KJNB-CD

KJNB-CD is a low-power, Class A television station serving Jonesboro and the wider Northeast Arkansas market. The station operates as a locally based affiliate of Fox and CBS, with additional programming carried on digital subchannels from MeTV and MyNetworkTV. Its main transmitter is located on Highway 91, also known as Southern Avenue, in unincorporated Lawrence County southeast of Walnut Ridge. A translator serving the Jonesboro area extends the station’s practical over-the-air reach. The station signed on June 1, 2015, becoming the Jonesboro market’s second commercial television station after long-established ABC/NBC affiliate KAIT. Before KJNB began broadcasting, Fox programming in Northeast Arkansas was generally received through out-of-market stations from Memphis and was also distributed by cable and satellite providers. Waypoint Media obtained a Fox affiliation by committing to broad market coverage through its signal and carriage on local multichannel systems. This gave the area a locally based Fox outlet for the first time. KJNB added CBS programming on a second digital subchannel on August 1, 2015. The service became the first locally based CBS affiliate in the Jonesboro area, replacing reliance on distant stations such as KTHV in Little Rock, KOLR in Springfield, WREG-TV in Memphis, and KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau. In September 2015, the CBS subchannel was added to the Jonesboro-area Suddenlink cable lineup, although WREG-TV continued to be carried as well. The station’s companion translator evolved from a much older low-power facility that had previously retransmitted Trinity Broadcasting Network programming. After ownership and programming plans changed, the facility was intended to become an NBC outlet under New Moon Communications, but that plan did not materialize. Waypoint Media acquired the facility in 2015 and used it as a satellite and translator for KJNB. It later received authorization for digital operation and was identified as KJNE-LD before being assigned the standard translator call sign K22PF-D in 2026. KJNB expanded its programming portfolio in September 2018 when its third digital subchannel began carrying MeTV, with MyNetworkTV programming on weeknights. The arrangement gives the station a combination of classic television programming and a limited scheduled programming service, with MeTV filling time outside MyNetworkTV’s schedule. A local news operation, branded Northeast Arkansas News, launched on July 17, 2017. The department initially produced approximately seven and a half hours of weekday newscasts each week, including evening broadcasts on the CBS and Fox subchannels. The operation used Jonesboro-based reporters alongside a centralized production model developed by Waypoint Media. In 2019, that centralized operation was branded News Hub. Waypoint Media announced in 2021 that it would sell KJNB and eight other television stations to Coastal Television, a broadcaster based in Cumming, Georgia. The transaction closed on January 4, 2022. KJNB therefore remains a locally focused television brand within a privately held regional broadcasting group, combining network affiliation, syndicated and classic programming, digital distribution, and local news for Northeast Arkansas.

KJNB-CD began broadcasting on June 1, 2015, as a low-power commercial television station serving Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas. It entered a market where KAIT had long been the principal locally based commercial station. Prior to KJNB’s launch, viewers generally received Fox programming from stations in Memphis through over-the-air reception, cable, or satellite distribution. Waypoint Media secured Fox affiliation by committing to coverage across most of the market through a combination of broadcast signal and multichannel carriage. On August 1, 2015, KJNB introduced CBS on its second digital subchannel. This was a significant local-market expansion because CBS programming had previously been supplied by stations located in Little Rock, Springfield, Memphis, or Cape Girardeau. The CBS service was subsequently added to the Jonesboro-area Suddenlink cable lineup. The station also developed a companion facility to improve coverage beyond the main transmitter’s footprint. That companion facility had originated as a low-power translator for the Trinity Broadcasting Network. After TBN discontinued many low-power repeaters amid financial difficulties in 2010, the facility was donated to the Minority Media and Television Council and later sold to New Moon Communications. New Moon intended to convert it into an NBC affiliate, changing its call sign to KJNE-LP in 2011. The NBC plan was ultimately undermined by KAIT’s decision to add NBC programming to a subchannel in January 2015. Waypoint acquired the facility in 2015 and instead used it as a satellite and translator for KJNB. It later operated digitally as KJNE-LD and was assigned the translator call sign K22PF-D in 2026 following a regulatory change concerning translator call signs. KJNB expanded its network and syndicated portfolio in 2018. On September 3 of that year, its third digital subchannel began carrying MeTV and MyNetworkTV. MeTV supplied the majority of the schedule, while MyNetworkTV programming aired on weeknights, providing a combined classic-television and limited network-service offering. The station established a local news department on July 17, 2017, under the name Northeast Arkansas News. Its initial weekday schedule included evening newscasts on the CBS service at 6 and 10 p.m. and a 9 p.m. broadcast on the Fox service. The department combined Jonesboro-based reporting with production support from Waypoint Media’s centralized facilities. The centralized operation was later known as News Hub, and it also supported news production for other Waypoint stations. In July 2021, Waypoint announced the sale of nine stations, including KJNB and its companion facility, to Coastal Television Broadcasting Company. The transaction closed on January 4, 2022. KJNB now operates within Coastal Television’s privately held station group while retaining its Northeast Arkansas service area and multi-network programming structure.

1. 2026Companion translator receives standard call sign

   The FCC changes the companion facility’s call sign from KJNE-LD to K22PF-D under a rule requiring standard translator call signs.

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2. 2022Coastal Television ownership begins

   The acquisition closes on January 4, bringing KJNB into Coastal Television’s station group.

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3. 2021Sale to Coastal Television announced

   Waypoint Media announces the planned sale of KJNB and eight other stations to Coastal Television.

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4. 2018MeTV and MyNetworkTV added

   The third digital subchannel begins carrying MeTV and weeknight MyNetworkTV programming.

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5. 2017Digital operation authorized for companion facility

   The companion station receives its digital-operation license and uses the KJNE-LD call sign.

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6. 2017Local news department launches

   Northeast Arkansas News begins weekday evening broadcasts on the station’s Fox and CBS services.

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7. 2015KJNB signs on

   The station begins broadcasting on June 1 as a locally based Fox affiliate serving Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas.

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8. 2015CBS launches on digital subchannel

   KJNB adds CBS on its second digital subchannel on August 1.

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A locally based, multi-network television station serving Northeast Arkansas, differentiated by combining Fox, CBS, MeTV, MyNetworkTV, and local news in a market historically dependent on distant network affiliates.

• Fox serviceBroadcast television network affiliation2015

  KJNB’s primary service carries Fox network programming for Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas. The affiliation gave the market a locally based Fox outlet after viewers had relied on stations from Memphis and other surrounding markets. The service also carries the station’s 9 p.m. local newscast.

• CBS serviceBroadcast television network affiliation2015

  The CBS service operates on KJNB’s second digital subchannel and began in August 2015. It provides locally distributed CBS programming to a market previously served primarily by distant affiliates from Little Rock, Springfield, Memphis, and Cape Girardeau. The subchannel also carries evening local news.

• MeTV and MyNetworkTV serviceDigital multicast television2018

  KJNB’s third digital subchannel combines MeTV’s classic television schedule with MyNetworkTV programming on weeknights. MeTV fills the remaining time outside the MyNetworkTV schedule, allowing the station to provide both an established classic-programming format and a limited network service.

• Northeast Arkansas NewsLocal television news2017

  The station’s local news operation launched in 2017 with weekday evening broadcasts on the CBS and Fox services. Production involved Jonesboro-based reporters and centralized support from Waypoint Media’s News Hub operation.

• 2021Sale from Waypoint Media to Coastal TelevisionM&A

  Waypoint Media announced a portfolio transaction involving nine television stations, including KJNB and its companion facility.

  What changed. Waypoint agreed to sell the stations to Coastal Television Broadcasting Company LLC.

  Aftermath. The transaction closed in January 2022 and placed KJNB under Coastal Television ownership.

  Reported portfolio purchase price. $36.9 million (Announced July 2021; transaction closed January 4, 2022)

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• 2018Addition of MeTV and MyNetworkTVProduct launch

  The station had additional digital capacity and sought to broaden its programming portfolio beyond its Fox and CBS services.

  What changed. KJNB added MeTV and MyNetworkTV to its third digital subchannel, with MyNetworkTV airing on weeknights and MeTV filling other periods.

  Aftermath. KJNB became the Jonesboro market outlet for both programming services.

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• 2015Launch of locally based Fox and CBS servicesProduct launch

  Northeast Arkansas had previously depended largely on out-of-market stations for Fox and CBS programming. Waypoint Media sought to establish a locally based commercial television presence in Jonesboro.

  What changed. KJNB signed on with Fox programming in June and added CBS to a second digital subchannel in August.

  Aftermath. The station became the Jonesboro market’s second commercial television station and its first locally based CBS affiliate.

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• 2022Coastal Television completes acquisition of KJNB

  Coastal Television completed its acquisition of KJNB and eight other Waypoint Media television stations.

  M&A
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• 2018MeTV and MyNetworkTV added to KJNB’s third subchannel

  The station began carrying MeTV and weeknight MyNetworkTV programming on its third digital subchannel.

  Product launch
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• 2017KJNB launches Northeast Arkansas News

  KJNB introduced weekday local newscasts on its CBS and Fox services under the Northeast Arkansas News brand.

  Product launch
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• 2015KJNB begins Fox broadcasting in Northeast Arkansas

  KJNB signed on as a locally based Fox affiliate, expanding locally originated commercial television choices in the Jonesboro market.

  Product launch
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• 2015CBS added as KJNB digital subchannel

  The station launched CBS service on its second digital subchannel, creating the Jonesboro area’s first locally based CBS affiliation.

  Product launch
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1. KJNB-CD
2. KJNB-TV official website