What 9News does

9News (legal entity KUSA-TV) is a Denver-based local television news station operating as an NBC affiliate. It has served Denver and Colorado for over 47 years (founded 1979) and is currently owned by Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST) following Nexstar's $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna completed in 2026. The station distributes content across linear broadcast, the 9news.com website and mobile platforms, streaming apps on Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV, YouTube, social media, and email newsletters, reaching viewers across the Denver Metro area, the Colorado Front Range, and the Western Slope.

The company's core product is multi-platform local news programming built around branded franchises including the flagship 'Next with Kyle Clark' evening program, the '9NEWS INVESTIGATES' accountability unit, the 'Steve On Your Side' consumer advocacy segment, and lifestyle/community content such as 'Colorado & Company' and '9Cares Colorado Shares.' Adjacent products include the 'En Español' Spanish-language news section, the Locked On Podcast Network sports podcasts, and the '9Things to Do' events guide. Underlying technology is conventional broadcast television production combined with digital streaming infrastructure for cross-platform content delivery.

9News generates revenue primarily through television advertising — selling commercial airtime during news broadcasts and NBC network programming to local and regional advertisers. Content is free to consumers; there is no direct consumer pricing model. The customer base comprises Denver Metro and Colorado viewers (audience) on the demand side and local/regional businesses seeking advertising reach to that audience on the supply side. Per industry reporting, the Nexstar-Tegna megamerger is expected to drive consolidation of competing Denver newsrooms with forecast journalist reductions of 80-90 in the market.

Name

9News

Legal name

KUSA-TV

Website

https://9news.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

9News (KUSA-TV) is a Denver-based NBC-affiliated local television news station serving Denver Metro and Colorado viewers across broadcast, streaming, web, and mobile, monetized primarily through television advertising and operated by Nexstar Media Group following its 2026 acquisition of Tegna.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Broadcast Television News

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Network-Affiliated Local TV Stations (ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX/CW/Telemundo/Univision, etc.) (MPABACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

News OTT & Live News Streaming Channels (MPABAHAK)

Keywords

• Local news broadcasting
• Television news station
• Investigative journalism
• Consumer advocacy reporting
• Weather and traffic coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Television Advertising: 9News generates revenue primarily through television advertising, selling commercial airtime to local and national advertisers during news broadcasts and programming. The station also carries NBC network programming with embedded ad inventory.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

9News (KUSA-TV) is a Denver-based NBC-affiliated television station that produces and distributes local news, weather, traffic, sports, and investigative journalism across broadcast television, the 9news.com digital platform, streaming apps (Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV), and social media. Its core offerings include flagship news programs such as 'Next with Kyle Clark,' the '9NEWS INVESTIGATES' unit, and the consumer advocacy segment 'Steve On Your Side,' along with community programming like 'Colorado & Company' and '9Cares Colorado Shares.' The station is free to consumers and monetized through television advertising.

Product overview

9News (KUSA-TV) is a local NBC affiliate television station in Denver, Colorado, operating as part of the Nexstar Media Group network following its 2024 $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna. The station offers a multi-platform news operation centered on its core digital platform 9news.com, which aggregates local Colorado news and national/international stories across sections including News, Weather, Sports, Health, Politics, Business, Education, and Culture. Key branded products include the flagship program 'Next with Kyle Clark,' the investigative unit '9NEWS INVESTIGATES,' consumer advocacy program 'Steve On Your Side,' and lifestyle features like 'Colorado & Company.' The station distributes content through streaming apps (Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV), YouTube, podcast network Locked On, and the Spanish-language 'En Español' section. Community engagement initiatives include '9Cares Colorado Shares' and the '9Things to Do' event guide. The station reaches approximately 80% of U.S. television households through the combined Nexstar-Tegna entity operating 260 stations across 44 states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Next with Kyle Clark: A flagship news program hosted by anchor Kyle Clark
• 9NEWS INVESTIGATES
• Steve On Your Side
• Colorado & Company

Products and services

• 9news.com The primary digital news platform for 9News, providing local Colorado and national news coverage, live streaming, and multimedia content across multiple sections including News, Weather, Sports, Health, Politics, Business, and Entertainment. It is targeted at Denver metropolitan area and Colorado residents seeking local news and information online.
• Next with Kyle Clark Flagship evening news program hosted by anchor Kyle Clark, featuring in-depth local coverage, investigations, and community storytelling. It is targeted at Denver and Colorado viewers seeking a high-profile evening news broadcast.
• 9NEWS INVESTIGATES Investigative journalism unit producing in-depth reporting on crime, corruption, consumer issues, and accountability journalism. It is targeted at Denver and Colorado viewers and has influenced state legislation, including a speed camera ticket reform law that resulted in over $2.3 million in refunds.
• Steve On Your Side Consumer investigation and advocacy program helping viewers with consumer protection issues, refunds, and justice. It is targeted at Denver and Colorado consumers who need help resolving consumer issues, and has demonstrably influenced state legislation.
• Locked On Podcast Network Network of sports-focused podcasts covering Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Avalanche, Nuggets, and Rapids. It is targeted at Denver and Colorado sports fans seeking in-depth team-specific audio content.
• 9Things to Do Curated guide to weekend events, activities, and entertainment options around Colorado. It is targeted at Denver and Colorado residents looking for local leisure and entertainment ideas.
• Colorado & Company Lifestyle program featuring Colorado events, companies, business people, and regional attractions. It is targeted at Denver and Colorado residents interested in local lifestyle, culture, and regional businesses.
• 9Cares Colorado Shares Community outreach initiative including food drives and support for local nonprofit organizations. It is targeted at Denver and Colorado residents and nonprofit organizations seeking to participate in community giving.
• En Español Spanish-language news section providing bilingual coverage of local Colorado news and national stories. It is targeted at Spanish-speaking Denver and Colorado residents seeking local news in Spanish.
• Streaming Apps on Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV Free streaming access to 9News live content and on-demand videos through connected TV platforms including Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV. It is targeted at Denver and Colorado viewers who prefer streaming on connected TV devices over linear broadcast.
• 9News Email Newsletters Email newsletter services, including BeOn9, keeping subscribers informed about breaking news and personalized content updates. It is targeted at Denver and Colorado residents who want news delivered directly to their inbox.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $2.3 million in improperly issued traffic tickets identified and refunded following 9News investigation
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Nexstar Media Group: The parent company of 9News following its $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna. Operates 260+ stations across 44 states reaching 80% of US TV households, providing the broader broadcast portfolio context for 9News's positioning.
• Gray Television: Major US local TV broadcaster operating dozens of network-affiliated stations. Comparable to 9News as a network-affiliated local broadcaster with similar revenue model and operational structure across mid-to-large US markets.
• The E.W. Scripps Company: Diversified broadcast operator owning network-affiliated local TV stations plus national cable networks (Newsy). Comparable to 9News's parent Nexstar in operating local broadcast stations with an advertising-driven revenue model.
• Hearst Television: Owns and operates a portfolio of network-affiliated local TV stations across the US. Comparable to 9News in business model, content mix (local news plus network programming), and advertising-driven revenue model.
• Tegna Inc. Former parent company of 9News (KUSA-TV) prior to the 2026 acquisition by Nexstar Media Group. Tegna operated a portfolio of local TV stations including 9News and KDVR in Denver with the same network-affiliate broadcast model.
• Sinclair Broadcast Group: One of the largest US local TV station operators, owning KMGH (ABC Denver) and many other network-affiliated stations. Competes with Nexstar at the corporate level and operates KMGH as a direct Denver competitor to 9News.

Emerging players

• NewsNation: Cable and streaming national news network owned by Nexstar Media Group. A sibling brand to 9News under the same parent, offering partial overlap in news content delivery and shared distribution infrastructure with Nexstar's local stations.

Direct peers

• KMGH-TV (Denver7 / ABC Denver): ABC-affiliated local TV station in Denver operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. A direct competitor to 9News with parallel coverage of Denver and Colorado news, weather, and investigative reporting.
• KDVR (Fox 31 Denver): Fox-affiliated local TV station in Denver that is itself owned by Nexstar/Tegna post-merger. Directly competes with 9News on local news, weather, and sports coverage in the Denver metro and Colorado market.
• KCNC-TV (CBS Denver): CBS-owned local television news station directly competing with 9News in the Denver market. Operates as a network-affiliated local broadcaster with overlapping news, weather, and sports coverage for the same Colorado audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC72nbKQLSDyiSARhg0Ywj4w
• Xx.com/9news
• Facebookfacebook.com/ilike9news
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kusa-tv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 9News