more of an independent station in order to compete with other subchannels in the area which carry other outside subchannel networks, along with adding traditional syndicated programming, especially with KTRV-TV's September 2016 decision to convert to a full-time Ion Television affiliate (and eventual purchase by Ion itself), which freed up several programs for the local market (another factor is KTVB's newscasts being available live or delayed on its website, making the subchannel's original purpose superfluous). Programming KTVB-DT2 simulcasts the main station's morning and 5 p.m. newscasts on Mondays through Saturdays, as well as the weekend early evening (Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.) and weekend 10 p.m. newscasts. Airing the weekend early evening newscasts allows viewers to still see a newscast despite NBC Sports preempting newscasts for college football or NBC Sunday Night Football coverage during the fall, and golf and NASCAR coverage in those seasons. Exclusive to the station is a weekday 7 a.m. hour-long newscast, and Friday Night Flights on Friday evenings, which provides coverage of local high school football. In other non-prime slots, repeats of the last KTVB newscast produced before that time period are seen. KTVB-DT2 also broadcasts Boise State University athletic contests—including football and basketball—along with shows like Inside Bronco Football on Wednesday nights and the Idaho Coaches Show on Thursday nights. Both programs are shown at 10:30 p.m. and repeated the following day at 12:30 p.m. Syndicated programming on KTVB-DT2 includes The Wendy Williams Show, Just for Laughs Gags, Impractical Jokers and The Dr. Oz Show, along with second runs of KTVB's syndicated programming such as Judge Judy. In rare cases where KTVB must preempt NBC network programming for local breaking news or community interest coverage, KTVB-DT2 carries network shows in their regularly scheduled timeslots. News operation KTVB produces 6½ hours of original news programming each weekday distributed between KTVB and KTVB-DT2, and a total of 38 hours of original news and sports programming per week. Former reporters have gone on to attain national prominence, including Christi Paul of CNN Headline News, Trace Gallagher of Fox News, David Kerley of ABC News and Meg Oliver of CBS News' Up To The Minute. The KTVB news gathering fleet includes a new state of the art satellite truck purchased in 2006, allowing for live coverage of events across the region. KTVB's resources also include two live units, 10 news gathering vehicles, and a digital production