KFDX-TV

KFDX-TV is a television station licensed to Wichita Falls, Texas, and serving the Wichita Falls–Lawton market across western Texoma. The station broadcasts on VHF channel 3 and is affiliated primarily with NBC. It also carries programming from The CW Plus. KFDX is owned by Nexstar Media Group and operates alongside KJBO-LD, a MyNetworkTV-affiliated independent station owned by Nexstar partner Mission Broadcasting, and KJTL, the market’s Fox affiliate. The stations share facilities, technical resources and portions of their news and advertising operations in Wichita Falls. The station’s roots go back to Wichtex Radio and Television, the local company associated with KFDX radio. Its principals, including Darrold A. Cannan Sr. and Howard Fry, sought a permit for VHF channel 3 after the Federal Communications Commission ended its freeze on new television licenses. The FCC granted the application in December 1952, and construction began on a combined radio-and-television facility on Seymour Road. KFDX-TV began broadcasting on April 12, 1953, becoming the third television station to launch in the Wichita Falls–Lawton market and the second based in Wichita Falls. At launch, KFDX carried both NBC and ABC programming. Its early schedule also included locally produced entertainment, children’s programs, agricultural coverage, weather reports and public-affairs content. Howard Fry hosted the locally prominent Uncle Howdy’s House Party, while other early personalities included Nat Fleming and Don Alexander. The station developed a long-running connection with agricultural and rural audiences through RFD-3, a program that remained on the air for 47 years before ending in 2011. Local news and severe-weather reporting became central to the station’s identity, particularly because the viewing area is exposed to significant tornado activity. KFDX became a sole NBC affiliate in 1960, when KSWO-TV in Lawton expanded its primary coverage of Wichita Falls while retaining ABC. Ownership changed several times over the following decades. Wichtex sold the station to Clay Broadcasting in a transaction approved in 1971. Clay later sold KFDX to Price Communications in 1987, and Price transferred it to U.S. Broadcast Group in 1995. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired KFDX in 1998; Nexstar later assumed operational control of KJTL and KJBO through shared-services and joint-sales arrangements, creating the station group that operates from the shared Wichita Falls facility today. KFDX has expanded beyond its linear broadcast signal through local digital services, weather information and online news distribution. In 2006 it introduced Texoma’s Weather Channel, a continuously updated weather service featuring radar, satellite imagery, observations and regional forecasts. The station also produces local newscasts for KJTL and may simulcast extended severe-weather coverage across the associated stations during tornado warnings. Its news operation competes most directly with KAUZ-TV on the Texas side of the market, while KSWO-TV is a major competitor in Oklahoma. KFDX remains an active local broadcaster whose brand is built around NBC network programming, regional news, weather, sports and community information.

KFDX-TV emerged from the local Wichtex Radio and Television company, which was connected to KFDX radio and led by Darrold A. Cannan Sr. and Howard Fry. The group applied to operate a VHF television station on channel 3 in 1951 and renewed its application after the FCC lifted its freeze on new television licenses. A competing application was withdrawn, and the FCC awarded the channel 3 permit to the local group in December 1952. New facilities were built on Seymour Road to accommodate the station’s studios and transmitter. KFDX-TV went on the air at 6 p.m. on April 12, 1953. It followed KWFT-TV and KSWO-TV into the Wichita Falls–Lawton market and initially carried both NBC and ABC programs. The station began with a comparatively large local staff and developed a schedule combining network entertainment with locally produced programs. Fry hosted Uncle Howdy’s House Party, while Nat Fleming presented a music-and-comedy variety program. Don Alexander later hosted the children’s and movie program Stage Coach Three before moving into news leadership and anchoring. Local information programming became a defining feature. RFD-3, an agriculture and public-affairs program introduced in 1964, remained part of the schedule for decades and was largely associated with farm director Joe Brown. After Brown retired, the station developed Texoma Country and Texoma Country Morning as successor agricultural programming. Weather and emergency reporting also became essential to KFDX’s public role. The station covered the 1964 City View tornado, one of the early tornadoes shown through live television coverage, and provided extensive coverage of the devastating April 1979 tornado outbreak, although power failures interrupted its broadcast during the storm. Ownership changed in 1971, when Clay Broadcasting purchased KFDX from Wichtex. Clay later sold the station and several sister stations to Price Communications in 1987. Price transferred KFDX to U.S. Broadcast Group in 1995, and Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired it in January 1998. Nexstar subsequently took over operations of KJTL and KJBO under agreements involving Mission Broadcasting, bringing the stations together at KFDX’s Seymour Highway and Turtle Creek Road facility. KFDX became the first station in its market to operate around the clock in 1992. It launched Texoma’s Weather Channel in 2006 and has continued to expand its local news output and digital presence. The station produces programming for its own NBC service and newscasts for KJTL, with the ability to share extended tornado coverage among the stations. KFDX is currently part of Nexstar’s local-station portfolio and remains a major news, weather and entertainment outlet for western Texoma.

1. 2011RFD-3 ends

   The long-running agricultural program concluded after Joe Brown’s retirement.

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2. 2006Texoma’s Weather Channel launches

   KFDX introduced a continuous weather-information channel for the Wichita Falls area.

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3. 1998Nexstar acquisition

   Nexstar Broadcasting Group purchased KFDX from U.S. Broadcast Group.

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4. 199224-hour schedule introduced

   KFDX began continuous daily programming, including syndicated shows, news replays and overnight NBC content.

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5. 1987Price Communications acquisition

   Price Communications acquired KFDX and several other Clay television properties.

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6. 1971Clay Broadcasting ownership begins

   Clay Broadcasting completed its acquisition of KFDX from Wichtex Radio and Television.

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7. 1960Becomes an NBC-only station

   KFDX dropped ABC programming as KSWO-TV expanded its Wichita Falls coverage.

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8. 1953Station signs on

   KFDX-TV began broadcasting on April 12 from Wichita Falls as an NBC and ABC affiliate.

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9. 1952FCC grants channel 3 authorization

   The FCC awarded the channel 3 license and construction permit to the Cannan-led local ownership group.

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10. 1951Initial channel 3 application

    Wichtex Radio and Television applied to the FCC for a television construction permit on VHF channel 3 in Wichita Falls.

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A locally focused NBC television station emphasizing regional news, severe-weather coverage, agricultural information, sports and community service across western Texoma.

• KFDX 3 NewsLocal news

  KFDX’s local news operation covers Wichita Falls, western North Texas and southwestern Oklahoma. Its output includes scheduled morning, midday, evening and late-night reports, with additional breaking-news coverage during major events. The operation also supplies news programming for sister station KJTL under the stations’ shared-services arrangement.

• Texoma’s Weather ChannelWeather information service2006

  A 24-hour weather service launched by KFDX in 2006. It presents radar and satellite loops, current conditions, temperature and wind information, and local and regional forecasts, supplemented by an audio feed from NOAA Weather Radio station WXK31 in Wichita Falls.

• KFDX 3 Sports SundaySports news

  A half-hour sports highlights and analysis program scheduled after the Sunday 10 p.m. newscast, reflecting the station’s role as a regional source of local sports coverage.

• Texoma Country MorningAgricultural and rural affairs2014

  A successor to the station’s long-running RFD-3 agricultural program. It developed from a short segment on the morning newscast into a separate half-hour program focused on rural and agricultural issues in the Texoma region.

• RFD-3Agricultural and public affairs1964

  A landmark KFDX agricultural and public-affairs program that began in 1964 and ran for 47 years. Joe Brown hosted the program for most of its existence before it ended in 2011 following his retirement.

• 2006Launch of Texoma’s Weather ChannelProduct launch

  Severe weather is a major concern in western Texoma, creating demand for continuously available local forecasts and radar information.

  What changed. KFDX launched a dedicated 24-hour weather service distributed through cable in Wichita Falls.

  Aftermath. The station broadened its local information offering beyond its main broadcast channel.

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• 1992Adoption of continuous programmingStrategy

  KFDX sought to fill overnight hours after NBC’s late-night schedule and extend its daily availability.

  What changed. The station introduced a 24-hour schedule using syndicated programs, a repeat of its late newscast and overnight NBC material.

  Aftermath. KFDX became the first station in the Wichita Falls–Lawton market to operate continuously.

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• 1960Consolidation around NBC affiliationStrategy

  KFDX originally carried both NBC and ABC programming, while KSWO-TV also carried ABC and expanded its primary Wichita Falls coverage.

  What changed. KFDX became a sole NBC affiliate.

  Aftermath. The station’s long-term network identity became centered on NBC programming.

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• 2020Tower-site vandalism prompts studio evacuation

  The studio was evacuated after vandals cut guy wires supporting a nearby broadcast tower. The tower remained standing and was repaired.

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• 2006KFDX launches Texoma’s Weather Channel

  The station introduced a 24-hour local and regional weather-information service distributed through cable.

  Product launch
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• 1960KFDX becomes a sole NBC affiliate

  The station ended its ABC affiliation as KSWO-TV expanded Wichita Falls coverage while retaining ABC.

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• 1953KFDX-TV begins broadcasting

  The station signed on from Wichita Falls on April 12 as an NBC and ABC affiliate.

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1. KFDX-TV
2. KFDX-TV official website