KJTL

KJTL is a full-power commercial television station licensed to Wichita Falls, Texas, and serving the Wichita Falls–Lawton market across western North Texas and southwestern Oklahoma. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 18 and operates as an affiliate of the Fox network. Its business identity is primarily local and regional rather than national: KJTL combines Fox network programming with syndicated entertainment, local advertising, sports programming, multicast services, and locally produced news supplied through its operating relationship with KFDX-TV. The station originated from a contested allocation for UHF channel 18. First City Media filed an application for the frequency in March 1982, while Thornberry TV Ltd. submitted a competing application the following month. The Federal Communications Commission awarded the construction permit to Thornberry in November 1983, and the planned station received the KJTL callsign in 1984. KJTL began broadcasting on May 14, 1985, becoming the Wichita Falls–Lawton market's first commercial UHF station. Its original schedule followed the conventional independent-station model, combining first-run and off-network series, films, cartoons, dramas, and older western programs. KJTL became a charter Fox affiliate when Fox launched on October 9, 1986. During Fox's early years, the network offered only a limited schedule, so KJTL continued to function much like an independent station, filling non-network periods with movies and syndicated programs. The station changed hands several times during the late 1980s and 1990s. Wichita Falls Television transferred it to BSP Broadcasting in 1989; BSP later became Epic Broadcasting Corporation. Epic acquired low-power station K35BO, now KJBO-LD, creating a local station relationship that remains relevant to KJTL's operations. Wicks Broadcast Group acquired KJTL and K35BO in 1995. Mission Broadcasting purchased the stations in 1999, and Nexstar Broadcasting Group, now Nexstar Media Group, assumed operational responsibility under joint sales and shared services agreements. Through this arrangement, KFDX-TV supplies services including news production, engineering, security, and advertising sales. The stations moved from KJTL's former Call Field Road facilities into the KFDX studio complex on Seymour Highway and Turtle Creek Road in Wichita Falls. Mission remains the station's owner, while Nexstar operates it as part of a broader shared-services structure. KJTL has used branding designed to emphasize its regional reach. In 2002 it adopted "Fox Texoma," and in 2011 the branding was revised to "Texoma's Fox." The station also carries Dallas Cowboys programming for the Wichita Falls–Lawton market, including selected team-related shows and Fox-distributed Cowboys games. Its local news identity is supplied by KFDX. An initial KFDX-produced 9 p.m. newscast launched in 1999 but ended in 2001 after weak ratings. KFDX revived the service in 2007, and the weekday program later became known as "Texoma's Fox News at 9:00." A weekday morning newscast was added in 2014, and the local broadcasts were included in KFDX's high-definition transition in 2012. KJTL expanded its digital offering in 2016 by adding Grit, Bounce TV, and Escape multicast services. It also operates digital translators serving parts of southwestern Oklahoma and western North Texas. The station completed its transition from analog broadcasting in February 2009, retaining virtual channel 18 while transmitting digitally on its assigned post-transition channel. Today, KJTL remains an active regional Fox affiliate whose value rests on network programming, local market coverage, sports rights, news supplied by its sister station, and its position within Mission Broadcasting's operating partnership with Nexstar.

KJTL's history began with a Federal Communications Commission contest over the UHF channel 18 allocation in the Wichita Falls–Lawton market. First City Media submitted an application in March 1982, followed by a competing application from Thornberry TV Ltd. in April. The FCC selected Thornberry in November 1983. The KJTL callsign was assigned in 1984, reportedly reflecting the initials of minority owner Janet T. Lee. KJTL signed on May 14, 1985, from studios on Call Field Road in Wichita Falls. Its transmitter was built near Grandfield, Oklahoma, allowing the signal to reach viewers in both southwestern Oklahoma and western North Texas. As an independent station, it relied on syndicated sitcoms and dramas, films, cartoons, and classic westerns. When Fox launched in October 1986, KJTL became one of its original affiliates. Because Fox initially offered little prime-time programming, the station retained an independent-style schedule for several years, using movies and syndicated content during periods when Fox was off the air. Ownership changed in 1986 when Thornberry transferred the station to Wichita Falls Television. In 1989, Wichita Falls Television announced a sale to BSP Broadcasting, principally associated with local businessman Lanham Lyne. BSP was later renamed Epic Broadcasting Corporation. Epic expanded its local portfolio by acquiring the low-power station K35BO in 1993. In 1995, Epic sold KJTL and K35BO, together with stations in Amarillo, to Wicks Broadcast Group. Mission Broadcasting acquired KJTL and KJBO in January 1999. Beginning in June of that year, Nexstar assumed operational responsibilities under joint sales and shared-services agreements. KFDX-TV, Nexstar's NBC affiliate in the market, provided advertising sales, news production, engineering, security, and other operational services. KJTL and KJBO moved into KFDX's Seymour Highway and Turtle Creek Road facility, establishing the station structure that continues to define KJTL's operations. The station developed a stronger regional identity through the names "Fox Texoma" and later "Texoma's Fox." KJTL has also been a Dallas Cowboys television partner in the market since 1994. Local news production has been handled by KFDX. The first KFDX-produced KJTL newscast premiered in 1999 and was cancelled at the end of 2001. A replacement prime-time newscast debuted in 2007, followed by a weekday morning newscast in 2014. KJTL's news output benefited from KFDX's conversion to high-definition local broadcasting in 2012. The station's digital development included the addition of three multicast networks in September 2016: Grit on virtual channel 18.2, Bounce TV on 18.3, and Escape on 18.4. KJTL ended analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, while retaining virtual channel 18 on its digital service. Translators in Hollis and Altus, Oklahoma, and Quanah, Texas, extend coverage to portions of the surrounding region.

• 2016

  Launches three digital multicast services

  [1]KJTLen.wikipedia.org

  KJTL added Grit, Bounce TV, and Escape to its digital subchannels.

• 2011

  Adopts Texoma's Fox branding

  [1]KJTLen.wikipedia.org

  The station revised its branding from Fox Texoma to Texoma's Fox.

• 2009

  Completes analog shutdown

  [1]KJTLen.wikipedia.org

  KJTL ended analog transmission and continued with a digital signal using virtual channel 18.

• 2002

  Adopts Fox Texoma branding

  [1]KJTLen.wikipedia.org

  The station changed its on-air identity to Fox Texoma.

• 1999

  Mission acquisition and Nexstar operating agreement

  [1]KJTLen.wikipedia.org

  Mission Broadcasting bought KJTL, and Nexstar began operating it under joint sales and shared-services agreements.

• 1994

  Begins Dallas Cowboys market partnership

  [1]KJTLen.wikipedia.org

  KJTL became a television partner for Dallas Cowboys programming in the Wichita Falls–Lawton market.

• 1986

  Becomes a charter Fox affiliate

  [1]KJTLen.wikipedia.org

  KJTL joined Fox when the network launched on October 9.

• 1985

  Station signs on

  [1]KJTLen.wikipedia.org

  KJTL began broadcasting on May 14 as the market's first commercial UHF station.

• 1983

  FCC awards construction permit

  [1]KJTLen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC selected Thornberry TV Ltd. for the channel 18 construction permit.

• 1982

  First channel 18 application filed

  [1]KJTLen.wikipedia.org

  First City Media filed an application for the Wichita Falls–Lawton channel 18 allocation.

A regional Fox television station positioned as the broadcast outlet for western Texoma, combining national network entertainment and sports with locally relevant news, weather, advertising, and community coverage.

• Broadcast television programming · 1986

  Fox network service

  KJTL's principal programming service is its Fox affiliation, carrying the network's entertainment, news, sports, and special-event schedule for the Wichita Falls–Lawton market. During Fox's early years, the limited network schedule left substantial airtime for syndicated programs and films; as Fox expanded to a full weekly prime-time schedule, KJTL's network role became more central to its identity.

• Local news · 2007

  Texoma's Fox News at 9:00

  This weekday prime-time newscast is produced by KFDX-TV under the stations' shared-services relationship. It originated in 2007 after an earlier KFDX-produced KJTL newscast had ended in 2001. The program delivers local news, weather, and sports coverage to KJTL viewers and uses facilities shared by KFDX, KJTL, and KJBO.

• Local news · 2014

  Texoma's Fox: Morning Edition

  KJTL's weekday morning newscast launched in 2014 and is produced using the same news operation and anchoring team associated with KFDX's morning broadcast. The program is scheduled at 8 a.m., providing a later local-news option for viewers who watch KJTL's Fox programming.

• Sports broadcasting · 1994

  Dallas Cowboys programming

  KJTL has served as the Dallas Cowboys' local television partner since 1994. Its Cowboys-related offering includes selected team programs, coach and postgame shows, season reviews, and games distributed through Fox's NFL rights. Some preseason broadcasts not carried by Fox or another network have been shown through the related KJBO service.

• Multicast television · 2016

  Digital multicast services

  In 2016 KJTL added three digital multicast services: Grit on virtual channel 18.2, Bounce TV on 18.3, and Escape on 18.4. These channels expanded the station's over-the-air programming inventory beyond its main Fox service and provided additional entertainment formats to viewers across the market.

• 2016

  Add three digital multicast networksProduct launch

  Background

  Nexstar arranged a broad affiliation agreement involving Katz Broadcasting networks and stations owned or operated by the group.

  Action taken

  KJTL launched Grit, Bounce TV, and Escape on digital subchannels 18.2, 18.3, and 18.4.

  Aftermath

  The station broadened its free over-the-air programming offer beyond its main Fox service.

  Source

• 2002

  Regionalize the station brandStrategy

  Background

  Many viewers received KJTL through cable systems on channel 11 rather than over the air on channel 18.

  Action taken

  KJTL adopted the Fox Texoma identity to emphasize its regional service area instead of its channel number.

  Aftermath

  The regional branding was later refreshed as Texoma's Fox in 2011.

  Source

• 1999

  Mission Broadcasting acquisition and Nexstar operating partnershipM&A

  Background

  Mission Broadcasting acquired KJTL and KJBO in a market where shared operations offered a way to support stations without forming a directly owned legal duopoly.

  Action taken

  Mission purchased the stations, while Nexstar began providing operational services through joint sales and shared-services agreements with KFDX-TV.

  Aftermath

  KJTL's sales, news, engineering, and other functions became integrated with KFDX's operations, and the stations relocated to a shared Wichita Falls facility.

  Source

• 1986

  Join Fox while retaining an independent-style scheduleStrategy

  Background

  Fox launched with a limited programming schedule and initially supplied little prime-time content.

  Action taken

  KJTL became a charter Fox affiliate but continued using films and syndicated programming to fill periods without Fox programming.

  Aftermath

  The station gradually shifted toward a fuller network-affiliate schedule as Fox expanded its prime-time lineup.

  Source

1. 1KJTLen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Texoma's Homepagetexomashomepage.com