KMVU-DT
KMVU-DT is a Fox-affiliated television station serving Medford and Southern Oregon.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KMVU-DT is a full-power television station licensed to Medford, Oregon, and affiliated with the Fox network. It broadcasts on virtual channel 26 and uses the Fox 26 brand in the Medford television market. The station serves Southern Oregon and reaches additional viewers through low-power translators in Brookings, Grants Pass, and Yreka, California. Its principal studios are shared with KFBI-LD on Avion Drive in Medford, while its main transmitter is located on Mount Baldy near Phoenix, Oregon. The station was established in 1994 by Bob and June Sheehan. Before KMVU-DT began broadcasting, Medford-area viewers received Fox programming through the national Foxnet service rather than a locally licensed Fox affiliate. Startup financing and operational support came from Salmon River Communications through a leased-management arrangement involving Salmon River chief executive Robert J. Hamacher. The Federal Communications Commission approved a transfer of control before launch, and Peter Rogers became the station's first general manager in July 1994. Rogers had previously worked at KRON-TV in San Francisco and managed KMVU from 1994 through 2004. Salmon River Communications sold KMVU to Northwest Broadcasting in 1998. The station subsequently became part of several larger broadcasting portfolios. Apollo Global Management's acquisition of Northwest Broadcasting was structured through Terrier Media, which was later renamed Cox Media Group after Apollo also acquired Cox's radio and advertising operations. That transaction closed in December 2019. In 2022, Cox Media Group sold KMVU-DT, KFBI-LD, and other stations to Imagicomm Communications for a reported $488 million portfolio price. Imagicomm later agreed to sell KMVU-DT and KFBI-LD to Marquee Broadcasting; that transaction closed on May 1, 2025. KMVU has carried Fox network entertainment, sports, and news programming, supplemented by local programming produced for or distributed through the station. Its local news history includes Fox 26 First at Ten, a 10 p.m. newscast produced by Medford competitor KOBI-TV beginning in 2006, and Fox 26 Morning News Live at Seven, which launched in January 2011. KMVU ended its local newscasts on December 29, 2023, replacing the morning and late-evening news slots with syndicated programming. The station announced a return of weekday and weekend local news under the Fox 26 First News at 10 title in June 2025. The station completed the United States digital television transition on February 17, 2009. Its digital signal moved from pre-transition UHF channel 27 to UHF channel 26, while the station retained virtual channel 26. Over its history, KMVU has also been involved in carriage negotiations with cable and satellite distributors, including Northland Cable, DirecTV, and Dish Network. These disputes periodically affected access to Fox programming for subscribers in parts of the station's coverage area.
History
KMVU-DT was founded on August 8, 1994, by Bob and June Sheehan to provide a locally licensed Fox affiliate for Medford, Oregon. Before the station's launch, viewers in the market could access Fox programming through Foxnet, a national service, but did not have a conventional local Fox station. Salmon River Communications financed the startup under a leased-management agreement involving the Sheehans and Salmon River chief executive Robert J. Hamacher. After the FCC approved a transfer of control, Peter Rogers was appointed general manager in July 1994. Rogers came to KMVU from KRON-TV in San Francisco, where he had experience in programming, operations, production, and station administration. He remained in charge of KMVU through 2004. Salmon River sold the station to Northwest Broadcasting in 1998. During the Northwest era, KMVU developed a local-news presence while continuing to serve as the market's Fox affiliate. In 2006, it began airing Fox 26 First at Ten, a 10 p.m. newscast produced by competitor KOBI-TV. The station later introduced Fox 26 Morning News Live at Seven on January 10, 2011. Local news schedules changed over time, including weekend late-evening coverage and different anchor and weather teams. KMVU's distribution history has included several notable carriage disputes. In 2007, Northland Cable replaced KMVU with Chico, California, Fox affiliate KCVU-TV on systems serving Mount Shasta and Yreka after the parties failed to reach an agreement. The FCC later issued two Notices of Apparent Liability and proposed forfeitures totaling $40,000 against Northland for notice-related violations involving the channel change and removal. KMVU ultimately prevailed in the contract dispute and returned to Northland's previous channel in November 2008, displacing KCVU from those systems. The station also experienced a dispute with DirecTV during 2010–2012. The conflict threatened access to major Fox-televised football events, including the 2011 NFC Championship Game, the 2011 Pro Bowl, and Super Bowl XLV, although the immediate dispute was temporarily resolved. DirecTV dropped KMVU from its lineup on August 13, 2012, after which Northwest Broadcasting promoted alternative viewing options. KMVU returned to DirecTV on October 25, 2012. A later dispute with Dish Network began when the prior carriage agreement expired on January 18, 2020. The blackout remained unresolved as of February 2, 2020, creating uncertainty for Dish subscribers seeking to watch Super Bowl LV. The station changed ownership again as the television industry consolidated. Apollo Global Management acquired Northwest Broadcasting through a structure initially associated with Terrier Media. In 2019, that group was renamed Cox Media Group after Apollo combined it with Cox's radio and advertising businesses; the transaction closed on December 17, 2019. On March 29, 2022, Cox Media Group announced the sale of KMVU-DT, KFBI-LD, and 16 other stations to Imagicomm Communications, an affiliate of the parent company of the INSP cable network. The reported portfolio price was $488 million, and the transaction closed on August 1, 2022. On January 16, 2025, Imagicomm announced plans to sell KMVU-DT and KFBI-LD to Marquee Broadcasting as part of a broader reduction of its station holdings. Marquee completed the acquisition on May 1, 2025. The station announced in December 2023 that it would stop producing local newscasts, replacing the 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. slots with syndicated or off-network programming. On June 9, 2025, KMVU announced the return of local news under the Fox 26 First News at 10 title. The station continues to transmit digitally on virtual channel 26, with its primary transmitter on Mount Baldy near Phoenix, Oregon, and translators serving Brookings, Grants Pass, and Yreka.
- 2025
Marquee Broadcasting becomes owner
[1]Marquee Broadcasting completes its purchase of KMVU-DT and KFBI-LD on May 1.
- 2025
Local news returns
[1]KMVU announces the return of Fox 26 First News at 10 after the station's local-news hiatus.
- 2023
Local news production ends
[1]KMVU ends its local newscasts on December 29 and replaces the affected time slots with other programming.
- 2022
Imagicomm acquisition closes
[1]Imagicomm Communications completes its purchase of KMVU-DT and related stations from Cox Media Group on August 1.
- 2019
Station enters Cox Media Group portfolio
[1]Apollo's broadcasting group, initially called Terrier Media, operates as Cox Media Group after the relevant acquisitions close.
- 2011
Morning news program launches
[1]Fox 26 Morning News Live at Seven debuts on January 10.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KMVU shuts down its analog UHF channel 26 signal and relocates its digital signal to channel 26.
- 2006
Fox 26 First at Ten begins
[1]KMVU begins airing a 10 p.m. local newscast produced by KOBI-TV.
- 1998
Sale to Northwest Broadcasting
[1]Salmon River Communications sells KMVU to Northwest Broadcasting.
- 1994
KMVU-DT is founded and launched
[1]Bob and June Sheehan establish the station, which becomes Medford's local Fox affiliate after startup support from Salmon River Communications.
Products and positioning
A locally focused Fox network affiliate serving Medford, Southern Oregon, and nearby Northern California communities.
Network television · 1994
Fox network programming
KMVU-DT's principal programming product is the Fox network schedule, including entertainment, news-related programming, and nationally televised sports. The station distributes this content over its digital broadcast signal and through participating cable and satellite providers in its coverage area.
Local news · 2025
Fox 26 First News at 10
Fox 26 First News at 10 is KMVU's branded late-evening local news offering. The station announced its return in June 2025 after ending local newscasts in December 2023. The program is intended to provide local reporting and weather coverage for the Medford and Southern Oregon market.
Local news · 2006
Fox 26 First at Ten
Fox 26 First at Ten was a late-evening newscast carried by KMVU beginning in 2006. It was produced by competitor KOBI-TV rather than entirely by KMVU's own newsroom, illustrating the station's use of local-news partnerships to provide a market-specific news service.
Local news · 2011
Fox 26 Morning News Live at Seven
Fox 26 Morning News Live at Seven was KMVU's morning local-news program, launched on January 10, 2011. It expanded the station's local schedule into the morning period and was later associated with anchors including Blakely McHugh and Kyle Aevermann.
Brand decisions
2025
Return of local news programmingProduct launchBackground
After discontinuing local newscasts in late 2023, KMVU announced a renewed local-news offering.
Action taken
On June 9, 2025, the station announced that Fox 26 First News at 10 would return on weekdays and weekends.
Aftermath
The announcement restored a branded local-news presence to KMVU's schedule, although the available reference does not specify the full staffing or production arrangement.
2023
End of local newscastsStrategyBackground
KMVU reviewed its local programming schedule after several years of carrying locally branded morning and late-evening news offerings.
Action taken
The station ended local newscasts on December 29, 2023, replacing the morning and late-evening news slots with syndicated and off-network programming.
Aftermath
The station later announced a return of local news in 2025.
2009
Transition from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
Federal television transition requirements prompted full-power stations to discontinue analog broadcasting.
Action taken
KMVU shut down its analog UHF channel 26 signal on February 17, 2009, and moved its digital transmission from pre-transition channel 27 to channel 26.
Aftermath
The station continued to be identified by virtual channel 26 while operating as a digital television station.
Recent events
- 2025
Marquee Broadcasting completes acquisition of KMVU-DT[1]
M&A
Marquee Broadcasting completed its purchase of KMVU-DT and KFBI-LD from Imagicomm Communications on May 1.
- 2025
KMVU announces return of local news[1]
Product launch
The station announced that Fox 26 First News at 10 would return after the local-news hiatus that began in December 2023.
- 2023
KMVU ends local newscasts[1]
Other
The station announced that it would discontinue its local morning and late-evening newscasts on December 29, replacing them with syndicated programming.
- 2022
Cox Media Group agrees to sell KMVU-DT to Imagicomm Communications[1]
M&A
Cox Media Group announced the sale of KMVU-DT, KFBI-LD, and 16 other stations to Imagicomm Communications in a reported $488 million portfolio transaction.
- 2019
Apollo completes acquisition of Northwest Broadcasting through Cox Media Group[1]
M&A
Northwest Broadcasting became part of the broadcasting group assembled by Apollo Global Management and operated under the Cox Media Group name.
- 2011
KMVU launches a locally distributed morning newscast[1]
Product launch
KMVU introduced Fox 26 Morning News Live at Seven, expanding its local news schedule beyond the existing late-evening offering.
- 1998
Northwest Broadcasting acquires KMVU-DT[1]
M&A
Salmon River Communications sold the station to Northwest Broadcasting, beginning its long period within that broadcasting group.
- 1994
KMVU-DT begins operation as Medford's local Fox affiliate[1]
Product launch
The station was founded and launched in Medford, giving local viewers a terrestrial Fox affiliate instead of relying on the national Foxnet service.
Sources2 sources
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