CBS Affiliate Changes Impact NFL Fans in Multiple U.S. Markets
CBS and Nexstar have announced significant changes to network affiliations affecting several local television stations across the United States. Starting August 1, 2026, stations in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Jackson, Mississippi; Bismarck, North Dakota; Birmingham, Alabama; Greenville, South Carolina; and Rapid City, South Dakota will lose their CBS affiliations. In these markets, CBS will transition from primary stations to digital subchannels, which often have lower picture quality and can be more challenging to locate on cable systems. This shift will impact NFL fans who rely on CBS for local game broadcasts, as well as other CBS Sports programming. KRQE in Albuquerque will become a Fox affiliate, while stations in Jackson, Bismarck, Birmingham, Greenville, Minot, and Rapid City will switch to CW affiliates. This move is part of a broader trend where major networks are increasingly moving to subchannels, making it harder for viewers to access sports content. 
