KWES-TV
KWES-TV is an NBC-affiliated television station serving the Permian Basin from Odessa, Texas, and operating under the NewsWest 9 brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KWES-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Odessa, Texas, serving viewers across the Midland–Odessa and wider Permian Basin market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 9 and is affiliated with NBC. Its local news operation uses the NewsWest 9 identity, under which it provides regional reporting, weather, sports, traffic, public-affairs coverage, and digital news services. The station’s studios are located on West County Road 127 near Midland International Air and Space Port, between Odessa and Midland, while its transmitter is near Notrees, Texas. The station began broadcasting on December 1, 1958, as KVKM-TV from Monahans. It was established by Tri-Cities Broadcasting Company, whose principals included John B. Walton, Helen Walton, and Ross Rucker. Initially an ABC affiliate, KVKM-TV served a geographically large but relatively dispersed area that included Midland, Odessa, Fort Stockton, and parts of southeastern New Mexico. A transmitter relocation approved in 1962 and implemented the following year improved its coverage of the more populous Midland–Odessa area. Ownership and identity changed substantially during the 1960s and 1970s. Grayson Enterprises acquired the station in 1968, and its call sign became KMOM-TV in 1969, reflecting Monahans, Odessa, and Midland. Grayson also operated KWAB-TV in Big Spring and temporarily converted that station into a rebroadcaster of KMOM-TV. The arrangement, together with allegations involving programming logs, commercial insertion practices, and other regulatory violations, contributed to Federal Communications Commission license-renewal hearings. The station ultimately became part of a minority-controlled distress sale approved by the FCC in 1980, when Permian Basin Television Corporation acquired KMOM-TV and KWAB-TV. The new owners changed the call sign to KTPX, representing “Television for the Petroplex,” and moved the station’s main facilities from Monahans to Odessa. KTPX became the area’s NBC affiliate in 1982 after ABC moved to KMID-TV. Subsequent ownership by MSP Television was followed by receivership beginning in 1987, amid weak advertising revenues, economic conditions, and the lingering effects of the station’s earlier reputation. Drewry Communications acquired KTPX in 1991 and undertook a significant rebuilding program. Capital improvements included new news-production facilities and a satellite news-gathering vehicle. The station introduced the NewsWest 9 name for its newscasts in 1992 and adopted the KWES-TV call sign in 1993. These changes helped reposition channel 9 as a stronger local competitor. Drewry later expanded its regional media presence through Hispanic television and radio assets, including operations connected with Telemundo and the acquisition of KTXC-FM. Drewry sold its broadcasting portfolio to Raycom Media in 2015. In 2019, following Gray Television’s acquisition of Raycom, KWES-TV was divested to Tegna as part of a broader market-structure transaction. Nexstar Media Group subsequently acquired Tegna in 2026. Nexstar already owned KMID-TV and operated KPEJ-TV in the same market, creating regulatory and operational complications; a federal court order reportedly prevented immediate integration of KWES-TV with those stations. KWES-TV remains an active local television outlet and NBC affiliate, with broadcast, streaming, website, and social-media distribution.
History
KWES-TV traces its history to the allocation of VHF channel 9 to Monahans, Texas. Two applicants sought the channel in 1957, but the withdrawal of KMPS Broadcasting Company cleared the way for Tri-Cities Broadcasting Company to receive the construction permit. Tri-Cities was associated with local radio interests, including John B. Walton, Helen Walton, and Ross Rucker. The station selected a transmitter site north of Monahans and signed on December 1, 1958, as KVKM-TV, an ABC affiliate. Its coverage extended through the sparsely populated Permian Basin and reached communities in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico through cable carriage. A transmitter move approved in 1962 and activated in 1963 strengthened the signal in the Midland–Odessa area. In 1968, Grayson Enterprises purchased the station from the Walton interests. The call sign changed to KMOM-TV in March 1969. Grayson also owned KWAB-TV in Big Spring and converted that station into a rebroadcaster of KMOM-TV. The arrangement was criticized locally and raised questions before the FCC because of commitments made during the acquisition process. The station’s regulatory problems intensified during the 1970s. A competing broadcaster challenged the renewal of Grayson’s licenses and alleged that KMOM-TV had falsified program logs and engaged in commercial “clipping,” in which local advertising was inserted over or alongside network advertising. The FCC designated several Grayson station renewals for hearing in 1977. Rather than proceed directly through the normal renewal process, Grayson pursued a distress sale under an FCC policy intended to facilitate transfers to minority-controlled owners when a station faced serious financial or licensing difficulties. The FCC approved the sale of KMOM-TV and KWAB-TV to Permian Basin Television Corporation in March 1980. The new ownership took control in July, changed the call letters to KTPX in October, and successfully moved the station’s principal facilities to Odessa. The new name referred to the region’s petroleum-oriented identity. Despite improvements, KTPX remained a weak competitor for a time. ABC moved to KMID-TV in 1982, and KTPX assumed NBC affiliation. Permian Basin Television later sold the station to MSP Television, but MSP encountered financing problems. KTPX entered receivership in 1987, remaining under court-supervised control for approximately four years. Drewry Communications ended the receivership in 1991 by purchasing KTPX. Drewry invested in newsgathering and presentation, recruited experienced management, and introduced the NewsWest 9 newscast identity in 1992. The station adopted the KWES-TV call sign in August 1993. The overhaul helped restore its competitive position and gave the station a more durable local brand. Drewry subsequently broadened its Permian Basin activities. It assumed operations of a Telemundo outlet serving Odessa in 2000 and launched a full-length Spanish-language local newscast in 2001. It also acquired KTXC-FM in Lamesa, adding a Regional Mexican radio service to its Hispanic-media portfolio. A proposed 2008 sale of Drewry’s stations to London Broadcasting collapsed during the financial crisis, and the portfolio remained with Drewry until Raycom Media purchased it in 2015. Raycom’s merger with Gray Television closed in January 2019. Gray retained several Midland–Odessa properties and transferred KWES-TV to Tegna for regulatory and market-structure reasons. Tegna operated the station until Nexstar’s acquisition of Tegna was completed in 2026. Nexstar’s existing ownership and operation of other market stations created potential concentration and integration issues, and a federal court order reportedly prevented immediate consolidation. The station’s current public-facing role remains that of an NBC affiliate and local news provider for the Permian Basin.
- 2026
Nexstar acquisition of Tegna closes
[1]Nexstar becomes the station’s corporate owner, although court action reportedly delays market integration.
- 2019
Tegna ownership begins
[1]KWES-TV is transferred to Tegna following Gray Television’s acquisition of Raycom.
- 2015
Raycom Media acquisition closes
[1]Raycom acquires Drewry’s station portfolio, including KWES-TV.
- 2009
Digital television transition
[1]KWES-TV ends analog broadcasting and continues digital operations on channel 9.
- 2001
Spanish-language local news expands
[1]Drewry launches the market’s first full-length Spanish-language local newscast through its Hispanic-media operations.
- 1993
KWES-TV call sign adopted
[1]The station formally adopts the KWES-TV call sign following its NewsWest 9 relaunch.
- 1991
Drewry Communications ends receivership
[1]Drewry purchases KTPX and starts a major station redevelopment program.
- 1982
NBC affiliation begins
[1]KTPX becomes the market’s NBC affiliate after ABC moves to KMID-TV.
- 1980
Minority-owned distress sale is approved
[1]Permian Basin Television Corporation acquires the station and changes its identity to KTPX.
- 1977
FCC renewal hearings are designated
[1]The FCC sends Grayson station-license issues, including allegations involving KMOM-TV, to hearing.
Products and positioning
A local broadcast and digital news brand serving the Permian Basin, combining NBC network programming with regionally focused news, weather, sports, and emergency-information coverage.
Local television news · 1992
NewsWest 9
KWES-TV’s principal local-news brand, launched in 1992 during Drewry Communications’ station redevelopment. It encompasses regularly scheduled newscasts and related reporting focused on Midland, Odessa, the Permian Basin, and surrounding West Texas communities.
Network television affiliation · 1982
NBC programming
KWES-TV carries NBC network programming for the Midland–Odessa market. The station assumed the local NBC affiliation in 1982 after ABC moved to KMID-TV.
Digital media
NewsWest 9 digital services
The station extends its broadcast journalism through its NewsWest 9 website and associated digital video, weather, breaking-news, and community-information services.
Controversies
Brand decisions
1992
NewsWest 9 local-news relaunchProduct launchBackground
Drewry Communications was rebuilding KTPX after acquiring it from receivership.
Action taken
The station introduced NewsWest 9 and invested in new news facilities and a satellite newsgathering vehicle.
Aftermath
The relaunch supported a broader effort to improve the station’s competitive standing and local reputation.
1982
NBC affiliation adoptedStrategyBackground
ABC upgraded its Midland–Odessa affiliation by moving to KMID-TV.
Action taken
KTPX assumed the NBC affiliation for the market.
Aftermath
The station developed its long-term identity as the area’s channel 9 NBC outlet.
1980
Transfer to Permian Basin Television CorporationM&ABackground
Grayson Enterprises faced license-renewal proceedings and financial pressure, while the FCC’s distress-sale policy favored a transfer to a minority-controlled buyer.
Action taken
The FCC approved the sale of KMOM-TV and KWAB-TV to Permian Basin Television Corporation, which took control in July 1980.
Aftermath
The new owners renamed the station KTPX and moved its main facilities to Odessa, establishing the foundation for its later KWES-TV identity.
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