Station Information

KTVL's roots go back to 1959, when pioneer Rogue Valley Broadcaster and KMED Radio owner Ray Johnson applied for permission to install a new TV station for Southern Oregon and Northern California on Channel 10.

The television studios were constructed adjacent to then KMED Radio on Rossanley Drive in Medford, and in October 1961, KMED-TV was born.

KMED signed on as an NBC primary affiliate, bringing area viewers shows like Bonanza, the Huntley-Brinkley Report and other NBC favorites. The first transmitter was located on Blackwell Hill, near the community of Gold Hill. But the development of the Mt. Ashland Ski Resort in 1963 gave the station an opportunity to tremendously expand it's viewing coverage area.

So, in September, 1966, KMED-TV began telecasting from the summit of Mt. Ashland; 7,600 feet above sea level. It is the highest TV transmitting antenna in the Pacific Northwest, with a primary signal covering Klamath, Josephine and Jackson County in Oregon, and Siskiyou County in California... plus parts of Modoc, Lake, Douglas and Curry Counties.

KMED was a pioneer in radio and television news gathering in Southern Oregon in the 1920's and 1930's. Many historic local, national and world events have been seen and heard through our cameras and microphones.

In 1968, KMED-TV brought us many firsts. Viewers saw the images produced from the first "live" color cameras used in Southern Oregon. They were used in the May primary election returns. KMED was the first station to cover news events "live" on the scene locally, with the first use of "live" remote microwave technology. The first broadcasts of editorials in Southern Oregon were initiated by then General Manager Ray Johnson, and the area's first use of computer weather graphics during the station's weather reports were presented in 1981.

The KMED call letters became the familiar KTVL television call letters in 1977, when KMED AM 1440 radio was sold. Another milestone in the station's history occurred in August of 1981 when Freedom Communications, Inc. became the new and present owners of KTVL Channel 10.

More changes took place in 1983 when the NBC peacock became the proud CBS Eye, as KTVL became a full time CBS Television affiliate.

KTVL News 10 has had a rich history and tradition of excellence in Southern Oregon and Northern California.We look forward to many more years of serving our viewers with the finest news and information, entertainment programming and community service.

For outstanding local television, turn to KTVL News10, coverage you can count on.