KLBK-TV

KLBK-TV is a television station licensed to Lubbock, Texas, and affiliated with the CBS television network. It serves viewers in Lubbock and the broader South Plains region of West Texas through over-the-air broadcasting, cable and satellite distribution, digital subchannels, local newscasts, weather coverage, and online video and news services. The station operates on virtual channel 13 and shares facilities on University Avenue in south Lubbock with KAMC, an ABC affiliate operated by Mission Broadcasting under a local marketing arrangement involving Nexstar Media Group. The station began broadcasting on November 13, 1952, as KDUB-TV. It was established by television pioneer W. D. "Dub" Rogers Jr. and became the first commercially licensed television station in a medium-to-small United States market. Rogers subsequently helped launch stations in Abilene, Big Spring, and Clovis, New Mexico. Together, these outlets formed the West Texas Television Network, described in historical accounts as the first regional television network in the United States. During its early years, the station carried more than one network affiliation. It initially offered ABC programming in addition to its principal service and also had a brief association with the DuMont network. In 1969, KSEL-TV, now KAMC, became the area's primary ABC affiliate, leaving KLBK principally aligned with CBS. In 1961, Grayson Enterprises assumed control of the station and changed its call letters from KDUB-TV to KLBK-TV, the identity it has retained since then. Grayson later encountered license-renewal problems involving several stations. Regulatory proceedings and allegations included fraudulent billing, inaccurate program and transmitter logs, deficiencies involving main studios, and failures to complete required technical tests. The resulting proceedings eventually led to a distressed sale and the breakup of Grayson's West Texas holdings. KLBK was subsequently owned by a succession of broadcast companies, including Prima, Woods, Banam Broadcasting, Petracom Broadcasting, and Quorum Broadcasting. Nexstar acquired the station in late 2003 through its purchase of Quorum Broadcasting. KLBK's local identity is centered on news, weather, traffic, community information, and regional reporting. Its news operation covers Lubbock and communities across the South Plains and has produced more than 19 hours of local news content per week. Regular weekday programming has included morning, noon, evening, and late-night newscasts, while weekend schedules have included evening broadcasts. The station has adjusted its lineup over time, including replacing a weekday 5 p.m. newscast with an expanded 6 p.m. edition and later introducing the lifestyle program Trends & Friends. The station completed its transition from analog broadcasting to digital transmission on February 17, 2009. Its digital signal uses UHF channel 40 while retaining virtual channel 13. On June 17, 2013, KLBK began presenting its local newscasts in high definition and introduced new studio sets, updated branding, and a weather-graphics system. The station has also historically used limited overnight sign-offs, with weather-loop programming during periods when its transmitter is off the air. Today, KLBK remains an active local CBS affiliate within Nexstar's U.S. television-station portfolio.

KLBK-TV began operation on November 13, 1952, as KDUB-TV in Lubbock, Texas. Founded by W. D. "Dub" Rogers Jr., it was notable as the first commercially licensed television station established in a medium-to-small United States market. Rogers expanded the concept into a regional group by launching stations in Abilene, Big Spring, and Clovis, New Mexico. These outlets became the West Texas Television Network, an early regional television network. The station's initial programming included CBS service along with secondary ABC programming, and it also carried DuMont programming during the early 1950s. When KSEL-TV became the market's primary ABC affiliate in 1969, KLBK's role became more closely associated with CBS. Grayson Enterprises took control in 1961 and changed the station's call letters from KDUB-TV to KLBK-TV. Grayson ownership later became the subject of repeated license-renewal proceedings. Authorities examined allegations involving billing practices, falsified program and transmitter logs, main-studio compliance, and technical testing. Proceedings occurred across several renewal cycles during the late 1960s and 1970s. The matter was resolved through a distressed-sale structure that divided Grayson's stations among minority-controlled ownership groups at reduced prices. KLBK and KTXS in Abilene were transferred to Prima, Inc., while other stations in the former West Texas network went to different buyers. KLBK subsequently passed through Woods Broadcasting, Banam Broadcasting, Petracom Broadcasting, and Quorum Broadcasting. In 1993, Woods sold KLBK and several other stations to Banam, a BankAmerica subsidiary. Banam sold the station to Petracom in 1995, and Petracom sold it to Quorum in 1998. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired KLBK in late 2003 through its purchase of Quorum Broadcasting, placing the station within the corporate group now known as Nexstar Media Group. The station has maintained a local-news role alongside its CBS network schedule. Its coverage area includes Lubbock and communities across the South Plains. The news department has produced more than 19 hours of local content per week, with programming historically scheduled in the morning, at noon, in the early evening, and at 10 p.m. The station discontinued a weekday 5 p.m. newscast in 2012 and expanded its 6 p.m. broadcast. In 2013 it added Trends & Friends, a half-hour weekday lifestyle program. KLBK ended analog transmission on February 17, 2009, while retaining virtual channel 13 through its digital signal on UHF channel 40. On June 17, 2013, it launched high-definition local newscasts with redesigned sets, updated visual branding, and a new weather-graphics platform. KLBK continues to operate as a Nexstar-owned CBS affiliate, sharing south Lubbock facilities with KAMC under the station-service and local-marketing arrangements described in public station histories.

1. 2013High-definition news launch

   KLBK introduces HD local newscasts, redesigned sets, updated branding, and new weather graphics.

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2. 2009Digital transition

   The station ends analog broadcasting and continues digitally on UHF channel 40 with virtual channel 13.

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3. 2007Branding refresh

   KLBK updates its logo and news set and removes the channel number from its on-air branding.

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4. 2003Nexstar acquisition

   Nexstar acquires KLBK through its purchase of Quorum Broadcasting.

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5. 1998Quorum Broadcasting acquisition

   Quorum Broadcasting acquires the station from Petracom.

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6. 1995Petracom Broadcasting acquisition

   Petracom Broadcasting purchases KLBK from Banam.

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7. 1993Banam Broadcasting acquisition

   Banam Broadcasting acquires KLBK from Woods Broadcasting along with several other stations.

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8. 1969ABC affiliation becomes secondary

   KSEL-TV becomes the local primary ABC affiliate, leaving KLBK principally identified with CBS.

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9. 1961Call letters become KLBK-TV

   Grayson Enterprises assumes ownership and changes the station's call letters to KLBK-TV.

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10. 1952KDUB-TV signs on

    The station begins broadcasting in Lubbock on November 13 as KDUB-TV.

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Local CBS affiliate focused on Lubbock and South Plains news, weather, community information, and network entertainment.

• KLBK local newsLocal television news

  KLBK's local news operation reports on Lubbock and the surrounding South Plains region. Its historical schedule has included weekday morning, noon, 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. newscasts, along with weekend evening broadcasts. Coverage typically combines local reporting, weather, traffic, public-affairs information, and regional stories distributed through broadcast and digital channels.

• CBS network programmingNetwork television programming1952

  As a CBS affiliate, KLBK carries CBS entertainment, news, sports, and other network programming for viewers in its Lubbock-area service region. The CBS affiliation is the station's principal network identity following the market's realignment of ABC affiliations.

• Trends & FriendsLifestyle television2013

  Trends & Friends is a half-hour lifestyle program introduced by KLBK in August 2013. It expanded the station's locally produced offering beyond conventional newscasts and was scheduled on weekday evenings.

• Digital television serviceBroadcast transmission2009

  KLBK's digital service uses UHF channel 40 while retaining virtual channel 13. The station ended its analog signal in February 2009 as part of the United States digital television transition.

• 2013High-definition local-news rolloutProduct launch

  KLBK modernized its local-news presentation and technical infrastructure.

  What changed. The station introduced HD newscasts, new sets, refreshed branding, and a weather-graphics system, while also launching Trends & Friends.

  Aftermath. KLBK expanded and modernized its locally produced programming and on-air presentation.

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• 2009Conversion to digital broadcastingStrategy

  Federal policy required full-power U.S. television stations to transition from analog transmission to digital broadcasting.

  What changed. KLBK shut down its analog VHF channel 13 signal and continued digitally on UHF channel 40 with virtual channel 13.

  Aftermath. The station continued serving viewers under the familiar virtual channel 13 identity.

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• 2003Nexstar purchases Quorum BroadcastingM&A

  KLBK was part of Quorum Broadcasting's station portfolio when Nexstar acquired Quorum.

  What changed. Nexstar took ownership of KLBK-TV through the transaction.

  Aftermath. The station became part of Nexstar's broadcast-station group and remains associated with Nexstar Media Group.

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• 1968Grayson station license-renewal proceedingsControversy

  KLBK was among stations in the Grayson Enterprises group subjected to license-renewal scrutiny. The proceedings involved allegations including fraudulent billing, fabricated program and transmitter logs, main-studio violations, and failures to perform required technical tests. The broader matter ultimately contributed to a distressed sale and breakup of Grayson's stations.

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• 2013KLBK-TV launches high-definition local newscasts

  The station introduced HD newscasts, refreshed sets and branding, and a new weather-graphics system.

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• 2003Nexstar acquires KLBK-TV through Quorum transaction

  Nexstar acquired the station as part of its purchase of Quorum Broadcasting.

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• 1961Station changes call letters to KLBK-TV

  After Grayson Enterprises assumed ownership, the station adopted the KLBK-TV call letters it continues to use.

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• 1952KLBK-TV begins broadcasting as KDUB-TV

  The station signed on in Lubbock on November 13 as KDUB-TV under founder W. D. "Dub" Rogers Jr.

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1. KLBK-TV
2. KLBK-TV official website