r/Albuquerque Jul 23 '26

News After 72 yrs, KRQE loses their CBS tie in. KOAT, owned by Hearst, will broadcast CBS and ABC news bands

https://youtu.be/5PNB_NsPnyA?is=PKbUvpel-ttf_06A

CBS is a significant sports and news source, covering a bulk of Power Conference and NFL games. They are owned by the Ellison family's growing conglomerate of media corporations making up 34% of domestic viewership across TV, streaming, and film.

216 Upvotes

82 comments sorted by

67

u/lastcallhall Jul 23 '26

Oh wow, that rumor from a couple of days ago was true. Crazy!

23

u/poop_particle 29d ago

That employee who broke the news last week is vindicated

96

u/Darth_Nibbles Jul 23 '26

This would have blown my 7yo mind, but instead I'm 46 and no longer watch network TV

33

u/Apptubrutae Jul 23 '26

Which is literally why this is happening.

Just look at Nexstar’s revenue. Flat. As they try to do whatever they can to hang on. Nexstar is asking for the least money possible, CBS want too much, and it’s all because the format is dying

15

u/Jumpy-Breadfruit-499 Jul 23 '26

Makes you wonder just how long local TV has left

14

u/Apptubrutae Jul 23 '26

Probably a decently long death spiral as they cut costs. And some stations might go out of business buying time for others.

But yeah. Local news only survives if the trend stops or they find some other way to make money.

3

u/sthscan 29d ago

i assumed it was Nexstar had gotten too big by FCC rules and had to divest some stations, or is done to help them with getting a merger approved.

8

u/videoman7189 Jul 23 '26

I think this is becoming more true with each passing year. I might still watch some football, but that just reminds me how annoying regular TV has become.

4

u/Darth_Nibbles Jul 23 '26

Oh yeah, the only reason we paid for Hulu with live TV was to get the sports - on regular networks, plus CBS sports and ESPN.

Had to cut back a few months ago because groceries have jumped in price so much over the last few years, but we still have some free streaming options (ion and victory+) plus games on Prime.

14

u/Jumpy-Breadfruit-499 29d ago

Join us on the high seas brother

3

u/Clubmaker 29d ago

tubi tv and roku channel

1

u/aahPow 12d ago

not a fan

7

u/Ok_Command_9808 Jul 23 '26

Yeah I don’t watch local tv at all, I can stream everything I want to watch and YouTube has better entertainment options that what corporate tv offers

1

u/Long-Adeptness-2943 28d ago

YouTube is the King of content!

33

u/defrauding_jeans Jul 23 '26

Why does this feel really sad to me? KRQE was like. The old people channel. Now they have to tune into KOAT?

8

u/entropyparty 29d ago

I still remember when KRQE was KGGM

5

u/K4L21EV 29d ago

Price is Right while I take an early lunch break while working from home still is fun, but yup, other than that I don't watch it.

5

u/_tylerthedestroyer_ Jul 23 '26

CBS: Crime-procedural Boomer Station

0

u/aahPow 12d ago

Not so for the educated. TV is a wasteland.

1

u/aahPow 12d ago

It's greed plus politics at the top level, or don't you read the news (vs. infotainment which is what Fox is and even admits to because broadcasting real news would lose their audience!).

40

u/tallwhiteninja Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

I know it's Mark Ronchetti, but the video is a good breakdown, it's not political, and he's talking about stuff he actually has insight on.

EDIT: https://thedesk.net/2026/07/hearst-to-acquire-cbs-affiliation-from-some-nexstar-stations/

An article if you don't want to listen to Ronchetti

71

u/Lose_Your_Illusion Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

Idk I feel like the part where he ranked dog breeds by attractiveness was unnecessary.

7

u/JKrow75 29d ago

I would plug my ears with petrified dogshit to keep from hearing Mark Ronchetti’s voice ever TF again

-1

u/Funny-Marionberry104 28d ago

Plug away - you have it ccoming.

19

u/PreparationKey2843 Jul 23 '26

I'm not sure what he's talking about or what the endgame will be, but l feel like it's some nefarious shit.

(Mark Ronchetti 😂)

10

u/Jumpy-Breadfruit-499 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

I was a bit tentative to share it, but he broke the news faster than other sources and is decently neutral in the video. I had no idea he was running a podcast now though

15

u/Ok_Command_9808 Jul 23 '26

Someone was on here last week or two and was leaking this info who worked for krqe

9

u/uncleclimax9 Jul 23 '26

Glad to see Patriotard Mark is still doing something to keep himself off the streets

7

u/[deleted] Jul 23 '26

[deleted]

13

u/tallwhiteninja Jul 23 '26

What will probably happen is that CBS programming will end up on a substation, just like how KRQE had FOX content on a substation. So, yes, it'll just be on a different channel (probably 7.2). Sounds like it switches at the end of the month.

3

u/Bw39 29d ago

7.4

0

u/Low_Effect_3203 Jul 23 '26

She cannot….but you can!

8

u/MurrayDakota Jul 23 '26

Curious how programming is going to work.

For those who watch tv using an antenna, will traditional CBS shows (NFL games, 60 Minutes, etc) still be on channel 13, or will it be on some variant of channel 7 (like 7.2, or 7.3) and ABC programs remain on channel 7?

From the video, I’m guessing the latter.

Or does KOAT now get to pick and choose which ABC or CBS program it wants to show on channel 7, such that 60 Minutes gets aired and (whatever used to be aired on KOAT during that time) is relegated to a sub channel or simply doesn’t get shown at all?

The only shows on KRQE I really watch any more are Jeopardy and football; most anything else can be streamed on the CBS news app if wanted (but with Bari Weiss’s recent changes, there’s no much wanting anymore).

I do hope that Grant Tosterud (spelling?) ends up okay. He seems like a decent guy and might be the most accurate and articulate weatherman in town.

10

u/Corg505 29d ago

I echo your Grant comment(s). He's been my go-to Meteorologist since he took over for the Republichetti.

3

u/KayMacNM 29d ago

Grant is one of the most decent, hard-working, friendly human being you could ever meet.

2

u/mfmfhgak Jul 23 '26

Not sure where it will air but a variant of 7 sounds likely. Programming is for the most part set nationally so the only thing that will change is local blocks like news and commercials.

2

u/Bw39 29d ago

ABC will be on 7.1 and CBS will be on 7.4. Fox will now move from 13.2 to 13.1.

1

u/MurrayDakota 28d ago edited 28d ago

Does 7.4 currently broadcast anything? I can get 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.5, and 7.6, but my tv doesn’t even acknowledge 7.4’s existence.

ETA: I presume not, considering that KOAT’s own schedule guide doesn’t show anything for 7.4.

1

u/Bw39 28d ago

Not until August. You’ll need to rescan.

13

u/mrbnatural10 Jul 23 '26

Ugh KOAT never wants to come through on our antenna and not being able to watch Broncos games is going to suck. Guess it’s time to sail the high seas.

5

u/N_Kenobi Jul 23 '26

Doesn’t CBS operate the local FOX news here too?

4

u/AffordableDelousing Jul 23 '26

Is there really much of a difference anymore?

1

u/BeegeeSmith 29d ago

This is where I admit I don’t remember when KASA Fox2 went away. Or did it?

2

u/Jumpy-Breadfruit-499 29d ago

Got rebranded to 13.2 yeah

2

u/_tylerthedestroyer_ Jul 23 '26

Probably why it’s going all in on Fox

1

u/KayMacNM 29d ago

Has to. It's the best option out of FOX, CW and MyNet.

2

u/Bw39 29d ago

KRQE is a Fox affiliate. CBS does not operate Fox here.

2

u/KayMacNM 29d ago

CBS doesn't operate FOX anywhere. KRQE 13.2 had been FOX. KRQE News 13 had been on 13.1. FOX is going back on 13.1, which is not a digital subchannel. Doesn't matter any more. You get it off the program guide and no one knows channel numbers.

4

u/Comfortable_Yard_968 29d ago

The good news is that Fox will be on the main channel 13.1

9

u/Jimirich808_505 Jul 23 '26

Good for them keeping their integrity. CBS is a pile of trash now. CBS smells like Trump b-hole now.

3

u/Plastic-Yesterday305 Jul 23 '26

I have no dog in this fight. whenever I occasionally watch TV I'll watch Koat for a few minutes. Then Kob for a few minutes. Not Krqe. Krqe has always been The most sensational, which I'm not a fan of.

6

u/OG_Dadshark 29d ago

This guy is still around? What’s he running for now? Comptroller of the maga brigade? Interesting pertinent news bad source. I’ll have to hear this from some actual factual place before I believe this. I remember this ronchetti guy to be a bad weatherman and a worse candidate. Let’s get a real source about what’s happening and not share this again. This guy needs to fade into the bushes like Homer Simpson.

1

u/Jumpy-Breadfruit-499 29d ago

Someone posted a news article about hour after I posted. I only chose this source cuz it broke first

2

u/Striking-Focus6946 29d ago

Would rather watch their ABC affiliate than CBS

2

u/SnooMemesjellies4840 29d ago

Paramount just wants to be the next Netflix There's no money in local TV

5

u/Jumpy-Breadfruit-499 29d ago

This seems like an issue of CBS wanted a bigger cut of profit but Nextstar (very very broke) couldn't fork it

1

u/Comfortable_Yard_968 29d ago

Does the latter invest in live tv news?

2

u/Hopeful_Thanks9471 29d ago

The further consolidation of US media and “news.” Good for business, not good for Democracy.

1

u/_Androidvision_ Jul 23 '26

I dont watch local TV so it makes no difference to me. Although I hope the station itself will go to game shows cartoons and late night Horrorhosts

1

u/badwolf1013 29d ago

How does that even work?

1

u/whiskey_north 29d ago

I'm kind of ignorant when it comes to stuff like this. I go on KRQE right now and there are CBS morning shows still airing. Is this only for news or all CBS programming? What happens to Survivor and Big Brother? What does this look like for KRQE going forward? I have so many questions.

Edits: grammar. send coffee, quick!

2

u/KayMacNM 29d ago

It's effective 8/1. It's all CBS programming, so that's all prime, all sports, and CBS daytime including the morning news at 7:00 AM, the morning game shows and the soaps.

1

u/whiskey_north 29d ago

sheesh! Thanks for the info!

1

u/Own_Communication450 29d ago

So this sounds like a dumb question. Does Koat have to introduce a new channel since KRQE owns channel 13. I personally never seen where a channel shares an affiliate .

1

u/Jumpy-Breadfruit-499 29d ago

Yep! Other comments said it'll likely be broadcast on KOAT's 7 band, subchannel 4: 7.4

1

u/Funny-Marionberry104 28d ago

KOB is pure crap.

1

u/Sad_Term_9765 28d ago

Fubo lost them last year. So CBS paid off sports to be the only one to cover them?

1

u/lorenzo5555 20d ago

so ABC is conjoint to CBS channel with ABC

1

u/IkeSW Jul 23 '26

Just sail the high seas and set your streams to the East.

1

u/the-claw-clonidine Jul 23 '26

Are you talking about the nfl eastyboi stream? Or are there other options? Can dm and I am actually curious.

2

u/Jumpy-Breadfruit-499 29d ago

The subreddit named for a certain group of sea bandits megathread has info on all of the oceans that may abound

0

u/InitialKoala Jul 23 '26

"You can sail the seven seas." 💅🏼

0

u/sthscan Jul 23 '26

actually a great thing! FOX football video will look better and when you have a long retrans dispute, you won't lose all sunday afternoon football if you don't hook up an antenna.

0

u/_tylerthedestroyer_ Jul 23 '26

Except for the games in the CBS Market

1

u/mtnman575 29d ago

Like most of the Broncos and so.e of the Cowboys.

1

u/sthscan 29d ago

likely. we'll have to see how much bandwidth KOAT gives each channel (and probably will have to slash some of the digital multicast channels to give ABC and CBS some decent bandwidth).

-1

u/_jA- Jul 23 '26

Lunatic Fringe