Originally signed on the air on Friday, January 6, 1967 as KHTV, an independent television station on UHF channel 39 established by the WKY Television System, a subsidiary of Oklahoma City-based Oklahoma Publishing Company. The station began with a slide on Channel 39 announcing the new station, accompanied by an advertising campaign. The station began regular programming immediately after.
1981–1983
Alternate white version
1983–1987
1987–1990
By coincidence, while the station was operated by Gaylord at the time, this logo was similar to the early logos used by Fox Television Stations' properties (which used Friz Quadrata), including rival station KRIV (UHF channel 26), at various timeframes from 1986 to 1994.
1990–1992
1992–1995
1995–1996
Chicago-based Tribune Broadcasting (whose parent company Tribune Company jointly owned The WB with Time Warner) acquired channel 39 from Gaylord Entertainment (owner of then-superstation KTVT in Fort Worth) and became the new network's affiliate for the Houston area on September 20, 1995.
1996–1999
3D version
Shortened version
SVG NEEDED
KHWB
1999–2003, 2003–2004 (primary)
Alternate version
SVG NEEDED
On-screen bug
On September 20, 1999, the station changed its call letters to KHWB (for "Houston's WB") to reflect its affiliation.
2003–2004 (secondary), 2004–2006
KHCW
April-September 2006
KIAH changed its callsign to KHCW on April 13, 2006 in preparation for the launch of The CW, which began operations on September 17 of that year.
2006–2008
KIAH
2008
On July 15, 2008, channel 39 changed its call letters to the current KIAH as part of a branding campaign emphasizing the station's local orientation (KIAH also serves as the ICAO airport code for the George Bush Intercontinental Airport).
2008–2011
2011
2011–2017
Watermark
2017–2018
2018–2020 (primary), 2020–present (secondary)
Print version
Promo for ABC 13 Eyewitness News at 9 p.m. on CW 39. KTRK-TV started to produce a 9PM newscast for KIAH on May 11, 2020.
1Nexstar operates these stations owned by Mission Broadcasting. 2Nexstar operates this station owned by Cunningham Broadcasting. 3Nexstar operates this station owned by White Knight Broadcasting through an SSA. 4Nexstar operates this station owned by Vaughan Media. 5Predecessor company of LIN Media. 6Currently a repeater for WWLP. 7Joint venture with Warner Bros. Discovery in which Nexstar owns 31% while Warner Bros. Discovery owns the remaining 69%.
Notes Stations are arranged alphabetically by state and territory, and based on the station's city of license or Designated Market Area. +Station carries CW programming on a digital subchannel, via The CW Plus. +1Local CW Plus affiliate operates as cable-only channel.