KOIN

KOIN is television station KOIN, channel 6, a CBS affiliate based in Portland, Oregon. The station serves the Portland metropolitan area and viewers in neighboring parts of Oregon and southwestern Washington. Its operations are centered in downtown Portland, where KOIN and sister station KRCW-TV share facilities in the KOIN Center skyscraper; the station’s transmission facilities are in Portland’s Sylvan-Highlands neighborhood. KOIN’s core output consists of CBS network programming, locally produced news, weather and sports coverage, syndicated programming, digital content, and community-oriented features. The KOIN identity predates the television station. A Portland radio station began broadcasting in 1925 under the call sign KQP and adopted the KOIN call sign in 1926. It joined the Columbia Broadcasting System radio network in 1929 and became one of Portland’s major radio outlets during the network-radio era. The radio operation carried nationally distributed CBS programs while also producing local music and public-affairs programming. KOIN-FM was added in 1948. The radio properties were sold in 1977, after which their call signs changed and their CBS affiliation ended, but the KOIN name continued on television. KOIN-TV began broadcasting on October 15, 1953, as Portland’s first VHF television station. It launched as a CBS affiliate, maintaining a primary CBS relationship throughout its television history. Early ownership combined Mount Hood Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation, Newhouse Broadcasting, local investors and Marshall Field interests. The station also inherited the KOIN call letters from the radio operation. KOIN transmitted its first color program in 1954 and developed a schedule that included local public-affairs, lifestyle and agricultural programming in addition to network television. The station experienced a major technical crisis in February 1971, when ice and wind caused its principal and auxiliary transmission towers to collapse. KOIN-TV returned to the air after nine days using a temporary tower. KOIN later expanded its local identity through programs such as KOIN Kitchen, RFD 6, Hi! Neighbor, News Conference Six and Northwest Illustrated. It also became closely associated with Portland Trail Blazers coverage: the station served as the team’s first radio-network flagship and televised selected games beginning in the 1970s. Ownership changed repeatedly from the late 1970s onward. Lee Enterprises acquired KOIN-TV in 1977, its television group was purchased by Emmis Communications in 2000, and Montecito Broadcast Group acquired the station in 2006. Montecito sold its stations to New Vision Television in 2007. LIN Media acquired KOIN in 2012, and Media General acquired LIN in 2014. Nexstar Broadcasting Group then acquired Media General, making KOIN part of Nexstar in 2016 and giving Nexstar its first Oregon station. Following Nexstar’s acquisition of Tribune Media in 2019, KOIN became co-owned with Portland CW affiliate KRCW-TV. KOIN has invested in local news production and technical upgrades. It introduced widescreen-standard-definition local newscasts in 2007 and moved to fully high-definition local news in 2010. The station has offered extensive weekday and weekend newscasts, along with local lifestyle and community features. Its current positioning combines the reach and program inventory of CBS with a Portland-focused news operation and digital publishing platform. KOIN remains an active local broadcast brand under Nexstar ownership.

KOIN’s history began in radio. The station signed on in Portland on November 9, 1925, as KQP and adopted the KOIN call sign in April 1926. It became a CBS radio affiliate in 1929 and carried network programs alongside locally produced music, public-affairs and entertainment shows. KOIN-FM launched in 1948. Both radio stations changed ownership several times before being sold to Gaylord Broadcasting in 1977; their call signs were changed and the CBS radio relationship ended. KOIN-TV launched on October 15, 1953, as Portland’s first VHF television station. It adopted the CBS Television Network affiliation held by the earlier radio operation, and channel 6 has remained a primary CBS outlet in Portland. Initial ownership involved Mount Hood Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation, Newhouse Broadcasting, local investors and Marshall Field interests. The station made its first color broadcast in August 1954 and developed a schedule that mixed CBS programming with locally produced public-affairs and lifestyle shows. A defining early event occurred on February 27, 1971, when severe ice and wind caused KOIN’s principal and auxiliary transmitter towers to collapse. The station was off the air for nine days and resumed broadcasting from a temporary tower erected at the site. During the 1970s KOIN expanded its local programming and sports role, carrying Portland Trail Blazers games and serving as the team’s first radio-network flagship. The television station moved into the KOIN Center in downtown Portland, which remains associated with its operations. Lee Enterprises purchased KOIN-TV in 1977. The station later passed to Emmis Communications in 2000, Montecito Broadcast Group in 2006, New Vision Television in 2007, LIN Media in 2012 and Media General in 2014. These transactions reflected the consolidation of American local television ownership. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired Media General in 2016, bringing KOIN into the Nexstar portfolio. Nexstar subsequently acquired Tribune Media in 2019, adding KRCW-TV to the Portland station group. KOIN’s news operation underwent several format and technology changes. The station introduced widescreen-standard-definition local newscasts in 2007 and fully high-definition local news in 2010. It launched Keep It Local in 2009 as a weekday community and neighborhood program, later reworking it as Studio 6. The station has continued to emphasize local news, weather, traffic, public affairs and digital reporting while carrying CBS network programming. KOIN’s transmitter remains in the Sylvan-Highlands area, and its downtown facilities are shared with KRCW-TV.

1. 2019KRCW joins the Nexstar Portland group

   Nexstar completes its Tribune Media acquisition, bringing KRCW-TV into the same local ownership group as KOIN.

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2. 2016Nexstar ownership begins

   Nexstar acquires Media General, placing KOIN in the Nexstar station group.

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3. 2014Media General acquisition of LIN

   KOIN becomes part of Media General after that company acquires LIN Media.

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4. 2012LIN Media acquisition

   LIN Media completes its acquisition of KOIN and the other New Vision stations.

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5. 2010High-definition news launched

   KOIN upgrades its local news operation to high definition across studio, weather and field elements.

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6. 2009Keep It Local launches

   KOIN introduces a weekday program focused on Portland neighborhoods and events.

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7. 2007New Vision ownership begins

   New Vision Television completes its acquisition of Montecito’s stations, including KOIN.

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8. 2007Widescreen local news introduced

   KOIN becomes the first Portland station to present local newscasts in 16:9 widescreen standard definition.

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9. 2006Montecito Broadcast Group acquisition

   Montecito acquires KOIN and several other stations from Emmis.

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10. 2000Emmis acquires Lee television group

    KOIN becomes part of Emmis Communications’ television holdings.

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11. 1992Television suffix dropped

    The station drops the “-TV” suffix from its call sign.

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12. 1977Lee Enterprises acquires KOIN-TV

    KOIN-TV changes ownership from the Mount Hood-Newhouse group to Lee Enterprises.

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13. 1971Transmission towers collapse

    Ice and wind bring down the station’s principal and auxiliary towers; a temporary tower restores service nine days later.

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14. 1954First color broadcast

    KOIN transmits its first color television program.

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15. 1953Television station launches

    KOIN-TV begins broadcasting on channel 6 as Portland’s first VHF television station and a CBS affiliate.

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16. 1929CBS radio affiliation begins

    KOIN becomes a local affiliate of the Columbia Broadcasting System radio network.

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17. 1926KOIN call sign adopted

    The radio station changes its call sign from KQP to KOIN.

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18. 1925Radio predecessor signs on

    The Portland radio station that preceded the modern KOIN identity begins broadcasting as KQP.

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Portland-focused CBS network affiliate combining local news, weather, sports, community reporting and national television programming.

• KOIN NewsLocal television news1953

  KOIN’s local news service covers Portland and the surrounding region through scheduled broadcasts, breaking-news reports, investigations, weather, traffic and sports. It is the station’s principal locally produced offering and complements CBS network programming.

• Local weather and traffic coverageBroadcast information service1953

  Weather and traffic reporting forms a recurring part of KOIN’s local broadcasts and digital output, with information tailored to Portland and the wider Oregon and southwestern Washington viewing area.

• Keep It Local / Studio 6Lifestyle and community programming2009

  Keep It Local debuted in 2009 as a weekday program about Portland neighborhoods, events and local activity. In 2010 the format was revised as Studio 6, a product and lifestyle magazine program.

• CBS network programmingNetwork television1953

  As a primary CBS affiliate, KOIN carries CBS entertainment, news, daytime, sports and special-event programming for the Portland market. The affiliation has been central to the station’s television identity since its 1953 launch.

• 2010Transition to high-definition local newsGeneration change

  Local television stations were upgrading their production and transmission workflows as high-definition broadcasting became standard.

  What changed. KOIN began presenting local newscasts in high definition, including studio, weather and field-reporting elements.

  Aftermath. KOIN became the third Portland station to offer HD local newscasts and the first in the market to use the format throughout its news operation.

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• 2009Launch of Keep It LocalProduct launch

  KOIN sought to strengthen its locally focused schedule with a weekday program centered on Portland neighborhoods and events.

  What changed. The station launched Keep It Local, later reformatting it as Studio 6.

  Aftermath. The revised format continued KOIN’s lifestyle and community-programming strategy.

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• 2019Nexstar completes Tribune Media acquisition

  The transaction brought Portland CW affiliate KRCW-TV into the Nexstar group alongside KOIN, creating a local station combination.

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• 2016Nexstar acquires Media General

  Nexstar’s acquisition of Media General placed KOIN under Nexstar ownership and made it Nexstar’s first station in Oregon.

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• 2010KOIN moves local newscasts to high definition

  KOIN began broadcasting local news in high definition, including studio, weather and field-reporting elements, becoming the third Portland television station to make the transition.

  Product generation
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• 2009KOIN launches Keep It Local

  KOIN introduced a weekday local program focused on Portland neighborhoods, events and community activity. The format was later revised as Studio 6.

  Product launch
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• 2008KOIN transmitter guy-wire failure prompts evacuation

  After a guy-wire component failed during a winter storm, authorities evacuated nearby residents and closed surrounding roads. Repairs were completed the following day, and the station’s owner paid an FCC fine for equipment neglect.

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• 1971KOIN transmission towers collapse during ice and wind storm

  The station’s main and auxiliary television transmission towers collapsed on February 27, 1971. KOIN returned to the air nine days later using a temporary tower.

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• 1953KOIN-TV begins broadcasting in Portland

  KOIN-TV signed on October 15, 1953, as a VHF station and CBS affiliate, extending the established KOIN broadcasting identity from radio into television.

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1. KOIN
2. KOIN official website