Media in the San Francisco Bay Area


The media in the San Francisco Bay Area has historically focused on San Francisco but also includes two other major media centers, Oakland and San Jose. The Federal Communications Commission, Nielsen Media Research, and other similar media organizations treat the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Bay Area as one entire media market. The region hosts to one of the oldest radio stations in the United States still in existence, KCBS , founded by engineer Charles Herrold in 1909. As the home of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area is also a technologically advanced and innovative region, with many companies involved with Internet media or influential websites.

Print

The first newspaper published by Americans in California was The Californian, printed in Monterey in 1846 announcing the Mexican–American War, written half in English and half Spanish. The press was moved to San Francisco and printing started up again on May 22, 1847 in competition with the weekly California Star, beginning that January. The first newspaper published solely in English in San Francisco was The Star published by Mormon pioneer Sam Brannan before San Francisco was renamed from Yerba Buena in 1847. Both efforts suspended publication in the face of the California Gold Rush. By August, The Californian had resumed publication, but by November 1848, both papers were bought and merged, then renamed the Alta California.
The press that once printed The Californian was moved to the Sacramento area to be used on the Placer Times. The press was again moved and began publishing the Motherlode's first paper, the Sonora Herald, then taken to Columbia to print the Columbia Star. Within a few years of the discovery of gold, mother lode towns all had multiple competing journals. Before 1860, California had 57 newspapers and periodicals serving an average readership of 290,000.
James King of William began publishing the Daily Evening Bulletin in San Francisco in October, 1855 and built it into the highest circulation paper in the city. He criticized a city supervisor named James P. Casey, who, on the afternoon of the story about him, ran in the paper, shot and mortally wounded King. Casey was lynched by the early vigilante committee. The Morning Call was established and began publishing in December 1856, and later merged with the Bulletin to become the long-running Call-Bulletin. The San Francisco Chronicle debuted in June, 1865 as the Dramatic Chronicle, founded by Charles and M.H. de Young aged 19 and 17.
In 1887, young William Randolph Hearst took over his father's Daily Examiner, which became the flagship of his national chain.
Fremont Older became editor of the San Francisco Bulletin in 1895 and took up the struggle against the powerful Southern Pacific Railroad and along with fellow Californian Lincoln Steffens, became a well-known muckraker and the first objective observer to accuse District Attorney Charles Fickert of the framing of labor radical Thomas Mooney.
The oldest African-American newspaper, still active in the 1930s, was the California Eagle. It appeared first in Los Angeles in 1879. The first French journals, the Californien and the Gazette Republicane both began in 1850, and were followed by the Courrier du Pacifique in 1852. Both the first German and first Italian papers, the California Demokrat and the Voce del Popolo were founded in San Francisco and had long runs. Chinese in California have published many newspapers, the first being the Gold Hills News in 1854.
Noted journalists, writers, cartoonists and publishers have passed through San Francisco's media world, including:
By the early decades of the 20th century, San Francisco supported four major dailies and numerous influential weeklies. The dailies were the San Francisco Call, the San Francisco Examiner, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Scripps-Howard-owned Daily News. The weeklies included the Wasp, the Argonaut, the Labor Clarion, the Coast Seamen's Journal, Emanu-el, Liberator and the News Letter.
Today, several newspapers, covering community, regional, national, and international news, and community-specific papers, catering to niche markets and individual neighborhoods, are in circulation in the San Francisco Bay Area. The major English-language newspapers include the daily East Bay Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, and San Jose Mercury News. The weekly alternative papers are the Metro Silicon Valley, East Bay Express, and SF Weekly. The Epoch Times, Singtao Daily, World Journal, and Kangzhongguo are among the Asian newspapers that serve the Bay Area.

Newspapers

;Former newspapers
;Ethnic newspapers
Aside from the major English broadsheets, the Bay Area also publishes newspapers catering to the large ethnic communities in the region, including:
;Former ethnic newspapers
Several college newspapers also exist as well in the Bay Area, including:
The San Francisco Bay Area is currently the sixth-largest television market in the United States, with all of the major U.S. television networks having affiliates serving the region, and it is host to various local, national and international programming. With a large, diverse population spread throughout the region, the Bay Area provides channels specific to their needs, including Asian and Hispanic television stations, as well as foreign programming on digital subchannels.
When television stations identify themselves, they usually identify the station in this order : , San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose. This also happens when radio stations identify themselves on the top of each hour. Prior to the 1990s, these stations would almost exclusively identify based on the exact city of license, with a notable exception being major independent KTVU, which would identify using KTVU, Oakland, San Francisco as San Francisco has traditionally been the better-known and more "important" city in the region.
Currently, television stations that primarily serve the San Francisco Bay Area include:
StationChannelNetwork AffiliationCity of LicenseOwnerSubchannels
KAXT1DecadesSanta ClaraWeigel Broadcasting
KTVU†*2FoxOaklandFox Television Stations2.2 LATV
2.3 Movies!
2.4 Buzzr
2.5 Decades
KRON4MyNetworkTVSan FranciscoNexstar Media Group4.2 Sky Link TV
4.3 GetTV
4.4 Grit
KPIX†*5CBSSan FranciscoViacomCBS5.2 Start TV
5.3 Dabl
KGO*7ABCSan FranciscoWalt Disney Television7.2 Localish
7.3 Laff
KQED9PBSSan FranciscoNorthern California Public Broadcasting9.2 KQEH
9.3 World
9.4 PBS Kids
KNTV†*11NBCSan JoseNBCUniversal11.2 Cozi TV
KDTV†*14UnivisionSan FranciscoUnivision Communications14.2 KFSF-DT
14.3 GetTV
14.4 Escape
KSCZ16IndependentSan JoseVenture Technologies Group16.1-16.8, 16.16 Vietnamese programming
16.9 Taiwanese programming
KOFY20IndependentSan FranciscoGranite Broadcasting20.2 This TV
KRCB22PBSCotatiRural California Broadcasting Corporation22.2 Create
22.3 NHK World
KTSF26IndependentSan FranciscoLincoln Broadcasting
KCNZ-CD28HSNSan FranciscoLocusPoint Networks28.10 Retro Television Network
28.15 TCN
KMTP32DW, Classic ArtsSan FranciscoMinority Television Project
KICU†36IndependentSan JoseFox Television Stations36.2 KBS World
36.3 CCTV News
36.4 Heroes & Icons
36.5 Light TV
KCNS38SonLife Broadcasting NetworkSan FranciscoNRJ TV38.2 Sino TV
38.3 Estrella TV
38.4 Comet TV
38.5 NTDTV
KMMC403ABN LatinoSan FranciscoCaballero Television40.4 Rev'n
KTNC42InfomercialsConcordTitan Broadcasting42.2 Charge!
KBCW†*44The CWSan FranciscoViacomCBS44.2 Comet
KSTS†*48TelemundoSan JoseNBCUniversal48.2 TeleXitos
KEMO50Azteca AmericaSanta RosaUna Vez Más Holdings, LLC50.2 QVC
50.3 QVC Plus
50.4
Evine
KQEH54PBSSan JoseNorthern California Public Broadcasting54.2 KQED
54.3 PBS World
54.4 PBS Kids
54.5 PBS World
KPJK60IndependentSan MateoRural California Broadcasting Corporation60.2 France 24
60.3 KCSM
KKPX*65IONSan JoseIon Media Networks65.2 Qubo
65.3 Ion Life
65.4 Infomercials
65.5 QVC
65.6 HSN
KFSF†*66UniMásVallejoUnivision Communications66.2 KDTV
66.3 Bounce TV
66.4 Grit
KTLN68Heroes & IconsSan RafaelWeigel Broadcasting68.2 MeTV

Notes: † – channel involved in a duopoly with another channel, owned by the same company or network. * – channel is a network owned-and-operated station.
The "Channel" column refers to its former analog and current virtual channel number, as well as the PSIP main subchannel.
In addition to local television channels, several television networks have regional news bureaus in the San Francisco Bay Area, including BBC, CNN, ESPN, MSNBC, Al Jazeera America, Russia Today, CCTV America, and PBS.
Regional sports networks NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California air San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, San Jose Sharks and San Jose Earthquakes games.

Radio

The San Francisco Bay Area is currently the fourth-largest radio market in the United States, with all of the major U.S. radio networks having affiliates serving the region. While most radio stations targeting the Bay Area originate in San Francisco, it also includes stations broadcasting from San Jose, mostly to South Bay listeners and other parts of the Bay Area depending on reception.
When radio frequencies broadcast their identities, they would usually identify their frequency in this order : , San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose.
Currently, radio stations that primarily serve the San Francisco Bay Area include:

AM

StationFrequencyFormatCity of LicenseOwner
KSFO560TalkSan FranciscoCumulus Media
KEAR610Christian RadioSan FranciscoFamily Radio
KNBR680SportsSan FranciscoCumulus Media
KCBS740NewsSan FranciscoEntercom
KGO810TalkSan FranciscoCumulus Media
KTRB860News/TalkSan FranciscoSalem Communications
KKSF910Progressive talkOaklandiHeartMedia
KNEW960Business News/TalkOaklandiHeartMedia
KIQI1010SpanishSan FranciscoMulticultural Broadcasting
KTCT1050SportsSan MateoCumulus Media
KFAX1100Religious TalkSan FranciscoSalem Communications
KLOK1170IndianSan JosePrinciple Broadcasting
KDYA1190Urban gospelVallejoBaybridge Communications
KDOW1220Business News/TalkPalo AltoSalem Communications
KSFB1260Catholic RadioSan FranciscoImmaculate Heart Radio
KMKY1310South AsianOaklandCharanjit Batth
KZSF1370SpanishSan JoseCarlos Duarate
KVTO1400ChineseBerkeleyPhuong Pham
KVVN1430VietnameseSanta ClaraPhuong Pham
KEST1450ChineseSan FranciscoMulticultural Broadcasting
KSJX1500VietnameseSan JoseMulticultural Broadcasting
KSFN1510ChinesePiedmontMapleton Communications
KGMZ1550LGBTQ Talk/DanceSan FranciscoEntercom
KLIV1590SilentSan JoseEmpire Broadcasting
KDIA1640Religious TalkVallejoBaybridge Communications
KBCP1650Various San JoseBellarmine College Preparatory

FM

StationFrequencyFormatCity of LicenseOwner
KSFH87.9RockMountain ViewSt. Francis High School of Mountain View
KECG88.1SchoolEl CerritoEl Cerrito High School
KSRH88.1SchoolSan RafaelSan Rafael High School
KQED88.5Public RadioSan FranciscoNorthern California Public Broadcasting
KCEA89.1SchoolAthertonAtherton High School
KMVS89.3Contemporary ChristianMoss BeachEducational Media Foundation
KPFB89.3Public RadioBerkeleyPacifica Radio
KOHL89.3Top 40/CHRFremontOhlone College
KMTG89.3SchoolSan JoseSan Jose Unified School District
KPOO89.5VarietySan FranciscoPoor's People Radio
KFJC89.7CollegeLos AltosFoothill College
KCRH89.9CollegeHaywardChabot College
KZSU90.1CollegeStanfordStanford University
KDFC90.3ClassicalSan FranciscoUniversity of Southern California
KSJS90.5CollegeSan JoseSan Jose State University
KALX90.7CollegeBerkeleyUniversity of California Berkeley
KCSM91.1JazzSan MateoCollege of San Mateo
KKUP91.5VarietyCupertinoAssurance Science Foundation
KALW91.7Public RadioSan FranciscoSan Francisco Unified School District
KKDV92.1Adult contemporaryWalnut CreekAlpha Media
KSJO92.3Bollywood musicSan JoseUniversal Media Access
KREV92.7Top 40/CHRSan FranciscoRoyce International
KRZZ93.3Regional MexicanSan FranciscoSpanish Broadcasting System
KXZM93.7Regional MexicanFelton, CaliforniaRadio Lazer
KPFA94.1Public RadioBerkeleyPacifica Radio
KBAY94.5Classic hitsSan JoseAlpha Media
KYLD94.9Top 40/CHRSan FranciscoiHeartMedia
KRTY95.3CountryLos GatosEmpire Broadcasting
KGMZ95.7SportsSan FranciscoEntercom Communications
KSQQ96.1Chinese/Vietnamese/PortugueseMorgan HillCoyote Communications
KOIT96.5Adult contemporarySan FranciscoBonneville International
KLLC97.3Hot ACSan FranciscoEntercom
KJLV97.7Contemporary ChristianLos AltosEducational Media Foundation
KISQ98.1Adult contemporarySan FranciscoiHeartMedia
KUFX98.5Classic rockSan JoseBonneville International
KSOL98.9Regional MexicanSan FranciscoUnivision Radio
KSQL99.1Regional MexicanSanta CruzUnivision Radio
KMVQ99.7Top 40/CHRSan FranciscoBonneville International
KBRG100.3Spanish Adult hitsSan JoseUnivision Radio
KVVZ100.7Spanish RhythmicSan RafaelUnivision Radio
KIOI101.3Hot ACSan FranciscoiHeartMedia
KKIQ101.7Adult contemporaryLivermore, CaliforniaAlpha Media
KRBQ102.1Rhythmic oldiesSan FranciscoEntercom Communications
KBLX102.9Urban ACBerkeleyBonneville International
KSCU103.3CollegeSanta ClaraSanta Clara University
KOSF103.7'80's hitsSan FranciscoiHeartMedia
KNBR-FM 104.5SportsSan FranciscoCumulus Media
KXSC 104.9ClassicalSunnyvaleUniversity of Southern California
KITS105.3Alternative rockSan FranciscoEntercom Communications
KVVF105.7Spanish RhythmicSanta ClaraUnivision Radio
KMEL106.1Urban contemporarySan FranciscoiHeartMedia
KEZR106.5Hot ACSan JoseAlpha Media
KFRC 106.9NewsSan FranciscoEntercom Communications
KLVS107.3Contemporary ChristianLivermoreEducational Media Foundation
KSAN107.7Classic rockSan MateoCumulus Media

Online

Online publications

Besides websites that exist in addition to print publications, many publications that only exist online have come into existence in recent years. They include:
International news digital video channel AJ+, part of Al Jazeera Media Network, is also based in the city.

Internet and social media

As the home of Silicon Valley, several high technology companies involved with Internet media or social media are either headquartered or have a significant presence in the Bay Area. These include the following: