 | |
| Type | Television network |
|---|---|
| Country |  United States |
| First air date | July 19, 2013 (As the Montana Television Network) September 18, 2022 (As CBS) |
| Availability | United States |
| Founded | June 21, 2013 by Michael Nelson |
| Slogan | "Welcome Home" (Current) "Montana's Own" (MTN) |
| Headquarters | Billings, Montana |
| Broadcast area | United States |
| Owner | Public |
| Parent | Montana Broadcasting Company (dba CBS since 2022) |
| Key people | Keith Howard (Director of Programming) |
| Launch date | July 19, 2013 |
| Former names | Montana Television Network |
The Montana Broadcasting Company, doing business as CBS since 2022, is an American commercial broadcast television network. It is headquartered in Billings, Montana.
CBS had been one of the Big Three of Pre-Doomsday American television. The current network is not directly related to the original, instead being a revival of the Montana Television Network, a network of five CBS affiliates, KTVQ, KXLF, KRTV, KPAX, and KTVH. Quietly shut down after Doomsday, MTN quickly returned to the air after the rebirth of PBS and ABC. Originally a regional player, MTN began syndicating its programming to other stations; by 2015, it was all but officially a national network. In 2019, shareholders and executives began discussing the possibility of officially becoming a national network and rebranding after the old CBS. These plans were finalized in September 2022. The current CBS stays true to its Montana roots, as all of their major shows are shot in Billings, and the MTN branding remains in use for the owned and operated stations.
History[]
Pre-Doomsday[]
The original CBS was founded in 1927 as the radio network United Independent Broadcasters, Inc. CBS would, over the years rise to become of the big three of radio and commercial television. At the time of Doomsday, CBS was rising to become the biggest network in terms of ratings. The Montana Television Network had been founded in Joe Sample by merging his various stations and served as a way to unify Montanans and connect the state's population centers. Most of the stations in the network were affiliated with CBS.
On Doomsday, most executives of the network would be killed, while EMP blasts would render much of the television stations unusable. Though the world would recover, it would take years for the television industry to recover.
Montana Television Network returns[]
Montana Television Network would be resurrected by entrepreneur Michael Nelson in 2013, who restored the old affiliates under the ownership of the Montana Broadcasting Company. MTN started out as a regional network, serving as a third party in the rating battles between CBS and ABC. It would achieve respectable rating, but its lack of presence outside of Montana and Kootenai meant that most Americans didn't even know who they were.
In 2015, MTN partnered with Wild West Productions to produce more ambitious programming. To help fund these productions, MTN began syndicating these shows to other stations, including a few ABC affiliates. This would expand the reach of MTN, turning it from a regional also ran into a potential third network in its own right. MTN would continue to expand its programming throughout the 2000's and 10's.
Rebranding as CBS[]
As MTN began to rise in popularity, many in the Montana Broadcasting Company began discussing re-organization as a national broadcasting network. As television had been experiencing a rise in owners, there were more stations popping up on VHF and UFH channels, and several executives believed that MTN could provide programming to them. However, many also suggested rebranding MTN, as they wanted a less regional name for the network. CBS was chosen as the name for the growing network, as all five stations had been affiliated with the original CBS. In 2022, MTN began signing affiliate agreements with other stations, and in September of that year, officially rebranded itself as CBS; MTN branding continues for the network's original five O&Os.
Programming[]
CBS currently airs about 3 hours of primetime programming a week, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., MST. National newscasts are aired at 7:00 and 11:00. Common programming includes Jeopardy, Family Life, and Old World Blues and The Twilight Zone. O&Os tend to share new programming with each other.
Daytime programming airs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. includes Wheel of Fortune, The Price is Right, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Brash. Weekend mornings features children's programming, including Bozo's Sunday Big Top, Dreamworld, and more.
Stations[]
Owned and Operated[]
| Market | Callsign | C# | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | KTVQ | 2 | MTN Branded outside of network hours |
| Butte | KXLF-TV | 4 | |
| Bozeman | KBZM | 7 | |
| Kallispell | KPAX-TV | 8 | |
| Great Falls | KRTV | 3 | |
| Torrington | KCBS-LP | 2 | Post Doomsday station Low power station |
Affiliates[]
| Market | Callsign | C# | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caper | KGWC-TV | 14 | Pre-Doomsday affiliate |
| Cheyenne FT Collins |
KGWN-TV | 5 | |
| Gillette | KBSR | 21 | Post-Doomsday affiliate |
| Astoria | KAST-TV | 6 | Post-Doomsday affiliate Dual CBS/ABC |
| Scottsbluff | KVEW | 42 | |
| Pasco | KEPR-TV | 19 | Pre-Doomsday affiliate |
| Fargo | KRDK-TV | 4 | |
| Navajo Nation | CBS Dinetah | 2 | Cable affiliate |
| Lakota | CBS Lakota | ||
| Reno | KTVN | 2 | Pre-Doomsday affiliate |
| Provo-Orem | KDSR | 5 | Post-Doomsday affiliate |
| Dodge City | KBSD | 12 | Pre-Doomsday affiliate |