KARK-TV is an American television station licensed to Little Rock, Arkansas, serving as the NBC affiliate for the Central Arkansas region. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 4 (UHF digital channel 32) and is owned by Nexstar Media Group. KARK-TV's studios are located on North Shackleford Road in western Little Rock, and its transmitter is located west of the city in rural Pulaski County. Nexstar also operates MyNetworkTV affiliate KARZ-TV (channel 38) and CW affiliate KASN (channel 38.2) under a local marketing agreement (LMA) from the same facility.
History
KARK-TV first signed on the air on April 15, 1954, making it Arkansas's second television station, following KTHV (channel 11, CBS affiliate). The station was initially owned by the Palmer family, who also owned KARK radio (920 AM, now KABF) and KARK-FM (94.1 FM, now KLAL). The Palmers were significant figures in early Arkansas broadcasting, and KARK-TV quickly established itself as a major media outlet in the state.Throughout its early history, KARK-TV maintained its affiliation with NBC, a relationship that has continued without interruption. In the late 1980s, the station was acquired by a group led by former CBS executive George F. Hatch. Ownership subsequently changed hands several more times, including periods under Morris Communications. Nexstar Broadcasting Group (now Nexstar Media Group) acquired KARK-TV in 2003. Under Nexstar's ownership, KARK-TV has expanded its local news offerings and integrated operations with its sister stations in the market.
Programming
As an NBC affiliate, KARK-TV broadcasts the network's full schedule of programming, including primetime shows, news, sports, and special events. In addition to network content, KARK-TV produces and airs local news, weather, and sports programming under the brand "KARK 4 News." These newscasts are broadcast at various times throughout the day, including morning, midday, early evening, and late evening slots. The station also carries syndicated programming to fill out its schedule.Technical Information
KARK-TV broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 32. Through the use of PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol), the station's virtual channel is displayed as 4.1. Its digital subchannels include:- 4.1: KARK-TV (NBC)
- 4.2: Laff (Digital multicast network)
- 4.3: Bounce TV (Digital multicast network)
- 4.4: Grit (Digital multicast network)
The station's transmitter is located on Shinall Mountain, a common site for broadcast towers serving the Little Rock market, which allows for broad signal coverage across Central Arkansas.