KDVR

KDVR is a commercial television station licensed to Denver, Colorado, and affiliated with the Fox network. It broadcasts on digital channel 31 and is paired with KFCT, a full-time satellite station on channel 22 serving Fort Collins and areas of northern Colorado. KDVR and KFCT are owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also operates CW affiliate KWGN-TV in the Denver market. The stations share facilities on East Speer Boulevard in Denver's Speer neighborhood, while KDVR's transmitter is located on Lookout Mountain near Golden and KFCT's transmitter is on Horsetooth Mountain outside Fort Collins. The station originated in a 1970s Federal Communications Commission proceeding concerning a proposed television service on Denver's channel 31 allocation. La Unidad Broadcasting Corporation initially obtained the construction permit and planned a Spanish-language service. After the 1980 census produced lower Hispanic population figures than the applicant had anticipated, the owners concluded that a Spanish-language commercial station would not yet be economically viable. Most of the permit was transferred in 1981 to Centennial Broadcasting, which redirected the project toward an English-language independent station while retaining programming intended to reach Hispanic viewers. KDVR began broadcasting on August 10, 1983. Its initial schedule consisted mainly of syndicated programs, movies, and other programming typical of an independent station. It was the first new commercial television station to launch in Denver in roughly three decades and the market's first full-service UHF station. In October 1986, KDVR became one of Fox's original affiliates. Fox programming strengthened its competitive position against long-established independent KWGN-TV and helped the station close much of the ratings gap by the end of the 1980s. Ownership changed several times during the station's first decade. Chase Communications acquired KDVR in 1989, and Renaissance Communications bought it in 1992. Renaissance also obtained authorization to construct KFCT, which went on the air in 1994 as a satellite of KDVR. In November 1994, Fox Television Stations acquired KDVR and KFCT from Renaissance in a station trade connected with Fox's broader realignment of network affiliations. Fox retained the stations until 2008 and invested in a substantially larger facility intended to support a local news operation. KDVR launched its first locally produced newscast, Fox 31 News at 9 O'Clock, on July 16, 2000. Its news programming subsequently expanded into additional dayparts, including morning coverage. The operation became an important competitor in Denver television news and was later combined operationally with KWGN-TV after Local TV began managing KWGN under a local marketing agreement. The shared operation allowed the stations to pool newsroom, production, and technical resources while continuing to present separate station brands and network affiliations. Fox Television Stations sold KDVR and KFCT to Local TV LLC in a transaction announced in 2007 and completed in 2008. Tribune Broadcasting acquired Local TV in 2013, bringing KDVR into the Tribune station portfolio. A proposed Sinclair Broadcast Group acquisition of Tribune in 2017 would have involved a possible divestiture and repurchase of KDVR, but the broader transaction was terminated in 2018. Nexstar Media Group acquired Tribune in 2019, making KDVR part of Nexstar's national collection of local television stations. Today, KDVR's principal business is local television broadcasting. Its brand combines Fox network entertainment and sports programming with Denver-focused news, weather, traffic, investigative reporting, consumer features, and digital video. KFCT extends the KDVR signal and programming to northern Colorado, while the station's website and digital services provide streaming clips, written reports, forecasts, and other local information. KDVR remains an active Fox affiliate and a major local-news outlet in the Denver market.

KDVR's history began with competing applications for Denver's channel 31 allocation submitted to the FCC in 1977. La Unidad Broadcasting Corporation, led by Denver broadcaster George Sandoval, received the construction permit in February 1981. The group initially intended to build a Spanish-language station, but reassessed the plan after the 1980 census indicated a smaller Hispanic population than expected. In late 1981, most of the permit was sold to Centennial Broadcasting Corporation, which changed the proposed service into an English-language independent station with some Spanish-oriented programming and advertising initiatives. Centennial constructed facilities and a transmission site on Lookout Mountain. Construction was delayed by technical and weather problems, but KDVR began broadcasting on August 10, 1983. Its launch made it Denver's first new commercial television station since 1953 and its first full-service UHF station. The station initially relied on syndicated reruns, movies, and other independent-station programming. It faced competition from the established independent KWGN-TV and later used its Fox affiliation to improve its market position. KDVR became a charter Fox affiliate in October 1986. Ownership moved from Centennial and its associated companies to Chase Communications in 1989, then to Renaissance Communications in 1992. During the Renaissance period, authorization was obtained for KFCT in Fort Collins. KFCT began operating in November 1994 as a satellite of KDVR, extending the station's coverage into northern Colorado and parts of southern Wyoming. Renaissance sold KDVR and KFCT to Fox Television Stations in November 1994 in exchange for Fox's Dallas–Fort Worth station, KDAF. Fox wanted a stronger presence in Denver and ultimately developed KDVR as both a Fox affiliate and a local-news outlet. The station's existing Wazee Street facility was considered too small for a substantial newsroom. Fox announced a new News and Technology Center in 1998, began construction that year, and opened the facility in 2000. KDVR's first local newscast debuted on July 16, 2000, as an hour-long 9 p.m. program. The newsroom later expanded into mornings and other time periods, and the station became a significant competitor in Denver news ratings. In 2007, Fox agreed to sell KDVR and seven other stations to Local TV LLC. The transaction closed in 2008. That same year, Local TV entered into a local marketing agreement under which it managed Tribune-owned KWGN-TV. KWGN moved from its Greenwood Village facility into KDVR's Speer Boulevard operation, and the stations combined many production and newsroom functions. Tribune subsequently acquired Local TV in 2013. Tribune's ownership brought further corporate uncertainty. Sinclair Broadcast Group announced an intended acquisition of Tribune Media in 2017, with KDVR identified for possible divestiture and a proposed Fox-related repurchase. Tribune terminated the transaction in 2018 after regulatory objections and the failure to secure approval. Nexstar announced its agreement to acquire Tribune in December 2018, and the transaction closed on September 19, 2019. KDVR and KFCT consequently became Nexstar stations. The KDVR brand continues to center on Fox programming, Denver-area local news, weather and traffic coverage, and associated digital services.

• 2019

  Nexstar ownership begins

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar completed its acquisition of Tribune Media.

• 2013

  Tribune ownership begins

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  Tribune acquired Local TV, including KDVR.

• 2008

  Local TV ownership begins

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  Local TV completed its acquisition of KDVR and later consolidated operations with KWGN-TV.

• 2000

  Local news operation launches

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  KDVR opened its larger Speer Boulevard facility and premiered its first local 9 p.m. newscast.

• 1994

  KFCT launches

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  Satellite station KFCT began broadcasting from Fort Collins, expanding KDVR's reach into northern Colorado.

• 1994

  Fox Television Stations acquires KDVR

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  Fox acquired KDVR and KFCT from Renaissance in a trade involving KDAF.

• 1992

  Renaissance Communications acquisition

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  Renaissance purchased KDVR from Chase Communications.

• 1989

  Chase Communications acquisition

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  Chase acquired KDVR during a period of consolidation among independent and Fox-affiliated stations.

• 1986

  Fox affiliation begins

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  KDVR became a charter affiliate of the Fox network.

• 1983

  KDVR begins broadcasting

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  Channel 31 signed on August 10 as a commercial independent station.

• 1981

  Construction permit transferred to Centennial Broadcasting

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  The original Spanish-language proposal was revised into an English-language independent station project.

• 1977

  Applications filed for Denver channel 31

  [1]KDVRen.wikipedia.org

  Applicants including La Unidad Broadcasting sought authorization to build a new television station on Denver's channel 31 allocation.

A Denver-focused Fox television station combining network programming with locally produced news, weather, traffic, consumer information, and digital content.

• Television news · 2000

  KDVR local news

  KDVR produces Denver-focused newscasts covering local government, crime, education, business, consumer issues, sports, weather, and traffic. The operation began with a prime-time 9 p.m. newscast in 2000 and later expanded into morning and other programming periods. Its output is distributed through broadcast television, the station website, and digital video channels.

• Network-affiliated television service · 1986

  Fox 31 Denver

  Fox 31 Denver is KDVR's consumer-facing station identity. It combines Fox network entertainment, sports, and news programming with locally produced Denver content. The brand is used across the station's broadcasts, website, promotional materials, and digital news products.

• Satellite television station · 1994

  KFCT

  KFCT is KDVR's full-time satellite station on channel 22, licensed to Fort Collins. It retransmits KDVR programming and extends the station's Fox and local-news service across northern Colorado and portions of the surrounding region.

• 2008

  Consolidation with KWGN-TVStrategy

  Background

  Local TV and Tribune sought operating efficiencies by combining resources in markets where their stations had complementary network affiliations.

  Action taken

  Local TV began managing KWGN under a local marketing agreement and moved its operations into KDVR's Speer Boulevard facility.

  Aftermath

  KDVR and KWGN shared newsroom and production resources while continuing to operate as separate station brands.

  Source

• 2000

  Launch of local 9 p.m. newsProduct launch

  Background

  Fox had long considered local news for KDVR, but the station's previous facility lacked adequate newsroom and production space.

  Action taken

  KDVR opened a larger News and Technology Center and premiered an hour-long local 9 p.m. newscast.

  Aftermath

  The news operation later expanded into mornings and became a major competitor in Denver television news.

  Source

• 1994

  Fox acquires KDVR and KFCT through a station tradeM&A

  Background

  Fox sought a stronger Denver presence while rearranging its station portfolio during a broad national affiliation realignment.

  Action taken

  Fox Television Stations acquired KDVR and KFCT from Renaissance Communications in exchange for KDAF in Dallas–Fort Worth.

  Aftermath

  KDVR became a Fox-owned station and received investment intended to support a future local-news department.

  Transaction value. $70 million (1994 transaction)

  Source

• 1986

  Join the Fox networkStrategy

  Background

  As a relatively new independent station competing with established KWGN-TV, KDVR needed programming with stronger audience and advertising appeal.

  Action taken

  KDVR became a charter Fox affiliate when the network launched its national service.

  Aftermath

  Fox programming improved KDVR's competitive position and helped narrow the ratings difference with KWGN.

  Source

• 1981

  Shift from proposed Spanish-language service to English-language independent stationStrategy

  Background

  The original permittee reconsidered its Spanish-language plan after census data and advertiser expectations indicated that the projected market was not yet commercially sufficient.

  Action taken

  Most of the construction permit was transferred to Centennial Broadcasting, which redesigned channel 31 as an English-language independent station with some Hispanic-oriented programming elements.

  Aftermath

  KDVR launched in 1983 and later became a Fox affiliate, while Spanish-language television continued to develop through other services in the Denver market.

  Source

1. 1KDVRen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KDVR official websitekdvr.com