KABB

KABB is a commercial television station licensed to San Antonio, Texas, and affiliated with the Fox network. Broadcasting on virtual channel 29, the station serves viewers across the San Antonio metropolitan area and adjoining South Texas communities. Its programming mix combines Fox network content with locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs, and lifestyle programming. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and operates alongside Sinclair's NBC affiliate WOAI-TV and the CW affiliate KMYS, which is licensed to Kerrville and is operated by Sinclair through shared-services and related agreements with Deerfield Media. KABB began broadcasting on December 16, 1987, after a lengthy FCC licensing process for UHF channel 29. Alamo Broadcasting Company, controlled by Paris and Sherry Schindler, secured the construction permit following comparative proceedings and later legal challenges. The station initially operated as an independent outlet, entering a San Antonio market that already had another independent UHF station, KRRT. In 1989, after a contested transaction that led to litigation threats and negotiations, River City Broadcasting acquired KABB for a reported $11 million. Under River City's ownership, KABB developed a strong local position and surpassed KRRT in total-day ratings despite KRRT holding the Fox affiliation at the time. A major turning point came in January 1995, when Fox moved its San Antonio affiliation from KRRT to KABB. The change reflected KABB's stronger audience performance, its more favorable transmitter location, and plans for a new prime-time local newscast. KABB launched The Nine O'Clock News in March 1995, initially as a half-hour program and later expanding it to an hour. The Fox affiliation gave the station a clearer programming identity and helped establish it as a significant competitor in the market. KABB also carried a substantial portion of San Antonio Spurs road games during the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons before those broadcasts shifted back to KRRT after the affiliation transition. Sinclair acquired River City's television assets in 1996. The resulting ownership and operating arrangements involving KABB and KRRT attracted regulatory and public scrutiny because Sinclair controlled the stations' operations while the relevant ownership structures were being arranged through separate licensees. The FCC later required changes to local marketing agreements affecting decision-making authority. These developments formed part of the broader history of U.S. television consolidation and the limits imposed by FCC local ownership rules. KABB expanded its local news presence over time. It introduced the morning program Fox News First in 2006, later extending the broadcast to a four-hour weekday block. The station also developed the lifestyle program Daytime, a midday news product, the 9 p.m. newscast, and the public-affairs program Focus on South Texas. Since 2021, KABB has additionally produced newscasts for Sinclair-owned WXLV-TV in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 2012, Sinclair acquired WOAI-TV, bringing San Antonio's NBC and Fox stations under common ownership and operation. Following a 2013 fire at WOAI's facility, business and news operations were progressively consolidated at the KABB complex, with the transition completed in December 2014. In October 2023, the station updated its on-air identity from Fox 29 to Fox SA. KABB remains an active local television brand whose main competitive assets are its Fox affiliation, San Antonio news operation, and integration within Sinclair's regional broadcast group.

The origins of KABB trace to the FCC's allocation of UHF channel 29 for San Antonio. Ten groups initially sought the channel in 1978. By the time the FCC designated the application for comparative hearing in 1981, seven applicants remained. In August 1982, administrative law judge Joseph Stirmer selected Alamo Broadcasting Corporation, controlled by Paris and Sherry Schindler. The decision survived review by the FCC review board in 1983 and the full commission in 1984. Further appeals delayed construction until late 1985. Alamo arranged studio space and leased land near Elmendorf for a transmission tower. KABB finally went on the air on December 16, 1987, as San Antonio's second independent station after KRRT. In 1989, River City Television Partners agreed to buy the station. The deal initially broke down amid allegations that the parties had failed to complete the transaction under the agreed terms, and River City threatened legal action over statements and programming contracts. The parties later reached an agreement, and River City acquired KABB for a reported $11 million. KABB performed strongly as an independent. By 1990 it had moved ahead of KRRT in total-day audience share even though KRRT was the market's Fox affiliate. During the 1993–94 season, KABB also became one of the television outlets carrying San Antonio Spurs games, broadcasting a substantial share of the team's road schedule. River City explored acquiring KRRT and considered how its San Antonio stations might be aligned with the emerging UPN network, but ownership restrictions and transaction complications prevented the planned combination from proceeding at that stage. In January 1995, Fox announced that its affiliation would move from KRRT to KABB. The change took effect January 16. KABB's advantages included higher ratings, a stronger tower location, and the imminent introduction of local prime-time news. The Nine O'Clock News debuted on March 20, initially as a half-hour program. It expanded to an hour later in 1995, and KABB subsequently developed additional news and sports programming. The station's relationship with KRRT also led to a short-lived news program produced by KABB for the other station. That program ended in 2000 as KABB concentrated on its own newscast. Sinclair acquired River City's assets in 1996. At the same time, Sinclair's operating relationship with KRRT and the use of a separate licensee generated criticism and regulatory scrutiny. The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition said it would examine whether the arrangement gave KRRT an independent corporate identity. In 1999, the FCC asked for amendments to local marketing agreements so that Sinclair would not retain final authority over programming decisions in the manner regulators had questioned. KABB broadened its news schedule with Fox News First in January 2006. The weekday morning program initially occupied a shorter time slot and later expanded to four hours. Daytime, a lifestyle program, was introduced in 2011. Sinclair's 2012 acquisition of WOAI-TV brought the city's NBC and Fox affiliates into common ownership. A 2013 fire at WOAI accelerated the physical and administrative consolidation of the stations. The transition of WOAI employees to the KABB/KMYS facility was completed in December 2014, although the stations initially retained separate news identities and anchor lineups while sharing infrastructure and some reporting resources. Since 2021, KABB has produced newscasts for Sinclair-owned WXLV-TV in North Carolina. The station also continued to develop local news, midday, lifestyle, and public-affairs programming. In 2023, the Daytime program changed its title following the removal of co-host Esteban Solis after a DWI arrest. In October of the same year, KABB replaced the Fox 29 identity with Fox SA. As of the reference material's June 2025 description, KABB remained an active Fox affiliate broadcasting a substantial weekly schedule of local news and related programming from its San Antonio facilities.

• 2023

  Station adopts Fox SA identity

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  KABB changes its branding from Fox 29 to Fox SA in October.

• 2021

  KABB begins producing WXLV newscasts

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  KABB starts producing newscasts for Sinclair-owned WXLV-TV in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

• 2014

  Shared San Antonio facility becomes operational

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  WOAI personnel complete their move to the KABB/KMYS complex after the 2013 WOAI facility fire.

• 2012

  WOAI-TV joins Sinclair's San Antonio portfolio

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair announces the acquisition of WOAI-TV, placing the NBC and Fox affiliates under common ownership.

• 2006

  Fox News First launches

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  KABB enters morning local news with Fox News First.

• 1996

  Sinclair becomes owner

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair Broadcast Group acquires River City's television assets, including KABB.

• 1995

  Fox affiliation moves to KABB

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  Fox transfers its San Antonio affiliation from KRRT to KABB on January 16.

• 1995

  Prime-time news launches

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  The Nine O'Clock News debuts in March and later expands to a one-hour broadcast.

• 1993

  KABB begins carrying Spurs games

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  KABB becomes one of the television homes of the San Antonio Spurs during the 1993–94 season.

• 1990

  KABB surpasses KRRT in ratings

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  KABB takes the total-day ratings lead over KRRT, despite KRRT being the local Fox affiliate.

• 1989

  River City acquires KABB

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  River City Broadcasting completes the purchase of KABB after earlier contractual disagreements delayed the transaction.

• 1987

  KABB begins broadcasting

  [1]KABBen.wikipedia.org

  KABB signs on December 16 as an independent station on UHF channel 29.

A local Fox television affiliate positioned around San Antonio news, weather, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle programming, supported by Sinclair Broadcast Group's regional operating infrastructure.

• Morning local news · 2006

  Fox News First

  KABB's weekday morning newscast, introduced in 2006 to replace infomercials. The program was subsequently expanded, becoming a major part of the station's local-news schedule and eventually occupying a multi-hour morning block.

• Prime-time local news · 1995

  KABB 9 p.m. newscast

  KABB's flagship evening local newscast, launched shortly after the station became a Fox affiliate in 1995. It began as a half-hour program, expanded to an hour, and became the central local-news offering associated with the station's Fox schedule.

• Lifestyle television · 2011

  Daytime

  A local lifestyle program introduced in 2011 and scheduled after the morning news. The show has featured interviews, community segments, and consumer-oriented lifestyle content. Its title was shortened to Daytime in 2023 after the removal of a co-host.

• Midday local news

  Fox News Midday

  An hour-long midday news program included in KABB's current local programming schedule, providing news, weather, and regional updates outside the station's morning and prime-time broadcasts.

• Public affairs

  Focus on South Texas

  A weekly public-affairs program focused on issues and people relevant to South Texas communities. It complements KABB's regularly scheduled news and lifestyle output.

• 2023

  Daytime co-host removed after DWI arrest

  Esteban Solis was removed from KABB's Daytime program after an arrest for driving while intoxicated. The program subsequently adopted the shorter Daytime title.

  Source

• 1998

  Scrutiny of the KABB–KRRT operating arrangement

  The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition said it would examine whether KRRT had a meaningful independent corporate identity amid Sinclair's operational relationship with KABB and related ownership structures. The issue reflected concerns about de facto television duopolies and the use of separate licensees to comply with ownership rules.

  Source

Read more

• 2023Fox SA rebrand

  San Antonio · South Texas

  KABB replaced the Fox 29 identity with Fox SA as its primary station branding, emphasizing the station's connection to the San Antonio market.

  Outcome. The Fox SA identity became the station's updated on-air brand.

  Source

• 2023

  Shorten the Daytime program titleOther

  Background

  Daytime co-host Esteban Solis was removed from the program after an arrest for driving while intoxicated.

  Action taken

  The title changed from Daytime with Kimberly and Esteban to Daytime.

  Aftermath

  The program continued under the shorter name.

  Source

• 2012

  Acquire WOAI-TV and reorganize San Antonio operationsM&A

  Background

  Sinclair sought to expand its San Antonio television portfolio through the Newport Television transaction, while FCC duopoly rules limited common ownership of full-power stations.

  Action taken

  Sinclair acquired WOAI-TV and spun off KMYS to Deerfield Media while retaining operational control through a shared-services arrangement.

  Aftermath

  KABB, WOAI-TV, and KMYS developed shared facilities and infrastructure, with WOAI personnel ultimately moving to the KABB/KMYS complex.

  Source

• 2006

  Enter morning newsProduct launch

  Background

  KABB sought to increase its local programming footprint and replace infomercials in the early-morning schedule.

  Action taken

  The station introduced Fox News First on January 2, 2006.

  Aftermath

  The program was later extended first to three hours and then to a four-hour weekday block.

  Source

• 1995

  Accept the Fox affiliationStrategy

  Background

  KABB was outperforming KRRT in audience ratings, while Fox was reassessing its San Antonio affiliation. KABB also had a favorable transmitter position and plans for a local prime-time newscast.

  Action taken

  Fox moved its San Antonio affiliation from KRRT to KABB on January 16, 1995.

  Aftermath

  KABB gained a stronger network identity and launched its 9 p.m. local newscast two months later.

  Source

• 1995

  Launch a prime-time local newscastProduct launch

  Background

  Management believed a local news operation was necessary to distinguish KABB as competition and viewing choices increased in the San Antonio market.

  Action taken

  KABB launched The Nine O'Clock News on March 20, initially in a 30-minute format.

  Aftermath

  The newscast expanded to an hour in September 1995 and became the foundation of KABB's local news brand.

  Source

1. 1KABBen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KABB official websitefoxsanantonio.com