An ABC-affiliated television station serving St. Joseph, Missouri, and surrounding areas.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KQTV is a local television station serving St. Joseph, Missouri, and nearby parts of northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 2 and is affiliated with the American Broadcasting Company. Its studios and transmitter are located on Faraon Street in eastern St. Joseph, making the station one of the market's principal local media institutions. The station began broadcasting on September 27, 1953, as KFEQ-TV, a sister operation to St. Joseph radio station KFEQ. It initially carried CBS and DuMont programming. DuMont programming disappeared after that network ceased operations in 1955, while the station continued as a major local broadcaster. KFEQ-TV was founded by newspaper publisher Barton Pitts, whose publishing interests included the St. Joseph Gazette and St. Joseph News-Press. Pitts sold the station and its radio sister in 1955, beginning a long succession of ownership changes. The station changed its network affiliation from CBS to ABC in 1967. When its radio and television properties were separated under different ownership, the television station adopted the call sign KQTV on February 1, 1969. The new name preserved the informal “Q” identity that had been associated with KFEQ-TV. During its early decades, KQTV combined network entertainment with locally produced programs, news, a teen dance show, women’s programming, and studio wrestling. It also explored expanding its coverage into Topeka, Kansas, but federal regulators rejected proposals for a semi-satellite and later rejected plans for a taller transmission tower because of concerns about signal overlap and the loss of service to some rural viewers. Ownership moved from Midland Broadcasting to the Fine family, Mid-States Broadcasting, ISC Industries, Amaturo Group, Elba Development, TCS Television Partners, and finally Nexstar Broadcasting Group before Heartland Media acquired the station in 2017. KQTV remained the only major network affiliate based in St. Joseph for much of its history and historically held a dominant position in local television news and advertising. Its competitive environment changed after the News-Press & Gazette Company launched local Fox, NBC, and CBS outlets beginning in 2012, creating a multi-station network-affiliate market. KQTV's principal public-facing service is local television news. As of 2024, it produced more than 18 hours of local newscasts each week, including weekday, weekend, and seasonal high-school football programming. The station has also carried digital broadcasting since June 12, 2009, although its low-power VHF digital signal produced reception problems in some rural parts of the coverage area. A proposed 2019 sale to the News-Press & Gazette Company was not completed after federal approval was not obtained and the agreement expired. In 2025, KQTV and News-Press & Gazette announced a shared-services arrangement intended to combine newsroom resources under KQTV's name and brand. The arrangement was planned to begin with the combined newsroom at KQTV's studios and later move to News-Press & Gazette's Edmond Street headquarters. KQTV therefore remains an active local broadcast brand, with ABC programming, local news, and community coverage at the center of its role.
History
KQTV traces its history to KFEQ radio's application for a St. Joseph television station. The original 1948 application proposed channel 13, but channel allocations changed during the federal freeze on new television construction, and St. Joseph ultimately received channel 2. After the freeze was lifted, the application was amended and a construction permit was issued on October 15, 1952. Studios were built at 40th and Faraon streets, alongside a 750-foot transmission tower. Structural delays postponed the launch, but KFEQ-TV eventually went on air on September 27, 1953. The station began as a CBS and DuMont affiliate. Its founder, newspaper publisher Barton Pitts, sold the KFEQ properties to Midland Broadcasting in 1955. Midland's investors included actor Bing Crosby and broadcaster John Fetzer. The station was sold again in 1957 to the Fine family, and in 1963 the properties moved to Mid-States Broadcasting, led by John P. McGoff. During this period the station developed a range of local programming. Examples included the teen dance program “Let's Dance,” women's programming hosted by Marge Miner, and televised wrestling from the station's studio. The wrestling broadcasts continued into the 1970s. KFEQ-TV changed from CBS to ABC in 1967. Its television and radio operations were subsequently separated. ISC Industries acquired the television station and, because the radio operation retained the KFEQ call sign, channel 2 became KQTV on February 1, 1969. The new call sign drew on the station's established informal identity as “The Q.” ISC also promised improvements that would support local color broadcasting. ISC left broadcasting after only a few years, selling KQTV to Amaturo Group in a transaction completed in 1973. Amaturo sought to extend KQTV's reach into Topeka. In 1976 it applied to build a channel 43 semi-satellite that would carry KQTV's schedule while producing separate Topeka news. The FCC rejected the application in 1978 because of excessive signal overlap and concerns about competition. KQTV and later owner Elba Development also pursued plans for a taller tower and a relocated transmission facility in Kansas. The FCC rejected those proposals in 1983 and 1986 because the expanded service would have caused some viewers to lose their only reliable television signal. Elba sold KQTV to TCS Television Partners in 1990. In 1994 the station became a secondary Fox affiliate for viewers who lacked a cable-delivered Fox signal, although the arrangement continued after Fox programming moved to Kansas City's WDAF-TV. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired KQTV in 1997, adding it to a growing portfolio of mid-market television stations. KQTV completed its analog-to-digital transition on June 12, 2009. For decades, the station had been St. Joseph's only major network affiliate, apart from the limited competition provided by religious station KTAJ-TV after 1986. By 2012, however, News-Press & Gazette had launched local Fox, NBC, and CBS operations, giving the market multiple major network newsrooms and reducing KQTV's previous exclusivity. Following Nexstar's merger with Media General, KQTV was divested to Heartland Media through USA Television MidAmerica Holdings in a transaction that closed in January 2017. Heartland announced a proposed sale to News-Press & Gazette in 2019, but the deal did not receive final federal approval and expired. In 2025, the two companies announced a shared-services plan to combine local news resources. KQTV continues to operate as an ABC affiliate with local news production focused on St. Joseph and surrounding communities.
- 2025
Shared-services newsroom announced
[1]KQTV and News-Press & Gazette announced plans to pool local newsroom resources.
- 2017
Heartland Media ownership begins
[1]Heartland Media acquired KQTV from Nexstar after Nexstar's Media General merger.
- 2009
Digital transition
[1]KQTV discontinued its analog signal and began digital transmission.
- 1997
Nexstar ownership begins
[1]Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired KQTV.
- 1969
Call sign changes to KQTV
[1]The station adopted the KQTV call sign after its television and radio operations separated.
- 1967
ABC affiliation begins
[1]KFEQ-TV switched from CBS to ABC.
- 1953
KFEQ-TV signs on
[1]The station began broadcasting from St. Joseph as a CBS and DuMont affiliate.
- 1952
Construction permit issued
[1]The FCC issued a construction permit for KFEQ-TV on channel 2.
- 1948
Initial television application
[1]KFEQ radio applied to construct a St. Joseph television station, initially proposing channel 13.
Products and positioning
Local ABC affiliate and community news provider for the St. Joseph television market.
Network television · 1967
KQTV ABC programming
KQTV's core broadcast service is its ABC affiliation, supplemented by syndicated and other entertainment programming. The station distributes network content to viewers in the St. Joseph market while maintaining a local identity through its call sign, branding, and community-oriented coverage.
Local news · 1953
KQTV News
The station's local news operation covers St. Joseph and surrounding communities. As of 2024, its schedule included more than 18 hours of locally produced newscasts each week, with weekday and weekend editions and additional seasonal high-school football coverage.
Local television program · 1957
Let's Dance
A locally produced teen dance program introduced in 1957. It was hosted by KFEQ radio personality Allen Shaw and later by Bill Foster, illustrating the station's early use of locally originated entertainment alongside network programming.
Local sports and entertainment · 1957
Local wrestling broadcasts
KFEQ-TV broadcast Saturday-night wrestling from its studio in cooperation with local promoter Gust Karras. The program became a long-running local feature and continued into the mid-1970s.
Brand decisions
2025
Shared-services newsroom agreementStrategyBackground
KQTV and News-Press & Gazette operated separate St. Joseph newsrooms while competing in a market with multiple local network affiliates.
Action taken
The companies announced plans to combine news-gathering resources under KQTV's name and brand, initially at KQTV's studios.
Aftermath
The planned combined newsroom was expected eventually to move to News-Press & Gazette's Edmond Street headquarters and operate with a larger reporting staff.
2019
Proposed sale to News-Press & GazetteM&ABackground
Heartland Media sought to sell KQTV to News-Press & Gazette, which already operated other St. Joseph television services and the local newspaper.
Action taken
Heartland announced the proposed transaction, but the agreement did not obtain final federal approval and expired on September 30.
Aftermath
News-Press & Gazette suspended its effort to purchase the station, which remained with Heartland Media.
2017
Sale from Nexstar to Heartland MediaM&ABackground
Nexstar's merger with Media General required divestitures to comply with federal broadcast ownership limits.
Action taken
KQTV was sold with four other stations to Heartland Media through USA Television MidAmerica Holdings.
Aftermath
Heartland Media became KQTV's owner, and the station was not included in Heartland's later sale of most other stations to Allen Media.
Purchase price for KQTV and four other stations. $115 million (Transaction announced in 2016 and closed in January 2017)
1976
Attempted Topeka semi-satellite expansionStrategyBackground
Topeka had limited commercial television service and lacked a full-time ABC affiliate.
Action taken
Amaturo Group applied to build a channel 43 semi-satellite carrying KQTV programming with separate Topeka news.
Aftermath
The FCC dismissed the application in 1978 because of signal overlap and competition concerns.
- KTSB — Topeka's NBC affiliate opposed the proposal, arguing that it would create unfair competition in a market already served by two commercial stations.
1969
Adoption of the KQTV call signStrategyBackground
The television and radio stations formerly using the KFEQ identity were placed under separate ownership.
Action taken
The television station changed its call sign from KFEQ-TV to KQTV while retaining the established “Q” association.
Aftermath
KQTV became the station's enduring broadcast brand.
1967
Switch from CBS to ABCStrategyBackground
KFEQ-TV operated in a market where network affiliation was central to a local station's reach and identity.
Action taken
The station changed its primary network affiliation from CBS to ABC.
Aftermath
ABC became the station's long-term network identity and remains its affiliation.
Recent events
Reported
The Q launches its first brand campaign[3]
Hindi general entertainment channel The Q launched its first brand campaign, “Sabse Alag, Sabke Liye.” Actor Ravi Dubey was named the campaign's face, and the campaign included two brand films and a brand song.
Reported
The Q partners with Mzaalo for channel distribution[4]
QYOU Media announced that its Hindi-language channel The Q would become available on the Mzaalo app, giving Mzaalo users access to the channel's content.
Sources4 sources
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