KFXO-CD
KFXO-CD is a low-power Class A television station serving Central Oregon from Bend as a Fox and Telemundo affiliate.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KFXO-CD is a low-power, Class A television station based in Bend, Oregon, serving viewers across Central Oregon. The station carries Fox programming and Telemundo programming through its local distribution arrangements, and it operates alongside NBC affiliate KTVZ under the ownership of the News-Press & Gazette Company. Its facilities are shared with KTVZ on Northwest O. B. Riley Road in Bend, while the KFXO-CD transmitter is located on Awbrey Butte west of U.S. Route 97. The station is also distributed through digital subchannels and related low-power facilities, including KTVZ's 21.3 subchannel and KQRE-LD's service from Grizzly Mountain. KFXO's history began as an extension of Portland Fox affiliate KPDX's effort to reach Central Oregon. KPDX launched a Central Oregon translator on April 24, 1991, initially operating on channel 42 from Gray Butte. The translator was later replaced by a higher-power facility on channel 39 at Powell Butte. The call sign changed from K39DU to KFXO-LP on December 18, 1995. By 1996, the KPDX service had expanded to four translators serving Powell Butte, Grizzly Mountain, Sunriver, and La Pine. KPDX also established a local sales presence in Bend and began inserting commercials intended for the regional market. On September 30, 1996, KFXO began functioning as a more distinct Bend-area service. Although it remained closely connected to KPDX, it carried a mix of network programming, syndicated shows, and programming acquired specifically for the Bend market. Meredith Corporation acquired KFXO when it purchased First Media, the owner of KPDX, in 1997. After KPDX and KPTV came under common ownership in 2002, KPTV became Portland's Fox affiliate, while KFXO retained its Fox affiliation and continued to relay KPTV news programming. KFXO later attempted to develop a stronger local-news identity. Construction on an expansion of its studios began in November 2005, and a ten-person news operation launched an hour-long, Bend-produced 10 p.m. newscast on April 17, 2006. Meredith subsequently agreed to sell the station to the News-Press & Gazette Company in August 2006. The transaction closed on May 25, 2007. NPG ended KFXO's independent newscast after the acquisition and consolidated news production with KTVZ; the final independently produced KFXO newscast aired on June 22, 2007. KTVZ thereafter supplied KFXO's local news, including a 10 p.m. broadcast, while the former late-night KPTV news relay was discontinued. The station's distribution evolved during the transition to digital television. KFXO's signal became available in high definition through BendBroadband in 2008, and KTVZ began carrying KFXO digitally as a subchannel when its full-power digital service launched in September of that year. Because KFXO was a low-power station, it was not required to complete the federally mandated full-power analog shutdown on June 12, 2009. On July 19, 2011, it began digital transmission and adopted the call sign KFXO-CD. In 2013, the KFXO newscast, which had been reduced to 30 minutes, was restored to an hour, and the station began carrying KTVZ's weekday morning newscast from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. KFXO-CD remains a locally focused television outlet whose identity combines national Fox and Telemundo programming, syndicated content, and news produced through its relationship with KTVZ.
History
KFXO-CD developed from a chain of translator facilities created to bring Portland Fox affiliate KPDX into Central Oregon. The first translator began broadcasting on April 24, 1991, from Gray Butte on channel 42. It was later replaced by a higher-power channel 39 translator at Powell Butte. The facility adopted the KFXO-LP call sign on December 18, 1995, and by 1996 the regional service included transmitters or translators at Powell Butte, Grizzly Mountain, Sunriver, and La Pine. In 1996, KPDX opened a Bend sales office and began inserting commercials directed at Central Oregon viewers. On September 30 of that year, KFXO started carrying local and syndicated programming for the Bend market, operating as a semi-satellite of KPDX rather than merely retransmitting the Portland station. Meredith Corporation acquired the service in 1997 as part of its purchase of First Media. When KPDX and KPTV came under common ownership in 2002, KPTV became Portland's Fox affiliate, but KFXO retained its Fox service and continued relaying KPTV news. KFXO expanded its facilities in 2005 in preparation for a local news department. The resulting ten-person operation launched a Bend-produced hour-long 10 p.m. newscast on April 17, 2006. Meredith agreed to sell KFXO to the News-Press & Gazette Company in August 2006, and the transaction closed on May 25, 2007. NPG ended the independently produced KFXO newscast after the sale and consolidated production with KTVZ, its NBC affiliate in Bend. The final independent newscast aired on June 22, 2007. KFXO subsequently carried local news produced by KTVZ, including a 10 p.m. broadcast. The station entered the digital era through both cable and over-the-air distribution. BendBroadband began carrying a high-definition KFXO signal in 2008. KTVZ also carried the station as a digital subchannel when its full-power digital service began in September 2008. KFXO was exempt from the 2009 full-power analog transition deadline because of its low-power status. On July 19, 2011, it began digital broadcasting and changed its call sign to KFXO-CD. In 2013, its KTVZ-produced newscast was expanded from 30 minutes back to an hour, and KFXO began simulcasting KTVZ's morning news from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. The station continues to serve Central Oregon as part of the NPG-owned KTVZ operation.
- 2013
Local news schedule expands
[1]The KTVZ-produced KFXO newscast returned to a full hour, alongside a morning-news simulcast.
- 2011
Digital conversion and call-sign change
[1]The station began digital broadcasting and adopted the KFXO-CD call sign.
- 2008
High-definition distribution expands
[1]KFXO became available in high definition on BendBroadband and through KTVZ's digital subchannel operation.
- 2007
NPG ownership begins
[1]News-Press & Gazette Company completed its purchase of KFXO and shifted news production to KTVZ.
- 2006
Bend-based news department launches
[1]KFXO debuted an hour-long locally produced 10 p.m. newscast.
- 1997
Meredith acquires the station
[1]KFXO became part of Meredith Corporation through Meredith's acquisition of First Media.
- 1996
Local Bend service begins
[1]KFXO introduced local advertising and programming aimed specifically at the Bend market.
- 1995
K39DU becomes KFXO-LP
[1]The station changed its call sign from K39DU to KFXO-LP.
- 1993
Translator moves to channel 39
[1]The original 100-watt translator was replaced by a 1,000-watt facility on Powell Butte using channel 39.
- 1991
First Central Oregon translator launches
[1]KPDX began serving Central Oregon through a channel 42 translator transmitting from Gray Butte.
Products and positioning
A Central Oregon broadcast outlet combining Fox and Telemundo network programming with locally targeted advertising and news supplied through the KTVZ/NPG operation.
Television network affiliate · 1996
KFXO-CD Fox service
The station's principal broadcast identity is its Fox affiliation, providing Central Oregon viewers with Fox network programming through KFXO-CD's low-power signal and related digital distribution arrangements.
Local television news · 2007
KFXO-CD local news
KFXO carries local news produced by sister station KTVZ. The service includes a 10 p.m. newscast and, since 2013, a morning-news simulcast scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Television network programming
Telemundo distribution
KFXO is associated with Central Oregon distribution of Telemundo programming through the station's broader local broadcast arrangement, including related low-power channel facilities.
Brand decisions
2011
Transition to digital broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
KFXO's low-power status meant it was not required to follow the full-power analog shutdown deadline in 2009.
Action taken
The station began digital transmission on July 19, 2011, and changed its call sign to KFXO-CD.
Aftermath
The station continued operating as a digital low-power Class A service and expanded its role within Central Oregon's digital broadcast lineup.
2007
Sell KFXO to News-Press & Gazette CompanyM&ABackground
Meredith agreed to divest KFXO after deciding to focus on larger markets and after failing in an effort to build a full-power Bend station on channel 51.
Action taken
News-Press & Gazette Company completed the acquisition and integrated KFXO's news operations with those of KTVZ.
Aftermath
KFXO remained a Fox outlet, while local news was supplied by KTVZ and the previous independently produced newscast ended.
2006
Create an independent local-news operationStrategyBackground
KFXO sought to strengthen its Bend-market identity and compete more directly for local viewers by developing a dedicated news department.
Action taken
The station expanded its studio facilities and launched a ten-person operation producing an hour-long 10 p.m. newscast.
Aftermath
After NPG acquired the station, the independent operation was discontinued and news production was consolidated with KTVZ.
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