KLAX-TV
KLAX-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Alexandria and central Louisiana on channel 31.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KLAX-TV is a local broadcast television station licensed to Alexandria, Louisiana, and serving central Louisiana. It broadcasts on channel 31 and is affiliated with the ABC television network. The station is owned by Deltavision Media and operates studios on England Drive near Louisiana Highway 498 in Alexandria. Its transmitter is located in the Kisatchie National Forest southwest of Dry Prong, Louisiana, where the station’s high-transmission facility provides coverage across its regional service area. The station originated in the late 1970s, when Jim Richards, a former general manager of radio station KSYL, formed Cypress Communications to pursue one of Alexandria’s available commercial UHF allocations. Cypress applied for channel 31 in 1979 and received a construction permit in 1980. The original plan was to launch as an ABC affiliate in 1981, but ABC initially rejected the proposal, while unfavorable economic conditions delayed construction and the station’s opening. KLAX-TV ultimately began broadcasting on March 3, 1983, as an independent station. Its launch included a long preview broadcast followed by a movie marathon, together with locally produced programs and news. Early local offerings included Great Day in the Morning, Midday, and evening newscasts. The station’s first years were financially difficult. Its initial transmission arrangement used a relatively short tower at the studio site while a much taller facility near Dry Prong was being completed. Local news was reduced and eventually discontinued in 1984. KLAX-TV became an ABC affiliate on September 23, 1985, after ABC accepted a revised proposal. Before that change, viewers in the region often relied on distant or weak cable-imported signals from stations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, or Beaumont for ABC programming. Cypress’s financial problems deepened in 1986 and 1987. Creditors, including RCA, pursued claims over unpaid obligations, and an attempted sale to an investor group did not close. RCA repossessed broadcast equipment, and Cypress filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1987. In 1988, the bankruptcy court selected Pollack-Belz Communications as the buyer. The new owner invested in a taller Dry Prong tower and restored a full local news operation, initially branded Cenla 31 First News and Cenla 31 News Tonight. Although the station improved its programming and commercial position, it remained behind established competitor KALB-TV in local news ratings. During Pollack-Belz ownership, KLAX-TV expanded its effective audience at various times through cable carriage, including a period from 1994 to 1998 when it served as the ABC affiliate of record for Monroe-area cable systems. In 1996, the station adopted the 31LAX identity and modernized its news presentation. Full-length newscasts were discontinued in 2001 after continued competitive challenges, although the station later restored local news through an outsourced production arrangement. Beginning in 2007, the Independent News Network produced weeknight and Sunday evening newscasts, using reports from central Louisiana and anchors based elsewhere. Ownership changed repeatedly in the late 2010s and 2020s. Pollack-Belz agreed to sell KLAX-TV to a Northwest Broadcasting subsidiary in 2018. Northwest’s stations were subsequently incorporated into the Cox Media Group structure following acquisitions involving Apollo Global Management and related broadcasting assets. Cox sold KLAX-TV and other stations to Imagicomm Communications in 2022. Imagicomm later sold the station to Deltavision Media in 2025. Through these changes, KLAX-TV remained a local ABC-affiliated broadcaster focused on network programming, syndicated and syndicated-style content, local news, weather, public-service coverage, and digital or broadcast distribution for central Louisiana.
History
Planning for KLAX-TV began in 1979, when Jim Richards organized Cypress Communications to pursue a commercial UHF television allocation in Alexandria. Cypress selected channel 31 and received a construction permit in July 1980. The original business plan anticipated an ABC affiliation and an 1981 launch, but ABC declined the initial proposal and economic conditions delayed the project. Cypress later proceeded as an independent station. KLAX-TV went on the air on March 3, 1983. Its opening schedule included an extended preview broadcast and a sequence of 31 films, supported by local programs and news. The station initially transmitted from a temporary 250-foot tower at its England Drive studios while a much taller transmitter facility near Dry Prong was developed. Local news was quickly reduced: the evening broadcasts were consolidated and then replaced by brief hourly updates before the station’s first news operation ended in 1984. On September 23, 1985, KLAX-TV became an ABC affiliate. The change gave the network a stronger local presence because viewers had previously received ABC programming through distant or weak cable-imported stations. A local morning program, Great Day in the Morning, continued for a time but ended in 1986. Financial distress soon placed the station’s ownership and operations at risk. Cypress marketed KLAX-TV in 1986 while several creditors pursued claims concerning unpaid obligations. A proposed purchase by an investor consortium failed to close. In 1987, RCA repossessed the station’s transmitter and studio equipment, and Cypress sought Chapter 11 protection. The bankruptcy court considered competing bids and selected Pollack-Belz Communications in February 1988. Pollack-Belz, led by William Pollack, David Pollack, and Marty Belz, rebuilt the station’s transmission infrastructure and promised to reestablish local news. The revived news operation launched in October 1988 under the Cenla 31 First News and Cenla 31 News Tonight names. It went through several news directors and faced strong competition from KALB-TV, the established Alexandria market leader. KLAX-TV nevertheless expanded its potential audience when it served as the ABC affiliate of record for Monroe-area cable systems between 1994 and 1998. The station also operated at various times as a secondary UPN affiliate and, in 1996, adopted the 31LAX identity while refreshing its on-air news style. Full-length newscasts were discontinued in March 2001 and replaced with weekday Action News Updates. Pollack-Belz later acquired the low-power station KCLA, which provided programming from UPN, America One, and Urban America Television. In 2007, KLAX-TV restored longer local newscasts through a cost-conscious outsourcing arrangement with the Independent News Network. INN supplied anchors while reporters in central Louisiana contributed local material. The station entered a period of rapid ownership change in the late 2010s. Pollack-Belz agreed to sell it to Northwest Broadcasting in 2018. Northwest’s stations were subsequently associated with the broadcasting assets acquired by Apollo Global Management and combined with Cox Media Group. In 2022, Cox sold KLAX-TV and other stations to Imagicomm Communications. In 2025, Imagicomm sold the station to Deltavision Media. KLAX-TV continues to operate as an ABC-affiliated station serving Alexandria and the broader central Louisiana region.
- 2025
Sale to Deltavision Media
[1]Imagicomm sold KLAX-TV to Deltavision Media.
- 2022
Sale to Imagicomm Communications
[1]Cox sold KLAX-TV as part of a larger station transaction to Imagicomm Communications.
- 2018
Sale to Northwest Broadcasting
[1]Pollack-Belz agreed to sell KLAX-TV to a Northwest Broadcasting subsidiary.
- 2007
Outsourced news operation returns
[1]The Independent News Network began producing evening newscasts for KLAX-TV.
- 2001
Full-length local news discontinued
[1]KLAX-TV replaced its full local newscasts with shorter weekday news updates.
- 1996
31LAX branding introduced
[1]The station rebranded as 31LAX and updated its news presentation.
- 1988
Pollack-Belz takes ownership
[1]Pollack-Belz Communications acquired the station through the bankruptcy process and invested in its tower and news operation.
- 1987
Chapter 11 filing
[1]Cypress Communications filed for bankruptcy protection after creditor disputes and equipment repossession.
- 1985
ABC affiliation begins
[1]KLAX-TV became an ABC affiliate on September 23.
- 1983
Broadcast launch
[1]KLAX-TV began broadcasting as an independent station on March 3.
Products and positioning
A regional network-affiliated broadcast station serving Alexandria and central Louisiana, combining ABC programming with locally relevant news, weather, advertising, and community coverage.
Broadcast television · 1985
ABC affiliate programming
KLAX-TV carries programming supplied by the ABC network for viewers in Alexandria and central Louisiana. This network service became the station’s principal identity beginning in 1985, replacing its earlier independent-station programming model.
News broadcasting · 1983
Local news and weather
The station has maintained an intermittent local-news presence since its 1983 launch. Its news brands and production model have changed over time, including the Cenla 31 operation, Action News Updates, and outsourced evening newscasts produced with reporting from central Louisiana.
Digital broadcasting
Digital television subchannels
KLAX-TV multiplexes its broadcast signal to carry digital television services. The available subchannel lineup may change with ownership, network, and carriage arrangements.
Brand decisions
2007
Outsource evening news productionStrategyBackground
Management sought a cost-effective way to restore a regular local news presence.
Action taken
KLAX-TV contracted the Independent News Network to produce weeknight and Sunday evening newscasts, with central Louisiana reporting supplied locally.
Aftermath
The arrangement returned longer local newscasts without requiring the station to operate a fully staffed traditional newsroom.
2001
Replace full newscasts with brief updatesStrategyBackground
KLAX-TV remained behind the established local news leader despite earlier presentation and branding changes.
Action taken
The station discontinued full-length newscasts and introduced weekday Action News Updates.
Aftermath
A reduced local-news format remained until longer evening programming returned through an outsourced model in 2007.
1988
Rebuild local news under Pollack-BelzStrategyBackground
KLAX-TV’s first news operation had ended before the station entered bankruptcy proceedings.
Action taken
Pollack-Belz rebuilt the station’s facilities and launched Cenla 31-branded evening newscasts.
Aftermath
The station restored a local news department, although it continued to trail KALB-TV in ratings and experienced frequent news-director turnover.
1985
Adopt ABC affiliationStrategyBackground
The station had operated independently since launch, while local viewers often received ABC programming through distant or weak cable-imported signals.
Action taken
KLAX-TV joined ABC on September 23, 1985.
Aftermath
The affiliation established KLAX-TV as the local ABC outlet for Alexandria and central Louisiana.
Recent events
- 2025
Deltavision Media acquires KLAX-TV[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Imagicomm sold KLAX-TV and other stations to Deltavision Media, making Deltavision the station’s reported owner.
- 2022
Cox sells KLAX-TV to Imagicomm Communications[1]
M&A
KLAX-TV was included in the group of stations sold by Cox to Imagicomm Communications.
- 2018
Northwest Broadcasting agrees to buy KLAX-TV[1]
M&A
Pollack-Belz Communications agreed to sell the station to a Northwest Broadcasting subsidiary.
- 2007
KLAX-TV restores outsourced local newscasts[1]
Product launch
The Independent News Network began producing weeknight and Sunday evening newscasts for the station, supported by reporting from central Louisiana.
- 1988
Pollack-Belz acquires KLAX-TV through bankruptcy proceedings[1]
M&A
The bankruptcy court selected Pollack-Belz Communications as the purchaser and the company committed to improving the station’s facilities and local news service.
- 1987
Cypress Communications files for bankruptcy protection[1]
Bankruptcy
After creditor disputes, an abandoned sale, and repossession of broadcast equipment, Cypress placed the station in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
- 1985
KLAX-TV joins ABC[1]
Other
The station became an ABC affiliate on September 23 after the network accepted a revised affiliation proposal.
- 1983
KLAX-TV begins broadcasting as an independent station[1]
Other
KLAX-TV launched on March 3 with a preview broadcast, a movie marathon, local programs, and early local news.
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