KION-TV Ends 56 Years of Local News, Affecting Approximately 20 Employees

KION-TV, a long-standing fixture in Central Coast broadcasting, ceased its local news operations on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, after 56 years on air. The decision, confirmed by sources to KSBW Action News 8, effectively blindsided approximately 20 employees, including reporters, anchors, and producers, who learned of their layoffs through their competitor's reporting. This move marks a significant shift for the Salinas-based station, owned by News-Press & Gazette (NPG).

The abrupt shutdown also impacts Telemundo 23, which shared a newsroom with KION, leaving the Monterey County region without a dedicated Spanish-language newscast despite Hispanics comprising 60% of the population. Employees described being caught off guard by the announcement. > "I did not see this coming," one reporter stated, while Sandy Santos, a Spanish-language reporter and anchor, shared, > "We're coming into work just a regular day... and that's when we find out about the transition."

In place of its own news production, KION-TV will now partner with KPIX CBS San Francisco, which will air its news broadcasts in the Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, and Salinas areas. KION's website stated the station is "entering a new chapter in local news" with this collaboration, and KPIX will expand its weather forecasts to cover the Central Coast region using augmented/virtual reality studio technology.

The closure leaves KSBW as the sole remaining local TV station dedicated to news in the Monterey Bay area, raising concerns about the future of local journalism. Monterey Mayor Dennis Donohue commented on the changing media landscape, stating, > "It certainly speaks to a very changing media landscape, how people are going to get their information."

News-Press & Gazette, which acquired KION in 2013, has not publicly provided extensive details regarding the rationale behind the immediate cessation of local news production. Attempts to reach the parent company for comment have been unsuccessful, according to multiple reports. This development reflects a broader trend in the industry where smaller market stations are increasingly outsourcing news operations to larger affiliates.