A former TV journalist's guide to getting booked on Denver TV: which shows feature local experts, how to pitch producers, and what makes a segment a yes.
I spent more than 20 years in TV news. I've been the reporter at the fire scene and the morning anchor before sunrise, and I've created four TV shows of my own.
So let me tell you how Denver TV bookings actually work.
Local TV is one of the best credibility builders an author, coach or speaker can have. A single segment gives you a clip for your website, proof for event planners and a signal that search engines and AI tools pick up. And Denver stations need local experts every single day.
Know the two kinds of Denver TV
Most Denver stations have two very different doors.
1. Newscasts. These cover what's happening today. To get in, you need a news angle: your expertise explains something in the headlines. Newscast producers move fast and book late.
2. Lifestyle and talk shows. These are longer, friendlier segments about living well, local businesses, books and ideas. They plan further ahead and are often the best fit for authors and coaches.
Know which door you're knocking on before you pitch.
Denver shows that feature local experts
As of October 2026, here's where to start:
- Great Day Colorado on KWGN Channel 2 airs weekdays at 9 a.m. It's a lifestyle show that talks with local business owners, entrepreneurs and experts across the Front Range. (About the show)
- Mile High Living on Denver7 (KMGH) is a local lifestyle and business show that airs weekdays. It includes local business segments.
- Colorado & Company on 9NEWS (KUSA) is the station's local lifestyle show.
A heads-up: some local lifestyle segments are sponsored, meaning a business pays to appear. That's not bad, but you should know which is which. When you contact a show, ask whether the segment you're pitching is editorial or paid.
For news, Denver's main stations are 9NEWS (KUSA), Denver7 (KMGH), FOX31 (KDVR) and CBS Colorado (KCNC). Each has assignment desks and producers who book local experts to explain the news.
Show times and formats change, so check each station's website before you pitch.
Step 1: Watch before you pitch
This sounds obvious. Almost nobody does it.
Watch a week of the show you want. Notice how long segments run, what kinds of guests appear and what they bring with them. Do they demonstrate something? Share tips? Tell a personal story?
Then pitch a segment that looks like it already belongs on that show.
Step 2: Pitch a segment, not yourself
Producers don't book "an author." They book a segment that fills four minutes with something their viewers will love.
Weak: "I'd love to come on and talk about my new book on confidence."
Strong: "Three things to say when your teenager says they're 'not good enough.' A Denver author and coach with a quick, practical segment for parents heading into the school year."
Give the producer the segment title, three talking points and why it matters to Colorado viewers.
Step 3: Answer why now
Every producer is asking the same three questions: why this topic, why this person, and why now.
The "why now" is what gets you booked. Tie your pitch to:
- A season (back to school, New Year's resolutions, holiday stress)
- A local moment (a Denver event, a Colorado trend, a new study)
- A national story you can explain from a local angle
Step 4: Be local, and say so
Denver stations want Denver voices. If you live and work here, lead with it. "Denver-based" belongs in the first line of your pitch.
Mention the neighborhood, the local clients you serve or the Colorado community you're part of. Local is your advantage. Use it.
Step 5: Make it easy to say yes
- Keep the pitch short. Five or six sentences.
- Include a short video clip of you speaking on camera, even from your phone, so the producer knows you can handle TV.
- Be flexible. Morning shows book early slots. If you can get to the studio by 6 a.m., say so.
- Follow up once, politely, a few days later. Then move on.
Step 6: Nail the segment
When you get the yes:
- Practice out loud. Segments are short. Know your three points cold.
- Lead with the most interesting thing. Don't warm up.
- Talk to the host, not the camera, unless told otherwise.
- Wear solid colors. Skip tiny patterns, which can flicker on screen.
- Bring a visual if it helps: your book, a prop, a simple demo.
And then thank the producer. They remember.
Turn one segment into lasting authority
After it airs, get the clip. Put it on your website, your LinkedIn and your media page. Use it in your next pitch: producers book people who've already been on TV.
Each appearance becomes a lasting signal that Google and AI tools like ChatGPT use to understand who you are. PR is the new SEO, and local TV is one of the strongest places to start.
Want a former TV journalist in your corner? We help Colorado authors, coaches and speakers get media-ready and pitched. See our Denver Authority Intensive, our podcast tours and media pitching, or schedule a strategy session.
Show details verified October 2026. Schedules and formats change, so confirm with each station before pitching.
Kristen White
Kristen White is a media strategist, television producer, filmmaker, former TV news personality, and authority positioning expert with more than 20 years of experience helping entrepreneurs, authors, coaches, consultants, speakers, and thought leaders become more visible, recognizable, and trusted online.
She is the Founder of Orange Cat Media & Marketing, where she helps experts expand their visibility through streaming television, media appearances, authority positioning, LinkedIn growth, AI search optimization, podcast visibility, and strategic content development.
Through Orange Cat Media & Marketing, Kristen helps clients strengthen their digital authority across Google, LinkedIn, ChatGPT, streaming television, podcasts, and AI-powered search platforms.
