KCBS-TV Channel 2, also known on the air as CBS2, is the West Coast flagship station of the CBS television network. It is the second oldest commerically-licensed television station in Southern California, behind KTLA Channel 5. It began its operations as KTSL-TV on May 6, 1948, and was affiliated with the old Dumont television network (current Fox television O&O KTTV was Los Angeles' original CBS station). On January 1, 1951, CBS gave up its 50% stake in KTTV (Los Angeles Times owned the other half), and purchased KTSL, and CBS programming moved to Channel 2. In November of 1951, KTSL changed its call letters to KNXT, to coincide with co-owned CBS radio station, KNX-AM 1070.
In 1960, Channel 2 created the nation's first one-hour local newscast, titled "The Big News", which featured the late Jerry Dunphy , one of Southern California's most beloved news icons. Sixteen years later, KNXT expanded to 2 1/2 hours of live local news, much of which made Channel 2 the #1 news station in Los Angeles, much like its sister stations, WBBM-TV in Chicago and WCBS-TV in New York City.
On April 2, 1984 at 12 noon, KNXT changed its call letters to the present KCBS-TV. The station, much like many others in the 1990's, adopted the "CBS2" moniker for its on-air image. Since 2002, KCBS-TV became sister stations with KCAL after the latter was purchased by Viacom.
The station's former anchors include Connie Chung and Maury Povich.
