPHO kept its analog signal on the air until June 26 to inform viewers of the digital television transition through a loop of [[public service announcement]]s from the [[National Association of Broadcasters]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc15.com/content/news/investigators/consumeralerts/story/Phoenix-TV-goes-digital-can-you-still-see-our/6imDb0puuEii2w0JzIUg0w.cspx|title=Phoenix TV goes digital, can you still see our signal?|publisher=KNXV-TV|access-date=June 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612225137/http://www.abc15.com/content/news/investigators/consumeralerts/story/Phoenix-TV-goes-digital-can-you-still-see-our/6imDb0puuEii2w0JzIUg0w.cspx|archive-date=June 12, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Translators===
KPHO is rebroadcast on the following translator stations:<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>

{{div col|colwidth=40em}}
* [[Bullhead City]] ([[Katherine Landing, Arizona|Katherines Landing]]): K05MR-D
* [[Chloride, Arizona|Chloride]]: K30GG-D
* [[Cottonwood, Arizona|Cottonwood, etc.]]: K29LM-D
* [[Dolan Springs]]: K34PE-D
* [[Flagstaff, Arizona|Flagstaff]]: K17MO-D
* [[Globe, Arizona|Globe]]/[[Miami, Arizona|Miami]]: K27KS-D
* [[Kingman, Arizona|Kingman]]: K18LZ-D
* [[Lake Havasu City]]: K26OK-D
* [[Meadview]]: K15LR-D
* [[Prescott, Arizona|Prescott]]: K30JD-D
* [[Topock]]/[[Bullhead City]] (Goldroad Crest-Oatman): K21FU-D
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.azfamily.com/}}

{{portalbar|Arizona|Television}}
{{PHX TV}}
{{CBS Arizona}}
{{Gray TV}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kpho-Tv}}
[[Category:1949 establishments in Arizona]]
[[Category:CBS affiliates]]
[[Category:Cozi TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Dabl affiliates]]
[[Category:Gray Media]]
[[Category:NFL primary television stations]]
[[Category:Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA)]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1949]]
[[Category:Television stations in Phoenix, Arizona|PHO-TV]]