Quick Facts
| Capital | Little Rock |
| Approx. Population | 3.07 million |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Major Cities | Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Jonesboro |
Arkansas's TV Markets
Arkansas is primarily served by three in-state media markets, though several border counties actually fall under out-of-state DMAs entirely — worth knowing before you assume your nearest big city determines your local channels.
| Little Rock–Pine Bluff | Rank #58 nationally · largest AR market |
| Fort Smith–Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers | Rank ~#96–100 · shared with Oklahoma |
| Jonesboro | Serves Northeast Arkansas |
Local Network Affiliates by Market
| Little Rock | KARK (NBC), KATV (ABC), KTHV (CBS), KLRT (FOX), KASN (CW) |
| Fort Smith / Fayetteville | KFSM (CBS), KNWA (NBC), KFTA (FOX), "40/29" — KHBS/KHOG (ABC + CW, twin stations) |
| Jonesboro | KAIT — a single station carrying ABC, NBC, and CW together via subchannels |
Why Fort Smith and Fayetteville Share a Brand
One genuinely distinctive quirk of Northwest Arkansas broadcasting: KHBS (licensed to Fort Smith) and KHOG-TV (licensed to Fayetteville) are two physically separate stations, roughly 60 miles apart, that operate together under the single shared brand "40/29" — both carrying ABC and The CW to their respective halves of the region. It's a practical solution for a market split across two population centers rather than one dominant city.
When Your County Belongs to a Different State's Market
Some Northeast Arkansas counties are actually assigned to the Memphis, Tennessee DMA rather than an Arkansas-based market, and parts of southern Arkansas fall under the Monroe-El Dorado, Louisiana market instead. This affects which stations count as "local" for cable and satellite carriage purposes — worth checking your specific county's DMA assignment rather than assuming it matches the nearest Arkansas city.
Local Sports & Streaming Culture
Arkansas doesn't host a major NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL franchise, so residents typically follow a nearby regional market's professional teams — often Memphis or Dallas — alongside the state's dominant college sports culture. Arkansas Razorbacks football and basketball command a similar level of devotion to Alabama's college football scene, with SEC Network carrying much of the schedule. For general blackout rules if you follow an out-of-state pro team, see our RSN blackout guide.
Getting Free Local Channels via Antenna
Reception varies significantly across Arkansas's hilly Ozark and Ouachita regions versus its flatter Delta areas. See our full antenna & OTA guide for picking the right antenna type based on your distance from local towers and terrain.
Choosing a Streaming Device in Arkansas
Device setup itself works the same everywhere — internet speed matters more than location. For smooth HD streaming, aim for at least 15–25 Mbps per active stream; for 4K, closer to 25–50 Mbps. Not sure which device fits your household? Our device comparison guide breaks down Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Google TV.
Quick Questions Arkansans Ask
| Why do I get Memphis stations instead of Arkansas ones? | Some Northeast Arkansas counties are officially assigned to the Memphis DMA by Nielsen, regardless of state lines. |
| Are "40/29" two different channels? | Yes — KHBS (Fort Smith) and KHOG (Fayetteville) are separate stations sharing one brand and network affiliation. |
| Can I get SEC Network for Razorbacks games without cable? | Most major live TV streaming services carry SEC Network — confirm current availability before subscribing. |