KYTX
KYTX is a CBS-affiliated television station serving East Texas from studios in Tyler and licensed to Nacogdoches, Texas.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KYTX is a commercial television station licensed to Nacogdoches, Texas, and serving the broader Tyler–Longview and East Texas market. The station operates under the CBS 19 brand and also carries The CW Plus on a digital subchannel. Its main studios are in southeastern Tyler near Loop 323, while its transmitter is located near State Highway 110 in rural Cherokee County, northwest of Ponta. The station's coverage area includes communities across the eastern portion of Texas and competes with other local television outlets, including KLTV, KETK-TV, KFXK-TV, and KTPN-LD. The station began broadcasting on September 1, 1991, as KLSB-TV. It was initially established by local NBC affiliate KETK-TV as a satellite serving the Nacogdoches area. KLSB originally maintained studios in Nacogdoches, employed approximately 40 people, and produced separate evening newscasts. Those standalone Nacogdoches newscasts were discontinued in January 1994, although the station continued operating as a KETK-linked service. A major transformation began after Max Media acquired KLSB in 2003. The company planned to move the transmitter northward to provide more effective coverage of Tyler and Longview and to create a distinct CBS affiliate for the market. The station relaunched with CBS programming on April 12, 2004, adopted the KYTX call sign the following day, and became the first locally based CBS affiliate serving East Texas in more than a decade. The transmitter move was completed on June 21, 2004, and the station began digital broadcasting from its new Cherokee County facility. KYTX subsequently established its own local news operation, branded Eyewitness News, which began on September 12, 2004. The station expanded its local programming during the following years, adding a 5 p.m. newscast in 2005 and a 6:30 p.m. edition in 2006 with an emphasis on Longview-area stories. In 2006 it also added the UPN affiliation to a digital subchannel. After UPN and The WB merged to create The CW, however, KCEB became the market's initial CW affiliate. KYTX later carried The CW Plus through its digital services. KYTX received national attention in 2007 when Fox filmed Anchorwoman at the station. The short-lived reality program followed Lauren Jones as she trained to become a television news anchor. Station management viewed the production as a way to increase awareness of KYTX and its newscasts, but the program generated criticism from rival journalists and others who believed it risked undermining the credibility of local television news. Fox canceled the show after its premiere episodes because of weak ratings. Ownership changed several times. London Broadcasting Company acquired KYTX from Max Media in 2007 for $25 million. In 2014, Gannett purchased KYTX and five other London stations in a transaction valued at $215 million. When Gannett separated its publishing and broadcasting operations in 2015, KYTX became part of the newly formed Tegna Inc. broadcast group. Nexstar announced an agreement to acquire Tegna in 2025, and the transaction was completed on March 19, 2026. Legal proceedings subsequently limited Nexstar's immediate ability to integrate the acquired stations. KYTX remains an operating local television station and continues to provide network programming, local news, weather, sports, public-affairs content, and digital services to East Texas.
History
KYTX traces its history to KLSB-TV, which began broadcasting on September 1, 1991, as a satellite service created by Nacogdoches-area NBC affiliate KETK-TV. The station was intended to extend KETK's reach into Nacogdoches and surrounding communities. It operated with separate Nacogdoches facilities and initially produced evening news inserts for its local audience. In January 1994, those independent newscasts were discontinued, reducing staffing while leaving KLSB as a KETK-associated broadcast outlet. The station's role changed substantially in 2003 when Max Media acquired it from KLSB Television LLC. Max Media proposed relocating the transmitter to improve service to Tyler and Longview and converting the station into a separately programmed CBS affiliate. The change addressed a longstanding gap in the East Texas television market: CBS programming had previously moved among different local and out-of-market outlets, and the market had not had a stable locally based CBS affiliate for more than a decade. The relaunch occurred on April 12, 2004, when channel 19 began carrying CBS programming. The KYTX call letters were adopted on April 13. The station initially continued carrying selected programming from other CBS outlets on some cable systems while it built a full local operation. On June 21, 2004, KYTX shifted from its former KLSB transmission site to a new facility in Cherokee County and began digital broadcasting, improving its ability to reach the Tyler–Longview market. Local newscasts under the Eyewitness News name began on September 12, 2004. A 5 p.m. edition followed in 2005, and a 6:30 p.m. newscast focused partly on Longview-area coverage began in 2006. KYTX also pursued digital expansion. It added the UPN affiliation to a digital subchannel on January 1, 2006. When UPN and The WB combined later that year to form The CW, the market's initial CW affiliation went to KCEB rather than KYTX. KYTX subsequently became associated with The CW Plus through its secondary digital service, marketed as East Texas CW 19.2. In 2007, Fox filmed Anchorwoman at KYTX's Tyler studios. The program followed Lauren Jones, a former model and television personality, as she trained for a local anchor position. Station management supported the project as a promotional opportunity, but critics argued that presenting local news as reality entertainment could damage journalistic credibility and reflect poorly on East Texas. The series premiered with two episodes and was canceled the next day after poor ratings. Ownership changed in October 2007, when London Broadcasting Company acquired the station for $25 million. During the London period, KYTX completed the U.S. digital television transition by ending its analog transmission on February 17, 2009, while retaining its digital channel arrangement and virtual channel 19. In April 2009, it became the first station in the Tyler–Longview market to produce local newscasts in high definition. London also agreed to acquire KCEB in 2009; the Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction in 2010 under a failing-station waiver. Gannett acquired KYTX and five other London stations in 2014 for $215 million. The following year, Gannett divided its publishing and broadcasting businesses, transferring KYTX to Tegna Inc. In 2025, Nexstar announced an agreement to acquire Tegna, and the transaction closed on March 19, 2026. Court proceedings subsequently prevented Nexstar from immediately integrating the acquired stations. KYTX continues to operate as a CBS-affiliated East Texas station with local news, weather, community programming, digital content, and a CW Plus service.
- 2026
Nexstar acquires Tegna
[1]Nexstar completed its acquisition of Tegna, although subsequent litigation restricted integration of the stations.
- 2015
Transfer to Tegna
[1]KYTX became part of Tegna after Gannett separated its publishing and broadcast operations.
- 2014
Gannett acquisition
[1]Gannett acquired KYTX as part of its purchase of six London Broadcasting stations.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends and HD news begins
[1]KYTX ended analog broadcasting and later became the first Tyler–Longview station to produce local newscasts in high definition.
- 2007
Anchorwoman is filmed at KYTX
[1]Fox filmed its short-lived Anchorwoman reality series at the station's Tyler facilities.
- 2007
London Broadcasting acquisition
[1]London Broadcasting Company purchased KYTX for $25 million.
- 2006
UPN added to digital service
[1]The station added UPN programming to a digital subchannel before the network became part of The CW.
- 2004
KYTX launches as a CBS affiliate
[1]Channel 19 began CBS programming on April 12 and adopted the KYTX call sign on April 13.
- 2004
Transmitter relocation and digital launch
[1]KYTX moved its transmitter to Cherokee County and began digital broadcasting on June 21.
- 2004
Local news department launches
[1]KYTX began producing Eyewitness News on September 12.
Products and positioning
A locally focused East Texas broadcast and digital news brand combining CBS network programming with local news, weather, sports, community information, and secondary CW Plus programming.
Broadcast television station · 2004
CBS 19
KYTX's primary broadcast service carries CBS network programming under the CBS 19 identity. The service also supports the station's local news, weather, sports, public-affairs, emergency-information, and advertising operations for East Texas viewers.
Local television news · 2004
Eyewitness News
Eyewitness News is KYTX's local news operation. It was introduced in 2004 after the station's CBS relaunch and later expanded with additional afternoon and evening editions, including programming directed toward viewers in the Longview portion of the market.
Digital multicast television service · 2006
East Texas CW 19.2
KYTX's secondary digital service carries The CW Plus programming for East Texas. The station's digital-subchannel history also includes an earlier UPN affiliation beginning in 2006 before the UPN–WB merger created The CW.
Controversies
2007
Anchorwoman credibility controversy
KYTX's participation in Anchorwoman drew criticism from rival news executives and others who argued that turning a local newsroom into reality television could compromise the station's journalistic credibility and create an unfavorable portrayal of East Texas. The program was canceled after its premiere.
Marketing campaigns
- 2007Anchorwoman
United States · East Texas
KYTX participated in Fox's Anchorwoman reality program, which filmed at the station and followed Lauren Jones as she trained for a local news-anchor role. Station management viewed the program as a promotional vehicle for KYTX's newscasts and brand visibility.
Outcome. The program attracted controversy over its treatment of local journalism and was canceled immediately after its premiere because of poor ratings.
Brand decisions
2026
Nexstar acquires TegnaM&ABackground
Nexstar announced a transaction to acquire Tegna, whose portfolio included KYTX.
Action taken
The acquisition closed on March 19, 2026, placing KYTX within the Nexstar group.
Aftermath
A temporary restraining order and later preliminary injunction limited Nexstar's ability to integrate the acquired stations immediately.
2014
Gannett purchases KYTXM&ABackground
London Broadcasting sought to sell a group of television stations.
Action taken
Gannett acquired KYTX and five other London stations in an all-cash transaction.
Aftermath
KYTX entered Gannett's broadcast portfolio and later moved to Tegna after the company's 2015 structural separation.
Transaction value for six London Broadcasting stations. $215 million (2014)
2007
Use reality television as a station promotionStrategyBackground
Station management sought greater public attention for KYTX and its developing local news operation.
Action taken
KYTX allowed Fox to film Anchorwoman at its Tyler studios.
Aftermath
The show generated national attention and criticism but was canceled after its premiere because of weak ratings.
2004
Launch CBS 19 local news servicesProduct launchBackground
KYTX initially carried some programming from other CBS outlets while developing its own newsroom and Tyler facilities.
Action taken
The station introduced Eyewitness News in September 2004 and added further afternoon and evening editions in later years.
Aftermath
KYTX became a fully localized CBS service, although early ratings remained behind established market leader KLTV.
2003
Convert KLSB into an independent CBS affiliateStrategyBackground
East Texas had lacked a stable locally based CBS affiliate for more than a decade, and CBS programming was being supplied through a mixture of distant and changing local outlets.
Action taken
Max Media acquired KLSB, planned a transmitter relocation, adopted the KYTX identity, and built a separate local news operation.
Aftermath
The station launched CBS programming in April 2004 and established a new local competitor in the Tyler–Longview market.
Recent events
- 2026
Nexstar completes acquisition of Tegna[1]
M&A · Regulation
Nexstar completed its acquisition of Tegna, placing KYTX within the Nexstar corporate structure. Subsequent court action restricted immediate integration of the acquired stations.
- 2015
Gannett separates its broadcast assets into Tegna[1]
M&A
KYTX moved into Tegna when Gannett separated its broadcasting and digital-media operations from its publishing business.
- 2014
London Broadcasting sells KYTX to Gannett[1]
M&A
Gannett acquired KYTX and five other London Broadcasting stations in an all-cash transaction reported at $215 million.
- 2007
Anchorwoman reality series films at KYTX[1]
Campaign · Other
Fox used KYTX's Tyler facilities as the setting for Anchorwoman, a reality program centered on Lauren Jones's attempt to become a local news anchor. The show attracted criticism and was canceled after its premiere.
- 2004
KLSB is relaunched as East Texas CBS affiliate KYTX[1]
Product launch
Following its acquisition by Max Media, the station moved its transmission facilities, adopted the KYTX identity, and began carrying CBS programming for the Tyler–Longview market.
- 2004
KYTX launches local Eyewitness News operation[1]
Product launch
The station introduced its own locally produced news programming after initially relying partly on KETK-related operations.
- 1991
KYTX begins broadcasting as KLSB-TV[1]
Other
KETK-TV launched KLSB-TV as a Nacogdoches-area satellite station on September 1, initially combining rebroadcast programming with locally produced evening news inserts.
Sources2 sources
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