KTTW

KTTW is a television station licensed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and operated as part of the Total Christian Television network. Its over-the-air transmitter is located near Rowena, South Dakota. The station is paired with KTTM, a station licensed to Huron that operates as KTTW's full-time satellite. KTTM primarily extends the KTTW signal into additional South Dakota communities and is generally identified only through station identifications rather than as a separately programmed service. KTTW began broadcasting on May 29, 1987, on UHF channel 17. Its construction permit had been granted by the Federal Communications Commission to Family Broadcasting Company, Inc., after the company applied in 1984. Family Broadcasting subsequently reorganized as Independent Communications, Inc. At launch, KTTW became the first Fox affiliate in South Dakota and the fourth commercial television station built in Sioux Falls. Fox was still developing its schedule at the time, so the station initially functioned much like an independent outlet, combining Fox's limited weekend programming with syndicated entertainment, cartoons, home-shopping content, sports, and other acquired programs. During its early years, KTTW broadened its schedule with programs such as the Star Trek franchise and sports coverage involving the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Timberwolves. KTTM signed on in August 1991, expanding the operation's reach to Huron, Mitchell, and other markets. The stations also developed a network of translators serving communities including Aberdeen, Brookings, Pierre, and Watertown. KTTW moved its offices to West 11th Street in Sioux Falls in 1995, remaining there for approximately 25 years. The station's technical identity changed after the United States' digital television transition. In 2009, KTTW ended its analog transmission on channel 17 and continued digitally on VHF channel 7, leading it to promote channel 7 rather than its former analog channel. KTTM likewise completed its transition from analog VHF channel 12 to digital VHF channel 12. KTTW's Fox era ended in 2020. Independent Communications sold the station's Fox programming and affiliation, along with several dependent translators, to Gray Television. Gray moved Fox programming to a digital subchannel of KDLT-TV, creating the Fox Sioux Falls service, while programming previously carried on KTTW, including Cozi TV, was also reassigned to KDLT subchannels. KTTW and KTTM continued broadcasting, but their main channels temporarily carried This TV. In 2021, Radiant Life Ministries, a sister organization of Total Christian Television, agreed to acquire KTTW and KTTM's license assets. The transaction was completed in December 2021, and the stations began carrying TCT programming the following day. KTTW therefore shifted from a commercial network-affiliated station to a religious television service. Its present identity is centered on TCT programming and related multicast services rather than locally originated general-entertainment or network programming.

KTTW's origins date to a 1984 application by Family Broadcasting Company, Inc., of Fairfield, Iowa, for authority to construct a commercial television station on channel 17 in Sioux Falls. The Federal Communications Commission granted the construction permit in November of that year. Construction accelerated in 1986, and KTTW commenced broadcasting on May 29, 1987. Family Broadcasting soon reorganized as Independent Communications, Inc. KTTW affiliated with Fox at sign-on, only about a month after Fox began offering prime-time programming. Because Fox initially operated more as a limited national program service than as a fully developed network, KTTW's early schedule was heavily independent in character. The station carried Fox programming when available, while filling the rest of its schedule with cartoons, home-shopping programs, syndicated material, Hit Video USA content, and programs from the American Christian Television System. The station's early ownership included Jim Elmen, whose family held a substantial majority interest, and Chuck Poppen served as general manager. As KTTW established itself, it added better-known syndicated entertainment and sports. Its schedule included both Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as coverage of Minnesota Twins baseball and Minnesota Timberwolves basketball. The station also operated through a difficult early financial period, which its ownership later described as lasting several years before the business became more stable. On August 31, 1991, KTTM went on the air from Huron as a satellite of KTTW. The second station expanded coverage toward Huron, Mitchell, and other communities in central and eastern South Dakota. KTTW later maintained a group of dependent translators, enabling its programming to reach a larger regional audience. In 1995, the station moved its offices to West 11th Street in Sioux Falls. Poppen resigned as general manager in 1997, citing disagreements with majority stakeholders. The digital television transition changed the station's channel branding and transmission arrangements. KTTW shut down its analog UHF channel 17 signal in 2009 and continued on digital VHF channel 7. KTTM also completed its transition, ending analog operations on VHF channel 12 and relocating its digital signal to that channel. A major change occurred in 2020, when Independent Communications sold KTTW's non-license assets, including its Fox programming and affiliation, to Gray Television. Gray owned KSFY-TV and KDLT-TV in the Sioux Falls market. Fox programming moved to KDLT's digital subchannel, while Cozi TV was also reassigned to another KDLT subchannel. Five KTTW translators were included in the asset transaction. After the change, KTTW and KTTM temporarily carried This TV on their main channels. Independent Communications subsequently exited television ownership. On February 10, 2021, Total Christian Television announced that Radiant Life Ministries, its sister organization, would acquire the KTTW and KTTM license assets. The purchase price reported for the transaction was $850,000. Closing took place on December 21, 2021, and the stations switched to TCT programming the next day. KTTW's current identity is consequently that of a religious broadcast station rather than a commercial Fox affiliate. KTTM remains its full-time satellite, with the two stations carrying TCT and additional national multicast services.

• 2021

  TCT acquisition closes

  [1]KTTWen.wikipedia.org

  Radiant Life Ministries completed its acquisition of the KTTW and KTTM license assets, and TCT programming began the following day.

• 2020

  Fox affiliation transferred to KDLT subchannel

  [1]KTTWen.wikipedia.org

  Gray Television acquired the Fox programming and affiliation and launched Fox Sioux Falls on a KDLT digital subchannel.

• 2009

  Digital transition completed

  [1]KTTWen.wikipedia.org

  KTTW ended analog channel 17 operations and continued digitally on VHF channel 7.

• 1995

  Sioux Falls offices relocated

  [1]KTTWen.wikipedia.org

  KTTW moved its offices to West 11th Street in Sioux Falls.

• 1991

  KTTM launches

  [1]KTTWen.wikipedia.org

  KTTM began broadcasting from Huron as a full-time satellite of KTTW.

• 1987

  KTTW signs on

  [1]KTTWen.wikipedia.org

  KTTW began broadcasting on May 29 as a channel 17 Fox affiliate.

• 1984

  Construction permit application filed

  [1]KTTWen.wikipedia.org

  Family Broadcasting Company applied to build a new commercial station on channel 17 in Sioux Falls.

• 1984

  FCC grants construction permit

  [1]KTTWen.wikipedia.org

  The Federal Communications Commission granted authorization for the proposed Sioux Falls station.

A regional, free-to-air religious television service operated within the Total Christian Television network, with historical significance as South Dakota's first Fox affiliate.

• Television station · 1987

  KTTW broadcast service

  KTTW is the principal Sioux Falls-licensed television service. It historically carried Fox and syndicated entertainment, but since December 2021 has primarily carried Total Christian Television programming and related national multicast services.

• Television satellite · 1991

  KTTM

  KTTM is licensed to Huron, South Dakota, and operates as a full-time satellite of KTTW. It extends the station's programming into Huron, Mitchell, and nearby areas rather than maintaining a separately developed local programming identity.

• Former network affiliation · 1987

  Fox affiliation

  From its 1987 launch until 2020, KTTW carried Fox programming. The affiliation was historically notable because KTTW was the first Fox affiliate in South Dakota. Fox programming later moved to a KDLT-TV digital subchannel.

• 2021

  Transfer to Radiant Life Ministries and TCTM&A

  Background

  Following the transfer of its commercial programming assets, Independent Communications sought a nonprofit-oriented future for the KTTW and KTTM facilities and licenses.

  Action taken

  Radiant Life Ministries, a sister organization of Total Christian Television, acquired the license assets and converted the stations to TCT programming after closing.

  Aftermath

  KTTW became a religious television outlet within the TCT group, ending its long-running Fox affiliation.

  License-asset purchase price. $850,000 (Announced February 10, 2021; transaction completed December 21, 2021)

  Source

• 2020

  Sale of Fox programming and non-license assetsM&A

  Background

  Independent Communications was leaving television ownership while Gray Television already operated major stations in the Sioux Falls market.

  Action taken

  Gray Television acquired KTTW's non-license assets, Fox programming and affiliation, Cozi TV placement, and five dependent translators. Fox programming was moved to KDLT-TV's digital subchannel.

  Aftermath

  KTTW and KTTM lost their commercial Fox identity and temporarily carried This TV on their main channels.

  Source

• 2009

  Transition from analog channel 17 to digital channel 7Generation change

  Background

  The United States television industry was completing the federally mandated analog-to-digital transition.

  Action taken

  KTTW shut down its analog UHF channel 17 signal and continued broadcasting digitally on its pre-transition VHF channel 7.

  Aftermath

  The station's digital channel became the basis for its subsequent channel 7 branding.

  Source

• 1987

  Launch as a Fox affiliateProduct launch

  Background

  KTTW entered the Sioux Falls market shortly after Fox began assembling its national programming service.

  Action taken

  The station launched on channel 17 and combined Fox programming with independently acquired entertainment, children's, shopping, and sports content.

  Aftermath

  KTTW became the first Fox affiliate in South Dakota and operated as a locally programmed commercial station during Fox's early development.

  Source

1. 1KTTWen.wikipedia.org