KFMB-TV

KFMB-TV is a commercial television station serving San Diego, California, and the surrounding cross-border media market. Broadcasting on channel 8, it operates as a CBS affiliate and is branded primarily as CBS 8, while its local news operation uses the News 8 identity. The station’s principal facilities are in the Kearny Mesa area of San Diego, and its transmitter is located on Mount Soledad in La Jolla. KFMB-TV began broadcasting on May 16, 1949, becoming the first television station in the San Diego market. It was established by Jack O. Gross, who also owned KFMB radio. From its launch, channel 8 maintained a primary relationship with CBS, making it the only San Diego television station to have retained the same primary network affiliation throughout its history. In its early years, the station also carried selected programming from ABC, NBC and the DuMont Television Network. It briefly became a notable affiliate of the Paramount Television Network, receiving programs through a relay arrangement from Paramount-owned KTLA in Los Angeles because Paramount lacked a conventional national distribution network. The station’s ownership changed several times. Gross sold the KFMB radio and television properties to John A. Kennedy in 1950. In 1953, Kennedy sold them to a partnership involving television producer Jack Wrather and industry executive Helen Alvarez. After that partnership dissolved, Wrather retained the San Diego outlets under Marietta Broadcasting, which later merged with Transcontinent Television Corporation. Transcontinent sold KFMB-TV in 1964 to Midwest Television, controlled by the family of Illinois banker August Meyer. Midwest Television owned the station for more than five decades and ultimately made KFMB its principal remaining broadcast property. KFMB-TV expanded beyond its primary CBS service through digital multicasting. Its second digital channel first carried MeTV beginning in 2011. In 2017, after XETV lost its English-language programming operation and CW affiliation, KFMB-DT2 became the San Diego outlet for The CW. The subchannel also carried locally produced newscasts and syndicated programming, and later added MyNetworkTV programming in a secondary, late-night role. Following Nexstar’s acquisition of Tegna, the CW affiliation moved to KUSI-TV in 2026, leaving KFMB-TV’s primary service centered on CBS and local news. Local journalism is central to the station’s identity. KFMB produces extensive weekday and weekend newscasts under the News 8 and CBS News 8 brands, covering San Diego County, regional issues, weather, traffic, public safety and border-area developments. The station has also been an important local outlet for sports, including multiple periods as a television partner of the San Diego Padres and coverage of the San Diego Chargers. Its sports role changed after the Chargers relocated to Los Angeles in 2017, although NFL scheduling rules continued to place many Chargers games on the station for the San Diego market. KFMB-TV completed the United States digital television transition in 2009, moving its digital signal from a temporary UHF assignment to VHF channel 8. In 2018, Tegna acquired the KFMB stations, ending the Meyer family’s long ownership. Tegna later separated the television station from its former radio sisters, retaining control of the KFMB call sign for television. Nexstar’s acquisition of Tegna, completed in 2026 according to the supplied reference material, placed KFMB-TV within Nexstar’s San Diego station portfolio alongside KUSI-TV and KSWB-TV.

KFMB-TV signed on May 16, 1949, as San Diego’s first television station. Founder Jack O. Gross, owner of KFMB radio, built the station at a reported cost of $300,000. San Diego mayor Harley E. Knox attended the inaugural broadcast. Channel 8 launched as a primary CBS affiliate and has retained that affiliation ever since, an unusual degree of continuity in a competitive local television market. During its formative years, KFMB-TV carried additional programming from ABC, NBC and DuMont. In October 1949, it also joined the Paramount Television Network. Because Paramount did not operate a conventional nationwide distribution system, KFMB received Paramount programming through a relay from KTLA’s Mount Wilson transmitter near Los Angeles. The arrangement made KFMB one of Paramount’s strongest affiliates, with programs such as Hollywood Opportunity and Time for Beany appearing on its schedule. Ownership shifted in 1950, when Gross sold the radio and television properties to John A. Kennedy, a former newspaper publisher. Kennedy sold the outlets three years later to Jack Wrather and Helen Alvarez. The partnership later broke up, with Wrather retaining the San Diego stations under Marietta Broadcasting. Marietta merged with Transcontinent Television Corporation in 1959. In 1964, Transcontinent exited broadcasting and sold KFMB-TV to Midwest Television, controlled by the Meyer family. Midwest later divested its other stations, leaving the KFMB properties as its primary broadcast holdings. The San Diego television market became more competitive during the 1950s as KFSD-TV, now KGTV, and Tijuana-licensed XETV entered the market. KFMB lost NBC programming to KFSD-TV and gradually relinquished ABC programming as XETV gained authorization to carry the network. CBS, however, remained KFMB-TV’s enduring primary affiliation. The station transitioned from analog to digital broadcasting on February 17, 2009. Its digital signal moved from pre-transition UHF channel 55 to VHF channel 8, corresponding with its historic analog channel. KFMB also developed a digital multicast operation. KFMB-DT2 launched in 2011 with MeTV. In 2017 it replaced XETV as San Diego’s CW outlet after negotiations between CBS and XETV’s owner, Grupo Televisa, failed to preserve the English-language affiliation. KFMB-DT2 adopted a general-entertainment schedule, added extended and separate local newscasts, and later carried MyNetworkTV programming in late-night hours. Tegna announced its purchase of the KFMB stations in December 2017 and completed the transaction on February 15, 2018. The sale ended the Meyer family’s 53-year period of ownership. KFMB-TV was separated from the radio stations in March 2020, with Tegna retaining the call sign for the television station. The station subsequently became part of Nexstar’s San Diego group when Nexstar completed its acquisition of Tegna in 2026, according to the supplied reference material. The CW affiliation then moved from KFMB-DT2 to Nexstar-owned KUSI-TV. Throughout its history, KFMB-TV has combined network programming with a substantial local news operation. Its News 8 identity covers local and regional news, weather, traffic, public safety and community issues. The station has also carried San Diego Padres baseball during several periods and served as a principal local outlet for Chargers programming, including preseason games and nationally televised contests subject to local NFL carriage rules.

1. 2026Nexstar ownership begins

   Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tegna, and the CW affiliation later moves to KUSI-TV.

   Source
2. 2020Television and radio operations separate

   Tegna sells the KFMB radio stations while retaining KFMB-TV and the call sign.

   Source
3. 2018Tegna ownership begins

   Tegna completes its $325 million acquisition of the KFMB stations.

   Source
4. 2017CW affiliation moves to KFMB-DT2

   KFMB-DT2 becomes San Diego’s CW outlet and adds local newscasts and syndicated entertainment.

   Source
5. 2011MeTV launches on KFMB-DT2

   The station launches its second digital subchannel with MeTV programming.

   Source
6. 2009Digital transition

   KFMB-TV ends analog broadcasting and relocates its digital transmission to VHF channel 8.

   Source
7. 1964Midwest Television acquisition

   Transcontinent sells KFMB-TV to Midwest Television, beginning a 53-year ownership period.

   Source
8. 1959Marietta merges with Transcontinent

   The San Diego outlets become part of Transcontinent Television Corporation through the merger of the two broadcasting companies.

   Source
9. 1950First ownership transfer

   Jack O. Gross sells KFMB radio and television to John A. Kennedy.

   Source
10. 1949KFMB-TV begins broadcasting

    The station signs on May 16 as San Diego’s first television station and begins its long-standing primary CBS affiliation.

    Source

A locally focused network-affiliated television station combining CBS programming with a substantial San Diego news, weather, traffic and sports operation.

• CBS 8Network-affiliated television service1949

  KFMB-TV’s primary broadcast service carries CBS network programming alongside locally produced news, weather, traffic and public-affairs content. The service is identified on air as CBS 8 and serves San Diego and nearby communities in Southern California and northern Baja California.

• News 8 San DiegoLocal news television

  The station’s local news brand provides regularly scheduled newscasts, breaking-news coverage, weather forecasts, traffic reports and regional public-safety information. News programming has also been produced for KFMB’s digital multicast service.

• KFMB-DT2Digital multicast channel2011

  KFMB’s second digital channel has carried several services over time, including MeTV and The CW. It also carried syndicated entertainment and locally produced newscasts, and added MyNetworkTV as a secondary late-night affiliation in 2018.

• Local sports broadcastsSports television

  KFMB-TV has periodically carried local professional and collegiate sports, including San Diego Padres baseball, Chargers preseason and selected regular-season football coverage, and San Diego State basketball games distributed through CBS sports rights.

• 2026CW affiliation moves to KUSI-TVOther

  Nexstar’s acquisition of Tegna created common ownership of several San Diego television stations.

  What changed. The CW service moved from KFMB-DT2 to Nexstar-owned KUSI-TV.

  Aftermath. KFMB-TV’s programming position returned to a primary CBS service without the CW affiliation on its second channel.

  Source
• 2020Separation of television and radio operationsStrategy

  Tegna owned both KFMB-TV and the associated KFMB radio stations but elected to divest the radio properties.

  What changed. The radio stations were sold to Local Media San Diego, with KFMB radio later transferred to iHeartMedia; Tegna retained exclusive control of the KFMB call sign for television.

  Aftermath. The radio stations changed their call letters, while KFMB-TV continued operating under the historic KFMB identity.

  Source
• 2017Launch of CW service on KFMB-DT2Product launch

  XETV was scheduled to lose its English-language programming and CW affiliation after its owner and CBS failed to reach an agreement to continue the relationship.

  What changed. KFMB moved the CW affiliation to its second digital subchannel, added syndicated programming and introduced additional local newscasts for the service.

  Aftermath. KFMB-DT2 became the San Diego CW outlet and inherited much of the market distribution previously associated with XETV.

  Source

• 2019Former owner implicated in college admissions scandalControversy

  Former KFMB owner Elisabeth Kimmel, a granddaughter of Midwest Television founder August Meyer, was arrested in connection with the nationwide college admissions scandal. The matter concerned alleged efforts to enhance her son’s college admission credentials through fraudulent athletic-recruiting representations; it was an issue involving a former owner rather than an allegation that KFMB-TV itself engaged in misconduct.

  Source

• 2026Nexstar completes Tegna acquisition

  Nexstar acquired Tegna, placing KFMB-TV within Nexstar’s San Diego broadcast group alongside KUSI-TV and KSWB-TV.

  M&A
  Source
• 2020KFMB radio stations separated from television station

  Tegna sold the KFMB radio stations while retaining the KFMB call sign for KFMB-TV; the former radio outlets subsequently adopted different call letters.

  M&A
  Source
• 2018Tegna completes purchase of KFMB stations

  The transaction closed in February 2018, ending more than five decades of ownership by the Meyer family’s Midwest Television.

  M&A
  Source
• 2017Tegna announces acquisition of KFMB stations

  Tegna announced an agreement to acquire KFMB-TV and its associated radio stations from Midwest Television for $325 million.

  M&A
  Source
• 2017KFMB-TV moves CW affiliation from XETV

  KFMB’s second digital channel assumed The CW affiliation after XETV ended its English-language programming operation in the San Diego market.

  OtherProduct launch
  Source

1. KFMB-TV
2. KFMB-TV official website