Finding the right cbs 5 tv schedule is honestly way more confusing than it should be. You’d think in 2026, we’d have a single button that just shows us what’s on, but instead, we’re juggling different time zones and local affiliates that all want to do their own thing. Whether you’re looking for KPHO in Phoenix, KPIX in the Bay Area, or KCTV in Kansas City, the "5" on your remote doesn't always lead to the same place.
The reality is that while the big primetime hits like Harlan Coben’s Final Twist or the classic NCIS lineup are mostly consistent, the local gaps are where people get tripped up. You might be expecting a national news update only to find a localized special on Bay Area traffic or a Phoenix weather alert.
The Daytime Shuffle: More Than Just Soap Operas
Most of us know the heavy hitters. You’ve got The Young and the Restless at 12:30 PM and The Bold and the Beautiful following right after. But have you noticed how much the "filler" time has changed lately?
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Lately, Beyond the Gates has been pulling in serious numbers in the 2:00 PM slot. It's a bit of a departure from the traditional daytime vibe, but it works. Then there’s the syndicated stuff. Depending on your specific city, that 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM window is a wild west of Judge Judy reruns, Hot Bench, or locally produced lifestyle shows like My KC Live.
If you're tracking the cbs 5 tv schedule for today, January 14, 2026, here is the basic skeleton most affiliates are following:
- 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Local Programming (Often The Drew Barrymore Show or local talk)
- 10:00 AM: Let’s Make a Deal
- 11:00 AM: The Price Is Right (Still the king of daytime, obviously)
- 12:00 PM: Local News
- 12:30 PM: The Young and the Restless
- 1:30 PM: The Bold and the Beautiful
- 2:00 PM: Beyond the Gates
- 3:00 PM: Local variety / Court shows
Why Your Local "5" Is Different
Here’s the thing. KPIX 5 in San Francisco isn't just a mirror of KPHO 5 in Phoenix. For starters, the Bay Area gets hit with a lot more "First Alert" weather disruptions. If there’s a Beach Hazards Statement—which there actually is right now through Thursday night—they might preempt a few minutes of your show for a live update from Jessica Burch.
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In Kansas City, KCTV 5 is obsessed with the Chiefs. Rightfully so. But it means your Tuesday or Wednesday night might suddenly feature a "Chiefs Kingdom" special that you didn't see on the national grid.
And don't even get me started on the subchannels. If you’re using an antenna, 5.1 is the main feed, but 5.2 and 5.3 are usually goldmines for "comfort TV." We’re talking CSI: Miami marathons or back-to-back Andy Griffith Show episodes. Honestly, sometimes the subchannel is better than the main one.
Primetime Strategy for Early 2026
The evening lineup is where the cbs 5 tv schedule really flexes. Right now, the network is leaning hard into a mix of nostalgia and high-intensity mystery. Tonight, Wednesday, January 14, we’re looking at Hollywood Squares at 8:00 PM. It’s a Season 2 episode featuring Whitney Cummings and Arsenio Hall. It’s fast, it’s light, and it’s a good palate cleanser before the heavier stuff.
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At 9:00 PM, The Price Is Right at Night is doing a Primetime Plinko Jackpot. There’s something strangely hypnotic about watching a $500,000 Plinko run. Then at 10:00 PM, the schedule shifts to Harlan Coben’s Final Twist. Tonight’s episode, "Gambler’s Debt," involves a businesswoman found stabbed in a house that wasn't even broken into. Classic Coben.
A Quick Peek at Tomorrow's Highlights
If you’re planning ahead for Thursday, January 15, the vibe shifts toward sitcoms.
- 8:00 PM: Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage – Mandy starts getting too much attention as the weather girl, and Georgie isn't handling it well.
- 8:30 PM: Ghosts – This is a big one. Hetty’s "ghost power" is finally revealed.
- 9:00 PM: Matlock – Kathy Bates is still absolutely crushing this role.
Breaking Down the Late Night Lag
After the 11:00 PM news, everyone expects Stephen Colbert. And he’s there at 11:35 PM. Tonight he’s got Paul Giamatti and Ryan Coogler. But the 12:37 AM slot is where it gets weird. Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen has basically taken over that post-Colbert space. It's a very specific kind of energy—basically four comedians sitting in a semi-circle telling quick-fire jokes. It’s great if you have insomnia; otherwise, you’re probably already asleep.
Stop Relying on the "Guide" Button
Most smart TVs have a "Guide" button that is notoriously slow or just flat-out wrong about local sports pre-emptions. If you really want to stay on top of the cbs 5 tv schedule, you've gotta check the local station's own site or app. KCTV5 and KPIX both have dedicated news apps that push notifications when a schedule changes due to breaking news. It’s annoying to have another app, but it beats missing the first fifteen minutes of Ghosts because of a localized weather report.
To make sure you never miss a recording or a live broadcast, verify your specific zip code on a service like TitanTV or the official CBS station finder. Local affiliates often swap the 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM blocks to fit their news branding.
Check your local listings one hour before primetime begins to account for any last-minute "special reports" that might shift the entire evening block by 15 or 30 minutes.