KX Television

KX Television, also known as KX Net or simply KX, is a regional television-station group serving western North Dakota. The group consists of KXMB-TV in Bismarck, KXMC-TV in Minot, KXMA-TV in Dickinson, and KXMD-TV in Williston. Its stations have historically operated as a coordinated network rather than as wholly independent local broadcasters, sharing programming, technical operations, branding, and parts of their newscasts while retaining separate station identities and commercial inventories. The group traces its history to 1958, when John Boler, owner of Bismarck CBS affiliate KBMB-TV, sold a half-interest to Minot businessman Chester Reiten. Boler and Reiten then acquired KCJB-TV in Minot, North Dakota's oldest television station, and changed its call sign to KXMC-TV. The two stations formed the initial KX mini-network. KBMB adopted the KXMB call letters the following year, establishing the naming pattern that later extended to stations in Dickinson and Williston. KXMD-TV in Williston joined the group in 1969. In Dickinson, KDIX-TV began relying on KXMB's signal for CBS programming in 1970 because it could not afford a direct network feed. After the station became KNDX-TV and approached closure in 1984, Reiten acquired it, renamed it KXMA-TV, and integrated it into the KX network. This completed the four-station structure associated with the brand. The stations also carried ABC programming on a secondary basis until the launch of KBMY in 1985. Ownership remained with the Reiten family for decades. Chester Reiten retired during the 1990s and transferred his interest to his five children: Steve Reiten, David Reiten, Kathleen Reiten Hruby, Tim Reiten, and Melanie Reiten Shonkwiler. During the 2000s, master control and other internal functions were consolidated in Bismarck. Later operating changes also concentrated the group's activities in Bismarck and Minot. KXMB and KXMC remained the principal full-service stations, while KXMA and KXMD increasingly operated as local bureaus with reduced local insert production. Nexstar Broadcasting Group agreed to acquire Reiten Television, the owner of KX Television, for $44 million in 2015. The transaction closed on February 2, 2016, bringing the stations into the Nexstar portfolio. Following the acquisition, Nexstar ended KX Television's arrangements with Forum Communications-owned KBMY. Nexstar subsequently affiliated the KX stations with The CW under an agreement announced in July 2016. KXMA and KXMD had also carried KBMY programming on digital subchannels through a sales arrangement that began in 2009. The brand historically used the slogan "Your Eye on Dakota," a reference to the CBS eye identity. Around 2020, it adopted the positioning line "Putting North Dakota First." KX Television's principal business is the production and distribution of local news, weather, sports, community information, syndicated content, and network programming through terrestrial broadcast, digital subchannels, and online services. The group's identity remains strongly regional, emphasizing coverage of North Dakota communities rather than national scale.

KX Television began as a cooperative regional broadcasting venture in western North Dakota. In 1958, Bismarck station owner John Boler sold half of his interest in KBMB-TV to Minot businessman Chester Reiten. The partners then purchased KCJB-TV in Minot, a station that had begun broadcasting in 1953, and renamed it KXMC-TV. Although KBMB was the larger station, KXMC served as the flagship of the new two-station network. KBMB adopted the call sign KXMB-TV in 1959. The group expanded geographically with the launch of KXMD-TV in Williston in 1969. A Dickinson station, KDIX-TV, began switching to KXMB's signal during CBS programming in 1970 because it lacked the resources to obtain a direct network feed. This semi-satellite arrangement continued after KDIX changed ownership and became KNDX-TV. When KNDX faced possible closure in late 1984, Chester Reiten acquired it, changed its call letters to KXMA-TV, and brought it fully into the KX network. The four-station structure was therefore built through a mixture of new construction, acquisition, and technical affiliation arrangements. The stations carried ABC programming as a secondary affiliation for a period, but that arrangement ended when KBMY began broadcasting in 1985. Reiten remained the central owner as the network matured. During the 1990s, he retired and transferred his interest to his five children: Steve Reiten, David Reiten, Kathleen Reiten Hruby, Tim Reiten, and Melanie Reiten Shonkwiler. David Reiten became general manager of KXMC, while Tim Reiten served as company president and general manager of KXMB. Operational consolidation increased during the 2000s. Master control and internal functions moved to Bismarck, while KXMC continued to provide a northern-market base in Minot. KXMB and KXMC developed as the group's two full-service stations, covering the southern and northern portions of the wider market. KXMA and KXMD historically inserted some local material into the larger stations' newscasts, but later cutbacks reduced both stations to bureau-style operations. The stations continued to maintain separate identifications and commercial schedules even as production became more centralized. Beginning in 2009, KXMA and KXMD carried KBMY on digital subchannels through a sales agreement with Forum Communications, KBMY's owner. The relationship changed after Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its purchase of Reiten Television on September 17, 2015. The $44 million transaction closed on February 2, 2016. Nexstar ended KX Television's arrangements with KBMY after the acquisition and later arranged for The CW to appear on the KX stations. KX's public identity has evolved alongside these ownership and programming changes. For many years its stations used "Your Eye on Dakota," a slogan linked to the CBS eye symbol. Around 2020, the group adopted "Putting North Dakota First," a message emphasizing local service and state-focused coverage. The group continues to operate as a Nexstar-owned regional television cluster, combining local journalism and advertising with network, syndicated, digital-subchannel, and online programming.

• 2020

  Brand slogan updated

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The group shifted from "Your Eye on Dakota" to "Putting North Dakota First."

• 2016

  Nexstar acquisition closes

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The transaction closed on February 2, transferring KX Television to Nexstar.

• 2016

  The CW affiliation announced

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar announced an agreement to bring The CW to the KX stations.

• 2015

  Nexstar announces Reiten Television acquisition

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar announced a $44 million agreement to acquire the owner of KX Television.

• 2009

  Digital-subchannel arrangement with KBMY begins

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  KXMA and KXMD began carrying KBMY on digital subchannels through a sales agreement.

• 1985

  Secondary ABC affiliation ends

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The KX stations stopped carrying ABC as a secondary affiliation after KBMY launched.

• 1984

  KXMA-TV created through acquisition

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Chester Reiten acquired financially troubled KNDX-TV, renamed it KXMA-TV, and integrated it into KX Television.

• 1970

  Dickinson semi-satellite arrangement begins

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  KDIX-TV began switching to KXMB's signal for CBS programming because it could not afford a direct network feed.

• 1969

  KXMD-TV joins the group

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The Williston station signed on and became part of the expanding KX regional network.

• 1959

  KBMB-TV becomes KXMB-TV

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The Bismarck station adopted the KXMB call sign, aligning it with the emerging group identity.

• 1958

  KX network formed

  [1]KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  John Boler and Chester Reiten combined ownership interests in KBMB-TV and KCJB-TV, renaming the Minot station KXMC-TV and creating the initial KX mini-network.

A locally focused North Dakota television network combining shared regional operations with community news, weather, advertising, and network programming.

• Television station · 1955

  KXMB-TV

  The Bismarck-based KX station and one of the group's two principal full-service operations. It serves the southern portion of the broader western North Dakota market and has historically supplied shared news and network programming to other KX outlets.

• Television station · 1953

  KXMC-TV

  The Minot-based flagship station of the original KX network. KXMC serves northern portions of the market and has been one of the group's principal full-service news and programming centers.

• Television station · 1956

  KXMA-TV

  The Dickinson KX station acquired by Chester Reiten in the 1980s after operating as KNDX-TV. It became a fully integrated member of the KX network and later operated with a reduced local-bureau role.

• Television station · 1969

  KXMD-TV

  The Williston station that joined KX Television in 1969. It has carried KX programming and, through a later digital-subchannel arrangement, KBMY programming, while its local operations were subsequently reduced.

• 2020Putting North Dakota First

  North Dakota

  A refreshed brand positioning centered on local service, state-focused journalism, and community relevance.

  Outcome. Became the group's newer public-facing slogan.

  Source
• Your Eye on Dakota

  North Dakota

  A long-running KX Television brand slogan presenting the stations as a regional source of news and information. Its wording also alluded to the CBS eye identity used during the group's CBS affiliation.

  Outcome. Later replaced by the "Putting North Dakota First" positioning.

  Source

• 2016

  Programming arrangements changed after Nexstar acquisitionStrategy

  Background

  Before the acquisition, KXMA and KXMD carried KBMY programming on digital subchannels under a sales arrangement.

  Action taken

  Nexstar terminated KX Television's agreements with KBMY and subsequently secured a CW affiliation for the KX stations.

  Aftermath

  The group moved from its prior Forum-related arrangement to programming affiliated with Nexstar's network portfolio.

  Source

• 2015

  Nexstar agrees to buy Reiten TelevisionM&A

  Background

  KX Television had remained under Reiten family ownership after Chester Reiten's retirement.

  Action taken

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced a $44 million acquisition of Reiten Television.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed in February 2016 and ended the group's Reiten-family ownership period.

  Acquisition value. $44 million (Announced September 17, 2015; completed February 2, 2016)

  Source

1. 1KX Televisionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KX Television official websitekxnet.com