KMSP-TV

KMSP-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area and the wider Upper Midwest. It operates as a Fox owned-and-operated station through Fox Television Stations and uses the Fox 9 identity in local news, promotional material, and digital services. The station is paired with WFTC, a separate station carried on a digital subchannel and associated with MyNetworkTV programming. Both operations share studios on Viking Drive in Eden Prairie, while KMSP’s transmitter is located at the KMSP Tower in Shoreview. The station began broadcasting on January 9, 1955, as KEYD-TV, a DuMont affiliate established by Family Broadcasting Corporation. Its early history was marked by rapid changes in ownership, network affiliation, programming strategy, and call letters. In 1956, the station became KMGM-TV during negotiations involving Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film rights and a possible studio investment. Those arrangements were later unwound, and the station adopted the KMSP-TV call sign in 1958 under National Telefilm Associates. Twentieth Century-Fox acquired the station in 1959, and the business subsequently became part of United Television. KMSP joined ABC in 1961, but for much of its network-affiliated period it struggled to compete with the Twin Cities’ stronger CBS and NBC stations. ABC ultimately moved its affiliation to KSTP-TV in 1979. After NBC also declined to affiliate with KMSP, the station became independent and repositioned itself around syndicated entertainment, films, local sports, and a more flexible schedule. Its “Receptive Channel 9” identity emphasized viewer-oriented programming rather than dependence on a national network. The independent format proved successful, and KMSP developed broad cable distribution across Minnesota and neighboring states. Local rights to Minnesota sports and high-school championship events were important components of its regional profile. KMSP became one of Fox’s original affiliates when the network launched in October 1986. Because Fox initially supplied only a limited schedule, the station continued to operate in many respects like an independent. Disagreements over Fox’s programming, particularly its Saturday-night lineup, led to the affiliation ending in 1988. KMSP returned to independent status before becoming a charter affiliate and later an owned-and-operated station of UPN, the network created by Chris-Craft/United Television and Paramount. UPN launched in 1995 with KMSP as one of its affiliated outlets, and the station combined network programming with local sports and other locally relevant content. News Corporation agreed to acquire Chris-Craft Industries and its television stations in 2000, completing the transaction in 2001. The purchase returned KMSP to common ownership with the Fox organization and created the basis for a later Twin Cities affiliation realignment involving KMSP and WFTC. KMSP’s stronger VHF signal and established local-news operation made it the preferred Fox outlet in the market. In its current form, the station’s principal business is local television news, weather, sports, and community programming, supplemented by Fox network content and digital video distributed through Fox 9’s website and related platforms. Its over-the-air and cable footprint extends beyond the core Twin Cities market, including carriage in parts of Canada.

KMSP-TV traces its origins to an application filed by Family Broadcasting Corporation for a commercial station on Minneapolis channel 9. The station began operations on January 9, 1955, as KEYD-TV and initially carried programming from the DuMont Television Network. Harry Reasoner, later known nationally for his work with CBS News and 60 Minutes, was an early news anchor and news director. DuMont’s closure in 1956 left the station independent and encouraged a series of ownership and programming changes. United Television acquired the station in 1956. During negotiations to obtain Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film rights and possible studio backing, the call letters changed to KMGM-TV. The proposed MGM relationship generated regulatory and trademark objections, but the call-sign change was permitted. National Telefilm Associates acquired control of the station in 1957, connected it with the NTA Film Network, and restored a stronger schedule that included newscasts. In 1958, the station adopted the KMSP-TV call sign. Twentieth Century-Fox purchased it in 1959, retaining the United Television corporate structure. KMSP became an ABC affiliate in April 1961. The affiliation gave it a national network schedule, but the station remained a weak performer in the Twin Cities market for much of the period. In the early 1970s, it moved its facilities from downtown Minneapolis to Edina and constructed a new transmission tower in Shoreview. ABC’s growing national strength led the network to demand improvements in KMSP’s local performance. The station responded with a new “ABC9” identity and a revamped news operation, but the changes did not produce a sustained ratings turnaround. ABC announced in 1978 that KSTP-TV would become its new Twin Cities affiliate. KMSP unsuccessfully sought NBC affiliation and prepared to operate independently after the switch took place in March 1979. The station adopted the “Receptive Channel 9” brand and built a schedule around cartoons, syndicated programs, films, local sports, and the locally associated American Wrestling Association. It acquired rights to Minnesota high-school championships, Minnesota North Stars hockey, and Minnesota Twins baseball. Cable carriage expanded the station’s reach across Minnesota and into parts of neighboring states, turning KMSP into a prominent regional independent. Twentieth Century-Fox spun United Television off as a separate company in 1981. Chris-Craft Industries subsequently increased its ownership and gained control. KMSP joined the Fox network at its October 1986 launch, but the affiliation was short-lived. Fox’s initially limited schedule allowed the station to remain substantially independent, yet disputes over programming—especially Fox’s Saturday-night offerings—preceded the termination of the affiliation in 1988. KMSP then returned to independent broadcasting and later carried programming from the Prime Time Entertainment Network during the 1990s. Chris-Craft and Paramount formed UPN, which launched in January 1995. KMSP became a UPN affiliate and initially qualified as an owned-and-operated station because of Chris-Craft’s ownership interest in the network. Viacom’s purchase of a stake in UPN and subsequent exercise of a buyout provision ended KMSP’s owned-and-operated status, although the station continued as a UPN affiliate. KMSP remained notable for its local sports output, including Minnesota Twins coverage and state high-school championship programming. News Corporation agreed to purchase Chris-Craft Industries in 2000, completing the acquisition in July 2001. The transaction returned KMSP to Fox corporate ownership. Fox favored using KMSP’s stronger VHF signal and established news operation for its Twin Cities programming, while WFTC provided the market’s other relevant station platform. KMSP ultimately emerged as the Fox 9 station serving Minneapolis–Saint Paul. It operates from Eden Prairie, transmits from Shoreview, and maintains additional distribution through translators, satellite facilities, cable systems, and Canadian providers.

• 2001

  Fox ownership returns

  [1]KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org

  News Corporation completes its purchase of Chris-Craft Industries and its stations, including KMSP-TV.

• 1995

  UPN launches

  [1]KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KMSP becomes a charter UPN affiliate when the network begins operations.

• 1988

  Fox affiliation ends

  [1]KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Fox moves its Twin Cities affiliation to KITN-TV, and KMSP returns to independent status.

• 1986

  First Fox affiliation

  [1]KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KMSP becomes an original Fox affiliate at the network’s launch.

• 1979

  Return to independent broadcasting

  [1]KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org

  After losing ABC and failing to secure NBC, KMSP launches a new independent schedule branded Receptive Channel 9.

• 1961

  ABC affiliation begins

  [1]KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KMSP takes over ABC programming in the Twin Cities.

• 1959

  Twentieth Century-Fox acquisition

  [1]KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Twentieth Century-Fox purchases KMSP-TV from National Telefilm Associates.

• 1958

  KMSP-TV call letters adopted

  [1]KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org

  National Telefilm Associates changes the station’s call sign to KMSP-TV.

• 1956

  Ownership and call-sign changes begin

  [1]KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org

  United Television acquires the station, which changes its call letters to KMGM-TV during negotiations involving MGM film rights.

• 1955

  KEYD-TV signs on

  [1]KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel 9 station begins broadcasting from Minneapolis as a DuMont affiliate.

A regional Fox broadcast brand combining national network programming with locally focused news, weather, sports, and community coverage for Minnesota’s Twin Cities and adjacent markets.

• Local television news

  Fox 9 local news

  KMSP’s principal consumer-facing offering is locally produced news for Minneapolis–Saint Paul and surrounding Minnesota communities. The service covers regional politics, public safety, education, business, weather, traffic, sports, and community events, and is distributed through broadcast television and the Fox 9 digital platform.

• Digital media

  Fox 9 digital services

  The Fox 9 website and associated digital channels extend the station’s reporting beyond scheduled broadcasts. They provide written stories, video, weather information, traffic updates, alerts, and other locally relevant material for audiences using web and connected-device platforms.

• Sports broadcasting

  Regional sports programming

  Historically, KMSP used local sports rights to differentiate itself from network competitors. Its independent-era schedule included Minnesota Twins baseball, Minnesota North Stars hockey, and Minnesota State High School League championship events.

• 2001

  Return to Fox corporate ownershipM&A

  Background

  News Corporation acquired Chris-Craft Industries, bringing KMSP back into the Fox television station group.

  Action taken

  Fox Television Stations assumed ownership and used the acquisition to reorganize its Twin Cities station holdings and affiliation strategy.

  Aftermath

  KMSP became the market’s Fox station, supported by its stronger VHF signal and established local-news operation.

  Source

• 1995

  Become a UPN charter affiliateStrategy

  Background

  Chris-Craft and Paramount created UPN as a new national television network.

  Action taken

  KMSP carried UPN’s launch programming and operated as an owned-and-operated station for an initial period because of Chris-Craft’s network interest.

  Aftermath

  Viacom’s later acquisition of a UPN stake removed KMSP’s owned-and-operated designation, but the station remained affiliated with UPN until Fox ownership changed its network strategy.

  Source

• 1986

  Join the newly launched Fox networkStrategy

  Background

  Fox offered a network affiliation without initially imposing a full seven-day schedule, making the arrangement compatible with KMSP’s independent operating model.

  Action taken

  KMSP became one of Fox’s original charter affiliates.

  Aftermath

  The relationship ended in 1988 after disagreements over Fox programming, particularly the network’s Saturday-night lineup.

  Source

• 1979

  Shift from ABC affiliation to independent broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  ABC selected KSTP-TV as its new Twin Cities affiliate, while NBC declined KMSP’s proposal to replace the departing ABC schedule.

  Action taken

  KMSP removed network affiliation branding and launched an independent schedule centered on syndicated entertainment, films, local sports, and lower-cost programming.

  Aftermath

  The station became a successful regional independent and expanded cable distribution across Minnesota and neighboring states.

  Source

1. 1KMSP-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Fox 9 official websitefox9.com