KJBO-LD

KJBO-LD is a low-power digital television station serving viewers in and around Wichita Falls, Texas, and Lawton, Oklahoma. The station broadcasts on channel 35 and is operated within Nexstar Media Group’s Wichita Falls station cluster, alongside NBC/CW+ affiliate KFDX-TV and Fox affiliate KJTL. Its programming identity is primarily that of an independent station, while it also carries MyNetworkTV programming as a secondary affiliation. The station began broadcasting on July 1, 1988, under the call sign K35BO. It initially operated as an independent outlet known as Sports 35, carrying sports programming that included games involving the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. The station also carried programming from Prime Sports and shared sports inventory with sister station KJTL. By 1992, it was using the Fox Sports Net name in a local context, predating the later national expansion of that brand. Ownership and operating arrangements changed several times during the station’s history. In 1995, Epic Broadcasting announced the sale of KJTL and K35BO to Wicks Broadcast Group, a broadcasting operation associated with The Wicks Group. The transaction was completed later that year. In 1996, changes involving Fox’s acquisition of the parent of Prime Sports led to a major programming shift. K35BO became a general-entertainment UPN affiliate on March 3, 1996, and subsequently adopted the KJBO-LP call sign. The station was branded as UPN 35 during this period. Wicks began selling its television holdings in 1998. Mission Broadcasting acquired the Wichita Falls operation, while Nexstar Broadcasting Group, a related company, had acquired KFDX-TV. Beginning June 1, 1999, Nexstar assumed operational responsibility for KJTL and KJBO through joint sales and shared-services arrangements with Mission Broadcasting. KFDX provided or coordinated services including news production, engineering, security, and advertising sales. The stations also moved their operations into KFDX’s facility near Seymour Highway and Turtle Creek Road. KJBO’s network identity changed again during the 2006 dissolution of UPN and The WB. After Nexstar and Mission announced that KJBO-LP would become the Wichita Falls–Lawton market’s MyNetworkTV affiliate, the station continued carrying UPN until September 4, 2006. It joined MyNetworkTV when that network launched on September 5 and adopted the MyTV KJBO branding. The market’s CW affiliation instead went to KAUZ-TV, leaving KJBO with its MyNetworkTV role and broader independent-style programming. Because KJBO-LD operates at low power, its over-the-air signal does not cover the entire Wichita Falls–Lawton market. To extend availability into Lawton and other parts of southwestern Oklahoma and northwest Texas, the station is simulcast on KFDX-TV’s second digital subchannel, 3.2. The simulcast historically used standard-definition presentation, including letterboxed 4:3 programming, but was upgraded to 1080i high definition around 2020. On March 26, 2021, the station completed a flash cut to digital broadcasting and adopted the KJBO-LD designation. Nexstar later exercised an option to purchase the station from Mission Broadcasting; the acquisition was completed on October 1, 2021. Today, KJBO-LD functions as part of Nexstar’s local broadcast portfolio in the Wichita Falls area. Its role combines a low-power channel 35 signal, expanded market reach through the KFDX subchannel simulcast, MyNetworkTV programming, and independently scheduled syndicated or locally selected entertainment content. The station shares facilities and operational resources with related outlets while retaining its own call sign and programming brand.

KJBO-LD began broadcasting on July 1, 1988, as K35BO, a low-power independent station in Wichita Falls, Texas. Its original identity was Sports 35, and its schedule emphasized sports programming, including Houston Astros and Texas Rangers games. It also carried material from Prime Sports and shared sports-related programming with sister station KJTL. By 1992, the station was using the Fox Sports Net name in a local programming context. In May 1995, Epic Broadcasting announced the sale of KJTL and K35BO to Wicks Broadcast Group. The transaction, which also included stations in Amarillo, closed on August 31, 1995. The station’s first major programming transformation followed on March 3, 1996, when it shifted from a sports-oriented format to general entertainment and became a UPN affiliate. This change followed Fox’s acquisition of Prime Sports’ parent company and the resulting withdrawal of approval for the station to continue carrying Prime Sports programming over the air. The station later changed its call sign to KJBO-LP and operated under the UPN 35 brand. Wicks began looking for buyers for its television holdings in 1998, citing the difficulty of competing in an increasingly consolidated broadcasting environment. Mission Broadcasting acquired the Wichita Falls operation. At the same time, Nexstar Broadcasting Group had acquired KFDX-TV, the local NBC affiliate. On June 1, 1999, Nexstar assumed operational control of KJTL and KJBO under joint sales and shared-services agreements with Mission Broadcasting. KFDX handled functions such as news production, engineering, security, and advertising sales. KJTL and KJBO also moved from their former Call Field Road facility to KFDX’s studios near Seymour Highway and Turtle Creek Road. The station underwent another network transition in 2006. UPN and The WB were being replaced by The CW, while News Corporation created MyNetworkTV as an alternative for stations that would not receive CW affiliations. On March 30, 2006, KJBO-LP was announced as MyNetworkTV’s affiliate for the Wichita Falls–Lawton market. It remained with UPN through September 4, 2006, then joined MyNetworkTV at the network’s September 5 launch and adopted the MyTV KJBO brand. The local CW affiliation went to KAUZ-TV through the CW Plus service. KJBO’s low-power authorization limits its terrestrial coverage. To reach portions of the Wichita Falls–Lawton market that cannot reliably receive channel 35, the station is carried as a simulcast on KFDX-TV’s digital subchannel 3.2. The simulcast originally used 480i standard definition, with much programming presented in a letterboxed 4:3 format. Around 2020, the presentation was upgraded to 1080i high definition. On March 26, 2021, KJBO-LP completed a digital flash cut and became KJBO-LD. Later that year, Nexstar exercised an option to purchase the station from Mission Broadcasting. The acquisition closed on October 1, 2021, making KJBO-LD directly owned by Nexstar. The station continues to operate from the Wichita Falls broadcast facility shared with KFDX-TV and KJTL, with its transmitter located southwest of Wichita Falls near Arrowhead Drive and Onaway Trail.

• 2021

  Digital flash cut and ownership change

  [1]KJBO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station becomes KJBO-LD after a digital flash cut, and Nexstar completes its acquisition from Mission Broadcasting on October 1.

• 2020

  Simulcast upgraded to high definition

  [1]KJBO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The KFDX-TV digital subchannel simulcast is upgraded from standard-definition presentation to 1080i high definition.

• 2006

  MyNetworkTV affiliation begins

  [1]KJBO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KJBO-LP leaves UPN and becomes the Wichita Falls–Lawton market’s MyNetworkTV affiliate on September 5.

• 1999

  Nexstar begins operating the station

  [1]KJBO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar assumes operational responsibility under joint sales and shared-services agreements with Mission Broadcasting.

• 1996

  Conversion to UPN affiliate

  [1]KJBO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  K35BO becomes a general-entertainment UPN affiliate and later adopts the KJBO-LP call sign.

• 1995

  Wicks Broadcast Group acquisition

  [1]KJBO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Wicks Broadcast Group completes its acquisition of K35BO and sister station KJTL from Epic Broadcasting.

• 1992

  Sports-oriented programming expands

  [1]KJBO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station uses the Fox Sports Net name locally and carries Prime Sports-related programming.

• 1988

  Station launches as K35BO

  [1]KJBO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  K35BO signs on July 1 as a low-power independent station branded Sports 35.

A local low-power entertainment television station that supplements the Wichita Falls–Lawton market’s major network outlets through independent-style programming, MyNetworkTV content, and expanded distribution via KFDX-TV’s digital subchannel.

• Low-power television station · 1988

  KJBO-LD channel 35

  The station’s primary digital broadcast service from Wichita Falls, Texas. Its low-power signal serves part of the Wichita Falls area but does not reach the entire Wichita Falls–Lawton market.

• Digital television distribution

  KFDX-DT2 simulcast

  A simulcast of KJBO-LD carried on KFDX-TV’s second digital subchannel, channel 3.2. The arrangement extends KJBO’s availability into Lawton and other areas of southwestern Oklahoma and northwest Texas beyond the station’s low-power terrestrial footprint.

• Network affiliation · 2006

  MyNetworkTV programming

  KJBO-LD carries MyNetworkTV programming as a secondary affiliation within an otherwise primarily independent programming schedule. The affiliation began when the network launched in September 2006.

• 2021

  Nexstar acquires KJBO-LD from Mission BroadcastingM&A

  Background

  Nexstar had operated the station for years under joint sales and shared-services arrangements with Mission Broadcasting.

  Action taken

  Nexstar exercised its option to acquire the station outright, completing the transaction on October 1, 2021.

  Aftermath

  KJBO-LD became directly owned by Nexstar and remained part of the company’s Wichita Falls station group.

  Source

• 2006

  Adoption of MyNetworkTV affiliationStrategy

  Background

  The planned dissolution of UPN and The WB created a new affiliation environment, with The CW selecting other outlets in the Wichita Falls–Lawton market.

  Action taken

  KJBO-LP was selected as the market’s MyNetworkTV affiliate and began carrying the network on September 5, 2006.

  Aftermath

  The station adopted the MyTV KJBO branding while retaining an independent-style local programming role.

  Source

• 1996

  Shift from sports programming to UPN entertainmentStrategy

  Background

  Fox’s acquisition of the parent of Prime Sports disrupted the station’s ability to continue its previous over-the-air sports arrangement.

  Action taken

  The station converted from Sports 35 to a general-entertainment UPN affiliate and later used the KJBO-LP call sign.

  Aftermath

  KJBO operated as UPN 35 until the network was replaced by MyNetworkTV in 2006.

  Source

1. 1KJBO-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Texoma’s Homepagetexomashomepage.com