KRBC-TV

KRBC-TV is a television station serving Abilene, Texas, and communities across the surrounding West Central Texas region. Broadcasting on virtual channel 9, the station is affiliated with NBC and is owned by Mission Broadcasting, Inc. Its day-to-day operations are provided by Nexstar Media Group through shared-services and joint-sales arrangements. The operating relationship links KRBC-TV with Nexstar-operated stations in the region, including KTAB-TV in Abilene and KLST-TV and KSAN-TV in San Angelo. The station traces its authorization to the early development of television in Abilene. The Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit to the Reporter Broadcasting Company, owner of local radio station KRBC, on April 15, 1953. KRBC-TV began broadcasting on August 30 of that year, becoming Abilene's first television station. Its initial schedule drew programming from NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont, although NBC was its principal network affiliation. The station's first transmitter and tower were located on Rattlesnake Mountain at Cedar Gap. As the Abilene television market developed, KRBC-TV's network role became more focused. It lost CBS programming after KPAR-TV, now KTXS-TV, began broadcasting in 1956. KRBC-TV and KPAR-TV continued to share ABC programming for a period, but the launch of KTAB-TV eventually gave CBS a dedicated local outlet and left KRBC-TV as the market's NBC affiliate. In 1962, the station expanded its regional reach when KACB-TV signed on from San Angelo as a semi-satellite. KACB later became an independent full-service station and is now known as KSAN-TV. The Ackers family's Abilene Radio and Television Company controlled KRBC-TV for approximately 44 years. The family sold the station to Sunrise Television in 1997. Sunrise ended the formal connection between KRBC-TV and KACB two years later, and Sunrise subsequently merged with LIN Television in 2002. LIN sold KRBC-TV to Mission Broadcasting in 2003. Mission entered into an operating arrangement with Nexstar, which owned KTAB-TV, allowing Nexstar to handle major operational functions such as news, sales, traffic, engineering, and business administration. The stations' physical and technical operations were progressively consolidated. Nexstar moved KTAB-TV's operations into KRBC-TV's larger facility on South 14th Street in Abilene in 2005. The shared master-control system was subsequently used to support KRBC-TV, KTAB-TV, and the San Angelo stations. The facility also became the base for a combined local-news and digital publishing operation. In May 2007, the stations combined their websites under the BigCountryHomepage.com portal, which presents news, weather, sports, and community information for the broader Abilene area. KRBC-TV experienced a major transmission failure during an ice storm on January 14, 2007, when its broadcast tower collapsed. The event destroyed the analog antenna, the station's low-power digital antenna, a NOAA Weather Radio antenna, and a microwave link used in the regional station network. Engineers restored the analog signal through an auxiliary antenna, but the digital service did not return until October 2007. A fiber-optic connection was later installed to provide a more resilient link to the San Angelo facilities. In 2009, the station completed its transition to full-power digital broadcasting from the KTAB-TV tower site, shut down its analog VHF signal, and retained virtual channel 9 while transmitting digitally on UHF channel 29. The station's local news operation has evolved from standard-definition broadcasts to widescreen and then high-definition production. KRBC-TV introduced 16:9 widescreen standard-definition newscasts, along with a new set, logo, and graphics package, in February 2013. It began producing local newscasts in high definition in August 2016. Its programming identity combines NBC network content with locally produced news, weather, traffic, sports, and community coverage. The station als…

KRBC-TV originated during Abilene's first expansion into television broadcasting. The FCC received an earlier construction-permit application from Citizens Broadcasting Company, the owner of KWKC radio, on May 1, 1952. The Reporter Broadcasting Company, which owned KRBC radio, submitted its own application on July 14, 1952, and received authorization on April 15, 1953. KRBC-TV went on the air on August 30, 1953, as Abilene's first television station. Its original schedule reflected the limited network structure of early television. KRBC-TV carried material from NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont, while functioning primarily as an NBC affiliate. The station initially transmitted from a tower at Rattlesnake Mountain in Cedar Gap. Its network mix narrowed after KPAR-TV, now KTXS-TV, launched in 1956 and assumed CBS programming. KRBC-TV and KPAR-TV shared ABC for a time, but the later launch of KTAB-TV provided CBS with another local outlet and solidified KRBC-TV's long-term NBC identity. In 1962, KACB-TV began operating from San Angelo as a semi-satellite of KRBC-TV. This arrangement extended the station's influence into another West Texas market. The Ackers family's Abilene Radio and Television Company retained ownership of the station and its related broadcasting interests for roughly 44 years. In 1997, the family sold KRBC-TV to Sunrise Television. Sunrise separated KRBC-TV from KACB-TV in 1999, after which KACB became a full-fledged station and eventually took the call sign KSAN-TV. Sunrise merged with LIN Television in 2002, and LIN sold KRBC-TV to Mission Broadcasting in 2003. Mission Broadcasting's ownership was paired with an operating relationship with Nexstar Broadcasting Group, which owned Abilene CBS affiliate KTAB-TV. Under shared-sales and shared-services arrangements, Nexstar assumed responsibility for significant functions at KRBC-TV, including news, sales, traffic, engineering, and business operations. In 2005, Nexstar consolidated KTAB-TV's operations into KRBC-TV's larger building at 4510 South 14th Street in western Abilene. The shared master-control system was designed to serve the Abilene stations as well as KLST-TV and KSAN-TV in San Angelo. The station suffered a serious infrastructure incident on January 14, 2007, when an ice storm brought down its transmission tower. The collapse destroyed the analog antenna, the low-power digital antenna, the antenna for NOAA Weather Radio station WXK29, and a microwave link used to relay programming to the San Angelo facilities. The transmitter building and an auxiliary antenna survived. Engineers used the auxiliary equipment to restore the analog signal after approximately 13 hours. KRBC-TV's digital service remained unavailable until October 2007. Nexstar later installed a dual-path fiber-optic connection to the San Angelo broadcast operation, reducing reliance on the damaged microwave route. The station completed major digital infrastructure work in 2007 and 2009. Full-power digital transmitters for KRBC-TV and KTAB-TV were installed in October 2007 at the KTAB tower site, where both stations used a shared digital antenna. KRBC-TV's analog signal ended on May 12, 2009, in accordance with the national digital transition. The station kept virtual channel 9 while using UHF channel 29 for its digital transmission. The former Cedar Gap site was sold to AEP after replacement facilities had been established. KRBC-TV's digital and local-media presence expanded alongside its broadcast infrastructure. In May 2007, KRBC-TV and KTAB-TV merged their web operations into BigCountryHomepage.com, a shared portal for regional news, weather, sports, and community information. The station also participated in Nexstar's 2016 affiliation arrangement with Katz Broadcasting, which brought networks such as Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce to stations in the Nexstar-operated portfolio, including the Abilene outlets. The station's local news presentation progressed from traditional standard-definition production to widescreen and high definition. On February 2, 2013, KRBC-TV introduced 16:9 widescreen newscasts, a new studio set, updated branding, and revised graphics. In August 2016, it upgraded local newscasts to high definition. KRBC-TV continues to combine NBC network programming with locally produced news and weather coverage for Abilene and the surrounding West Texas audience.

1. 2016Local newscasts move to high definition

   The station upgrades its locally produced news programming to high-definition production.

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2. 2009Analog broadcasting ends

   KRBC-TV shuts down its analog channel 9 signal and continues as a digital station using virtual channel 9 and physical channel 29.

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3. 2007Ice storm destroys the transmission tower

   A January ice storm collapses the station's tower and damages multiple transmission and relay systems; analog service is restored through an auxiliary antenna.

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4. 2007Shared BigCountryHomepage.com portal launches

   KRBC-TV and KTAB-TV combine their online operations under BigCountryHomepage.com.

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5. 2005Abilene station operations are consolidated

   Nexstar moves KTAB-TV operations into KRBC-TV's larger South 14th Street facility, supporting shared production and master-control functions.

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6. 2003Mission Broadcasting acquires KRBC-TV

   LIN Television sells the station to Mission Broadcasting, which establishes an operating relationship with Nexstar, owner of KTAB-TV.

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7. 1997Ackers family sells KRBC-TV to Sunrise Television

   After approximately 44 years under the Ackers family's Abilene Radio and Television Company, KRBC-TV is sold to Sunrise Television.

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8. 1962KACB-TV begins as a KRBC-TV semi-satellite

   A San Angelo station begins operation as a semi-satellite of KRBC-TV, extending the Abilene station's regional broadcast operation.

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9. 1956CBS programming moves to KPAR-TV

   The launch of KPAR-TV, now KTXS-TV, ends KRBC-TV's role as a local CBS outlet and begins the station's more clearly defined NBC-market identity.

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10. 1953KRBC-TV launches

    KRBC-TV begins broadcasting on August 30 as Abilene's first television station, operating primarily as an NBC affiliate while also carrying programming from other networks.

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A locally focused NBC affiliate serving Abilene and West Central Texas, with its broadcast, news, digital, and operational resources integrated into the wider Mission Broadcasting and Nexstar regional station network.

• KRBC-TV Channel 9Broadcast television station1953

  The station's primary broadcast service is an NBC-affiliated digital television signal serving Abilene and surrounding parts of West Central Texas. The service carries NBC network programming together with locally produced news, weather, public-affairs, and community content. Its virtual channel remains 9, while its post-transition digital transmission uses UHF channel 29.

• KRBC-TV local newsLocal news programming1953

  KRBC-TV's locally produced news operation covers Abilene and the surrounding region through scheduled newscasts, weather reports, traffic information, breaking-news coverage, sports, and community reporting. The presentation moved to widescreen standard definition in 2013 and high definition in 2016.

• BigCountryHomepage.comDigital news platform2007

  BigCountryHomepage.com is the shared digital portal associated with KRBC-TV and KTAB-TV. It publishes regional news, weather, sports, video, and community information and functions as the stations' principal online local-media brand.

• 2016High-definition local news upgradeGeneration change

  Following the station's earlier move to widescreen standard-definition production, KRBC-TV modernized its local-news presentation and technical workflow.

  What changed. The station began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition in August 2016.

  Aftermath. KRBC-TV became one of the market's early high-definition local-news providers.

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• 2009Transition from analog to digital televisionGeneration change

  The station had already installed full-power digital transmission equipment after the 2007 tower failure and then faced the federally mandated end of analog television.

  What changed. KRBC-TV terminated its analog VHF channel 9 signal and continued digital broadcasting on UHF channel 29 while retaining virtual channel 9.

  Aftermath. The station joined the national digital television system and used shared digital transmission infrastructure at the KTAB tower site.

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• 2007Creation of a shared digital news portalStrategy

  KRBC-TV and KTAB-TV sought to combine their online publishing resources and present a unified regional media presence.

  What changed. The stations merged their websites into BigCountryHomepage.com, with content produced by both newsrooms.

  Aftermath. The portal became a combined source for Abilene-area news, weather, sports, and community information.

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• 2005Resolution of the Cox Communications carriage disputeStrategy

  KRBC-TV was removed from the Abilene cable lineup after Mission and Nexstar sought compensation for continued carriage, while Cox disputed the requested retransmission payment.

  What changed. After more than nine months of negotiations, the station and Cox reached an arrangement that restored KRBC-TV to the cable lineup on October 20, 2005.

  Aftermath. During the interruption, some viewers used antennas or other distribution services to receive NBC programming; the station later returned to the local cable system.

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• 2003Mission Broadcasting acquisition and Nexstar operating agreementM&A

  After LIN Television sold KRBC-TV, the station became part of Mission Broadcasting's portfolio while Nexstar operated substantial business and technical functions through agreements linked to its ownership of KTAB-TV.

  What changed. Mission retained ownership and contracted with Nexstar for shared sales, news, traffic, engineering, and administrative operations.

  Aftermath. KRBC-TV became operationally integrated with KTAB-TV and related Nexstar/Mission stations in Abilene and San Angelo.

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• 2016KRBC-TV upgrades local news to high definition

  KRBC-TV began producing its local newscasts in high definition during August, following technical upgrades to its news operation.

  Product generation
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• 2013KRBC-TV introduces widescreen local newscasts

  The station moved its local newscasts to 16:9 widescreen standard definition and introduced a new set, logo, and graphics.

  Product generation
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• 2009KRBC-TV completes analog shutdown

  KRBC-TV ended analog broadcasting on VHF channel 9 as part of the federally mandated transition to digital television and continued using virtual channel 9 on its digital signal.

  Regulation
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• 2007KRBC-TV tower collapses during ice storm

  An ice storm caused the station's transmission tower to collapse, taking the analog signal off the air for approximately 13 hours and damaging associated antennas and a microwave link.

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• 2007KRBC-TV returns to digital broadcasting

  The station restored its digital service in October after the January tower collapse, broadcasting NBC programming in high definition.

  Product generation
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• 2007KRBC-TV and KTAB-TV consolidate online operations

  The two Abilene stations combined their websites under the BigCountryHomepage.com brand, creating a shared local news and community portal.

  Other
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• 1953KRBC-TV begins broadcasting in Abilene

  KRBC-TV began broadcasting on August 30, becoming the first television station in Abilene, Texas.

  Other
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1. KRBC-TV
2. KRBC-TV official website