Complete guide to broadcast TV stations across Colorado's major markets
Full-Power TV Stations
Major TV Markets (DMAs)
Denver DMA Ranking
TV Households in Denver
Colorado has 39 full-power television stations serving four major Designated Market Areas (DMAs). The Denver market is the largest, ranking #17 nationally with 1,806,270 TV households as of 2024-2025, representing approximately 1.421% of total U.S. TV households.
The state's unique geography requires extensive transmitter infrastructure, with major stations broadcasting from Lookout Mountain near Denver at over 2,000 feet above the city. Rocky Mountain PBS operates Colorado's only statewide television network with five full-power stations and 60 translators covering almost all of the state.
The Denver DMA is the 17th largest television market in the United States, serving 1,806,270 TV households across metro Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Greeley, and surrounding areas. The market features 35 TV stations broadcasting 136 digital TV channels.
| Network | Station | Channel | Brand Name | Owner | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBC | KUSA | 9 (Virtual) 12 (RF) | 9NEWS | Tegna Media | 45 kW |
| CBS | KCNC | 4 (Virtual) 35 (RF) | CBS Colorado | CBS (O&O) | 1,000 kW |
| ABC | KMGH | 7 (Virtual) 7 (RF) | Denver7 | Scripps | 199 kW |
| FOX | KDVR | 31 (Virtual) 32 (RF) | FOX31 | Nexstar Media Group | 1,000 kW |
| CW | KWGN | 2 (Virtual) 34 (RF) | Colorado's Own Channel 2 | Nexstar Media Group | 1,000 kW |
| MyNetworkTV | KTVD | 20 (Virtual) 19 (RF) | My20 | Tegna Media | 1,000 kW |
Website: www.9news.com
Owner: Tegna Media | Power: 45 kW | Digital Channel: 12 (Virtual 9)
KUSA dominates Denver's news ratings, consistently winning across all time periods. The station leads the 6-7 a.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. news slots in both households and viewers 25-54. Known for its "Pinpoint Weather" forecasts and comprehensive local coverage, 9NEWS is Denver's most-watched news source. The station shares studios with sister station KTVD (My20) on East Speer Boulevard in Denver's Speer neighborhood.
Website: CBS Colorado
Owner: CBS (Owned & Operated) | Power: 1,000 kW | Digital Channel: 35 (Virtual 4)
History: First signed on December 24, 1953 as KOA-TV with NBC affiliation. Switched to CBS on September 10, 1995 in a three-way network realignment. Became CBS-owned-and-operated on November 24, 1995. Rebranded as "CBS Colorado" in March 2023.
Coverage Strategy: KCNC has adopted a statewide approach called "Covering Colorado First," with reporters embedded in communities across the state rather than focusing solely on Denver metro. Features "Your Reporter" segments highlighting journalists living in and covering specific regions like Boulder & Foothills, Adams County, and Northern Colorado.
Sports: Since 1998, KCNC holds broadcast rights to Denver Broncos games as the CBS AFC network affiliate. Carried the Broncos' Super Bowl 50 victory in 2016.
Studios: Located on Lincoln Street between East 10th and 11th Avenues in downtown Denver
Website: kdvr.com
Owner: Nexstar Media Group | Power: 1,000 kW | Digital Channel: 32 (Virtual 31)
FOX31 has achieved historic ratings growth, becoming the #2 station in Denver across multiple time slots among viewers 25-54. The station is simulcast full-time over satellite station KFCT (Channel 22) in Fort Collins, extending its reach across northern Colorado. KDVR is owned alongside CW outlet KWGN-TV (Channel 2), creating a powerful two-station combination.
Ratings Achievement: In May 2017, KDVR scored historic wins, beating KCNC (CBS) at 6 a.m., 5 p.m., and 10 p.m. weekdays in the 25-54 demographic. Research shows FOX31 is the local TV preference for viewers who have lived in Denver five years or less (33.5% vs. 26% for KUSA).
Digital Presence: Offers live streaming through FOX31+ app on mobile devices, Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV
Website: Colorado's CW2
Owner: Nexstar Media Group | Power: 1,000 kW | Digital Channel: 34 (Virtual 2)
Historic Significance: Signed on July 18, 1952 as Colorado's first television station. Was the first Denver station to air a live local newscast, first to broadcast from a remote location, first to broadcast in color, and first TV partner of the Colorado Rockies baseball team.
Superstation Status: KWGN is available on Dish Network throughout the United States as part of its superstations package and is carried on cable systems across the western U.S. At its height, KWGN was available on nearly every cable system in Colorado, Wyoming, and portions of Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington.
Programming: Airs 47 hours of local news and programming each week, including Daybreak on 2, Great Day Colorado, and 2 Prime News, plus CW Network shows and sports coverage
| Call Sign | Channel | Network/Type | City of License | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KRMA | 6 | PBS (Rocky Mountain PBS) | Denver | Rocky Mountain Public Media |
| KBDI | 12 | PBS (PBS12) | Broomfield | Colorado Public Television |
| KCEC | 50 | Univision | Boulder | Entravision (LMA from TelevisaUnivision) |
| KTFD | 50.2 | UniMás | Denver | Entravision |
| KDEN | 25 | Telemundo | Longmont | NBCUniversal (O&O) |
| KETD | 53 | Estrella TV | Castle Rock | Estrella Media |
| KCDO | 3 | Independent | Sterling | Scripps |
| KRMT | 41 | Daystar | Denver | Daystar Television Network |
| KFCT | 22 | FOX (Satellite of KDVR) | Fort Collins | Nexstar Media Group |
The Colorado Springs-Pueblo market ranks as the 86th largest television market in the United States. The market has 6 full-power television stations serving southern Front Range communities including Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Canon City, and surrounding areas. Stations broadcast from Cheyenne Mountain at nearly 10,000 feet above sea level.
| Station | Network | Channel | Brand Name | City of License | Owner | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KRDO | ABC | 13 | News 13 | Colorado Springs | Pikes Peak Broadcasting Co. | 282 kW |
| KKTV | CBS | 11 | 11 News | Colorado Springs | Gray Television | 316 kW |
| KOAA | NBC | 5 | News5 | Pueblo | Cheryl A. Wills | 100 kW |
| KXRM | FOX | 21 | FOX21 News | Colorado Springs | Nexstar Media Group | 1,000 kW |
| KTSC | PBS | 8 | Rocky Mountain PBS | Pueblo | Rocky Mountain Public Media | 12 kW |
| KXTU-LP | CW | 57 | CW 57 | Colorado Springs | Barrington Broadcasting | 138 kW |
Website: krdo.com
ABC affiliate providing comprehensive news coverage for Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Owned by The Pikes Peak Broadcasting Company, which also owns KJCT (ABC) in Grand Junction. Known for extensive local news programming and weather coverage.
Website: www.koaa.com
NBC affiliate serving Colorado Springs and Pueblo with breaking news and weather coverage across Southern Colorado. Licensed to Pueblo but serves the entire market.
Website: www.fox21news.com
FOX affiliate broadcasting from atop Cheyenne Mountain at nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. Reaches Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Southern Colorado on over-the-air channel 21. Owned by Nexstar Media Group, operating alongside KXTU (CW 57).
KGHB-CD (Channel 27) - Univision affiliate licensed to Pueblo, owned by Entravision. Digital Class-A station with 7.71 kW power. KVSN-DT (Channel 48) in Pueblo operates as a semi-satellite of Denver's KCEC, simulcasting Univision programming into South-Central Colorado. These are the only full-power Spanish-language stations in the Colorado Springs-Pueblo market.
The Grand Junction-Montrose market is the 187th largest television market in the United States with 81,090 TV households as of 2024-2025. The market has 5 full-power television stations serving Colorado's Western Slope region, including Grand Junction, Montrose, Delta, Fruita, and Palisade.
| Station | Network | Channel | Brand Name | Owner | Coverage Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KREX | CBS | 5 | News Channel 5 | Nexstar Media Group | Western Slope |
| KFQX | FOX | 4 | FOX 4 News | Nexstar Media Group | Grand Junction, Palisade, Fruita, Delta, Montrose |
| KKCO | NBC | 11 | 11 News | Gray Television | Western Slope |
| KJCT | ABC | 8 | ABC 8 | Pikes Peak Broadcasting | Grand Junction |
| KRMJ | PBS | 18 | Rocky Mountain PBS | Rocky Mountain Public Media | Western Slope |
Website: westernslopenow.com
CBS affiliate serving Colorado's Western Slope region. Owned by Nexstar Media Group and operated alongside Fox affiliate KFQX (Channel 4). Provides comprehensive news coverage for Grand Junction, Montrose, and surrounding communities.
Website: www.nbc11news.com
NBC affiliate that began broadcasting on Channel 11 in 1996, making Grand Junction a full-time NBC affiliate market. Prior to KKCO, the area received limited NBC programming.
Website: www.kjct8.com
ABC affiliate that signed on October 22, 1979. Built by Pikes Peak Broadcasting (owners of KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs). Brought ABC network programming to the Western Slope.
PBS affiliate opened in Grand Junction in 1996 as part of the Rocky Mountain PBS network. Maintains studios at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. Brings educational and public broadcasting to the Western Slope with Rocky Mountain PBS programming.
Other television stations serving the Grand Junction area include KCWS, KGJT-CD, and KLML, providing additional programming options for Western Slope viewers.
Rocky Mountain PBS operates Colorado's only statewide television network, serving 85% of the state's population through five full-power stations and 60 translators. The network covers almost all of Colorado plus parts of Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and New Mexico.
| Station | Channel | City of License | Coverage Area | Sign-On Date | Studio Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KRMA-TV | 6 | Denver | Denver metro, Northern Colorado | January 30, 1956 | Denver (Network Headquarters) |
| KTSC | 8 | Pueblo | Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Southeast Colorado | February 3, 1971 | CSU-Pueblo campus |
| KRMJ | 18 | Grand Junction | Western Slope | 1996 | Colorado Mesa University |
| KRMU | 20 | Durango | Southwest Colorado | 2004 | Durango |
| KRMZ | 24 | Steamboat Springs | Northwest Colorado | February 2, 2007 | Steamboat Springs |
Historic Milestone: KRMA is the oldest public television station in the Rocky Mountains, signing on January 30, 1956 as an educational station owned by Denver Public Schools.
Evolution: Originally operated from a converted body shop at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School in downtown Denver. Denver Public Schools sold KRMA to community group Channel Six, Inc. in 1987. Soon after, the station rebranded from "Six" to "Rocky Mountain PBS," and Channel Six, Inc. became the Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Network.
Network Expansion: KRMA serves as the flagship and headquarters for the statewide network, coordinating programming across all five full-power stations.
Sign-On: February 3, 1971, brought into being through combined efforts of the University of Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo) and surrounding community organizations.
Network Join: In 1999, KTSC joined the Rocky Mountain PBS network after being sold by the University of Southern Colorado. Previously operated as a separate PBS station for Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and southern Colorado.
Coverage: Serves approximately 313,000 households, stretching north to Monument, south to New Mexico, and east to Kansas.
Facilities: KTSC offices and studio are located in the Buell Communications Center on the CSU-Pueblo campus at 2200 Bonforte Blvd., Pueblo, Colorado 81001.
Historic First: When KRMU signed on in Durango in 2004, it became the country's first digital-only television station without a prior analog assignment, representing a milestone in the transition to digital broadcasting.
Strategic Importance: Extends Rocky Mountain PBS coverage into southwest Colorado, serving communities that previously had limited PBS access.
KBDI-TV (Channel 12), branded as PBS12, is Colorado's secondary PBS station licensed to Broomfield, serving the Denver area. Unlike Rocky Mountain PBS, PBS12 operates independently with emphasis on local and independent programming. The station was formerly known as Colorado Public Television before adopting the PBS12 moniker in 2020. PBS12 is supported by more than 9,000 members and produces a variety of local programming distinct from Rocky Mountain PBS.
Colorado's Spanish-speaking communities are served by multiple Spanish language television networks, including Univision, UniMás, Telemundo, and Estrella TV, providing news, sports, and entertainment programming.
Website: Univision Colorado
Owner: TelevisaUnivision (operated under LMA by Entravision Communications)
City of License: Boulder | Digital Channel: 14
Market Leadership: KCEC is the #1 Spanish-language TV station in the Denver market. During May 2018 sweeps, KCEC-TV reached 48% more Persons 2+ than the local Telemundo affiliate for full week. The station consistently extends market leadership as the top Spanish-language station in ratings.
Studios: Shares facilities on Mile High Stadium West Circle in Jefferson Park, Denver, with transmitter located atop Mount Morrison in western Jefferson County.
Owner: NBCUniversal (Owned & Operated)
City of License: Longmont | Power: 540 kW
Investment & Growth: Major investment by corporate parent NBCUniversal allowed Telemundo Denver to grow significantly in terms of staff, office and studio space, equipment, content, graphics, and digital platforms. After moving into state-of-the-art quarters at the Comcast Media Center in Centennial in July 2015, the KDEN news staff grew from 4 to 18 people.
Competitive Position: While Univision remains the market leader, Telemundo has been steadily gaining ground in the competitive Denver Spanish-language TV market with enhanced local news coverage and production capabilities.
Owner: Entravision Communications
City of License: Denver
UniMás affiliate providing Spanish-language entertainment, sports, and news programming as a complement to Univision's offerings in the Denver market.
Owner: Estrella Media
City of License: Castle Rock
Estrella TV affiliate serving the Denver market with Spanish-language entertainment and variety programming.
City of License: Pueblo
Operation: Semi-satellite of KCEC Denver, simulcasting all Univision programming into South-Central Colorado. KVSN/Univision is the only full-power Spanish-language TV station in the Colorado Springs market.
Owner: Entravision
City of License: Pueblo
Power: 7.71 kW (Digital Class-A station)
Along with KVSN/Univision, KGHB/UniMás delivers news, sports, and entertainment to Hispanic communities in the Colorado Springs-Pueblo market.
Website: www.altitudesports.com | Streaming: Altitude+
Owner: Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Launch Date: September 4, 2004
Headquarters: Centennial, Colorado (Denver suburb)
Altitude features in-depth coverage of Denver's professional sports teams with pre-game and post-game shows, team analysis, highlights, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content. The network also covers collegiate sports, high school sports, and other Rocky Mountain region sporting events.
Beginning with the 2024-25 NBA and NHL seasons, Altitude reached agreement with Tegna Inc. to simulcast 20 Denver Nuggets games and 20 Colorado Avalanche games over-the-air for free. Half of the games are simulcast on KTVD (My20), with remaining games on KUSA (9NEWS), making professional sports accessible to viewers without cable subscriptions.
Lookout Mountain, located more than 2,000 feet above Denver and just a few miles to the west near Buffalo Bill's grave, serves as the primary broadcast site for Denver's major television stations. The site's elevation provides exceptional coverage across the Denver metropolitan area and surrounding regions spanning approximately 60 miles in radius.
Historic Congressional Action: Not many broadcast facilities have required an act of Congress to be built. In 2006, Colorado's two U.S. senators, Republican Wayne Allard and Democrat Ken Salazar, sponsored legislation to end a local deadlock preventing construction of a modern digital TV tower on Lookout Mountain.
Joint Venture: By the turn of the millennium, aging analog transmission sites needed replacement as digital TV emerged. Five major stations formed the Lake Cedar Group joint venture:
Tower Specifications: The consortium erected a 730-foot tower that houses all participating stations' digital broadcasting equipment, consolidating operations from the previous "forest of short towers" that had accumulated since 1952.
Technical Power: Stations broadcasting from the Lake Cedar tower utilize significant power levels:
KDVR (Channel 31) maintains its own dedicated transmitter site on Lookout Mountain with effective radiated power of 5 megawatts (5,000 kW), making it the most powerful transmitter on the mountain. KDVR's separate facility predates the Lake Cedar Group consolidation.
KWGN (Channel 2) operates from a cluster of towers just north of the Lake Cedar facility, sharing space with multiple FM radio stations on Colorow Road.
Radio Facilities: The original analog home of KRMA (Channel 6) and current sites of co-owned KUVO (89.3 FM) and Colorado Public Radio's KCFR (90.1 FM) are also located on Lookout Mountain.
Electromagnetic Radiation Monitoring: Virtually all electromagnetic radiation on Lookout Mountain comes from 18 transmitters, including 9 television, 8 FM radio, and one weather radar. Effective radiated power for these transmitters ranges from 22.5 kW (KUVO FM) to 5 MW (KDVR Channel 31).
CARE (Canyon Area Residents for the Environment) estimated there are 450+ antennas total on Lookout Mountain when including translators, cellular, microwave, and other communications equipment.
| Location | Market | Elevation/Features | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne Mountain | Colorado Springs-Pueblo | Nearly 10,000 feet above sea level | KXRM (FOX 21), KXTU (CW 57), and other Colorado Springs stations |
| Mount Morrison | Denver | Western Jefferson County | KCEC (Univision 50) transmitter |
| Various Western Slope Sites | Grand Junction-Montrose | Mountain transmitter locations | KREX, KFQX, KKCO, KJCT, KRMJ |
Colorado television stations have embraced digital transformation, offering comprehensive streaming services that allow viewers to watch live broadcasts and on-demand content across multiple devices without traditional cable subscriptions.
Service: CBS News Colorado streaming (formerly CBSN Denver)
Launch: February 19, 2020
Features: 24/7 streaming news service as part of CBS-owned stations' rollout of digital-first content. Offers live newscasts, breaking news coverage, weather updates, and on-demand video content.
Platforms: Mobile apps (iOS/Android), Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV
Features: Live streaming of FOX31 Denver and Colorado's CW2, including newscasts, shows, breaking news events, weather coverage, and original local programming. Free streaming with no cable subscription required.
Digital Presence: Comprehensive mobile app and web streaming
Features: Live news streaming, Pinpoint Weather forecasts, sports updates, and on-demand video content. Available on smartphones, tablets, and connected TV devices.
Launch: October 23, 2024
Price: $19.95/month
Content: All Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Colorado Mammoth games broadcast on Altitude Sports
Platforms: App Store, Google Play, Apple TV, with additional platforms planned
Free TV with Antenna: All Colorado full-power stations broadcast free over-the-air digital signals that can be received with an HD antenna. Denver residents can typically receive 35+ channels with 136 digital subchannels including major networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, CW), PBS stations, and various specialty channels.
Signal Check: Visit websites like Channel Master, RabbitEars.info, or TV Stations Near Me to see which channels are available at your specific address based on your zip code.
Colorado viewers can access local TV stations through multiple providers:
Colorado residents can watch local TV without cable by:
With an HD antenna in the Denver area, you can receive 35+ TV stations broadcasting 136 digital channels for free over-the-air. Major channels include:
Coverage varies by location. Use online tools like Channel Master, RabbitEars.info, or TV Stations Near Me to check which channels are available at your specific address.
Several options are available to watch Nuggets and Avalanche games without traditional cable:
The Denver Designated Market Area (DMA) is the 17th largest television market in the United States with 1,806,270 TV households as of the 2024-2025 season, representing approximately 1.421% of total U.S. TV households.
The Denver DMA covers metro Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Longmont, and surrounding communities across northern and central Colorado. It's the largest TV market between Phoenix (#12) and Minneapolis (#16).
The market has grown 1% from the previous year, reflecting Colorado's population growth. Nielsen creates DMAs to measure local television viewing and help determine advertising rates and content strategies.
KUSA (9NEWS, Channel 9) consistently dominates Denver news ratings across all time periods. According to recent data:
KDVR (FOX31, Channel 31) has shown significant growth and became the #2 station in several time slots, beating KCNC (CBS) and KMGH (ABC) in the 25-54 demographic. FOX31 gained 23% in the 10 p.m. news slot during May 2017 sweeps.
KUSA's "Pinpoint Weather" is certified as Colorado's most accurate forecast, contributing to the station's market leadership.
Colorado offers multiple Spanish language television options:
Denver Market:
Colorado Springs-Pueblo Market:
All stations provide Spanish-language news, sports, telenovelas, entertainment programming, and coverage of Hispanic community events.
Colorado has two separate PBS organizations operating six full-power stations:
Rocky Mountain PBS Network (5 stations):
PBS12 (KBDI, Channel 12) - Independent PBS station in Broomfield/Denver with emphasis on local and independent programming, supported by 9,000+ members.
Rocky Mountain PBS serves 85% of Colorado's population through its five full-power stations and 60 translators, making it Colorado's only statewide television network. Coverage extends into Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and New Mexico.
Most Denver TV stations broadcast from Lookout Mountain, located more than 2,000 feet above Denver near Buffalo Bill's grave in western Jefferson County (near Golden). The elevated location provides exceptional coverage across the metro area.
Lake Cedar Group Tower: A 730-foot consolidated tower houses equipment for KCNC (CBS 4), KMGH (ABC 7), KUSA (NBC 9), KTVD (My20), and KRMA (Rocky Mountain PBS 6). This tower was built through a joint venture and required an act of Congress in 2006 to overcome local zoning issues.
Separate Facilities on Lookout Mountain:
Combined, Lookout Mountain hosts 18 major transmitters (9 TV, 8 FM radio, 1 weather radar) plus an estimated 450+ antennas including translators, cellular, and other communications equipment.
Fort Collins is part of the Denver television market and receives all Denver stations. The area has 25 TV stations broadcasting 101 digital channels available over-the-air.
Key Stations for Northern Colorado:
Additional Coverage: Due to Fort Collins's proximity to Cheyenne, Wyoming (about 45 miles north), some local viewers can also receive signals from Cheyenne TV stations, providing additional programming options.
Local news coverage for Fort Collins is provided by Denver stations, with Denver7 (KMGH), 9NEWS (KUSA), FOX31, and CBS Colorado all maintaining Northern Colorado bureaus or regular coverage of the area.
On September 10, 1995, Denver experienced a historic three-way network realignment that completely reshuffled the city's major TV affiliations:
Background: KCNC had been KOA-TV with NBC affiliation since December 24, 1953. General Electric acquired NBC in 1986, making KCNC the first owned-and-operated station of a major network in Colorado. When GE sold KCNC to CBS in 1995, the network switches occurred.
Result: KCNC became a CBS owned-and-operated (O&O) station on November 24, 1995, making it one of the few TV stations in the country that has been owned by two different networks (NBC and CBS) at separate points in its history.
The realignment caused Denver viewers to adjust to new channel numbers for their favorite network shows, but the affiliations have remained stable since 1995.
Several free online tools let you check which over-the-air TV channels are available at your specific Colorado address:
Factors Affecting Reception:
Most Denver metro residents can receive 35+ channels with a basic HD antenna. Colorado Springs typically receives 14+ channels, and Grand Junction 5+ channels depending on location.
Last updated on November 27, 2025