KION, the CBS affiliate serving Monterey, California, and owned by the News-Press & Gazette Company, has ceased its news operations. According to sources and social media posts, the announcement was made to employees on September 24, 2025, shocking them as they arrived for their regular work schedule. The number of affected employees is currently unknown.
In addition to KION, the News-Press & Gazette Company also owns KMUV, a low-power station and Telemundo affiliate in the market. Instead of broadcasting locally produced news, KION will now broadcast content from CBS-owned KPIX in San Francisco, California. KMUV will also stop producing Spanish-language news programs that KION created for them. KION will simulcast KPIX’s news broadcasts.
CBS Stations has pledged to improve coverage of Central California, which includes Monterey and the surrounding areas. In the Monterey market, Hearst Television's KSBW shares the ABC and NBC affiliations and also produces local news. After KION's decision to discontinue its own local news broadcasts, Hearst is currently the only local news organization that creates English-language local television news. Entravision Communications' KSMS creates local news in Spanish for the market.
The reason for NPG's decision to discontinue local news was not immediately apparent, though many local stations, particularly in smaller markets, are having trouble attracting viewers and advertising revenue due to a fragmented media environment and current economic conditions. "NPG did not comment on its decision to shutter the local newsroom."