KFDM
KFDM is a CBS-affiliated television station serving Beaumont and the surrounding Southeast Texas market.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KFDM is a television station licensed to Beaumont, Texas, and serving the Beaumont–Port Arthur area. It operates as a CBS affiliate and also carries The CW Plus and Fox programming through digital subchannels. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and shares facilities and operating relationships with KBTV-TV, the Port Arthur–licensed station that serves the same regional market. KFDM’s main transmitter is in Vidor, Texas, while its studios are located on Walden Road in southwest Beaumont. The station began broadcasting on April 24, 1955, making it the oldest continuously operating television station in the Beaumont–Port Arthur market. It was established by Beaumont Broadcasting, which was also associated with KFDM radio. The radio call letters originated with Magnolia Petroleum Company and referred to “Call for Dependable Magnolene,” the company’s motor-oil brand. Although the radio station later became KLVI, channel 6 retained the KFDM identity, including the “-TV” suffix until 2009. KFDM initially carried a mixture of CBS, ABC, and NBC programming. When KPAC-TV, now associated with the market’s channel 4 outlet, began broadcasting in 1957, NBC programming shifted there. ABC programming moved to KBMT-TV in 1961, leaving KFDM as a primarily exclusive CBS affiliate. Over time, the station expanded its local identity through news, weather, sports, and community coverage, including severe-weather reporting that became particularly important in a hurricane-prone region. Ownership changed several times. Beaumont Broadcasting sold the television station to A. H. Belo Corporation in 1969. Belo’s 1983 merger with Corinthian Broadcasting created regulatory issues because KFDM’s signal overlapped portions of the Houston market and the combined company exceeded the Federal Communications Commission’s limit on VHF station ownership. Belo therefore sold KFDM, together with WTVC in Chattanooga, to Freedom Communications in 1984. KFDM developed a broader multichannel role in the late 1990s and 2000s. In 1998 it introduced a local cable outlet associated with The WB 100+ Station Group. From 2003 through 2006 it carried UPN programming on a secondary basis, and it began carrying The CW on its second digital subchannel in 2007. The station later added Grit programming and ultimately moved Fox programming from KBTV-TV to KFDM’s third digital subchannel in 2021. The station completed the federally mandated transition from analog to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009. Its digital signal initially operated on channel 21, but reception problems in portions of the market led the FCC to approve a move to channel 25. KFDM completed that move in April 2011 with increased power and a new omnidirectional antenna. In the same period, it became the second Southeast Texas station to produce local newscasts in high definition. Freedom Communications announced the sale of its television stations, including KFDM, to Sinclair Broadcast Group in November 2011. Sinclair began operating KFDM under a time brokerage agreement in December of that year, and the acquisition was completed in April 2012. After Deerfield Media acquired KBTV-TV in 2012, KFDM assumed operational responsibilities for that station under a shared-services arrangement. KFDM has continued to function as a local news and information outlet while adapting its facilities and production model. Its Beaumont facility was expanded and modernized in 2016. The station temporarily relocated operations to its Vidor transmitter site in July 2023 and moved into a smaller Walden Road facility in April 2024. Sinclair initially indicated that newscast production might be outsourced to its San Antonio stations, but subsequent operations appeared to retain production at the Beaumont-area facility. KFDM’s enduring role is that of a network-affiliated local broadcaster combining CBS programming, digital multicast services, regional news, weather, sports, and emergency coverage.
History
KFDM began broadcasting on April 24, 1955, in Beaumont, Texas. It succeeded an earlier UHF station that had operated briefly in the market and became the region’s oldest surviving television station. The station was founded by Beaumont Broadcasting, which had ties to KFDM radio. The radio call sign had originally been associated with Magnolia Petroleum Company’s Magnolene motor oil, but the television station retained the identity after the radio operation was sold and renamed KLVI. During its early years, KFDM carried programs from CBS, ABC, and NBC. The arrival of a channel 4 station in 1957 moved NBC programming away from KFDM, and ABC programming later shifted to KBMT-TV when that station returned to operation in 1961. KFDM consequently became the market’s principal CBS outlet, a role it has maintained. A. H. Belo Corporation acquired KFDM in 1969. Belo’s merger with Corinthian Broadcasting in 1983 created an ownership overlap involving the Houston market and also pushed the company beyond the FCC’s limit on VHF stations. Because KFDM’s signal reached parts of the Houston market, the regulatory circumstances made retention difficult. Belo sold KFDM to Freedom Communications in 1984. The station experimented with additional services as the multichannel television environment developed. In 1998 it introduced a cable service connected with The WB 100+ Station Group. KFDM carried UPN programming as a secondary affiliation from 2003 to 2006, then began providing The CW on its second digital subchannel in 2007. It also carried Southland Conference Television Network programming on a local cable channel beginning in 2008 and added Grit to a later digital subchannel. KFDM ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide digital transition. Its initial post-transition digital assignment was channel 21. Reception difficulties in eastern parts of the coverage area, combined with interference and antenna considerations, led the FCC to approve a move to channel 25. The change was completed on April 11, 2011, with higher effective power and an omnidirectional antenna. KFDM also upgraded its local news operation to high definition in April 2011. Freedom Communications announced in November 2011 that it would leave the television business. Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to buy KFDM and began operating it through a time brokerage arrangement on December 1, 2011. The transaction closed on April 2, 2012. Later that year, KBTV-TV was sold to Deerfield Media, while KFDM took on operating responsibilities for KBTV under a shared-services agreement. This created a linked operating structure for two stations serving the Beaumont–Port Arthur market. KFDM’s physical plant was expanded in 2016 to accommodate both stations and modernize their operations. Future highway construction plans affecting the Interstate 10 and U.S. 69 interchange created uncertainty over the long-term use of the site. In July 2023, KFDM temporarily moved activity to its Vidor transmitter location. In April 2024, it relocated to a smaller Walden Road facility. Sinclair initially considered outsourcing newscast production to its San Antonio stations, but available descriptions indicated that production ultimately continued at the Walden Road operation. The station’s news identity has been shaped by long-serving personnel and severe-weather reporting. KFDM’s Hurricane Rita coverage in 2005 received recognition from the Texas Associated Press and a regional Emmy in 2006. The station has also maintained a substantial local weather presence, reflecting the exposure of Southeast Texas to hurricanes, flooding, and other severe conditions. In December 2020, KFDM announced that Fox programming would move from KBTV-TV to KFDM-DT3, effective February 1, 2021. KFDM therefore continues as a CBS-led local broadcast brand with additional digital network services and a regional news operation.
- 2024
Station moves into a smaller Walden Road facility
[1]Following temporary operations from Vidor, KFDM relocates its Beaumont-area operation.
- 2021
Fox affiliation moves to KFDM-DT3
[1]Fox programming transfers from KBTV-TV to KFDM’s third digital subchannel.
- 2014
Grit launches on a digital subchannel
[1]KFDM begins carrying Grit on its .3 digital subchannel.
- 2012
Sinclair ownership begins
[1]Sinclair completes its acquisition of KFDM from Freedom Communications.
- 2011
Digital transmission moves to channel 25
[1]KFDM completes a higher-power move from digital channel 21 to channel 25 to improve reception.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]KFDM shuts down its analog channel 6 signal during the federally mandated digital transition.
- 2007
The CW begins on KFDM’s second digital channel
[1]KFDM starts carrying The CW on a digital subchannel.
- 1998
KFDM launches a WB 100+ cable service
[1]The station introduces a cable channel identified as KWBB and creates a separate sales operation for it.
- 1984
Freedom Communications acquires KFDM
[1]Belo sells KFDM to Freedom Communications following ownership and signal-overlap concerns arising from Belo’s merger with Corinthian Broadcasting.
- 1969
A. H. Belo acquires the station
[1]KFDM changes ownership from Beaumont Broadcasting to A. H. Belo Corporation.
Products and positioning
A long-established local broadcast station positioned around CBS network programming, Southeast Texas news, weather, emergency reporting, and a portfolio of digital multicast services.
Broadcast television · 1955
KFDM CBS service
The station’s primary broadcast service carries CBS network programming together with KFDM’s local news, weather, public-affairs, advertising, and syndicated content. It is the core service around which the KFDM brand has been organized since the station became an exclusive CBS affiliate in 1961.
Digital multicast television · 2007
KFDM-DT2
KFDM’s second digital service has carried The CW programming since 2007. Its creation reflects the station’s expansion beyond a single analog network affiliation into a multi-channel local television operation.
Digital multicast television · 2021
KFDM-DT3 Fox service
The third digital subchannel became the market outlet for Fox programming on February 1, 2021, after the Fox affiliation moved from KBTV-TV. This arrangement gives KFDM a second major commercial network service in addition to CBS.
Local news and information
KFDM local news
KFDM’s local news operation covers Beaumont, Port Arthur, Southeast Texas, and nearby communities, with particular emphasis on weather, hurricanes, public safety, and regional events. The operation began high-definition local newscasts in 2011 and has received recognition for severe-weather coverage.
Brand decisions
2024
Relocate and restructure production facilitiesStrategyBackground
The former shared facility faced potential disruption from planned highway expansion, while Sinclair reviewed the most efficient arrangement for producing local newscasts.
Action taken
KFDM temporarily operated from Vidor and then moved to a smaller Walden Road facility. A proposed outsourcing arrangement with San Antonio stations appeared not to become the long-term production model.
Aftermath
The station continued operating from the Beaumont-area facility with local newscast production apparently retained there.
2021
Shift Fox programming to KFDM-DT3StrategyBackground
Sinclair and its market partners reorganized the local network affiliations associated with KFDM and KBTV-TV.
Action taken
Fox programming moved from KBTV-TV to KFDM’s third digital subchannel beginning February 1, 2021.
Aftermath
KFDM’s digital portfolio expanded to include CBS on the primary service, The CW Plus, and Fox programming.
2011
Move digital transmission from channel 21 to channel 25StrategyBackground
Viewers in eastern parts of the service area experienced reception difficulties after the initial digital transition, creating a case for a revised channel assignment.
Action taken
KFDM obtained FCC approval and completed a move to channel 25 with greater power and a new omnidirectional antenna.
Aftermath
Later testing indicated coverage broadly comparable to the former analog service, although wooded areas continued to experience weaker reception.
Recent events
- 2024
KFDM relocates Beaumont-area operations[1]
Other
KFDM moved into a smaller Walden Road facility after a temporary period operating from its Vidor transmitter site.
- 2021
Fox programming moves to KFDM-DT3[1]
Product generation
KFDM announced that Fox programming would move from KBTV-TV to KFDM’s third digital subchannel beginning February 1, 2021.
- 2012
Sinclair completes KFDM acquisition[1]
M&A
Sinclair completed its purchase of KFDM after operating the station under a time brokerage agreement.
- 2011
KFDM completes digital channel relocation[1]
Other
The station moved its digital transmission from channel 21 to channel 25, increasing power and improving reception in parts of its service area.
- 2011
Sinclair agrees to acquire KFDM from Freedom Communications[1]
M&A
Freedom Communications announced the sale of KFDM and its other television properties to Sinclair Broadcast Group.
- 2005
KFDM receives recognition for Hurricane Rita coverage[1]
Other
KFDM received an award from the Texas Associated Press for its coverage of Hurricane Rita; the coverage also later received a regional Emmy.
- 1955
KFDM begins television broadcasting[1]
Other
KFDM-TV signed on April 24, becoming the first surviving television station to operate in the Beaumont–Port Arthur market.
Sources2 sources
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