KRGV signed on in 1954 as a primary NBC affiliate, sharing ABC programming with KGBT-TV. The current owners, the Manship family, acquired the station in 1964. It became a sole ABC affiliate in 1976; NBC didn't return to the Rio Grande full-time until KVEO signed on in 1981. KRGV was the first station in the Rio Grande Valley to transmit an HD signal on VHF channel 13 although they are not the first to provide local programming in HD. KRGV is scheduled to begin producing newscasts in High Definition, the 2nd in the Rio Grande Vally after KVEO. On September 9, 2009 Newschannel5 began broadcasting in HD. Also with the switch was a new branding "Channel 5 News".