KRON-TV

==1949–1955==
KRON-TV originally signed on the air on November 15, 1949, the Bay Area's third TV station after KPIX-TV and KGO-TV. KRON's call sign and original logo were nods to its founding owners, the San Francisco-based Chronicle Publishing Company, which also owned the San Francisco Chronicle (KRON's original studios were the basement of the Chronicle Building). KRON launched as an affiliate of NBC, which owned KNBC radio in the city (680 AM, the present-day KNBR) and had fought for the Channel 4 construction permit that went instead to Chronicle Publishing.
==1955–1962==
==1962–1966==
==1966–1974==
==1974–present==
===1974–1988===
In April 1974, KRON introduced the original version of its current "4" logo, based on the design of the Golden Gate Bridge (the vertical component is a bridge tower, the horizontal component is a portion of the bridge deck, and the curve is a portion of a suspension cable). Station identifications used by the station during the 1970s and 1980s usually depicted the logo hidden in positive space within a full-scale design of the bridge; in the last two years of the logo's use, it became italicized. Though the next logo was introduced in 1987, this logo continued to be used on the station’s newscasts (then branded as NewsCenter 4) until 1988. It was briefly revived in late 2019-early 2020 to commemorate its 70th anniversary, only used on its promos for its documentaries.
===1987–present===
====1987–1991; 2012–present====
A simplified version of the previous logo. However, the previous logo continued to be used on KRON’s newscasts until 1988. This logo (without the red circle shown below) was revived in 2012 with the debut of the graphics package (only used on opens and certain bumpers) before Young Broadcasting was merged with Richmond, Virginia-based Media General on November 12, 2013. It started to become widespread with the debut of its current graphics package in 2016, and after Nexstar Broadcasting Group's acquisitions of Media General on January 17, 2017 and Tribune Media and Tribune Broadcasting on September 19, 2019, seen only on news bumpers, in the newsroom and during its coverage of the Las Vegas Raiders since 2020.
====1991–present====
The 1987 "4" logo has been displayed inside a red circle since 1991.
====2001–present====
NBC had made several attempts over the years to purchase KRON-TV from Chronicle Publishing. In November 1999, the network was outbid for KRON by Young Broadcasting (an $823 million deal, still a record sale price for a single station). In ensuing affiliation renewal negotiations, NBC made demands of Young regarding on-air content, branding, and reverse compensation. Rather than meet those stiff terms, Young walked away from NBC when its deal with the network expired on the last day of 2001, the same year the above logo incorporating both the "Circle 4" and KRON call sign was unveiled. With other networks in long-term contracts with other Bay Area stations, and with NBC having purchased KNTV, KRON became an independent station on January 1, 2002; it would eventually join MyNetworkTV in 2006 and The CW in 2023 (see below).
====2006–2023====
KRON became a MyNetworkTV affiliate on September 5, 2006. At that time, the station instituted an alternate logo incorporating the MyNetworkTV and "Circle 4" logos for use in promotions for the service's programming. MyNetworkTV programming would move to KRON's late-night schedule by Fall 2023.
====2023–2024====
KRON became an affiliate of the Nexstar-owned The CW on September 1, 2023 (replacing CBS-owned KBCW). This composite was used during advertisements for The CW's programming.
====2024–present====
==External links==
Category:Television stations in the United States
Category:CW network affiliates
Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates
Category:Former NBC network affiliates
Category:Former independent television stations in the United States
Category:San Francisco
Category:San Jose, California
Category:Oakland, California
Category:California
Category:Antenna TV affiliates
Category:Rewind TV affiliates
Category:Charge! network affiliates
Category:CW owned and operated stations
Category:Nexstar Media Group
Category:CW owned and operated stations
Category:Television stations formerly owned by Media General
Category:Former Young Broadcasting stations
Category:Television channels and stations established in 1949
Category:1949