KCIT

KCIT is television station channel 14 in Amarillo, Texas, serving viewers across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and parts of eastern New Mexico. The station is affiliated with the Fox television network and is owned by Mission Broadcasting, while Nexstar Media Group provides operational services through joint sales and shared services agreements. KCIT operates alongside NBC affiliate KAMR-TV and independent/MyNetworkTV outlet KCPN-LD. The three stations share facilities in downtown Amarillo, while KCIT's transmitter is located in rural Potter County along the Dumas Drive corridor. The station began broadcasting on October 24, 1982, under the call sign KJTV. Its launch made it the Amarillo market's first commercial UHF station and its fourth commercial television outlet. Initially independent, KJTV filled its schedule with syndicated sitcoms and dramas, westerns, films, cartoons, business-news programming, and locally sponsored features. Early operations were technically difficult: the station experienced a transmitter failure on its first night, relied on a microwave-fed off-air signal, and used equipment that produced a weak and sometimes unstable picture. These limitations restricted coverage and affected the station's early presentation. Ray Moran sold the station in 1984 to Ralph C. Wilson Industries. The new owner invested in a modern studio and office facility and built a taller, more powerful transmitter tower, improving the station's reach across the Texas Panhandle. In August 1985, the call sign changed from KJTV to KCIT, a phonetic rendering of “see it,” and the station adopted the TV-14 KCIT identity before later emphasizing the Fox 14 brand. KCIT became a charter Fox affiliate when the network launched on October 9, 1986. Because Fox initially offered only limited programming, KCIT continued to function much like an independent station, airing movies and syndicated programs when the network had no scheduled prime-time programming. Fox gradually expanded its schedule during the late 1980s and early 1990s, eventually moving toward a full seven-night prime-time service. Ownership changed several times. Epic Broadcasting acquired KCIT in 1991, followed by Wicks Broadcast Group in 1995 and Mission Broadcasting in 1999. After Mission's acquisition, operational responsibilities were transferred to Quorum Broadcasting and subsequently to Nexstar. KAMR became the principal provider of news production, engineering, advertising-sales, and other support services. KCIT's local news service, discontinued in 1995, returned in 2001 through a KAMR-produced 9 p.m. program. The station now carries locally produced Fox news programming and can simulcast extended severe-weather coverage from KAMR during significant tornado threats. KCIT remains an active local Fox affiliate rather than a standalone consumer brand. Its principal offerings are broadcast television, local news, weather and sports coverage, syndicated programming, network entertainment, digital content, and advertising inventory for businesses in the Amarillo region.

KCIT signed on October 24, 1982, as KJTV, an independent station on UHF channel 14. Its launch followed the establishment of Amarillo's established VHF commercial stations and gave the market its first commercial UHF service. The station was founded by Ray Moran, who had obtained the channel 14 construction permit through a transaction involving the Roswell radio station KRIZ. KJTV's initial schedule relied on syndicated sitcoms, dramas, westerns, movies, cartoons, and locally sponsored programming. It also carried Financial News Network material during weekday afternoons and produced a local 10 p.m. newscast from its first day on air. The station's early technical performance was weak. Its transmitter failed during the first evening of operation, and the signal was initially relayed through an off-air receiver and microwave link from a related Lubbock operation. Low-quality transmission and production equipment caused picture defects, interference, and limited coverage. In November 1984, Ralph C. Wilson Industries bought the station for a reported $1 million. Wilson invested in a new downtown studio and office complex and a much taller transmitter tower, materially improving KCIT's signal across the Panhandle. The call sign changed to KCIT on August 11, 1985, and the station adopted TV-14 KCIT branding. News Corporation approached the station in 1986 about joining the new Fox network. KCIT became one of Fox's charter affiliates on October 9 of that year. Fox's early schedule consisted mainly of late-night and limited weekend programming, so KCIT continued to fill much of its schedule as an independent, using movies on evenings when Fox had no network offering. Fox expanded toward nightly prime time between 1989 and 1993, changing the role of KCIT from a conventional independent station into a full network affiliate. Wilson announced a sale to Epic Broadcasting in January 1991. Under Epic, the station increasingly used the Fox 14 identity and briefly carried Prime Time Entertainment Network programming in late-night hours. Epic also operated low-power station K65GD, later known as KCPN-LD. In 1995, Wicks Broadcast Group acquired KCIT and related stations. Mission Broadcasting announced the purchase of KCIT and KCPN-LP in January 1999, and the deal closed later that year. Mission's operating model relied on service partnerships in smaller markets. Quorum Broadcasting, and later Nexstar Media Group, provided many of the personnel, technical, advertising, and administrative functions associated with the station. KCIT discontinued its full local news operation in 1995 and for several years carried only brief news and weather updates, which also ended in 1999. A new outsourcing arrangement with KAMR restored a nightly prime-time newscast on March 11, 2001. The program, Fox 14 News at 9, was produced from the shared Amarillo facility and was designed with a faster, more entertainment-oriented presentation while retaining conventional local reporting. A one-hour weekday morning extension was added in 2005 but later cancelled. The 9 p.m. program expanded to one hour in 2008 and returned to a half-hour in 2011. By 2021, KAMR was producing six hours of weekly local programming for KCIT, including weekday and weekend newscasts. KCIT can also carry extended KAMR severe-weather coverage when tornado warnings affect the regional viewing area. The station's facilities were affected by a February 2013 blizzard. Electrical fluctuations disabled cooling equipment at the transmitter site, and deep snow delayed physical access. KCIT, KAMR, and KCPN were off the air for more than 18 hours, although cable distribution continued in parts of the market. KCIT remains an active Fox affiliate, with a business model centered on network programming, local news and weather, digital distribution, and regional advertising.

• 2013

  Blizzard causes transmitter outage

  [1]KCITen.wikipedia.org

  A major storm disables the shared transmitter site for more than 18 hours.

• 2003

  Nexstar assumes service agreements

  [1]KCITen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar's acquisition of Quorum transfers operational agreements connected with KCIT to Nexstar.

• 2001

  Outsourced local newscast returns

  [1]KCITen.wikipedia.org

  KAMR launches Fox 14 News at 9 for KCIT.

• 1999

  Mission Broadcasting ownership begins

  [1]KCITen.wikipedia.org

  Mission Broadcasting acquires KCIT and KCPN-LP and establishes an operating relationship involving KAMR.

• 1995

  Wicks Broadcast Group acquires KCIT

  [1]KCITen.wikipedia.org

  Wicks purchases KCIT and related stations from Epic Broadcasting.

• 1991

  Epic Broadcasting takes ownership

  [1]KCITen.wikipedia.org

  The station is sold to Epic Broadcasting and uses Fox 14 branding more consistently.

• 1986

  Fox affiliation begins

  [1]KCITen.wikipedia.org

  KCIT joins Fox when the network launches.

• 1985

  Call sign changes to KCIT

  [1]KCITen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopts the KCIT identity and later develops the Fox 14 brand.

• 1984

  Ralph C. Wilson Industries acquires the station

  [1]KCITen.wikipedia.org

  The new owner invests in studio facilities and a higher-power transmission system.

• 1982

  KJTV signs on

  [1]KCITen.wikipedia.org

  Channel 14 begins broadcasting as KJTV, Amarillo's first commercial UHF station.

A locally focused Fox affiliate serving the Amarillo market, combining national Fox programming with regional news, weather, sports, public-affairs, and advertising services.

• Local news · 2001

  Fox 14 News at 9

  KCIT's principal local newscast, produced by KAMR from the shared Amarillo facility. The program returned in 2001 after the station had operated without a regular newscast for roughly two years. Its format combines local reporting, weather, sports, and lifestyle or entertainment elements for the Fox audience.

• Network television · 1986

  Fox network programming

  KCIT's core programming offering consists of Fox entertainment, sports, news, and other network content. During Fox's early years, the network's limited schedule meant KCIT continued to use films and syndicated programming to fill unscheduled periods.

• Weather and emergency information

  Severe-weather coverage

  KCIT may simulcast extended weather coverage produced by sister station KAMR when tornado warnings affect counties across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles or eastern New Mexico. This service reflects the station's role in a weather-sensitive regional market.

• 2003

  Defamation lawsuit concerning domestic-abuse report

  Gabriel Brown sued KCIT and the United Way of Amarillo and Canyon, alleging that a report about domestic-abuse services falsely identified him and relied on unverified claims. A Potter County judge dismissed the suit in September 2003 after Brown failed to provide responses and evidence required by court orders. The matter was a legal dispute involving a broadcast report, not a finding that KCIT had committed defamation.

  Source

Read more

• 2001

  Restore local news through KAMRStrategy

  Background

  KCIT had ended its full news operation in 1995 and later discontinued brief news updates after the Mission transaction.

  Action taken

  KCIT and KAMR established an outsourcing arrangement that produced a nightly 9 p.m. newscast for KCIT.

  Aftermath

  Local news returned to channel 14 under the Fox 14 News at 9 title and later expanded and contracted its schedule in response to programming and audience considerations.

  Source

• 1999

  Mission Broadcasting acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Wicks Broadcast Group decided to sell KCIT and related stations as Mission expanded its portfolio of local television assets.

  Action taken

  Mission Broadcasting acquired KCIT and KCPN-LP in a transaction announced at a reported $13 million.

  Aftermath

  Mission used operating partnerships, first involving Quorum and later Nexstar, to provide services in the Amarillo market.

  Reported transaction value. $13 million announced transaction value (1999)

  Source

• 1986

  Join the Fox networkStrategy

  Background

  Fox approached KCIT during the station's independent era as it assembled its initial affiliate network.

  Action taken

  KCIT accepted charter-affiliate status and began carrying Fox programming on October 9, 1986.

  Aftermath

  The affiliation gave the Amarillo UHF station a national network identity while it continued using independent-style programming during Fox's gradual schedule expansion.

  Source

1. 1KCITen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KCIT official station websitemyhighplains.com