KCTU-LD, virtual channel 5 (UHF digital channel 23), is a low-powered This TV-affiliated television station licensed to Wichita, Kansas, United States. The station is owned by River City Broadcasters, Inc. KCTU-LD's studios are located on Water Street in Wichita's Midtown neighborhood, and its transmitter is located atop 250 Douglas Place in downtown. It was one of four low-powered channels in the United States to distribute RT America (Russia Today), which received funding from the Russian government and was accused of promoting Russian propaganda. The U.S. State Department has declared that Russian media outlets RT and Sputnik are "critical elements in Russia's disinformation and propaganda ecosystem." RT America ceased operations in March 2022 during Russia's invasion of Ukraine; KCTU replaced the network with France 24. It is also one of a few over-the-air stations that carry Infowars, the largely deplatformed fringe/far-right conspiracy channel operated by Alex Jones. History The station first signed on the air in 1992. On February 1, 1998, KCTU became the first commercial television station in the world to stream its programming online 24 hours a day to reach more viewers. In 2001, KCTU affiliated with Pax TV (now Ion Television). Because of the local programming and other network affiliations carried by the station (including a secondary affiliation with Urban America Television that lasted until that network's shutdown in May 2006), the station did not air as many infomercials as most Pax/i/Ion affiliates. The station dropped the network in 2008. On May 10, 2007, the principal owners of KCTU through N&H Publishing Corp. announced the acquisition of the Wichita City Paper. Planned topics are similar to those featured on the local programs seen on the station including local and consumer news, religious topics and veterans' issues. The local television program guide that was formerly featured as an insert in The Prospector, also began appearing in the City Paper. In August 2010, the station became affiliated with Estrella TV, a Hispanic network. By June 2011, KCTU primary subchannel was pick up by AT&T U-verse. Ron and Sheryl Nutt, owners, placed the station up for sale in July 2012 with a July 22 deadline for offers. In late July 2013, TV Scout was added as the station's fourth subchannel with some initial formatting glitches. Cable carriage As it is a low-powered station, KCTU is not carried on Cox Communications as it is not obligated to carry KCTU under "must-carry" regulations