FOX 26 Houston
FOX-owned Fox affiliate KRIV serving Houston, Texas, with local television news and digital journalism.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
FOX 26 Houston is the consumer-facing brand of KRIV, a Fox-owned-and-operated television station serving Houston, Texas, and the surrounding Southeast Texas market. The station broadcasts on UHF channel 26 and operates from studios shared with sister station KTXH near the Southwest Freeway in Houston; its transmitter is located near Missouri City. Its principal business is local television broadcasting, complemented by the fox26houston.com website and associated digital and social-media products. The station began broadcasting on August 15, 1971, as an independent UHF outlet under the call sign KVRL. It was created by Crest Broadcasting Company, led by Leroy J. Gloger, after Crest won authorization to use the Houston channel originally proposed as channel 29 and later reassigned to channel 26 by the Federal Communications Commission. Early programming consisted primarily of syndicated reruns, sports, religious programming, and locally produced entertainment and public-affairs shows. In 1975 the station adopted the unusual call sign KDOG-TV and added a block of Spanish-language programming, reflecting an attempt to stand out in a competitive market. A major turning point came in 1978, when Metromedia acquired the station. The call sign became KRIV in honor of Metromedia executive Albert Krivin, who had supported the purchase. Metromedia invested heavily in syndicated programming, facilities, local production, and sports rights. KRIV became the Houston television home of the Astros in 1979, expanded its studios and transmission infrastructure, and substantially improved its ratings. The company also developed a local news operation, beginning with a distinctive 7 p.m. newscast in 1983 and later adding midday and other local-news programming. In 1985, Metromedia agreed to sell KRIV and its other stations to the company being assembled by Rupert Murdoch. The transaction created the core owned-and-operated station group of the Fox Broadcasting Company. When Fox launched, its network schedule was initially limited, so KRIV remained heavily dependent on local and syndicated programming. As Fox gradually introduced prime-time programming, KRIV moved its main local newscast from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The station's ratings and market profile continued to grow, and it was increasingly positioned as a full-service local news operation rather than merely an independent entertainment station. KRIV's news schedule expanded repeatedly. A weekday morning newscast began in 1993 and grew to four hours by 2003. A weekday 5 p.m. newscast was introduced in 2008, weekend morning and early-evening editions followed in 2012, and The NewsEdge at 10 launched in 2017 as a recap-oriented late-news program. The NewsEdge branding was subsequently extended to an early-evening newscast. The station also produces personality-driven and public-affairs programs including The Isiah Factor: Uncensored and What's Your Point?. The station moved into a purpose-built, digitally equipped facility of approximately 78,000 square feet in the late 1990s. The building later accommodated KTXH after Fox acquired that station in a 2001 transaction. KRIV now combines broadcast news, weather, traffic, sports, investigations, community coverage, streaming and web publishing under the FOX 26 Houston identity. Its brand positioning is that of a locally focused, fast-moving Fox news outlet for the Houston region, using extended morning and evening coverage, recap formats, interviews, investigative reports and severe-weather reporting to compete with Houston's network affiliates.
History
KRIV originated in a 1964 application by Crest Broadcasting Company for a new Houston UHF station. Crest, led by former radio owner Leroy J. Gloger, initially sought channel 29, but an FCC allotment revision moved the proposed facility to channel 26. After a comparative proceeding, Crest prevailed over KXYZ's competing application. Construction began in 1970, including a downtown tower installation and studios in the Highland Village area. KVRL signed on August 15, 1971, with a schedule built around syndicated reruns, Texas Rangers baseball, Christian Broadcasting Network programming and locally produced shows such as Bozo's Big Top, Sports Cavalcade and Houston After Dark. The station adopted the call sign KDOG-TV in 1975, adding a Spanish-language prime-time block as part of a broader programming experiment. Its fortunes changed after Metromedia purchased the outlet in 1978. On April 17 of that year, the call letters became KRIV, honoring Metromedia executive Albert Krivin. General manager Jerry Marcus oversaw the operation for more than two decades. Metromedia invested in better syndicated programming, expanded facilities and local production, acquired Astros rights in 1979, and built a new transmitter facility in 1982. Ratings rose sharply between 1978 and 1980, turning a marginal independent station into a significant Houston competitor. Metromedia launched KRIV's local news department in the early 1980s. The first major product was a 7 p.m. newscast introduced in 1983, followed by a midday edition. In 1989, the station began City Under Siege, a crime-focused Sunday program. The program drew criticism from some viewers who believed its drug-arrest coverage disproportionately emphasized Black suspects; the Houston Police Department subsequently established rules concerning the program's operations. The format later broadened into general crime coverage. Rupert Murdoch's television group agreed to acquire KRIV and Metromedia's other stations in 1985. KRIV consequently became a founding Fox owned-and-operated station. Fox initially offered little programming, but as its prime-time schedule developed, KRIV moved its principal newscast to 9 p.m. The station continued expanding its news operation, adding a morning broadcast in 1993, enlarging it to four hours by 2003, launching a 5 p.m. newscast in 2008, and substantially increasing weekend coverage in 2012. The NewsEdge at 10 debuted in 2017, and its branding later extended to an early-evening edition. KRIV moved into a roughly 78,000-square-foot facility near the Southwest Freeway in late 1997. The digitally equipped building subsequently became a shared base for KTXH after Fox acquired that station in a 2001 exchange with Viacom. KRIV has also been used for syndicated television production and formerly maintained infrastructure for a news helicopter; a leased helicopter crashed in November 2000, killing its pilot. The station completed the federally required transition from analog broadcasting in 2009 and now operates a digital signal on channel 26. Its broadcast identity is supported by the FOX 26 Houston website, streaming output, local journalism, weather, sports and public-affairs programming.
- 2017
The NewsEdge at 10 debuts
[1]KRIV launched a weeknight 10 p.m. recap-style newscast.
- 2009
Digital transition completed
[1]KRIV ended regular analog broadcasting and continued digitally on UHF channel 26.
- 2001
KTXH joins the shared facility
[1]Fox acquired KTXH in a transaction involving Viacom, and the sister station moved into KRIV's facility.
- 1997
New Southwest Freeway facility opens
[1]The station moved into a large purpose-built facility with updated digital production equipment.
- 1993
Morning news begins
[1]KRIV launched a weekday morning newscast and also added Sunday-night news.
- 1985
KRIV joins the Fox station group
[1]Metromedia agreed to sell KRIV to the group that formed the Fox Broadcasting Company.
- 1983
Local news department launches
[1]KRIV introduced a 7 p.m. newscast, its first major local news program.
- 1979
Astros broadcasts added
[1]KRIV became the television home of the Houston Astros.
- 1978
Metromedia acquisition and KRIV rename
[1]Metromedia acquired the station and changed its call letters to KRIV in honor of Albert Krivin.
- 1975
KDOG-TV identity introduced
[1]The station changed its call sign from KVRL to KDOG-TV and added Spanish-language programming.
Products and positioning
A Fox-owned local news and entertainment station emphasizing broad Houston-area coverage, extended morning and evening newscasts, rapid news updates, severe-weather information, crime and public-affairs reporting, and a connected digital-news operation.
Local television news · 1983
FOX 26 News
The station's core local-news franchise, covering Houston-area politics, crime, public safety, business, community affairs, weather, traffic and regional events across morning, daytime, early-evening, late-evening and weekend editions.
Morning news · 2018
Wake Up!
A branded early-morning news program introduced in 2018 for the first three hours of the weekday morning schedule. The format combines headlines, weather, traffic, interviews and local features in a faster, personality-led presentation.
News recap · 2017
The NewsEdge
A recap-oriented news format that began with a 10 p.m. weeknight edition in 2017 and later expanded under the same branding. It emphasizes concise summaries and updates on the day's principal Houston and national stories.
Interview and public affairs
The Isiah Factor: Uncensored
A program hosted by Isiah Carey featuring interviews and discussion with newsmakers. It extends the station's local-news identity into commentary, community issues and longer-form conversations.
Political public affairs
What's Your Point?
A locally produced political and public-affairs program hosted by Greg Groogan, providing a forum for debate and discussion of Texas and Houston-area issues.
Controversies
1989
Criticism of City Under Siege crime coverage
Viewers criticized the program for what they saw as disproportionate emphasis on Black people being arrested in drug-related coverage. The Houston Police Department responded by setting rules concerning the program's activities. The source describes controversy over editorial framing, not a legal finding against the station.
Marketing campaigns
- 1989City Under Siege
Houston
KRIV created a recurring Sunday-night news-special franchise focused initially on drug enforcement and later on broader crime coverage.
Outcome. The format continued for years, but its treatment of drug arrests drew criticism from some viewers and led Houston police to establish operating rules for the program.
Brand decisions
2017
Launch The NewsEdge at 10Product launchBackground
The Fox station sought a differentiated late-news format suited to viewers looking for a concise end-of-day update.
Action taken
KRIV launched a weeknight 10 p.m. newscast using a recap-oriented NewsEdge format.
Aftermath
The NewsEdge identity was later extended to an early-evening newscast.
2012
Expand weekend news programmingProduct launchBackground
KRIV sought to strengthen its schedule beyond a single weekend prime-time newscast.
Action taken
The station added a three-hour weekend morning newscast and extended the 5 p.m. newscast to weekends.
Aftermath
The changes added eight hours of weekend news programming and gave the station a fuller seven-day local-news schedule.
1997
Move into a purpose-built digital facilityStrategyBackground
The station had outgrown its original Westheimer location as its programming and news operations expanded.
Action taken
KRIV opened a roughly 78,000-square-foot facility near the Southwest Freeway with expanded space, parking and digital production equipment.
Aftermath
The building later became a shared operational base for sister station KTXH.
1986
Move the main newscast to 9 p.m.StrategyBackground
Fox began adding prime-time programming after its launch, making the former 7 p.m. slot less practical.
Action taken
KRIV moved its main local newscast to 9 p.m. to avoid conflict with Fox programming.
Aftermath
The 9 p.m. broadcast developed a stronger and more loyal news audience.
1983
Launch the 7 p.m. local newscastProduct launchBackground
Metromedia was developing news-producing independent stations and KRIV sought a more substantial local identity.
Action taken
KRIV introduced a prime-time local newscast positioned as a more sophisticated alternative to conventional local broadcasts.
Aftermath
The program attracted competitive audiences and became the foundation for the station's expanding news operation.
1978
Metromedia purchases channel 26M&ABackground
The station had achieved only limited traction as an independent outlet before the acquisition.
Action taken
Metromedia acquired the station and renamed it KRIV. The reported transaction included $6 million attributed to the station and $5 million in liabilities.
Aftermath
Metromedia increased spending on programming, sports, facilities and local production, and KRIV's ratings improved substantially.
Acquisition consideration. $11 million total, including $6 million for the station and $5 million in liabilities (1978 transaction)
1975
Adopt the KDOG-TV call sign and add Spanish programmingStrategyBackground
The independent UHF station was seeking a distinctive identity and broader programming appeal in the Houston market.
Action taken
Crest changed the call letters from KVRL to KDOG-TV and added 90 minutes of Spanish-language prime-time entertainment.
Aftermath
The identity was later replaced after Metromedia acquired the station.
Sources2 sources
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