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KGNS-TV

Television station in Laredo, Texas

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Source updated July 18, 2026

KGNS-TV (channel 8) is a television station in Laredo, Texas, United States, affiliated with NBC and ABC. It is owned by Gray Media alongside two other low-power, Class A stations: dual CBS/CW+ affiliate KYLX-CD (channel 13) and Telemundo affiliate KXNU-CD (channel 10). The three stations share studios on Loop 20 (near SH 359) in Laredo and transmitter facilities on FM 1472 northwest of the city.

01History

KGNS originally went on air January 4, 1956, as KHAD-TV. It has been a primary NBC affiliate since its sign on, but initially held secondary affiliations with CBS and ABC. CBS programming moved to KVTV in December 1973 (which went dark in 2015) and ABC programming moved to present-day Univision affiliate KLDO-TV in December 1984, making KGNS an exclusive NBC affiliate.

Donrey Media Group (now Stephens Media Group) bought the station on September 1, 1958. One of its first moves was to change the station's call letters. Donrey held a contest in which elementary and middle school students from both sides of the Rio Grande region got to choose a new callsign; the current KGNS-TV (standing for "Good Neighbor Station").

On March 14, 1987, KGNS was purchased by Century Development Corporation. In 1990, the station began a Spanish language newscast.

By 1998, KGNS gained a secondary affiliation with the United Paramount Network (UPN), lasting at least until 2000, while definitively off the station by 2004, then moved to cable only as KTXW (Time Warner Cable channel 16). In 2000, the WB affiliate in the market was cable-only KTXW, and its successor network, The CW was carried on the .2 subchannel, which now carries ABC.

In 2004, the station was purchased by SagamoreHill Broadcasting. The sale was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on December 1, 2005.

On January 24, 2006, The WB and CBS Corporation-owned UPN announced that the two networks would cease broadcasting and merge into a new broadcast network called The CW. On September 18, 2006, KGNS-TV rebranded KTXW as The CW Laredo. With the subsequent sign-on of digital subchannel 8.2, the subchannel began broadcasting KTXW, bringing the channel over-the-air coverage throughout the market. In 2010, local Spanish language news returned to the station on Telemundo affiliated subchannel 3.

In May 2013, SagamoreHill Broadcasting reached a deal to sell KGNS, along with KGWN-TV in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and KSTF in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to Yellowstone Holdings, a subsidiary of Frontier Radio Management. On November 4, 2013, Gray Television announced a deal to acquire Yellowstone Holdings for $23 million. The sale was completed on December 31.

On November 6, 2013, KGNS-TV reached an agreement with ABC to become affiliated, originally slated to launch in February 2014 on channel 8.2. The ABC affiliation began on July 1, 2014, making The CW available in Laredo exclusively on Time Warner Cable via the national feed of The CW Plus; ABC network programming had been provided on cable via KSAT-TV in San Antonio or KIII in Corpus Christi since KLDO-TV lost its ABC affiliation in 1988. CW programming would not be seen over the air in Laredo area until October 2015, as KYLX-LP picked up the affiliation.

On November 11, 2023, KGNS moved its operations from its studios on Del Mar Boulevard to a building located at Loop 20, which was previously used by Entravision-owned KLDO-TV.

02News operation

Since CBS affiliate KVTV shut down its news department in 2006, KGNS has operated the market's only English-language news department. It currently airs three hours of newscasts every weekday and one hour per day on weekends. According to Nielsen Media Research, KGNS competes closely with Spanish-language station KLDO.

In 1990, the station began a Spanish language newscast at 5 p.m. called Noticias en Español with news anchor Hector Lerma. On April 29, 2002, the Spanish news staff resigned from the station, forcing them to run a sitcom in that time slot. KGNS eventually replaced the Spanish news broadcast with English language news on March 1 of the following year. In 2010, local Spanish language news returned to the station on Telemundo affiliated subchannel 8.3. Initially, there was a Sunday morning show, Telemundo Laredo...En tu Casa, then coverage was expanded on November 18, 2010, with a weeknight 10 p.m. show.

On June 21, 2008, KGNS-TV began producing a weeknight, 9 p.m. newscast on its CW-affiliated second digital subchannel titled Laredo's First News at 9. This program was the only prime time newscast in the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo market until Fox affiliate KXOF-CA launched a competing 9 p.m. newscast on April 9, 2012. The half-hour newscast is anchored by Brenda Medina and Ryan Bailey. This newscast was targeted at young adults between the ages of 21 and 34.

03Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KGNS-TV
Channel	Res.	Short name	Programming
8.1	1080i	KGNS-TV	NBC
8.2	720p	ABC	ABC
8.3	720p	TELEMUN	Telemundo (KXNU-CD)
8.4	480i		Ion
8.5		Justice	True Crime Network
8.6			Ion Plus

Simulcast of subchannels of another station

Analog-to-digital conversion

On April 8, 2004, KGNS-TV launched its digital signal on UHF channel 15, becoming the first television station in the Laredo market to operate a digital broadcast television signal. KGNS-TV discontinued its analog signal and began broadcasting exclusively digital on June 12, 2009. The station vacated its pre-transition digital channel 15, and moved its digital channel allocation to its former analog VHF channel 8. KGNS-TV began broadcasting high-definition programming on its digital signal in October 2008.

Watch videos about KGNS-TVExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “KGNS-TV”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Images, from Wikimedia Commons:

KXNU-LD-CD (2018).svg by Gray Media, Public domain
KGNS-TV Building.jpg by Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Related topics

Channel 8 digital TV stations in the United States

The following television stations broadcast on digital channel 8 in the United States: K08AK-D in Port Orford, etc., Oregon K08AP-D in Pateros/Mansfield, Washington K08AY-D in Winthrop-Twisp, Washington K08BO-D in Virgin, Utah K08CB-D in Lund & Preston, Nevada K08CW-D in Malott/Wakefield, Washington K08CX-D in Tonasket, Washington K08CY-D in Riverside, Washington K08EN-D in Pine Valley, etc., Utah K08ET-D in Durango, Colorado K08EZ-D in Mink Creek, Idaho, on virtual channel 3, which rebroadcasts KIDK K08FS-D in Dodson, Montana K08HU-D in Aleknagik, Alaska K08IO-D in Wells, Nevada K08IP-D in Baker, Montana K08JP-D in Dryden, Washington K08JV-D in Broadus, Montana K08KA-D in Girdwood, Alaska K08KD-D in Alakanuk, Alaska K08KO-D in Cooper Landing, Alaska K08KT-D in Boulder, Montana K08KW-D in Richland, Oregon K08LG-D in Silver Lake, etc., Oregon K08LI-D in White Sulphur Springs, Montana K08LL-D in Dolores, Colorado K08LN-D in Harrison, Nebraska K08LS-D in Elko, Nevada K08MB-D in Weber Canyon, Colorado K08ND-D in Akron, Colorado, on virtual channel 9, which rebroadcasts KUSA K08NQ-D in Ryndon, Nevada K08OB-D in Newell, California K08OU-D in Seattle, Washington, on virtual channel 8 K08OV-D in Nenana, Alaska K08OW-D in Hysham, Montana K08OX-D in Thomasville, Colorado K08OY-D in Plains, Montana K08OZ-D in Trout Creek, etc., Montana K08PC-D in Hildale, etc., Utah K08PE-D in Alamo, etc., Nevada K08PF-D in Leamington, Utah K08PG-D in Indian Springs, Nevada K08PI-D in Salmon, Montana K08PJ-D in Cedar City, Utah, on virtual channel 12, which rebroadcasts KMYU K08PK-D in Bullhead City, Arizona K08PM-D in Wagner, South Dakota K08PN-D in Homer, etc., Alaska K08PP-D in Rosebud, etc., Montana K08PQ-D in Big Arm/Elmo, Montana K08PR-D in Missoula, Montana K08PT-D in Bakersfield, California K08PW-D in Laketown, etc., Utah, on virtual channel 7, which rebroadcasts KUED K08PX-D in Long Valley Junction, Utah K08PY-D in Blanding/Monticello, Utah K08PZ-D in Corvallis, Oregon K08QA-D in Aurora, etc., Utah K08QB-D in Crouch/Garden Valley, Idaho K08QC-D in Sigurd & Salina, Utah K08QD-D in Woodland & Kamas, Utah K08QE-D in Fergus Falls, Minnesota K08QF-D in East Price, Utah, on virtual channel 4, which rebroadcasts KTVX K08QG-D in Helper, Utah K08QH-D in Roosevelt, etc., Utah, on virtual channel 4, which rebroadcasts KTVX K08QL-D in Logan, Utah, on virtual channel 8, which rebroadcasts KCSG K08QM-D in Wendover, Utah K08QN-D in Golden Valley, Arizona K08QP-D in Silver City, New Mexico KAET in Phoenix, Arizona, on virtual channel 8 KAKM in Anchorage, Alaska KBNI-LD in Santa Maria, California KCCI in Des Moines, Iowa KCWC-DT in Lander, Wyoming KEET in Hoopa, California KESD-TV in Brookings, South Dakota KFBB-TV in Great Falls, Montana KFLA-LD in Los Angeles, California, on virtual channel 8 KFMB-TV in San Diego, California, on virtual channel 8 KGNS-TV in Laredo, Texas KHON-TV in Honolulu, Hawaii KIFI-TV in Idaho Falls, Idaho KIII in Corpus Christi, Texas KILA-LD in Cherry Valley, California, on virtual channel 8, which rebroadcasts KFLA-LD KJRH-TV in Tulsa, Oklahoma KLKN in Lincoln, Nebraska KNMD-TV in Santa Fe, New Mexico, an ATSC 3.0 station KNOE-TV in Monroe, Louisiana KOBR in Roswell, New Mexico KOLO-TV in Reno, Nevada KPSW-LD in Boise, Idaho KPTS in Hutchinson, Kansas KPTW in Casper, Wyoming KQSL in Fort Bragg, California, on virtual channel 8 KSBW in Salinas, California KSWK in Lakin, Kansas KSYS in Medford, Oregon KTSC in Pueblo, Colorado KUAM-TV in Hagåtña, Guam KUCB-LD in Dutch Harbor, Alaska KUHT in Houston, Texas, on virtual channel 8 KUMV-TV in Williston, North Dakota KUSM-TV in Bozeman, Montana KVFR-LD in Redding, California KVPS-LD in Indio, California KWCZ-LD in Sunnyside-Grandview, Washington KWET in Cheyenne, Oklahoma KWVC-LD in Malaga, etc., Washington KWYP-DT in Laramie, Wyoming KXMP-LD in Harrison, Arkansas KZDF-LD in Santa Barbara, California KZSD-TV in Martin, South Dakota W08AT-D in Cherokee, North Carolina W08BF-D in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, on virtual channel 7, which rebroadcasts WSPA-TV W08EH-D in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on virtual channel 8 W08EI-D in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on virtual channel 8 W08EJ-D in Anasco, Puerto Rico, on virtual channel 8 W08EQ-D in Tallahassee, Florida WAGM-TV in Presque Isle, Maine WBNA in Louisville, Kentucky WBNG-TV in Binghamton, New York WDAZ-TV in Devil's Lake, North Dakota WDEF-TV in Chattanooga, Tennessee WDHS in Iron Mountain, Michigan WDSE in Duluth, Minnesota WFAA in Dallas, Texas, on virtual channel 8 WGAL in Lancaster, Pennsylvania WGCT-CD in Columbus, Ohio, on virtual channel 39, which rebroadcasts WOCB-CD WGEN-LD in Miami, Florida, on virtual channel 8, which rebroadcasts WGEN-TV WGEN-TV in Key West, Florida, on virtual channel 8 WGSC-CD in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina WGSI-CD in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, uses WGSC-CD's spectrum WGTQ in Sault Ste.

Channel 8 virtual TV stations in the United States

The following television stations operate on virtual channel 8 in the United States: K02JG-D in Prospect, Oregon K02JJ-D in Williams, Oregon K03DP-D in Scobey, Montana K03DS-D in Ruth, Nevada K03FB-D in Snowflake, etc., Arizona K03IA-D in Sula, Montana K03IL-D in Bullhead City, Arizona K05AF-D in Mina/Luning, Nevada K05BE-D in Lehmi, etc., Idaho K05GM-D in Plains-Paradise, Montana K05ND-D in Long Valley Junction, Utah K06AA-D in Broadus, Montana K06DM-D in Panaca, Nevada K06FE-D in Miles City, Montana K06HN-D in Gunnison, Colorado K07FL-D in Thompson Falls, Montana K07NU-D in White Sulphur Spring, Montana K07PA-D in Manitou Springs, Colorado K07PB-D in Thayne, etc., Wyoming K08HU-D in Aleknagik, Alaska K08KD-D in Alakanuk, Alaska K08KO-D in Cooper Landing, Alaska K08LL-D in Dolores, Colorado K08LS-D in Elko, Nevada K08MB-D in Weber Canyon, Colorado K08NQ-D in Ryndon, Nevada K08OU-D in Seattle, Washington K08OZ-D in Trout Creek, etc., Montana K08PI-D in Salmon, Idaho K08QE-D in Fergus Falls, Minnesota K08QL-D in Logan, Utah K08QM-D in Wendover, Utah K09FJ-D in Pioche, Nevada K09FK-D in Ursine, Nevada K09FL-D in Caliente, Nevada K09OY-D in Colstrip, Montana K09SD-D in Lehmi, etc., Idaho K10AC-D in Ashland, Montana K10PR-D in Thomasville, Colorado K10PS-D in Pine Ridge, South Dakota K10QJ-D in Mink Creek, Idaho K10QZ-D in Rosebud, etc., Montana K11FF-D in Superior, Montana K11HO-D on Polson, Montana K11IL-D in Bitterroot Range, etc., Montana K12LO-D in Ferndale, Montana K13BE-D in Harlowton, Montana K13OC-D in Douglas, etc., Alaska K13PE-D in Shady Grove, Oregon K13PF-D in Pinehurst, Oregon K13PI-D in Ruch & Applegate, Oregon K13PO-D in Hysham, Montana K13RD-D in Collbran, Colorado K13RV-D in Leadore, Idaho K13ZS-D in Sargents, Colorado K13AAF-D in Monticello/Blanding, Utah K14KK-D in Flagstaff, Arizona K14RV-D in Forsyth, Montana K15ED-D in Waunita Hot Springs, Colorado K15GL-D in Trinidad/Valdez, etc., Colorado K15IM-D in Brookings, etc., Oregon K15IZ-D in Edgemont, South Dakota K15KR-D in Poplar, Montana K15ME-D in Salmon, Idaho K16EX-D in Clovis, New Mexico K16FU-D in Mina/Luning, Nevada K16IX-D in Preston, Idaho K16ML-D in Corvallis, Oregon K17HA-D in Astoria, Oregon K17JS-D in Philipsburg, Montana K17KC-D in Meeteetse, Wyoming K17MB-D in Circleville, Utah K17MQ-D in Thompson Falls, Montana K17NJ-D in Rockaway Beach, Oregon K17NT-D in Ely & McGill, Nevada K18IP-D in Overton, Nevada K19CX-D in Yuma, Arizona K19HS-D in Grants Pass, Oregon K19IS-D in Inyokern, California K19KN-D in Eads, etc., Colorado K19KU-D in Walla Walla, Washington K19LT-D in Prineville, etc., Oregon K20JW-D in Jacks Cabin, Colorado K20KL-D in Drummond, Montana K20KU-D in Montpelier, Idaho K20ML-D in Parks, etc., Arizona K20OC-D in El Dorado, Arkansas K21HQ-D in Glendo, Wyoming K21JC-D in Pocatello, Idaho K21JK-D in Montrose, Colorado K21KI-D in Hatch, Utah K21MA-D in Emigrant, Montana K22DR-D in Laughlin, Nevada K22GM-D in Battle Mountain, Nevada K22IK-D in Rexburg, etc., Idaho K22IM-D in Challis, Idaho K22IQ-D in Cave Junction, Oregon K22KS-D in Libby, Montana K22LR-D in Collbran, Colorado K22MG-D in Woods Bay, Montana K22MH-D in Logan, Utah K22MW-D in Panguitch, Utah K22MX-D in Henrieville, Utah K22NQ-D in Holbrook, Idaho K23JH-D in Leadore, Idaho K23NJ-D in Prescott, etc., Arizona K23NK-D in Orderville, Utah K23NT-D in Mayfield, Utah K23NX-D in Gateway, Colorado K23OK-D in Walker Lake, Nevada K24BY-D in Pahrump, Nevada K24FL-D in Columbus, Montana K24GY-D in Ely, Nevada K24HU-D in Burley, etc., Idaho K24IB-D in Verdi/Mogul, Nevada K24KX-D in Cedarville, California K24ON-D in Ridgecrest, California K25KS-D in The Dalles, Oregon K25MR-D in Snowmass Village, Colorado K25OT-D in Susanville, etc., California K25OV-D in Cody, Wyoming K25PD-D in Parowan/Enoch/Paragonah, Utah K25PF-D in Delta, Oak City, etc, Utah K25PX-D in Lund & Preston, Nevada K25PY-D in Leadore, Idaho K26FV-D in La Grande, Oregon K26GG-D in Golconda, Nevada K26KG-D in Beowawe, Nevada K26OS-D in Sapinero, Colorado K26OX-D in Colstrip, Montana K27JZ-D in Round Mountain, Nevada K27KP-D in Driggs, Idaho K27KW-D in Gold Hill, etc., Oregon K27NN-D in Eureka, Nevada K27NR-D in Topock, Arizona K28AD-D in Montrose, Colorado K28JY-D in Carbondale, Colorado K28MJ-D in Tillamook, Oregon K28NY-D in La Grande, Oregon K28PL-D in Roseau, Minnesota K28PX-D in Stead, Nevada K28QC-D in Imlay, Nevada K29AZ-D in Newport, Oregon K29FS-D in Wolf Point, Montana K29HG-D in Jackson, Wyoming K29HM-D in Lake George, Colorado K29JL-D in Las Animas, Colorado K29LG-D in Soda Springs, Idaho K29NG-D in Crested Butte, Colorado K30FS-D in Hawthorne, Nevada K30GM-D in Capitan/Ruidoso, New Mexico K30OI-D in Camp Verde, Arizona K30PI-D in Garrison, Utah K30PR-D in Pahrump, Nevada K30PX-D in Winnemucca, Nevada K30PY-D in Parlin, Colorado K31GJ-D in Alamogordo, New Mexico K31GZ-D in Lake Havasu City, Arizona K31IX-D in Salida, Colorado K31LG-D in Emery, Utah K31NI-D in Lamar, Colorado K31NV-D in Globe-Miami, Arizona K31NW-D in Forsyth, Montana K31OH-D in Mesa, Colorado K31PY-D in Roundup, Montana K32CQ-D in Shurz, Nevada K32IK-D in San Luis Valley, Colorado K32KC-D in Montpelier, Idaho K32NB-D in Beaver etc., Utah K32NQ-D in Salmon, Idaho K32NT-D in Crested Butte, Colorado K32OL-D in Redstone, Colorado K33IM-D in Malad City, Idaho K33IW-D in Coaldale, Colorado K33MC-D in Forsyth, Montana K33NX-D in Carlsbad, New Mexico K33OD-D in Kingman, Arizona K34CB-D in Lehmi, etc., Idaho K34DJ-D in Phoenix, etc., Oregon K34KE-D in Hood River, Oregon K34KM-D in Basalt, Colorado K34MF-D in Orovada, Nevada K34NC-D in Fish Creek, etc., Idaho K34NL-D in Sargents, Colorado K34OB-D in Howard, Montana K34OP-D in Kanab, Utah K35CH-D in Cortez/Mancos, etc., Colorado K35HU-D in Grays River, Washington K35JW-D in Bridger, etc., Montana K35JZ-D in Alton, Utah K35MU-D in Cottonwood, etc., Arizona K35OI-D in Starr Valley, Nevada K35OM-D in La Veta, Colorado K35OO-D in Del Norte, Colorado K35OQ-D in San Luis, Colorado K35OR-D in Aguilar, Colorado K36DP-D in Pendleton, Oregon K36FZ-D in Meadview, Arizona K36JD-D in Jackson, Wyoming K36JO-D in Cheyenne, Wyoming K36NP-D in Baker Valley, Oregon K36OJ-D in Rainier, Oregon K36OM-D in Tropic, Utah K36ON-D in Escalante, Utah K36OO-D in Boulder, Utah K36OP-D in Hanksville, Utah K36OQ-D in Caineville, Utah K36PN-D in Beowawe, Nevada KAET in Phoenix, Arizona KAIT in Jonesboro, Arkansas KBNI-LD in Santa Maria, California KBTV-CD in Sacramento, California KCCI in Des Moines, Iowa KCSG in Cedar City, Utah KCSG-LD in Ogden, Utah KESD-TV in Brookings, South Dakota KFLA-LD in Los Angeles, California KFMB-TV in San Diego, California KGNS-TV in Laredo, Texas KGW in Portland, Oregon KGWZ-LD in Portland, Oregon KIAT-LD in Jonesboro, Arkansas KIFI-TV in Idaho Falls, Idaho KILA-LD in Cherry Valley, California KJCT-LP in Grand Junction, Colorado KJUD in Juneau, Alaska KKDJ-CD in Visalia, California KLAO-LD in Corpus Christi, Texas KLAS-TV in Las Vegas, Nevada KLKN in Lincoln, Nebraska KLST in San Angelo, Texas KMTI-LD in Manti and Ephraim, Utah KNOE-TV in Monroe, Louisiana KOBR in Roswell, New Mexico KOLO-TV in Reno, Nevada KOMU-TV in Columbia, Missouri KPAX-TV in Missoula, Montana KPSW-LD in Boise, Idaho KPTS in Hutchinson, Kansas KQSL in Cloverdale, California KRFT-LD in Springfield, Missouri KSBW in Salinas, California KSNK in McCook, Nebraska KSVC-LD in Marysvale, Utah KSYS in Medford, Oregon KTLD-CD in Bakersfield, California KTSC in Pueblo, Colorado KTTA-LD in Monroe, Utah KTUL in Tulsa, Oklahoma KUAM-TV in Hagåtña, Guam KUCB-LD in Dutch Harbor, Alaska KUHT in Houston, Texas KULR-TV in Billings, Montana KUMV-TV in Williston, North Dakota KVFR-LD in Redding, California KVPS-LD in Indio, California KWYP-DT in Laramie, Wyoming KXMP-LD in Harrison, Arkansas KZDF-LD in Santa Barbara, California KZSD-TV in Martin, South Dakota W02AU-D in St. Francis, Maine W08EH-D in Ponce, Puerto Rico W08EI-D in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico W08EJ-D in Anasco, Puerto Rico W08EQ-D in Tallahassee, Florida W09DJ-D in Wilkes-Barre, etc., Pennsylvania W12DI-D in Key West, Florida W18EU-D in Miami, Florida W21EF-D in Waupaca, Wisconsin W28EW-D in Toccoa, Georgia WAGM-TV in Presque Isle, Maine WAKA in Selma, Alabama WAUG-LD in Raleigh, North Carolina WBDL-LD in Elk Mound, Wisconsin WCHS-TV in Charleston, West Virginia WDAZ-TV in Devil's Lake, North Dakota WDHS in Iron Mountain, Michigan WDSE in Duluth, Minnesota WFAA in Dallas, Texas WFIG-LD in Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands WFLA-TV in Tampa, Florida WGAL in Lancaster, Pennsylvania WGEN-LD in Miami, Florida WGEN-TV in Key West, Florida WGHP in High Point, North Carolina WGSC-CD in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina WGTQ in Sault Ste.