KFBB-TV
KFBB-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station in Great Falls, Montana, also carrying Fox and MyNetworkTV programming on digital subchannels.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KFBB-TV is a full-power television station serving Great Falls and surrounding areas of central and northern Montana. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 5 and is primarily affiliated with ABC. Its second digital subchannel carries Fox programming and also schedules MyNetworkTV programming outside Fox's principal programming hours. KFBB-TV's signal is supplemented by a network of translators across eastern, central, and northern Montana. The station began broadcasting on March 21, 1954, becoming Great Falls' first television station. In its early years it carried programming from several major American networks, reflecting the limited number of television outlets in the market. After KRTV began broadcasting in 1958, KFBB-TV gradually narrowed its network role. Harriscope Broadcasting secured a primary ABC affiliation for KFBB-TV in 1965, with the affiliation taking effect on February 1, 1966. This made KFBB-TV Montana's first primary ABC affiliate and established the station's central identity. KFBB-TV has passed through several ownership structures. It initially operated alongside KFBB radio under Wilkins Broadcasting, with an ownership interest held by The Anaconda Company. Following Anaconda's sale of its media holdings to Lee Enterprises, antitrust concerns led to the station's divestiture. Harriscope Broadcasting acquired KFBB-TV in 1962, and Donald P. Nathanson acquired it in 1977. After Nathanson's death, the license and operating companies moved through a sequence of ownership transfers involving Advance TV of California, Wooster Republican Printing Company, and related holding companies. Wooster Republican Printing made substantial reductions to KFBB-TV's local-news operation in 2003. Max Media of Montana acquired the station in 2004 and later expanded its regional news activity. The station experimented with the Montana News Network identity in 2005, subsequently adopting the NewsChannel 5 brand and rebuilding its local-news schedule. In 2009 it added newsroom staff, expanded weekend coverage, and promoted its reporting reach with the slogan “NewsChannel 5 is Everywhere.” Its weather coverage was branded “Pinpoint Weather.” The Cowles Company acquired KFBB-TV and several other Montana television stations from Max Media in a transaction announced in 2013 and completed later that year. Cowles subsequently coordinated its Montana ABC properties under the regional ABC Montana identity, with KFBB-TV serving as a key production and news hub. The station also produces a short nightly program, 10@10, for several Cowles-owned ABC affiliates in Montana, focusing particularly on statewide sports and weather. KFBB-TV's broadcast footprint includes the Helena-area semi-satellite KHBB-LD. KHBB-LD generally simulcasts KFBB-TV's network and syndicated schedule while inserting separate local commercials and legal identifications. Both KFBB-TV and KHBB-LD have carried Fox on second digital channels. KFBB-TV added Fox programming to its own second digital subchannel in July 2009. The station completed its transition from analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 5 while transmitting digitally on VHF channel 8. KFBB-TV remains a local broadcast, news, weather, and network-affiliate brand operated by Cowles in the Montana market.
History
KFBB-TV began broadcasting on March 21, 1954, as Great Falls, Montana's first television station. It initially carried programming from multiple major networks because the market had few television outlets. The launch of KRTV in October 1958 removed NBC from KFBB-TV's primary role, while KFBB-TV continued to carry selected CBS and ABC material. The original ownership involved Wilkins Broadcasting, which also operated KFBB radio, with The Anaconda Company holding a minority interest. After Anaconda sold its media holdings to Lee Enterprises in 1959, antitrust concerns contributed to Lee's decision to divest KFBB-TV. Harriscope Broadcasting purchased the station in 1962 and later secured a primary ABC affiliation. That affiliation began on February 1, 1966, and made KFBB-TV Montana's first primary ABC affiliate. The station continued to carry selected programming from other networks for a time, including CBS and occasional NBC programs. It also carried Sesame Street before Montana had a dedicated PBS service. KFBB-TV's ABC signal was distributed by cable systems in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the station maintained a sales office in Saskatoon during that period. This broader carriage diminished in the 1980s as Canadian systems increasingly used satellite feeds from other ABC affiliates. After Donald P. Nathanson acquired the station in 1977, his death prompted a series of license-control and ownership transfers during the early 1980s. The station was subsequently associated with Advance TV of California, Wooster Republican Printing Company of Ohio, and several related holding companies, including KFBB Corporation, KFBB LLC, and Dix Communications. In June 2003, the Wooster ownership sharply reduced local-news production, ending morning, midday, and weekend newscasts for a period. Max Media of Montana purchased KFBB-TV in November 2004. Because the Great Falls market could not support a full-power duopoly under the applicable ownership rules, Max Media retained KFBB-TV and divested KTGF. Max Media later reorganized the station's news presentation. A regional Montana News Network newscast launched in 2005 but was short-lived. KFBB-TV then used the NewsChannel 5 identity, restored parts of its local schedule, and expanded its reporting staff in 2009. The station added more evening and weekend broadcasts and promoted its weather operation as Pinpoint Weather. KFBB-TV's technical service also evolved during this period. The station received a digital allocation from the FCC, began digital operation in 2002, and later completed the national analog shutdown on June 12, 2009. Its digital transmission continued to use virtual channel 5 while operating on VHF channel 8. KHBB-LD in Helena transitioned to digital operation in 2008 and served as a semi-satellite, with separate local commercial inserts and legal identifications. Fox programming was added to KHBB-LD's second digital channel in 2008 and to KFBB-TV's second digital channel in July 2009. The second channel also carried MyNetworkTV programming outside Fox's main schedule. In September 2013, The Cowles Company agreed to buy Max Media's Montana television stations, including KFBB-TV, KHBB-LD, KULR, KWYB, and KTMF. The deal closed on November 29, 2013. Cowles later integrated its Montana ABC stations into the ABC Montana regional branding, with KFBB-TV functioning as a major local-news and programming center. The station continues to serve the Great Falls market through its main signal, KHBB-LD, and numerous translators.
- 2013
Cowles Company ownership begins
[1]The Cowles Company completes its acquisition of KFBB-TV and other Max Media Montana stations on November 29.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]KFBB-TV ends analog transmission on June 12 as part of the United States digital television transition.
- 2004
Max Media acquires KFBB-TV
[1]Max Media of Montana purchases the station and restructures its Great Falls holdings.
- 2002
Digital transmission becomes operational
[1]KFBB-TV begins digital broadcasting on its assigned VHF digital channel.
- 1977
Donald P. Nathanson acquires the station
[1]Ownership passes to Donald P. Nathanson, initiating a later period of license and holding-company transfers.
- 1966
Primary ABC affiliation begins
[1]KFBB-TV becomes a primary ABC affiliate on February 1.
- 1958
KRTV begins broadcasting
[1]The arrival of KRTV changes Great Falls' network landscape and removes NBC from KFBB-TV's main affiliation role.
- 1954
KFBB-TV launches
[1]KFBB-TV begins broadcasting on March 21 as Great Falls' first television station.
Products and positioning
A local Montana broadcast station combining ABC network service with regional news, weather, sports, syndicated programming, and supplementary Fox and MyNetworkTV offerings.
Broadcast television service · 1954
ABC 5
KFBB-TV's primary broadcast service on virtual channel 5, carrying ABC network programming alongside locally produced news, weather, sports, syndicated shows, and commercial programming for the Great Falls region.
Digital subchannel · 2009
Fox Montana
KFBB-TV's second digital channel carries Fox programming in the Great Falls market. MyNetworkTV programming is scheduled outside Fox's principal evening schedule, with the service also available through related Montana transmission facilities.
News programming
Local news and weather
KFBB-TV produces weekday and weekend local newscasts, regional sports and weather coverage, and a short nightly 10@10 program distributed to other Cowles-owned ABC stations in Montana.
Semi-satellite television station
KHBB-LD
The Helena station largely simulcasts KFBB-TV's programming while maintaining separate commercial inserts and legal identifications. It operates from a KFBB sales office and news bureau in Helena.
Brand decisions
2013
Cowles Company acquires Montana television clusterM&ABackground
Max Media operated several television stations in Montana, including KFBB-TV and KHBB-LD.
Action taken
The Cowles Company acquired the Montana station group and subsequently coordinated its ABC properties under the ABC Montana identity.
Aftermath
KFBB-TV became a central news and programming hub within Cowles' Montana television operations.
2009
Fox launches on KFBB-TV's second digital subchannelProduct launchBackground
Fox programming had previously been available through other stations and services in parts of the Montana market.
Action taken
KFBB-TV began carrying Fox on its second digital subchannel, with MyNetworkTV scheduled after Fox programming.
Aftermath
The station broadened its programming portfolio beyond its primary ABC service.
1965
KFBB-TV secures primary ABC affiliationStrategyBackground
The station operated in a market where network affiliations were divided among a small number of broadcasters.
Action taken
Harriscope Broadcasting obtained a primary ABC affiliation, which took effect on February 1, 1966.
Aftermath
The ABC relationship became the station's defining network position and continues to shape its brand identity.
Recent events
- 2013
Cowles Company acquires KFBB-TV and other Montana stations[1]
M&A
The Cowles Company agreed to acquire Max Media's Montana television cluster, including KFBB-TV and KHBB-LD; the transaction closed on November 29.
- 2009
KFBB-TV adds Fox programming to its digital subchannel[1]
Product launch
Beginning July 13, KFBB-TV carried Fox programming on its second digital subchannel, with MyNetworkTV content scheduled separately.
- 2009
KFBB-TV expands its local-news operation[1]
Other
The station added newsroom staff, expanded weekend broadcasts, introduced additional evening coverage, and promoted its broader reporting operation.
- 1966
KFBB-TV adopts primary ABC affiliation[1]
Other
A primary ABC affiliation obtained by Harriscope Broadcasting took effect on February 1, giving KFBB-TV a lasting network identity.
- 1954
KFBB-TV begins broadcasting as Great Falls' first television station[1]
Other
KFBB-TV commenced broadcasting on March 21, establishing the first television service in Great Falls, Montana.
Sources2 sources
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