KRIS-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Corpus Christi area of South Texas. Owned by Cordillera Communications (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Evening Post Publishing Company), the station is sister to CBS affiliate KZTV (owned by Eagle Creek Broadcasting but operated by Cordillera through shared services agreement), independent KDF, Telemundo affiliate KAJA, and the area's CW affiliate, The CW South Texas. After KRIS Communications and KZTV joined forces, KRIS Communications moved into KZTV's facilities in September 2010. All five stations now share studios at 301 Artesian Street in downtown Corpus Christi.
Market
Corpus Christi is located on the Gulf of Mexico between Houston and Spring Break destination favorite South Padre Island. It is the 129th ranked broadcast market, with 199,560 households in the DMA and 150,620 households in the metro area (Nueces, San Patricio, and Aransas counties). The broadcast market runs 49%/51% male/female, with a median household income of $41,672.
History
KRIS-TV began broadcasting on May 22, 1956 as the first VHF television station in the area, beating former rival KZTV by four months. The channel has always been an NBC affiliate but shared secondary ABC status with KZTV until KIII launched on May 4, 1964.
On July 23, 2008, Eagle Creek Broadcasting announced that it had sold KZTV to Cordillera Communications, who now owns all KZTV assets with Eagle Creek owning the broadcast license.
KRIS-TV unveiled a brand new high definition-ready set and graphics package on September 29, 2010. The station has now become the area's first to air newscasts in 16x9 enhanced definition widescreen.
KRIS-TV unveiled a brand new high definition-ready set and graphics package on September 29, 2010. The station has now become the area's first to air newscasts in 16x9 enhanced definition widescreen.
KRIS Communications operates these stations in the Corpus Christi market:
| Call letters | Channel | Affiliation |
| KRIS | 6 | NBC |
| KZTV | 10 | CBS |
| KDF | 47 | Independent |
| KAJA | 68 | Telemundo |
| CW+ | 6.2 | The CW |
The Corpus Christi market
Corpus Christi is the 129th largest television market in the U.S. It includes 202,000 households and is notable for its large Hispanic population.
The city center wraps around the western edge of Corpus Christi Bay and the downtown area
overlooks an attractive marina area. Major hotels and quality restaurants and entertainment venues serve both locals and the large tourist and convention crowds.
Several other resort cities including Port Aransas and Rockport are included in the viewing
area. The area is also home to major livestock ranches such as the legendary King Ranch, and to a healthy oil and gas production region.
Other major industries include a large port, petrochemical refining and processing industries, and two U.S. Navy aviation training facilities.