KBMT

KBMT is a television station serving Beaumont, Port Arthur, and the wider Southeast Texas market. The station operates under the 12NewsNow identity and is primarily affiliated with ABC, while also carrying NBC programming on a digital service. Its facilities are in Beaumont along the Interstate 10, U.S. 69, U.S. 96, and U.S. 287 corridor, and its main transmitter is near Mauriceville, Texas. The KBMT callsign first appeared on May 9, 1954, when the station began broadcasting on UHF channel 31. It was the first television station in the Golden Triangle region. The original operation was owned by Television Broadcasters, Inc., whose shareholders included H. D. Williams and R. C. Reed. During its early period, the station carried programming from NBC, DuMont, and ABC, and temporarily carried CBS programming before KFDM-TV began operating. Because television receivers were not broadly required to include UHF tuning until the 1960s, the original channel 31 operation ceased broadcasting on August 1, 1956. The owners later secured a VHF channel 12 allocation and relaunched KBMT on June 18, 1961. The new station inherited the ABC affiliation, which remains its principal network relationship. The transmitter was initially associated with a site at Sabine Pass and was subsequently moved to the Mauriceville area. The antenna was configured directionally to reduce the risk of interference with KSLA-TV in Shreveport. Ownership changed several times, including transfers to Cowles Broadcasting in 1965, the Channel 2 Television Company in 1970, and McKinnon Broadcasting in 1977. KBMT launched a local news operation in 1962. Its role expanded in the digital era when it added NBC programming to digital subchannel 12.2 on January 1, 2009, following the Beaumont market's realignment of network affiliations. The NBC service was branded K-JAC NBC, recalling the former K-JAC calls associated with channel 4. KBMT also entered a programming-management arrangement with KUIL, later KUIL-LD, and developed additional multicast services carrying independent, Spanish-language, lifestyle, entertainment, and classic television programming at different times. The station completed the United States digital television transition in June 2009, ending its analog VHF channel 12 transmission and moving its post-transition digital operation to VHF channel 12. In August 2009, Texas Telecasting sold KBMT to London Broadcasting. Gannett announced its purchase of KBMT and other London stations in 2014, and the transaction closed that July. Following Gannett's 2015 separation into publishing and broadcasting companies, KBMT became part of Tegna. Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of Tegna, announced in 2025 and completed in 2026 according to the referenced station history, placed KBMT within Nexstar's broader television portfolio. KBMT's principal output is local television news, weather, traffic, sports, community coverage, and emergency information, supplemented by ABC network programming and NBC programming on its secondary service. In April 2010, it became the first station in its market to broadcast local news in high definition. The station and its associated low-power and translator facilities extend service beyond Beaumont and Port Arthur into surrounding Southeast Texas communities. Its competitive identity is therefore based on local relevance, network programming, over-the-air multicast distribution, and digital news access rather than on a standalone consumer product line.

KBMT began broadcasting on May 9, 1954, on UHF channel 31 as the first television station in the Golden Triangle. Television Broadcasters, Inc. operated the station, with H. D. Williams and R. C. Reed among its shareholders and Reed serving as president. The early schedule combined NBC, DuMont, and ABC programming, with some CBS programming before KFDM-TV began broadcasting. The UHF operation struggled in an era when many television receivers lacked built-in UHF tuning and went off the air on August 1, 1956. The station's owners later won a Federal Communications Commission allocation for VHF channel 12. KBMT returned to the air on that channel on June 18, 1961, retaining the callsign and taking over the ABC affiliation. The original transmitter plan involved a Sabine Pass site, but the transmitter and antenna were moved near Mauriceville in the early 1960s. Directional antenna modifications helped limit interference with KSLA-TV in Shreveport. Ownership subsequently passed through Cowles Broadcasting, the Channel 2 Television Company, and McKinnon Broadcasting. KBMT established its local news operation in 1962. In the 2000s, the station expanded its role through digital multicast services and partnerships with low-power station KUIL. On January 1, 2009, it added NBC to digital subchannel 12.2 under the K-JAC NBC identity after KBTV changed from NBC to Fox. KBMT also managed KUIL programming under an agreement with London Broadcasting. In May 2010, London described a proposed MYTX state network that would use subchannels operated by KBMT to distribute Texas news, sports, and entertainment material. The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide full-power digital transition. Its digital signal moved from pre-transition UHF channel 50 to VHF channel 12. In August 2009, Texas Telecasting sold KBMT to London Broadcasting. Gannett announced its purchase of KBMT and other London stations in May 2014, completing the transaction on July 8. Gannett also acquired related low-power digital signals later that year. When Gannett separated its publishing and broadcasting operations in 2015, KBMT became part of Tegna. News production has remained central to the station. In 2009, KBMT expanded the weekday morning program, added an NBC-subchannel midday newscast, and introduced additional NBC evening news programming. It became the first television station in its market to provide local news in high definition on April 28, 2010. The modern operation combines ABC programming, NBC programming on a secondary digital service, local news and weather, community reporting, digital publishing, and distribution through associated low-power and translator facilities. The referenced history records Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of Tegna as completed on March 19, 2026.

1. 2026Nexstar acquisition of Tegna completes

   The referenced history states that Nexstar completed its Tegna acquisition on March 19, bringing KBMT into the Nexstar group.

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2. 2015Station transfers to Tegna

   KBMT became part of Tegna after Gannett separated its publishing and broadcast businesses.

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3. 2014Gannett acquisition closes

   Gannett completed its purchase of KBMT from London Broadcasting on July 8.

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4. 2010Local news moves to high definition

   KBMT became the first station in its market to broadcast local news in high definition.

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5. 2009NBC multicast service launches

   NBC programming began on digital subchannel 12.2 under the K-JAC NBC brand.

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6. 2009Analog broadcasting ends

   KBMT completed its federally mandated transition to digital broadcasting on June 12.

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7. 1962Local news operation begins

   KBMT launched its local news department.

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8. 1961KBMT returns on VHF channel 12

   A new channel 12 operation launched on June 18 and assumed the ABC affiliation.

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9. 1956Original channel 31 service ends

   The UHF operation ceased broadcasting after limited UHF receiver penetration hindered the station's viability.

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10. 1954KBMT launches on UHF channel 31

    The original KBMT began broadcasting from Beaumont on May 9 as the Golden Triangle's first television station.

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A locally focused Southeast Texas television outlet combining ABC network service, NBC multicast programming, regional news, weather, sports, and digital distribution.

• 12NewsNowLocal news service

  KBMT's local news identity, covering Southeast Texas and surrounding communities through television newscasts, weather, traffic, sports, emergency information, and online reporting. The service is distributed through the station's main broadcast operation and digital channels, with coverage tailored to Beaumont, Port Arthur, and the Golden Triangle.

• ABC programmingNetwork television affiliation1961

  The primary network service carried by KBMT since the station's relaunch on VHF channel 12 in 1961. It combines ABC's national schedule with KBMT's local news, weather, public-service, and market-specific programming.

• K-JAC NBCDigital multicast television2009

  An NBC programming service added to KBMT digital subchannel 12.2 in 2009. Its name references the former K-JAC calls associated with a Beaumont-area channel and provides a second major-network service through KBMT's digital facilities.

• Digital multicast and translator servicesBroadcast distribution

  KBMT has used low-power stations, translators, and multiple digital channels to extend its ABC, NBC, and other programming across Southeast Texas and nearby communities. The exact lineup has changed over time as affiliations and multicast services were realigned.

• 2026Transfer into Nexstar's station groupM&A

  Nexstar Media Group pursued the acquisition of Tegna, KBMT's corporate owner according to the referenced station history.

  What changed. The referenced history says the transaction was completed on March 19, 2026.

  Aftermath. KBMT became associated with Nexstar's larger group of local television stations.

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• 2014Sale to GannettM&A

  London Broadcasting sought to sell KBMT and several other television properties.

  What changed. Gannett announced the acquisition in May and completed it on July 8.

  Aftermath. KBMT became part of Gannett's broadcast portfolio and later transferred to Tegna when Gannett separated its businesses.

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• 2009Launch of NBC digital subchannelProduct launch

  The Beaumont market's prior NBC affiliate changed to Fox, leaving an opportunity for KBMT to add NBC service without changing its primary ABC affiliation.

  What changed. KBMT began carrying NBC programming on digital subchannel 12.2 under the K-JAC NBC identity.

  Aftermath. The station became a dual-network operation, with ABC on its main service and NBC on a digital multicast channel.

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• 2009Digital transition and channel relocationStrategy

  United States full-power television stations were required to end analog broadcasting and move to digital transmission.

  What changed. KBMT shut down its analog VHF channel 12 signal and operated its post-transition digital signal on VHF channel 12.

  Aftermath. The station continued digital broadcasting while expanding the role of its multicast and associated low-power facilities.

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• 2026Nexstar completes Tegna acquisition

  The referenced station history states that Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of Tegna on March 19, 2026, placing KBMT within Nexstar's station group.

  M&A
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• 2015KBMT becomes part of Tegna after Gannett separation

  The station was retained by Gannett's broadcast and digital successor, Tegna, after the company split its publishing and broadcasting operations.

  M&A
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• 2014London Broadcasting sells KBMT to Gannett

  Gannett announced and completed the acquisition of KBMT and several other London Broadcasting stations.

  M&A
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• 2009KBMT adds NBC programming to digital subchannel

  KBMT began carrying NBC programming on digital subchannel 12.2 after the Beaumont market's previous NBC affiliate changed affiliations.

  Product launch
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• 2009KBMT completes analog shutdown and digital channel transition

  The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12 and continued its digital service on VHF channel 12.

  RegulationOther
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1. KBMT
2. 12NewsNow official website