KUSI-TV

KUSI-TV and KSWB-TV share studios on Viewridge Avenue (near I-15) in the Kearny Mesa section of San Diego; KUSI-TV's transmitter is located southeast of Spring Valley. After a 15-year dispute over permit ownership that almost derailed the launch of the station on multiple occasions, KUSI began broadcasting in 1982 as a partnership between United States International University and McKinnon Broadcasting Company. It was the first independent station built in San Diego proper. Financial and accreditation problems at USIU led to the sale of its stake to McKinnon in 1990, with McKinnon exercising veto power to block any sale to another entity. McKinnon then started KUSI's news department, which has since grown to produce newscasts throughout the day. In 2023, McKinnon sold KUSI to Nexstar; the station joined The CW in March 2026 after Nexstar completed its purchase of KFMB owner Tegna. KUSI's transmitter broadcasts it and KSWB-TV in ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) format. The construction permit for a channel 51 television station in San Diego was first issued on June 23, 1965, to Jack O. Gross, who had previously founded KFMB-TV (channel 8), as KJOG-TV.