cbs 7

What cbs 7 does

CBS7 (branded as First Alert 7, FCC call sign KOSA-TV) is a local broadcast television station and digital news outlet serving the Permian Basin and West Texas region, including Midland, Odessa, Pecos, and Big Spring. Founded in 2002, the station operates as a CBS affiliate and is owned by Gray Television (NYSE: GTN) through its Gray Local Media subsidiary. CBS7 produces local news, weather, sports, and community programming — including the "Discover the Basin" streaming series and high-school sports coverage such as "Friday Night Blitz" and "Pigskin Preview" — distributed across over-the-air broadcast, the firstalert7.com website, native iOS and Android apps, and connected TV apps on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

The station operates a hybrid linear/digital distribution architecture: the over-the-air KOSA-TV broadcast signal (NextGen TV / ATSC 3.0 capable) anchors regional reach in the Permian Basin, while digital properties extend content to on-demand and mobile viewers. Supporting infrastructure includes FCC public inspection file compliance, closed captioning, audio description services, and a Facebook presence for community engagement. Sub-brand "7Connects" extends the station into a local business directory. The station integrates with parent Gray Television's national content verticals including Local News Live, InvestigateTV, Circle Country, and PowerNation.

CBS7 is a free-to-air broadcaster; viewers consume content at no direct cost. The station's revenue model is advertising-based, with local and regional businesses purchasing on-air, digital, and OTT inventory — exact rates are not publicly disclosed. End-user segments are Permian Basin viewers (geographic consumer audience) and local advertisers (regional SMBs). Operational headcount, revenue figures, and detailed advertiser relationships are not publicly disclosed at the station level; CBS7 leadership publicly identified in source data is limited to Chief Engineer Jim McKinnon, with on-air reporters including Lauren Munt, Darby J McCormick, Wyatt Nun, Luke Johnson, Ixchel Villarreal, and Sierra Burnett.

Name

cbs 7

Legal name

Gray Local Media (Gray Television)

Website

https://cbs7kosa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CBS7 (First Alert 7 / KOSA-TV) is a CBS-affiliated local broadcast television station owned by Gray Television, serving the Permian Basin and West Texas with news, weather, sports, and community programming distributed via broadcast, streaming apps, and mobile.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Broadcast Television

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Network-Affiliated Local TV Stations (ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX/CW/Telemundo/Univision, etc.) (MPABACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local TV Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAA)

Keywords

• Local news broadcasting
• Television news
• Weather forecasting
• Sports coverage
• Community journalism

Headquarters

HQ city

Odessa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CBS7 (branded as First Alert 7) operates a CBS-affiliated local broadcast television station serving the Permian Basin region of West Texas, including Midland and Odessa. The station delivers local news, weather forecasts, sports coverage, and community-focused programming through over-the-air broadcast and digital streaming platforms including a website, mobile apps, and connected TV apps on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

Product overview

CBS7 (branded as First Alert 7) is a local broadcast television station operated by Gray Television, serving the Permian Basin and West Texas region including Midland and Odessa. The station operates as a traditional broadcast news operation with a core local news product, supplemented by streaming applications on mobile (iOS/Android) and connected TV platforms (Roku, Amazon Fire TV). The station produces original content including the 'Discover the Basin' community spotlight series. All products deliver local news, weather, sports, and community-focused programming to viewers across the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 7Connects: Local business directory and community connections platform

Products and services

• First Alert 7 (Broadcast News) Local broadcast television news operation providing West Texas news, weather, sports, and community coverage across the Permian Basin region including Midland, Odessa, and surrounding areas as a CBS-affiliated station.
• First Alert 7 Mobile App Native mobile application for iOS and Android that allows viewers to watch live streams, access on-demand video content, and receive breaking news alerts from First Alert 7.
• First Alert 7 Connected TV Apps Streaming applications available on Roku and Amazon Fire TV that provide access to live local news, weather, sports, and original video content from First Alert 7.
• Discover the Basin Series A nightly original series streaming on First Alert 7 connected devices that spotlights local communities, hidden gems, hometown favorites, and local businesses across the Permian Basin region.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• E.W. Scripps Company: Scripps owns a national portfolio of local TV stations plus networks (ION, Court TV, Scripps News). Comparable as a local broadcast operator pursuing digital and CTV expansion across mid-size US markets.
• Gray Television: Gray Television (NYSE: GTN) is the publicly traded parent company and one of the largest US local TV station operators. CBS7 is a single station within Gray's ~100-station portfolio and inherits Gray's operating playbook, corporate sales, and syndicated content.
• Hearst Television: Hearst Television operates a large portfolio of network-affiliated local stations. Comparable in business model (network-affiliated local broadcast + digital) and serves similar advertiser and audience needs in other markets.
• Tegna: Tegna owns ~60 local TV stations including direct competitor KWES in the Permian Basin. Tegna is a relevant comparable on portfolio strategy, digital expansion, and local advertising monetization.
• Nexstar Media Group: Nexstar is the largest US television station operator (~200 stations) and a broad incumbent in local broadcasting. Its scale, national ad sales platform, and content syndication make it a strategic benchmark and indirect competitor to any CBS-affiliated local station.
• Cox Media Group: Cox Media Group operates local TV stations and radio stations across the US. Comparable as a multi-platform local broadcaster with shared newsgathering and digital ad sales capabilities.
• Sinclair Broadcast Group: Sinclair is the second-largest US TV station operator, owning ABC/Fox/CW/NBC affiliates nationwide including direct competitor KMID in CBS7's market. Comparable in business model, scale, and ad sales structure.

Direct peers

• KWES-TV: KWES-TV is the NBC-affiliated local station also serving the Permian Basin / Midland-Odessa market. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to CBS7 for local news, weather, sports viewers and regional advertising dollars in West Texas.
• KMID / KPEJ-TV: KMID (ABC) and KPEJ (Fox), owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, serve the same Midland-Odessa DMA as CBS7. They compete directly for local advertisers, sports rights, and news audiences across the Permian Basin.

Emerging players

• Allen Media Group: Allen Media Group owns a growing portfolio of local TV stations (including CBS, ABC, NBC affiliates) acquired in recent years. Comparable as an emerging consolidator pursuing digital-first local news and streaming distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CBS7News
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cbs-7

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about cbs 7