KFSM-TV CBS Fayetteville, Arkansas

KFSM-TV
4201 N. Shiloh Drive, Suite 169
Fayetteville, AR 72703

website: http://www.kfsm.com/

KFSM-TV had its beginning as KFSA-TV on July 22, 1953. KFSA was the first television station to go on the air in Fort Smith. From 1959 to 1973, the station was owned by Donald W. Reynolds and was a part of the Donrey Media block which included KFSA Radio and the Southwest Times Record newspaper.

In 1968, KFSA-TV, Channel 5, moved to its present location at 318 North 13th Street in Fort Smith. Its general offices are housed in the old Carnegie Library, which had served the city since the early 1900s. A large studio was attached to the building at the time of the move.

In 1972, 5NEWS opened its first office in Fayetteville. TV-5 was the first Fort Smith station to deliver local news and sports to viewers in Northwest Arkansas. Through the years, we have expanded our Northwest Arkansas news, production, and sales staff and we've increased our office and studio space three times. Each move was made to better serve the viewers and commercial clients in this part of our coverage area.

On April 4, 1973, KFSA-TV Channel 5, was sold to Buford Television, Inc., of Tyler, Tex. At that time, the call letters were changed to KFSM-TV, picking up the airport designation of the city since its main offices were in Fort Smith. The Fayetteville office was moved to a new location on College Street shortly after the purchase.

KFSM-TV entered into a new era of service to the coverage area when The New York Times Company purchased the station from Buford Television on October 1, 1979. In 1992, we made a major expansion of our Fayetteville offices and studio when we moved to the Northwest Arkansas Mall.

Today, 5NEWS provides News Channel 5, which is a 24/7 local news service available on COX Cable Channel 55. In 2001, 5NEWS expanded to the Internet with the launch of 5NEWSonline.com. In 2002 KFSM-DT signed on the air and delivered digital television and high definition television to the area. In 2006, 5NEWStoGO.com launched giving people access to local news, weather and information on the cell phone.

Over the years, 5NEWS has always been the ratings leader in the area. We have maintained, and even built upon, this leadership because of our ongoing commitment to service and excellence of product that is generated by our employees.