KUTV#Translators

In 1951, a draft revision of a new table of channel allocations suggested that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was not going to allocate further very high frequency (VHF) channels to Salt Lake City, leading two radio stations, KUTA and KALL, to lobby for its availability.{{Cite news|id={{pq|1401251944}}|page=34|date=May 23, 1951|work=Variety|title=Salt Lake City Stations Ask FCC for Revisions On Channel Allocations}} Two stations were already on the air, having been authorized prior to the commission's 1948 freeze on station grants: KDYL-TV (now KTVX) on channel 4 and KSL-TV on channel 5.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-fcc-holds-answer/168543040/|date=September 26, 1951|page=TV 3|title=FCC Holds Answer: Wider TV Selection Possible for S. L.|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} When the FCC ended the freeze on April 14, 1952, and issued a new table of allocations, channel 2 was restored to Salt Lake City. The commission received two applications in January 1953: one from KUTA's parent company, Utah Broadcasting and Television Corporation, and another from the Television Corporation of Utah, owned by the Kearns family{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news-2-firms-seeking-lone-tv-cha/166515952/|date=January 6, 1953|page=1B|agency=United Press|title=2 Firms Seeking Lone TV Channel In Salt Lake Area|newspaper=Deseret News and Telegram|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} and a subsidiary of the publisher of The Salt Lake Tribune.{{Cite news|title=For the Record|work=Broadcasting|page=116|date=April 6, 1953|id={{pq|1285702449}} }} The two firms joined forces in March, each proposing to own half of the new station; this allowed them to avoid a potential comparative hearing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news-s-l-firm-ends-bid-for-tv/166516040/|date=March 20, 1953|page=8A|agency=United Press|title=S. L. Firm Ends Bid for TV Channel No. 2|newspaper=Deseret News and Telegram|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} The station was projected to be an ABC affiliate, like KUTA radio, and planned to broadcast from the Oquirrh Mountains, from where the other stations already were broadcasting.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news-new-station-maps-1953-video/166516113/|date=March 21, 1953|page=1B|title=New Station Maps 1953 Video Debut|newspaper=Deseret News and Telegram|first=Ray|last=McGuire|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

The FCC approved the construction permit on March 26, 1953, contingent on The Tribune divesting any ownership interest in KALL.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-firm-granted-salt/166516186/|date=March 27, 1953|page=D5|title=Firm Granted Salt Lake T-V Channel|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} Work began on facilities later that year. KUTA radio moved its headquarters to 179 Motor Avenue, which would also be used as the studio for channel 2, given the call sign KUTV.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news-television-highlights-plan/166516313/|date=September 3, 1953|page=B9|first=Howard|last=Pearson|title=Television Highlights: Plans Made for New TV Station|newspaper=Deseret News|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} Motor Avenue, which regained its original name of Social Hall Avenue in 1954,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news-social-hall-ave-restored-i/166578661/|date=May 25, 1954|page=1B|title=Social Hall Ave. Restored in S. L.; Motors All Gone|newspaper=Deseret News and Telegram|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} had become the center of activity in Utah television; KSL-TV moved there in 1950,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news-new-ksl-tv-studios-make-sl/168622834/|date=August 7, 1950|page=6F|title=New KSL-TV Studios Make S.L. Video Hub|newspaper=Deseret News|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} and after KUTA moved, KDYL radio and television announced plans to follow suit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-3rd-radio-t/168622894/|date=October 17, 1953|page=12|agency=Associated Press|title=3rd Radio, TV Station Moving|newspaper=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|location=Ogden, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

KUTV began test broadcasts on September 11, 1954, and the station held a dedication event on September 25 ahead of the start of the fall television season the next day.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-kutv-readies-preli/166516728/|date=September 5, 1954|page=10A|title=KUTV Readies Preliminary Broadcasts|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-1012-hours-a-day/166516941/|date=September 26, 1954|page=8B|title=10–12 Hours a Day: KUTV Announces Start Of Full Programming|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} The Carman–Wrathall group that had owned KUTA and half of KUTV gave options to the Kearns-Tribune Corporation and the Standard-Examiner Publishing Corporation, publisher of the Ogden Standard-Examiner, to buy their properties in 1955.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-firms-obtain-optio/166517204/|date=July 22, 1955|page=8D|title=Firms Obtain Option on TV Interests|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} The two newspaper firms as well as George C. Hatch and his wife acquired KUTV under these options in a deal announced in December 1955{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-newspapers-to-buy-up-ra/166517437/|date=December 1, 1955|page=14|agency=United Press|title=Newspapers to Buy Up Radio, TV Property|newspaper=The Daily Herald|location=Provo, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} and approved in March 1956.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-fcc-oks-sale/166517392/|date=March 8, 1956|page=1B|title=FCC OKs Sale Of 5 Radio, TV Stations|newspaper=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|location=Ogden, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

In its early years, KUTV was one of ABC's most successful affiliates; a Television Age study of the 1957–58 season found that KUTV had a sign-on-to-sign-off audience share of 41.8 percent, the second-highest of any ABC affiliate in the country.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-catholic-advance-great-bend-tv-stati/52632632/|date=August 29, 1958|page=1|first=Robert E.|last=Watson|title=Great Bend TV Station Added to Program Lists|newspaper=The Catholic Advance|location=Wichita, Kansas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} However, in May 1960, KUTV surprised observers by announcing it would switch network affiliations to NBC on October 2, leaving channel 4 (then KTVT) to pick up ABC. This puzzled some, who noted that ABC programming had been rating well on KUTV,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news-television-highlights-bees/166517724/|date=May 25, 1960|page=14B|first=Howard|last=Pearson|title=Television Highlights: Bees Game, Moore Fight On Tonight; Ch. 2 Goes NBC|newspaper=Deseret News and Telegram|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} but George C. Hatch noted that ABC provided no color programming at all, and the station was interested in expanding its color output and local news with NBC. Also cited by sources was a desire by KUTV for a Mountain Time Zone feed of network programming.{{Cite news|title=ABC, NBC Switch Salt Lake Affils|date=June 1, 1960|page=39|id={{pq|1017054011}}|work=Variety}}{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting|page=32|date=May 30, 1960|title=KUTV(TV) to switch to NBC-TV in fall|id={{pq|962892449}} }}

In 1970, the Kearns-Tribune Corporation traded its 35-percent stake in KUTV and two downtown office buildings for 40 percent of its outstanding stock that had been held by two descendants of Thomas Kearns residing in California.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-kearns-tribu/166518525/|date=December 29, 1970|page=8A|title=Kearns-Tribune Stock Regained in Exchange|newspaper=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|location=Ogden, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} The Hatch family and Standard Corporation bought them out shortly thereafter, making KUTV entirely Utah-owned.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news-corner-on-commerce-utahns/166518684/|date=February 1, 1971|page=B9|title=Corner on Commerce: Utahns Complete KUTV Control|newspaper=Deseret News|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} In the decade that followed, growth in the news operation prompted the Hatches to seek a new studio location. It acquired the former headquarters of TeleMation on 3600 West{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-from-social-hall/166519130/|date=August 24, 1977|page=24|title=From Social Hall: KUTV Mulls Move To New Facilities|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} and began broadcasting from the site in March 1979.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-rites-note-25th-ye/168625651/|date=March 22, 1979|page=B4|title=Rites Note 25th Year for Channel 2|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} This area, unincorporated at the time, became part of West Valley City in 1980.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-muddles-incorpora/168625536/|date=December 27, 1979|page=S-4|first=Mike|last=Carter|title='Muddles Incorporation Plan': West Valley Backers Claim S.L. Land Grab|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-new-city-real-bu/168627050/|date=July 2, 1980|pages=B-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-future-remains-clo/168627081/ B-2]|title=New City 'Real' But Future Stays Cloudy|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

KUTV played a key role for NBC in the distribution of programming to affiliates in other Mountain West states; all prime time shows for broadcast in Idaho and Montana went through KUTV's control room. In 1978, an error and a shortage of tape machines meant that viewers of KTVB in Boise, Idaho, inadvertently received a censored version of part of the three-part TV movie Loose Change that KUTV had edited for air in the Salt Lake City market. Management of the Boise station criticized KUTV for having "dictated" the alteration to the program.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-salt-lake-censors-tv/146402206/|date=February 28, 1978|page=4B|first=Ken|last=Burrows|title=Salt Lake censors TV shown in Boise|newspaper=The Idaho Statesman|location=Boise, Idaho|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-utah-chronicle-kutv-2s-editin/146402342/|date=March 2, 1978|page=2|first=Shelley Lisa|last=Weyforth|title=KUTV-2's editing of 'Loose Change' irks Boise station|newspaper=The Daily Utah Chronicle|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

In 1989, the Standard Corporation announced a major reorganization in which the Hatch family assumed control of the company by buying shares from the Glasmann family.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-new-board-appointe/166520231/|date=April 13, 1989|page=C1|agency=Associated Press|title=New Board Appointed: Standard-Examiner Names Publisher|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} This transaction required borrowing and left the family with substantial debt service;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-hatch-family-is-se/166583145/|date=January 1, 1993|page=B5|first=Steven|last=Oberbeck|title=Hatch Family Is Selling 40% of KUTV|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} general manager Jeffrey Hatch noted that the television industry was suffering during this period from the cancellation of advertising for news coverage during the Gulf War and a downturn in the national economy.{{r|Salt940828}} It marked the beginning of the end for the Hatch family's media ownership. The Standard-Examiner was sold to Sandusky Newspapers;{{r|Salt930101}} KALL radio was sold;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-hatch-family-sells/166582979/|date=October 8, 1992|page=B9|first=Robert|last=Bryson|title=Hatch Family Sells KALL Radio for $1.88 Million to Firm That Owns KKAT|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} and George C. Hatch brokered a deal to sell a stake in KUTV to Veronis Suhler & Associates (VS&A), a New York–based investment banker.{{r|Salt930101}}

In August 1993, KUTV Inc. and TeleScene, a production company owned by the Hatches, were merged into a new company that also included VS&A-owned WOKR in Rochester, New York.{{cite news|title=KUTV will merge with out-of-state media corporation|work=Deseret News|page=A1|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|date=August 6, 1993}} VS&A became the majority owner of the stations in the transaction. In June 1994, VS&A moved to put the properties up for sale in order to seek other business ventures.{{Cite news|title=N.Y. investors putting Channel 2 up for sale|page=D12|work=Deseret News|date=June 23, 1994}}

{{further|1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment}}

KUTV came on the market at an opportune time. One month prior, in May 1994, a deal between Fox and New World Communications sparked a national realignment in network affiliations in markets across the country. As a result, valuations for network affiliates began to rise. Where KUTV had been rumored to be sold for about $70 million, by August reports suggested a sale price could exceed $100 million and that major station groups including Hearst and Scripps-Howard Broadcasting were interested.{{cite news|title=Price for KUTV is rising - perhaps over $100 million|work=Deseret News|page=C4|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|date=August 11, 1994}} On August 16, NBC announced it would purchase VS&A's 88 percent controlling interest in KUTV, valuing the station and TeleScene at $109 million. This made KUTV the second owned-and-operated station in Salt Lake City; KSTU was owned by Fox at the time. It was by some margin the smallest station owned by NBC; Salt Lake City was the 37th market at the time.{{cite news|title=NBC buys 88% interest in S.L. television affiliate|page=B1|date=August 16, 1994|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=Deseret News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204033212/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/370135/NBC-BUYS-88-INTEREST-IN-SL-TELEVISION-AFFILIATE.html?pg=all|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/370135/NBC-BUYS-88-INTEREST-IN-SL-TELEVISION-AFFILIATE.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2014}}{{Cite news|title=KUTV valued at $109 million|date=September 3, 1994|page=B7|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=Deseret News}} NBC expressed long-term interest in a possible regional cable news venture for the Rocky Mountain region between KUTV and the station it owned in Denver, KCNC-TV; it named KCNC president Roger Ogden, who had known the Hatches for years, to the transition team that would have integrated it into the stations group.{{Cite news|last=Oberbeck|first=Steven|date=August 17, 1994|title=Hatch Family Associate to Lead KUTV Transition|page=B-5|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82587401/kutv-sold-to-nbc/|access-date=August 1, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|title=As NBC lays more news ground, KCNC president leads the way|first=Dusty|last=Saunders|work=Rocky Mountain News|page=24D|date=August 25, 1994}}

Almost as soon as KUTV's sale to NBC was announced, its future became uncertain because of developments elsewhere. In July, CBS and Westinghouse Broadcasting (Group W) had agreed to change Group W's five-station group to CBS affiliation. This included the Group W–owned NBC affiliate in Philadelphia, KYW-TV, where CBS already owned WCAU.{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=July 15, 1994 |title=CBS to Add Three Affiliates in Deal With Westinghouse |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/15/business/the-media-business-cbs-to-add-three-affiliates-in-deal-with-westinghouse.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023121452/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/15/business/the-media-business-cbs-to-add-three-affiliates-in-deal-with-westinghouse.html |archive-date=October 23, 2014}}{{Cite magazine|last=Zier |first=Julie A. |date=July 18, 1994 |title=CBS, Group W form historic alliance: affiliations, joint station buying, program deals in prospect |page=14 |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable |id={{ProQuest|225329759}} |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-07-18.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307183829/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-07-18.pdf |archive-date=March 7, 2023}} CBS put WCAU on the market. However, when Fox bought its existing Philadelphia affiliate, NBC became the only logical buyer,{{r|Dese940903}} and talks began in earnest over a swap of stations between the two networks. An August 26 headline on the front page of The Salt Lake Tribune noted "KUTV Now Pawn In Network Fight For Philly Station".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-kutv-now-pawn-in-n/166577762/|date=August 28, 1994|pages=A-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-kutv-now-pawn-in-n/166577816/ A-19]|first=John|last=Keahey|title=KUTV Now Pawn In Network Fight For Philly Station|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} A draft outline leaked to Mediaweek in early September had NBC offering KUTV and KCNC-TV to CBS, along with the channel 4 signal in Miami, in exchange for WCAU and the weaker channel 6 facility in Miami.{{Cite news |last=Miles |first=Laureen |date=September 5, 1994 |title=WTXF-Phila. fetches $200 million |page=5 |work=Mediaweek |id={{Gale|A15809876}}}} Salt Lake City's existing CBS affiliate, KSL-TV, began negotiations with NBC.{{r|Dese941122}} This was largely confirmed on November 21, 1994,{{Cite news |last=Jicha |first=Tom |date=November 22, 1994 |title=CBS, NBC Changing Channels |work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-11-22/news/9411210600_1_wcix-nbc-programs-stations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703093638/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-11-22/news/9411210600_1_wcix-nbc-programs-stations |archive-date=July 3, 2011}} with KUTV being sold to a partnership of Group W and CBS (with Group W holding controlling interest), even though the NBC purchase was still pending at the FCC.{{cite news|page=A1|title=Talk about changing channels...|date=November 22, 1994|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=Deseret News}} In December, KSL and NBC reached an affiliation agreement.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-its-official-ks/166577671/|date=December 22, 1994|page=D-5|first=John|last=Keahey|title=It's Official — KSL to Air NBC Shows, If Sale of KUTV to CBS Goes Through|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

KUTV became a CBS affiliate on September 10, 1995. When it joined the network, viewers in Salt Lake City saw The Bold and the Beautiful for the first time, as KSL never carried the soap opera.{{cite news|date=September 1, 1995|page=C1|title=Now for a word from your local stations|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=Deseret News}} One NBC program remained on KUTV's schedule. KSL-TV aired SportsBeat Saturday, a sports highlights show, on Saturday late nights, so it did not pick up Saturday Night Live. KUTV continued to air the program{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-the-big-switch-wh/168630203/|date=July 30, 1995|pages=E-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-network-trade-mea/168630190/ E-4]|first=Martin|last=Renzhofer|title=The Big Switch: What Will Change, What Won't As KSL, KUTV Trade Networks|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} through January 1996, when it was discontinued.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-live-from-deer-val/168630228/|date=February 1, 1996|page=C7|first=John|last=Youngren|title=Live From Deer Valley — It's 'CBS This Morning'|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} The remaining links to the Hatch era were severed after the switch. A new general manager, David Phillips, was installed; Jeffrey Hatch remained president through the end of 1995, and Diane Orr—another member of the Hatch family—was replaced as news director.{{Cite news|page=C4|title=Ch. 2's new boss ousts news director|date=October 12, 1995|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=Deseret News}} In August, a month before the affiliation switch took effect, Westinghouse announced it would acquire CBS for $5.4 billion.{{Cite news|last=Fabrikant|first=Geraldine|date=August 2, 1995|title=CBS Accepts Bid by Westinghouse; $5.4 Billion Deal |language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/02/business/cbs-accepts-bid-by-westinghouse-5.4-billion-deal.html|access-date=October 29, 2020|issn=0362-4331}} The deal closed in November, making KUTV a CBS owned-and-operated station.{{cite news |date=November 22, 1995 |title=CBS deal to close Friday |work=United Press International |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/11/22/CBS-deal-to-close-Friday/8559817016400/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815212336/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/11/22/CBS-deal-to-close-Friday/8559817016400/ |archive-date=August 15, 2021}} TeleScene continued to be co-owned with the station until it was sold in 1999.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-kutv-sells-product/168630157/|date=March 5, 1999|page=B-1|first=Guy|last=Boulton|title=KUTV Sells Production Company to Investor Group to Build Film Studio|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

File:Slc_kutv_channel_2.jpg in downtown Salt Lake City|alt=KUTV signage on the exterior of the ground floor of a skyscraper. Windows of the streetside studio are also visible.]]

Beginning in early 2002, the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City began inquiring with local TV stations to see if any were interested in moving to studios on Main Street, which at the time was a priority for economic development. KUTV was the only interested station at the necessary cost, and with public and private funding, the station agreed in March 2003 to move to Wells Fargo Center.{{Cite news|title=KUTV Finalizes Main Street Deal|date=March 13, 2003|first=Lesley|last=Mitchell|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|page=C9}} Beginning in October, the station began broadcasting from the building, with newscasts originating from a streetside studio.{{Cite news|page=E1|first=Vince|last=Horiuchi|date=October 16, 2003|title=All eyes on KUTV at new Main St. digs|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}}

CBS agreed to sell a package of smaller-market TV stations, including KUTV, in February 2007 to Cerberus Capital Management for $185 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/cbs-sell-four-tv-stations-30107|title=CBS To Sell Four TV Stations|date=February 7, 2007|first=John|last=Eggerton|work=Broadcasting & Cable}} Cerberus formed a new holding company for the stations, Four Points Media Group, and closed on the deal on January 10, 2008.{{cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/cbs-sells-four-stations-four-points-media-group-31434|first=John|last=Eggerton|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=CBS Sells Four Stations to Four Points Media Group|date=January 10, 2008}} Under Four Points ownership, KUSG, a full-power satellite of KUTV in St. George, was split off as a separately programmed station.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112729529/so-utah-gets-another-tv-station/|date=March 12, 2008|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112729524/station/ C2]|first=Bob|last=hudson|title=So. Utah gets another TV station|newspaper=The Spectrum|location=Saint George, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2022|archive-date=November 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109191901/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112729529/so-utah-gets-another-tv-station/|url-status=live}} On March 20, 2009, Nexstar Broadcasting Group took over the management of Four Points under a three-year outsourcing agreement.{{cite web |url=http://www.sltrib.com/tv/ci_11987126 |title=KUTV Channel 2 under new management |first=Paul|last=Beebe|work=The Salt Lake Tribune |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407021608/http://www.sltrib.com/tv/ci_11987126 |archive-date=April 7, 2009}} KUTV was the largest station by market size owned by Four Points and the largest property Nexstar managed at the time.{{cite news|page=C8|title=Ch. 2's owners hire managers|date=March 24, 2009|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=Deseret News}}

Cerberus sold the Four Points stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group for $200 million in a deal announced in September 2011;{{cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/sinclair-grabs-four-points-stations-200-mil-43071|title=Sinclair Grabs Four Points Stations for $200 Mil|first=Michae|last=Malone|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=August 9, 2011}} Sinclair then began managing the stations (including WTVX, WTCN, WWHB, and WLWC) under local marketing agreements following antitrust approval by the Federal Trade Commission{{cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/sinclair-buys-four-points-media-for-200m/|title=Sinclair Buys Four Points Media For $200M|work=TVNewsCheck|date=September 8, 2011|access-date=July 14, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035152/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/sinclair-buys-four-points-media-for-200m/|url-status=live}} until the transaction was completed in January 2012.{{cite news|title=Sinclair Closes Four Points Media Acquisition|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/sinclair-closes-four-points-media-acquisition/|access-date=January 3, 2012|newspaper=TVNewsCheck|date=January 3, 2012|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035153/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/sinclair-closes-four-points-media-acquisition/|url-status=live}} Sinclair expanded its Utah operation in 2016 by acquiring KJZZ-TV (channel 14), an independent station, from Larry H. Miller Communications Corporation.{{Cite news |last=Pierce |first=Scott |date=April 28, 2016 |title=KUTV's parent buys KJZZ from Millers |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |url=http://www.sltrib.com/home/3831761-155/kutvs-parent-buys-kjzz-from-millers |access-date=June 20, 2016 |archive-date=July 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702235618/http://www.sltrib.com/home/3831761-155/kutvs-parent-buys-kjzz-from-millers |url-status=live }}

{{Further|Attempted acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcast Group}}

On May 8, 2017, Sinclair entered into an agreement to acquire Tribune Media—owner of Fox affiliate KSTU—for $3.9 billion, plus the assumption of $2.7 billion in Tribune-held debt.{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion plus debt|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-tribune-sinclair-20170508-story.html|first=Stephen|last=Battaglio|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017|archive-date=June 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606151425/http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-tribune-sinclair-20170508-story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast nears deal for Tribune Media|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-sinclair-exclusive-idUSKBN1830QH|first1=Liana|last1=Baker|first2=Jessica|last2=Toonkel|work=Reuters|date=May 7, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017|archive-date=June 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606174927/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-sinclair-exclusive-idUSKBN1830QH|url-status=live}} As Sinclair already owned KUTV, KJZZ-TV, and KMYU in the market, the company offered to sell KSTU back to Fox Television Stations as part of a $910 million deal;{{cite web|title=21st Century Fox Buys Seven Local TV Stations From Sinclair For $910 Million|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/21st-century-fox-buys-seven-local-tv-stations-from-sinclair-for-910-million-1202386066/|last=Hayes|first=Dade|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 9, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-date=May 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514012204/http://deadline.com/2018/05/21st-century-fox-buys-seven-local-tv-stations-from-sinclair-for-910-million-1202386066/|url-status=live}} Howard Stirk Holdings concurrently agreed to purchase KMYU.{{cite news|last1=Jessell|first1=Harry A.|title=Sinclair Spins Off 23 TVs To Grease Trib Deal|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113054/sinclair-spins-off-23-tvs-to-grease-trib-deal|access-date=April 24, 2018|work=TVNewsCheck|date=April 24, 2018|language=en|archive-date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425121326/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113054/sinclair-spins-off-23-tvs-to-grease-trib-deal|url-status=live}} The merger was terminated on August 9, 2018, by Tribune Media, nullifying both transactions;{{cite web|title=Tribune Kills Sinclair Merger, Files Suit|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/220320/tribune-kills-sinclair-merger/|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329181121/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/tribune-kills-sinclair-merger/|url-status=live}} this followed a public rejection of the deal by FCC chairman Ajit Pai and vote by the commission to designate it for hearing by an administrative law judge, which was seen as a death knell for the proposed transaction.{{cite news|title=FCC Throws Wrench Into Sinclair Media Megadeal|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/07/fcc-throws-wrench-into-sinclair-tribune-deal.html|first=Benjamin|last=Hart|periodical=New York|publisher=New York Media, LLC|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=July 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717002815/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/07/fcc-throws-wrench-into-sinclair-tribune-deal.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=FCC chair rejects Sinclair-Tribune merger|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/397194-fcc-chairman-rejects-sinclair-tribune-merger/|first=Harper|last=Neidig|newspaper=The Hill|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=July 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716163305/http://thehill.com/policy/technology/397194-fcc-chairman-rejects-sinclair-tribune-merger|url-status=live}}

KUTV's first news anchor was Doug Mitchell, who worked for the station from 1957 to 1984. Mitchell was recalled for his "authoritative" style and ability to read the news without a script.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-h-douglas-mitchel/168624972/|date=February 9, 1988|page=D-1|title=H. Douglas Mitchell Jr. Dead at Age 67|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} The station's coverage of the 1965 crash of United Air Lines Flight 227 was cited by former news director Mike Youngren as defining for local TV news; KUTV newsfilm of the event was seen on NBC's Huntley-Brinkley Report.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-airline-crash-help/168624927/|date=October 29, 1995|page=F3|first=Mike|last=Youngren|title=Airline Crash Helped Define Local News|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} By early 1967, the station's newscasts were entirely in color.{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting|pages=92, 94|title=All-color news high hurdle for stations|date=January 2, 1967|id={{pq|1014505417}} }} In 1971, the station won an Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for a documentary, Warrior Without a Cause, profiling the Goshute tribe of Utah;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-documentary/168685267/|date=November 24, 1971|page=8A|agency=Associated Press|title=Documentary by Utah TV Wins Prestigious National Award|newspaper=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|location=Ogden, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} a second came in 1980 for Clouds of Doubt, examining atomic testing in Nevada.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-kutv-honored-for-p/168685493/|date=March 1, 1980|page=C5|title=KUTV Honored For Program|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

KUTV's newscasts spent the better part of five decades as a solid runner-up to dominant KSL-TV. Even though the two stations had little difference in news content, KSL's ownership by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shaped perceptions of KSL and its rival in turn. In 1979, KUTV general manager Robert Temple noted that faithful LDS Church members often considered it their duty to watch the news on KSL; in turn, KUTV tended to have a strong preference among non-LDS viewers.{{Cite thesis |last=Smith |first=Conrad Glenn Page |title=Selecting a Source of Local Television News in the Salt Lake City SMSA: A Multivariate Analysis of Cognitive and Affective Factors for 384 Randomly-Selected Newscast Viewers |date=November 1980 |degree=Ph.D. |publisher=Temple University|id={{pq|303181907}}}}{{rp|69–70, 166}} After a period in which KSL-TV dominated the ratings, KUTV spent most of the late 1970s and early 1980s in a neck-and-neck contest with KSL, with KTVX a distant third.{{r|cpgsmith|p=115}} The KUTV news viewer was younger and more affluent than their KSL-TV counterpart, enabling channel 2 to charge higher advertising rates within its newscasts.{{r|cpgsmith|p=216}} One factor in the rise was the development of a homegrown meteorologist talent in Mark Eubank, who joined the station in 1967;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-ratings-points-rai/168670554/|date=January 22, 1995|pages=F-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-tv-ratings-points/168670489/ F-3]|first=Mike|last=Youngren|title=Ratings Points Rain Dollars In TV Business|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} Eubank's counterpart at KSL-TV, Bob Welti, admitted in a 1980 interview that, after seeing tapes of meteorologists in other markets, Eubank was the best in the country.{{r|cpgsmith|p=116}} Another was the popularity of KUTV's main anchor in the 1970s and early 1980s, Terry Wood,{{r|cpgsmith|p=219}} who started at KUTV in 1971 and proved popular with local viewers until he departed in 1984 for a job at WSB-TV in Atlanta.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-wood-13-year-kutv/168665230/|date=March 7, 1984|page=C5|first=Harold|last=Schindler|title=Wood, 13-Year KUTV Anchorman, Resigns to Take Position in Atlanta|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} Wood's departure prompted changes in KUTV's anchor lineup. Wood was succeeded as KUTV's top anchorman by Randall Carlisle, a reporter and anchor at the station since 1981;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-randall-carlisle-t/166890323/|date=April 12, 1984|page=C13|first=Harold|last=Schindler|title=Randall Carlisle to Replace Terry Wood As Anchorman on KUTV Nightly News|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} he was joined by Michelle King on the evening newscasts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-michelle-king-assi/166890371/|date=June 14, 1984|page=4B|first=Harold|last=Schindler|title=Michelle King Assigned to Co-Anchor KUTV News|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} Carlisle remained until 1988.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-carlisle-to-leave-kutv/168668035/|date=July 15, 1988|page=7|agency=Associated Press|title=Carlisle to leave KUTV|newspaper=The Daily Herald|location=Provo, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

{{Quote box

| quote = Mark was the franchise. It would have been advisable to promise him anything, pay him anything—make any deal.

| author = Jack Gallivan Jr.

| source = former KUTV news director, on the cost to the station of Mark Eubank departing for KSL{{r|Salt950122}}

| align = right

| width = 250px

| quoted = yes

| salign = right

}}

Mark Eubank departed in June 1989 after signing a contract with KSL-TV and its parent, Bonneville International Corporation, though a non-compete clause in his contract kept him from appearing on KSL-TV until early 1991.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-welti-may-retire/168666518/|date=June 24, 1989|page=14B|title=Welti May Retire: Weatherman Eubank to Leave KUTV At End of '89 for KSL at Start of '91|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} The move came at a time when the financial reverses the Hatches were experiencing led to low morale and low pay at KUTV.{{r|Salt950122}} The departure was a significant loss for KUTV; Harold Schindler of The Salt Lake Tribune called it the most devastating talent raid in local television since KSL-TV poached Bob Welti and Paul James from channel 4 (then known as KCPX-TV), a move that allowed KSL-TV to surge ahead as Utah's news leader.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-ksl-getting-eubank/168666577/|date=June 27, 1989|page=8C|first=Harold|last=Schindler|title=KSL Getting Eubank Is Best Coup Since '65|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} When Eubanks debuted on KSL-TV at the start of 1991, KUTV fell eight rating points and KSL rose four, blunting a challenge channel 2 had been posing in the late 1980s.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-utahs-tv-news-war/166520368/|date=December 29, 1991|pages=A-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-tv-news-wars-dia/166520315/ A-4]|first=Harold|last=Schindler|title=Utah's TV News Wars: 'Dialing' for Dollars|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} This was in spite of rehiring Terry Wood, who returned to Utah after a stint in New Orleans.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-kutv-drops-anchor/166891394/|date=August 1, 1996|pages=C-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-kutv-drops-anchor/166891355/ C-6]|first=John|last=Youngren|first2=Harold|last2=Schindler|title=KUTV Drops Anchor Terry Wood|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} Though channel 2 continued to command a healthy lead in morning news and at noon and ran closer in early evening news, KUTV fell back to a weaker second-place versus KSL-TV after the Eubank hiring.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-the-news-at-10-ks/75321099/|date=April 19, 1992|pages=E-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-news-at-10-ksl-st/75321067/ E-10]|first=Harold|last=Schindler|title=The news at 10: KSL stays on top, KTVX still trailing|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-ksl-rates-no-1-ov/166890864/|date=January 5, 1993|page=D5|first=Harold|last=Schindler|title=KSL Rates No. 1 Over KUTV, KTVX for News|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} Facing a challenge from KTVX, KUTV hired its former anchor, Phil Riesen, in 1993 and recovered some of its lost viewership.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-riesen-hiring-help/166891047/|date=July 4, 1993|page=E3|first=Harold|last=Schindler|title=Riesen hiring helps KUTV move up: KSL still kingpin|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

Ahead of the 1995 affiliation switch, KUTV was fending off a challenge from an advancing KTVX. The change to CBS came at a time when that network was weaker than NBC in the ratings.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-ksl-kutv-downplay/166891230/|date=June 21, 1995|page=B-4|first=Mike|last=Youngren|title=KSL, KUTV Downplay Strengths|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} KUTV's late news viewership declined by about a third after the switch, owing to poor lead-in programming from CBS,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-ksl-sweeps-up-loca/166891321/|date=December 21, 1995|pages=F-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-switch-to-nbc-good/166891280/ F-6]|first=John|last=Youngren|title=KSL Sweeps Up Local TV Ratings In November With Network Switch|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-kutv-sees-a-silver/111895892/|date=December 23, 1995|page=E7|first=John|last=Youngren|title=KUTV Sees a Silver Lining Behind Ratings Cloud|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} but ratings in other time periods held steady.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-ksl-tv-grabs-lion/168671533/|date=June 14, 1996|pages=B-8, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-ksl-tv-grabs-top/168671562/ B-10]|first=John|last=Youngren|title=KSL-TV Grabs Lion's Share Of Viewers|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} After the introduction of metered rankings to the Salt Lake City market in late 1996, KUTV slipped to third place at 11 p.m.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-not-much-new-in-lo/168672007/|date=March 22, 1997|page=B7|first=John|last=Youngren|title=Not Much New in Local TV News: KSL Leads Pack|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

The station retooled its anchor lineup in 1996 and 1997; Wood's contract was not renewed,{{r|Salt960801}} and he was replaced nearly a year later by Mark Koelbel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-new-anchor-koelbel/168672163/|date=June 26, 1997|page=C7|first=John|last=Youngren|title=New anchor Koelbel Prepares to Set Sail at KUTV|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} The 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts were replaced with a combined hour at 5.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-channel-2s-hour-l/168672477/|date=October 2, 1997|page=C7|first=John|last=Youngren|title=Channel 2's Hour-Long Newscast: A Step Forward|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} Through this period, KUTV continued to be a solid number-two in late news to KSL,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-kutv-makes-tempora/168674625/|date=August 17, 2001|page=B5|first=Martin|last=Renzhofer|title=KUTV Makes Temporary Change in News Director Slot|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} whose newscasts were among the highest-rated in major markets;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-ksl-news-broadcast/168670251/|date=June 7, 2001|pages=A-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-ratings-points-tr/168670326/ A-18]|first=Martin|last=Renzhofer|title=KSL News Broadcast Widens Lead Over Competitors, Ranks 2nd in Nation|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} the challenge from KTVX faded as that station underwent newsroom and ownership turnover.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-ktvx-hoping-anchor/148228538/|date=March 28, 2002|page=D5|first=Martin|last=Renzhofer|title=KTVX Hoping Anchor Team of Todd, Carlisle Pull It Out of Ratings Cellar|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} KUTV's strength in mornings was such that CBS let the station air a local newscast at 7 a.m. in lieu of the first hour of The Early Show.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-kutvs-phillips-de/168675848/|date=March 9, 2000|page=B7|first=Martin|last=Renzhofer|title=KUTV's Phillips Delighted as Station Continues to Strengthen Its Ratings|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}} King departed in 2007 after 29 years at KUTV, including 23 in evening news.{{cite news|title=Michelle King signs off after 29 years with KUTV|date=October 26, 2007|first=Vince|last=Horiuchi|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}}

Between 2008 and 2009, KUTV served as the producing station for a local newscast on Four Points–owned WTVX serving West Palm Beach, Florida. The half-hour CW West Palm News at Ten was produced using local reporters in the market—with a total of 30 West Palm Beach-based staff—and news and weather presenters at KUTV.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105563287/live-from-salt-lake-city-its-the-wes/|date=January 26, 2009|page=1D, 4D|first=Kevin D.|last=Thompson|title=Live from Salt Lake City... It's the West Palm Beach News!|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 14, 2022|id={{ProQuest|321574430}}|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035200/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105563287/live-from-salt-lake-city-its-the/|url-status=live}} On June 7, 2009, the station abruptly canceled its weekend morning newscasts; this was followed the next day by the cancellation of the newscast that the station produced for WTVX; as with many newscast cuts at that time, it was likely due to the Great Recession, while WTVX's newscast was stunted by low ratings.

Over the course of the late 2000s and early 2010s, KUTV narrowed the ratings gap with KSL before surpassing it. KUTV narrowly edged KSL in seven-day news ratings in May 2006,{{Cite news|title=Ratings produce bad news for KSL|date=May 25, 2006|first=Vince|last=Horiuchi|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}} and though its ratings dipped after King's departure,{{cite news|title=KUTV ratings take a big hit|date=February 29, 2008|first=Vince|last=Horiuchi|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}} the station rebounded. In the November 2008 Nielsen survey, the gap between the two stations at 10 p.m. shrank to one percent of the audience,{{Cite news|page=C8|title=KSL barely beats KUTV|date=December 1, 2008|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=Deseret News}} and two years later, they tied at 10 p.m.{{Cite news|title=KUTV ties KSL at 10 p.m.|date=December 4, 2010|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}} The 10 p.m. ratings shift was the last step in a process that had been going on for years; Scott D. Pierce noted in The Salt Lake Tribune, "The truth is that [KSL] hasn't been No. 1 in much of anything other than the 10 p.m. news for quite some time."{{Cite news|date=December 4, 2010|title=KUTV reveling in its top-dog status|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}} This rise occurred amid a backdrop of cuts during the Great Recession, which included two rounds of layoffs{{Cite news|first=Vince|last=Horiuchi|title=KUTV lets go anchor and reporters|date=March 19, 2009|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}} and the non-renewal of its news helicopter lease that August.{{cite news|first=Vince|last=Horiuchi|date=August 18, 2009|url=http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_13152296 |title=KUTV takes news helicopter out of service |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821002124/http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_13152296 |archive-date=August 21, 2009}} Meanwhile, as KSL suffered in the ratings under a shift to a softer, values-based news format, KUTV widened its ratings lead;{{cite news|url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/55853177-79/ksl-news-kutv-willes.html.csp|title=Utah TV viewers continue to abandon KSL Ch. 5|first=Paul|last=Beebe|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=March 3, 2013|access-date=May 8, 2013}} in February 2012, KUTV had more 10 p.m. news viewers than KSL and KTVX combined, and it led in almost all time slots.{{Cite news|url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=53625634&itype=CMSID|title=In Utah TV ratings, Channel 2 sweeps to huge win|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=March 1, 2012}}

While KUTV continued to lead in households, KSTU built a substantial franchise with younger viewers. As early as 2014, KUTV was leading in households at 10 p.m. but third in viewers aged 25–54 behind KSL and KSTU.{{Cite news|title=When you look at the news demos, Fox 13 is No. 1|date=May 21, 2014|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}} By 2022, KSL had surpassed KUTV in household ratings.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/local-news-close-up-as-salt-lake-population-booms-stations-greet-new-arrivals|first=Michael|last=Malone|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=March 25, 2022|title=Local News Close-Up: As Salt Lake Population Booms, Stations Greet New Arrivals}}

KUTV also airs newscasts on KJZZ-TV. From 2005 to 2010, when KUTV provided operational assistance to channel 14 under a local marketing agreement,{{Cite news |last=Johnston |first=Garth |date=January 27, 2007 |title=A Real Youth Market |language=en |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/real-youth-market-81803 |access-date=April 8, 2021 |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327044647/https://www.nexttv.com/news/real-youth-market-81803 |url-status=live }} the station produced weekday morning 9 a.m. and nightly 9 p.m. newscasts for KJZZ-TV.{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2010 |title=KJZZ Scraps Newscasts |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/453232-KJZZ_Scraps_Newscasts.php?rssid=20065 |access-date=August 11, 2013 |website=Broadcasting & Cable |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002234242/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/453232-KJZZ_Scraps_Newscasts.php?rssid=20065 |url-status=dead }} In 2017, KUTV launched the 8 a.m. hour of its morning newscast for KJZZ. The 7 a.m. hour moved from KUTV to KJZZ in 2018 when a new affiliation agreement required KUTV to clear the entirety of CBS This Morning.{{Cite news |last=Pierce |first=Scott |date=February 22, 2018 |title=CBS forces KUTV to switch its 7 a.m. newscast over to KJZZ |language=en-US |work=Salt Lake Tribune |url=https://sltrib.com/news/2018/08/22/scott-d-pierce-cbs-forces |access-date=April 8, 2021 |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506025028/https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/08/22/scott-d-pierce-cbs-forces/ |url-status=live }}

• David Osmond – host of Fresh Living, 2021–present{{Cite web |date=2021-06-14 |title=Meet our new co-host! |url=https://kutv.com/features/fresh-living/meet-our-new-co-host |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=KUTV |language=en}}

• Kathy Brock – anchor/reporter, 1984–1990{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-watching-olympics/168669591/|date=August 7, 1984|page=4B|first=Harold|last=Schindler|title=Watching Olympics Better With Sound Turned Off|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-smithsonian-offers/168669430/|date=February 21, 1990|page=8E|first=Harold|last=Schindler|title=Smithsonian Offers a Tasty Program|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 23, 2025}}
• Christianne Klein – 4 p.m. anchor, 2003–2005{{Cite news|page=D7|title=Extended forecast: Meteorologist Kevin Eubank out at KUTV|first=Vince|last=Horiuchi|date=February 1, 2005|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}}
• Ric Romero – PM Magazine host, 1982–1985{{cite web|url=http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/bio?section=resources/inside_station/newsteam&id=5744031 |title=Ric Romero bio |publisher=KABC-TV |access-date=March 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823103916/http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/bio?section=resources%2Finside_station%2Fnewsteam&id=5744031 |archive-date=August 23, 2011 }}
• John Stehr – anchor, 1982–1989{{cite web|url=http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?s=825910|title=John Stehr bio|publisher=WTHR|access-date=March 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017184735/http://www.wthr.com/article/john-stehr|archive-date=October 17, 2016|url-status=dead}}

The station's signal is multiplexed:

{{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}}

{{main|KMYU}}

On April 8, 2009, KUTV began carrying This TV on its second subchannel, including Real Salt Lake soccer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kutv.com/content/lifestyle/techtips/story/This-TV-On-Channel-2-2/2xEk6fjICUGRQEhIGlfnfg.cspx|title=This TV on Channel 2.2|accessdate=May 6, 2023|date=April 8, 2009|website=KUTV|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413041930/http://www.kutv.com/content/lifestyle/techtips/story/This-TV-On-Channel-2-2/2xEk6fjICUGRQEhIGlfnfg.cspx|archive-date=April 13, 2009}} By 2010, this service was a simulcast of the main channel of KUSG (now KMYU) in St. George.{{cite news|title=Utah Blaze are back in business with a TV deal, too|page=D2|work=Deseret News|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|date=February 19, 2010}}

Though KUTV was part of the DTV Utah consortium that built a common transmitter site for most Salt Lake City–market digital broadcasting,{{cite news|page=A1|title=Digital TV broadcasts begin in Utah|first=Steve|last=Fidel|work=Deseret News|date=October 29, 1999}} it did not begin to provide a digital signal until January 15, 2002.{{Cite book|chapter=KUTV-DT|title=Television & Cable Factbook|year=2006|publisher=Warren Communications News|page=A-2349}} KUTV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 2, on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television; most of the state's broadcasters opted to wait until the rescheduled June date. KUTV's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 34.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11665656 |title=KUCW changes digital deadline |date=February 9, 2009 | work=The Salt Lake Tribune |access-date=February 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211085854/http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11665656 |archive-date=February 11, 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |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 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}

{{See|KMYU#Translators}}

KUTV is additionally rebroadcast over a network of low-power translator stations:{{r|re}}

{{Div col|colwidth=20em|content=* Kanarraville, etc.: K02KN-D

• Cedar Canyon: K05NG-D
• Helper: K07AAA-D
• Roosevelt, etc.: K07AAB-D
• Long Valley Junction: K07ZT-D
• Sigurd–Salina: K07ZV-D
• Marysvale: K07ZW-D
• Woodland–Kamas: K07ZX-D
• East Price: K07ZZ-D
• Hildale, etc.: K08PC-D
• Blanding–Monticello: K08PY-D
• Aurora, etc.: K08QA-D
• Cedar City: K09CJ-D
• Ruth, NV: K09DW-D
• Ely–McGill, NV: K09EA-D
• Lund–Preston, NV: K10BU-D
• Santa Clara: K10RP-D
• Toquerville: K11VY-D
• Eureka, NV: K14OB-D
• Wanship: K14QS-D
• Rural Sevier County: K14QY-D
• Teasdale–Torrey: K14RA-D
• Richfield, etc.: K14RC-D
• Koosharem: K14RD-D
• Panguitch: K14RE-D
• Henrieville: K14RH-D
• Nephi: K14RI-D
• Samak: K14RL-D
• Laketown, etc.: K14RM-D
• Fruitland: K14RT-D
• Park City: K15FL-D
• Hatch: K15HE-D
• Mount Pleasant: K15HG-D
• Green River: K15HH-D
• Coalville: K15KQ-D
• Garfield, etc.: K15KS-D
• Orangeville: K15LQ-D
• Mayfield: K16HV-D
• Utahn: K18JU-D
• Wendover: K18KC-D
• Enterprise: K18MC-D
• Bluff & area: K18MQ-D
• Montezuma Creek–Aneth: K18MR-D
• Circleville: K19GM-D
• Virgin: K19HQ-D
• Mexican Hat, etc.: K19IG-D
• Orderville: K19KQ-D
• Leamington: K19MA-D
• Summit County: K20ND-D
• Beaver, etc.: K22FS-D
• Navajo Mountain School, etc.: K22IE-D
• Oljeto: K22IF-D
• Spring Glen: K22JZ-D
• Scipio–Holden: K22NC-D
• Kanarraville: K24MY-D
• Huntsville, etc.: K25IX-D
• Cortez, CO: K25QS-D
• Fishlake Resort: K26NV-D
• Kanab: K26NY-D
• Beryl–Modena–Newcastle: K27GB-D
• Manti, etc.: K28JN-D
• Hanksville: K28OK-D
• Escalante: K28OM-D
• Preston, ID: K29EY-D
• Vernal, etc.: K29LB-D
• Morgan, etc.: K30JB-D
• Fountain: K30KK-D
• Duchesne: K30LF-D
• Manila, etc.: K30LY-D
• Capitol Reef National Park: K30ON-D
• Caineville: K30OO-D
• Fremont: K30OQ-D
• Tropic–Cannonville: K30OT-D
• Montpelier, ID: K31CI-D
• Hanna, etc.: K31JB-D
• Boulder: K31JF-D
• Scofield: K31JN-D
• Rockville: K31JX-D
• LeChee, etc., AZ: K31KS-D
• Spring Glen, etc.: K31MC-D
• Rural Garfield County: K31NP-D
• Henefer, etc.: K31OD-D
• Delta, etc.: K31OJ-D
• Beaver, etc.: K31OK-D
• Parowan–Enoch, etc.: K32AG-D
• Ely, NV: K32CJ-D
• Alton: K32LZ-D
• Peoa–Oakley: K33JG-D
• Clear Creek: K34KP-D
• Logan: K34OI-D
• Heber–Midway: K35EW-D
• Antimony: K35NJ-D
• Randolph–Woodruff: K35NN-D
• Garrison, etc.: K36IR-D
• Fillmore, etc.: K36KI-D
• Emery: K36PC-D
• Green River: K36PD-D
• Ferron: K36PF-D
• Huntington: K36PG-D}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://kutv.com/|Official website KUTV}}
• {{Official website|https://kmyu.tv/|Official website KMYU}}
• [https://collections.lib.utah.edu/search?q=uum_knc/ KUTV News Collection] at [https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ University of Utah Digital Library], [https://lib.utah.edu/collections/special-collections/ Marriott Library Special Collections]

{{SLC TV}}

{{Idaho TV}}

{{Nevada TV}}

{{Wyoming TV}}

{{SBGI}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kutv}}

Category:1954 establishments in Utah

Category:CBS affiliates

Category:Former CBS Corporation subsidiaries

Category:Former General Electric subsidiaries

Category:Mass media in Salt Lake City

Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1954

UTV