KAMC
KAMC is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Lubbock and the South Plains region of Texas.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KAMC is a commercial television station serving Lubbock, Texas, and the broader South Plains region. Broadcasting on virtual channel 28, the station is affiliated with ABC and operates as part of a shared local television structure with KLBK-TV, the market's CBS affiliate. KAMC is owned by Mission Broadcasting, while Nexstar Media Group, which owns KLBK-TV, provides services under a local marketing agreement. The stations share studios on University Avenue in south Lubbock, and KAMC's transmitter is also located at the site. The station began broadcasting in the fall of 1968 as KSEL-TV. It initially operated as an independent station while carrying selected ABC programming that had previously been divided among KLBK-TV and NBC affiliate KCBD-TV. By the fall of 1969, KSEL-TV had become the full-time and exclusive ABC affiliate for the Lubbock market. Its arrival completed the market's transition to full-time affiliations with the three major commercial television networks, approximately 17 years after commercial television first began developing in Lubbock. KSEL-TV was established alongside radio stations KSEL and KSEL-FM, and the three outlets originally shared ownership, facilities, sales resources, and news-gathering operations. The stations were associated with R. B. “Mac” McAlister, his son Bill McAlister, and several senior department leaders. Early programming included movies presented by on-camera hosts, locally produced entertainment, and news distributed across the radio and television operations. The radio properties were sold during 1974 and 1975, but the television station continued using its long-established south Lubbock facilities. The station later changed its call sign to KMCC and expanded its programming and technical resources. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, stronger ABC ratings, improvements to the local news operation, and a more competitive supply of syndicated programs helped the station become a more significant competitor in the Lubbock market. Its news programs were branded as Action News for much of the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, before the station adopted the News 28 identity in 1991. KAMC also had a complex relationship with a satellite station in Clovis, New Mexico. In 1979, the former KFDW-TV channel 12 changed its call sign to KAMC, while the Lubbock station adopted the KAMC calls after a call-sign dispute involving KAMR-TV in Amarillo. The Clovis outlet subsequently used the KMCC calls and was sold in 1986 during financial restructuring. It is now known as KVIH-TV and operates as a satellite of KVII-TV. Economic conditions in the Lubbock area, including weak prices for cotton and other agricultural commodities, contributed to financial pressure on the station. After Bill McAlister's death in 1983, his son Greg assumed a greater role in the operation. KAMC was sold in 1999 and was acquired by Mission Broadcasting in late 2003 as part of the broader purchase of Quorum Broadcasting by Nexstar Broadcasting Group. The transaction placed KAMC alongside KLBK-TV under a service and marketing arrangement. KAMC continues to provide local news, weather, and community coverage, with reporting focused on Lubbock and communities across the South Plains. Its schedule has included weekday morning, midday, evening, and late-night newscasts, along with weekend evening editions. The station moved its news operation to high-definition production in July 2013, introducing updated sets, refreshed branding, and a new weather-graphics system. It added a weekday 11 a.m. newscast in April 2014. KAMC also carries ABC network programming and has offered additional multicast programming through digital subchannels.
History
KAMC began broadcasting in the fall of 1968 under the call sign KSEL-TV. It entered the Lubbock market as an independent station at a time when ABC programming was divided between existing CBS and NBC affiliates. After several months of carrying selected ABC programs, KSEL-TV became the market's primary and exclusive ABC affiliate in the fall of 1969. The station was developed alongside KSEL radio and KSEL-FM. R. B. “Mac” McAlister, his son Bill McAlister, and station department heads owned and operated the outlets, which shared a building, sales staff, and news resources. Early KSEL-TV programming relied heavily on movies, locally hosted presentations, syndicated material, and news gathered for the combined radio and television operation. The radio stations were sold in 1974 and 1975, but the television operation remained at its south Lubbock facility. KSEL-TV later adopted the KMCC call sign and invested in improved equipment and programming. The station's competitive position strengthened during the late 1970s and early 1980s as ABC gained audience share, its news operation improved, and syndicated programming became more effective. During this period, the station commonly branded its newscasts as Action News. In September 1991, it replaced that identity with News 28, seeking a clearer and more competitive presentation against KCBD-TV and KLBK-TV. A related ownership and call-sign development occurred in 1979 when the former KFDW-TV in Clovis, New Mexico, became a satellite associated with the Lubbock operation. The Clovis station took the KMCC call sign, while the Lubbock station became KAMC. The change prompted a complaint from KAMR-TV because of the use of similar calls in a market where KAMR was distributed by cable. The Clovis facility was later sold in 1986 as part of KAMC's financial restructuring and eventually became KVIH-TV. KAMC faced financial pressure during the 1980s and 1990s. Its market position was described as trailing the two established competitors, while the regional economy was affected by low prices for cotton and other agricultural commodities. Bill McAlister, who had served as mayor of Lubbock, died in 1983. His son Greg subsequently assumed a larger role before the station was sold in 1999. Mission Broadcasting acquired KAMC in late 2003 in connection with Nexstar Broadcasting Group's acquisition of Quorum Broadcasting. The arrangement paired KAMC with KLBK-TV, which Nexstar owned, through a local marketing agreement and shared services. KAMC eventually moved from its long-time 84th Street facility into studios previously occupied by KLBK. The station modernized its news operation in the 2010s. In July 2013, it began presenting all newscasts in high definition and introduced new sets, updated branding, and a new weather-graphics system. In April 2014, it added a weekday 11 a.m. newscast. KAMC's local programming remains focused on Lubbock and the South Plains, with coverage of regional news, weather, public affairs, and community events. Its analog signal ended on February 17, 2009, while its digital operation continued on UHF channel 27 using virtual channel 28.
- 2016
Multicast network agreement announced
[1]Nexstar announces an agreement to bring Katz-related multicast networks to stations including KAMC.
- 2014
Midday newscast launches
[1]The station adds a weekday 11 a.m. local newscast.
- 2013
Local newscasts transition to high definition
[1]KAMC launches high-definition news production with updated sets, branding, and weather graphics.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KAMC shuts down its analog UHF channel 28 signal and continues digitally on UHF channel 27 with virtual channel 28.
- 2003
Mission Broadcasting acquires KAMC
[1]KAMC changes ownership through Mission Broadcasting's acquisition of Quorum Broadcasting in a transaction involving Nexstar.
- 1999
KAMC is sold by the McAlister family
[1]Greg McAlister's period of control ends with the sale of the station.
- 1991
News 28 branding is introduced
[1]The station retires its Action News identity and adopts News 28 for its local newscasts.
- 1986
Clovis satellite is sold
[1]The former KAMC satellite in Clovis is sold during the station's financial restructuring.
- 1983
Bill McAlister dies
[1]The death of Bill McAlister changes the station's family ownership and management succession.
- 1979
Call signs are reorganized with the Clovis satellite
[1]The Clovis satellite and Lubbock station exchange the KMCC and KAMC call signs after a complaint concerning the similar calls.
Products and positioning
A local ABC television affiliate combining network programming with regional news, weather, advertising, and community coverage for Lubbock and the South Plains.
Local television news
KAMC Local News
KAMC's local news operation covers Lubbock and communities throughout the South Plains. Its schedule has included weekday morning programming, midday news, afternoon and evening newscasts, late-night news, and weekend evening editions. Coverage combines reporting, weather, sports, traffic, and community information.
Network television programming · 1969
ABC programming
KAMC serves as the ABC affiliate for the Lubbock market, carrying the network's entertainment, news, daytime, and other scheduled programming alongside locally produced content.
Digital television · 2016
Digital multicast programming
KAMC's digital television operation includes multicast capacity used for additional network and syndicated programming. A 2016 agreement involving Nexstar and Katz Broadcasting was intended to expand the availability of services such as Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce across participating stations.
Brand decisions
2013
High-definition news conversionProduct launchBackground
The station sought to modernize its local news presentation and compete more effectively in the Lubbock market.
Action taken
KAMC converted all of its newscasts to high definition and introduced new sets, refreshed branding, and updated weather graphics.
Aftermath
The changes modernized the station's on-air presentation and production capabilities.
2003
Mission Broadcasting ownership transitionM&ABackground
The transaction followed Nexstar Broadcasting Group's acquisition of Quorum Broadcasting.
Action taken
Mission Broadcasting acquired KAMC, while Nexstar became involved in the station's services and local marketing through its ownership of KLBK-TV.
Aftermath
KAMC and KLBK began operating in a shared-services and local-marketing structure and later shared University Avenue studios.
1991
Rebranding from Action News to News 28StrategyBackground
KAMC was competing against stronger local news operations from KCBD-TV and KLBK-TV.
Action taken
The station retired the Action News identity and relaunched its local newscasts under the News 28 brand.
Aftermath
The News 28 branding remained in use until 1997.
1969
Commitment to full-time ABC affiliationStrategyBackground
ABC programming had initially been divided among Lubbock's existing commercial stations, leaving the market without a full-time ABC outlet.
Action taken
KSEL-TV shifted from independent operation with partial ABC carriage to the market's primary and exclusive ABC affiliation.
Aftermath
The decision established the station's long-term network identity and completed the market's full-time affiliation structure.
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