KDFW
Fox-owned television station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KDFW is a television station licensed to Dallas, Texas, and serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. It operates as a Fox owned-and-operated station through Fox Television Stations and is paired with KDFI, a MyNetworkTV-affiliated station, under shared ownership and facilities in downtown Dallas. KDFW’s signal is transmitted from Cedar Hill, a major broadcast-tower center south of Dallas. The station began broadcasting on December 3, 1949, under the call sign KRLD-TV. Its original owner was KRLD Radio Corporation, a subsidiary of the Dallas Times Herald. The station inherited a CBS affiliation from the newspaper’s KRLD radio operation and remained a CBS affiliate for more than four decades. In its early years, KDFW combined network programming with locally produced entertainment, interviews, sports, and news. It initially operated from facilities in the Adolphus Hotel before moving into purpose-built studios associated with the Times Herald. In 1964, it relocated to a permanent facility on North Griffin Street, a location that remains associated with the station’s Dallas operations. The station’s history is closely connected with major developments in North Texas broadcasting. Its Cedar Hill transmitter infrastructure was expanded substantially during the 1950s, including construction of a tower that was then regarded as one of the world’s tallest television broadcast structures. The transmitter site was later affected by two serious aviation incidents: a helicopter collision in 1968 and a U.S. Navy F-4 Phantom accident in 1987. Neither incident permanently interrupted KDFW’s service, and the station moved to a newer Cedar Hill tower in 1989. Ownership changed several times. Times Mirror acquired the Times Herald and its broadcast properties in a transaction announced in 1969 and completed in 1970. Because of contemporary Federal Communications Commission rules concerning common ownership and call signs, the television station changed its call letters from KRLD-TV to KDFW-TV in July 1970. The new call sign referenced the Dallas–Fort Worth service area. Times Mirror later sold KDFW to Argyle Television Holdings in a transaction completed in January 1994. During Argyle’s ownership, KDFW also assumed operating responsibilities for KDFI through a local marketing agreement, consolidating much of the two stations’ technical and promotional activity at KDFW’s Dallas studios. KDFW became a Fox station as part of the major realignment of U.S. television affiliations during the 1990s. New World Communications reached an agreement with Fox in 1994 and acquired Argyle Television, bringing KDFW into the group of established network affiliates that moved to Fox. The station ended its long-standing CBS affiliation and joined Fox in 1995. Fox subsequently acquired New World Communications, making KDFW a Fox owned-and-operated station. The call sign dropped the “-TV” suffix in 1998. Today, KDFW’s principal business is free, over-the-air commercial television broadcasting, supported by local advertising, network programming, syndicated content, digital distribution, and news production. Its programming identity centers on Fox network shows, local news, weather, traffic, sports coverage, investigative reporting, and community-oriented material for viewers across the Metroplex. The station operates alongside KDFI, with the two outlets sharing downtown Dallas studios while maintaining distinct programming brands.
History
KDFW’s origins date to August 1945, when KRLD Radio Corporation, a subsidiary of the Dallas Times Herald, applied to the Federal Communications Commission for a commercial television license. The application initially sought VHF channel 2 but was amended in 1946 to request channel 4. The FCC granted the license in September 1946, and the newspaper selected KRLD-TV as the station’s call sign, linking the new television service to its established KRLD radio operation. After test transmissions began in November 1949, KRLD-TV formally signed on December 3, 1949. It was the third television station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The station launched with CBS programming, reflecting the radio network relationship already maintained by KRLD. Early local output included entertainment, interview, and sports programs, while the station’s schedule expanded from a limited broadcast day to a substantially longer daily service during the 1950s. KRLD-TV initially used facilities in Dallas’s Adolphus Hotel, then moved into facilities connected with the Times Herald. In 1964, it transferred operations to a purpose-built studio at 400 North Griffin Street. The station also developed substantial transmission infrastructure in Cedar Hill. A tall Cedar Hill tower completed in 1955 extended the station’s reach across North Texas and became an important part of the region’s broadcast infrastructure. The site suffered significant damage in a helicopter collision in 1968. A second aviation accident occurred in January 1987, when a Navy F-4 Phantom struck guy wires associated with the Cedar Hill tower. KDFW’s television transmission continued, and a replacement tower was built in 1989. KDFW played a particularly important role in coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Station news director Eddie Barker announced Kennedy’s death on television after receiving information from Parkland Hospital. Because of a local press-pool arrangement, the report was carried simultaneously through network coverage. A KDFW field crew also recorded the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby two days later as police transferred Oswald through the Dallas police headquarters. In 1969, Times Mirror announced its purchase of the Dallas Times Herald and the KRLD broadcast properties. The transaction was completed in 1970 after regulatory review. Because the radio properties retained the KRLD call letters and FCC rules then restricted the sharing of call signs by separately owned radio and television stations, channel 4 changed its call sign to KDFW-TV in July 1970. The new designation referred to Dallas and Fort Worth. Times Mirror retained the station after selling the newspaper in 1986. Times Mirror announced the sale of KDFW and several sister stations to Argyle Television Holdings in 1993. The KDFW transaction was completed in January 1994. Argyle also entered into a local marketing agreement covering KDFI, an independent Dallas station. Under that arrangement, KDFW supplied advertising, promotional, and master-control support, and the two stations consolidated much of their operations at KDFW’s North Griffin Street studios. The next major turning point came in 1994, when New World Communications entered into a long-term affiliation arrangement with Fox and acquired Argyle Television. KDFW consequently shifted from CBS to Fox in 1995, ending more than four decades as a CBS affiliate. Fox later acquired New World Communications, converting KDFW into a Fox owned-and-operated station. The station’s “-TV” suffix was removed from the call sign in 1998. KDFW remains a Fox Television Stations outlet serving the Dallas–Fort Worth market. It shares downtown Dallas studio facilities with KDFI, while its transmitter operates from Cedar Hill. Its current identity is built around Fox network programming and locally produced news, weather, traffic, sports, investigative, and community coverage distributed through broadcast and digital channels.
- 1998
“-TV” suffix removed
[1]The station’s official call sign was shortened from KDFW-TV to KDFW.
- 1997
Becomes a Fox owned-and-operated station
[1]Fox’s acquisition of New World Communications brought KDFW into Fox Television Stations’ owned-and-operated portfolio.
- 1995
Affiliation switches from CBS to Fox
[1]KDFW joined Fox as part of New World Communications’ affiliation realignment, ending its long CBS tenure.
- 1994
Argyle ownership and KDFI operating agreement
[1]Argyle Television completed its acquisition of KDFW and began operating KDFI under a local marketing agreement.
- 1989
New Cedar Hill transmitter tower
[1]KDFW moved its primary transmission operation to a newer Cedar Hill tower.
- 1970
Call sign changes to KDFW-TV
[1]After the Times Mirror transaction and separation of the radio properties, the television station adopted the KDFW-TV call sign.
- 1964
Move to North Griffin Street studios
[1]Station operations moved into a purpose-built facility at 400 North Griffin Street in downtown Dallas.
- 1963
Kennedy assassination coverage
[1]KDFW provided prominent local and network coverage of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, including an early televised report of his death.
- 1955
Cedar Hill transmission tower completed
[1]KDFW completed a major Cedar Hill tower, improving regional coverage and strengthening its technical position in North Texas broadcasting.
- 1949
KRLD-TV launches
[1]The station began regular broadcasting on December 3 as KRLD-TV, with CBS as its network affiliation.
Products and positioning
A major local television news and entertainment outlet for the Dallas–Fort Worth market, combining Fox network programming with locally produced news, weather, traffic, sports, and public-interest coverage.
Broadcast programming
Local television news
KDFW produces news programming focused on Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding North Texas communities. Its local-news operation covers breaking news, public safety, politics, business, education, consumer issues, and community events, supported by field reporting and live coverage.
Information programming
Weather and traffic coverage
Weather forecasting and traffic reporting are central parts of KDFW’s local service proposition. These offerings provide viewers with conditions and travel information relevant to the large and geographically dispersed Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area.
Network television · 1995
Fox network programming
As a Fox owned-and-operated station, KDFW distributes Fox entertainment, news, sports, and other network programming to viewers in its designated North Texas market.
Digital media
Digital news and video
KDFW extends its broadcast reporting through digital articles, video clips, live streams, weather information, and other online material associated with its local television brand.
Brand decisions
1997
Integration into Fox Television StationsM&ABackground
Fox acquired New World Communications after the affiliation realignment.
Action taken
KDFW became a Fox owned-and-operated station rather than an independently owned affiliate.
Aftermath
The station joined Fox’s owned station group and continued serving the Dallas–Fort Worth market under the Fox brand.
1995
Switch from CBS to FoxStrategyBackground
New World Communications entered into a broad affiliation agreement with Fox after acquiring Argyle Television, creating a major realignment of established network affiliates.
Action taken
KDFW replaced CBS programming with Fox programming and became the Dallas–Fort Worth Fox affiliate.
Aftermath
The change ended KDFW’s decades-long CBS affiliation and positioned the station within Fox’s expanding national affiliate network.
Sources1 sources
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