KAGS-LD
KAGS-LD is a low-power NBC-affiliated television station serving Bryan and the Brazos Valley in Texas.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KAGS-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Bryan, Texas, and serving the Brazos Valley within the Waco–Temple–Bryan television market. The station operates as an NBC affiliate and is closely linked operationally and programmatically to KCEN-TV, the NBC station licensed to Temple. KAGS-LD is generally treated as a semi-satellite of KCEN-TV: it carries the network's programming and much of the syndicated schedule supplied by KCEN, while maintaining a distinct local identity, local commercial inventory, legal identifications, website, and news operation for viewers in the eastern portion of the market. The station's origins go back to January 20, 2003, when it began broadcasting as KMAY-LP. The call sign honored Frank W. Mayborn, who founded KCEN in 1953. Before KMAY-LP launched, KCEN had served the Brazos Valley through a low-power translator on another channel. The new station initially functioned primarily as a direct simulcast of KCEN and did not produce local programming of its own. Its presence was mainly reflected in KCEN's legal identifications and in the availability of the KCEN signal in the Bryan-area service region. KAGS was converted to digital operation as KMAY-LD in 2009 and was subsequently sold, together with KCEN-TV, to London Broadcasting. In 2011, London announced a major repositioning. The station changed its call sign to KAGS-LD in May of that year and relaunched later in 2011 as a locally focused NBC affiliate for the Brazos Valley. The rebrand distinguished KAGS from KCEN while preserving their shared NBC affiliation and broader programming relationship. On the first day of the new local format, KAGS replaced KCEN on most Brazos Valley cable systems, reinforcing its role as the market's eastern-area NBC outlet. KAGS launched its local news operation in October 2011. Its newscasts were produced in high definition and used virtual-set presentation based on chroma-key technology. The local service gave the station a more independent editorial and commercial presence, although some master-control and internal functions continued to be handled from KCEN's facilities in Temple. KAGS also initially operated as a section of KCEN's website; in 2013 it introduced a separate full website, strengthening its standalone brand and digital relationship with Brazos Valley audiences. Gannett acquired KAGS as part of its purchase of KCEN-TV and other London Broadcasting stations, completed on July 8, 2014. When Gannett separated its publishing and broadcast/digital businesses in 2015, KAGS remained with the broadcast and digital company, which became Tegna. KAGS and KCEN adopted Gannett's updated on-air graphics package in March 2015. The station is also associated with sister stations KWKT-TV, a Fox affiliate, and KYLE-TV, an independent station carrying MyNetworkTV programming. KAGS maintains studios on South Texas Avenue in Bryan and a transmitter west of the city on North Harvey Mitchell Parkway. Its broadcast signal is multiplexed into digital subchannels, although the available reference material does not identify the individual services. Following Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of Tegna, announced in 2025 and completed in 2026 according to the supplied reference material, KAGS-LD became part of the Nexstar corporate group while continuing to operate under the Tegna station structure described in the reference.
History
KAGS-LD began service in Bryan, Texas, on January 20, 2003, under the call sign KMAY-LP. The name referenced Frank W. Mayborn, the founder of KCEN-TV. Its immediate predecessor was a low-power KCEN translator that had served the Brazos Valley, and the new station initially continued that narrow role. KMAY-LP simulcast KCEN-TV's programming and did not offer separate local programming, aside from being identified in legal station announcements. The station moved to digital operation as KMAY-LD in 2009. Around the same period, it and KCEN-TV were sold to London Broadcasting. London later pursued a more ambitious local-market strategy for the Bryan station. In July 2011, the company announced that KMAY would be relaunched as KAGS, a distinct NBC outlet focused on the Brazos Valley. The calls changed to KAGS-LD in May, although the station continued using the KMAY designation operationally until October. The relaunch marked a transition from a simple translator or simulcast into a station with its own local brand, commercial inserts, legal identifications, and news presentation. KAGS's local news department began operating in October 2011. The station's newscasts were presented in high definition using virtual sets built with chroma-key techniques. KAGS was the second full-fledged local television news operation in the Brazos Valley at the time, following CBS affiliate KBTX-TV. The new service helped establish KAGS as the eastern-market counterpart to KCEN, even though the two stations remained closely integrated for network and syndicated programming. On the launch day of the locally focused format, KAGS replaced KCEN on most Brazos Valley cable systems. The station's web presence also developed gradually. During the early years of the KAGS identity, its online content appeared as a section of KCEN's website. In 2013, KAGS introduced a full standalone website, giving it a separate digital outlet for news, video, weather, and advertising relationships. Despite its distinct public identity, the station continued to rely on KCEN for some back-office and technical functions. Master control and certain internal operations were based at KCEN's studios on North Third Street in downtown Temple, while KAGS maintained its own Bryan facilities on South Texas Avenue and its transmitter west of the city on North Harvey Mitchell Parkway. Gannett completed its acquisition of KAGS, KCEN-TV, and other London Broadcasting stations on July 8, 2014. In 2015, Gannett divided its publishing operations from its broadcast and digital operations. KAGS remained with the broadcast company, which adopted the Tegna name. On March 23, 2015, KAGS and KCEN introduced Gannett's graphics package as part of a coordinated rollout to former London stations. KAGS-LD is classified as a semi-satellite of KCEN-TV. The stations share NBC and syndicated programming and are counted as one unit for ratings purposes, but KAGS serves the eastern portion of the Waco–Temple–Bryan market and maintains separate local newscasts, advertising opportunities, station identifications, and a website. It is also a sister station to KWKT-TV, the market's Fox affiliate, and KYLE-TV, an independent station carrying MyNetworkTV programming. The supplied reference material states that Nexstar Media Group acquired Tegna in a transaction announced in August 2025 and completed in March 2026, making KAGS-LD part of the Nexstar group.
- 2026
Nexstar ownership
[1]The supplied reference states that Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tegna, placing KAGS-LD within the Nexstar group.
- 2015
Station becomes part of Tegna
[1]KAGS remains with the broadcast and digital company created through Gannett's corporate separation, later named Tegna.
- 2015
Coordinated graphics rollout
[1]KAGS and KCEN adopt Gannett's graphical presentation package.
- 2014
Gannett acquisition completed
[1]Gannett completes its purchase of KAGS, KCEN, and other London Broadcasting stations.
- 2013
Standalone website launches
[1]KAGS expands from a KCEN website section to a separate station website.
- 2011
KAGS local relaunch
[1]The station is repositioned as a locally focused NBC affiliate for the Brazos Valley under the KAGS identity.
- 2011
Local news begins
[1]KAGS launches its own full local news operation.
- 2009
Digital conversion
[1]The station converts to digital operation and adopts the KMAY-LD designation.
- 2003
KMAY-LP launches
[1]The Bryan-licensed low-power station begins broadcasting as KMAY-LP, primarily simulcasting KCEN-TV.
Products and positioning
A locally focused NBC station for Bryan and the Brazos Valley, operating as the eastern-market semi-satellite of KCEN-TV while maintaining separate local news, commercial, branding, and digital services.
Television broadcasting · 2003
NBC network service
KAGS-LD carries NBC network programming for viewers in the Bryan and Brazos Valley area. The schedule is supplied through the station's close relationship with KCEN-TV, reflecting KAGS's role as the eastern-market semi-satellite of the Temple-licensed NBC affiliate.
Local television news · 2011
KAGS local news
Launched in 2011, KAGS's local news operation provides separate newscasts focused on the Brazos Valley. The service distinguishes the station from a conventional translator by giving it a local editorial presence and a dedicated broadcast identity.
Digital media · 2013
KAGS digital news
KAGS's standalone website extends the station's local news and video presence beyond over-the-air broadcasting. It was introduced in 2013 after the station had previously operated as a section of KCEN's website.
Broadcast advertising · 2011
Local advertising
KAGS sells local commercial inventory and operates separate commercial inserts from KCEN, allowing advertisers to target audiences in the Bryan and Brazos Valley portion of the wider Waco–Temple–Bryan market.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Gannett graphics rollout
Waco–Temple–Bryan television market
KAGS and KCEN adopted Gannett's graphical theme as part of a coordinated visual rollout across former London Broadcasting stations.
Outcome. The stations received a more consistent on-air presentation within Gannett's broadcast portfolio.
- 2011KAGS Brazos Valley relaunch
Brazos Valley · Bryan, Texas
London Broadcasting repositioned the former KMAY operation as KAGS, presenting it as a locally focused NBC affiliate rather than only a KCEN simulcast.
Outcome. The relaunch introduced separate local news, branding, commercial inserts, and legal identifications, and KAGS replaced KCEN on most Brazos Valley cable systems.
Brand decisions
2026
Move into the Nexstar groupM&ABackground
The supplied reference material states that Nexstar agreed to acquire Tegna in 2025.
Action taken
Nexstar completed the Tegna acquisition in March 2026, according to the supplied reference.
Aftermath
KAGS-LD became part of Nexstar Media Group while continuing its established NBC and Brazos Valley operating role.
2014
Join Gannett's station portfolioM&ABackground
London Broadcasting owned KAGS and KCEN before Gannett pursued the acquisition of several London stations.
Action taken
Gannett completed the acquisition of KAGS, KCEN, and other London Broadcasting properties.
Aftermath
KAGS entered Gannett's broadcast group and later moved to Tegna after the 2015 corporate separation.
2013
Launch a dedicated KAGS websiteProduct launchBackground
KAGS's online presence had previously been hosted as a section of KCEN's website.
Action taken
The station introduced a full standalone website for its own local identity and digital content.
Aftermath
KAGS expanded its independent digital presence while remaining part of the KCEN-related station operation.
2011
Transform KMAY from a simulcast into a local NBC stationStrategyBackground
The station had operated mainly as a low-power simulcast of KCEN-TV without its own local programming.
Action taken
London Broadcasting adopted the KAGS identity, developed separate local newscasts and commercial inserts, and positioned the station around the Brazos Valley.
Aftermath
KAGS became a distinct eastern-market NBC brand while retaining shared programming and operational links with KCEN.
Sources2 sources
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