KDNL-TV originally signed on the air on June 8, 1969 as the first new station in the St. Louis market since KPLR-TV launched in 1959, and the first on the UHF band since KTVI (then on channel 54, now on channel 2) relocated to a VHF frequency in 1957. Though KDNL's construction permit was awarded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1966 to a group of local investors under the banner Greater Saint Louis Television Corporation, the station was signed-on under the ownership of Evans Broadcasting, a New York City-based company which acquired the permit in 1968.
1980–1991[]
1980–1986[]
By 1980, KDNL would adopt this "30" logo, one similar to what WVIT would use from 1994 to 1998. The font used for the logo was originally used for properties owned by Brazilian multinational group Organizaçoes Globo (Avant Garde). In March 1981, Evans Broadcasting agreed to sell the station to Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises.
1986–1989[]
KDNL-TV, along with Cox-owned independent stations in Oakland (KTVU) and Detroit (WKBD-TV), officially joined as charter Fox affiliates on October 9, 1986.
1989–1991[]
In 1989, Cox sold channel KDNL to St. Louis-based River City Broadcasting, a new company formed by two former KPLR-TV employees.
Alternate version with slogan
Station ID
Station ID
1991–1993[]
Monochrome version
1993–1994[]
This logo is based on the design used by WATL/Atlanta from 1991 to 1993.
Variant with city of license
Holiday ID (1993)
1994–1995[]
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News 30 Now logo (January–August 1995)
News 30 Now open (January–August 1995)
1995–present[]
1995–1997[]
Alternate version
News 30 logo (1995–1997)
News 30 6:00 p.m. open (1995–1996)
News 30 10:00 p.m. open (1995–1996)
KDNL-TV became an ABC affiliate on August 7, 1995, swapping its Fox affiliation with longtime ABC affiliate KTVI; it was the result of a group-wide affiliation deal between Fox and New World Communications (which acquired KTVI from Argyle Television two years prior). KDNL would also expand its local news programming at that time; its in-house news department, which launched under its Fox affiliation in January 1995 with the debut of a 9:00 p.m. newscast (though the station had run news updates as early as 1981 while an independent station), began producing a nightly 10:00 p.m. newscast upon switching to ABC, and added 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. broadcasts in early 1996. River City would announce its merger with with the Sinclair Broadcast Group for $2.3 billion in April 1996. This logo has been used by the station since its switch, undergoing various tweaks since.
1Owned by Tennessee Broadcasting and operated by Sinclair under an outsourcing agreement. 2Nominally owned by Cunningham Broadcasting and operated by Sinclair under an LMA. However, trusts belonging to members of Sinclair's founding Smith family control almost all of Cunningham's stock. 3Operated by Nexstar Media Group under an LMA. 4Owned by Second Generation of Iowa, Ltd. and operated by Sinclair under a LMA. 5Owned by Manhan Media and managed by Sinclair. 6Owned by Howard Stirk Holdings, operated by Sinclair under an LMA. 7Owned by Mercury Broadcasting Company and operated by Sinclair. 8Owned by Deerfield Media and operated by Sinclair under an LMA. 9Owned by Roberts Media, but operated by Sinclair. 10Owned by Mitts Telecasting and operated by Sinclair. 11Owned by GOCOM Media and operated by Sinclair. 12Owned by Waitt Broadcasting, but operated by Sinclair under an SSA. 13Owned by Granite Broadcasting Corporation and operated by Sinclair through a JSA and SSA. 14Owned by New Age Media and operated by Sinclair under an MSA. 15Owned by MPS Media, but operated by New Age Media under an LMA. 16Owned by Diamond Sports Group, a joint venture of Sinclair and Entertainment Studios. 17Co-owned with Yankee Global Enterprises, The Blackstone Group, Amazon, RedBird Capital and Mubadala Investment Company. 18Co-owned with Chicago Cubs. 19Owned by Sinclair and operated by Jukin Media. 20Owned by Palm Television, L.P. and operated by Cunningham Broadcasting under an LMA.