Explosives Found Under News Vehicle in Utah Sparks Safety Concerns for Journalists

Fox 13 refers primarily to WTVT-TV, a prominent broadcasting media company serving the Tampa Bay area in Florida, established in 1955. Initially a CBS affiliate, WTVT transitioned to become part of the FOX-owned television stations network in December 1994, significantly expanding its local news programming to nearly 45 hours per week. This station is headquartered in Tampa and covers a broad region including Citrus, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties[1][2][5]. Fox 13 is well-known for its comprehensive local news coverage, weather, sports, and traffic updates. It pioneered Florida’s first weather radar system and operates the SkyTower Radar, considered the most powerful TV station radar globally. The station’s weather center honors Roy Leep, a pioneering meteorologist, and its meteorologists have reported on major storms including Hurricanes Elena, Charley, and Irma[2]. On the sports front, Fox 13 has been a key broadcaster of Tampa Bay’s major sports teams, including the Buccaneers, Devil Rays, and Lightning, and regularly airs NFL games featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as part of FOX’s NFC coverage[2]. Historically, Fox 13 has had notable achievements such as broadcasting live video of astronaut John Glenn’s 1962 spaceflight recovery and maintaining a continuous presence at Cape Canaveral for every U.S. manned space launch since the Gemini program era[2]. The station’s news format evolved over decades, shifting from “Pulse” to “Eyewitness News,” and then adopting a more news-intensive schedule after joining Fox, emphasizing early evening and late-night newscasts[5]. Today, Fox 13 operates with about 54 employees and generates estimated revenues of $27.8 million. It remains a key media outlet in Tampa Bay, combining historical prestige with cutting-edge broadcasting technology, making it a significant player in local business and technology news media within Florida[1][2].

Salt Lake City-based Fox News, specifically KSTU-TV branded as FOX 13, is a prominent television station affiliated with the Fox network, serving the Salt Lake City, Utah market and surrounding areas. Established in 1978, KSTU was Utah’s first independent station and the first commercial UHF broadcaster in the state. It initially broadcast on channel 20 but moved to channel 13 in 1987 after a strategic acquisition, which solidified its presence in the region[6]. The station is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company, a major media conglomerate, which also owns the independent station KUPX-TV in the area[3][6]. FOX 13 operates from its headquarters on West Amelia Earhart Drive in Salt Lake City, with a transmitter located at Farnsworth Peak in the Oquirrh Mountains, providing extensive coverage throughout Utah and neighboring states via more than 80 translators that extend its broadcast reach[3][6]. The station employs approximately 144 people and generates revenue estimated between $50 million and $100 million, indicating a significant regional media presence[1][4]. FOX 13 is known for a dynamic team of journalists committed to community-focused reporting, emphasizing accuracy, accountability, and transparency. It offers comprehensive news coverage across local, business, technology, and sports sectors, catering to a broad audience interested in timely and relevant information[2]. The station also embraces modern media consumption trends by streaming its news content on multiple devices to accommodate diverse viewer preferences[2]. Noteworthy aspects of FOX 13 include its longevity as a successful independent broadcaster before affiliating with Fox at the network’s launch in 1986, and its critical role in delivering news with a strong local engagement ethos under the stewardship of key leaders such as General Manager Merri Hanson and Senior Director of News Leona Wood[2]. FOX 13 remains a vital source of business and technology news for Salt Lake City and the surrounding region.