List of former CBS television affiliates

CBS (an initialism of its former name, the Columbia Broadcasting System) is an American broadcast television network that originated as a radio network in September 1927, and expanded into television in July 1941. Throughout its history, the network has has many owned-and-operated and affiliated stations.

This article is a table listing of former CBS owned-and-operated and affiliated stations, arranged alphabetically by state, and based on the station's city of license as well as its Designated Market Area; it is also accompanied by footnotes regarding the present network affiliation of the former CBS-affiliated station (if the station remains operational) and the current CBS affiliates in each of the listed markets, as well as any other notes including the reasons behind each station's disaffiliation from the network. There are links to and articles on each of the stations, describing their histories, local programming and technical information, such as broadcast frequencies.

The station's advertised channel number follows the call letters. In most cases, this is their virtual channel (PSIP) number, which may match the channel allocation that the station originally broadcast on during its prior affiliation with the network.

Former affiliate stations

Stations are listed in alphabetical order by city of license.

City of license/Market Station/Channel Years of affiliation Current affiliation Current CBS affiliate Notes
Atlanta, Georgia WAGA-TV 5 1949–1994 Fox (O&O) WGCL-TV 46 Disaffiliated from CBS in December 1994 as a result of a groupwide affiliation agreement between New World Communications, then-owner of WJBK-TV, and Fox.[1]
Austin, Texas KTBC-TV 7 1952–1995 Fox (O&O) KEYE-TV 42 Disaffiliated from CBS in July 1995 as a result of a groupwide affiliation agreement between New World Communications, then-owner of KTBC-TV, and Fox.[1]
Bakersfield, California KERO-TV 23 1953–1995 ABC KBAK-TV 29 Disaffiliated from CBS in September 1996, as a result of an affiliation deal between ABC and KERO's then-owner McGraw-Hill.[2]
Baltimore, Maryland WBAL-TV 11 1981–1995 NBC WJZ-TV 13 (O&O) Disaffiliated from CBS in 1995, and joined NBC through a three-way network swap caused by E. W. Scripps Company's group affiliation agreement with ABC (which moved its affiliation from WJZ-TV and WMAR) and Group W's affiliation deal with CBS (which moved its affiliation from WBAL-TV to WJZ-TV).[3][4]
WMAR-TV 2 1948–1981 ABC Lost its CBS affiliation to then-NBC affiliate WBAL-TV in 1981 over the network's dissatisfaction with WMAR's frequent preemptions of CBS programs and the underperforming ratings of its newscasts.[5]
Birmingham, Alabama WAPI 13
(now WVTM-TV)		 1949–1954 (primary),
1961–1970 (joint)		 NBC WIAT 42 WAPI was a primary affiliate during first tenure with CBS (WAPI held a secondary affiliation with ABC); was jointly affiliated with NBC and CBS during second tenure.
WBRC-TV 6 1954–1961 Fox (O&O from 1996–2008) Subsequently affiliated with ABC, after losing affiliation to WAPI in 1961.
WCFT-TV 33 (now WSES) 1970–1996 Heartland Disaffiliated from CBS in September 1996, and converted into a satellite station of W58CK (now WBMA-LD) through Allbritton Communications Company's group affiliation deal with ABC; station serves the Tuscaloosa area.
WHMA-TV/WJSU-TV 40
(now WGWW)		 1969–1996 Disaffiliated from CBS in September 1996, and converted into a satellite station of W58CK (now WBMA-LD) through Allbritton Communications Company's group affiliation deal with ABC; station serves the Anniston area.
Boston, Massachusetts WNAC/WNEV/WHDH 7 1948–1961, 1972–1995 NBC WBZ-TV 4 (O&O) Disaffiliated from CBS for the second time in January 1995, as CBS moved its affiliation to WBZ-TV through Group W's affiliation deal with that network.[6]
WHDH 5 1961–1972 Defunct Channel 5 allocation now occupied by ABC affiliate WCVB-TV.
Chicago, Illinois WGN-TV 9 1948–1953 The CW WBBM-TV 2 (O&O) Subsequently moved its existing DuMont affiliation to primary status after losing CBS, before losing that affiliation and becoming an independent station in 1956.
Cincinnati, Ohio WCPO-TV 9 1961–1996 ABC WKRC-TV 12 CBS affiliation moved to WKRC-TV (which was previously affiliated with the network from 1949 to 1961, reversing a 1961 switch between the two stations), as a result of WCPO gaining the ABC affiliation through that network's agreement with the E. W. Scripps Company.[7]
Cleveland, Ohio WEWS 5 1947–1955 ABC WOIO 19
WXEL/WJW/WJKW/WJW-TV 8 1955–1994 Fox (O&O from 1997–2008) Disaffiliated from CBS in December 1994 as a result of a groupwide affiliation agreement with New World Communications, then-owner of WJW-TV, and Fox.[1]
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas KDFW-TV 4 1949–1995 Fox (O&O) KTVT 11 (O&O) Disaffiliated from CBS in July 1995 as a result of a groupwide affiliation agreement between New World Communications, then-owner of KDFW-TV, and Fox.[1]
Denver, Colorado KLZ-TV/KMGH-TV 7 1953–1995 ABC KCNC-TV 4 (O&O) Disaffiliated from CBS in September 1995, as part of a three-way affiliation swap between KMGH, KCNC-TV and KUSA caused by a group affiliation deal between ABC and then-owner McGraw-Hill,[2] and a station trade between CBS and NBC tied to the purchase of NBC's purchase of Philadelphia O&O WCAU that resulted in KCNC becoming a CBS owned-and-operated station.
Detroit, Michigan WJBK-TV 2 1948–1994 Fox (O&O) WWJ-TV 62 (O&O) Disaffiliated from CBS in December 1994 as a result of a groupwide affiliation agreement between New World Communications, then-owner of WJBK-TV, and Fox.[1]
El Centro, California-Yuma, Arizona KECY-TV 9 1970–1982; 1985–1994 Fox KSWT 13 Switched affiliations with ABC affiliate KSWT in 1982; reversed affiliation swap in 1985.
Evansville, Indiana WEHT 25 1953–1995 ABC WEVV-TV 44 Disaffiliated from CBS in December 1995, in a three-way network swap with WTVW (which switched from ABC to Fox) and WEVV (which switched from Fox to CBS).
Fayetteville-Fort Smith, Arkansas KLMN-TV 24
(now KFTA-TV)		 1978–1980 Fox KFSM-TV 5 Subsequently became an NBC affiliate.
KTVP 29 (now KHOG-TV) 1977–1978 ABC Operates as satellite station of KHBS
KFPW 40 (now KHBS) 1971–1978
Flint-Bay City-Saginaw, Michigan WKNX/WEYI-TV 25 1953–1995 NBC WNEM-TV 5 Disaffiliated from CBS and joined ABC through a three-station affiliation agreement with the Meredith Corporation tied to the renewal of the latter network's affiliation with Kansas City affiliate KCTV.[8]
Fresno, California KFRE/KFSN-TV 30 1956–1985 ABC (O&O) KGPE 47 Disaffiliated from CBS and converted into an ABC owned-and-operated station as a result of the purchase of ABC, Inc. by KFSN's then-owner Capital Cities Communications.
Green Bay, Wisconsin WBAY-TV 2 1953–1992 ABC WFRV-TV 5 (O&O from 1992–2007)
Indianapolis, Indiana WFBM-TV 6 (now WRTV) 1949–1956 ABC WTTV 4 Subsequently became an NBC affiliate (which it would lose to WLWI (now WTHR) the following year) after losing CBS to WISH-TV.
WISH-TV 8 1956–2014 The CW[9] Disaffiliated from CBS on January 1, 2015, due to disagreements between the network and WISH station management over reverse retransmission consent compensation demands from its affiliates; WTTV assumed the affiliation through an affiliation renewal agreement with owner Tribune Broadcasting.[10]
Kansas City, Missouri KMBC-TV 9 1953–1955 ABC KCTV 5 WHB-TV and KMBC initially shared the VHF channel 9 frequency, in a time-sharing arrangement; KMBC took over the allocation full-time in June 1954.
Jacksonville, Florida WJXT 4 1949–2002 independent WJAX-TV 47 Disaffiliated from CBS in July 2002 due to a dispute between Post-Newsweek Stations and CBS over the network's plan to require reverse compensation from its affiliates and demands for the station to limit network programming pre-emptions outside of breaking news and weather situations.[11] CBS moved to WTEV-TV (now WJAX-TV);[12]
Lancaster-Lebanon-Harrisburg-York, Pennsylvania WLYH-TV 15 1961–1995 The CW WHP-TV 21 Served the Lancaster area as part of the Keystone Network, a semi-regional simulcast with WHP and WSBA (now WPMT) during the 1960s until both stations split from WHP and began maintaining separate program schedules, although all three stations carried common network and syndicated programs thereafter; disaffiliated from CBS in December 1995, and became a full-time UPN affiliate. Coincidentally, WLYH has been operated alongside WHP since 1995 under a local marketing agreement.
WSBA 43 (now WPMT) 1961–1983 Fox Served the York area as part of the Keystone Network semi-regional simulcast with WHP and WLYH during the 1960s until both stations split from WHP and began maintaining separate program schedules, although all three stations carried common network and syndicated programs thereafter. Disaffiliated from CBS, and became an independent station in 1983.
Los Angeles, California KTTV 11 1949–1951 Fox (O&O) KCBS-TV 2 (O&O) Originally co-owned by CBS and the Los Angeles Times, CBS sold its shares in KTTV to the Times in 1951, in order to purchase KTSL (now KCBS-TV); KTTV subsequently became an independent station after losing CBS.
Louisville, Kentucky WHAS-TV 11 1950–1990 ABC WLKY-TV 32
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida WTVJ 4 (now on channel 6) 1949–1989 NBC (O&O) WFOR-TV 4 (O&O) Disaffiliated from WTVJ as a result of NBC's purchase of that station from Wometco Enterprises; CBS purchased Fox affiliate WCIX (now WFOR) from Taft Broadcasting subsequently afterward.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin WCAN-TV 25 1953–1955 defunct WDJT-TV 58 Lost CBS affiliation to UHF owned-and-operated station WXIX (now WVTV).
WXIX 19/18 (now WVTV) 1955–1959 (O&O) The CW The station moved to UHF channel 18 in 1958; it became an independent station in 1959, after CBS sold the station (which it purchased as part of an experiment regarding the viability of UHF stations as network-owned outlets) and affiliated with WITI.
WITI 6 1959–1961, 1977–1994 Fox (O&O from 1997–2008) Traded affiliations with WISN-TV in 1961, with WITI becoming an ABC affiliate and WISN joining CBS; the swap was reversed in 1977 through an affiliation deal between CBS and WITI's then-owner Storer Broadcasting. Disaffiliated from CBS for the second time in December 1994 as a result of a groupwide affiliation agreement between New World Communications, then-owner of WITI-TV, and Fox.[1]
WISN-TV 12 1961–1977 ABC Traded affiliations with WITI-TV in 1961, with WISN becoming a CBS affiliate and WITI joining ABC; the swap was reversed in 1977 through an affiliation deal between CBS and WITI's then-owner Storer Broadcasting.
Montgomery, Alabama WCOV-TV 20 1953–1986 Fox WAKA 8 Subsequently became an independent station.
New Orleans, Louisiana WJMR/WVUE-TV 61/20 (now WVUE-DT 8) 1953–1957 Fox WWL-TV 4 Lost CBS affiliation upon sign-on of WWL-TV; subsequently affiliated with ABC.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma WKY-TV 4 (now KFOR-TV) 1949–1953 NBC KWTV-DT 9 Lost CBS affiliation upon sign-on of KWTV; carried as a secondary affiliation with NBC as WKY-TV's primary affiliation.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WCAU 10 1948–1995 (O&O from 1958–1995) NBC (O&O) KYW-TV 3 (O&O)
Phoenix, Arizona KOOL/KTSP/KSAZ-TV 10 1955–1994 Fox (O&O) KPHO-TV 5 Disaffiliated from CBS in September 1994 and briefly became an independent station in the four months between CBS moving to KPHO and Fox moving to KSAZ from incoming ABC affiliate KNXV-TV; station switched to Fox as a result of a groupwide affiliation agreement between the network and KSAZ's then-owner, New World Communications.[1]
Providence, Rhode Island-New Bedford, Massachusetts WTEV/WLNE-TV 6 1977–1995 ABC WPRI-TV 12 Disaffiliated from CBS in 1995 as a result of the network's purchase of WPRI-TV,[13] which it sold months later due to its purchase of Boston affiliate WBZ-TV through its merger with that station's then-owner Westinghouse (as FCC rules at the time prohibited common ownership of stations in adjacent markets with overlapping signals, with no consideration for a waiver for stations with large overlapping coverage areas).
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina WTVD 11 1958–1985 ABC (O&O) WRAL-TV 5 Disaffiliated from CBS and converted into an ABC owned-and-operated-station as a result of the purchase of ABC, Inc. by WTVD's then-owner Capital Cities Communications.
Rockford, Illinois WREX 13 1953–1965 NBC WIFR 23 Also carried programming from ABC and (until 1956) DuMont as secondary affiliations; became a full-time ABC affilIiate upon the sign-on of WCEE-TV (now WIFR) in 1965.
Sacramento, California KBET/KXTV 10 1955–1995 ABC KOVR 13 (O&O) Disaffiliated from CBS to join ABC in September 1995 through a swap agreement between KXTV's then-owner Belo Corporation and KOVR's then-owner Sinclair Broadcast Group.[14][15]
Salt Lake City, Utah KSL-TV 5 1949–1995 NBC KUTV 2 Disaffiliated from CBS and joined NBC in September 1995, in an affiliation swap caused by a station trade between CBS and NBC tied to the purchase of NBC's purchase of Philadelphia O&O WCAU.
Seattle-Tacoma, Washington KTNT/KSTW 11 1953–1961; 1995–1997 The CW (O&O) KIRO-TV 7 Originally signed on as a CBS affiliate, and shared primary affiliation in the market with KIRO-TV from 1957 to 1961, when it became an independent station. KSTW rejoined CBS in March 1995 through an affiliation deal tied to sister station KTVT's contract with the network, while KIRO became a charter affiliate of UPN;[16] KIRO rejoined CBS in June 1997, while KSTW assumed the UPN affiliation.[17]
St. Louis, Missouri WTVI 54 (now KTVI) 1953–1954 Fox (O&O from 1996–2008) KMOV 4 Subsequently became an ABC affiliate in 1955, when the station reassigned its license to St. Louis from Belleville, Illinois and modified its call letters to KTVI.
Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida WTVT 13 1955–1994 Fox (O&O) WTSP 10 Disaffiliated from CBS in December 1994 as a result of a groupwide affiliation agreement between New World Communications, then-owner of WTVT, and Fox.[1]
West Palm Beach, Florida WTVX 34 1962–1989 The CW (O&O from 2006–2008) WPEC 12 Subsequently became an independent station.
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See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Bill Carter (May 24, 1994). "Fox WILL SIGN UP 12 NEW STATIONS; TAKES 8 FROM CBS". The New York Times. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dusty Saunders (October 22, 1994). "TV Stations Play Spin the Dial Channel 7 Quits CBS, Joins ABC, Kicking Off Network Realignment". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  3. ↑ Tom Hopkins (June 3, 1996). "ANALYSIS: Networks Switch Channels". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  4. ↑ "COMPANY NEWS; TV Stations Shift to ABC". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). June 17, 1994. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  5. ↑ David Zurawik (January 1, 1995). "Get ready, get set, get confused, in TV's big switch in Baltimore Changing Channels". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  6. ↑ Bill Carter (July 15, 1994). "CBS to Add Three Affiliates in Deal With Westinghouse". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  7. ↑ Tom Hopkins (June 3, 1996). "ANALYSIS: Networks Switch Channels". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ "CBS revs up for Detroit.". Broadcasting & Cable. July 4, 1994. p. 13. Retrieved March 20, 2015 – via American Radio History.
  9. ↑ Michael Malone (December 22, 2014). "Tribune Sells Indianapolis CW Affiliation to Media General". Broadcasting & Cable (NewBay Media). Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  10. ↑ "cbs-moving-indianapolis-affiliation-to WTTV". TVNewsCheck. August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  11. ↑ "WJXT-TV 4 to drop CBS". Florida Times-Union. April 3, 2002. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  12. ↑ Dan Trigoboff (July 14, 2002). "Station Break: Jacksonville jump". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  13. ↑ "CBS buys Providence V.". Broadcasting and Cable. March 6, 1995. p. 10. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  14. ↑ David Wilkerson (June 1, 1999). "Belo closes Austin ABC buy". MarketWatch. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Sinclair sells KOVR to Viacom". The Record. December 3, 2004. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  16. ↑ Chuck Taylor (January 15, 1995). "The Expanding Network Universe -- CBS' Move From KIRO To KSTW Is Just Part Of The Channel-Changing That's Shaking Up Seattle's TV". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  17. ↑ "KIRO-TV, KSTW-TV changing hands in station swap". Puget Sound Business Journal (American City Business Journals). February 21, 1997. Retrieved March 20, 2015.