Media in Billings, Montana explained

The Billings Metropolitan Area is served by two major news television stations, four major non-news television stations, one community television station, 25 commercial radio stations and one major daily newspaper. Note: Community 7 is only available through cable or satellite.

Television stations

ChannelCall signAffiliationSubchannelBrandingOwnerNotes
2KTVQ (Cable 5)CBS2.1Q2The E. W. Scripps Company-
The CW (Cable 11)2.2The Billings CW
GRIT2.3GRIT
4KHMT (Cable 4)Fox/Jewelry Television4.1Fox 4Mission Broadcasting-
Grit4.2-
Laff4.3-
6KSVI (Cable 10)ABC6.1ABC 6Nexstar Media Group-
Escape6.2-
Bounce6.3-
8KULR-TV (Cable 9)NBC8.1KULR-8Cowles Publishing Company (Under Cowles Montana Media)-
SWX Montana8.2-
14KINV-LDMeTV14.1-Yellowstone Valley Community TV, Inc.[1]
16KBGS-TVPBS16.1MontanaPBSBoard of Regents of the Montana University System
16.2PBS Kidsrowspan=3-
16.3Create
16.4World
16.5LegislatureSee also: TVMT

Newspapers

Billings Gazette

The Billings Gazette was first published in 1885 and has since grown to become the largest newspaper in Montana and Northern Wyoming. The Billings Gazette is published as a daily newspaper and also publishes Billings Business, Thrifty Nickel, Magic City Magazine, Montana Land Magazine, Welcome Home, and Lifewise to target niche audiences.[2] The Billings Gazette is currently owned by Lee Enterprises.[3]

See main article: Billings Gazette.

Yellowstone County News

The Yellowstone County News is a weekly newspaper which was first published in 1977 by Dave and Jan Willms from their home in Ballantine, Montana.[4] It covers a wide variety of topics and issues each week including news from the Yellowstone County Commissioners and other public government meetings, as well as hyperlocal news pertaining to the geographic area of Yellowstone County.[5] It was owned by Pete Robison and Rebecca Tescher-Robison from 1993 to 2014. In 2014, Yellowstone County News was purchased by Jonathan McNiven and Tana McNiven, who own and operate the newspaper currently.[6]

Billings Outpost

Founded in 1997, Billings Outpost was a weekly newspaper, distributed in Billings and nearby municipalities. It was edited and published by David Crisp.[7] Its publication was suspended on January 28, 2016. [8]

The Billings Times

The Billings Times is a weekly legal/statistical newspaper that was established in 1891.[9] The newspaper reports on legal publications and also reports vital statistics, such as births, deaths, and marriages, in the Yellowstone County Area.[10] It also advertises all major city contracts for the City of Billings.[11] Since 1960, the newspaper has been operated by the Turner Family.[9]

Last Best News

Last Best News was an online news site that covered Billings, Montana.[12] [13]

Radio stations

FM

FrequencyCall signGenreBrandingOwnerNotes
89.3KLMTChristianPilgrim RadioWestern Inspirational Broadcasters, Inc.-
90.9KLRVContemporary ChristianK-LOVE RadioEducational Media Foundation-
91.7KEMCNews / Talk / VarietyYellowstone Public RadioMontana State University Billings-
94.1KRKXCountry94.1 K-SKYConnoisseur Media-
95.5KCHHNews/TalkNews Radio 95Townsquare Media Billings License, LLC-
96.3KRZNModern rockThe ZoneConnoisseur Media-
97.1KKBRContemporary hit radioK-BearTownsquare Media Billings License, LLC-
98.5KEWFCountry98.5 The WolfRadio Billings, LLC-
101.1KFHWNews / Sports / TalkYCN RadioYellowstone County News, LLC
101.9KRSQContemporary hit radioHot 101.9Radio Billings, LLC-
102.9KCTRCountryCat CountryTownsquare Media Billings License, LLC-
103.7KMHKClassic rockThe New 103.7 The HawkTownsquare Media Billings License, LLC-
105.1KYSXCountryTwang 105.1Bmg Billings, LLC-
105.9KWMYClassic hitsMy 105.9Connoisseur Media-
106.7KPLNModern hitsThe Planet 106.7Connoisseur Media-
107.5KRPMAdult ContemporaryMagic 107.5Radio Billings, LLC-

AM

FrequencyCall signGenreBrandingOwnerNotes
730KYYATalk radio-Connoisseur MediaPart of Northern Broadcasting System Radio
790KGHL (AM)Classic countryThe Mighty 790KGHL Radio, LLCPart of Northern Broadcasting System Radio
910KBLGSports radioESPN 910 KBLGConnoisseur MediaPart of Northern Broadcasting System Radio
970KBUL (AM)Talk radioNews Radio 970 KBULTownsquare Media Billings License, LLC-
1230KHDNTalk radioBig Sky RadioSun Mountain, Inc.station is currently silent
1240KJCR (AM)Contemporary Christian-WTL Communications, Inc.Part of Northern Broadcasting System Radio

Notes and References

  1. Web site: KINV-LD. Federal Communications Commission. 2 March 2013.
  2. Web site: About Us. The Billings Gazette. 28 February 2013.
  3. Web site: Daily Newspapers. Lee Enterprises. 28 February 2013.
  4. News: Marino . Michael . October 7, 2023 . Yellowstone County News Turns 47 . Yellowstone County News . 2.
  5. Web site: April 28, 2023 . About . Yellowstone County News.
  6. News: Lutey . Tom . December 9, 2014 . Lawmaker McNiven resigns 2 weeks after re-election to run newspaper . The Billings Gazette .
  7. Web site: January 1, 2014 . About Us Last Best News . January 14, 2024.
  8. News: Crisp . David . January 28, 2016 . Crisp suspends Outpost, joining Last Best News . Montana Newspaper Association . April 30, 2023.
  9. Web site: About Us. The Billings Times. 28 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130209073514/http://www.billingstimes.net/about.html. 9 February 2013.
  10. Web site: Page 4. The Billings Times. 28 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130209205553/http://www.billingstimes.net/page04.html. 9 February 2013.
  11. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions, #6. City of Billings. 28 February 2013.
  12. Web site: Billings and Eastern Montana News & Culture . Last Best News . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141005183652/https://lastbestnews.com/ . 5 October 2014.
  13. Web site: About Us - Last Best News . montana-mint.com . 3 July 2023.