KCBD

KCBD is television station KCBD, virtual channel 11, licensed to Lubbock, Texas, and serving the South Plains region. The station operates as an NBC affiliate and is part of a group of television properties owned by Gray Media. Its Lubbock operations share facilities at the intersection of 98th Street and University Avenue with sister stations KLCW-TV, a CW+ affiliate, KJTV-TV, a Fox affiliate, and several low-power stations. KCBD's transmitter is located near its former studio site by the interchange of Interstate 27 and the Slaton Highway. The station began broadcasting on May 10, 1953, as Lubbock's second television station. It was established by a group headed by Joe Bryant, who also owned KCBD radio. At launch, KCBD carried NBC programming as its primary affiliation and ABC programming as a secondary affiliation. It became the market's sole NBC affiliate in 1969, when the launch of KSEL-TV—now KAMC-TV—provided a separate outlet for ABC. KCBD was also the first Lubbock station to transmit in color. From 1968 through 1983, it operated KSWS-TV in Roswell, New Mexico, as a satellite or repeater; that station later became KOBR, associated with Albuquerque NBC affiliate KOB. Ownership changed several times. Bryant sold KCBD and KSWS to State Telecasting Company in 1971. The radio operation was separated and eventually became KDAV, while State Telecasting used the KCBD call-sign pattern in connection with another station it acquired in Charleston, South Carolina. State Telecasting sold KCBD to Caprock Broadcasting in 1983. Caprock sold it to Holsum bakery in 1986, and Holsum later sold it to Cosmos Broadcasting in 2000. Cosmos was the broadcasting arm of Liberty Corporation; after Liberty left the insurance business, the stations became directly associated with Liberty. Liberty merged with Raycom Media in 2006. KCBD has maintained a strong local-news identity. It replaced the Eyewitness News and 11 KCBD-TV branding with News 11 in 1984, later transitioning to NewsChannel 11 around 1993 or 1994. Its newscasts have frequently led the Lubbock market, supported by long-serving presenters and local reporting. The station also produces or has carried community-oriented programming, including health segments, a medical series produced with Methodist Hospital, and fundraising for the Children's Miracle Network. Technologically, KCBD began digital broadcasting in May 2002 and later that year became the first station in its market to carry network programming in true high definition. It began high-definition local newscasts on April 10, 2011. The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, moving its digital operation to VHF channel 11. Its digital history also included NBC Weather Plus and The Tube Music Network on secondary channels. A major operational disruption occurred on February 4, 2015, when a small aircraft struck the station's transmission tower. One passenger died, the tower was damaged, and the crash interrupted power and normal broadcasting. KCBD used cable distribution, educational television facilities, and a feed through another Lubbock station while restoring service. The damaged tower remnant was deliberately brought down the next day, and the station returned to its building and regular operations. KCBD became part of Gray's portfolio through Gray Television's 2018 agreement to merge with Raycom Media. The transaction, approved in December 2018 and completed on January 2, 2019, combined Raycom's stations—including KCBD—with Gray's broadcast assets. KCBD remains an active local NBC station, combining network programming, locally produced news, weather and sports coverage, syndicated programming, digital channels, and community partnerships.

KCBD signed on May 10, 1953, serving Lubbock, Texas, as the city's second television station. Its founding ownership group was led by Joe Bryant, owner of KCBD radio. The station launched with NBC as its principal network and ABC as a secondary affiliation. It was also an early technical leader in the market, becoming Lubbock's first color television broadcaster. In 1969, after KSEL-TV began operations, KCBD ended its secondary ABC affiliation and became the market's sole NBC station. Between 1968 and 1983, KCBD also operated KSWS-TV in Roswell, New Mexico, as a satellite or repeater. The Roswell operation later became KOBR, a semi-satellite of Albuquerque NBC station KOB. In 1971, Bryant sold KCBD and KSWS to State Telecasting Company. The associated KCBD radio station was separated from the television business and ultimately became KDAV. State Telecasting sold the television station to Caprock Broadcasting in 1983. KCBD refreshed its public identity in 1984, replacing the Eyewitness News name and its earlier 11 KCBD-TV presentation with News 11. During this period, the station used a logo incorporating an outline of Texas and a prominent channel 11 marker. A later 1991 revision removed the Texas outline. Around 1993 or 1994, the station adopted the NewsChannel 11 name that became its enduring local-news identity. Ownership moved to Holsum bakery in 1986 and then to Cosmos Broadcasting in 2000. Cosmos was connected to Liberty Corporation. After Liberty exited the insurance sector, its broadcast assets came directly under the Liberty name. Liberty merged with Raycom Media in 2006, placing KCBD within Raycom's station group. The station expanded its technical capabilities in the 2000s. It began transmitting a digital signal in May 2002 and later that year carried network programming in true high definition, reportedly the first Lubbock station to do so. KCBD also used digital subchannels for NBC Weather Plus beginning in 2005 and The Tube Music Network beginning in 2006; both services later ended. The station completed the federally mandated analog shutdown on June 12, 2009, with its digital signal operating on channel 11. Local newscasts moved to high definition on April 10, 2011. KCBD's local-news operation has been a central part of its identity and has often ranked first in the Lubbock market. The station's history includes long-serving personalities such as Abner Euresti, Karin McCay, and chief meteorologist John Robison. Its public-service work has included participation in the Children's Miracle Network telethon since 1984. KCBD also aired the locally produced Health Matters program with Methodist Hospital during the 1990s, extending McCay's health reporting into a weekly format. The station carried The Oprah Winfrey Show from the 1989–90 season through its final 2010–11 season and has aired Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune since 2002. On February 4, 2015, a small aircraft hit KCBD's transmission tower. One passenger died. The collision damaged the tower and cut power to the station, forcing KCBD to use alternative production and distribution arrangements, including an educational television facility and a feed through another Lubbock station. The tower remnant was intentionally lowered on February 5, power was restored, and normal operations resumed. Gray Television announced an agreement to acquire Raycom Media in June 2018. The transaction combined Raycom's stations, including KCBD, with Gray's existing television portfolio. Regulatory approval came on December 20, 2018, and the merger closed on January 2, 2019. KCBD continues to operate as a Gray-owned NBC affiliate with local news, weather, sports, network, syndicated, digital, and community programming.

1. 2019Joins Gray Television

   Gray completes its merger with Raycom Media, bringing KCBD into Gray's ownership.

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2. 2015Transmission tower aircraft collision

   An aircraft strikes the station's tower, causing a fatality and a short-term broadcast interruption.

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3. 2011Local newscasts become high definition

   KCBD begins presenting its newscasts in high definition on April 10.

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4. 2009Analog transmission ends

   KCBD shuts down its analog VHF service as part of the United States digital television transition.

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5. 2002Digital and high-definition expansion

   KCBD launches digital broadcasting and later carries network programming in true high definition.

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6. 1984News branding is redesigned

   The station replaces Eyewitness News with News 11, later transitioning to NewsChannel 11.

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7. 1984Children's Miracle Network partnership begins

   KCBD becomes the South Plains television partner for the charity's inaugural telethon.

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8. 1969Becomes sole NBC affiliate

   KCBD ends its secondary ABC affiliation after KSEL-TV launches and assumes ABC programming in the market.

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9. 1953KCBD signs on

   KCBD begins broadcasting on May 10 as Lubbock's second television station and an NBC affiliate with secondary ABC programming.

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A long-established, locally focused NBC television station positioned around dependable regional news, weather, sports, public-service programming, and South Plains community involvement.

• NewsChannel 11Local television news1993

  KCBD's principal local-news brand covers Lubbock and the South Plains through scheduled newscasts, breaking-news reports, weather, sports, and community stories. The identity evolved from the station's News 11 branding introduced in 1984 and became associated with its strong position in the Lubbock news market.

• NBC programmingNetwork television1953

  As Lubbock's NBC affiliate, KCBD carries NBC network programs alongside locally produced content. NBC has been the station's principal affiliation since its 1953 launch, and KCBD became the market's sole NBC affiliate in 1969.

• Health MattersHealth programming1990

  Health Matters was a weekly program produced with Methodist Hospital and hosted by anchor and health reporter Karin McCay. It examined individual health topics through interviews with medical professionals and extended KCBD's health-reporting work beyond its regular newscasts.

• KCBD digital multicast servicesDigital television2005

  KCBD has used digital subchannels for services including NewsChannel 11 Weather Plus and The Tube Music Network. These affiliations ended after the respective services ceased operation, illustrating the station's participation in the expansion of over-the-air digital television.

• 1984Children's Miracle Network telethon

  South Plains of Texas

  KCBD began serving as the South Plains television partner for the Children's Miracle Network's inaugural telethon, linking its local broadcasting role with charitable fundraising.

  Outcome. The partnership became a continuing community-service activity for the station.

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• 2018Agreement to join Gray TelevisionM&A

  KCBD was part of Raycom Media when Gray Television announced a transaction combining the two broadcast groups.

  What changed. Gray agreed to merge with Raycom in a cash-and-stock transaction reported at $3.6 billion.

  Aftermath. The transaction was approved in December 2018 and closed on January 2, 2019, making KCBD a Gray-owned station.

  Reported transaction value. $3.6 billion (2018 announced transaction)

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• 2002Launch of digital broadcastingProduct launch

  Digital television was expanding in the United States and local stations were beginning to add digital services.

  What changed. KCBD began broadcasting a digital signal and later carried network programming in true high definition.

  Aftermath. The station became an early local adopter of digital and high-definition broadcasting.

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• 1969Consolidation around NBC affiliationStrategy

  KCBD had carried ABC as a secondary affiliation since its launch, but a new Lubbock station assumed ABC programming.

  What changed. KCBD ended its secondary ABC affiliation and operated as a sole NBC affiliate.

  Aftermath. The change established the station's long-term NBC identity in the Lubbock market.

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• 2019Gray Television completes Raycom Media merger

  KCBD becomes part of Gray Television after Gray completed its combination with former owner Raycom Media.

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• 2015KCBD tower struck by aircraft

  A small aircraft collided with KCBD's transmission tower, killing one passenger and temporarily disrupting station operations and transmission.

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• 1969KCBD becomes sole NBC affiliate in Lubbock

  The station drops its secondary ABC role after a new local station assumes the ABC affiliation.

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• 1953KCBD begins broadcasting

  The station signs on as Lubbock's second television station, carrying NBC programming with a secondary ABC affiliation.

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1. KCBD
2. KCBD official website