Big Changes Are Coming to CBS TV Stations in North Dakota

Starting August 1, CBS could have new affiliate stations in the Bismarck and Minot television markets. Right now, CBS airs locally on Nexstar-owned stations: KXMB (Bismarck), KXMC (Minot), KXMA (Dickinson), and KXMD (Williston). Multiple news outlets, including Deadline, reported recently that starting in August, CBS will instead move over to Forum Communications' KBMY (Bismarck) and KMCY (Minot) - stations that currently air ABC.

This stretches beyond North Dakota. According to Deadline, this is part of a national shakeup happening across 6 television markets. CBS renewed its contract in most of Nexstar's markets; it will keep its affiliation in 36 other markets, though in these 6 markets, CBS is moving to competitors: Hearst Television (4 markets) and Forum Communications in North and South Dakota.

What to Expect

Reports indicate that KXMB (and its satellite stations) will switch over to The CW Network, instead of CBS. Keep in mind, in Bismarck and Minot, The CW already airs on those stations' subchannels, so this switch will move it to the main channel. In Dickinson, it's already reversed: KXMA already airs The CW on its main channel and CBS on its subchannel, so that station won't see the same kind of switch.

In simple terms: Dickinson viewers may notice less of a change. KXMA already carries The CW on its primary channel, with CBS currently airing on a subchannel.

Channel Shift Breakdown

To break it down in a more simplistic way, here's how the channels will change.

KXMB (Bismarck) - Channel 12.1 main, 12.2 sub - CBS (until Aug 1) - Expected CW affiliate after switch

KXMC (Minot) - Channel 13.1 main, 13.2 sub - CBS (until Aug 1) - Expected CW affiliate after switch

KXMD (Williston) - Channel 11 - CBS (until Aug 1) - Expected CW affiliate after switch

KXMA (Dickinson) - Channel 2.1 main (CW) /2.2 (sub CBS) - CBS until Aug 1 - Expected CW affiliate after switch

KBMY (Bismarck) - Channel 17.1 main - ABC (until Aug 1) - Expected CBS affiliate after switch

KMCY (Minot) - Channel 14.1 main - ABC (until Aug 1) - Expected CBS affiliate after switch

NOTE: While most of the reporting has only focused on the Bismarck and Minot stations, KXMA (Dickinson) and KXMD (Williston) are part of the same Nexstar television network. Based on this reporting, they are expected to lose the CBS affiliation, although neither station has publicly announced its transition plans. In fact, none of the networks have publicly commented on the matter.

What We Don't Know

It's not clear yet what happens to KXMB's news staff, general operations, or studio once the switch takes place and the CBS affiliation ends. It's also unclear whether CBS will fully replace ABC on KBMY and KMCY, or switch to a subchannel.

To assuage any fears, this affiliation change does not mean KXMB is going off the air. Based on current reporting, the station is expected to continue operating under a different network affiliation. It's also unclear whether locally produced programming, including Studio 701, will be affected.

Again, none of the stations involved have publicly addressed these specifics. We'll continue to update this story as more information becomes available.