About KSEE 24

KSEE-TV24 was the first television station to go on the air in Fresno. Programming began June 1, 1953, and on its first day on the air covered the coronation of England’s Queen Elizabeth. Its original call letters were KMJ, assigned to the McClatchy Corporation (owners of the Fresno Bee).

KMJ was the first Fresno TV station to use color film and network color in 1954. It was the first to go to fully transistorized portable sound cameras in 1958, the first to use color news film in 1965, and the first to do remote broadcasts in 1976. It was the first local station to do a newscast of more than 15 minutes in 1962, the first to do a full-color newscast in 1966, and the first to hire minority newscasters.

In 1981 McClatchy sold KMJ to San Joaquin Communications Corp., at which time the call letters were changed to KSEE. San Joaquin Communications, in turn, sold the station to Meredith Corporation in 1984. And, in 1993, Granite Broadcasting Corp. bought KSEE.

Today KSEE 24 is owned and operated by Granite Broadcasting Corporation, the fastest growing minority owned broadcast group in the country. Granite owns and operates, or provides programming, sales and other services to 23 channels in 11 markets across the U.S. Granite's common stock (nonvoting) is traded on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board (www.otcbb.com) under the symbol "GBTVK". KSEE is an NBC network affiliate, and a member of the National Association of Broadcasters.

After being acquired by Granite the station expanded its commitment to local news and public affairs programming. The 90-minute “Sunrise” show was added at 5:30 am, and an additional newscast at 6:30 pm was added to the evening lineup. In September of 2002 the 4 pm newscast was added. These newscasts were added to those at Noon, 5 pm, 6 pm, and 11 pm.

KSEE's High Definition Digital Broadcast Channel, KSEE-DT, went on the air in 2003. In 2006 KSEE Weather Plus debuted, broadcasting local and national weather 24/7 on digital channel 24.2, Comcast channel 195, and here on KSEE24.com. The partnership to produce a 10pm newscast on KAIL-TV also began in 2006.

As part of its pledge to serve the Valley’s diverse audience, KSEE 24 established a Community Advisory Board to help the station ascertain community issues and concerns. KSEE 24 was the exclusive television sponsor that worked with the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to develop the first annual Latina Women’s Conference.

KSEE 24 is also a corporate leader when it comes to supporting non-profits in their fundraising efforts. Each year Stefani Booroojian promotes BuddyCheck 24, a life-saving breast cancer early detection program that encourages self-exams and mammograms. Today there are more than 30,000 women are members of the program.

Each summer, Channel 24 holds Concerts in the Park at Woodward Park, six free concerts featuring local bands. Since 1989 thousands of Valley residents have enjoyed the concerts with their families and friends.

In November KSEE 24 teams up with KISS Country to sponsor Coats for Kids, an annual coat drive for Valley children, which has helped to collect and distribute over 126,000 coats since 1989 when KSEE 24 initiated the original Coats for Kids campaign.

In February, May, and September, KSEE 24 and its Companies You Count On hold Portraits of Success, which recognizes outstanding leaders in the African-American, Hispanic, and Asian communities throughout the Central Valley.

The March of Dimes’ Walk America, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundations’ Race for the Cure, the Boys & Girls Club’s Stepping Out Dinner and Auction, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night, are just a few of the other events sponsored by KSEE 24 every year.

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