KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV, branded CBS Los Angeles or CBS 2, is a CBS-owned television station serving the Los Angeles market.
Last updated October 25, 2026
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Overview
KCBS-TV is a television station licensed to Los Angeles, California, and the West Coast flagship of the CBS television network. It broadcasts on virtual channel 2 and serves the broad Southern California market through its local news operation, CBS network programming, sports coverage, syndicated and locally produced material, and digital services. The station operates alongside independent sister station KCAL-TV, channel 9, under the CBS News and Stations organization. Both stations share an all-digital facility at Radford Studio Center in Studio City, while KCBS-TV's transmitter is located on Mount Wilson. The station traces its history to W6XAO, an experimental television service established by Don Lee Broadcasting and first licensed by the Federal Radio Commission in June 1931. It began transmitting on December 23, 1931, making it the oldest continuously operating television station in the Western United States. Its earliest service used mechanical television technology and carried limited film and live programming. During the 1930s the station gradually improved its image system, expanded its schedule, and introduced live broadcasts. In 1940 it presented what contemporary accounts described as the first full-length play televised on the West Coast. Wartime conditions later reduced its programming schedule. The station moved to channel 2 after the Federal Communications Commission reserved the former channel 1 for low-power community television use. In 1948 it obtained a commercial license under the KTSL call sign, named for Thomas S. Lee, and briefly affiliated with the DuMont Television Network. CBS acquired the station in the early 1950s after the death of Thomas S. Lee and the disposition of Don Lee Broadcasting's assets. CBS transferred its Los Angeles network programming from KTTV to KTSL, and the station adopted the KNXT call sign in 1951 to align with CBS's KNX radio identity. It also moved its transmitter from Mount Lee to Mount Wilson. The present KCBS-TV call sign was adopted on April 2, 1984. The station later adopted the CBS 2 branding used by several CBS owned-and-operated stations. Its history includes both periods of strong local-news performance and extended ratings difficulties. The 1960s news program The Big News helped establish a highly influential Los Angeles news-hour format, combining local news, weather, sports, features, and the CBS national newscast. Later decades brought repeated changes to titles, schedules, formats, and presentation styles as the station attempted to compete with KABC-TV, KNBC, and other local outlets. KCBS-TV has also carried major sports properties through CBS network rights and local arrangements. Its historical coverage included Los Angeles Rams and Raiders games, Lakers basketball during CBS's NBA period, selected Dodgers and Angels baseball games, and programming related to Super Bowls hosted in the region. It became an important outlet for Chargers coverage after the franchise relocated to Los Angeles, and since 2024 it has carried selected USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins football games through CBS's Big Ten package. In 2002, KCBS-TV became a sister station to KCAL-TV after Viacom acquired KCAL. The stations moved in 2007 from CBS Columbia Square in Hollywood to a digital facility at CBS Studio Center in Studio City. KCBS-TV completed the federally mandated analog-to-digital transition in June 2009, moving its digital transmission to UHF channel 43 while retaining virtual channel 2. Its digital subchannel initially carried Decades and later became a home for Start TV. In 2019, CBS's corporate parent recombined with Viacom, placing the station within the broader Paramount corporate structure. KCBS-TV remains a major local news and network broadcasting operation in Los Angeles.
History
KCBS-TV began as W6XAO, an experimental television station created by Don Lee Broadcasting. The Federal Radio Commission issued its experimental license in June 1931, and transmissions began on December 23 of that year. Early broadcasts relied on mechanical scanning and offered a very limited schedule, initially consisting largely of film material. The station improved its technical system during the 1930s, moving to higher-resolution mechanical pictures and then to a fully electronic system. Live programming was introduced in 1938. In 1940 the station televised a full-length dramatic production, an early landmark for West Coast television. World War II reduced the schedule substantially, but the service survived and continued its transition toward commercial broadcasting. After the FCC reorganized the television band and removed channel 1 from ordinary full-power use, the station moved to channel 2. It received a commercial license in 1948 and adopted the KTSL call sign in honor of Thomas S. Lee. KTSL briefly operated as a DuMont affiliate and produced local programs, including Peter Potter's Jukebox Jury, which later received national exposure. Following Thomas S. Lee's death, Don Lee Broadcasting's assets were placed on the market. CBS acquired KTSL while General Tire and Rubber acquired most of the remaining Don Lee properties. CBS moved its Los Angeles network programming from KTTV to KTSL in January 1951, and the station changed its call sign to KNXT later that year. Its transmitter also moved from Mount Lee to Mount Wilson. For much of the 1950s and 1960s, the CBS station was a significant force in Los Angeles broadcasting. In 1961, KNXT launched The Big News, a 45-minute local newscast that led into the CBS Evening News and formed one of the country's earliest extended local-news blocks. The program assembled prominent anchors, weather presenters, sports personnel, reporters, and feature contributors. Its success helped make KNXT a leading Los Angeles news station. The format expanded to a full hour in 1963, and color broadcasting began in 1966. The station developed additional local bureaus and an accompanying late-evening report. The station's competitive position weakened during the 1970s. It changed anchors, titles, schedules, and formats repeatedly, including an attempt to imitate the conversational presentation associated with KABC-TV's Eyewitness News. A 1986 news-wheel experiment divided the afternoon and early-evening block into short news segments and themed features, but criticism from viewers and critics led to its abandonment after approximately one month. The station continued testing different early-evening and late-afternoon arrangements through the 1980s and 1990s. It adopted the KCBS-TV call sign in 1984 and the CBS 2 brand in 1997. KCBS-TV became linked operationally with KCAL-TV in 2002 when Viacom acquired KCAL. In 2007, the stations left the historic CBS Columbia Square complex in Hollywood and moved to an all-digital facility at CBS Studio Center in Studio City. The station ended regular analog broadcasting during the national digital transition in 2009, briefly providing nightlight service before completing the change to digital transmission. Its multicast service later carried Decades and then Start TV. Sports have remained an important part of the station's network and local identity. KCBS-TV carried CBS coverage involving the Los Angeles Rams, the Los Angeles Raiders, the Lakers during the NBA on CBS era, and selected Dodgers and Angels games. It has also carried NFL games involving the Chargers and Rams under CBS's AFC and cross-flex scheduling arrangements. Since 2024, the station has carried selected USC and UCLA football games through CBS's Big Ten agreement. Today, KCBS-TV operates as CBS's Los Angeles owned-and-operated station and West Coast flagship, with local newscasts, network programming, sports, weather, traffic, and digital distribution forming its principal services.
- 2024
Selected Big Ten football coverage begins
[1]CBS's conference rights brought selected USC and UCLA football games to KCBS-TV.
- 2018
Start TV launches on subchannel 2.2
[1]Start TV replaced Decades on the station's digital multicast service.
- 2009
Analog shutdown
[1]The station ended regular analog broadcasting and completed its digital channel transition.
- 2007
Move to Studio City
[1]KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV relocated from CBS Columbia Square to CBS Studio Center.
- 2002
KCAL-TV becomes a sister station
[1]Viacom's acquisition of KCAL-TV created a common-ownership relationship with KCBS-TV.
- 1984
KCBS-TV call sign adopted
[1]KNXT changed its call letters to KCBS-TV on April 2.
- 1961
The Big News launches
[1]KNXT introduced an extended local-news hour that became influential in American television news.
- 1951
CBS programming moves to KTSL
[1]CBS shifted its Los Angeles network affiliation from KTTV to KTSL, which then became KNXT.
- 1948
Commercial license and KTSL identity
[1]The station received a commercial license and adopted KTSL as its call sign.
- 1940
West Coast televised play
[1]The station presented a full-length dramatic play in an early milestone for West Coast television.
Products and positioning
A CBS-owned, locally focused Los Angeles television station positioned around breaking news, regional journalism, weather, traffic, network entertainment, and nationally distributed sports. It also functions as CBS's West Coast flagship station and operates in a dual-station arrangement with KCAL-TV.
Local news
CBS 2 News
KCBS-TV's locally produced news service covers breaking news, public affairs, weather, traffic, consumer issues, and regional events across Los Angeles and Southern California. The station currently produces approximately 30 hours of local newscasts each week, distributed across weekday and weekend schedules.
Network television · 1951
CBS network programming
As a CBS owned-and-operated station, KCBS-TV carries the network's entertainment, news, daytime, late-night, and special-event programming in the Los Angeles market.
Sports broadcasting · 1956
CBS Sports coverage
The station distributes selected CBS sports programming, including NFL games involving AFC teams and regional or cross-flexed matchups, together with selected college football coverage and other network sports events.
Digital multicast television · 2018
Start TV
Start TV is the station's digital multicast service on channel 2.2. It replaced Decades in 2018 and provides a separate television schedule from the main KCBS-TV service.
Controversies
2020
Jeff Michael sues KCBS-TV
In a 2020 legal action, news anchor Jeff Michael sued KCBS-TV, alleging that the station breached his contract and discriminated against him based on health issues. The claims were reported as allegations made by Michael; the source does not establish them as findings or determinations. The dispute concerns Michael's contractual relationship with the station and his treatment on health-related grounds, as asserted in the lawsuit. No further details on the claims, the parties' positions, or the outcome are provided in the source material.
Brand decisions
2018
Replace Decades with Start TVGeneration changeBackground
CBS and its multicast partners adjusted the programming lineup carried by the station's secondary digital channel.
Action taken
Start TV replaced Decades on virtual channel 2.2.
Aftermath
Decades moved to another Los Angeles outlet while KCBS-TV continued digital multicast operations with Start TV.
2007
Consolidate operations in Studio CityStrategyBackground
CBS modernized the facilities serving KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV.
Action taken
Both stations moved from CBS Columbia Square to an all-digital facility at CBS Studio Center.
Aftermath
The move established the Studio City complex as the shared operating base for the two Los Angeles stations.
1997
Introduce CBS 2 brandingStrategyBackground
CBS owned-and-operated stations increasingly used a consistent network-and-channel branding system.
Action taken
KCBS-TV adopted the CBS 2 on-air identity.
Aftermath
CBS 2 became the station's principal consumer-facing brand alongside the KCBS-TV call sign.
1984
Adopt the KCBS-TV call signStrategyBackground
CBS sought a Los Angeles identity aligned with its KCBS radio branding and broader corporate station portfolio.
Action taken
KNXT changed its call letters to KCBS-TV on April 2, 1984.
Aftermath
The call sign became the station's enduring broadcast identity, later complemented by CBS 2 branding.
Recent events
Jeff Michael sues KCBS-TV[3]
Reported:
News anchor Jeff Michael sued KCBS-TV, alleging that the station breached his contract and discriminated against him based on health issues. The allegations are not established as findings in the source.
Sources3 sources
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