KVAL-TV

KVAL-TV is a television station serving Eugene and the wider west-central Oregon market. Broadcasting on virtual and VHF channel 13, it is affiliated with CBS and operates from studios on Blanton Road in Eugene. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and operates alongside KMTR, a separately branded NBC/CW+ station in the same market. KVAL also provides programming and operational support for co-owned semi-satellite stations KCBY-TV in Coos Bay and KPIC in Roseburg, extending the broader station group’s news and network coverage across southern and coastal Oregon. The station began broadcasting on April 15, 1954, under local ownership by Eugene Television. Its original schedule carried programming from all three major American television networks, although NBC was its principal affiliation. The competitive environment changed after KEZI began broadcasting in 1960, taking CBS and ABC programming in the Eugene market. KVAL subsequently developed a long-term relationship with NBC before gradually shifting toward CBS programming in the late 1970s. The change reflected national network fortunes: as NBC weakened in the ratings, KVAL began carrying a limited CBS schedule in 1978 and increased that programming over the following four years. When KMTR launched in 1982 and took the NBC affiliation, KVAL formally became a CBS affiliate. KVAL’s ownership history has included several regional and national broadcasters. Eugene Television acquired KBCI-TV in Boise, Idaho, in 1975 and adopted the name Northwest Television. Retlaw Enterprises acquired KVAL in 1996, and Fisher Communications purchased Retlaw’s entire broadcasting division, including KVAL, in 1998. Fisher announced the sale of its television properties to Sinclair Broadcast Group in 2013; the transaction closed on August 8 of that year. The station therefore became part of Sinclair’s larger portfolio of local broadcast outlets while retaining its Eugene identity and CBS affiliation. Local news has remained central to KVAL’s brand. The station produced news under the Northwest News name for many years, later adopting the KVAL News branding and the slogan “First, Fair, Accurate.” It launched a locally produced late-evening newscast for Fox affiliate KLSR-TV in 2005. That program underwent several title and presentation changes, including Fox News @ 10 for weekday broadcasts and KVAL News @ 10 on Fox for weekend repeats. KVAL expanded its morning news schedule in 2007 and later incorporated content from the KCBY and KPIC news operations. In 2012, the three news departments were consolidated under KVAL’s news director, while the two semi-satellites continued to air localized inserts and weather segments for their own communities. The station has also developed sports programming connected with Oregon’s college-sports audience. In 2000, it introduced Inside the Pac, a locally produced program covering sports associated with the Pac-12 and the University of Oregon and Oregon State University markets. KVAL’s over-the-air distribution has evolved with television technology: it ended regular analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, and moved its digital signal to VHF channel 13. In February 2020, it introduced a new studio set and became the second Eugene station to present local newscasts in high definition. Beginning in 2024, KVAL’s second digital subchannel was designated to carry Portland Trail Blazers games through Sinclair’s Rip City Television Network arrangement, with related distribution planned for KCBY and KPIC. KVAL is primarily a local news, network-affiliate, sports, weather, and community-information brand rather than a product brand sold directly to consumers. Its value proposition is built around regional coverage, CBS network programming, free over-the-air distribution, and coordinated news service across Eugene, the coast, and the Umpqua Valley. The station’s public profile has also been shaped by former employees who later entered Oregon politics, includi…

KVAL-TV began broadcasting in Eugene, Oregon, on April 15, 1954. Eugene Television launched the station as a locally owned outlet with programming from NBC, CBS, and ABC, although NBC was its principal network relationship. The Eugene television market changed in 1960 when KEZI signed on and acquired the local CBS and ABC affiliations. KVAL continued operating as a primarily NBC-oriented station for the next several years. In 1975, Eugene Television purchased KBCI-TV in Boise, Idaho, and changed its corporate name to Northwest Television. KVAL’s network mix began shifting in the late 1970s. In the summer of 1978, during a period when NBC was performing poorly in national ratings, KVAL began carrying approximately five hours of CBS programming each week. The station expanded CBS carriage progressively over the next four years. When KMTR launched in 1982 and became the Eugene market’s NBC affiliate, KVAL completed its transition to CBS. Retlaw Enterprises purchased KVAL in 1996. Retlaw was controlled by relatives of Walt Disney, and its name was derived by reversing the spelling of “Walter.” Fisher Communications acquired Retlaw’s entire broadcasting division in 1998, bringing KVAL into Fisher’s regional station group. During this period, KVAL maintained its CBS affiliation and developed a substantial local-news operation serving Eugene and surrounding communities. The station expanded its programming role in the market during the 2000s. In September 2000, it launched Inside the Pac, a sports program focused on Pac-12 athletics and the University of Oregon and Oregon State University audiences. In December 2005, KVAL began producing a late-evening newscast for Fox affiliate KLSR-TV. Initially called Northwest News at 10 on Fox, the program received a new presentation in 2007 and was later branded Fox News @ 10 for live weekday broadcasts and KVAL News @ 10 on Fox for weekend repeats. KVAL also expanded its morning news schedule to begin at 5 a.m. in 2007. In 2008, the station recruited former KEZI morning anchor Al Peterson and adopted a graphics package emphasizing its CBS relationship. It also retired the long-running Northwest News name in favor of KVAL News and introduced the slogan “First, Fair, Accurate.” On May 10, 2010, KVAL launched a new studio set and began broadcasting its newscasts in a 16:9 widescreen format. KVAL’s regional news structure changed in spring 2012, when the news departments of co-owned KCBY-TV in Coos Bay and KPIC in Roseburg were merged into the KVAL news department. The consolidation placed the three stations under one news director while preserving localized inserts for the coastal and Umpqua Valley audiences. KCBY and KPIC continued to produce brief local segments and weather updates, and material from those communities could be incorporated into Eugene-area newscasts during major breaking-news or severe-weather events. Fisher announced in April 2013 that it would sell KVAL, KCBY, KPIC, and its other broadcasting properties to Sinclair Broadcast Group. The sale closed on August 8, 2013. KVAL subsequently operated as a Sinclair-owned CBS affiliate, sharing Eugene facilities and certain operations with KMTR. KMTR’s master control and some internal functions were based at the KVAL studios, while the two stations continued to use distinct network and local-news identities. KVAL completed the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television on June 12, 2009. Its digital signal moved from pre-transition UHF channel 25 to VHF channel 13. The station continued to serve viewers through its main signal, translators, and its relationship with KCBY and KPIC. On February 26, 2020, KVAL introduced another new studio set and became the second Eugene station to broadcast local news in high definition. In 2024, Sinclair announced that it would launch the Rip City Television Network to distribute Portland Trail Blazers games over the air. KVAL’s second digital subchannel was selected for Eugene-area broadcasts, with corresponding distribution through KCBY’s and KPIC’s second subchannels. In 2025, Sinclair announced plans to acquire full ownership of KMTR and its satellites from Roberts Media. The transaction, completed on February 10, 2026, created a legal duopoly between KMTR and KVAL using a failing-station waiver. KVAL remains a CBS-affiliated local station whose core activities are regional journalism, network programming, weather, sports, and advertising-supported broadcasting.

1. 2026Sinclair completes KMTR acquisition

   Sinclair completed the purchase of full ownership of KMTR and its satellites, creating a legal duopoly with KVAL.

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2. 2024Rip City Television Network distribution announced

   KVAL’s second subchannel was selected to carry Portland Trail Blazers games through Sinclair’s Rip City Television Network.

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3. 2020KVAL launches an HD news set

   The station introduced a new set and began broadcasting local news in high definition.

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4. 2013Sinclair acquisition closes

   Sinclair Broadcast Group completed its acquisition of KVAL and related Fisher stations on August 8.

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5. 2012Regional news departments are consolidated

   KCBY and KPIC news operations were merged into the KVAL news department while retaining localized inserts.

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6. 2005KVAL begins producing a Fox late-news program

   The station launched Northwest News at 10 on Fox for Eugene Fox affiliate KLSR-TV.

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7. 2000Inside the Pac launches

   KVAL introduced an original sports program focused on Pac-12 athletics and regional college-sports interest.

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8. 1998Fisher Communications acquires Retlaw broadcasting assets

   Fisher Communications bought Retlaw’s broadcasting division, including KVAL.

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9. 1996Retlaw Enterprises acquires KVAL

   Retlaw Enterprises purchased the station from its previous ownership.

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10. 1982KVAL becomes a CBS affiliate

    After KMTR launched as the Eugene market’s NBC station, KVAL formally switched to CBS.

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11. 1978KVAL begins expanding CBS programming

    KVAL began carrying a limited CBS schedule and gradually increased the network’s presence over the following four years.

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12. 1975Owner adopts Northwest Television name

    Eugene Television acquired Boise station KBCI-TV and changed its corporate name to Northwest Television.

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13. 1960KEZI changes the Eugene network landscape

    KEZI signed on in Eugene and took CBS and ABC programming, leaving KVAL primarily associated with NBC.

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14. 1954KVAL-TV begins broadcasting

    Eugene Television launched KVAL-TV in Eugene on April 15 as a locally owned station carrying programming from all three major networks, with NBC as its principal affiliation.

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A locally focused CBS network affiliate combining Eugene-area journalism with coordinated regional coverage for west-central Oregon.

• KVAL NewsLocal television news2008

  KVAL’s primary local-news service, covering Eugene and surrounding areas with local reporting, weather, breaking news, and regional stories. The service replaced the station’s long-running Northwest News branding in 2008 and uses the positioning line “First, Fair, Accurate.”

• CBS programmingNetwork-affiliate television1982

  KVAL’s principal network offering since its formal affiliation switch in 1982. The station distributes CBS entertainment, news, daytime, and sports programming to Eugene and the surrounding market through its channel 13 broadcast service.

• Inside the PacSports television2000

  An original sports program launched in 2000, focused on Pac-12-related coverage and the University of Oregon and Oregon State University sports audience. The format combined game highlights and discussion with former collegiate athletes and other guests.

• Fox News @ 10Local television news2005

  A late-evening newscast produced by KVAL for Fox affiliate KLSR-TV. It developed from Northwest News at 10 on Fox, launched in 2005, and was later presented under different weekday and weekend names.

• Rip City Television Network on KVAL 13.2Sports television subchannel2024

  Sinclair’s over-the-air distribution arrangement for Portland Trail Blazers games, designated for KVAL’s second digital subchannel in Eugene. Related carriage was planned for the second subchannels of KCBY and KPIC.

• 2026Sinclair completes KMTR ownership acquisitionM&A

  Sinclair sought full ownership of KMTR and its satellites, which operate in the same Eugene market as KVAL.

  What changed. Sinclair completed the acquisition from Roberts Media using a failing-station waiver.

  Aftermath. The transaction created a legal duopoly between KMTR and KVAL.

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• 2024Rip City Television Network subchannel distributionProduct launch

  Sinclair announced a new over-the-air network for Portland Trail Blazers games.

  What changed. KVAL’s second digital subchannel was selected to air the games in Eugene, with corresponding subchannel distribution through KCBY and KPIC.

  Aftermath. The arrangement broadened KVAL’s sports offering beyond CBS network programming and local sports coverage.

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• 2013Sale from Fisher Communications to SinclairM&A

  Fisher Communications decided to sell its broadcasting properties, including KVAL and related Oregon stations.

  What changed. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired KVAL, KCBY, and KPIC; the transaction closed on August 8, 2013.

  Aftermath. KVAL became part of Sinclair’s station portfolio and continued operating as a CBS affiliate.

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• 2012Consolidation of regional news operationsStrategy

  KVAL, KCBY, and KPIC served neighboring Oregon markets with related ownership and overlapping regional coverage needs.

  What changed. KCBY and KPIC’s news departments were placed under KVAL’s news department, while the two stations retained localized news and weather inserts.

  Aftermath. The three stations operated with a shared regional news structure and could exchange reporting resources during major events.

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• 1978Gradual transition toward CBSStrategy

  NBC was performing poorly in national ratings, while CBS programming was becoming more attractive to KVAL’s schedule.

  What changed. KVAL began with approximately five hours of CBS programming per week and expanded the network’s presence gradually.

  Aftermath. After KMTR launched in 1982 as the local NBC affiliate, KVAL formally became a CBS affiliate.

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• 2026Sinclair completes acquisition of KMTR ownership

  Sinclair completed its acquisition of full ownership of KMTR and its satellites from Roberts Media, creating a legal duopoly with KVAL. The transaction used a failing-station waiver.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2024Sinclair announces Rip City Television Network distribution

  Sinclair announced an arrangement to distribute Portland Trail Blazers games over the air through the Rip City Television Network. KVAL’s second subchannel was identified as the Eugene outlet.

  Product launchOther
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• 2020KVAL introduces a new high-definition news set

  KVAL unveiled a new studio set and began presenting its local newscasts in high definition.

  Product generation
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• 2013Fisher Communications announces sale of KVAL-TV and related stations to Sinclair

  Fisher Communications announced that it would sell KVAL-TV, KCBY-TV, and KPIC to Sinclair Broadcast Group. The transaction was completed on August 8, 2013.

  M&A
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1. KVAL-TV
2. KVAL-TV official website