Television news is dying. That's what people say, anyway. Yet, if you spend any time in the Central Valley, you know that Fox News Sacramento CA, better known to locals as FOX40, hasn't exactly gotten the memo. It’s a weirdly resilient fixture in a media market that stretches from the edge of the Bay Area all the way up to the Sierra Nevada foothills.
You’ve probably seen the van. It's white with that bold, blue "40" parked outside a local Dutch Bros or idling near the State Capitol.
People get confused about the name. When someone types Fox News Sacramento CA into a search bar, they might be looking for the national cable feed—the Sean Hannity and Jesse Watters variety—but usually, they’re looking for KTXL. That’s the actual station. It’s owned by Nexstar Media Group. It’s been on the air since 1968, which is honestly a lifetime in broadcast years.
The Identity Crisis Between Local and National
Let’s get one thing straight because it trips everyone up. KTXL (FOX40) is an affiliate. This means they carry the Fox network's sports and prime-time entertainment, but their newsroom is a local operation. They aren't taking orders from a skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan.
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The distinction matters.
If you’re watching the 10:00 PM news, you’re getting Nikki Laurenzo or Ty Steele talking about the latest budget shortfall in Governor Newsom’s office or a massive multi-car pileup on the I-80. It’s Sacramento-centric. But, because the "Fox" brand is so politically polarized on a national level, the local station often inherits those assumptions. It’s a tough spot to be in. They have to play it down the middle to keep a broad audience in a city that leans blue, surrounded by a valley that leans bright red.
It’s a balancing act. Basically, they have to be everything to everyone while the internet tries to eat their lunch.
Why People Actually Tune In
Why do people still watch? It’s not for the national headlines. You get those on your phone before you even wake up.
It’s the hyper-local stuff.
FOX40 has carved out a niche with things like "FOX40 Focus" and their heavy emphasis on local prep sports. If you’re a high school football fan in Rocklin or Elk Grove, you’re probably watching their Friday night highlights. That’s something the big national streamers can’t replicate. They can’t tell you why the traffic on the Business 80 is backed up to Marconi Avenue.
Then there’s the weather. In Sacramento, weather is basically a contact sport during the summer. When it hits 110 degrees for the fifth day in a row, people want to see a familiar face like Adam Epstein telling them when the Delta Breeze is finally going to kick in. It’s a comfort thing.
The Nexstar Factor and Modern Newsrooms
KTXL isn't a mom-and-pop shop. It’s part of the Nexstar empire, the largest television station owner in the United States.
This gives them a lot of muscle.
When a major story breaks at the Capitol, they can pool resources with other Nexstar stations across California. It’s efficient. But it also means the "local" feel sometimes gets a bit polished. You might notice that the graphics and the sets look almost identical to stations in Dallas or Nashville. That’s the corporate footprint.
The newsroom itself is a digital-first operation now. They aren't just waiting for the evening broadcast. They’re pushing alerts to their app, streaming on YouTube, and trying to figure out how to make TikToks that don't look like "fellow kids" memes. It's a grind.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Fox" Label
I hear this a lot: "Oh, I don't watch Fox News Sacramento because I don't like the national politics."
Honestly, that's a misunderstanding of how local TV works.
The local news teams at FOX40 are members of the Sacramento community. They live in Natomas. They shop at the same Safeway you do. Their editorial decisions are usually based on "What will people in Roseville care about?" rather than "What is the national party platform?"
If you compare a 5:00 PM broadcast on FOX40 to one on KCRA 3 or ABC10, you’ll find the stories are 90% the same. They’re all chasing the same fire trucks. The difference is in the "voice." FOX40 tends to skew a little more fast-paced. They like the "Big Story" branding.
The Evolution of the 10 PM Slot
For years, the 10:00 PM news was the crown jewel for Fox affiliates.
Before streaming, if you wanted the news but wanted to go to bed before 11:30 PM, FOX40 was your only option. They owned that hour. Now, that advantage has evaporated. You can watch news anytime.
So, they’ve had to adapt. They’ve added more morning hours. They’re on the air for what feels like forever in the AM. Why? Because that’s when people are getting ready for work and want the "passive" news experience. They want to hear the traffic while they’re burning their toast.
Real Challenges Facing Local News in the 916
It's not all sunshine and high ratings. The industry is in a weird spot.
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- Cord Cutting: People are ditching cable in droves. If you don't have an antenna or a YouTube TV subscription, you might not even know how to find FOX40.
- Trust: Media trust is at an all-time low. Whether it’s fair or not, the "Fox" name carries baggage that local reporters have to work twice as hard to overcome in certain neighborhoods.
- The Google/Meta Monopoly: Most local advertising dollars are going to search engines and social media, not TV commercials. This shrinks the budget for investigative journalism.
Despite this, Fox News Sacramento CA remains a powerhouse in the market. They’ve leaned heavily into their digital platforms. Their website is often a top-three destination for local breaking news in the region.
The Best Way to Consume FOX40 Content
If you actually want to stay informed without sitting through 20 minutes of car insurance commercials, you’ve got options.
The FOX40 app is surprisingly decent. It’s better than their website, which—like most local news sites—can be a bit of a nightmare with auto-play videos and pop-ups. The app gives you the raw info.
Also, follow their individual reporters on X (formerly Twitter). That’s where the real-time reporting happens. When there’s a protest at the Capitol or a wildfire in the foothills, the reporters are posting updates long before the scripted segments hit the airwaves.
A Quick Reality Check
Is it the "best" news in Sacramento? That's subjective.
KCRA has the legacy and the "Big Red" branding that older generations swear by. ABC10 does more "investigative" long-form stuff with their "Originals" brand. FOX40 is the scrappy, fast-moving alternative. They’re often first to a scene, and they tend to have a bit more energy in their presentation.
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Actionable Steps for Staying Informed in Sacramento
If you’re trying to navigate the local news landscape, don't just rely on one source. Here is how to actually use Fox News Sacramento CA effectively:
- Download the FOX40 News App specifically for weather alerts. Their radar integration for the Sierra snowpack and the Valley heatwaves is generally top-tier.
- Watch the 10:00 PM broadcast if you’re an early riser. It gives you the full recap of the day's local events without making you stay up until midnight.
- Check the "Studio 40 Live" segments if you want to know about local events, food, and lifestyle stuff. It’s less "hard news" and more "what's happening this weekend."
- Verify national stories elsewhere. Since they are a local affiliate, their national coverage is often a "rip and read" from a wire service. For deep national policy, go to the source. For "there’s a tree down on J Street," go to FOX40.
The media landscape in the 916 area code will keep shifting, but as long as people need to know why the air quality is bad or who won the Kings game, FOX40 will probably be there. It’s just about knowing what you’re watching and why.