KUIL-LD

KUIL-LD is a low-power television station based in Beaumont, Texas, serving the Beaumont–Port Arthur and broader Golden Triangle television market. The station broadcasts on digital channel 12.5 and is primarily programmed as an independent outlet, while also maintaining a secondary affiliation with MyNetworkTV. Its programming relationship and facilities are closely connected to KBMT, the market's ABC and NBC affiliate. The stations share studios along the Interstate 10, U.S. Highway 69, U.S. Highway 96, and U.S. Highway 287 corridor in Beaumont, while KUIL-LD's transmitter is located near Mauriceville, Texas. The station began broadcasting in 2003 under the KUIL call sign on analog channel 64. It was established by National Communications, which also owned KVHP in nearby Lake Charles, Louisiana. Before KUIL's launch, KVHP served both the Lake Charles and Beaumont–Port Arthur areas as a Fox affiliate because its transmitter was positioned between the two markets. KUIL was created to provide programming specifically aimed at Beaumont-area viewers, including local coverage and sports programming more relevant to Southeast Texas, such as Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys football. At launch, KUIL carried Fox programming and also had a secondary UPN affiliation. After UPN and The WB were combined into The CW, KFDM placed The CW on a digital subchannel, leaving KUIL as a Fox-only outlet. The station expanded its reach in November 2007 by activating a digital signal near Orange, Texas, using digital channel 36. This helped serve portions of Orange County that were not adequately covered by the former analog channel 64 signal. KUIL's Fox affiliation ended at the beginning of 2009 after KBTV-TV announced that it would become the Beaumont market's Fox affiliate. KUIL remained on the air but shifted to an independent format. It filled the programming gap with additional local content, programming produced in association with Lamar University, syndicated entertainment such as Scrubs, and other acquired shows. During this period it adopted the identity "The U," a branding choice unrelated to the similarly branded Chicago station WCIU-TV. The station subsequently carried several digital multicast services. In August 2010, it added Azteca América on a fourth digital subchannel, creating what was described as the first Spanish-language television service available in the Golden Triangle. In January 2012, it replaced Azteca América with MeTV, although MeTV later moved to a KBMT digital subchannel. KUIL also became associated with MyNetworkTV and, at various points, carried other multicast services including MundoMax, Light TV, and Ion Television. Operational control shifted toward KBMT during the early 2010s. By April 2012, KBMT was operating KUIL under a local service agreement with owner Blue Bonnet. In May 2013, KUIL added a 7 a.m. hour of the 12News Daybreak newscast produced by KBMT and KJAC. The station's call-sign and licensing history later became more complicated: in February 2018, the KUIL-LD call sign was moved to the digital facility then identified as K36ID-D, while the former KUIL facility adopted KBMT-LD. The KBMT-LD license was canceled in August 2018. The current KUIL-LD service is identified as the low-power channel 12.5 outlet associated with KBMT and the 12News operation. KUIL-LD functions less as a standalone national consumer brand than as a local broadcast outlet within a larger television-station group. Its value lies in serving a defined regional audience through syndicated, multicast, independent, and secondary-network programming, while drawing operational support and local-news connectivity from KBMT and the 12News brand.

KUIL-LD originated in 2003 as KUIL, an analog television station on channel 64 serving Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas. National Communications, the owner of Lake Charles station KVHP, established the outlet to create programming specifically for the Beaumont market. KVHP had previously served both Lake Charles and Beaumont–Port Arthur as a Fox affiliate because its transmitter was located between the two markets. A dedicated Beaumont-area station allowed for more locally relevant coverage, including sports involving the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys. The original station carried Fox programming and maintained a secondary UPN affiliation. When UPN and The WB were consolidated into The CW, KFDM placed The CW on a digital subchannel, and KUIL continued primarily as a Fox station. In November 2007, the station activated a digital signal near Orange, Texas, to improve service in an area where its analog channel 64 signal was difficult to receive. A major change occurred at the start of 2009. KBTV-TV became the local Fox affiliate, ending KUIL's Fox relationship. KUIL remained in operation as an independent station and expanded its schedule with locally produced material, content associated with Lamar University, and syndicated entertainment programs such as Scrubs. It used the identity "The U" during this period. In 2009, KUIL also discontinued its analog transmission on UHF channel 64 as part of the transition to digital broadcasting. The station experimented with several digital multicast and network arrangements. In August 2010, it launched Azteca América on a fourth digital subchannel, giving the Golden Triangle its first Spanish-language television outlet according to the station's historical account. In January 2012, Azteca América was replaced by MeTV. MeTV later moved to KBMT-DT4. Other services associated with the station or its digital distribution history included MundoMax, Light TV, and Ion Television. KUIL's operating relationship with KBMT became more direct during the early 2010s. By April 2012, KBMT operated KUIL through a local service agreement with Blue Bonnet, the station's owner at that time. KUIL was also identified as a MyNetworkTV affiliate during this period. In May 2013, it began carrying an additional hour of KBMT and KJAC's 12News Daybreak at 7 a.m., linking the outlet more closely to the regional 12News news operation. The call-sign history changed in February 2018. The KUIL-LD designation moved to the digital facility previously known as K36ID-D, while the former KUIL facility adopted KBMT-LD. The KBMT-LD license was canceled on August 10, 2018. The KUIL-LD identity is now associated with the low-power station carried on digital channel 12.5 and the KBMT/12News station group in Beaumont. The ownership context later expanded through corporate consolidation. The supplied reference material states that Nexstar Media Group acquired Tegna in a transaction announced in August 2025 and completed on March 19, 2026. On that basis, KUIL-LD is described as part of a Tegna operation within Nexstar Media Group. Its current role is that of a low-power local broadcast service rather than a separately marketed national brand, combining independent and secondary-network programming with regional distribution and ties to KBMT's facilities and news infrastructure.

• 2026

  Nexstar acquisition of Tegna completed

  [1]KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org

  According to the supplied reference material, Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of Tegna, placing Tegna-operated stations such as KUIL-LD within the Nexstar corporate group.

• 2018

  KUIL-LD call sign transferred

  [1]KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The KUIL-LD call sign moved to the former K36ID-D facility, while the prior facility became KBMT-LD.

• 2013

  12News Daybreak expansion

  [1]KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KUIL added a 7 a.m. hour of the 12News Daybreak broadcast produced by KBMT and KJAC.

• 2012

  MeTV replaces Azteca América

  [1]KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KUIL replaced Azteca América with MeTV on a digital subchannel before MeTV later moved to KBMT-DT4.

• 2012

  KBMT begins operating KUIL

  [1]KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KBMT assumed operational responsibility under a local service agreement with Blue Bonnet.

• 2010

  Azteca América added

  [1]KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station introduced Azteca América on a fourth digital subchannel.

• 2009

  Fox affiliation ends

  [1]KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KUIL became an independent station after KBTV-TV took over the Beaumont market's Fox affiliation.

• 2009

  Analog transmission discontinued

  [1]KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KUIL shut down its analog UHF channel 64 signal during the transition to digital broadcasting.

• 2007

  Digital signal launches near Orange

  [1]KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org

  A digital facility began operating near Orange, Texas, extending coverage to viewers underserved by the analog signal.

• 2003

  Launch as a Beaumont-area Fox affiliate

  [1]KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KUIL began broadcasting on analog channel 64 as the first Fox affiliate specifically established for the Beaumont–Port Arthur market.

A low-power, locally oriented broadcast outlet serving the Beaumont–Port Arthur market, positioned around independent and multicast programming with operational ties to KBMT and the 12News television operation.

• Local television station · 2003

  KUIL-LD over-the-air television service

  The station's core offering is a low-power digital television service for Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange, and nearby communities in Southeast Texas. It operates on digital channel 12.5 and uses a transmitter near Mauriceville. Its schedule has included independent programming, syndicated entertainment, secondary network content, and digital multicast services.

• Television network affiliation

  MyNetworkTV programming

  KUIL-LD has maintained a secondary relationship with MyNetworkTV while operating primarily as an independent station. The affiliation supplements the station's schedule with network programming while leaving room for syndicated and locally connected content.

• Local news programming · 2013

  12News Daybreak extension

  Beginning in 2013, KUIL carried an additional 7 a.m. hour of 12News Daybreak produced by KBMT and KJAC. The arrangement connected KUIL to the region's established local-news operation and extended morning news availability on the low-power outlet.

• Multicast television · 2010

  Digital multicast services

  KUIL's digital history includes several multicast services, including Azteca América, MeTV, MundoMax, Light TV, and Ion Television. These services changed over time as network arrangements and subchannel allocations were revised within the KBMT-related station group.

• 2018

  Call-sign and facility restructuringOther

  Background

  The station group reorganized the identities associated with the KUIL and KBMT low-power facilities.

  Action taken

  The KUIL-LD call sign moved to the former K36ID-D facility, while the previous facility used KBMT-LD.

  Aftermath

  The KBMT-LD license was canceled in August 2018, while KUIL-LD continued under its relocated call sign.

  Source

• 2013

  Addition of 12News Daybreak hourProduct launch

  Background

  KUIL operated in coordination with KBMT and KJAC and could use programming from the regional 12News operation.

  Action taken

  The station added a 7 a.m. hour of 12News Daybreak.

  Aftermath

  KUIL's schedule gained a stronger local-news component.

  Source

• 2012

  Replacement of Azteca América with MeTVOther

  Background

  KUIL revised its digital multicast lineup after carrying Azteca América.

  Action taken

  MeTV replaced Azteca América on the station's digital service.

  Aftermath

  MeTV subsequently moved to KBMT-DT4, while KUIL's multicast lineup continued to change.

  Source

• 2012

  Operational integration with KBMTStrategy

  Background

  Blue Bonnet owned KUIL while KBMT was positioned to provide shared operational resources and programming.

  Action taken

  KBMT assumed operation of KUIL under a local service agreement.

  Aftermath

  The stations became more closely linked through facilities, news programming, and digital-subchannel arrangements.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch of Azteca América subchannelProduct launch

  Background

  The station sought to broaden its digital offering and serve additional audiences in the Golden Triangle.

  Action taken

  KUIL added Azteca América on a fourth digital subchannel.

  Aftermath

  The service was later replaced by MeTV in January 2012.

  Source

• 2009

  Repositioning as an independent stationStrategy

  Background

  KUIL lost its Fox affiliation when KBTV-TV became the Beaumont market's Fox outlet.

  Action taken

  The station retained its broadcast operation and filled the schedule with local programming, Lamar University-related productions, syndicated entertainment, and additional sitcoms.

  Aftermath

  KUIL operated as an independent station and adopted the identity "The U."

  Source

1. 1KUIL-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 212News Now12newsnow.com