KSBW

KSBW is a television station in the United States and is the NBC affiliate for the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz, California market. The station is owned by the Hearst Corporation, and is located on channel 8. KSBW has its studios on John Street (along Highway 68) in downtown Salinas, which is mentioned occasionally during commercial breaks and newscasts. Its news programs are entitled Action News 8. Its transmitter is located on Fremont Peak in the Gabilan Mountains above San Juan Bautista, California, over 3,100 feet above sea level. The call letters KSBW stand for "Salad Bowl of the World," which is the nickname of the city of Salinas.

Early years
KSBW began broadcasting on September 11, 1953, sharing time with KMBY-TV of Monterey on channel 8 (the two stations merged in 1955). Originally, it was affiliated with all four major networks — NBC, ABC, CBS and DuMont (DuMont folded in 1955). ABC disappeared from KSBW's programming schedule when San Jose's then-independent KNTV decided to concentrate on the Monterey-Salinas market in 1960. For the next nine years, KSBW was forced to shoehorn NBC and CBS onto its schedule. This was unusual for a two-station market (especially one of Monterey's size); in most such markets, ABC was relegated to secondary status on the CBS and NBC affiliates. When KMST-TV (now KION-TV) signed on as a full-time CBS affiliate in 1969, KSBW became an exclusive NBC affiliate.

Partnership with KSBY
During the early 1980s, KSBW and then-sister station KSBY in San Luis Obispo, California were owned by Blair Broadcasting; under the original ownership, KSBY simulcasted KSBW, except for producing its own local newscasts and covering CBS programming (in San Luis Obispo, KCOY provided CBS programming from adjacent Santa Maria, requiring KSBY to drop the feed from Salinas when KSBW was carrying a CBS network program). The simulcasting ended under Blair and KSBY became an NBC affiliate on its own. On November 12, 1986, Blair Broadcasting sold most of its English-language stations to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_N._Gillett_Jr. Gillett Communications] (which would later acquire most of Storer Broadcasting's stations).[1]

Ownership change
Gillett Holdings, a subsidiary of Vail Associates at that time, would own just the two stations, along with nearby station KSBY, two ski resorts, and a packing company. Gillett would later file for bankruptcy on August 17, 1992, after the ski area and its media company was due to emerge from bankruptcy.[2] After Gillett restructured into SCI TV, it put KSBW and KSBY on the market. However, a buyer for both stations wasn't found until after SCI sold most of its stations to New World Communications in 1993; the following year, KSBW and KSBY were sold to EP Communications, a company co-owned by Elisabeth Murdoch, daughter of News Corporation chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch.

In 1995, Smith Broadcasting and SJL Communications teamed up to purchase the EP stations, with KSBW going to Smith Broadcasting and KSBY going to SJL because Smith Broadcasting has already owned KEYT, which the FCC did not allow two stations being owned by one company. What was then called Hearst-Argyle Television bought KSBW, along with WPTZ in Plattsburgh, New York and its semi-satellite WNNE in White River Junction, Vermont, from Sunrise Television (at that time a subsidiary of Smith Broadcasting; now part of LIN TV) in 1998, swapping WDTN in Dayton, Ohio and the license for WNAC-TV in Providence, Rhode Island to Sunrise in the process.

Weather Plus
In early 2005, KSBW debuted its localized version of NBC Weather Plus, branded as KSBW Weather Plus. Its only local preemption was their debut of their 10pm newscasts at that time. KSBW first offered Weather Plus on its digital channel (on KSBW-DT2), as well as on Comcast cable. NBC's national Weather Plus operations were shut down on December 1, 2008 after the network's parent company, NBCUniversal, purchased The Weather Channel. However, KSBW remains one of the few to continue the use of the "L" bar Weather Plus, with weather updates 8 times per hour. After the national shutdown, KSBW Weather Plus ran a three-hour children's block on Saturday mornings that consists of Eco Company, Teen Kids News, and Animal Exploration with Jarod Miller while the "L" bar is still in effect.

Its 10pm newscasts continued to run even after the shutdown, and was replaced with background music. Additionally, although KSBW anchors Dan Green and/or Erin Clark claims that its 10 p.m. newscasts are offered on its website in addition to its second digital subchannel and Comcast, it also ran KSBW Weather Plus on its website.[3]

On August 2, 2010, KSBW started broadcasting an alternative set of primetime programming on its second digital subchannel, branded as KSBW Prime Plus, although it is broadcast Monday through Friday nights.[4] Programming included a rebroadcast of its 5pm newscast at 7pm, Access Hollywood, reruns of Dr. Phil and Oprah during primetime, and KSBW's 10pm newscast. KSBW Weather Plus would still retain its branding during the time that Prime Plus is not on the air.[5] KSBW's logo on its second digital subchannel is branded as "8.2", with the ".2" logo replacing the "peacock" logo and is used only during syndicated programming and its newscasts. (Its nearby Hearst station KCRA also does the same, though it is branded as "moreTV Sacramento.") Although KSBW does not use the localized version of the "moreTV" branding, the subchannel uses the "moreTV" concept previously used by its sister station in Tampa, WMOR-TV.

Central Coast ABC
The Monterey-Salinas market has gone without a local ABC station since July 2000 when KNTV disaffiliated from the network due to KGO-TV asserting market exclusivity for ABC within San Jose, though to the disadvantage of the more southern Monterey-Salinas area. KNTV became the NBC affiliate in January 2002 for the San Francisco Bay Area market and eventually, owned and operated by NBC as of today. Viewers who wanted to view ABC programming had to rely mainly on "ABC 7", a localized version of San Francisco's KGO-TV for ABC programming which was exclusively cable and satellite-only. While KSBW will continue to offer NBC programming on its main channel (8.1), the station announced that KSBW will offer ABC programming over on its second digital subchannel, which will take over programming that is formerly occupied by KSBW Weather Plus.[6] This will mark Hearst's 14th television station affiliated with ABC.

The station began to remind viewers two days prior to the shutdown on January 31, 2011 that those who are turning in to KSBW Weather Plus over on its second digital subchannel that the station is shutting down temporarily, however, Weather Plus' branding is kept and will continue to operate it on its website. This is due to the station receiving equipment that will capable of transmitting ABC programming, as well as on cable and satellite. The shutdown became effective on the morning of February 1, 2011, and began to mirror 8.1 at that time.

On February 11, 2011, KSBW announced that beginning in April, KSBW will debut ABC programming known as "Central Coast ABC", with a simulcast of local news at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. on weekdays,[7] however, no schedule has been released for the weekends. Simulcast of local news does not include the noon newscast, which will continue on the main channel (8.1).

The weekday schedule and new logo for Central Coast ABC debuted on March 5, 2011.[8] Upon the launch of the new channel, selected syndicated programming on KSBW-DT2 will include Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Extra, Dr. Phil, The Doctors, and The Oprah Winfrey Show; the latter three airing at different times. The official launch of the channel is scheduled for April 18, 2011.[9] As in the case of the main channel (8.1), it will broadcast in HD.

In mid-March 2011, to promote the channel, the station shared the good news that also featured Tom Bergeron, the host of two ABC programs, Dancing with the Stars and America's Funniest Home Videos.[10] On April 1, 2011, KSBW-DT2 began using a test pattern in preparations for Central Coast ABC, using the 720p format like most ABC stations.

Syndicated shows and NBC programming
As of 2010, syndicated programming on KSBW includes The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Rachael Ray Show, The Doctors, Dr. Phil, and The Oprah Winfrey Show during the daytime, with Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune before primetime. During the overnight hours, Access Hollywood airs before Early Today. Weekend programming includes P. Allen Smith Gardens, The Chris Matthews Show, and reruns of Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and The Unit. In the past, KSBW has broadcast sitcoms before primetime, most notably Family Ties and Barney Miller. In addition to syndicated programming, KSBW clears all NBC programming except for the fourth hour of the Today Show in order to make room for Ellen. As of August 2010, in addition to regular HD programming carried by NBC, KSBW airs selected episodes of Ellen, Dr. Phil, Oprah, Jeopardy!, and Wheel of Fortune in HD. KSBW is also the first station in the market to have its syndicated logo bug on the bottom-right hand corner of the screen since June 2010. With Oprah bidding farewell to viewers after the 2010-11 season, the station announced that Ellen will fill the 4 p.m. slot starting in Fall 2011, with a replacement yet to be announced to fill in the 10 a.m. slot.[11]

KSBW currently carries over three hours of E/I programming per week. On weekends, in addition to children's programming carried by NBC (via qubo) on Saturdays, KSBW also airs Teen Kids News, Eco Company, and Animal Exploration with Jarod Miller at different times on both Saturday and Sunday. KSBW airs the third hour of qubo programming during the 4-5pm hour on Saturdays due to its weekend morning newscast airing between 7-9 a.m.

Feedback at Five
Theresa Wright hosts a public affairs show called Feedback at Five,[12] which is a weekend discussion show interviewing with selected interviewee. In most cases, most of the interviews are informational and educational to the viewer. Feedback at Five, like Sunday's 6pm newscasts, are subject to preemption due to special programming.

Lifeline TV
KSBW also broadcasts "Lifeline TV", which is a local program produced by the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital and hosted by former KSBW anchor Kate Callaghan. Callaghan previously anchored KSBW's morning newscasts until her departure from the station in 2008. It is a program that addresses health issues and occasional questions being answered. It also follows the team of trained doctors and physicians there and keeps viewers informed of their progress. This program generally airs before weekend editions of NBC Nightly News,[13] however, it can be delayed or preempted due to special programs.

Editorial
KSBW produces a three-minute editorial session since 1999, called "KSBW Editorial", which is broadcasted after Friday's 6pm newscast, weekend newscasts, and Monday morning newscast. It is hosted by KSBW president and general manager, Joseph W. Heston. The format of the editorial is primarily a commentary by Heston and occasional viewer's comments. However, the editorial is subject to delay or preemption due to special programming or NBC sports coverage.

Controversy
In February 2009, KSBW was involved in a controversy that after Heston gave an editorial that angered then-Salinas police chief Daniel Ortega. It came after an interview conducted by anchorman Dan Green interviewing Salinas mayor Dennis Donahue that Ortega described as the following, as well as how he described what Heston was doing. Ortega asked all media to come in and he gave a speech that addresses KSBW, saying:[14] Ortega went on and asked KSBW to report with "more objectivity." He also asked KSBW to apologize to their sponsors that pay for their existence and their bias reporting.[15] A follow-up editorial by Heston have addressed the issue and admits that Ortega should be treated as a friend.

"Share Your Holiday"
KSBW broadcasts a live telethon each December which is called "Share Your Holiday".[16] The station partners with the local chapters of the Salvation Army to help the people in need, through donations, live entertainment, and music throughout the telethon. Local newscasts at noon, 5, and 6 p.m. are shortened to accommodate the telethon; the latter two are normally with the weekend anchor team. Both Days of our Lives and NBC Nightly News still air at its regular time, as KSBW is still obliged to carry NBC programming, while syndicated programming is either delayed or preempted. Hosts of the telethon includes anchors Dan Green and Erin Clark, who broadcasts live from outside the KSBW studios, with additional personnel stationed throughout the viewing area at convenient locations. The 2010 version of the telethon made a change to accommodate the HD broadcast, with the information about the telethon posted on the bottom sixth of the screen during the broadcast.

Digital channels
KSBW's digital channels are multiplexed, broadcasting on "virtual" channel 8. KSBW has been digital-only since June 12, 2009 and remained on digital channel 8.

Coverage area
KSBW airs on cable channel 6 on most cable systems in the immediate part of the market. KSBW's coverage area includes most of the immediate part of the market, but is also easily received in southern Santa Clara County, including Gilroy and Morgan Hill, San Martin, and parts of San Jose due to the transmitter location,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16">[17] however, Santa Clara County itself is not part of the market, as it is primarily served by KNTV.

News operation
KSBW currently broadcasts more local news than any other station in the market, with 28.5 hours total (4.5 hours of news on weekdays and 3 hours on weekends). On weekdays, a two-hour morning newscast is shown at 5 a.m., followed by a half-hour news blocks at noon and 5 p.m., one hour at 6 p.m., and a 35-minute wrap-up at 11 p.m. On weekends, the market's only two-hour, early-morning weekend newscast begins at 7 a.m., followed by half-hour blocks at 6 and 11 p.m. (It is noted that KSBW is currently the only station in the entire Central Coast to carry both a noon newscast on weekdays and a weekend morning newscast on weekends, as fellow NBC affiliate KSBY, as well as rivals KCBA, KION, KCOY, KKFX, and KEYT do not currently offer a noon or a weekend morning newscast.)

KSBW also operates a Santa Cruz newsroom to this day. The newsroom was destroyed during the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake in which one reporter was working there.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17">[18] The station started to broadcast live coverage of the earthquake from the time it struck until just after midnight, then from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. the following day.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[19] In both cases, it included a live broadcast from Santa Cruz.

Between 2005 and January 31, 2011, KSBW had started local newscasts on KSBW-DT2, beginning with their debut of KSBW's 10 p.m. newscast on its second digital subchannel. During the NFL football season, KSBW did air its 6 p.m. Sunday evening newscasts over on its second digital subchannel in lieu of its main channel when NBC Sunday Night Football is carried on KSBW. However, the newscasts in those cases were broadcasted with limited functionality.

KSBW's notably stable weekday-evening anchor team are Dan Green and Erin Clark, who have worked together since 1998 and anchors the 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts. Jim Vanderzwaan, known more commonly as "Lead Forecaster" rather than being called "Chief Meteorologist", have been with the station since 1983.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19">[20] The other anchor teams and reporting staff have less longevity, but field reporters Felix Cortez<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20">[21] and Phil Gomez<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21">[22] are station veterans. The most recent addition to the weekday-evening team is Dina Ruiz-Eastwood, who first came to KSBW in 1991. Eastwood, the wife of actor Clint Eastwood, retired in 1997, but returned to the station on February 8, 2011 and currently anchors the 5 p.m. newscast with Green.

The anchors take a decidedly informal approach to the newscast, with much light-hearted cross-talk among the personalities. Much of KSBW's national news comes from syndicated reports from other Hearst-owned affiliates and/or NBC stations, and state-capitol reports originate from Sacramento Hearst NBC station KCRA. The newscasts incorporate typical business segments (under "Project Economy"), consumer, and health segments, and place considerable emphasis on crime reporting, focusing on the persistent gang-violence problem in the Salinas area (under the segment title, "Crime Watch"). During the 6 p.m. newscast, weather and sports quizzes are given, as well as an "Animal Stories" segment that Green presents to conclude the newscast.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22">[23] On weekend morning newscasts, in addition to segments regularly shown on newscasts, a movie preview segment (titled as "Movie Buzz") is also shown. Although KSBW is well-known for its local and statewide political coverage under the Hearst-mandated "Commitment" banner, KSBW simulcasts the live televised debates from KCRA, superimposing the KSBW logo over the KCRA logo due to the fact that the debates are often held near Sacramento.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23">[24]

In June 2010, with NBC carrying the US Open at Pebble Beach, KSBW is one of two stations that carried newscasts immediately after the coverage accompanied by live reports from Peeble Beach (the other is KNTV). KSBW currently uses the mandated Hearst news music package for its newscasts since September 2004. In the early years being owned by Hearst, KSBW was one of the stations using the Image music package. Some segments shown on Action News 8 would continue to use the Image music package until August 25, 2010.

[edit] Format change
KSBW underwent a major format change in 1987. On weekdays, newscast time doubled from 90 minutes to over 180 minutes. Previously, weekday newscasts were at 6-7 p.m. and 11-11:30 p.m. In early 1987, KSBW began producing five-minute newscasts during the Today program at 7:25 a.m. and 8:25 a.m. In August 1987, thirty-minute newscasts were added at 6:30-7 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-noon, and 5-5:30 p.m. Also in August 1987, KSBW adopted a new "8" logo which incorporated a right triangle (identical to one used by WGHP, but it was bluish-tinted purple as opposed to reddish-tinted purple in WGHP's) and began use of a new news music package.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from September 2010">[citation needed] The next major format change occurred in late 1991. Upon its current ownership by Hearst Television (then-called Hearst-Argyle Television) in 1999, KSBW had made another change to its studios and began use of the Image News music package by Gari Communications, and Bill Ratner provided the voiceover.

In January 2010, KSBW underwent another format change and minor renovations were made to the KSBW studios, the first such change in over a decade. KSBW anchors had to present their newscasts from the newsroom for several days before the station debuted the new look. During Healthwatch 8 segments, anchor Erin Clark had to present her segment in front of a green screen. New flatscreen televisions were also installed behind the news set of KSBW, which replaced the old set. Additionally, "KSBW" replaced "Action News 8" inside the studio to reflect the studio's name and not the news branding, while two additional monitors were installed for better presentations. The in-studio cameras also made a change, with the cameras no longer being shown during editorial segments. The debut was during the midday newscasts when anchor Dale Julin presented the new look after Lee Solomon was finished with his weather update.

Widescreen and High Definition
KSBW has made many changes since September 2009 to accommodate the changes made at the studio. It first started with KSBW became the first station on the Central Coast to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in 16:9 widescreen; however in that case, they were merely in widescreen standard definition with only the news tickers shown during morning newscasts, though no pillarboxes were inserted until after the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. At the same time, KSBW did a test version of the Hearst HD package during Dr. Phil when previewing the 5pm newscasts, which its graphics and block letters are similar to those of Hearst NBC affiliate KCRA. (KSBW would later become the only station owned by Hearst to use two different types of the Hearst HD package.) Though not true high definition, the format of the KSBW newscasts matched those of HD television screens. New weather graphics and some field reports were still in 4:3 ratio and then pillarboxed to fill the 16:9 screen. This is only before KSBW's chief rival KION-TV and its sister station KCBA started to present their local newscasts in high definition from the studio a few weeks later.

KSBW continued to use its old graphics until August 25, 2010, when KSBW began broadcasting the majority of its local newscasts in full high definition, however, HD is not mentioned in the news openings and talents at the time when the newscasts carried on KSBW-DT2 is in 4:3 standard definition due to its signal. Upon the switch, new graphics and elements from its previous graphics and from Hearst stations WCVB, KMBC, and KOAT were introduced, while the graphics utilizes a blue background in contrast to the red background of which WCVB and KMBC uses. The upgrade also includes a new animated logo bug and a revised Hearst music package. KSBW uses HD studio cameras and HD field cameras for its newscasts. While most of the studio cameras and video footages are shot in HD, the field video is downconverted to widescreen SD in the control room due to its editing equipment only being capable of SD. KSBW now becomes the smallest DMA market among all Hearst stations to broadcast local news in widescreen or HD, as well as becoming the seventh Hearst-owned station to broadcast local news in HD. While its live newscast is in HD, other local programming (e.g. public affairs, editorials) except for syndicated programming were in 4:3 standard definition.

A new logo for KSBW's newscasts debuted on April 6, 2011, during their 5pm newscast. The logo mirrors those of KCRA, but uses a navy blue background instead of the green background used by KCRA while retaining their "8" logo. The news opens were redone to accommodate the ABC affiliation on its second digital subchannel, although KSBW itself will retain their current logo for general programming due to their current primary NBC affiliation.

Promotions and slogans
Since 1957, KSBW's has long used "Action News 8" on all of its newscasts and promos. Although KSBW's current primary news-intensive slogan is "Coverage You Can Count On," there were variants of that slogan to promote its news, weather, sports, and other programming on Action News 8, including "Weather Coverage You Can Count On," "Sports Coverage You Can Count On," and "Traffic Coverage You Can Count On." As of 2011, those slogans can be seen during station identification in the form of five-second promos to promote news, weather, traffic, and sports anchors. The two other variant slogans, "Community Coverage You Can Count On" and "Mobile Coverage You Can Count On", a promo during commercial breaks, are not seen during station identification. Hearst stations KOAT, WGAL, KMBC, and WCVB also uses this slogan, though the latter two uses its own variant of that slogan, adding, "Live" and "Local" to their own slogan.

Success by 6, a children's reading program, has long been promoted since KSBW was owned by Hearst. The promotions include child safety, eating, early education, and important information from trusted people such as doctor's advice. Another promotion, "Central Coast Pros," is a promo that includes commercials and advices from various retailers and companies.

In February 2010, during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, KSBW introduced a new slogan, "It's how you know." This features people in a promo that wonders about the latest news, weather, and other ideas of interests that would lead to KSBW's website. Among the notable topics presented on the promo included breaking news, local news, local weather, sports, and its picture sharing site, "uLocal" which is being rolled out to all of Hearst's TV stations. A few weeks later, the slogan is seen at the beginning of each video segments on YouTube, along with Hearst stations KCRA and WMUR, but eventually was updated upon the launch of its HD newscasts to fit 16:9 television screens. The news slogan is still retained during newscasts.

Sports
Dennis Lehnen, currently the sports director for KSBW, has been with the station since December 1981.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24">[25] Lehnen was first the weekend sports anchor before he assumed his current position a few years later. While at the station, Lehnen has covered many playoffs, such as when the San Francisco 49ers were in the Super Bowl. The weekend anchor currently acts as the weekend sports anchor in addition to anchoring the news, however, if a major sporting event is held within the area, a sports anchor would broadcast the highlights instead.

High School Playbook
On autumn Friday nights, a special sports segment called "High School Playbook Blitz" follows Central Coast high-school teams through their seasons. A preview of upcoming high school football games is announced by sports anchors during the 5 and 6pm newscasts, as well as any final scores from any game in the area. During their 11pm newscasts, and only after a weather update, sports anchors would go through the highlights and final scores between two teams. KSBW also covers other sports from high school, including basketball, and those are included in a separate segment of High School Playbook. KSBW previously had its segments called "Operation Football" upon ownership by Hearst, then later called "Operation Football Blitz" in the early 2000s before the current title change somewhere around September 2008. (It is noted that KION and its sister station KCBA uses a similar title, but the branding is currently called "Friday Night Blitz.")

Anchors

 * Stephanie Chuang - weekend mornings "Action News 8 Sunrise" (7-9 a.m.); also Saturday-Thursday reporter
 * Erin Clark - weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m.; also "Health Watch" reporter
 * Dan Green - weeknights at 5, 6, and 11 p.m., and weekday morning fill-in
 * Dale Julin - weekday mornings "Action News 8 Sunrise" (5-7 a.m.) and noon; also noon producer
 * Brittany Nielsen - weekends at 6 and 11 p.m. and sports anchor; 11 p.m. producer; also weekday reporter and fill-in anchor
 * Dina Eastwood - weeknights at 5 p.m.

Weather Plus Team

 * Jim Vanderzwaan (member, AMS and NWA Seals of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6, 10 (on KSBW-DT2), and 11 p.m.
 * Phil Frame - meteorologist; fill-in
 * Art Jarrett - meteorologist; weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Carl Thormeyer - meteorologist; weekend mornings Action News 8 Sunrise
 * Lee Solomon - meteorologist, weekday mornings Action News 8 Sunrise and noon

Sports Team

 * Dennis Lehnen - sports director; weeknights at 6, 10 (on KSBW-DT2) and 11 p.m.
 * Mike Furutani - sports anchor; on-call
 * Lee Sansbury - sports anchor; fill-in, also sports reporter

Reporters

 * Michele Allen - traffic reporter
 * Felix Cortez - general assignment reporter
 * May Chow - general assignment reporter and fill-in news anchor
 * Margot Dunphy - general assignment reporter, primarily seen weekends; also announcer
 * Phil Gomez - Santa Cruz bureau reporter
 * Tom Miller - general assignment reporter
 * Gene Allen - "Movie Buzz" reporter
 * Gordy Allen - "Movie Buzz" reporter
 * Snick Farkas - "Movie Buzz" reporter
 * Kate Amara - Hearst Washington Bureau reporter
 * Sally Kidd - Hearst Washington Bureau reporter
 * Nichole Killon - Hearst Washington Bureau reporter

Former personalities

 * Sharon Chin - reporter/anchor (1992–1997), now at KPIX<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25">[26]
 * Lawrence Karnow - weekend meteorologist (1993–1997), now weekend meteorologist at KPIX<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26">[27]
 * Allen Martin - anchor/reporter (1991–1995), now at KPIX<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27">[28]
 * Scott Mace - morning meteorologist, now chief meteorologist at KGPE<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28">[29]
 * Jay Galle - weekend meteorologist, now morning meteorologist at WDSU<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29">[30]
 * Mae Fasai - weekend anchor (2006–2009), now at KCRA/KQCA<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30">[31]
 * Matt Smith - sports anchor (2000–2003), now at KPTV<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31">[32]
 * Miguel Almaguer - reporter (1999–2003), later at KCRA,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32">[33] now west coast correspondent for NBC News<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33">[34]
 * Aaron Pickering - weekend meteorologist, now at KOLD<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34">[35]
 * Kate Callaghan<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35">[36]

Newscast titles

 * Newsbeat
 * Action 8 News (?-1987)
 * Action News 8 (1987–present)

Station slogans

 * Action 8 is Total News (late 1970s)
 * KSBW TV-8, Proud As A Peacock! (1979–1981; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Channel 8, Our Pride Is Showing (1981–1982; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * We're Channel 8, Just Watch Us Now (1982–1983; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Channel 8 There, Be There! (1983–1984; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Channel 8, Let's All Be There! (1984–1986; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Come Home to Channel 8 (1986–1987; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Come on Home to Channel 8 (1987-1988; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * The Most Watched Station on the Central Coast (1987–1996)
 * Come Home To The Best, Only on Channel 8 (1988-1990; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Coverage You Can Count On (1996–present; primary slogan)
 * It's How You Know (2010–present; secondary slogan, website promo)