KXMB-TV

KXMB-TV is a full-power television station serving Bismarck, North Dakota, and a broad portion of central and western North Dakota. The station broadcasts on channel 12 and operates as the Bismarck flagship of KX Television, a regional group that also includes KXMC-TV in Minot, KXMD-TV in Williston, and KXMA-TV in Dickinson. The associated stations extend the group's over-the-air reach across a large, geographically dispersed market that also includes parts of eastern Montana and northwestern South Dakota. Although each station has its own license and can carry separate legal identifications and commercial inserts, the group is generally treated as one television operation for ratings and regulatory purposes. The station began broadcasting on November 19, 1955, as KBMB-TV. It was established by Fargo businessman John Boler through the North Dakota Broadcasting Company and initially carried CBS programming along with programming from other networks. In the late 1950s, it briefly carried the NTA Film Network. KBMB moved to its present Bismarck location in 1958. In 1961, Boler sold a part-interest in the operating company to Chester Reiten, and the two men developed a broader western North Dakota television operation. That year, KBMB-TV adopted the KXMB-TV call letters after the partners acquired and renamed the CBS station in Minot as KXMC-TV. KXMC initially served as the group's flagship and source of much of its programming. The regional network expanded during the following decades. KXMD-TV began broadcasting in Williston in 1969. Reiten Broadcasting later acquired Dickinson station KNDX, formerly KDIX-TV, in 1985 and converted it into a semi-satellite of KXMB, changing its call sign to KXMA-TV. The stations also had historical ownership ties to KXJB-TV in Fargo, although that station was programmed separately and was ultimately divested from the partnership. Over time, master control and internal network operations shifted from Minot to Bismarck, making KXMB the operational center of KX Television. KXMB and its sister stations have combined broadcast television with regional news, weather, sports, advertising, and digital publishing. In 2006, the group consolidated its station websites under the KXNet.com portal, while retaining localized pages for the individual stations. The digital operation later supported DakotaPolitics.com, a North Dakota political news and information site, and streamed special election-related coverage online. KXMB also became the first commercial television station in North Dakota to launch a digital television signal, beginning digital operations in 2002. The station's local news operation has included morning, midday, evening, and late-night newscasts. Following Nexstar's acquisition of the Reiten stations, the level of separate programming from some sister stations was reduced, with KXMC contributing weather and sports inserts and KXMA becoming more closely integrated with Bismarck production. The group produces shared programming such as Good Day Dakota and a regional 5 p.m. newscast. KXMB's visibility has also been supported by promotional events, including a 2013 appearance by actor Will Ferrell in character as Ron Burgundy to promote Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced the acquisition of the Reiten Television stations, including KXMB-TV, in September 2015, and completed the transaction on February 2, 2016. KXMB consequently became part of Nexstar Media Group's portfolio of local television stations. The station's network affiliation and distribution arrangements have changed over time; the supplied reference material describes KXMB as carrying The CW in the current Wikipedia account and records a later planned change involving CBS service in August 2026. Because that future-dated affiliation information is time-sensitive, the station is best characterized as an active Nexstar-owned local television broadcaster whose exact network lineup should be veri…

KXMB-TV began broadcasting from Bismarck on November 19, 1955, as KBMB-TV. The station was founded by Fargo businessman John Boler and his North Dakota Broadcasting Company. Its primary network relationship was with CBS, although it also carried other network material and briefly aired programming from the NTA Film Network during the late 1950s. In 1958, the station moved to the Bismarck facilities it continues to use as its principal studio location. A major change came in 1961, when Boler sold a part-interest in the North Dakota Broadcasting Company to Chester Reiten of Minot. The partners acquired KCJB-TV in Minot, changed that station's call letters to KXMC-TV, and coordinated the operations of the Bismarck and Minot stations. KBMB-TV was renamed KXMB-TV that same year. KXMC was initially the flagship and the main source of shared programming for the growing KX station group. KXMD-TV in Williston joined the group in 1969. The partnership also had an ownership connection to KXJB-TV in Fargo, although that station was operated with separate programming and was later sold out of the arrangement. Reiten retained the western North Dakota stations after Boler sold his interest in 1971. Reiten Broadcasting expanded the network in 1985 by purchasing Dickinson station KNDX, formerly KDIX-TV. The station became KXMA-TV and operated as a semi-satellite of KXMB. The KX stations historically carried some secondary ABC programming in addition to their principal network relationships, but the arrival of a full-time ABC affiliate in Bismarck changed that arrangement. The network's operating center gradually moved to Bismarck. During the 2000s, master control and internal operations were transferred from KXMC to KXMB, making the Bismarck station the practical flagship of KX Television. The four stations generally share network and syndicated programming supplied through KXMB, while retaining the ability to air station identifications, local commercial inserts, and selected local content. KXMC maintains a Minot newsroom and contributes weather and sports material, while KXMD largely rebroadcasts KXMC and KXMA has primarily rebroadcast KXMB. KXMB's digital development became an important part of its history. It was the first commercial television station in North Dakota to begin digital broadcasting, launching its digital signal in 2002. The station ended analog broadcasting on VHF channel 12 at 10 a.m. on May 28, 2009, and its post-transition digital signal returned to VHF channel 12 after operating temporarily on UHF channel 23. The group expanded its online presence in 2006 through KXNet.com, a shared portal that brought the former station websites together while retaining localized coverage. The project received regional recognition in 2007, including awards for small-market television website work. In October 2007, KXNet.com and Midkota Solutions introduced DakotaPolitics.com, which provided candidate profiles, voting records, political analysis, and election polling. In 2008, KXNet.com streamed a one-hour special from Bismarck covering the presidential caucuses, described in the reference material as the first live online news broadcast by a North Dakota website. KXMB also became involved in a joint commercial-sales arrangement with KBMY, Bismarck's ABC affiliate owned by Forum Communications, beginning in July 2008. KXMB housed sales and engineering personnel for the arrangement, which also helped KBMY-DT originate a digital ABC signal from the KXMB facility. The arrangement was later terminated after Nexstar acquired the Reiten stations. On September 17, 2015, Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced a purchase of the Reiten Television stations, including KXMB-TV. The transaction closed on February 2, 2016. Nexstar subsequently operated KXMB and its sister stations as a regional local-media group. The acquisition was followed by a reduction in some separately produced satellite-station newscasts and greater reliance on shared Bismarck production, although local weather, sports, newsroom, sales, and identification functions continued in parts of the network. KXMB's local programming has included weekday newscasts at breakfast, midday, early evening, and late evening, with a smaller weekend schedule. Shared programming has included Good Day Dakota and a 5 p.m. newscast carried across the KX stations. The station has also used the KX News and KX Television identities. Its broadcast footprint and regional structure remain central to its role in serving communities spread across the large Minot–Bismarck–Dickinson–Williston market. The supplied reference describes the station as a CW outlet and also mentions a future-dated 2026 CBS affiliation change; current network status should therefore be checked against the station's latest official information.

1. 2016Nexstar ownership begins

   The acquisition closes on February 2, transferring KXMB-TV to Nexstar.

   Source
2. 2015Nexstar announces Reiten station acquisition

   Nexstar announces an agreement to purchase KXMB-TV and the other Reiten Television stations.

   Source
3. 2009Analog transmission ends

   KXMB shuts down its analog VHF signal and continues digital operations on VHF channel 12 after the transition.

   Source
4. 2006KXNet.com launches

   The station group consolidates its local websites into a shared regional web portal.

   Source
5. 2002Digital broadcasting begins

   KXMB becomes the first commercial television station in North Dakota to launch a digital television signal.

   Source
6. 1985Dickinson satellite station added

   Reiten Broadcasting acquires KNDX and converts it into KXMA-TV, a semi-satellite of KXMB.

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7. 1969KXMD-TV joins the regional network

   The KX group expands its western North Dakota reach with a station in Williston.

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8. 1961KXMB-TV name adopted and KX group established

   Chester Reiten joins the ownership group, KCJB-TV becomes KXMC-TV, and KBMB-TV changes its call sign to KXMB-TV.

   Source
9. 1958Station moves to its current Bismarck location

   KBMB-TV relocates to the North 15th Street facilities associated with the station in later years.

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10. 1955KBMB-TV begins broadcasting

    The Bismarck station signs on November 19 under the KBMB-TV call sign, initially serving as a CBS-affiliated broadcaster.

    Source

A regional, locally focused television broadcaster serving a large rural and geographically dispersed North Dakota market through a flagship station and full-power satellite stations.

• KX NewsLocal television news

  KX News is the station group's local news identity, covering central and western North Dakota through shared and localized television newscasts. KXMB has historically carried morning, midday, evening, and late-night programs, while KXMC contributes Minot-area weather and sports inserts and the other stations rebroadcast much of the shared output.

• Good Day DakotaMorning television program

  Good Day Dakota is a regional morning program produced for distribution across the KX Television stations. It combines local news, weather, sports, and community-oriented coverage for viewers across the group's large North Dakota service area.

• KX TelevisionRegional broadcast network

  KX Television is the regional operating and branding structure linking KXMB-TV with KXMC-TV, KXMD-TV, and KXMA-TV. KXMB serves as the principal programming and operational center, while the satellite stations extend coverage and may insert their own identifications, advertising, or limited local material.

• KXNet.comDigital news portal2006

  KXNet.com is the shared online portal created for the KX stations. It brought together the former station-specific websites under one regional platform while preserving localized presentation for Bismarck, Minot, Williston, and Dickinson coverage.

• 2013Ron Burgundy evening-news promotion

  Bismarck, North Dakota

  Actor Will Ferrell appeared as his Ron Burgundy character and co-anchored KXMB's evening newscast to promote Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

  Outcome. The appearance generated promotional attention for both the film and the station's newscast.

  Source
• 2008Presidential caucus live-stream coverage

  North Dakota

  KXNet.com streamed a one-hour special from Bismarck covering the 2008 presidential caucuses.

  Outcome. The broadcast marked an early expansion of the station group's online live-news capabilities.

  Source
• 2007DakotaPolitics.com launch

  North Dakota

  KXNet.com and Midkota Solutions launched a political information site featuring candidate profiles, voting records, analysis, and election polling.

  Outcome. The project broadened the group's digital news and civic-information offering; the supplied reference does not provide later performance figures.

  Source

• 2015Nexstar acquisition of Reiten TelevisionM&A

  Reiten Television owned KXMB-TV and the associated KX stations across western and central North Dakota.

  What changed. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced a purchase of the Reiten stations, including KXMB-TV, on September 17, 2015.

  Aftermath. The transaction closed on February 2, 2016, and KXMB became part of Nexstar's local television portfolio.

  Reported transaction value. $44 million (Announced September 17, 2015; completed February 2, 2016)

  Source
• 2008Joint commercial-sales arrangement with KBMYStrategy

  KXMB and Forum Communications' Bismarck ABC affiliate KBMY sought to coordinate parts of their commercial and technical operations.

  What changed. Reiten Television entered an agreement to sell advertising inventory on both stations, with KXMB housing sales and engineering personnel for KBMY.

  Aftermath. The arrangement supported KBMY's digital signal operations from the KXMB facility and was later terminated after Nexstar acquired the Reiten stations.

  Source
• 2006Consolidation of digital publishingStrategy

  The four-station KX group operated separate station websites but sought a unified regional digital presence.

  What changed. The group launched KXNet.com as a shared portal with localized pages for each station.

  Aftermath. The portal became a central platform for regional news, weather, sports, and later online political coverage.

  Source

• 2016Nexstar completes purchase of KXMB-TV

  The Reiten station acquisition closed on February 2, 2016, placing KXMB-TV under Nexstar ownership.

  M&A
  Source
• 2015Nexstar announces acquisition of Reiten Television stations

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced an agreement to acquire KXMB-TV and the other Reiten Television stations.

  M&A
  Source
• 2013Will Ferrell co-anchors KXMB evening news as Ron Burgundy

  As a promotion for Anchorman 2, actor Will Ferrell appeared as Ron Burgundy and co-anchored the station's evening newscast on November 30, 2013.

  Campaign
  Source
• 2007KXMB launches DakotaPolitics.com

  KXNet.com and Midkota Solutions launched a digital site focused on North Dakota political information, election coverage, and polling.

  Product launchCampaign
  Source
• 2006KXNet.com consolidates the KX station websites

  The KX stations introduced a shared web portal with localized pages for Bismarck, Minot, Williston, and Dickinson.

  Product launch
  Source
• 1997KXMB provides temporary CBS coverage after KXJB mast collapse

  After an ice storm caused the KXJB-TV transmission mast to collapse on April 6, some cable systems substituted KXMB to preserve CBS service.

  Other
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• 1961KBMB-TV adopts the KXMB-TV call sign

  Following the development of Chester Reiten's KX station group, the Bismarck station changed its call letters to KXMB-TV.

  Other
  Source
• 1955KXMB-TV begins broadcasting as KBMB-TV

  The Bismarck station began operations on November 19, 1955, under the KBMB-TV call sign with a primary CBS affiliation.

  Other
  Source

1. KXMB-TV
2. KXMB-TV official website reference