NPG To Launch CBS Affil In St. Joseph, MO

For the first time in 50 years CBS is returning to the birthplace of Walter Cronkite. News-Press & Gazette Co. (NPG) announced today the launch of a new CBS affiliate in St. Joseph, Mo. (DMA 201), marking the first time since 1967 that a CBS affiliate has been based in the city.

NPG, through its subsidiary News-Press TV, has reached an affiliation agreement with CBS to create low-power KBJO. The new station is expected to go on the air June 1. NPG also owns the market’s Fox, affiliate, KNPN-LD.

KBJO will share a newsroom with the St. Joseph News-Press and newspressnow.com, NPG’s community news and information website. The combined resources of the News-Press team produces more than 30 hours of local news per week along with the daily newspaper, digital news and digital apps.

Legendary newsman Walter Cronkite is a native of St. Joseph, Missouri. As owners of NPG, the Bradley family was instrumental in the creation of the Walter Cronkite Museum, which is housed at Missouri Western State University.  

“We are very proud to have the Walter Cronkite Memorial in St. Joseph and are proud to have contributed to its creation,” said KBJO General Manager Eric Bradley. “We feel this solidifies his legacy in the region by returning CBS to local operation.”  

“We are extremely proud that the birthplace of legendary CBS News journalist Walter Cronkite will be the newest home to a CBS affiliate,” said Ray Hopkins, president of network distribution at CBS. “This is a great deal for CBS and a great deal for our partners to carry the hit programming of the No. 1 television network. Together, we look forward to serving the viewers we share for years to come.”