KBVO
A television station licensed to Llano, Texas, serving the Austin market with independent entertainment programming and a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KBVO is a full-power television station licensed to Llano, Texas, and serving the Austin and Central Texas television market. The station broadcasts on channel 14 and is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns NBC affiliate KXAN-TV. KBVO operates from shared facilities with KXAN-TV and CW affiliate KNVA in Austin, while its primary transmitter is located in unincorporated Llano County southeast of the city of Llano. The station originated as part of an effort to improve KXAN-TV's over-the-air coverage in the rugged Hill Country west of Austin. UHF signals from Austin had historically been difficult to receive in communities including Llano, Burnet, Blanco, Fredericksburg, Mason, San Saba and Lampasas. A construction permit for channel 14 was initially associated with the call sign KLNO. After LIN Broadcasting acquired the dormant permit, the station launched on September 6, 1991, as a semi-satellite of KXAN-TV. It briefly used the KLNO call sign before becoming KXAM-TV in October 1991. For much of this period, its schedule largely duplicated KXAN, with limited local news inserts and local station identification. KBVO's role changed substantially in 2009. On August 3 of that year, the station adopted the KBVO call sign, referencing Bevo, the mascot of the University of Texas at Austin. On October 21, it became the Austin area's MyNetworkTV affiliate, taking the service from KNVA. Rather than continuing as a KXAN rebroadcast outlet, KBVO developed a separate entertainment-oriented schedule. Its programming mix has included syndicated talk and court shows, off-network sitcoms and dramas, sports, and the complete nighttime MyNetworkTV schedule, occasionally shifted to accommodate local or regional sports. Sports have been an important part of the station's independent programming identity. KBVO has carried Central Texas high-school football, college sports, professional sports, and other syndicated or locally relevant events. It can also serve as an alternate outlet for selected NBC programming when KXAN-TV is preempting network content for extended breaking-news or severe-weather coverage. The station has additionally carried selected educational programming that might otherwise be displaced by sports on another local station. The station's ownership passed from LIN Media to Media General in 2014 and then to Nexstar following Nexstar's acquisition of Media General in January 2017. KBVO's technical reach expanded through upgrades to its Austin-area translator and its main transmitter. These changes improved reception in Austin and extended the station's coverage to communities such as San Marcos and Georgetown. KBVO remains a locally focused television outlet whose programming combines a national MyNetworkTV service with syndicated entertainment, sports, and occasional local-market scheduling responsibilities.
History
KBVO was created to address a long-standing coverage problem in the Austin television market. Because of the Hill Country's terrain and the propagation limitations of UHF signals, KXAN-TV's Austin transmission did not provide reliable reception in parts of western and central Texas. In 1985, Llano Broadcasting Company, associated with A.W. and Mary Mousund, applied for a commercial station on UHF channel 14. The proposed station received the KLNO call sign in 1986, but the original permit holder did not complete construction. LIN Broadcasting, through Kingstip Communications, sought to acquire the dormant permit in 1989 so that channel 14 could operate as a semi-satellite of KXAN-TV. The FCC approved the acquisition in 1990, subject to a payment condition. The station began broadcasting on September 6, 1991. It initially used the KLNO call sign and then changed to KXAM-TV on October 14, 1991, aligning its identity with KXAN. The station primarily repeated KXAN's programming, while limited local news inserts were produced for Hill Country viewers. Early operation also produced reception interference for some households using antenna amplifiers, leading KXAN engineering staff to develop filters for affected viewers. For much of its first two decades, channel 14 functioned mainly as a coverage extension for KXAN rather than as a fully independent service. Its existence helped improve KXAN's reach in communities west of Austin, but the growth of cable and satellite distribution reduced the importance of a separate full-power rebroadcast signal. In 2009, management chose to reposition the station as an independently programmed outlet. The call sign became KBVO, a reference to the University of Texas mascot Bevo, and the station assumed the Austin-market MyNetworkTV affiliation from KNVA in October of that year. The repositioning gave KBVO its own schedule, built around syndicated entertainment programming, MyNetworkTV's nighttime lineup, and sports. The station initially used the brand MyAustinTV before moving to call-letter branding in 2012. Local and regional sports became a notable component, including Central Texas high-school football and college athletics. KBVO also retained a relationship with KXAN by serving as an occasional alternate outlet for NBC programming and by carrying selected rebroadcast or educational content. Technical changes accompanied the programming transition. The low-power Austin translator moved to channel 31 and increased its power in 2015. In 2016, the main channel 14 facility also increased power substantially, extending its service area to include more of the Austin metropolitan region and cities such as San Marcos and Georgetown. Corporate ownership changed twice during the station's modern history. Media General acquired LIN's stations in December 2014. Nexstar then acquired Media General, with the transaction completed in January 2017. KBVO consequently became part of Nexstar Media Group's Austin cluster alongside KXAN-TV, while Nexstar also provided services to KNVA under a local marketing arrangement. KBVO continues to operate as an active Central Texas television station with an independent entertainment schedule and MyNetworkTV affiliation.
- 2017
Nexstar ownership begins
[1]Nexstar completed its acquisition of Media General, placing KBVO in the Nexstar Media Group portfolio.
- 2016
Main transmitter power increase
[1]The main KBVO facility increased its effective radiated power to 15 kW, broadening coverage.
- 2015
Austin translator power increase
[1]The KBVO-CD translator moved to channel 31 and increased its effective radiated power to 15 kW.
- 2014
Media General acquires LIN stations
[1]KBVO became part of Media General after its acquisition of LIN Media.
- 2009
Station becomes KBVO
[1]The station adopted the KBVO call sign on August 3.
- 2009
MyNetworkTV affiliation begins
[1]KBVO became the Austin area's MyNetworkTV affiliate on October 21 and adopted a separate schedule.
- 1991
Channel 14 signs on
[1]The station began broadcasting as a semi-satellite of KXAN-TV on September 6.
- 1991
Call sign changes to KXAM-TV
[1]The station changed from KLNO to KXAM-TV on October 14.
- 1990
LIN receives construction-permit approval
[1]The FCC approved Kingstip Communications' acquisition of the dormant permit for a KXAN semi-satellite.
- 1986
KLNO call sign approved
[1]The FCC approved KLNO as the proposed station's call sign.
Products and positioning
A Central Texas entertainment and sports television station combining independent programming with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation.
Television station · 1991
KBVO broadcast service
The station's main over-the-air service on channel 14, licensed to Llano and serving the Austin and Central Texas market. Its schedule combines MyNetworkTV programming with syndicated entertainment, sports, selected educational programming, and occasional alternate NBC programming supplied through its relationship with KXAN-TV.
Low-power television translator
KBVO-CD translator
An Austin-area translator used to extend KBVO's service into the metropolitan market. The facility later moved to channel 31 and received a substantial power increase, improving reception across Austin and nearby communities.
Television programming affiliation · 2009
MyNetworkTV schedule
KBVO carries the complete nighttime MyNetworkTV schedule, with the ability to shift programs to later hours when local or regional sports and other scheduling commitments require it.
Sports television · 2009
Central Texas sports programming
KBVO's sports output has included high-school football games of the week, college athletics, professional sports, and other local or syndicated events. Sports programming is a central part of the station's identity as an independently scheduled outlet.
Brand decisions
2017
Nexstar acquisition of Media GeneralM&ABackground
Nexstar pursued Media General after an earlier offer had been rejected and after Media General ended its planned Meredith transaction.
Action taken
Nexstar completed the acquisition on January 17, 2017, after FCC approval.
Aftermath
KBVO became part of Nexstar Media Group and operated alongside KXAN-TV in the Austin market.
Announced transaction value. Approximately $4.6 billion in cash and stock, plus assumed debt of approximately $2.3 billion (2016 announcement)
2016
Main facility power upgradeOtherBackground
KBVO's prior signal did not adequately cover several communities in the Austin market.
Action taken
The station increased its main transmitter's effective radiated power from 75 watts to 15 kW.
Aftermath
The station's contour expanded to approximately 54.7 miles, adding stronger service to places including San Marcos and Georgetown.
2015
Translator technical upgradeOtherBackground
The existing low-power Austin translator provided limited coverage of the metropolitan area.
Action taken
The translator moved from UHF channel 51 to channel 31 and increased effective radiated power to the permitted 15 kW level.
Aftermath
The upgrade improved KBVO's ability to reach Austin-area viewers over the air.
2014
LIN Media acquisition by Media GeneralM&ABackground
Media General sought to expand its television portfolio through the acquisition of LIN Media, including KBVO and KXAN-TV.
Action taken
The parties completed the transaction after FCC approval in December 2014.
Aftermath
KBVO continued under common ownership with KXAN-TV and remained subject to the regulatory arrangements governing the Austin market.
Announced transaction value. Approximately $1.6 billion (2014 announcement)
2009
Repositioning from KXAN semi-satellite to independent outletStrategyBackground
The station's original role as a KXAN rebroadcaster became less valuable as cable and satellite distribution expanded and the proportion of Hill Country households receiving KXAN over the air declined.
Action taken
LIN changed the station's call sign to KBVO, assigned it the Austin-market MyNetworkTV affiliation, and created a separate schedule centered on syndicated entertainment and sports.
Aftermath
KBVO became a distinct entertainment and sports service rather than a routine KXAN simulcast, while retaining operational ties to KXAN.
Recent events
- 2016
Nexstar announces acquisition of Media General[1]
M&A
Nexstar announced an agreement to acquire Media General, placing KBVO under the ownership of Nexstar's successor company after regulatory approval and completion of the transaction.
- 2016
KBVO expands broadcast coverage through transmitter upgrades[1]
Other
The station increased the effective radiated power of its main signal, expanding its coverage contour across more of Central Texas.
- 2014
Media General announces acquisition of LIN Media stations[1]
M&A
Media General announced an agreement to acquire LIN Media, including KBVO and KXAN-TV, in a transaction valued at approximately $1.6 billion.
- 2014
Media General completes acquisition of LIN Media stations[1]
M&A
The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction in December 2014, and Media General completed the acquisition later that month.
Sources2 sources
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