KRQE is a television station serving Albuquerque, New Mexico, and surrounding communities, currently associated with Fox and owned by Nexstar Media Group.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
KRQE is a broadcast television station based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The station began broadcasting on October 4, 1953, as KGGM-TV, a CBS affiliate owned principally by the Hebenstreit family through the New Mexico Broadcasting Company. It was the third television station to sign on in Albuquerque and was among the first in New Mexico to use Sandia Crest as a transmitter site, helping extend its signal across a large and geographically difficult service area. During its early decades, the station combined network programming with locally produced entertainment, public-affairs, children's, and variety programs. Its best-known local personality was Robert Ernest Scherer, whose children's character Captain Billy became a durable part of Albuquerque television. The station also experimented with large-scale local production, including a purpose-built soundstage and several made-for-television projects developed under general manager Bruce Hebenstreit. Those ambitions created internal family disputes and did not solve the station's longstanding weakness in local news ratings. KGGM-TV faced regulatory and community criticism during the 1970s over the representation of Hispanic employees and the adequacy of programming addressing Mexican American audiences. The station received a short-term license renewal in 1980 after the Federal Communications Commission found shortcomings in its candor concerning local news programming. At the same time, management sought to improve the newsroom, including through the hiring and later return of anchor Dick Knipfing. The station remained a generally weak third-place news outlet for much of the period, although its position improved at various points. A major structural change came in 1989, when the New Mexico Broadcasting Company acquired KBIM-TV in Roswell. The purchase expanded the station's reach into southeastern New Mexico and contributed to the consolidation of Roswell into the Albuquerque television market. The acquisition also placed financial pressure on the Hebenstreit family. After Lee Enterprises had acquired minority interests in the company, it purchased the remaining family holdings in 1991. Lee changed the call sign from KGGM-TV to KRQE in 1992 as part of a broader effort to give the station a fresh identity and improve its competitive position. Under Lee, KRQE expanded its regional presence. It acquired or leased KREZ-TV in Durango, Colorado, which became a satellite operation, and participated in the development and operation of other New Mexico stations, including KASY-TV. The station later became part of a succession of larger television groups. Lee Enterprises sold its television division to Emmis Communications in 2000; Emmis sold KRQE to LIN TV Corporation in 2005; and LIN was subsequently absorbed into Media General, which was itself acquired by Nexstar Media Group. LIN's acquisition of KASA-TV, Albuquerque's Fox affiliate, in 2006 brought the two operations together. KRQE assumed production of KASA's evening newscast and integrated much of the station's operational infrastructure. After Nexstar's acquisition of Media General, regulatory divestitures resulted in the Fox affiliation moving from KASA-TV to a KRQE digital subchannel, while KRQE's principal service continued to be associated with CBS for the period described by the historical record. Reference material states that a planned affiliation change on August 1, 2026 would move CBS programming to a subchannel of KOAT-TV and make Fox the primary offering from KRQE; this future-dated arrangement is recorded as a reported milestone rather than as an established present condition. Today, KRQE functions as a local television news and network-affiliate brand serving Albuquerque and a broad New Mexico audience. Its operations are based at Broadcast Plaza in Albuquerque, shared with sister stations KWBQ and KASY-TV, while its primary transmitter is located on Sandia Crest east of the city. Its principal competitive…
History
KRQE began as KGGM-TV, created by the New Mexico Broadcasting Company, which also owned Albuquerque radio station KGGM. After the FCC lifted its television-station freeze, the company applied for channel 13 and selected Sandia Crest as the transmitter site. The construction permit was granted in March 1953, and KGGM-TV went on air on October 4 of that year as a CBS affiliate. It initially relied on filmed programming because live network distribution had not yet reached Albuquerque. The station was the first Albuquerque television outlet to transmit from Sandia Crest, giving it an important technical and geographic advantage across central New Mexico. The early station developed a mixture of network, local, and community programming. Its output included Women's Club of the Air, Club 13, and Los Tres Caballeros, a Spanish-language program that station management later described as an early example of Spanish-language television in the United States. The most recognizable local program was the children's show hosted by Robert Ernest Scherer, whose character Captain Billy appeared under several related titles. Scherer also presented an interview program and an annual muscular-dystrophy telethon. He was shot in the KGGM-TV lobby in October 1972 and died two months later, an event that became one of the station's most tragic episodes. The Hebenstreit family remained the dominant owner and managerial force for much of KGGM-TV's first four decades. Anton R. Hebenstreit had entered broadcasting in 1928 by acquiring KGGM radio. His son Bruce later assumed control of the New Mexico Broadcasting Company and pursued an ambitious local-production strategy. A large soundstage completed in 1977 was intended for commercial production and television projects. The station produced or recorded several made-for-television projects, including Amy, 13 Broadcast Plaza, and Purgatory Open. These efforts were unusual for a local affiliate but generated disagreement within the family because they sometimes appeared to compete with the station's CBS identity and consumed management attention. KGGM-TV also faced challenges over local news performance and community representation. Hispanic organizations challenged its license renewal in the 1970s, alleging inadequate Hispanic employment and insufficient public-affairs programming responsive to Mexican American residents. The case proceeded to a hearing, and the FCC ultimately granted only a short-term renewal in 1980 after criticizing the station's candor regarding local news content. The station continued attempting to improve its newsroom. Dick Knipfing's hiring helped make the news operation more competitive, although his departure later contributed to audience losses. Andrew Hebenstreit, who had worked on air as John Andrews, held several newsroom and management positions, while other family members also worked in news and promotion. The family experienced significant internal conflict in the mid-1980s. Andrew became company president in 1986 but resigned after disagreements with Bruce over station operations and the emphasis on made-for-television films. Bruce died in February 1987 after a struggle with cancer, and the family later restored some of its previous working arrangements. In 1989, the company acquired KBIM-TV in Roswell for $5 million. The purchase extended the CBS service into southeastern New Mexico, but it also strained the company's finances. Roswell was subsequently treated as part of the Albuquerque television market by the major audience-measurement systems. Lee Enterprises had purchased minority interests in the New Mexico Broadcasting Company in 1985. Following the KBIM-TV purchase and its resulting financial pressure, the Hebenstreits sold their remaining interests to Lee in a transaction announced in 1991. Lee installed new management and changed the call sign from KGGM-TV to KRQE on September 7, 1992. The new identity was intended to separate the station from its troubled image and establish a stronger competitive position. Lee expanded the operation by acquiring or leasing KREZ-TV in Durango, Colorado, which became a satellite carrying KRQE programming, and by participating in the development or operation of additional stations such as KASY-TV. In 2000, Lee exited television by selling its station group to Emmis Communications for $562.5 million. Emmis later withdrew from television, selling KRQE and four other stations to LIN TV in 2005. LIN strengthened its Albuquerque portfolio by acquiring KASA-TV, the local Fox affiliate, in 2006. KRQE took over production of KASA's 9 p.m. newscast and integrated the operation into its Broadcast Plaza facilities. KWBQ and KASY were later connected to KRQE through shared operational arrangements. The broader corporate chain continued when LIN was acquired by Media General and Media General was acquired by Nexstar Media Group. Regulatory requirements associated with the latter transaction led to the divestiture of KASA-TV. Fox programming subsequently moved to a KRQE digital subchannel. Reference material further reports a scheduled August 2026 change under which CBS would move to a KOAT-TV subchannel and Fox would become KRQE's primary network offering. KRQE's core identity remains that of an Albuquerque-based local television operation, with regional news, weather, public-service information, network programming, advertising, and digital distribution as its principal activities.
- 2026
Reported CBS-to-FOX affiliation transition
[1]Reference material reports that CBS is scheduled to move to a KOAT-TV subchannel on August 1, with Fox becoming KRQE's primary offering.
- 2010
Albuquerque sister-station operations reconnect
[1]KWBQ and KASY become linked to KRQE again through a shared-services arrangement.
- 2006
KASA-TV operations move under KRQE
[1]LIN's acquisition of KASA-TV brings the Fox station's operations and evening newscast production into the KRQE facility.
- 2005
LIN TV acquires KRQE
[1]Emmis sells KRQE and four other stations to LIN TV Corporation.
- 2000
Lee sells its television group to Emmis
[1]KRQE becomes part of Emmis Communications' television portfolio in a group transaction reported at $562.5 million.
- 1994
KREZ-TV becomes a KRQE satellite
[1]The Durango station begins rebroadcasting KRQE programming, extending the operation into southwestern Colorado.
- 1992
Call sign changes to KRQE
[1]Lee Enterprises changes KGGM-TV's call sign to KRQE on September 7.
- 1989
KBIM-TV is acquired
[1]The company purchases Roswell CBS affiliate KBIM-TV, extending the station's regional reach.
- 1977
Large production soundstage opens
[1]KGGM-TV completes a five-story soundstage intended for commercial production and locally developed television projects.
- 1966
Local color programming begins
[1]The station becomes the first in New Mexico to originate a local color program.
Products and positioning
A regional broadcast and local-news station positioned around New Mexico coverage, network programming, weather and public-service information, with distribution through terrestrial television and digital channels.
Local television news · 1953
KRQE local newscasts
Locally produced news programming covering Albuquerque, central New Mexico, and other communities reached through the station's regional network. The news operation has historically been central to KRQE's competitive strategy, with reporting, weather, traffic, public affairs, and breaking-news coverage distributed through broadcast and digital channels.
Network-affiliated broadcast service · 1953
KRQE network television service
The station's over-the-air service carries national network programming alongside locally produced content. It operated for decades as a CBS affiliate, later carried Fox programming through a digital subchannel, and is reported to be scheduled for a future transition in which Fox becomes the primary network offering.
Digital media
KRQE digital news platform
The KRQE website extends the station's local-news, weather, video, community, and service-information output beyond the broadcast signal. It serves as a digital complement to the television operation and supports audience access across the Albuquerque and wider New Mexico region.
Television satellite station · 1994
KREZ-TV satellite service
KREZ-TV in Durango, Colorado, was acquired or leased as a full-power satellite associated with KRQE. Its role was to rebroadcast KRQE programming and extend the broader operation into an additional regional coverage area.
Controversies
1980
Short-term renewal following FCC criticism
The FCC granted only a one-year license renewal after finding that the station had been insufficiently candid about the nature of its local news programming. The decision followed the earlier representation and programming challenge.
1971
Hispanic representation and programming license challenge
Hispanic organizations challenged KGGM-TV's license renewal, alleging inadequate Hispanic employment and insufficient local public-affairs programming addressing Mexican American audiences. The matter proceeded to an FCC hearing and remained contested for several years.
Brand decisions
2026
Reported transition to Fox as primary network offeringStrategyBackground
Reference material states that a future affiliation rearrangement would move CBS programming to a KOAT-TV subchannel.
Action taken
According to the reference material, Fox is scheduled to become KRQE's primary network offering on August 1, 2026.
2006
Integration of KASA-TVM&ABackground
LIN TV sought to expand its Albuquerque television portfolio after acquiring the local Fox affiliate.
Action taken
KRQE assumed production of KASA's 9 p.m. newscast and integrated KASA operations into its Broadcast Plaza facilities.
Aftermath
The arrangement consolidated news production and operational resources among related Albuquerque stations.
2000
Sale of Lee Enterprises television group to EmmisM&ABackground
Lee Enterprises decided to exit the television business.
Action taken
Lee sold its 15-station television group, including KRQE, to Emmis Communications.
Aftermath
KRQE entered another national broadcast-station ownership group before moving to LIN TV five years later.
Reported transaction value. $562.5 million (2000)
1992
Rebrand from KGGM-TV to KRQEStrategyBackground
The station had a weak market image and a history of poor local-news performance under the KGGM-TV identity.
Action taken
Lee Enterprises changed the call sign to KRQE as part of a broader effort to create a fresh identity and improve competitiveness.
Aftermath
The new identity became the foundation for later regional expansion and successive ownership transitions.
Sources2 sources
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