KEYE-TV

KEYE-TV is a broadcast television station serving Austin, Texas, and the surrounding Central Texas market. The station transmits on virtual channel 42 and is primarily affiliated with CBS. It also operates a Telemundo-branded digital subchannel that carries Spanish-language network programming and locally produced Spanish-language newscasts. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and maintains studios on Metric Boulevard in North Austin, with its main transmitter on Waymaker Way on the western side of the city. The station began broadcasting on December 4, 1983, as KBVO-TV, Austin's first new commercial television station since 1971 and the market's first locally based independent station. Its original schedule was built around feature films, supplemented by syndicated programs, sports, religious programming, and children's shows. The KBVO call sign referred to Bevo, the University of Texas longhorn mascot. Within months of its launch, the station had become profitable, and in October 1986 it joined the newly created Fox network as a charter affiliate. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, KBVO developed a strong identity as a movie-oriented independent and Fox station. In 1991 it became the first station outside San Antonio to carry a package of San Antonio Spurs basketball games. By 1994, it was described as one of Fox's highest-rated affiliates nationally, particularly among younger viewers. Its position changed after New World Communications acquired Austin's long-established CBS affiliate, KTBC, and committed that station to Fox. Fox moved to KTBC in July 1995 because KTBC's VHF signal had broader coverage than KBVO's UHF signal. To replace the departing Fox affiliation, KBVO's owners sold the station to Granite Broadcasting, which secured the CBS affiliation. On July 2, 1995, the station adopted the KEYE-TV call sign as part of the affiliation change. Granite expanded the facility and created a full local news operation, moving the station away from its earlier image as a schedule dominated by films and children's programming. Although the newscasts initially faced technical and ratings problems, the station later developed a distinctive, fast-paced presentation and invested heavily in weather, staffing, and high-definition production. Granite sold KEYE-TV to CBS in 1999. CBS later divested the station in a 2007 transaction involving several smaller-market properties. The station became part of Four Points Media Group, a holding company established by Cerberus Capital Management, and was subsequently operated under a management agreement with Nexstar Broadcasting Group. Sinclair acquired the Four Points stations in 2012 and has operated KEYE-TV since then. In 2016, the station increasingly marketed its primary service under the name CBS Austin. KEYE-TV has repeatedly adjusted its local news schedule. Its news operation has included evening, morning, noon, and lifestyle programming, with changes reflecting ratings, production costs, and agreements with outside media companies. The station launched Spanish-language local newscasts when its second digital channel became a Telemundo affiliate in 2009. It also participated in Austin's NextGen TV deployment through ATSC 3.0 broadcasts associated with KBVO-CD. KEYE-TV ended analog broadcasting in 2009 and moved its digital transmission channel in 2019 as part of the United States broadcast-spectrum repacking process.

Austin's channel 42 has a longer history than the present KEYE-TV identity. An earlier station, KHFI-TV, used the channel before moving to channel 36 and later becoming KTVV. A Spanish-language translator application also occupied the channel's regulatory history in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Federal Communications Commission eventually received competing applications for a full-power station, including proposals associated with Texas Television, Austin Telecasting, Mountain Laurel Broadcasting, Pappas Telecasting, and Television Corporation of Central Texas. Pappas withdrew, and the remaining applicants reached a settlement that produced Austin Television, a consortium involving Austin Telecasting, Mountain Laurel, and Texas Television. Darrold Cannan Jr. was a leading figure in the ownership group, while Steven Beard was hired as general manager. Beard's search for suitable studio space delayed the launch, but he developed a schedule intended to establish the station quickly: approximately 25 feature films per week were supplemented by syndicated shows, sports, religious programs, and children's content. The station took the KBVO-TV call sign, a reference to the University of Texas mascot Bevo, and began broadcasting from Metric Boulevard on December 4, 1983. KBVO-TV achieved profitability within its first several months. Its film-heavy schedule helped it establish a recognizable independent-station identity, and the station joined Fox when that network launched in October 1986. In 1991 it carried San Antonio Spurs basketball, becoming the first station outside San Antonio to air that package. By the middle of the 1990s, KBVO was considered a strong Fox affiliate and was among the network's highest-rated affiliates. Ownership by that point had consolidated around Cannan and Beard. The 1994 New World-Fox affiliation agreement transformed the Austin television market. New World acquired KTBC, the established CBS affiliate, and planned to move it to Fox. Although KBVO had strong ratings, its UHF signal was technically disadvantaged compared with KTBC's VHF signal. KBVO's owners therefore negotiated a sale to Granite Broadcasting in 1994. Granite obtained the CBS affiliation for the station once KTBC moved to Fox. The affiliation switch took effect on July 2, 1995. On the same day, KBVO-TV became KEYE-TV, a name chosen to connect the station more clearly with CBS's eye branding and to separate it from its former movie-and-children's-programming image. The change required a major expansion of local operations. Before joining CBS, KBVO had only limited news inserts, including brief updates associated with Fox prime-time programming. KEYE launched a full news department, hired veteran anchor Neal Spelce, and expanded its Metric Boulevard facilities. Early broadcasts suffered from technical problems and initially ranked fourth among Austin's major local news operations. Over time, the newsroom developed a quicker-paced style with extensive use of visual devices and unconventional storytelling. The station also made investments in weather services, talent, and production facilities. In 2007 it became Austin's first television station to produce local newscasts in high definition. Granite sold KEYE-TV to CBS in 1999 for a reported $160 million. The station experienced frequent management changes during its CBS ownership. CBS later decided to sell several smaller-market stations, including KEYE, to a Cerberus Capital Management-backed group. The transaction created Four Points Media Group, which assumed operational control in 2007 and completed the purchase in January 2008. Four Points later contracted Nexstar Broadcasting Group to manage the properties. Sinclair announced its purchase of the stations in 2011 and completed the transaction on January 3, 2012. The station's digital portfolio broadened during the Four Points period. A second digital channel initially carried Retro Television Network programming and a repeat of the station's morning newscast. On October 1, 2009, it became a Telemundo service, and KEYE began producing Spanish-language local newscasts at 5 and 10 p.m. on weeknights. The English-language news schedule also changed repeatedly: the noon newscast was eliminated during an earlier ratings downturn; a 5 p.m. broadcast was replaced by the lifestyle program We Are Austin Live in 2009; a radio morning-show simulcast temporarily replaced the weekday morning newscast; and conventional local morning and evening broadcasts were later restored. The We Are Austin name was subsequently used for a 9 a.m. lifestyle program. KEYE ended analog transmission on February 17, 2009, while retaining virtual channel 42 through its digital signal. Its digital transmission later moved from channel 43 to channel 34 on June 21, 2019, as part of the United States spectrum-repacking process. In October 2020, the station participated in Austin's ATSC 3.0 rollout through broadcasts involving KBVO-CD. Today, KEYE-TV remains an active Austin television station under Sinclair ownership, with CBS as its primary network relationship and Telemundo as a major Spanish-language digital offering.

1. 2020ATSC 3.0 participation

   KBVO-CD began ATSC 3.0 broadcasting as part of the Austin NextGen TV deployment involving KEYE-TV's digital services.

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2. 2019Digital channel reassignment

   KEYE-TV moved its digital transmission from channel 43 to channel 34 during the nationwide spectrum-repacking process.

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3. 2012Sinclair ownership begins

   Sinclair completed its acquisition of Four Points Media Group's stations, including KEYE-TV.

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4. 2009Telemundo Austin launches

   The station's second digital channel changed from Retro Television Network programming to Telemundo, accompanied by Spanish-language local newscasts.

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5. 2007High-definition local news investment

   KEYE became Austin's first television station to produce local newscasts in high definition.

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6. 1999CBS ownership begins

   CBS completed its acquisition of KEYE-TV from Granite Broadcasting.

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7. 1995KEYE-TV identity and CBS affiliation introduced

   The station changed its call sign from KBVO-TV to KEYE-TV, switched from Fox to CBS, and launched a full local news operation.

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8. 1991Spurs broadcasts added

   The station became the first television station outside San Antonio to carry a package of San Antonio Spurs basketball games.

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9. 1986Fox affiliation begins

   KBVO-TV became a charter affiliate of the Fox network on October 9.

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10. 1983KBVO-TV begins broadcasting

    Channel 42 launched on December 4 as Austin's first new commercial television station since 1971 and the city's first local independent station.

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A local broadcast television brand combining CBS network content, Austin-focused news and weather coverage, English-language digital services, and a Telemundo Spanish-language offering.

• CBS AustinEnglish-language network television station1995

  The primary KEYE-TV service carries CBS network programming alongside locally produced Austin news, weather, public-affairs, and community content. The station increasingly used the CBS Austin brand from 2016 while retaining KEYE-TV as its FCC call sign and channel identity.

• KEYE-TV local newsLocal television news1995

  KEYE's English-language newsroom began a full schedule when the station became a CBS affiliate in 1995. Its output has included morning, afternoon, evening, late-evening, weather, and lifestyle programming, although the schedule has been adjusted repeatedly in response to ratings and operating decisions.

• Telemundo AustinSpanish-language digital television service2009

  Telemundo Austin is KEYE-TV's Spanish-language digital subchannel service. It carries Telemundo network programming and has also offered locally produced Spanish-language newscasts, initially scheduled at 5 and 10 p.m. on weeknights.

• We Are AustinLifestyle television programming2009

  We Are Austin was a local lifestyle and news-related programming brand used for an afternoon program beginning in 2009 and later revived for a morning lifestyle show. Its schedule and format changed as KEYE revised its local-news lineup.

• 2016CBS Austin branding

  Austin · Central Texas

  KEYE-TV increased use of the CBS Austin identity to emphasize its network affiliation and local-market role.

  Outcome. The station continued operating under the KEYE-TV call sign while using CBS Austin as a prominent consumer-facing brand.

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• 2020Participate in Austin ATSC 3.0 deploymentProduct launch

  Broadcasters in Austin began introducing NextGen TV transmission technology.

  What changed. Two subchannels associated with KBVO-CD began ATSC 3.0 broadcasting in October 2020 as part of the local deployment plan.

  Aftermath. The station group expanded its digital transmission capabilities while maintaining its established virtual-channel services.

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• 2012Transition to Sinclair ownershipM&A

  Four Points Media Group owned KEYE-TV after CBS's divestiture of several smaller-market stations and had used Nexstar for station management.

  What changed. Sinclair acquired the Four Points stations and assumed control after completing the transaction in January 2012.

  Aftermath. The Nexstar management agreement ended and KEYE-TV became part of Sinclair's national station portfolio.

  Acquisition price for Four Points stations. (Announced 2011; completed January 3, 2012)

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• 2009Launch Telemundo digital serviceProduct launch

  KEYE's second digital channel had previously carried Retro Television Network programming and a repeat of its morning newscast.

  What changed. The channel was converted to Telemundo programming, with Spanish-language local newscasts produced by KEYE's newsroom.

  Aftermath. KEYE expanded its service to Spanish-speaking viewers in the Austin market and added a second network television identity.

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• 1995Switch from Fox to CBS and adopt KEYE-TV brandingStrategy

  Fox moved its Austin affiliation to KTBC after New World's purchase of that station, leaving KBVO-TV to seek a replacement network relationship.

  What changed. Granite Broadcasting acquired the station, secured the CBS affiliation, changed the call sign to KEYE-TV, and funded a full local news operation.

  Aftermath. The station became Austin's CBS affiliate and developed a larger newsroom, though its newscasts initially experienced technical and ratings difficulties.

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• 1986Join the Fox networkStrategy

  KBVO-TV had established itself as a profitable independent station with a film-oriented schedule when the new Fox network was being assembled.

  What changed. The station became a charter Fox affiliate in October 1986.

  Aftermath. The affiliation strengthened KBVO's reach and helped it become one of Fox's better-performing affiliates before the 1995 Austin network realignment.

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• 2016KEYE-TV expands its CBS Austin identity

  The station began more prominently presenting itself as CBS Austin while continuing to use KEYE-TV as its broadcast call sign.

  Campaign
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• 2012Sinclair completes acquisition of Four Points stations

  Sinclair Broadcast Group completed its purchase of the Four Points stations, ending Nexstar's management agreement for KEYE-TV.

  M&A
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• 2009KEYE-TV launches Telemundo Austin service

  The station replaced its Retro Television Network digital service with Telemundo programming and introduced Spanish-language local newscasts.

  Product launch
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• 2007KEYE-TV becomes part of Four Points Media Group

  CBS agreed to sell several smaller-market stations, including KEYE-TV, to a Cerberus-backed holding company that operated under the Four Points name.

  M&A
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• 1999CBS acquires KEYE-TV from Granite Broadcasting

  CBS purchased the Austin station after Granite placed it on the market while addressing debt associated with other acquisitions.

  M&A
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• 1995KBVO-TV changes to KEYE-TV and becomes Austin's CBS affiliate

  Following the Austin network realignment, channel 42 exchanged Fox for CBS and adopted the KEYE-TV call sign on July 2.

  Leadership change
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• 1986KBVO-TV joins the Fox network

  The station became a charter Fox affiliate on October 9, adding the new network's programming to its established independent-station schedule.

  Other
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• 1983KBVO-TV begins broadcasting as Austin's first new commercial station since 1971

  Channel 42 launched on December 4 as an independent station with a schedule centered on feature films and syndicated programming.

  Other
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1. KEYE-TV
2. KEYE-TV official website