KFTA-TV
KFTA-TV is a Fox-affiliated television station serving Fort Smith, the Arkansas River Valley, and Northwest Arkansas.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KFTA-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and serving the Fort Smith–Fayetteville market. The station broadcasts Fox programming on virtual channel 24 and operates as part of a broader Nexstar Media Group television cluster that includes NBC affiliate KNWA-TV and independent station KXNW. Although its license city is Fort Smith, the station's principal studios are in Fayetteville, reflecting the demographic and commercial importance of rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas. The station began broadcasting on November 12, 1978, as KLMN, the third commercial television station activated in Fort Smith. It initially carried CBS programming, helping complete the market's transition from a single station carrying multiple network affiliations to a three-station market. In 1980, following changes involving KFSM-TV and CBS, KLMN became an NBC affiliate. The station was sold to Houston-based Schindler Broadcasting and adopted the call sign KPOM-TV in 1982. The new calls were derived from a viewer-selected phrase, “People on the Move.” Griffin TV owned KPOM-TV from 1986 through 2003. During that period, Griffin invested in local news and expanded the station's reach into Northwest Arkansas. Because the original Fort Smith signal did not penetrate the growing Rogers and Fayetteville areas especially well, Griffin acquired a construction permit and launched KFAA, a satellite station on channel 51, in 1989. The two stations used a combined news operation and attempted to serve both Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas. Despite these efforts, the operation generally remained behind its principal local competitors in market-wide news ratings. Griffin discontinued local news in 1992, then restored it in 2000 with a new Fayetteville facility and a newsroom intended to capture the region's expanding audience. Nexstar began managing the stations in late 2003 and acquired them from Griffin the following year. In 2004, KPOM-TV became KFTA-TV and KFAA became KNWA-TV. Nexstar concentrated operational resources in Fayetteville, a decision that improved alignment with the market's population center but generated criticism in Fort Smith, where viewers and civic leaders believed local coverage had been reduced. KFTA's Fort Smith operation was later reopened for several years, but the office closed in 2011 and station operations were consolidated in Fayetteville. KFTA became a Fox affiliate on August 28, 2006, replacing a low-power Fox outlet and giving the network a full-power signal in the market. The station initially continued carrying portions of KNWA programming while regulatory and ownership matters were unresolved. KFTA subsequently developed its own local news presence, including a weekday 9 p.m. newscast, a morning news extension, an early-evening broadcast, and weekend prime-time news. Nexstar moved the KNWA–KFTA operation to a studio complex on West Dickson Street in Fayetteville in 2012. Today, KFTA remains a local Fox station with a signal covering the Arkansas River Valley and Northwest Arkansas, while sharing news, facilities, and technical resources with other Nexstar-operated stations.
History
KFTA-TV traces its origins to a construction permit issued by the Federal Communications Commission to MCM Television on March 14, 1975, for a new Fort Smith station on UHF channel 24. The proposed station received the call sign KLMN. Jim and Rob Walton acquired a minority interest in the project in 1977, and construction proceeded during the following year. KLMN secured the market's primary CBS affiliation before it went on the air, a development prompted by uncertainty surrounding the affiliation of the existing Fort Smith television operation. KLMN began broadcasting on November 12, 1978, from studios on Kelley Highway. Its transmitter was placed on Cartwright Mountain, between Fort Smith and Fayetteville, giving the station a broad regional footprint. In 1980, KLMN changed from CBS to NBC after KFSM-TV changed its network relationship following its acquisition by The New York Times Company. MCM then agreed to sell the station to Schindler Broadcasting of Houston for $950,000 plus debt assumption. The transfer was approved in 1981, and the station changed its call sign to KPOM-TV on September 22, 1982. The new call letters were selected through a viewer contest and were linked to the phrase “People on the Move.” Griffin TV acquired KPOM-TV in a transaction announced in 1985 and completed in the following period. Griffin strengthened the newsroom and renamed the local news output Newsline 24. The company also sought to solve the station's weak reception and limited audience penetration in Northwest Arkansas, particularly in the rapidly expanding Rogers area. Griffin acquired a construction permit for channel 51 and launched KFAA as a semi-satellite on August 23, 1989. KFAA supported a separate Rogers-area presence and a dual-city news format, with anchors and reporting resources aimed at both Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas. The expansion did not immediately overcome the station's competitive disadvantages. KPOM–KFAA generally ranked third in local news ratings across the full market, although its performance was stronger in Benton County after that county became part of the Fort Smith–Fayetteville market. Griffin attempted several changes, including the Eyewitness News format in 1991, but local news production was suspended on June 12, 1992. Twenty-two employees in Fort Smith and Rogers were dismissed. A proposed sale to Northwest Arkansas Broadcasting encountered an ownership objection from The New York Times Company and was ultimately withdrawn, leaving Griffin in control. Griffin later reassessed the commercial potential of Northwest Arkansas and arranged space in a renovated former department store in downtown Fayetteville. Local news returned on August 3, 2000. The relaunched operation recruited personnel with experience at competing station KHBS/KHOG, including sportscaster Mike Nail, weatherman Steve Gibbs, and reporter Rhonda Justice. The revived broadcasts again struggled to move beyond third place, but they established the Fayetteville facility as an important part of the station's future. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced negotiations to acquire the stations in 2003 and soon began managing them under a time brokerage agreement. Nexstar shifted the operational center toward Fayetteville, reasoning that Northwest Arkansas contained the market's larger, faster-growing, and more affluent population base. The main studio moved there in February 2004, and the stations' call signs changed on August 13: KPOM-TV became KFTA-TV, while KFAA became KNWA-TV. The changes were controversial in Fort Smith. Local officials and viewers argued that the move weakened coverage of the station's license city and the Arkansas River Valley, while Nexstar maintained that its structure better matched the market's population and economic geography. In 2006, Nexstar announced an agreement to sell KFTA to Mission Broadcasting for $5.6 million. Mission commonly partnered with Nexstar through shared-services and operating arrangements. The proposed transaction was challenged by Equity Broadcasting, owner of low-power Fox affiliate KPBI-CA, which argued that the arrangement raised ownership and duopoly concerns. KFTA nevertheless began carrying Fox programming on August 28, 2006, and introduced a weekday 9 p.m. local newscast. During the regulatory dispute, portions of the day continued to carry KNWA programming. The FCC approved the transaction in 2008 but admonished Nexstar for false claims and prohibited the stations from simulcasting each other's digital signals in the manner at issue. Mission ultimately did not acquire KFTA, leaving Nexstar as its owner and operator. KFTA closed its separate Fort Smith office in 2011 and completed the move of its operations to Fayetteville. In October 2012, the KNWA–KFTA operation moved into a studio complex on West Dickson Street. The shared facility provided approximately 12,000 square feet of studio space and supported expanded KFTA news programming, including a morning extension, a 5:30 p.m. broadcast, and weekend prime-time newscasts. Nexstar later added KXNW to its Northwest Arkansas station group in 2019. KFTA continues to operate as a Fox affiliate on channel 24, using shared facilities, news resources, and transmission arrangements with KNWA and other Nexstar stations.
- 2019
Nexstar adds KXNW
[1]Nexstar acquires KXNW, expanding its local station cluster.
- 2012
Move to Dickson Street studios
[1]KNWA and KFTA move into a shared downtown Fayetteville facility and expand local news output.
- 2011
Fort Smith bureau closes
[1]KFTA consolidates its remaining operations in Fayetteville.
- 2008
FCC approves disputed transaction
[1]The FCC approves the transaction after reviewing an ownership challenge and imposes restrictions related to digital simulcasting.
- 2006
Fox affiliation begins
[1]KFTA becomes the market's full-power Fox affiliate and launches a local 9 p.m. newscast.
- 2004
KFTA-TV call sign adopted
[1]KPOM-TV becomes KFTA-TV and KFAA becomes KNWA-TV as Nexstar consolidates operations in Fayetteville.
- 2003
Nexstar management begins
[1]Nexstar assumes management of the Griffin stations before acquisition.
- 2000
Local news is relaunched
[1]News production returns from a new downtown Fayetteville facility.
- 1992
News department closes
[1]The combined KPOM–KFAA local news operation is discontinued.
- 1989
KFAA satellite launches
[1]KFAA begins broadcasting from Rogers to improve service to Northwest Arkansas.
Products and positioning
A local Fox affiliate serving Fort Smith, the Arkansas River Valley, and Northwest Arkansas, with news production and operational support integrated with Nexstar's KNWA-TV operation in Fayetteville.
Broadcast television service · 2006
Fox 24
KFTA's primary broadcast service, carrying Fox network programming on virtual channel 24 for viewers in Fort Smith, the Arkansas River Valley, and Northwest Arkansas. The service also includes locally produced news and weather content.
Local television news · 2006
KFTA local news
A locally focused news service produced within the shared KNWA–KFTA operation. Its schedule has included a weekday morning extension, a 5:30 p.m. broadcast, a weekday 9 p.m. newscast, and weekend prime-time editions.
Digital television
Digital multicast services
KFTA's digital multiplex carries shared and station-specific programming, including network and locally distributed services. Its multiplex also carries a simulcast of KXNW for portions of the Fort Smith area.
Brand decisions
2019
Expansion of Nexstar's Northwest Arkansas clusterM&ABackground
Nexstar already owned and operated KFTA-TV and KNWA-TV in the market.
Action taken
Nexstar acquired KXNW, adding an independent station with MyNetworkTV programming to the local group.
Aftermath
KFTA became part of a larger Nexstar station cluster with shared facilities and technical distribution arrangements.
2012
Expansion through shared Dickson Street facilitiesStrategyBackground
The KNWA–KFTA operation required a larger, centralized studio and newsroom in Fayetteville.
Action taken
The stations moved into a shared facility on West Dickson Street and expanded KFTA's local news schedule.
Aftermath
KFTA added morning, early-evening, and weekend prime-time news programming within the consolidated Nexstar operation.
2011
Closure of the Fort Smith officeStrategyBackground
Nexstar had increasingly consolidated the KFTA–KNWA operation around Fayetteville.
Action taken
KFTA closed its separate Fort Smith office and moved the remaining operations to Fayetteville.
Aftermath
The station continued serving Fort Smith through its regional news operation but no longer maintained a dedicated local office there.
2006
Conversion to Fox affiliationProduct launchBackground
The market's existing Fox service was provided by a low-power station, while Mission Broadcasting proposed acquiring KFTA under a Nexstar operating arrangement.
Action taken
KFTA adopted Fox programming on August 28 and launched a weekday 9 p.m. local newscast.
Aftermath
KFTA became the market's full-power Fox outlet, although portions of its schedule initially continued to simulcast KNWA while regulatory matters were pending.
2004
Shift of the principal operation to FayettevilleStrategyBackground
Nexstar determined that Northwest Arkansas represented the larger and faster-growing portion of the television market.
Action taken
The main studio and operational focus were moved from Fort Smith toward Fayetteville, and the stations were renamed KFTA-TV and KNWA-TV.
Aftermath
The change aligned the operation with Northwest Arkansas's population center but drew criticism from Fort Smith civic leaders and viewers concerned about reduced local coverage.
Recent events
- 2019
Nexstar acquires KXNW in the Northwest Arkansas market[1]
M&A
Nexstar acquired KXNW, adding another station to its Northwest Arkansas cluster alongside KFTA and KNWA.
- 2012
KNWA–KFTA moves into Dickson Street facility[1]
Product generation
The stations relocated to a shared studio complex on West Dickson Street in downtown Fayetteville, after which KFTA expanded its local news schedule.
- 2011
Fort Smith office closes[1]
Other
KFTA ended its separate Fort Smith office and consolidated operations in Fayetteville.
- 2008
FCC approves KFTA transaction while admonishing Nexstar[1]
Regulation · Other
The FCC approved the proposed KFTA transaction after a challenge by the former low-power Fox station's owner, while criticizing Nexstar over false claims and restricting simulcasting of the stations' digital signals.
- 2006
KFTA becomes a full-power Fox affiliate[1]
Product launch
KFTA began carrying Fox programming on August 28, replacing the market's previous low-power Fox outlet and adding a weekday 9 p.m. newscast.
- 2004
KPOM-TV becomes KFTA-TV[1]
M&A
Nexstar changed KPOM-TV's call sign to KFTA-TV and moved the principal operation toward Fayetteville, while KFAA became KNWA-TV.
- 2003
Nexstar begins managing KPOM–KFAA[1]
M&A
Nexstar assumed management of the stations under a time brokerage arrangement before completing its acquisition.
- 2000
Local news returns from downtown Fayetteville[1]
Product launch
Griffin relaunched local news from a renovated downtown Fayetteville facility, restoring newscasts for the combined Fort Smith–Northwest Arkansas market.
- 1992
Local news operation is discontinued[1]
Other
The KPOM–KFAA newsroom was closed because Griffin determined that demand for the local news product was insufficient, resulting in the loss of 22 jobs.
- 1989
KFAA satellite station launches in Rogers[1]
Product launch · Other
Griffin launched KFAA on channel 51 to improve coverage of Northwest Arkansas and support a dual-city news operation.
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