KOIN
KOIN is a CBS-affiliated television station serving Portland, Oregon, and the surrounding Pacific Northwest market.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KOIN is television station KOIN, channel 6, a CBS affiliate based in Portland, Oregon. The station serves the Portland metropolitan area and viewers in neighboring parts of Oregon and southwestern Washington. Its operations are centered in downtown Portland, where KOIN and sister station KRCW-TV share facilities in the KOIN Center skyscraper; the station’s transmission facilities are in Portland’s Sylvan-Highlands neighborhood. KOIN’s core output consists of CBS network programming, locally produced news, weather and sports coverage, syndicated programming, digital content, and community-oriented features. The KOIN identity predates the television station. A Portland radio station began broadcasting in 1925 under the call sign KQP and adopted the KOIN call sign in 1926. It joined the Columbia Broadcasting System radio network in 1929 and became one of Portland’s major radio outlets during the network-radio era. The radio operation carried nationally distributed CBS programs while also producing local music and public-affairs programming. KOIN-FM was added in 1948. The radio properties were sold in 1977, after which their call signs changed and their CBS affiliation ended, but the KOIN name continued on television. KOIN-TV began broadcasting on October 15, 1953, as Portland’s first VHF television station. It launched as a CBS affiliate, maintaining a primary CBS relationship throughout its television history. Early ownership combined Mount Hood Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation, Newhouse Broadcasting, local investors and Marshall Field interests. The station also inherited the KOIN call letters from the radio operation. KOIN transmitted its first color program in 1954 and developed a schedule that included local public-affairs, lifestyle and agricultural programming in addition to network television. The station experienced a major technical crisis in February 1971, when ice and wind caused its principal and auxiliary transmission towers to collapse. KOIN-TV returned to the air after nine days using a temporary tower. KOIN later expanded its local identity through programs such as KOIN Kitchen, RFD 6, Hi! Neighbor, News Conference Six and Northwest Illustrated. It also became closely associated with Portland Trail Blazers coverage: the station served as the team’s first radio-network flagship and televised selected games beginning in the 1970s. Ownership changed repeatedly from the late 1970s onward. Lee Enterprises acquired KOIN-TV in 1977, its television group was purchased by Emmis Communications in 2000, and Montecito Broadcast Group acquired the station in 2006. Montecito sold its stations to New Vision Television in 2007. LIN Media acquired KOIN in 2012, and Media General acquired LIN in 2014. Nexstar Broadcasting Group then acquired Media General, making KOIN part of Nexstar in 2016 and giving Nexstar its first Oregon station. Following Nexstar’s acquisition of Tribune Media in 2019, KOIN became co-owned with Portland CW affiliate KRCW-TV. KOIN has invested in local news production and technical upgrades. It introduced widescreen-standard-definition local newscasts in 2007 and moved to fully high-definition local news in 2010. The station has offered extensive weekday and weekend newscasts, along with local lifestyle and community features. Its current positioning combines the reach and program inventory of CBS with a Portland-focused news operation and digital publishing platform. KOIN remains an active local broadcast brand under Nexstar ownership.
History
KOIN’s history began in radio. The station signed on in Portland on November 9, 1925, as KQP and adopted the KOIN call sign in April 1926. It became a CBS radio affiliate in 1929 and carried network programs alongside locally produced music, public-affairs and entertainment shows. KOIN-FM launched in 1948. Both radio stations changed ownership several times before being sold to Gaylord Broadcasting in 1977; their call signs were changed and the CBS radio relationship ended. KOIN-TV launched on October 15, 1953, as Portland’s first VHF television station. It adopted the CBS Television Network affiliation held by the earlier radio operation, and channel 6 has remained a primary CBS outlet in Portland. Initial ownership involved Mount Hood Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation, Newhouse Broadcasting, local investors and Marshall Field interests. The station made its first color broadcast in August 1954 and developed a schedule that mixed CBS programming with locally produced public-affairs and lifestyle shows. A defining early event occurred on February 27, 1971, when severe ice and wind caused KOIN’s principal and auxiliary transmitter towers to collapse. The station was off the air for nine days and resumed broadcasting from a temporary tower erected at the site. During the 1970s KOIN expanded its local programming and sports role, carrying Portland Trail Blazers games and serving as the team’s first radio-network flagship. The television station moved into the KOIN Center in downtown Portland, which remains associated with its operations. Lee Enterprises purchased KOIN-TV in 1977. The station later passed to Emmis Communications in 2000, Montecito Broadcast Group in 2006, New Vision Television in 2007, LIN Media in 2012 and Media General in 2014. These transactions reflected the consolidation of American local television ownership. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired Media General in 2016, bringing KOIN into the Nexstar portfolio. Nexstar subsequently acquired Tribune Media in 2019, adding KRCW-TV to the Portland station group. KOIN’s news operation underwent several format and technology changes. The station introduced widescreen-standard-definition local newscasts in 2007 and fully high-definition local news in 2010. It launched Keep It Local in 2009 as a weekday community and neighborhood program, later reworking it as Studio 6. The station has continued to emphasize local news, weather, traffic, public affairs and digital reporting while carrying CBS network programming. KOIN’s transmitter remains in the Sylvan-Highlands area, and its downtown facilities are shared with KRCW-TV.
- 2019
KRCW joins the Nexstar Portland group
[1]Nexstar completes its Tribune Media acquisition, bringing KRCW-TV into the same local ownership group as KOIN.
- 2016
Nexstar ownership begins
[1]Nexstar acquires Media General, placing KOIN in the Nexstar station group.
- 2014
Media General acquisition of LIN
[1]KOIN becomes part of Media General after that company acquires LIN Media.
- 2012
LIN Media acquisition
[1]LIN Media completes its acquisition of KOIN and the other New Vision stations.
- 2010
High-definition news launched
[1]KOIN upgrades its local news operation to high definition across studio, weather and field elements.
- 2009
Keep It Local launches
[1]KOIN introduces a weekday program focused on Portland neighborhoods and events.
- 2007
New Vision ownership begins
[1]New Vision Television completes its acquisition of Montecito’s stations, including KOIN.
- 2007
Widescreen local news introduced
[1]KOIN becomes the first Portland station to present local newscasts in 16:9 widescreen standard definition.
- 2006
Montecito Broadcast Group acquisition
[1]Montecito acquires KOIN and several other stations from Emmis.
- 2000
Emmis acquires Lee television group
[1]KOIN becomes part of Emmis Communications’ television holdings.
Products and positioning
Portland-focused CBS network affiliate combining local news, weather, sports, community reporting and national television programming.
Local television news · 1953
KOIN News
KOIN’s local news service covers Portland and the surrounding region through scheduled broadcasts, breaking-news reports, investigations, weather, traffic and sports. It is the station’s principal locally produced offering and complements CBS network programming.
Broadcast information service · 1953
Local weather and traffic coverage
Weather and traffic reporting forms a recurring part of KOIN’s local broadcasts and digital output, with information tailored to Portland and the wider Oregon and southwestern Washington viewing area.
Lifestyle and community programming · 2009
Keep It Local / Studio 6
Keep It Local debuted in 2009 as a weekday program about Portland neighborhoods, events and local activity. In 2010 the format was revised as Studio 6, a product and lifestyle magazine program.
Network television · 1953
CBS network programming
As a primary CBS affiliate, KOIN carries CBS entertainment, news, daytime, sports and special-event programming for the Portland market. The affiliation has been central to the station’s television identity since its 1953 launch.
Brand decisions
2010
Transition to high-definition local newsGeneration changeBackground
Local television stations were upgrading their production and transmission workflows as high-definition broadcasting became standard.
Action taken
KOIN began presenting local newscasts in high definition, including studio, weather and field-reporting elements.
Aftermath
KOIN became the third Portland station to offer HD local newscasts and the first in the market to use the format throughout its news operation.
2009
Launch of Keep It LocalProduct launchBackground
KOIN sought to strengthen its locally focused schedule with a weekday program centered on Portland neighborhoods and events.
Action taken
The station launched Keep It Local, later reformatting it as Studio 6.
Aftermath
The revised format continued KOIN’s lifestyle and community-programming strategy.
Sources2 sources
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