KNOE-TV

KNOE-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Monroe, Louisiana, and serving the Monroe, Louisiana–El Dorado, Arkansas designated market area. The station operates as an affiliate of CBS and ABC and is identified locally by the KNOE 8 brand. Its programming operation includes local news, syndicated and network programming, digital multicast services, and selected sports coverage. KNOE-TV is owned by Gray Media and operates alongside low-power Monroe station KCWL-LD. Its principal studios are on Oliver Road north of Louisville Avenue in Monroe, while its transmitter is located north of Columbia near Seay Road and Louisiana Highway 847. A translator in El Dorado, K20OC-D, rebroadcasts the station’s digital signal in high definition and maps to virtual channel 8. The station began broadcasting on September 27, 1953, under the ownership of former Louisiana governor James A. Noe Sr., who also controlled the KNOE radio stations. Its launch made it the oldest surviving television station in northern Louisiana. KNOE-TV’s original transmission facility used a 774-foot tower, a substantial installation for its time. The station’s sign-on also contributed to the end of local competition from KFAZ, which left the air in 1954. During the early network-television era, KNOE-TV carried programming from several major networks, including CBS, NBC, ABC, and DuMont, and briefly carried the NTA Film Network. It developed into a mixed CBS–ABC operation during the 1960s. Its affiliation structure changed as other stations entered the Monroe market: ABC programming moved primarily to KTVE in 1972, while NBC programming moved to KLAA in 1974. KNOE nevertheless remained a major CBS outlet and, for many years, was also carried by cable systems serving parts of central Louisiana and the Alexandria area. The Noe family retained ownership for more than five decades. Following the death of James A. Noe Sr. in 1976, ownership passed to his son, James “Jimmie” Noe Jr. After the family’s decision to leave broadcasting, KNOE-TV was sold to Hoak Media in 2007. Gray Television announced its acquisition of Hoak Media in 2013, returning Gray to the Monroe–El Dorado market after its earlier ownership of KTVE. Gray subsequently became the station’s long-term corporate owner and later operated under the Gray Media name. KNOE-TV has expanded its reach through digital broadcasting, subchannels, and translators. It began carrying syndicated programming in high definition in 2010 and launched local high-definition news in January 2011, becoming the first station in the Ark-La-Miss region to do so according to the station’s historical account. After the 2014 shutdown of former ABC outlet KAQY, much of that station’s programming was moved to a KNOE digital subchannel. The station has also carried CW Plus and MyNetworkTV programming on digital services at different points, while KCWL-LD has been used to relay a KNOE digital subchannel. Local journalism is central to the brand. KNOE-TV’s news operation, branded KNOE 8 News, produces morning, midday, evening, and late-night broadcasts under the Good Morning Ark-La-Miss and KNOE 8 News identities. The newsroom has received state, regional, and national recognition, including the 2008 Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for an investigative series concerning Louisiana National Guard members accused of looting during their deployment after Hurricane Katrina. In sports, KNOE-TV reached an agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans to televise selected games during the 2023–24 season and later became part of the broader Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network arrangement for Pelicans games during the 2024–25 season.

KNOE-TV began broadcasting on September 27, 1953, as a Monroe station owned by former Louisiana governor James A. Noe Sr. The station was paired with Noe’s AM and FM radio properties and was built to serve northern Louisiana. Its original 774-foot tower was an especially prominent technical installation for the period. KNOE-TV’s arrival was followed by the departure of KFAZ, making KNOE the area’s surviving early television service. The station initially participated in the rapidly developing American network system. Over its early years it carried programming associated with DuMont, CBS, NBC, and ABC, as well as a brief NTA Film Network affiliation. In the 1960s it presented a combination of ABC and CBS programming. As competitors and new outlets developed, KTVE assumed a primary ABC role in 1972 and KLAA began carrying NBC programming in 1974. KNOE continued as a major CBS affiliate and maintained broad regional visibility through cable carriage, including in parts of central Louisiana. KNOE expanded its service area by establishing an El Dorado translator in 1969. The translator, originally identified as K18AB and later converted to digital operation as K20OC-D, helped extend the station’s signal into southeast Arkansas. The station also developed additional digital services as broadcasting moved from analog to digital distribution. KNOE-TV ended analog transmission on February 17, 2009, and its digital signal ultimately operated on VHF channel 8. It introduced syndicated programming in high definition in 2010 and local news in high definition in January 2011. The Noe family remained involved in the station until 2007. After James A. Noe Sr.’s death in 1976, the property passed to his son, James “Jimmie” Noe Jr. Jimmie Noe died in 2005, and the family subsequently chose to exit broadcasting. Hoak Media completed its purchase of KNOE-TV on October 3, 2007. Gray Television announced its purchase of Hoak Media in November 2013, in a transaction that also involved other regional broadcasting assets. Regulatory scrutiny surrounding local marketing agreements affected the treatment of another Monroe-area station, KAQY; KNOE ultimately did not retain an operational agreement with KAQY’s new owner. KAQY ceased broadcasting in September 2014, after which programming was distributed through KNOE’s digital platform. KNOE’s multicast strategy continued to change. CW Plus programming was carried on a digital subchannel for a period, and Gray added MyNetworkTV programming to KNOE-DT3 in late 2017. Low-power station KCWL-LD has also been used to simulcast a KNOE digital service in high definition. These arrangements allowed the station group to offer multiple programming streams without requiring additional full-power stations. News has remained the station’s principal local identity. KNOE’s newsroom operates under the KNOE 8 News brand and produces Good Morning Ark-La-Miss, noon and evening newscasts, and weekend broadcasts. The operation has received numerous journalism awards. Its 2008 Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award recognized an investigative series by news director Taylor Henry concerning alleged looting by rogue Louisiana National Guard members during post-Hurricane Katrina deployment. The station also gained national entertainment exposure when an episode of Duck Dynasty was filmed largely at its studios and broadcast in 2014, although network-identifying marks were obscured in the program. In sports distribution, KNOE-TV announced a deal to broadcast 10 New Orleans Pelicans games during the 2023–24 season. In September 2024, Gray and the Pelicans announced the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, a larger arrangement covering nearly all Pelicans games in the 2024–25 season across participating Gray stations in the Gulf South, including KNOE-TV. The station remains an active CBS and ABC affiliate serving Monroe, El Dorado, and surrounding communities.

1. 2024Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network announced

   Gray and the Pelicans announced a broader regional sports-distribution network covering participating Gray stations including KNOE-TV.

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2. 2023Pelicans broadcast agreement

   KNOE-TV was included in Gray’s agreement to broadcast 10 New Orleans Pelicans games during the 2023–24 season.

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3. 2017MyNetworkTV joins the digital lineup

   KNOE-DT3 began carrying MyNetworkTV programming.

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4. 2014KAQY leaves the air

   After KAQY signed off, programming was redistributed to KNOE-TV digital services.

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5. 2013Gray Television announces Hoak acquisition

   Gray Television announced its purchase of Hoak Media, including KNOE-TV.

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6. 2011Local news launches in high definition

   KNOE-TV began airing local newscasts and field reports in high definition on January 17.

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7. 2010Syndicated programming moves to high definition

   The station began broadcasting syndicated programming in high definition.

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8. 2009Analog transmission ends

   KNOE-TV shut down its analog VHF channel 8 signal and continued as a digital station.

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9. 2007Hoak Media completes acquisition

   The Noe family’s ownership ended when Hoak Media completed its purchase of KNOE-TV on October 3.

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10. 1974NBC programming moves to KLAA

    KLAA’s sign-on ended KNOE-TV’s role as a regular NBC outlet in the market.

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11. 1972ABC programming moves primarily to KTVE

    KTVE became the market’s primary ABC affiliate, reducing KNOE-TV’s ABC role.

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12. 1969El Dorado translator is installed

    KNOE established a translator on channel 18 to improve service to viewers in El Dorado, Arkansas.

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13. 1954Early local competition ends

    KFAZ, the station’s early local competitor, left the air during the summer following KNOE-TV’s launch.

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14. 1953KNOE-TV begins broadcasting

    KNOE-TV signed on September 27 as a Monroe, Louisiana station owned by James A. Noe Sr.

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A locally focused, news-led broadcast station serving the Ark-La-Miss region, combining CBS and ABC network affiliation with regional weather, public-affairs coverage, digital multicast services, and community-oriented local journalism.

• KNOE 8 NewsLocal television news

  KNOE-TV’s core local-news service, covering Monroe, northeast Louisiana, southeast Arkansas, weather, traffic, public affairs, and regional events. The service includes weekday morning, noon, evening, and late-night broadcasts, along with weekend newscasts. Its reporting operation has received state, regional, and national recognition, including a 2008 Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award.

• Good Morning Ark-La-MissMorning television news

  KNOE-TV’s weekday morning newscast, focused on early-day local news, weather, traffic, and community information for the Ark-La-Miss region. A portion of the program has also been simulcast on a KNOE digital subchannel.

• CBS and ABC affiliate programmingNetwork television1953

  KNOE-TV distributes CBS and ABC network programming to its Monroe–El Dorado service area. The station’s network history has also included earlier affiliations or programming relationships with NBC, DuMont, and the NTA Film Network.

• Digital multicast servicesDigital television

  KNOE-TV operates multiple digital services and uses related low-power facilities to extend or relay programming. Its multicast history has included CW Plus, MyNetworkTV, syndicated programming, and programming formerly associated with KAQY.

• Regional Pelicans broadcastsSports television2023

  KNOE-TV participates in Gray’s regional distribution of selected New Orleans Pelicans games. The arrangement began with a limited 2023–24 schedule and was expanded through the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network for the 2024–25 season.

• 2024Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment NetworkProduct launch

  Gray and the New Orleans Pelicans expanded their earlier game-broadcast relationship across Gray-owned stations in the Gulf South.

  What changed. They announced a network intended to broadcast nearly all 2024–25 Pelicans games on participating stations, including KNOE-TV.

  Aftermath. KNOE-TV gained a recurring regional sports offering alongside its network and local-news programming.

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• 2023Initial New Orleans Pelicans carriage agreementStrategy

  Gray sought to provide regional over-the-air distribution for selected professional sports programming.

  What changed. KNOE-TV joined Gray stations carrying 10 New Orleans Pelicans games during the 2023–24 season.

  Aftermath. The limited arrangement preceded a broader regional sports network agreement for the following season.

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• 2017MyNetworkTV added to KNOE-DT3Product launch

  The KNOE-DT3 schedule had been carrying paid programming as part of the national CW Plus schedule.

  What changed. Gray added MyNetworkTV programming to the digital subchannel, airing the block during overnight hours.

  Aftermath. KNOE became the market’s third station to carry MyNetworkTV programming, despite later changes to the market’s CW distribution.

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• 2014Redistribution of KAQY programmingStrategy

  Regulatory scrutiny of local marketing agreements affected plans involving former ABC affiliate KAQY.

  What changed. After KAQY signed off, KNOE-TV moved its programming to a digital subchannel and reorganized other multicast services.

  Aftermath. KNOE expanded its digital-subchannel role in the market while declining to maintain operational agreements with KAQY’s new owner.

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• 2013Gray Television acquires Hoak MediaM&A

  Gray Television sought to expand its station portfolio through the acquisition of Hoak Media and related broadcasting assets.

  What changed. Gray announced an agreement to purchase Hoak Media, bringing KNOE-TV under Gray ownership.

  Aftermath. The transaction returned Gray to the Monroe–El Dorado market and established the ownership structure under which KNOE-TV continues to operate.

  Transaction value. $335 million (Announced November 20, 2013)

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• 2007Exit from Noe family ownershipM&A

  Following the death of Jimmie Noe in 2005, the Noe family decided to leave the broadcasting business after more than five decades of ownership.

  What changed. The family sold KNOE-TV to Dallas-based Hoak Media; the transaction closed on October 3, 2007.

  Aftermath. KNOE-TV became part of a larger broadcast group and later passed to Gray Television through Gray’s acquisition of Hoak Media.

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• 2024Gray and the Pelicans establish the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network

  Gray and the New Orleans Pelicans announced a broader regional arrangement under which nearly all 2024–25 Pelicans games would be distributed through Gray stations in the Gulf South, including KNOE-TV.

  Product launch
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• 2023KNOE-TV agrees to televise New Orleans Pelicans games

  KNOE-TV’s parent company announced an agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans to air 10 games during the 2023–24 season.

  Other
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• 2017KNOE-TV adds MyNetworkTV programming

  Gray added MyNetworkTV programming to the KNOE-DT3 service, replacing paid programming that had previously occupied that portion of the schedule.

  Product launchOther
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• 2014KAQY programming moves to a KNOE digital subchannel

  After KAQY ceased broadcasting, portions of its programming were shifted to KNOE-TV’s second digital subchannel, while other multicast programming was reorganized.

  Other
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• 2013Gray Television announces acquisition of Hoak Media

  Gray Television announced an agreement to acquire Hoak Media, bringing KNOE-TV into Gray’s station portfolio and returning Gray to the Monroe–El Dorado market.

  M&A
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1. KNOE-TV
2. KNOE-TV official website