KFDR

KFDR is a religious television station licensed to Jefferson City, Missouri, and serving the Columbia–Jefferson City television market. The station broadcasts from a transmitter near New Bloomfield and is owned by the Christian Television Network (CTN). Before adopting the KFDR call sign, the station operated as KNLJ for more than three decades. The station began broadcasting in 1986 under the ownership of the New Life Evangelistic Center, a ministry associated with Reverend Larry Rice. It initially operated as a sister station and simulcast outlet for KNLC in St. Louis. The first broadcast agreement was signed on Easter Sunday in 1986, with programming beginning at 3 p.m. Later that year, KNLJ separated from the KNLC simulcast while continuing to carry a substantial amount of Christian programming. Its schedule included nationally syndicated religious programs and locally produced ministry content. During its early years, KNLJ also carried a mixture of secular entertainment and general-interest programming. The schedule included syndicated cartoons, classic sitcoms, westerns, and outdoor sports programs, with these programs occupying a significant portion of the broadcast day. In 1990, the station added the Fox Kids programming block and also carried The Disney Afternoon. After a separate Fox affiliate was established in the Mid-Missouri market, the Fox Kids programming moved to that station. As the 1990s progressed, KNLJ reduced its reliance on secular syndicated programming, partly because of changing economics in the television syndication market. A major ownership and programming transition occurred in mid-2007, when the station was sold to the Christian Television Network. The New Life Evangelistic Center retained ownership of KNLC in St. Louis, while the Jefferson City station became part of CTN's religious television network. Following the sale, KNLJ discontinued its mix of secular and religious programming and moved to a full-time simulcast of CTN content. The station's role consequently shifted from a locally differentiated Christian station with general-entertainment blocks to a network-affiliated religious outlet. The station completed the United States digital television transition in 2009. Its analog transmission on UHF channel 25 ended on June 12, 2009, the federally mandated transition date for full-power television stations. The digital signal continued to use UHF channel 20 for transmission while retaining virtual channel 25 for viewers. On March 13, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission approved the station's call-sign change from KNLJ to KFDR. The change marked the end of the KNLJ identity, although the station continued operating as a CTN religious television outlet. KFDR's principal service remains Christian television programming for viewers in and around the Columbia–Jefferson City market.

KFDR traces its history to KNLJ, a Christian television station launched in 1986 in the Jefferson City, Missouri, area. The station was established by the New Life Evangelistic Center, a ministry associated with Reverend Larry Rice. Its first broadcast arrangement linked it with KNLC in St. Louis, another New Life Evangelistic Center station. KNLJ initially served as a sister station and simulcast outlet, beginning service on Easter Sunday in 1986 at 3 p.m. In September 1986, KNLJ separated from the KNLC simulcast. Although it continued to carry many Christian programs, including nationally syndicated religious shows and locally produced ministry content, the station also adopted a broader schedule. Its secular offerings included syndicated cartoons, classic sitcoms, westerns, and outdoor sports programming. In 1990, KNLJ carried the Fox Kids block and The Disney Afternoon. These children's programming arrangements ended after a separate Fox affiliate began serving the Mid-Missouri market. Through the 1990s, KNLJ's use of secular syndicated programming changed as the cost and availability of such material shifted. The station retained its Christian identity while operating a mixed schedule that combined religious, entertainment, and general-interest programs. Religious organizations also used both KNLJ and CTN outlets to purchase or place programming time. In mid-2007, ownership of KNLJ transferred to the Christian Television Network. The New Life Evangelistic Center retained KNLC in St. Louis, but KNLJ became a CTN-owned outlet. The new ownership brought a substantial programming change: the station dropped both its secular offerings and its previous independent Christian schedule in favor of a full-time CTN simulcast. This made KNLJ more closely aligned with CTN's network-wide religious television model. The station's technical operation changed during the United States digital television transition. KNLJ terminated its analog service on UHF channel 25 on June 12, 2009, the federally designated transition date for full-power stations. Its digital transmission operated on pre-transition UHF channel 20 while continuing to identify to viewers through virtual channel 25. On March 13, 2023, the station changed its call sign from KNLJ to KFDR after receiving Federal Communications Commission approval. The new call sign did not change the station's CTN ownership or its core role as a Christian religious broadcaster. KFDR continues to serve the Columbia–Jefferson City market from a transmitter near New Bloomfield, Missouri.

• 2023

  Call sign changes to KFDR

  [1]KFDRen.wikipedia.org

  The station changes its call sign from KNLJ to KFDR following FCC approval.

• 2009

  Analog broadcasting ends

  [1]KFDRen.wikipedia.org

  The station shuts down its analog UHF channel 25 service and continues digitally on UHF channel 20 while retaining virtual channel 25.

• 2007

  Station is sold to Christian Television Network

  [1]KFDRen.wikipedia.org

  CTN acquires the station, which subsequently drops secular programming and moves to a full-time CTN simulcast.

• 1990

  Children's programming expands

  [1]KFDRen.wikipedia.org

  KNLJ adds Fox Kids and The Disney Afternoon to its schedule.

• 1986

  Station launches as KNLJ

  [1]KFDRen.wikipedia.org

  KNLJ begins broadcasting on Easter Sunday as a sister station and simulcast outlet for KNLC, under the ownership of the New Life Evangelistic Center.

• 1986

  KNLJ separates from the KNLC simulcast

  [1]KFDRen.wikipedia.org

  The station begins operating independently from KNLC while retaining substantial Christian programming and adding secular syndicated entertainment.

A local-market Christian television station and CTN outlet providing full-time religious programming through digital over-the-air broadcasting.

• Religious television · 2007

  CTN religious television programming

  KFDR's principal service is a full-time schedule of Christian Television Network programming. Following CTN's acquisition of the station in 2007, the prior mix of secular syndicated entertainment and Christian content was replaced by a network-oriented religious schedule.

• Broadcast transmission · 2009

  KFDR over-the-air digital television service

  KFDR provides digital terrestrial television to the Columbia–Jefferson City market. The station transmits digitally on UHF channel 20 and uses virtual channel 25 for viewer-facing identification. Its transmitter is located near New Bloomfield, Missouri.

• 2023

  Call-sign change to KFDROther

  Background

  The station had operated under the KNLJ call sign since its 1986 launch.

  Action taken

  The station changed its call sign to KFDR on March 13, 2023, with FCC approval.

  Aftermath

  The station continued as a CTN-owned religious television outlet serving the Columbia–Jefferson City market.

  Source

• 2009

  Transition from analog to digital broadcastingOther

  Background

  United States full-power television stations were required to transition from analog to digital transmission.

  Action taken

  KNLJ ended its analog UHF channel 25 signal and continued digital transmission on UHF channel 20.

  Aftermath

  The station retained virtual channel 25 for viewers while operating as a digital broadcaster.

  Source

• 2007

  Transfer to Christian Television NetworkM&A

  Background

  The New Life Evangelistic Center sold the Jefferson City-area station while retaining its St. Louis station, KNLC.

  Action taken

  Christian Television Network acquired KNLJ and integrated it into its network.

  Aftermath

  The station discontinued secular and independently scheduled Christian programs and began simulcasting CTN programming full time.

  Source

1. 1KFDRen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KFDR official websiteknlj.tv