KBIM-TV
KBIM-TV is a television station serving Roswell and southeastern New Mexico as a satellite operation of Albuquerque-based KRQE.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
KBIM-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Roswell, New Mexico, broadcasting on channel 10. The station serves southeastern New Mexico and operates as a satellite of KRQE, the Albuquerque station owned by Nexstar Media Group. Its local offices are on Main Street in Roswell, while its transmitter is located in southeastern Chaves County on the Caprock Escarpment. Through its relationship with KRQE, KBIM-TV combines local market coverage and advertising sales with programming, news resources, and operational support from the Albuquerque station. The station originated with Taylor Broadcasting Company, which also owned KBIM radio. Taylor applied to build a commercial television station on Roswell's channel 10 allocation in June 1963. The Federal Communications Commission approved the application in November 1964, and construction began the following year. KBIM-TV launched on February 24, 1966, as a CBS affiliate. Its original transmission facility included a 1,839-foot tower on the Caprock, a structure that was among the tallest in New Mexico. The tower collapsed on April 1, 1966, only weeks after the station began broadcasting, destroying the upper portion of the mast and temporarily disrupting service. A replacement tower entered operation later that year. The station experienced another major interruption in 1977, when a fire destroyed its shared radio and television studios on Main Street. KBIM-TV was off the air for approximately ten days before temporary and replacement facilities were established. The station continued using the replacement Main Street premises for its Roswell operations. Ownership changed several times. The license moved to the related Holsum, Incorporated, in 1970. Holsum later sold its radio properties to King Broadcasting, while the television station remained part of Holsum's holdings until the late 1980s. In 1989, the New Mexico Broadcasting Company, owner of Albuquerque CBS affiliate KGGM-TV, agreed to purchase KBIM-TV. The acquisition expanded KGGM's reach into southeastern New Mexico and contributed to the inclusion of Roswell households in the broader Albuquerque television market. After the purchase, KBIM-TV began carrying selected KGGM newscasts while retaining local programming at several times of day. The acquisition also helped trigger a broader ownership transition. In 1991, the Hebenstreit family sold its majority interest in the New Mexico Broadcasting Company to Lee Enterprises, which already held the remaining share. KGGM-TV was renamed KRQE in 1992. In 1998, Lee presented KRQE, KBIM-TV, and Durango, Colorado station KREZ-TV under the shared CBS Southwest identity and integrated portions of their news operations. Lee exited television in 2000, selling the stations to Emmis Communications; Emmis later sold the New Mexico stations to LIN TV Corporation in 2005. Nexstar ultimately became the station's owner through its ownership of the KRQE operation. KBIM-TV ended locally produced Roswell newscasts on December 12, 2008, during a cost-reduction and technology-investment program. KRQE retained a reporting presence in Roswell, and the station continued serving the area through KRQE-linked programming, local advertising, and its broadcast signal. KBIM-TV completed the United States digital television transition on June 12, 2009, turning off its analog VHF channel 10 signal and moving its digital service to VHF channel 10 after operating during the transition on UHF channel 41. The station's traditional business model is that of a local broadcast outlet: it distributes network and syndicated television programming, carries news and weather coverage supplied or coordinated by its parent station, sells commercial inventory to regional advertisers, and provides over-the-air service to communities in southeastern New Mexico. The reference material identifies a planned affiliation change on August 1, 2026, under which KBIM-TV would lose CBS programming and become a primary Fox affiliate, while KOAT-TV would assume the CBS affiliation in the market. Because that date is in the future relative to much historical station coverage, the station's post-change operating configuration should be verified against current FCC, station, and network records.
History
KBIM-TV was developed by Taylor Broadcasting Company, the owner of KBIM radio in Roswell. Taylor filed with the FCC on June 24, 1963, seeking authorization to construct a commercial television station on channel 10. The application followed an earlier, unsuccessful attempt to develop Roswell's channel 10 allocation. The FCC granted Taylor's construction permit on November 4, 1964, and construction began in 1965. The station's original transmitter site was on the Caprock Escarpment, approximately 29 miles east of Hagerman. Its 1,839-foot tower was exceptionally tall for New Mexico and was described at completion as one of the world's tallest structures of its kind. KBIM-TV began broadcasting on February 24, 1966, as a CBS affiliate. Its launch was followed by a serious technical disaster: on April 1, 1966, the upper 1,350 feet of the tower collapsed, taking with it facilities serving KBIM-TV and KBIM-FM. A replacement tower was placed into service in September of that year. The station's license was transferred to a related company, Holsum, Incorporated, in 1970. A second major disaster occurred on May 31, 1977, when a fire destroyed the shared studios on Main Street. KBIM-TV was unavailable for roughly ten days. Operations were then moved to replacement facilities at 214 North Main Street, a location associated with the station's Roswell operations in subsequent years. Holsum sold its radio properties to King Broadcasting in 1981 and acquired Lubbock television station KCBD-TV in 1983. KCBD's ownership of KSWS-TV, another commercial station serving Roswell, complicated the regional ownership picture. Following regulatory and transaction-related delays, KSWS-TV was eventually spun off to KOB in Albuquerque. Until 1986, KBIM-TV aired CBS network programming on Central Time, one hour ahead of local Mountain Time. The arrangement reflected the scheduling practice of its main competitor, KSWS-TV, which was connected to KCBD in Lubbock. After KSWS-TV changed its schedule to Mountain Time following its transfer to KOB, KBIM-TV also adopted local-time network scheduling. In February 1989, the New Mexico Broadcasting Company, owner of Albuquerque CBS affiliate KGGM-TV, announced an agreement to buy KBIM-TV from Holsum. The purchase closed later that year for a reported $5 million. KBIM-TV began airing selected KGGM newscasts, although it initially retained substantial Roswell-produced local coverage, including evening programs. In 1991, cost reductions eliminated several positions and ended the station's late-night newscast. The schedule was subsequently revised, with local morning, noon, evening, and late-night elements changing as the station responded to competition and operating costs. The KBIM acquisition contributed to a major ownership transition at the Albuquerque station. In July 1991, the Hebenstreit family sold its majority interest in the New Mexico Broadcasting Company to Lee Enterprises, which had owned the balance. KGGM-TV was renamed KRQE in 1992. In 1998, Lee used the CBS Southwest identity for KRQE, KBIM-TV, and KREZ-TV in Durango, Colorado, integrating the stations' news operations and creating local inserts for regional broadcasts. Lee Enterprises exited broadcasting in 2000, selling KRQE, KBIM-TV, and most of its television properties to Emmis Communications. Emmis later withdrew from television and sold the New Mexico outlets to LIN TV Corporation in 2005. The station subsequently became part of the Nexstar-owned KRQE operation. On December 12, 2008, KBIM-TV ended its locally produced Roswell newscasts as part of a budget-reduction program that also redirected resources toward technology improvements. KRQE continued to maintain a reporting presence in Roswell. The station completed the federally mandated digital transition on June 12, 2009, ending analog broadcasting on channel 10 and retaining channel 10 for its post-transition digital service. KBIM-TV's operating identity has therefore evolved from an independently managed Roswell television station into a satellite of a larger Albuquerque operation. Its continuing functions include over-the-air distribution, regional news gathering, commercial advertising sales, and delivery of network or network-linked programming to southeastern New Mexico. The supplied reference material reports a planned transition from CBS to Fox on August 1, 2026; that future affiliation and the station's configuration after the change require verification against current regulatory and station records.
- 2026
Reported transition to Fox affiliation
[1]The reference material reports a planned change from CBS to primary Fox affiliation on August 1, 2026.
- 2009
Analog service ends
[1]KBIM-TV completed the United States digital television transition and continued digital service on VHF channel 10.
- 2008
Locally produced Roswell newscasts discontinued
[1]The station ended its own local newscasts while KRQE retained reporting coverage in Roswell.
- 1998
CBS Southwest identity introduced
[1]KRQE, KBIM-TV, and KREZ-TV were presented under a shared CBS Southwest branding and news structure.
- 1992
KGGM-TV becomes KRQE
[1]The Albuquerque parent station changed its call identity from KGGM-TV to KRQE.
- 1989
Acquired by New Mexico Broadcasting Company
[1]The owner of KGGM-TV agreed to purchase KBIM-TV from Holsum, linking the Roswell station with Albuquerque's CBS operation.
- 1977
Studio fire forces temporary shutdown
[1]A fire destroyed the shared Main Street studios, taking KBIM-TV off the air for about ten days.
- 1970
License transferred to Holsum
[1]The station's license was transferred to related company Holsum, Incorporated.
- 1966
Station launches
[1]KBIM-TV began broadcasting on February 24 as a CBS affiliate.
- 1966
Replacement transmission tower enters service
[1]After the original Caprock tower collapsed in April, a replacement tower became operational in September.
Products and positioning
A local broadcast outlet for Roswell and southeastern New Mexico, positioned as KRQE's eastern New Mexico satellite and as a distribution, news-gathering, and advertising platform for the region.
Broadcast television · 1966
Channel 10 over-the-air television service
KBIM-TV's core offering is a full-power broadcast signal serving Roswell and surrounding communities in southeastern New Mexico. The station originally transmitted on analog VHF channel 10 and now provides digital service using VHF channel 10. Its terrestrial footprint is supported by the Caprock transmitter site and is complemented by distribution arrangements serving the wider regional television market.
Local news · 1989
KRQE-linked news coverage
KBIM-TV historically produced local Roswell newscasts and later carried or contributed to news services associated with KRQE. Although locally produced newscasts ended in 2008, KRQE maintained a reporting presence in Roswell, allowing the station group to continue gathering southeastern New Mexico news for regional broadcasts.
Television advertising · 1966
Commercial advertising and sponsorship inventory
The station sells advertising time to local and regional sponsors in the Roswell and southeastern New Mexico market. As a KRQE satellite, it can combine local market placement with broader regional television inventory, giving advertisers access to audiences reached by the station's broadcast signal and related programming.
Network affiliation · 2026
Fox network programming
The supplied reference material identifies a planned primary Fox affiliation beginning August 1, 2026, following the reported loss of CBS programming. This entry describes the announced future offering and should be checked against current station schedules and FCC records before being treated as operational.
Brand decisions
2026
Reported CBS-to-Fox affiliation changeOtherBackground
The supplied reference material describes a modified renewal arrangement affecting Nexstar and Hearst-owned stations in several markets.
Action taken
KBIM-TV is reported to be scheduled to end its CBS affiliation on August 1, 2026, and become a primary Fox affiliate.
Aftermath
If completed, the change would alter the station's network programming lineup and its competitive position in southeastern New Mexico. The implementation should be verified against current regulatory and station records.
2008
Locally produced newscasts discontinuedStrategyBackground
Further budget pressure led the station group to reassess the cost of maintaining a separate Roswell news operation.
Action taken
KBIM-TV ended local Roswell newscasts on December 12 and redirected resources toward technology improvements while retaining KRQE reporting in the area.
Aftermath
The station's local identity shifted from independently produced television news toward satellite distribution and parent-station-supported coverage.
1998
CBS Southwest regional integrationStrategyBackground
Lee Enterprises owned KRQE, KBIM-TV, and KREZ-TV and sought to coordinate their identities and news operations.
Action taken
The three stations were presented under the CBS Southwest name, with the Roswell and Durango operations contributing inserts to KRQE's early-evening newscasts.
Aftermath
The arrangement strengthened the stations' shared regional identity and reduced the separation between local satellite operations and the Albuquerque parent.
1991
Local news schedule and staffing reducedStrategyBackground
The station faced operating-cost pressure after its acquisition and integration with the Albuquerque operation.
Action taken
Six employees were laid off and the 10 p.m. local newscast was initially discontinued. The schedule was later revised, including changes to the noon and late-night local programs.
Aftermath
KBIM-TV continued to provide selected local news windows while increasing its reliance on parent-station programming and resources.
1989
Acquisition by New Mexico Broadcasting CompanyM&ABackground
Holsum chose to sell KBIM-TV during a period of depressed regional economic conditions rather than pursue a contemplated merger.
Action taken
The owner of Albuquerque CBS affiliate KGGM-TV acquired KBIM-TV, connecting the Roswell station to the Albuquerque operation.
Aftermath
The transaction brought selected Albuquerque newscasts to KBIM-TV, expanded the parent company's market reach, and contributed to the incorporation of Roswell households into the Albuquerque television market.
Reported purchase price. $5 million (1989)
1986
Network programming moved to Mountain Time schedulingStrategyBackground
KBIM-TV had previously aired CBS programs on Central Time, partly matching the schedule of competitor KSWS-TV, which was tied to Lubbock. After KSWS-TV changed its scheduling basis, KBIM-TV reassessed the arrangement.
Action taken
The station shifted network programming to the local Mountain Time schedule.
Aftermath
The change aligned network programming more closely with the station's local time zone and regional competitive environment.
Recent events
- 2026
KBIM-TV scheduled to change from CBS to Fox affiliation[1]
Product launch
The reference material reports that KBIM-TV is scheduled to lose its CBS affiliation on August 1, 2026, and become a primary Fox affiliate as part of a broader affiliation restructuring involving Nexstar and Hearst-owned stations.
- 2009
KBIM-TV completes digital television transition[1]
Product generation
The station shut down its analog VHF service on June 12, 2009, and continued digital broadcasting on VHF channel 10 after its transition-period operation on UHF channel 41.
- 2008
Local Roswell newscasts end[1]
Leadership change
KBIM-TV ended its locally produced Roswell newscasts on December 12, 2008, while KRQE maintained a reporting presence in the community.
- 1998
KBIM-TV joins the CBS Southwest branding structure[1]
Other
Lee Enterprises grouped KRQE, KBIM-TV, and KREZ-TV under the CBS Southwest identity and integrated portions of their news services.
- 1989
New Mexico Broadcasting Company agrees to acquire KBIM-TV[1]
M&A
The owner of Albuquerque CBS station KGGM-TV agreed to purchase KBIM-TV from Holsum, extending its southeastern New Mexico reach and expanding access to Roswell households.
- 1977
Fire destroys KBIM studios[1]
Other
A fire on May 31, 1977, gutted the station's shared Main Street studios. KBIM-TV returned to the air after approximately ten days using replacement facilities.
- 1966
KBIM-TV begins broadcasting as a CBS affiliate[1]
Other
The Roswell station commenced operations on February 24, 1966, initially carrying CBS network programming.
- 1966
KBIM-TV transmission tower collapses shortly after launch[1]
Other
The station's newly built Caprock tower collapsed on April 1, 1966, disrupting the television and co-located FM operations. A replacement tower was completed later that year.
Sources1 sources
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