KFSM-TV
A CBS-affiliated television station serving Fort Smith, Northwest Arkansas, and the Arkansas River Valley.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
KFSM-TV is a television station licensed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and serving the Fort Smith–Fayetteville market across western and northwestern Arkansas and portions of eastern Oklahoma. The station is affiliated with CBS and operates under the 5NEWS branding. Its principal studio is in Johnson, near Fayetteville and Springdale, while its primary transmitter is located northwest of Winslow, Arkansas. The station’s coverage area extends across a geographically broad and partly mountainous eleven-county, two-state region. The station began broadcasting on July 9, 1953, as KFSA-TV on ultra-high-frequency channel 22. It was established by Donrey Media Group, the company associated with publisher Donald W. Reynolds, alongside KFSA radio and Fort Smith newspapers including the Southwest American and the Times Record. The original station carried programming from NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont, although it operated primarily as an NBC affiliate. Its early programming depended heavily on kinescopes and locally produced live material because network live feeds did not initially reach the Fort Smith area. Local performers, Camp Chaffee programming, live commercials, and radio personalities formed much of the station’s early identity. The station’s early UHF signal was disadvantaged by the market’s size, rugged terrain, and the limited availability and high cost of UHF converters. A competing VHF station, KNAC-TV, began broadcasting on channel 5 from Van Buren in 1956 as a primary CBS affiliate. The two stations struggled to divide a market that could not economically support both operations. In 1958, they agreed to merge. KFSA-TV ceased operating on channel 22 on August 16, 1958, and the combined operation used the stronger channel 5 facility. After regulatory and ownership formalities were completed, the channel 5 station returned to the KFSA-TV call sign in January 1959. The station developed a dedicated news department in the early 1960s, after initially relying on reports from Donrey’s newspapers. In 1973, following federal restrictions on common ownership of newspapers and broadcast outlets, the Fort Smith Donrey cluster was sold. Buford Television acquired the channel 5 operation on May 31, 1973, and renamed it KFSM-TV, using the airport code associated with Fort Smith Regional Airport. The New York Times Company purchased the station in 1979, and its broadcasting division later became part of Local TV in 2007 and Tribune Broadcasting in 2013. KFSM’s network affiliations changed as the Fort Smith market developed. It lost CBS when KFPW-TV, now KHBS, began broadcasting in 1971, and later lost ABC. In 1980, KFSM exchanged affiliations with KLMN-TV, now KFTA-TV, and became a CBS affiliate again. That affiliation has continued. The station also expanded its digital presence, adding MyNetworkTV programming to a digital subchannel in 2009 and participating in the market’s changing collection of digital multicast services. Corporate ownership became especially significant in the late 2010s. Sinclair Broadcast Group’s proposed acquisition of Tribune Media was terminated after regulatory scrutiny and litigation. Nexstar subsequently agreed to acquire Tribune, but because Nexstar already owned KNWA-TV and KFTA-TV in the market, KFSM was divested to Tegna. That transaction closed in September 2019. KFSM moved most operations from its historic Fort Smith facility to a new Johnson studio in June 2019, reflecting the population shift toward Northwest Arkansas and the station’s broad regional service area. The former Fort Smith studio was later sold at auction in 2024. KFSM remains a local broadcast and news brand centered on CBS programming, regional newscasts, weather coverage, severe-weather reporting, digital video, and community information. Its identity has been shaped by its long history as the market’s principal VHF station, its 5NEWS news brand, and its role in covering major events such as the April 1996 tornado outbreak. The station also operates in a complex ownership environment in which Tegna’s television assets became part of Nexstar following Nexstar’s announced acquisition of Tegna, subject to required station divestitures.
History
KFSM-TV traces its roots to KFSA-TV, which began broadcasting from Fort Smith on July 9, 1953, using channel 22. Donrey Media Group owned the station alongside KFSA radio and the company’s Fort Smith newspapers. Its early service combined network programming with local live productions, kinescope recordings, and advertisements performed in real time. Because live network feeds did not initially reach western Arkansas, the station later used a microwave relay from Mount Magazine to connect with programming originating through Little Rock. The station faced structural disadvantages. Fort Smith’s market was large and mountainous, while UHF reception was limited and required special converters. In 1956, KNAC-TV began operating on the more favorable VHF channel 5 from Van Buren as a CBS affiliate. The two stations competed for a limited advertising base until their owners negotiated a merger. KFSA-TV left channel 22 on August 16, 1958, and the combined operation used KNAC’s channel 5 facilities. After the license transaction closed in January 1959, the station again used the KFSA-TV call letters. KFSA/KFSM initially depended on Donrey newspaper resources for news. A dedicated news department was established by 1964 under news director Cliff Walker. The station later experienced a series of ownership and affiliation changes. Federal limits on combined newspaper and broadcast ownership forced the sale of the Fort Smith Donrey properties in 1973. Buford Television acquired channel 5 and changed its call sign to KFSM-TV. The New York Times Company purchased the station in 1979, followed by Local TV in 2007 and Tribune Broadcasting in 2013. Network affiliations also evolved. KFSM lost CBS to KFPW-TV in 1971 and lost ABC in 1978. In 1980 it swapped affiliations with KLMN-TV and returned to CBS, which remains its principal network relationship. Digital broadcasting expanded the station’s services through multicast channels, including MyNetworkTV on KFSM-DT2 beginning in 2009. Related operations later involved KXNW, which became associated with KFSM after the former KPBI operation was acquired under a failing-station waiver and received new call letters. The station’s corporate history entered another transition after Sinclair Broadcast Group’s proposed purchase of Tribune Media collapsed amid regulatory scrutiny and litigation. Nexstar then acquired Tribune, but divested KFSM to Tegna because Nexstar already owned other major stations in the market. The transfer closed on September 19, 2019. Earlier that year, KFSM moved its principal operations to a new Johnson studio, reflecting the growth of Fayetteville and Springdale and the geographic center of its coverage area. The station continues to operate as a CBS affiliate and regional news provider under the 5NEWS identity.
- 2019
Main studio moves to Johnson
[1]The station relocates its principal operations to a new facility near Fayetteville and Springdale.
- 2019
Tegna acquisition closes
[1]KFSM is transferred to Tegna as part of the regulatory divestitures related to Nexstar’s Tribune acquisition.
- 2013
Tribune Broadcasting acquisition closes
[1]KFSM becomes part of Tribune Broadcasting through its purchase of Local TV.
- 2009
MyNetworkTV added to digital subchannel
[1]KFSM expands its digital multicast programming.
- 2007
Broadcasting division sold to Local TV
[1]The New York Times Company sells KFSM and its other television stations to Local TV.
- 1980
KFSM becomes a CBS affiliate
[1]The station exchanges affiliations with KLMN-TV and resumes CBS service.
- 1979
The New York Times Company acquires the station
[1]KFSM becomes part of The New York Times Company’s broadcasting division.
- 1973
Call sign changes to KFSM-TV
[1]Buford Television acquires the station and introduces the KFSM-TV identity.
- 1964
Dedicated news department established
[1]Cliff Walker becomes the station’s first news director.
- 1958
Channel 22 operation ends
[1]KFSA-TV shuts down its original UHF operation as part of the merger with KNAC-TV.
Products and positioning
A long-established regional CBS broadcaster and local-news provider for western Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas, and nearby Oklahoma communities.
Local television news
5NEWS
KFSM’s local-news identity covers regional politics, public affairs, breaking news, weather, traffic, consumer issues, and community events across western and northwestern Arkansas. The station broadcasts an extensive weekly schedule of local news and distributes related reporting through its website, mobile application, and digital video channels.
Network television · 1980
CBS programming
As the market’s CBS affiliate, KFSM carries the network’s entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming, supplemented by locally produced newscasts and public-service content.
Digital television · 2009
Digital multicast services
KFSM has used its digital subchannels for additional programming, including MyNetworkTV and, at different times, news repeats, syndicated programming, and Antenna TV-related services.
Marketing campaigns
- 1996Sunday's Fury
Fort Smith, Arkansas · Western Arkansas
Following the April 1996 tornado outbreak and the destruction and damage in historic downtown Fort Smith, KFSM produced a documentary examining the storm and its consequences.
Outcome. The documentary extended the station’s severe-weather coverage beyond the immediate news reports.
Brand decisions
2019
Relocate the principal studio to JohnsonStrategyBackground
Population growth had shifted toward Fayetteville, Springdale, and surrounding Northwest Arkansas, while the station served a broad regional footprint.
Action taken
KFSM moved most operations to a newly built Johnson facility and retained no permanent primary studio in its former Fort Smith location.
Aftermath
The relocation placed the station closer to the population center of its coverage area while preserving its Fort Smith market identity.
2019
Divest KFSM to TegnaM&ABackground
Nexstar’s planned acquisition of Tribune conflicted with its existing ownership of other major stations in the same market.
Action taken
KFSM was sold to Tegna as part of a broader set of regulatory divestitures.
Aftermath
Tegna became KFSM’s direct corporate owner while Nexstar retained other stations in the market.
Aggregate value of related divestiture transactions. $1.32 billion (Announced 2019)
1980
Return to CBS affiliationStrategyBackground
CBS was seeking stronger affiliations in the Fort Smith market after earlier affiliation changes.
Action taken
KFSM exchanged affiliations with KLMN-TV and became a CBS affiliate.
Aftermath
CBS affiliation became a defining part of KFSM’s long-term market identity.
1958
Merge KFSA-TV with KNAC-TVM&ABackground
The Fort Smith market could not readily support two competing commercial stations, and KFSA-TV’s UHF signal faced substantial coverage limitations.
Action taken
KFSA-TV ended its channel 22 operation and combined with KNAC-TV’s stronger channel 5 facility.
Aftermath
The merged station became the market’s principal commercial VHF broadcaster and later resumed the KFSA-TV call sign.
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