KFAA-TV
KFAA-TV is an independent television station licensed to Decatur, Texas, serving the Dallas–Fort Worth market and specializing in local sports and general entertainment programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KFAA-TV is an independent television station licensed to Decatur, Texas, and serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The station broadcasts on channel 29 and operates alongside ABC affiliate WFAA, its sister station in the market. Although licensed to Decatur, KFAA-TV's facilities and business identity are closely tied to Dallas: its studios are located at the WFAA Communications Center in Downtown Dallas, while its transmitter is in Cedar Hill, Texas. The station began broadcasting in 1993 under the call sign KMPX. It was established by Word of God Fellowship, the Christian ministry led by Marcus and Joni Lamb, and became the original flagship outlet of the Daystar Television Network. KMPX helped provide the technical and programming foundation for Daystar's launch on January 1, 1997. Daystar initially operated from the Dallas-area suburbs of Colleyville and later Bedford. The station's early history followed a long and complicated effort to use the channel 29 allocation, which had been considered by several proposed Dallas television ventures before a construction permit was eventually awarded for a Decatur-licensed facility. In 2003, Daystar acquired KDTN, a noncommercial station licensed to Denton. It subsequently sold KMPX to Liberman Broadcasting. The transaction closed in January 2004 for a reported $37 million, and the station was converted into a Spanish-language independent outlet carrying programming distributed by Liberman. In September 2009, KMPX became a charter owned-and-operated station of Estrella TV, Liberman's Spanish-language network. Following Liberman's corporate reorganization as Estrella Media in 2020, the station remained associated with the network. Tegna, the owner of WFAA, acquired KMPX from Liberman on November 20, 2020, after announcing the transaction in September for a reported $19 million. The purchase created a technical and strategic complement to WFAA. KMPX's UHF facilities could be used to improve reception of WFAA programming, while the station continued to carry Estrella TV under an affiliation arrangement. The acquisition also gave Tegna a second full-power television outlet in the Dallas–Fort Worth market and created the foundations of a WFAA/KFAA operating relationship. The station's role changed substantially in 2024. Tegna secured local television rights for Dallas Mavericks basketball, with channel 29 designated to carry most games that were not selected by national networks. WFAA also simulcasts a portion of the schedule. Tegna changed the call sign from KMPX to KFAA-TV effective October 20, 2024, and relaunched the station as KFAA 29, an English-language independent station. Estrella TV moved to a digital subchannel rather than remaining the primary service. Since the relaunch, KFAA-TV has developed a sports-centered position. It has reached local broadcast agreements with the Texas Legends, the Mavericks' NBA G League affiliate, and the Dallas Wings of the WNBA. It has also announced a local broadcast relationship with Dallas Trinity FC of the USL Super League, with matches scheduled for KFAA or streaming through WFAA+. This sports portfolio distinguishes KFAA-TV from a conventional general-entertainment independent station and gives it a prominent role in the Dallas–Fort Worth television market. KFAA-TV's ownership context changed again when Nexstar Media Group acquired Tegna. The transaction was announced in 2025 and completed on March 19, 2026. Nexstar already owned Dallas station KDAF, creating regulatory and operational questions concerning the relationship among KDAF, WFAA, and KFAA-TV. A federal court order temporarily restricted integration of KDAF with WFAA and KFAA. The station's future programming mix also includes a planned change involving its second digital subchannel: Estrella TV was reported to be moving to KTXD-DT1, while KFAA-DT2 would affiliate with Hot 97 TV in 2026.
History
Channel 29 has a long prehistory in North Texas. Earlier proposals included KLIF-TV, a planned television counterpart to Dallas radio station KLIF, and KAEI-TV, a proposed service that would have displayed printed quotations, news, and weather information. KAEI-TV never began operations. Later applicants included Grandview Broadcasting, Overmyer Communications, and Maxwell Electronics; Maxwell ultimately launched KMEC-TV on channel 33 in 1967 after a proposed channel realignment. A new application process began in 1985. Among the applicants was the Wise County Messenger newspaper, associated with former WBAP-TV anchor Roy Eaton. After a settlement, the construction permit went to Decatur Telecasting, owned by Karen Hicks. Difficulties securing the planned tower site delayed construction for several years. The permit was eventually sold to Word of God Fellowship, the ministry of Marcus and Joni Lamb, who used the station as the basis for their Texas television operation. KMPX signed on in 1993 and became the original flagship station of the Daystar Television Network. Daystar officially launched its network on January 1, 1997. The ministry operated from Colleyville and later Bedford, in the Dallas suburbs. In 2003, Daystar acquired Denton-licensed KDTN from North Texas Public Broadcasting and sold KMPX to Liberman Broadcasting. The sale closed on January 13, 2004, and KMPX changed from a religious flagship into a Spanish-language commercial station. Under Liberman, KMPX initially operated as an independent Spanish-language outlet using programming distributed by its owner. On September 14, 2009, it became a charter owned-and-operated station of Estrella TV. Liberman later reorganized under the Estrella Media name in February 2020, following an ownership restructuring involving HPS Investment Partners. Tegna announced its purchase of KMPX on September 25, 2020, and completed the transaction on November 20. The acquisition brought the station under the same ownership as WFAA and allowed Tegna to use its UHF facilities to improve access to WFAA programming. KMPX continued carrying Estrella TV as its primary service under a five-year affiliation agreement. The station's strategic purpose shifted in 2024. Tegna acquired rights to televise Dallas Mavericks games locally, assigning channel 29 most games not selected for national distribution. WFAA simulcasts a portion of the Mavericks schedule. Tegna requested a call-sign change in September 2024, and KMPX became KFAA-TV on October 20. The station was relaunched as KFAA 29, an English-language independent service, while Estrella TV moved to a secondary digital channel. KFAA's identity has since become closely associated with sports. It added the Texas Legends, the Dallas Wings, and Dallas Trinity FC to its local sports relationships. The Dallas Trinity arrangement includes both linear television and streaming distribution through WFAA+. These agreements broaden the station beyond Mavericks coverage and reinforce its role as a dedicated local sports outlet. Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna, announced in 2025 and completed on March 19, 2026, placed KFAA-TV in the same corporate family as KDAF. A temporary restraining order and subsequent preliminary injunction restricted immediate integration of KDAF with WFAA and KFAA. A further reported 2026 programming change would move Estrella TV away from KFAA-DT2 and bring Hot 97 TV to the subchannel, ending KFAA's long association with Estrella programming.
- 2026
Nexstar acquisition of Tegna closes
[1]Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tegna, making KFAA-TV part of the Nexstar group.
- 2024
Mavericks rights and KFAA relaunch
[1]Tegna assigns channel 29 a major role in local Dallas Mavericks coverage, then relaunches the station as KFAA 29, an English-language independent outlet.
- 2020
Tegna acquisition closes
[1]Tegna completes its purchase of KMPX from Liberman, pairing the station with WFAA.
- 2009
KMPX joins Estrella TV
[1]KMPX becomes a charter owned-and-operated station of the Estrella TV network.
- 2004
Liberman takes control
[1]Liberman Broadcasting completes its purchase of KMPX and converts it to Spanish-language programming.
- 1997
Daystar network launches
[1]KMPX becomes the original flagship station of the Daystar Television Network.
- 1993
KMPX signs on
[1]Channel 29 begins broadcasting as KMPX from a facility licensed to Decatur, Texas.
Products and positioning
A Dallas–Fort Worth independent television station positioned around locally relevant professional and developmental sports, supported by Tegna and its relationship with WFAA.
Independent television station · 2024
KFAA 29
The station's primary English-language service, launched under the KFAA-TV call sign in October 2024. KFAA 29 combines independent entertainment programming with a strong local sports schedule, particularly Dallas Mavericks games and other North Texas team coverage.
Digital multicast service · 2009
Estrella TV
The Spanish-language network that occupied KMPX's primary channel for much of the Liberman and early Tegna eras. After the KFAA relaunch, Estrella TV moved to a secondary digital subchannel, with later plans reported for its relocation away from the station.
Sports broadcasting · 2024
Dallas Mavericks broadcasts
KFAA carries most locally available Dallas Mavericks games that are not selected by national networks. WFAA simulcasts a portion of the schedule, making the two stations a coordinated local distribution platform for the NBA team.
Sports broadcasting · 2024
Texas Legends broadcasts
Local coverage of the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks' NBA G League affiliate, extending KFAA's sports portfolio beyond NBA games and into developmental basketball.
Sports broadcasting · 2025
Dallas Wings broadcasts
Local television coverage associated with the Dallas Wings of the WNBA, announced as part of KFAA's expansion into Dallas professional sports rights.
Sports broadcasting · 2026
Dallas Trinity FC broadcasts
A local broadcast arrangement for Dallas Trinity FC of the USL Super League. Games are scheduled for KFAA or may be streamed through the WFAA+ platform.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024KFAA 29 relaunch
Dallas–Fort Worth · North Texas
Tegna repositioned the former KMPX as KFAA 29, an English-language independent television station built around local sports and general entertainment.
Outcome. The station adopted the KFAA-TV call sign and became a prominent local outlet for Dallas Mavericks programming.
Brand decisions
2025
Nexstar announces Tegna acquisitionM&ABackground
Nexstar already owned Dallas television station KDAF, creating potential market-concentration and integration issues.
Action taken
Nexstar announced and later completed its acquisition of Tegna, including the corporate ownership chain containing KFAA-TV.
Aftermath
A federal court order restricted immediate integration of KDAF with WFAA and KFAA.
2024
Launch of KFAA 29Product launchBackground
Tegna obtained local Dallas Mavericks television rights and needed a primary English-language outlet for the programming.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign from KMPX to KFAA-TV and relaunched its primary service as KFAA 29, moving Estrella TV to a digital subchannel.
Aftermath
KFAA became a sports-oriented independent station with a broader Dallas–Fort Worth audience proposition.
2020
Tegna purchases KMPXM&ABackground
Tegna sought a UHF facility to complement WFAA and improve reception of its Dallas–Fort Worth television service.
Action taken
Tegna acquired KMPX from Liberman and retained Estrella TV through an affiliation arrangement.
Aftermath
KMPX operated alongside WFAA and supplied a UHF platform for the group.
Reported purchase price. $19 million (Announced September 25, 2020; completed November 20, 2020)
2003
Daystar sells KMPX to Liberman BroadcastingM&ABackground
Daystar acquired KDTN and no longer needed KMPX as its principal Dallas-area flagship facility.
Action taken
Daystar sold KMPX to Liberman Broadcasting; the transaction closed in January 2004.
Aftermath
KMPX became a Spanish-language commercial station and later an Estrella TV owned-and-operated outlet.
Reported purchase price. $37 million (Sale announced in 2003; transaction completed January 13, 2004)
Recent events
- 2026
Nexstar completes acquisition of Tegna[1]
M&A · Regulation
Nexstar completed its acquisition of Tegna, placing KFAA-TV within the Nexstar corporate group. Court proceedings subsequently limited immediate integration with Nexstar-owned KDAF.
- 2025
KFAA becomes a Dallas Wings local broadcast partner[1]
Product launch
The station announced a local broadcast relationship with the WNBA's Dallas Wings.
- 2024
Tegna moves Dallas Mavericks local broadcasts to its stations[1]
Product launch · Campaign
Tegna announced an agreement under which channel 29 would carry most Dallas Mavericks games not selected by national networks, with WFAA simulcasting part of the schedule.
- 2024
KMPX relaunches as KFAA 29[1]
Product launch
The station adopted the KFAA-TV call sign and became an English-language independent station. Estrella TV moved to a secondary digital subchannel.
- 2024
KFAA signs Texas Legends broadcast agreement[1]
Product launch
KFAA announced a local television agreement with the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks' NBA G League affiliate.
- 2020
Tegna acquires KMPX from Liberman Broadcasting[1]
M&A
Tegna purchased KMPX, adding a UHF television facility to its Dallas–Fort Worth holdings alongside WFAA. Estrella TV continued under an affiliation arrangement.
- 2020
KMPX becomes a technical complement to WFAA[1]
Other
The acquisition enabled Tegna to use KMPX's UHF facilities to improve the market reception of WFAA programming.
Sources1 sources
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