KFSM-TV

KFSM-TV is a television station licensed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and serving the Fort Smith–Fayetteville market across western and northwestern Arkansas and portions of eastern Oklahoma. The station is affiliated with CBS and operates under the 5NEWS branding. Its principal studio is in Johnson, near Fayetteville and Springdale, while its primary transmitter is located northwest of Winslow, Arkansas. The station’s coverage area extends across a geographically broad and partly mountainous eleven-county, two-state region. The station began broadcasting on July 9, 1953, as KFSA-TV on ultra-high-frequency channel 22. It was established by Donrey Media Group, the company associated with publisher Donald W. Reynolds, alongside KFSA radio and Fort Smith newspapers including the Southwest American and the Times Record. The original station carried programming from NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont, although it operated primarily as an NBC affiliate. Its early programming depended heavily on kinescopes and locally produced live material because network live feeds did not initially reach the Fort Smith area. Local performers, Camp Chaffee programming, live commercials, and radio personalities formed much of the station’s early identity. The station’s early UHF signal was disadvantaged by the market’s size, rugged terrain, and the limited availability and high cost of UHF converters. A competing VHF station, KNAC-TV, began broadcasting on channel 5 from Van Buren in 1956 as a primary CBS affiliate. The two stations struggled to divide a market that could not economically support both operations. In 1958, they agreed to merge. KFSA-TV ceased operating on channel 22 on August 16, 1958, and the combined operation used the stronger channel 5 facility. After regulatory and ownership formalities were completed, the channel 5 station returned to the KFSA-TV call sign in January 1959. The station developed a dedicated news department in the early 1960s, after initially relying on reports from Donrey’s newspapers. In 1973, following federal restrictions on common ownership of newspapers and broadcast outlets, the Fort Smith Donrey cluster was sold. Buford Television acquired the channel 5 operation on May 31, 1973, and renamed it KFSM-TV, using the airport code associated with Fort Smith Regional Airport. The New York Times Company purchased the station in 1979, and its broadcasting division later became part of Local TV in 2007 and Tribune Broadcasting in 2013. KFSM’s network affiliations changed as the Fort Smith market developed. It lost CBS when KFPW-TV, now KHBS, began broadcasting in 1971, and later lost ABC. In 1980, KFSM exchanged affiliations with KLMN-TV, now KFTA-TV, and became a CBS affiliate again. That affiliation has continued. The station also expanded its digital presence, adding MyNetworkTV programming to a digital subchannel in 2009 and participating in the market’s changing collection of digital multicast services. Corporate ownership became especially significant in the late 2010s. Sinclair Broadcast Group’s proposed acquisition of Tribune Media was terminated after regulatory scrutiny and litigation. Nexstar subsequently agreed to acquire Tribune, but because Nexstar already owned KNWA-TV and KFTA-TV in the market, KFSM was divested to Tegna. That transaction closed in September 2019. KFSM moved most operations from its historic Fort Smith facility to a new Johnson studio in June 2019, reflecting the population shift toward Northwest Arkansas and the station’s broad regional service area. The former Fort Smith studio was later sold at auction in 2024. KFSM remains a local broadcast and news brand centered on CBS programming, regional newscasts, weather coverage, severe-weather reporting, digital video, and community information. Its identity has been shaped by its long history as the market’s principal VHF station, its 5NEWS news brand, and its role in covering major events such as the April 1996 tornado outbreak. The statio…

KFSM-TV traces its roots to KFSA-TV, which began broadcasting from Fort Smith on July 9, 1953, using channel 22. Donrey Media Group owned the station alongside KFSA radio and the company’s Fort Smith newspapers. Its early service combined network programming with local live productions, kinescope recordings, and advertisements performed in real time. Because live network feeds did not initially reach western Arkansas, the station later used a microwave relay from Mount Magazine to connect with programming originating through Little Rock. The station faced structural disadvantages. Fort Smith’s market was large and mountainous, while UHF reception was limited and required special converters. In 1956, KNAC-TV began operating on the more favorable VHF channel 5 from Van Buren as a CBS affiliate. The two stations competed for a limited advertising base until their owners negotiated a merger. KFSA-TV left channel 22 on August 16, 1958, and the combined operation used KNAC’s channel 5 facilities. After the license transaction closed in January 1959, the station again used the KFSA-TV call letters. KFSA/KFSM initially depended on Donrey newspaper resources for news. A dedicated news department was established by 1964 under news director Cliff Walker. The station later experienced a series of ownership and affiliation changes. Federal limits on combined newspaper and broadcast ownership forced the sale of the Fort Smith Donrey properties in 1973. Buford Television acquired channel 5 and changed its call sign to KFSM-TV. The New York Times Company purchased the station in 1979, followed by Local TV in 2007 and Tribune Broadcasting in 2013. Network affiliations also evolved. KFSM lost CBS to KFPW-TV in 1971 and lost ABC in 1978. In 1980 it swapped affiliations with KLMN-TV and returned to CBS, which remains its principal network relationship. Digital broadcasting expanded the station’s services through multicast channels, including MyNetworkTV on KFSM-DT2 beginning in 2009. Related operations later involved KXNW, which became associated with KFSM after the former KPBI operation was acquired under a failing-station waiver and received new call letters. The station’s corporate history entered another transition after Sinclair Broadcast Group’s proposed purchase of Tribune Media collapsed amid regulatory scrutiny and litigation. Nexstar then acquired Tribune, but divested KFSM to Tegna because Nexstar already owned other major stations in the market. The transfer closed on September 19, 2019. Earlier that year, KFSM moved its principal operations to a new Johnson studio, reflecting the growth of Fayetteville and Springdale and the geographic center of its coverage area. The station continues to operate as a CBS affiliate and regional news provider under the 5NEWS identity.

1. 2019Main studio moves to Johnson

   The station relocates its principal operations to a new facility near Fayetteville and Springdale.

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2. 2019Tegna acquisition closes

   KFSM is transferred to Tegna as part of the regulatory divestitures related to Nexstar’s Tribune acquisition.

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3. 2013Tribune Broadcasting acquisition closes

   KFSM becomes part of Tribune Broadcasting through its purchase of Local TV.

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4. 2009MyNetworkTV added to digital subchannel

   KFSM expands its digital multicast programming.

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5. 2007Broadcasting division sold to Local TV

   The New York Times Company sells KFSM and its other television stations to Local TV.

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6. 1980KFSM becomes a CBS affiliate

   The station exchanges affiliations with KLMN-TV and resumes CBS service.

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7. 1979The New York Times Company acquires the station

   KFSM becomes part of The New York Times Company’s broadcasting division.

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8. 1973Call sign changes to KFSM-TV

   Buford Television acquires the station and introduces the KFSM-TV identity.

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9. 1964Dedicated news department established

   Cliff Walker becomes the station’s first news director.

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10. 1958Channel 22 operation ends

    KFSA-TV shuts down its original UHF operation as part of the merger with KNAC-TV.

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11. 1956KNAC-TV launches on channel 5

    A competing VHF CBS station begins serving the Fort Smith area from Van Buren.

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12. 1953KFSA-TV signs on

    The station begins broadcasting on UHF channel 22 from Fort Smith.

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A long-established regional CBS broadcaster and local-news provider for western Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas, and nearby Oklahoma communities.

• 5NEWSLocal television news

  KFSM’s local-news identity covers regional politics, public affairs, breaking news, weather, traffic, consumer issues, and community events across western and northwestern Arkansas. The station broadcasts an extensive weekly schedule of local news and distributes related reporting through its website, mobile application, and digital video channels.

• CBS programmingNetwork television1980

  As the market’s CBS affiliate, KFSM carries the network’s entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming, supplemented by locally produced newscasts and public-service content.

• Digital multicast servicesDigital television2009

  KFSM has used its digital subchannels for additional programming, including MyNetworkTV and, at different times, news repeats, syndicated programming, and Antenna TV-related services.

• 1996Sunday's Fury

  Fort Smith, Arkansas · Western Arkansas

  Following the April 1996 tornado outbreak and the destruction and damage in historic downtown Fort Smith, KFSM produced a documentary examining the storm and its consequences.

  Outcome. The documentary extended the station’s severe-weather coverage beyond the immediate news reports.

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• 2019Relocate the principal studio to JohnsonStrategy

  Population growth had shifted toward Fayetteville, Springdale, and surrounding Northwest Arkansas, while the station served a broad regional footprint.

  What changed. KFSM moved most operations to a newly built Johnson facility and retained no permanent primary studio in its former Fort Smith location.

  Aftermath. The relocation placed the station closer to the population center of its coverage area while preserving its Fort Smith market identity.

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• 2019Divest KFSM to TegnaM&A

  Nexstar’s planned acquisition of Tribune conflicted with its existing ownership of other major stations in the same market.

  What changed. KFSM was sold to Tegna as part of a broader set of regulatory divestitures.

  Aftermath. Tegna became KFSM’s direct corporate owner while Nexstar retained other stations in the market.

  Aggregate value of related divestiture transactions. $1.32 billion (Announced 2019)

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• 1980Return to CBS affiliationStrategy

  CBS was seeking stronger affiliations in the Fort Smith market after earlier affiliation changes.

  What changed. KFSM exchanged affiliations with KLMN-TV and became a CBS affiliate.

  Aftermath. CBS affiliation became a defining part of KFSM’s long-term market identity.

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• 1958Merge KFSA-TV with KNAC-TVM&A

  The Fort Smith market could not readily support two competing commercial stations, and KFSA-TV’s UHF signal faced substantial coverage limitations.

  What changed. KFSA-TV ended its channel 22 operation and combined with KNAC-TV’s stronger channel 5 facility.

  Aftermath. The merged station became the market’s principal commercial VHF broadcaster and later resumed the KFSA-TV call sign.

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• 2021Garrett Lewis leaves KFSM

  The station’s chief meteorologist departs after two decades to pursue work in finance and community relations.

  Leadership change
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• 2019KFSM moves its main studio to Johnson

  Most operations move from the historic Fort Smith facility to a newly built studio in Johnson, closer to the population center of the station’s service area.

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• 2019Tegna completes acquisition of KFSM from Tribune successor Nexstar

  KFSM is divested to Tegna as part of the regulatory restructuring accompanying Nexstar’s acquisition of Tribune Media.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2013Local TV agrees to sell its stations to Tribune Broadcasting

  Tribune announces the acquisition of Local TV, bringing KFSM and related operations into the Tribune station portfolio after completion of the transaction.

  M&A
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• 2009KFSM adds MyNetworkTV to a digital subchannel

  The station expands its digital multicast offering by placing MyNetworkTV programming on its second digital subchannel.

  Product launch
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• 1980KFSM returns to CBS affiliation

  KFSM exchanges network affiliations with KLMN-TV and resumes its long-running role as the market’s CBS affiliate.

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• 1973Station adopts the KFSM-TV call sign

  After the Fort Smith Donrey newspaper-broadcasting cluster is sold because of federal ownership restrictions, the channel 5 station is renamed KFSM-TV.

  Leadership changeOther
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• 1958KFSA-TV and KNAC-TV merge their operations

  The two Fort Smith-area stations combine after competition and the limitations of the original UHF facility make separate operations difficult to sustain.

  M&A
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• 1953KFSA-TV begins broadcasting on channel 22

  The station signs on as KFSA-TV, initially operating primarily as an NBC affiliate while also carrying programming from other major networks.

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1. KFSM-TV
2. KFSM-TV official website