KPHO-TV originally signed on the air on December 4, 1949, the first in both Arizona and Phoenix; as a primary CBS affiliate. On June 25, 1952, the Des Moines-based Meredith Corporation purchased channel 5. In 1953, the CBS affiliation moved to KOOL-TV, in which KPHO remained a dual ABC/DuMont affiliate until 1955 when ABC moved to then-newly signed on (and future sister station) KTVK and in 1956, DuMont ceased operations, making KPHO an independent station for the next four decades.
1956–1958[]
1958–1963[]
1963–1969[]
1969–1972[]
1972–1993[]
This logo design was also used and shared by sister stations KCMO-TV (later KCTV since 1983) in Kansas City; KVVU-TV in Henderson/Las Vegas, Nevada; WNEM-TV in Bay City/Saginaw/Flint/Midland, Michigan; and until 1993, WTVH in Syracuse, New York.
1972–1980[]
SVG NEEDED
1980–1993[]
1993–1995[]
On September 12, 1994, the CBS affiliation returned back to KPHO-TV as part of a greater deal between Meredith and CBS, where the former independent station moved to former ABC affiliate KTVK (VHF channel 3) for Arizona's market as part of a group affiliation deal with New World Communications who purchased KSAZ-TV and its Kansas City sister station, WDAF-TV. Initially, 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.
1Owned by Branson Visitors TV, Gray holds a 50.1% interest in the company. 2Owned by Schurz Communications, Gray operated KGHZ through an SSA. 3Gray operates this station owned by American Spirit Media. 4Gray operates this station owned by Tegna through an SSA. 5Gray operates this station owned by The E. W. Scripps Company through an SSA. 6Gray operates this station owned by Tougaloo College. 7Joint venture with Ryman Hospitality Properties. 8Gray operates this station owned by SagamoreHill Broadcasting through an SSA. 9Sale of these stations to The E. W. Scripps Company in exchange for KATC and WSYM-TV pending FCC approval.
