KDFX-CD

KDFX-CD is a low-power, Class A television station licensed to Indio and Palm Springs, California, and serving the Coachella Valley as a Fox network affiliate. The station identifies itself primarily as “Fox 11,” reflecting the region’s cable-channel conventions rather than its over-the-air digital channel assignment. Its principal over-the-air signal uses virtual channel 33, while the station is also carried in standard definition on KESQ-TV’s fourth digital subchannel, virtual channel 33.2. The station began broadcasting on March 2, 1990, as K40DB, a translator of KECY-TV, the CBS affiliate serving El Centro. It initially used the on-air identity “KDBA-TV.” Cable carriage began in November 1992, helping establish the station in a market where cable penetration was unusually high. In September 1994, KDFX’s parent outlet switched from CBS to Fox, making the station part of the network’s rapid expansion beyond its earlier affiliation arrangements. The change gave Fox a primary Palm Springs-area outlet and positioned the station as the Coachella Valley’s local Fox service. A major structural change came in 1997. Pacific Media Corporation entered into a local marketing agreement with a subsidiary of Lambert Broadcasting, and the translator operation was separated and relaunched as an independent Fox affiliate for the Coachella Valley. On August 23, 1997, it moved to UHF channel 33 and adopted the call sign KDFX-LP. The station later came under common control with KESQ-TV after the relevant management agreement and purchase options were transferred to the News-Press & Gazette Company in 1998. Lambert invested in the operation, which received Class A status in April 2003 and subsequently used the call sign KDFX-CA. News-Press & Gazette Company also owns or operates several other low-power stations serving the same market, including KPSP-CD, KCWQ-LD, KUNA-LD and KYAV-LD, alongside ABC affiliate KESQ-TV. The stations share studios on Dunham Way in Thousand Palms. KDFX’s transmitter is located on Edom Hill northeast of Cathedral City and near Interstate 10, supporting coverage of the valley’s principal population centers. KDFX became licensed for digital operation on March 18, 2015, and adopted its current KDFX-CD call sign. Its programming role combines Fox network content with locally produced or simulcast news from KESQ-TV. The station carries a two-hour weekday morning newscast, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m., as well as KESQ-produced 6:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. newscasts. The station’s present identity therefore rests on three linked elements: Fox programming, the “Fox 11” cable-oriented brand, and shared local-news infrastructure with KESQ-TV.

KDFX-CD began broadcasting on March 2, 1990, under the call sign K40DB. It operated initially as a translator of KECY-TV, the CBS affiliate based in El Centro, and used the identity “KDBA-TV.” The station was added to local cable systems on November 1, 1992. Cable distribution was particularly important in the Coachella Valley, where television stations commonly emphasized their cable positions in on-air branding. In September 1994, KECY and the associated Palm Springs-area service moved from CBS to Fox. The decision helped provide Fox with a primary local outlet in the market and made the station an early example of a former CBS service joining Fox outside the network’s better-known 1994 affiliation realignment involving New World Communications. Before the change, KECY had carried some Fox programming, while cable viewers in the valley could also receive Los Angeles station KTTV. The station was reorganized in 1997. Pacific Media Corporation, principally controlled by Robinson O. Everett, entered into a local marketing agreement with a subsidiary of Lambert Broadcasting. The translator was separated from the parent operation and relaunched as a distinct Fox affiliate serving the Coachella Valley. On August 23, 1997, it moved from channel 40 to UHF channel 33 and changed its call sign to KDFX-LP. In 1998, the local marketing agreement and options to purchase the stations were sold to News-Press & Gazette Company, headquartered in St. Joseph, Missouri. This placed KDFX under common control with KESQ-TV, the market’s ABC affiliate. Lambert continued to invest in the station, and KDFX obtained Class A status on April 7, 2003, becoming KDFX-CA. News-Press & Gazette later filed to purchase the stations for $2 million in November 2007, although the available reference material does not establish the final outcome of that filing separately from the company’s broader ownership relationship. The station was licensed for digital operation on March 18, 2015, and adopted the KDFX-CD call sign. It now operates as a low-power Class A digital station licensed to both Indio and Palm Springs. Its transmitter is located on Edom Hill northeast of Cathedral City, while its studios are shared with KESQ-TV and other News-Press & Gazette stations on Dunham Way in Thousand Palms. KDFX’s programming model combines Fox network content with local news produced through its relationship with KESQ-TV. The station carries a two-hour morning newscast from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and additional KESQ-produced newscasts at 6:30 and 10:00 p.m. It also has a standard-definition simulcast on KESQ-TV’s fourth digital subchannel, virtual channel 33.2. Although its over-the-air assignment is channel 33, the station brands itself as Fox 11 because channel 11 is its principal cable position in the market.

• 2015

  Digital licensing and KDFX-CD call sign

  [1]KDFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station was licensed for digital operation on March 18 and adopted the KDFX-CD call sign.

• 2003

  Class A upgrade

  [1]KDFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KDFX received Class A status on April 7.

• 1998

  Common control with KESQ-TV

  [1]KDFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  News-Press & Gazette Company acquired the relevant agreement and purchase options, bringing KDFX into the KESQ station group.

• 1997

  Move to channel 33 and adoption of KDFX-LP

  [1]KDFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  On August 23, the operation moved to UHF channel 33 and relaunched as KDFX-LP under a local marketing arrangement.

• 1994

  Affiliation changes from CBS to Fox

  [1]KDFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station’s parent outlet switched to Fox in September, creating a local Fox service for the Coachella Valley.

• 1992

  Cable carriage begins

  [1]KDFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station was added to cable television systems on November 1.

• 1990

  Sign-on as K40DB

  [1]KDFX-CDen.wikipedia.org

  K40DB began broadcasting on March 2 as a translator of El Centro CBS affiliate KECY-TV.

A local Fox affiliate focused on the Coachella Valley, using the widely recognized cable designation “Fox 11” and relying on shared facilities and news resources with KESQ-TV.

• Broadcast television station · 1994

  Fox 11

  KDFX-CD’s primary consumer-facing service is its Fox-affiliated television signal for the Coachella Valley. Although the station broadcasts using virtual channel 33, it uses the Fox 11 identity because channel 11 is its principal cable position in the market. The service combines Fox network programming with local news connected to KESQ-TV.

• Local television news

  KDFX local news

  KDFX carries local news programming produced through its relationship with KESQ-TV. The schedule described in the reference material includes a two-hour morning newscast from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m., plus newscasts at 6:30 and 10:00 p.m., extending the station’s service beyond Fox network programming.

• 2015

  Transition to licensed digital operationGeneration change

  Background

  The station’s broadcast authorization evolved from its earlier low-power analog and Class A operation.

  Action taken

  KDFX received a digital license and changed its call sign from KDFX-CA to KDFX-CD.

  Aftermath

  The station continued its Fox affiliation as a digital low-power Class A service.

  Source

• 1997

  Separation and relaunch as KDFX-LPStrategy

  Background

  Pacific Media Corporation entered into a local marketing agreement with a Lambert Broadcasting subsidiary.

  Action taken

  The translator was separated into a distinct Fox affiliate, moved to UHF channel 33, and adopted the KDFX-LP call sign.

  Aftermath

  The relaunch established the KDFX identity used by the Coachella Valley Fox service.

  Source

• 1994

  Switch from CBS to FoxStrategy

  Background

  The market’s existing CBS arrangement did not provide the desired primary Palm Springs affiliation, while Fox offered a more favorable local position.

  Action taken

  The station and its parent outlet changed affiliation from CBS to Fox in September 1994.

  Aftermath

  KDFX became the Coachella Valley’s local Fox affiliate and retained that network role.

  Source

1. 1KDFX-CDen.wikipedia.org