KKFX-CD

KKFX-CD is a low-power Class A television station licensed to San Luis Obispo, California, and affiliated with the Fox television network. The station serves the Central Coast, including the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara media areas, and is commonly associated with the Fox 11 brand. Its signal is transmitted from Cuesta Ridge north of San Luis Obispo, while its principal operational facilities are shared with KCOY-TV at studios on West McCoy Lane and Skyway Drive in Santa Maria. KCOY-TV is a Telemundo and CW affiliate licensed to Santa Maria, while KEYT-TV, an ABC and CBS affiliate based in Santa Barbara, is owned by the same parent company but maintains separate facilities. The station was created to fill a coverage gap for Fox on the southern Central Coast. Before its launch, KTTV from Los Angeles could be received by cable viewers, and KCOY-TV had arranged to carry some Fox programming, particularly National Football League broadcasts, after Fox obtained NFL rights from CBS in 1994. That arrangement did not provide a full-market, over-the-air Fox affiliate for viewers in the region. Attorney William Reyner and the Smith Broadcasting Group, then the owner of Santa Barbara ABC affiliate KEYT-TV, formed the venture that launched KKFX in January 1997. The station debuted on January 20, 1997, in time to broadcast Super Bowl XXXI. It initially used channel 11 over the air and appeared on channel 11 or 24 on cable systems. KKFX has changed ownership several times. In 2000, William Reyner sold the station to the Ackerley Group, which also owned KCOY-TV, in a transaction reported at $15.4 million. Ackerley was acquired by Clear Channel Communications in 2002. Clear Channel subsequently agreed to sell its television holdings to Newport Television, a broadcasting company controlled by Providence Equity Partners; that transaction closed in March 2008. Because Providence Equity Partners also held an interest in Univision, regulatory and ownership considerations required the disposal of certain California stations. The Cowles Company acquired KCOY-TV, KKFX-CA, and KION-TV in a transaction completed in May 2008. Under Cowles, the KCOY-KKFX operation underwent substantial cost reductions in 2012. Sports coverage was discontinued, the weekday morning program was shortened, and evening newscasts began to be produced from Salinas. Thirteen employees were laid off, including chief meteorologist Jim Byrne and sports anchor Kevin Roose. Byrne later sued Cowles over an alleged contract breach, and the dispute was settled outside court. The cutbacks followed Cowles' investment in a high-definition conversion of the Santa Maria newsroom, completed roughly seven months earlier. News-Press & Gazette Company, the owner of KEYT-TV, announced in September 2013 that it would assume portions of KCOY-TV's operations, including news production, through a shared-services arrangement. NPG acquired KKFX-CA directly, and the transaction closed on December 13, 2013. The station began broadcasting over the air in high definition on January 20, 2015, while also supplying high-definition feeds to cable and DirecTV distributors. On the same date, the KKFX-CA operation returned to the Santa Barbara airwaves through low-power KSBB-CD channel 17. KKFX's current identity combines national Fox programming with locally oriented news for the Central Coast. Its listed local programming includes the weekday Fox 11 News in the Morning, airing from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., and an hour-long evening newscast. The station remains part of NPG's Central Coast television cluster alongside KEYT-TV and KCOY-TV, with facilities and technical operations coordinated across the group.

KKFX-CD emerged from a programming and coverage gap on California's Central Coast. Fox had gained the rights to National Football League broadcasts from CBS in 1994, but the southern Central Coast did not have a dedicated local Fox affiliate. Viewers could receive Los Angeles station KTTV through cable, and Santa Maria CBS affiliate KCOY-TV had reached a secondary arrangement to show some Fox football programming. That solution did not provide a complete over-the-air Fox service for the region. Attorney William Reyner and the Smith Broadcasting Group, which owned Santa Barbara ABC affiliate KEYT-TV, joined to create a regional Fox outlet. The resulting station, initially identified as KKFX and broadcast on channel 11, went on the air on January 20, 1997. It launched in time to carry Super Bowl XXXI. Although its over-the-air identity was channel 11, cable systems used channel 11 or 24 depending on the provider. The station was licensed to San Luis Obispo, with transmission facilities on Cuesta Ridge north of the city. In 2000, Reyner sold KKFX to the Ackerley Group, owner of KCOY-TV. The reported purchase price was $15.4 million. Ackerley was acquired by Clear Channel Communications in 2002, bringing KKFX into Clear Channel's television portfolio. Clear Channel later arranged the sale of its television stations to Newport Television, a holding company controlled by Providence Equity Partners. The Newport transaction closed on March 14, 2008. Ownership constraints connected to Providence's interest in Univision required the subsequent divestiture of several California stations. The Cowles Company acquired KCOY-TV, KKFX-CA, and Monterey station KION-TV; the sale closed on May 7, 2008. Cowles pursued operational efficiencies across its California television stations. In January 2012, it announced cuts that particularly affected the KCOY-KKFX operation. Sports programming was dropped, the morning newscast was reduced to one hour, and evening news production shifted to Salinas. Thirteen employees lost their jobs, among them chief meteorologist Jim Byrne and sports anchor Kevin Roose. Some local reporting capacity remained, including Santa Maria-based reporters Arturo Santiago and Dave Alley. The reductions were followed by a contract lawsuit from Byrne, which ended in an out-of-court settlement. The measures occurred shortly after Cowles had invested in upgrading the Santa Maria newsroom to high definition. News-Press & Gazette Company, already the owner of KEYT-TV, announced in September 2013 that it would take over portions of KCOY-TV's operations under a shared-services agreement. NPG acquired KKFX-CA directly, and the deal was completed on December 13, 2013. This placed KKFX within an operating group that also included KEYT-TV and KCOY-TV. KKFX and KCOY share studios in Santa Maria, while KEYT retains separate facilities in Santa Barbara. The station reached an important technical milestone on January 20, 2015, when it began over-the-air high-definition broadcasting and provided high-definition feeds to cable and DirecTV outlets. On that date, the KKFX-CA operation also returned to the Santa Barbara airwaves using low-power KSBB-CD channel 17. KKFX continues to serve as a Fox outlet for the Central Coast, combining national network programming with local morning and evening news coverage.

• 2015

  High-definition transmission begins

  [1]KKFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KKFX moved its over-the-air service and distributor feeds to high definition.

• 2013

  NPG acquisition and shared-services transition

  [1]KKFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  News-Press & Gazette Company acquired KKFX directly and took over selected KCOY operations under a shared-services structure.

• 2012

  News and staffing structure is reduced

  [1]KKFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Cowles cut sports coverage, shortened the morning show, shifted evening production, and eliminated 13 positions.

• 2008

  Cowles acquisition closes

  [1]KKFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The Cowles Company completed its acquisition of KCOY-TV, KKFX-CA, and KION-TV on May 7.

• 2002

  Clear Channel becomes owner through Ackerley acquisition

  [1]KKFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Clear Channel Communications acquired Ackerley and added its television assets to the Clear Channel portfolio.

• 2000

  Ackerley Group acquisition

  [1]KKFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  William Reyner sold KKFX to Ackerley Group, which also owned KCOY-TV.

• 1997

  KKFX begins broadcasting

  [1]KKFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station launched on January 20 as a Fox affiliate serving the Central Coast and carried Super Bowl XXXI soon afterward.

A regional Fox affiliate focused on over-the-air network programming and local news coverage for California's Central Coast.

• Television programming · 1997

  Fox network programming

  KKFX carries programming supplied by the Fox network, including entertainment, news-related programming, and sports telecasts. The station's original launch was closely connected to Fox's acquisition of NFL broadcast rights, which helped establish the need for a dedicated Central Coast affiliate.

• Local news

  Fox 11 News in the Morning

  The station's weekday morning newscast is listed as airing from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. It provides local news and weather coverage for viewers in the Central Coast market.

• Local news

  KKFX evening newscast

  KKFX carries an hour-long nightly local newscast. News production has been associated with the station's operational relationship with KCOY-TV and News-Press & Gazette Company.

• 2015

  Convert KKFX distribution to high definitionGeneration change

  Background

  The station had upgraded its Santa Maria newsroom and was positioned to distribute its service in a newer television format.

  Action taken

  KKFX began over-the-air high-definition broadcasting and supplied high-definition feeds to cable and DirecTV.

  Aftermath

  The station's network and local programming became available to major viewers and distributors in high definition.

  Source

• 2013

  Transfer KKFX ownership to News-Press & Gazette CompanyM&A

  Background

  NPG already owned KEYT-TV and sought a broader operational role in the Central Coast television market.

  Action taken

  NPG acquired KKFX directly and entered a shared-services arrangement covering parts of KCOY-TV's operation.

  Aftermath

  KKFX became part of NPG's Central Coast station group alongside KEYT-TV and KCOY-TV.

  Source

• 2012

  Reduce local news and sports costsStrategy

  Background

  Cowles introduced cost reductions across its California stations, with the KCOY-KKFX operation receiving substantial cuts.

  Action taken

  Sports coverage was eliminated, the morning show was shortened, evening news production moved to Salinas, and 13 employees were laid off.

  Aftermath

  The staffing changes triggered a contract lawsuit by former chief meteorologist Jim Byrne, which was settled out of court.

  Source

• 1997

  Launch a dedicated Central Coast Fox affiliateProduct launch

  Background

  The region lacked a full local Fox affiliate, while Fox's acquisition of NFL rights increased the importance of local distribution.

  Action taken

  William Reyner and Smith Broadcasting Group launched KKFX on January 20, 1997.

  Aftermath

  The station became the Fox outlet for the Central Coast and carried Super Bowl XXXI shortly after going on air.

  Source

1. 1KKFX-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KKFX-CD official websitemyfox11.com