ABC is getting a new address on St. Louis TVs. On September 1, 2026, KMOV will become the city's local home for the network, with ABC programming landing on the station's channel 32.1 and an expanded local news footprint tagging along. KMOV's First Alert 4 team is slated to produce newscasts and weather coverage tailored to ABC dayparts, which means viewers will see national shows and local reporting pop up in some new spots on over the air and provider channel lineups.
Station announcement
According to First Alert 4, KMOV will add ABC network programming to its broadcast lineup beginning September 1, 2026. The station says it will lean on its First Alert 4 news team to deliver dedicated local newscasts, First Alert Weather and community coverage wrapped around ABC's schedule. "This is a landmark moment for St. Louis viewers and a testament to our commitment to local journalism," KMOV Vice President and General Manager JD Sosnoff said in the release.
Where you'll find ABC over the air
According to RabbitEars, KMOV's over the air multiplex includes a 32.1 slot currently identified with Matrix Midwest, and that is the subchannel the station says will carry the ABC feed. For antenna viewers, that means ABC should show up on channel 32.1, or on a provider specific guide number that maps to it, once the change kicks in. If the network does not appear where expected after the switch, antenna users may need to run a rescan or refresh their box or guide data.
Why local news coverage matters
St. Louis's current ABC affiliate has long operated without a full, in house local news department, a setup that local media historians have tracked for years. As noted by the St. Louis Media History Foundation, KDNL became the market's ABC station in the mid 1990s and has at times relied on outside production instead of maintaining a full newsroom. KMOV is framing the ABC move as a chance to close that gap by putting its own news staff behind ABC dayparts.
What this could mean for sports and carriage
Gray Media has already been building out free, over the air regional programming, including a "Home Plate" partnership that simulcasts select St. Louis Cardinals games on KMOV and Matrix Midwest, signaling a broader push into live local sports and community content. As reported by Gray Media, that strategy aims to pair network entertainment with locally produced programming and live events. KMOV says a full ABC programming schedule and launch specifics will be announced in the coming weeks.
Next steps for viewers
The change officially takes effect on September 1, 2026. Viewers who rely on over the air signals should keep an eye on their TV guides and plan to rescan if ABC does not appear in its new spot. KMOV, along with local cable, satellite and streaming providers, is expected to publish exact channel positions and scheduling information ahead of the launch, and the station's website will post updates as they roll out.
