KMID

KMID is a broadcast television station licensed to Midland, Texas, and serving the Permian Basin, including the Midland and Odessa communities. The station operates on virtual channel 2 and is affiliated with the ABC television network. Its programming combines ABC network shows with locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs material, syndicated content, and digital reporting distributed through the YourBasin.com platform. The station began broadcasting on December 20, 1953, making it the first television station in the Permian Basin. It was established by Midessa Television Corporation, a group of Oklahoma businessmen that obtained the channel 2 construction permit after an earlier applicant surrendered its authorization. KMID initially operated as an NBC primary affiliate while also carrying selected programming from ABC, CBS, and DuMont as the regional television market developed. Its early facilities were located near Midland's airport, and its original transmitter was south of the city. KMID was an important infrastructure project for a geographically dispersed oil-producing region. In 1955, a microwave relay system connected Midland with Roswell, New Mexico, using two former oil rigs as relay structures and allowing the station to receive live network programs. It introduced color broadcasting in the area in December 1956. The station later built a more centrally located transmission tower between Midland and Odessa and expanded its studio facilities. A major programming change occurred in 1982, when KMID exchanged affiliations with the station then operating on channel 9. KMID became the market's ABC affiliate, while channel 9 adopted NBC. Station management viewed ABC's sports schedule as a better match for the West Texas audience. During the 1980s, successive investments in the news operation briefly made KMID the leading local-news station. Telepictures, which acquired the station in the early 1980s, recruited experienced personnel and upgraded facilities after taking control. The competitive position changed during the 1990s. Channel 9 was acquired and revitalized by Drewry Communications, later operating as KWES-TV. Improved management and newsroom recruitment helped KWES overtake KMID in local evening-news ratings. KMID subsequently passed through several ownership groups, including Lorimar-Telepictures, Goltrin Communications, Davis-Goldfarb, Cottonwood Communications, GOCOM Communications, and Grapevine Communications. Nexstar Broadcasting Group agreed to acquire KMID around the turn of the century and took operational control while regulatory approval was pending. Nexstar later consolidated operations involving other stations in the market. After Nexstar's acquisition of Communications Corporation of America's assets in 2013 and the related sale of KPEJ-TV to Marshall Broadcasting Group, KMID entered into a shared-services arrangement involving KPEJ. In 2015, KMID moved its studio operations from Midland to west Odessa, where it shares facilities on Windview Street near Interstate 20 with KPEJ. The station's over-the-air signal originates from a transmitter on FM 1788 in rural southeastern Andrews County. KMID ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide digital television transition, retaining virtual channel 2 while transmitting digitally on UHF channel 26. In the digital era, the brand operates as a local news and information service across broadcast, web, and related digital channels. KMID remains an ABC affiliate under Nexstar ownership and continues to serve the Midland–Odessa television market.

KMID traces its origins to an FCC construction permit for channel 2 in Midland, Texas. The first permit was awarded in February 1953 to Permian Basin Television Company, a group associated with theater owner J. Howard Hodge. That applicant surrendered the authorization after failing to secure a network affiliation. Midessa Television Corporation, a consortium of five Oklahoma businessmen led by broadcaster Ransom H. Drewry, applied for the channel in May and received the permit on July 1, 1953. Construction began in October after the new group secured an NBC affiliation. The station's first broadcast took place on December 20, 1953. Technical problems shortened the inaugural program, but the sign-on established KMID as the first television service in the Permian Basin. During its early years, KMID carried NBC programming as well as selected programs from ABC, CBS, and DuMont. This mixed schedule reflected the limited number of stations serving the region before additional local outlets launched. KOSA-TV began broadcasting from Odessa in 1956 as a CBS affiliate, and the channel 9 facility later developed into an ABC outlet. KMID expanded its technical reach during the 1950s and 1960s. A microwave link to Roswell, New Mexico, was completed in 1955, using two unused oil rigs as relay towers to bring live network programming to the market. The station began color broadcasts on December 22, 1956. A new transmitter tower located approximately between Midland and Odessa was completed in 1960, followed by a replacement studio building near the Midland terminal in 1963. In 1982, KMID and the channel 9 station exchanged network affiliations. KMID became an ABC affiliate, while channel 9, then identified as KTPX-TV and later KWES-TV, became affiliated with NBC. KMID management cited ABC's sports programming and its perceived suitability for the West Texas audience. The following year, Telepictures acquired the station for $15 million. After assuming control in February 1984, Telepictures strengthened KMID's newsroom through personnel recruitment, equipment investment, and other capital improvements. These changes helped the station move from a distant second in local news ratings to first place in the mid-1980s. Telepictures merged with Lorimar Television in 1985. Two years later, Lorimar-Telepictures sold KMID and interests in other stations to Goltrin Communications, led by Joseph Goldfarb. The company later took the Davis-Goldfarb name after Marvin Davis acquired an interest. In 1991, Drewry Communications acquired the channel 9 station and undertook a competitive rebuilding effort. The revitalized station recruited longtime KMID manager John Foster and eventually displaced KMID as the market's news leader. By the mid-1990s, KMID had suffered substantial declines in its evening-news audience. Davis-Goldfarb sold the station to Cottonwood Communications in 1995. Cottonwood merged with GOCOM Communications in 1997, and GOCOM later combined with Grapevine Communications. Soon afterward, Nexstar Broadcasting Group agreed to purchase KMID. Nexstar already had a substantial presence in Texas and took over operations during the regulatory review. The station was acquired during a period when it was generally behind KWES and KOSA in local-news ratings. Nexstar's later portfolio changes affected KMID's operating structure. In 2013, Nexstar acquired Communications Corporation of America, whose assets included Odessa-based Fox affiliate KPEJ-TV. KPEJ and other stations were sold to Marshall Broadcasting Group, while Nexstar provided specified non-programming services, including master control and advertising sales, under a shared-services agreement. KMID moved its studio operations to west Odessa in 2015, where it shares facilities with KPEJ. KMID completed the transition from analog to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009. Its digital signal operates on UHF channel 26 while retaining virtual channel 2. The transmitter is located on FM 1788 in southeastern Andrews County. Today, KMID operates as an ABC affiliate and local digital-news brand for the Midland–Odessa and wider Permian Basin market through broadcast television and the YourBasin.com service.

• 2015

  Operations consolidate in Odessa

  [1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  KMID moves its studio operation to west Odessa and shares facilities with KPEJ-TV.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  KMID ends analog broadcasting and continues as a digital station using virtual channel 2.

• 2000

  Nexstar acquires KMID

  [1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group purchases KMID and adds it to its growing Texas station portfolio.

• 1984

  Telepictures strengthens the newsroom

  [1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  After taking control, Telepictures expands newsroom resources and recruits experienced broadcast personnel.

• 1982

  Network affiliation changes

  [1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  KMID switches from NBC to ABC as part of an affiliation exchange with the channel 9 station.

• 1956

  Color broadcasting begins

  [1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  KMID launches the first color television broadcasts in the Permian Basin on December 22.

• 1955

  Microwave network reaches Roswell

  [1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  A microwave relay system enables the station to carry live network programs across the region.

• 1953

  KMID signs on

  [1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  KMID-TV begins broadcasting on December 20 as the first television station serving the Permian Basin.

A local ABC television and digital-news brand serving Midland, Odessa, and the wider Permian Basin, with emphasis on regional news, weather, sports, and community information.

• Broadcast television · 1982

  ABC network television

  KMID's principal network offering is ABC programming delivered to viewers in the Midland–Odessa market. The schedule is complemented by locally scheduled news, weather, sports, syndicated programs, and station promotions.

• News broadcasting · 1953

  Local news and weather

  KMID produces local reporting focused on Midland, Odessa, the Permian Basin, severe weather, public safety, regional events, and local sports. The station's news operation has been a central part of its identity since its early years.

• Digital media

  YourBasin.com

  YourBasin.com is KMID's associated digital news platform, extending the station's local reporting, video, weather, and community-information services beyond the over-the-air television signal.

• 2015

  Move to shared Odessa facilitiesStrategy

  Background

  Nexstar's station portfolio and shared-services arrangements created an opportunity to consolidate operations in the Midland–Odessa market.

  Action taken

  KMID moved its studio operation to west Odessa and began sharing facilities with KPEJ-TV.

  Aftermath

  The move aligned KMID's physical operations with Nexstar's broader market structure while preserving its Midland license and channel identity.

  Source

• 2009

  Transition from analog to digital televisionGeneration change

  Background

  The United States completed its federally scheduled transition to digital television broadcasting.

  Action taken

  KMID shut down its analog VHF channel 2 signal and continued digital transmission on UHF channel 26 with virtual channel 2.

  Aftermath

  The station continued serving the market through digital over-the-air broadcasting.

  Source

• 1982

  Switch to ABC affiliationStrategy

  Background

  KMID and the channel 9 station reassessed their network relationships as the Midland–Odessa market matured.

  Action taken

  KMID moved from NBC to ABC, while channel 9 took the NBC affiliation.

  Aftermath

  The affiliation change established KMID's long-term identity as the market's ABC station.

  Source

• 2015

  KMID moves studio operations to west Odessa[1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After Nexstar's transaction involving Communications Corporation of America and related station arrangements, KMID consolidated its studio operations in west Odessa and began sharing facilities with KPEJ-TV.

• 2000

  Nexstar agrees to acquire KMID[1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group agreed to purchase KMID for a reported $10 million and began operating the station while the transaction awaited regulatory approval.

• 1983

  Telepictures acquires KMID[1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Telepictures purchased KMID for a reported $15 million and entered broadcast-station ownership.

• 1982

  KMID becomes the ABC affiliate for the Midland–Odessa market[1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  KMID exchanged network affiliations with the channel 9 station and adopted ABC, while channel 9 became an NBC affiliate.

• 1953

  KMID begins broadcasting as the Permian Basin's first television station[1]KMIDen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  KMID-TV signed on December 20, 1953, bringing television service to the Permian Basin for the first time.

1. 1KMIDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KMID official websiteyourbasin.com