ABC is moving its broadcast affiliation in St. Louis from a Sinclair-owned station to a Gray Media outlet, sources familiar with the decision confirmed Thursday. The change takes effect on September 1.
Currently, ABC programming airs on a Sinclair station, but it will shift to Gray Media's KMOV-TV. KMOV will continue producing local news, while ABC shows will be carried on a secondary channel, known as D2.
This is part of a broader trend in the television industry, where networks and station owners frequently negotiate affiliation agreements. Stations that carry ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox often change hands when contracts expire or business strategies shift.
Sinclair and Gray are two of the largest station owners in the U.S. Sinclair operates dozens of local stations nationwide, while Gray Media owns over 100 stations. St. Louis is a major media market, and such changes can affect how viewers watch network programming.
Viewers in the St. Louis area will need to rescan their TV tuners after September 1 to continue receiving ABC shows. The move is not expected to cause major disruptions, but local viewers should check their over-the-air reception or cable/satellite provider for updated channel information.
Neither Sinclair nor Gray has officially commented on the change beyond confirming the plans.