KAIT
A Jonesboro, Arkansas, television station affiliated with ABC, NBC, and The CW Plus.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KAIT is a television station serving Jonesboro and the surrounding region of northeastern Arkansas. Its primary channel is affiliated with ABC, while its digital multiplex also carries NBC and The CW Plus programming. The station is owned by Gray Media and operates alongside Telemundo affiliate KJTB-LD and KJBW-LD from studios on New Haven Church Road north of Jonesboro. KAIT's transmitter is located north of Egypt, Arkansas. The station traces its origins to the long-delayed assignment of very-high-frequency channel 8 to Jonesboro. Earlier attempts to develop a station on the channel failed, but Fort Smith businessman George Hernreich secured the construction authorization in 1960. Construction began in 1963, and KAIT-TV commenced regular programming on July 15 of that year. It initially operated as an independent station, combining local news and features with children's programming and movies. On October 1, 1965, KAIT joined ABC, gaining access to a broader network schedule and color programming. The affiliation became central to the station's identity and long-term competitive position. KAIT's early history also included regulatory and legal difficulties. Before securing a network affiliation, the station had retransmitted selected programs and news material from other broadcasters without authorization. The Federal Communications Commission fined Hernreich in 1966 for those and other violations. A later investigation into improper payments involving ABC station-relations personnel found that Hernreich had paid bribes connected with increased network compensation for KAIT. The FCC designated the station's license renewal for hearing, and an administrative law judge initially recommended that Hernreich lose the station's licenses. In 1974, the FCC denied renewal of KAIT's license, but after Hernreich sought reconsideration, the commission reversed that decision in 1979. KAIT therefore remained on the air. Following the renewal controversy, Hernreich stepped down as chairman of his broadcasting company in 1980. A new transmitter installed in 1981 expanded the station's coverage. In 1984, KAIT was sold by Hernreich's son Bob to Channel Communications, a Nashville-based broadcaster affiliated with NASCO. Channel exited broadcasting two years later, selling KAIT and KPLC to Cosmos Broadcasting, the broadcasting arm of Liberty Corporation. Liberty later merged its broadcasting interests into Raycom Media, which acquired operational control of KAIT through the broader corporate transaction in the mid-2000s. Raycom merged with Gray Television in 2019, making Gray the station's current owner. KAIT began digital broadcasting in January 2003 and ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009. Under Raycom, it expanded from a single primary service into a multi-channel operation. NBC launched on digital subchannel 8.2 on January 26, 2015, replacing a service that had mainly carried weather information and occasional local sports. The CW was added to subchannel 8.3 in 2018. In 2021, KAIT moved its digital transmission from the VHF band to the UHF band. The station has traditionally been one of the strongest media properties in the Jonesboro market. Its signal and audience reach beyond the formal market boundaries because viewers in several counties receive competing signals from Little Rock or Memphis even though KAIT may be their most-watched individual station. KAIT has historically been the dominant local-news source within its core area and has competed by emphasizing regional weather, breaking news, sports, public affairs, and community reporting. As of 2025, it produces more than 24.5 hours of local news each week, including the weekday morning program Good Morning Region 8, midday and evening newscasts, and weekend broadcasts.
History
Channel 8 was assigned to Jonesboro in 1952, but development of a station took more than a decade. Jonesboro radio station KBTM applied for the channel in 1954 and received a construction permit for KBTM-TV in 1955. The permit was later proposed for transfer to the owner of KATV in Pine Bluff, which intended to use the station to relay ABC programming and produce local shows. Construction did not begin, however, and the permit was surrendered in 1957 after FCC scrutiny. In 1958, KXJK of Forrest City petitioned to move channel 8 to its community. Fort Smith businessman George Hernreich opposed the proposal and announced plans to apply for the channel in Jonesboro. The FCC rejected the move request in 1959 and granted Hernreich's application on April 8, 1960, after the previous Jonesboro applicant withdrew. Construction of KAIT-TV began in early 1963 at a site north of Jonesboro. During construction, the station's large antenna fell while a 300-foot tower was being erected. After a period of test patterns and intermittent transmissions, KAIT began regular programming on July 15, 1963. The original station was independent and carried local features, news, children's programming, and films. It became an ABC affiliate on October 1, 1965. Before that affiliation, KAIT had retransmitted selected material from other stations without authorization, including news coverage and excerpts from NBC's Huntley-Brinkley Report. The FCC fined Hernreich $1,000 in 1966 for those and other violations. KAIT renewed its ABC affiliation in 1967. Hernreich subsequently negotiated increased compensation from ABC for carrying network programming, but those increases were connected to payments made to Thomas G. Sullivan, an ABC regional station-relations manager. In 1970, after ABC's wider investigation into improper payments, the FCC began a private inquiry. Sullivan was dismissed, ABC withdrew the compensation increases, and the investigation implicated Hernreich. The FCC designated KAIT's license renewal for a hearing in 1971. An FCC administrative law judge ruled in 1973 that Hernreich should lose the licenses for KAIT and another television station because he was not qualified to hold broadcast licenses. The FCC reached a different result in 1974: it approved Hernreich's license for the Fort Smith station but denied renewal for KAIT by a 3–2 vote. Hernreich petitioned for reconsideration, arguing that the commission had treated his stations inconsistently and had not adequately considered ABC's role in the payments. In 1979, the FCC reversed the earlier KAIT decision and allowed the station to remain in operation. Hernreich left the chairmanship of Hernreich Broadcasting Stations in 1980. KAIT installed a new transmitter in 1981, improving its coverage area. In 1984, his son Bob sold the station to Channel Communications of Nashville for $22 million. Channel Communications was associated with NASCO, a manufacturer of licensed National Football League merchandise that had entered broadcasting. Channel sold KAIT and KPLC to Cosmos Broadcasting in 1986 for a combined $68 million. Cosmos was the broadcasting arm of Liberty Corporation. A later proposed sale of Cosmos stations to Broad Street Companies in 1992 failed when the buyer could not finance the transaction. KAIT commenced digital broadcasting in January 2003. It ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009, and moved its post-transition digital operation to channel 8. Liberty's broadcasting interests later became part of Raycom Media. During Raycom's ownership, KAIT expanded its digital services, launching NBC on 8.2 in January 2015 and The CW on 8.3 in 2018. The NBC launch strengthened the station's network portfolio, while the CW service broadened its entertainment offering. In 2019, Gray Television completed its merger with Raycom Media and became KAIT's owner. KAIT moved its digital transmission from VHF to UHF in 2021. KAIT has maintained a strong position in the Jonesboro television market. Its news signal and audience extend beyond the formal market because some surrounding counties receive competing signals from Little Rock or Memphis, even when KAIT is the most-watched individual station there. The station has traditionally dominated local ratings and television advertising in its core market. Its news operation emphasizes regional reporting, weather, severe-weather events, sports, and community information. In 2025, its schedule included more than 24.5 hours of locally produced news each week, with a substantial weekday morning program, midday and evening newscasts, and weekend broadcasts.
- 2021
Digital transmission moves to UHF
[1]KAIT shifted its digital transmission from VHF to UHF.
- 2019
Gray becomes owner through Raycom merger
[1]Gray Television completed its merger with Raycom Media and assumed ownership of KAIT.
- 2018
The CW added to subchannel 8.3
[1]KAIT expanded its multicast lineup with a CW service.
- 2015
NBC added to subchannel 8.2
[1]KAIT launched an NBC-affiliated digital subchannel.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KAIT shut down its analog signal and continued with digital broadcasting.
- 2003
Digital signal launched
[1]KAIT began digital transmission.
- 1986
Sale to Cosmos Broadcasting
[1]Cosmos acquired KAIT and KPLC for a combined $68 million.
- 1984
Sale to Channel Communications
[1]KAIT changed ownership in a $22 million transaction.
- 1979
License renewal restored
[1]The FCC reversed its earlier denial and allowed KAIT to retain its license.
- 1965
ABC affiliation begins
[1]KAIT joined ABC on October 1, expanding its network programming and broadcast day.
Products and positioning
A dominant regional broadcast-news outlet focused on Jonesboro and northeastern Arkansas, combining an ABC primary affiliation with additional NBC and CW services and extensive local weather and news coverage.
Broadcast television · 1965
KAIT ABC service
KAIT's primary service carries ABC network programming together with locally produced news, weather, sports, public affairs, and community features. The service operates as the station's principal brand and historical broadcast offering, serving Jonesboro and the wider Region 8 area.
Digital multicast television · 2015
KAIT NBC
NBC programming is carried on KAIT's digital subchannel 8.2. The service launched in 2015, replacing a subchannel previously used primarily for weather content and occasional local sports.
Digital multicast television · 2018
KAIT CW Plus
The CW Plus is carried on digital subchannel 8.3. It extends KAIT's network programming portfolio beyond ABC and NBC and has been part of the station's multicast lineup since 2018.
Local television news
Good Morning Region 8
Good Morning Region 8 is KAIT's weekday morning newscast. It forms a major part of the station's locally produced news schedule and combines regional headlines, weather, traffic, interviews, and community information.
Controversies
1969
ABC compensation bribery controversy
George Hernreich made improper payments to an ABC regional station-relations representative in connection with increased compensation for KAIT's network programming. The matter led to an FCC investigation, a license-renewal hearing, and an initial denial of KAIT's license renewal before the decision was reversed in 1979.
Brand decisions
2018
Add The CW PlusProduct launchBackground
The station continued developing its digital multicast capacity under Raycom ownership.
Action taken
KAIT added The CW to digital subchannel 8.3.
Aftermath
The addition broadened KAIT's entertainment and network programming lineup.
2015
Launch NBC on digital subchannel 8.2Product launchBackground
KAIT had an available digital subchannel that had previously carried weather programming and occasional local sports.
Action taken
The station began carrying NBC programming on channel 8.2.
Aftermath
KAIT expanded its network portfolio and strengthened its position as a multi-service television operator in the Jonesboro area.
1965
Join ABCStrategyBackground
KAIT had operated as an independent station since its launch and had relied partly on locally produced and acquired programming.
Action taken
The station became an ABC affiliate on October 1, gaining a longer schedule and regular network programming.
Aftermath
The affiliation became the foundation of KAIT's primary-channel identity and regional competitive position.
Sources2 sources
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