KLSR-TV

KLSR-TV is a commercial television station serving Eugene, Oregon, and nearby communities. Broadcasting on virtual channel 34, it is affiliated with the Fox network and operates alongside sister station KEVU-CD. The stations share studio facilities on Chad Drive in Eugene, while KLSR-TV's transmitter is located on Blanton Heights. KLSR's programming is also distributed through a network of digital translators serving communities across southern and south-central Oregon. The station began broadcasting on June 12, 1987, as the low-power station K25AS. It was established by Metrocom of Oregon and initially used an unusual locally oriented format centered on music videos, supplemented by hourly news updates, syndicated programming, a morning show, and a midday bingo program. Although the station did not initially have cable carriage in Eugene, it attracted enough viewers to earn approximately a one-percent audience share later in its first year. That early performance helped KLSR secure a Fox affiliation in January 1988, making it the first low-power station to affiliate with the network. KLSR expanded its reach during its early years. A translator was added to serve Corvallis in 1989, and the station eventually obtained carriage on the Tele-Communications Inc. cable system in Eugene. It also carried Portland Trail Blazers basketball under a three-year agreement beginning in 1990. KLSR developed local news programming as well; its own 10 p.m. program, known as Prime Time News, was on the air by 1989. Later arrangements involved Eugene CBS affiliate KVAL-TV, which produced KLSR newscasts at different points and ultimately became the station's recurring news provider. Ownership changed in the 1990s as California Oregon Broadcasting, Inc. expanded its Oregon television portfolio. The company acquired KLSR in 1993 and later acquired the full-power independent station KEVU, which had begun operating on channel 34 in 1991. Although the intended long-term plan was to move Fox programming to KEVU's full-power facility, the swap was delayed. On April 1, 1997, the stations exchanged transmission facilities: KLSR moved to full-power channel 34 and adopted the KLSR-TV designation, while KEVU moved to the former low-power channel 25 facility and became KEVU-LP. KLSR-TV has continued to operate primarily as a Fox network affiliate, carrying network entertainment, sports, and news programming together with locally focused news supplied by KVAL-TV. On weeknights, KVAL produces KLSR's 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts; KLSR has also carried rebroadcasts of KVAL's weekend evening news and a weekday morning program. The station's 10 p.m. newscast was expanded to a full hour for a period between 2016 and 2017 before returning to a half-hour format. In 2022, California Oregon Broadcasting sold KLSR-TV and KEVU-CD to Cox Media Group for $7.222 million. The acquisition placed the Eugene stations within Cox's broader U.S. local-media portfolio. KLSR-TV remains an active local broadcast brand, combining Fox network programming with regional news coverage, syndicated content, advertising, and over-the-air distribution through translators.

KLSR-TV traces its origins to June 12, 1987, when Metrocom of Oregon launched a low-power Eugene television station under the call sign K25AS. The station used KLSR as its public identity and initially relied on a locally distinctive schedule. Weekday programming emphasized music videos, while the station also offered hourly news updates, syndicated shows, a morning program, and a midday bingo feature with prizes. Local radio personalities and station personnel contributed to the on-air schedule. The morning show was hosted by Christopher Judge, a former University of Oregon football player who later pursued an acting career. KLSR achieved an early audience share despite being absent from local cable systems. Its performance helped it obtain a Fox affiliation in January 1988, a notable development because it was the first low-power television station to affiliate with Fox. The station added a translator serving Corvallis in 1989 and worked for several years to secure cable carriage in Eugene. It initially shared cable time with KTVU, the Oakland Fox station, before receiving full-time carriage beginning in 1990. That same year KLSR entered a three-year arrangement to broadcast Portland Trail Blazers basketball games, giving it an additional regional sports offering. The station initially operated from studios on 18th Avenue and later moved to Goodpasture Island Road. In 1992, Metrocom agreed to sell KLSR to California Oregon Broadcasting, Inc. for $3.15 million. Metrocom's principal stakeholder, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, was seeking to leave the broadcasting business. The transaction also reflected broader regional expansion by Oregon broadcasters: California Oregon Broadcasting owned KOBI-TV in Medford and was responding to the expansion of Eugene-based Chambers Communications into the Medford market. California Oregon Broadcasting acquired KLSR in 1993 and later acquired KEVU, a full-power Eugene station that had begun broadcasting on channel 34 on September 30, 1991. KEVU had initially operated as a low-budget independent station and joined UPN when that network launched in January 1995. California Oregon Broadcasting originally indicated that Fox programming would eventually move from KLSR to KEVU's full-power channel 34 facility. The planned move did not occur immediately, however, and KLSR continued as the Eugene Fox affiliate while the stations retained separate identities and transmission arrangements. On April 1, 1997, the two stations exchanged facilities. KLSR moved to channel 34, became KLSR-TV, and used KEVU's full-power transmission facilities. KEVU moved to the former low-power channel 25 operation and became KEVU-LP. The stations retained their existing cable channel positions even though their broadcast facilities changed. During the same period, California Oregon Broadcasting began developing a new studio facility on Chad Drive intended to support a news operation. Local news has been an important part of KLSR-TV's identity. By 1989, the station was producing a 10 p.m. program called Prime Time News. In October 1991, KLSR entered a production agreement with KVAL-TV, Eugene's CBS affiliate, for a 10 p.m. newscast. The arrangement initially lasted at least six months and continued for roughly two years before KVAL withdrew, citing weak ratings. During the mid-1990s, KLSR instead carried a half-hour of Northwest Cable News at 10 p.m. In later years, KVAL resumed a news-sharing relationship with KLSR. The current arrangement described in reference material has KVAL producing KLSR's weeknight 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts, along with selected weekend and morning rebroadcasts. The 10 p.m. program was temporarily expanded to an hour between 2016 and 2017. The station's regulatory history includes a 2012 FCC forfeiture against California Oregon Broadcasting. The company failed to file children's educational and informational programming documentation for KLSR-TV's Eugene translator, K19GH-D, during the preceding four years, although filings had been made for the main station. The FCC imposed a $13,000 fine. KLSR-TV's ownership changed again in 2022, when California Oregon Broadcasting sold KLSR-TV and KEVU-CD to Cox Media Group for $7.222 million. The stations share studios on Chad Drive in Eugene under Cox ownership. KLSR's signal is distributed from Blanton Heights and is rebroadcast by digital translators serving communities including Corvallis, Coos Bay, Roseburg, Cottage Grove, Florence, Canyonville, London Springs, Powers, and Yoncalla. The station shut down its analog signal on February 17, 2009, and continued digitally on UHF channel 31 while retaining virtual channel 34.

• 2022

  Cox Media Group ownership begins

  [1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Cox Media Group acquires KLSR-TV and KEVU-CD from California Oregon Broadcasting.

• 2012

  FCC regulatory forfeiture

  [1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC fines California Oregon Broadcasting $13,000 for missing children's programming documentation for a KLSR translator.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KLSR-TV ends analog broadcasting and continues digital transmission on UHF channel 31 with virtual channel 34.

• 1997

  KLSR moves to full-power channel 34

  [1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KLSR becomes KLSR-TV and takes over the full-power channel 34 facility, while KEVU moves to channel 25.

• 1992

  Sale to California Oregon Broadcasting agreed

  [1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Metrocom agrees to sell KLSR to California Oregon Broadcasting as its principal stakeholder exits broadcasting.

• 1990

  Full-time Eugene cable carriage begins

  [1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  After earlier shared-time carriage, KLSR obtains full-time placement on the Eugene cable system.

• 1989

  Corvallis translator added

  [1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station expands its over-the-air reach with a translator serving Corvallis.

• 1988

  Fox affiliation begins

  [1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KLSR joins Fox, becoming the first low-power station to affiliate with the network.

• 1987

  KLSR begins broadcasting

  [1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Metrocom of Oregon launches the low-power Eugene station K25AS, publicly branded as KLSR.

A local Fox television station serving Eugene and a broad surrounding Oregon territory, combining national network programming with locally produced or locally branded news and regional advertising.

• Broadcast television · 1988

  Fox network service

  KLSR-TV's central offering is its local Fox affiliation on virtual channel 34. The service carries Fox's national schedule, including entertainment, sports, and network news programming, alongside station branding and local commercial inventory for viewers in the Eugene market and surrounding Oregon communities.

• Television news · 1989

  KLSR-TV local news

  KLSR-TV has carried local news under several production arrangements. Its current referenced schedule includes weeknight 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts produced by KVAL-TV, together with selected rebroadcasts of KVAL weekend evening news and a weekday morning half-hour.

• Broadcast distribution · 1989

  Translator network

  KLSR-TV's programming is rebroadcast through digital translator facilities serving a wide regional footprint. Listed translator communities include Corvallis, Coos Bay, Roseburg, Cottage Grove, Florence, Canyonville, London Springs, Powers, and Yoncalla.

• 2022

  Sale to Cox Media GroupM&A

  Background

  California Oregon Broadcasting sold KLSR-TV together with KEVU-CD as part of a change in ownership of the Eugene television properties.

  Action taken

  Cox Media Group acquired the two stations for $7.222 million.

  Aftermath

  KLSR-TV became part of Cox Media Group's broadcast portfolio and continued operating from shared Eugene studios with KEVU-CD.

  Acquisition price. $7.222 million (2022 transaction)

  Source

• 1997

  Exchange of KLSR and KEVU transmission facilitiesStrategy

  Background

  California Oregon Broadcasting owned both KLSR and the full-power KEVU operation and had previously discussed moving Fox programming to the full-power channel 34 facility.

  Action taken

  KLSR moved to channel 34 and adopted the KLSR-TV designation, while KEVU moved to the former low-power channel 25 facility and became KEVU-LP.

  Aftermath

  KLSR retained its Fox affiliation while gaining the technical facilities associated with the full-power channel 34 operation.

  Source

• 2022

  Cox Media Group acquires KLSR-TV and KEVU-CD[1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Cox Media Group purchased KLSR-TV and KEVU-CD from California Oregon Broadcasting, expanding its ownership of broadcast properties in the Eugene market.

• 2012

  FCC fines California Oregon Broadcasting over children's programming records[1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The FCC assessed a $13,000 forfeiture after required educational and informational programming paperwork was not filed for KLSR-TV's Eugene translator over a four-year period.

• 1997

  KLSR-TV and KEVU-TV facilities are exchanged[1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  California Oregon Broadcasting moved KLSR to the full-power channel 34 facility and shifted KEVU to the former low-power channel 25 facility.

• 1988

  KLSR becomes a Fox affiliate[1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After quickly attracting viewers despite lacking cable carriage, KLSR secured a Fox affiliation and became the first low-power station to join the network.

• 1987

  KLSR-TV launches as a low-power Eugene station[1]KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station began broadcasting as K25AS, using the KLSR identity and a schedule built around music videos, local features, news updates, and syndicated programming.

1. 1KLSR-TVen.wikipedia.org