KQFX-LD

KQFX-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Columbia, Missouri, and serving the Columbia–Jefferson City, or Mid-Missouri, television market. The station operates as a Fox affiliate under the consumer-facing brand Fox 22 and is part of the Networks of Mid-Missouri group with KMIZ, Columbia's ABC and MyNetworkTV affiliate. Both stations are owned by the News-Press & Gazette Company and share studio facilities on East Business Loop 70 in Columbia. The station's lineage traces to several low-power licenses rather than to one uninterrupted facility. Its oldest predecessor began broadcasting in 1990, when Ray Karpowicz launched K02NQ, commonly presented as KONQ, from a transmitter located at Columbia's Tiger Hotel. The early station carried a mixture of syndicated programming, films, rebroadcasts of local programming from KOMU-TV, and programming from the National College Television network. It later adopted programming from Channel America. A separate Columbia low-power operation, K11SN, began broadcasting in 1990 as KXI-TV under Tom Koenig. That station experimented with news, educational, music, film, and locally produced programming, including a simulcast of a local radio morning show. The Fox affiliation arrived in Mid-Missouri in 1997. Benedek Broadcasting, then the owner of KMIZ, acquired K02NQ and the Jefferson City low-power station K11TB and relaunched the operations as the market's first in-market, full-time Fox affiliate. The service was initially distributed on cable channel 11 and was commonly identified as Fox 11. Because of the limitations of a low-power over-the-air signal, some cable systems continued to import Fox programming from outside markets for a period of time. After the ownership of KMIZ and the associated low-power properties changed to JW Broadcasting, the company acquired K11SN in 2003 and added a KMIZ-produced 9 p.m. local newscast to the Fox service. The station's technical configuration changed again in the mid-2000s as the owners applied to move the relevant low-power operations to new channels. A new tower in Ashland, Missouri, supported the channel 38 Fox signal, while channel 32 was used for the KZOU-LP UPN service. Following the 2009 digital television transition, the Fox operation moved to digital channel 22 on the former K11SN/KZOU-LP license and adopted the Fox 22 identity. KQFX-LD also became available in high definition through a simulcast on KMIZ's fourth digital subchannel, 17.4. In 2012, JW Broadcasting sold KMIZ and KQFX-LD to the News-Press & Gazette Company for $16 million. Under NPG ownership, KQFX remained integrated with KMIZ's local news operation. In 2013, the station expanded its weeknight prime-time newscast from 30 minutes to one hour. The station's current programming role combines Fox network content with locally produced morning and late newscasts supplied by KMIZ, giving the NPG operation a shared-newsroom model across its Mid-Missouri television brands.

KQFX-LD developed through the consolidation and succession of multiple low-power television licenses in central Missouri. The earliest predecessor was K02NQ, a Columbia station established by Ray Karpowicz after he received Federal Communications Commission authorization in 1989. The station began broadcasting on June 4, 1990, from the Tiger Hotel in downtown Columbia and was generally known as KONQ. Its initial schedule included syndicated programs, movies, rebroadcasts of KOMU-TV programming, local news material, and National College Television content. By 1991, much of that programming had been replaced by Channel America content. Another predecessor, K11SN, began broadcasting in 1990 under Tom Koenig as KXI-TV. The station had been conceived as a low-power outlet that could promote the local news operation associated with channel 17, which had earlier been built by Koenig's father, Richard Koenig. KXI-TV carried a varied schedule that at different times included Star Television Network programming, All News Channel, The Learning Channel, Country Music Television, Movie Greats Network, locally produced shows, and a simulcast of a local radio morning program. In 1997, Benedek Broadcasting acquired K02NQ and K11TB, a low-power station serving Jefferson City. Benedek also owned Columbia ABC affiliate KMIZ. The company used the stations to establish Mid-Missouri's first full-time, in-market Fox affiliation. The operation initially used channel 11 distribution and was branded Fox 11. Its low-power technical reach meant that several cable providers still relied on Fox feeds from neighboring markets, but the affiliation created a local Fox presence for Columbia and Jefferson City. Following Tom Koenig's death in 2000, K11SN was sold in 2003 to JW Broadcasting, which had become the owner of KMIZ. JW added a KMIZ-produced 9 p.m. newscast to the Fox operation. In 2004, the company sought new channel assignments for K11TB and K11SN in response to the start of digital operations by KRCG-TV. A new tower near Ashland supported the channel 38 Fox signal, while channel 32 was used for a separate UPN service known as KZOU-LP. On June 14, 2009, shortly after the digital transition for full-power stations, the Fox operation moved from channel 38 to digital channel 22 on the former K11SN/KZOU-LP license. It adopted the Fox 22 identity and became associated with the KQFX-LD call sign. The station is also carried in high definition on KMIZ's fourth digital subchannel, 17.4, using the same general transmitter infrastructure. This arrangement extends the Fox service through both the station's own digital transmission and a multicast presentation on KMIZ. In 2012, JW Broadcasting sold KMIZ and KQFX-LD to the News-Press & Gazette Company. The stations continued to operate from shared Columbia studios as part of the Networks of Mid-Missouri. NPG expanded KQFX's weeknight prime-time newscast from 30 minutes to one hour in 2013. KQFX-LD's present role is that of a locally operated Fox affiliate: it carries Fox programming while relying on the shared KMIZ newsroom for morning and late local newscasts and other Mid-Missouri coverage.

• 2013

  Prime-time newscast expanded

  [1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KQFX expanded its weeknight prime-time newscast from 30 minutes to one hour.

• 2012

  Acquisition by News-Press & Gazette Company

  [1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  News-Press & Gazette Company acquired KQFX-LD and KMIZ from JW Broadcasting.

• 2009

  Move to digital channel 22

  [1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The Fox operation moved to digital channel 22 and adopted the Fox 22 brand after the digital television transition.

• 2003

  JW Broadcasting acquires K11SN

  [1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  JW Broadcasting acquired K11SN and added a KMIZ-produced 9 p.m. newscast to the Fox operation.

• 1997

  Full-time Fox affiliation established

  [1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Benedek Broadcasting acquired predecessor stations and launched a full-time, in-market Fox service for Mid-Missouri.

• 1990

  K02NQ begins broadcasting

  [1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  K02NQ, commonly known as KONQ, began broadcasting from the Tiger Hotel in Columbia on June 4.

• 1990

  K11SN launches as KXI-TV

  [1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  A separate Columbia low-power station, K11SN, began broadcasting under the KXI-TV identity.

• 1989

  FCC authorization obtained for K02NQ

  [1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Ray Karpowicz obtained authorization to build a low-power television station on channel 2 in Columbia, Missouri, creating the earliest predecessor in the KQFX lineage.

Local Fox affiliate focused on network entertainment and sports programming, Mid-Missouri news, weather, and market-specific coverage.

• Local television station · 2009

  Fox 22

  KQFX-LD's main consumer brand and local broadcast service. Fox 22 carries Fox network programming for the Columbia–Jefferson City market and supplements it with locally relevant news and weather produced through the station's relationship with KMIZ.

• Former television brand · 1997

  Fox 11

  The earlier branding used for the Mid-Missouri Fox service after Benedek Broadcasting established a full-time local affiliation in 1997. The name reflected the service's initial cable and low-power channel presentation before the later move to digital channel 22.

• Digital subchannel

  KMIZ simulcast on digital channel 17.4

  A high-definition presentation of KQFX-LD carried on KMIZ's fourth digital subchannel. The simulcast provides another over-the-air distribution path for Fox 22 programming in the Mid-Missouri market.

• Television news · 2003

  Local news programming

  KQFX carries morning and late local newscasts produced by KMIZ, as well as a weeknight prime-time newscast. The shared-newsroom model connects Fox 22 with the Networks of Mid-Missouri's broader local news operation.

• 2013

  Expansion of weeknight prime-time newsStrategy

  Background

  After the station's acquisition by News-Press & Gazette Company, the owner expanded the local news offering associated with the Fox affiliate.

  Action taken

  KQFX lengthened its weeknight prime-time newscast from 30 minutes to 60 minutes.

  Aftermath

  The change increased the amount of local news programming available under the Fox 22 brand and made greater use of the shared KMIZ newsroom.

  Source

• 2012

  Sale to News-Press & Gazette CompanyM&A

  Background

  JW Broadcasting owned KQFX-LD and KMIZ before selling the stations as a combined local television operation.

  Action taken

  News-Press & Gazette Company acquired KQFX-LD and KMIZ for $16 million.

  Aftermath

  KQFX remained paired with KMIZ and operated within the Networks of Mid-Missouri group under NPG ownership.

  Acquisition price. $16 million (2012 acquisition)

  Source

• 2009

  Transition to digital channel 22 and Fox 22 brandingGeneration change

  Background

  The digital television transition required changes to the station's technical configuration and license lineage. The Fox signal had previously operated on channel 38.

  Action taken

  On June 14, 2009, the operation moved to digital channel 22 on the former K11SN/KZOU-LP license and adopted the Fox 22 identity.

  Aftermath

  KQFX-LD became the station's established call-sign and brand presentation, with an additional high-definition simulcast on KMIZ digital channel 17.4.

  Source

• 2003

  Addition of a local 9 p.m. newscastProduct launch

  Background

  JW Broadcasting acquired K11SN after becoming the owner of KMIZ and sought to strengthen the Fox service with locally produced programming.

  Action taken

  The station added a 9 p.m. newscast produced by KMIZ.

  Aftermath

  KQFX's predecessor service gained a regular local-news component while sharing production resources with KMIZ.

  Source

• 1997

  Establishment of a full-time local Fox affiliateStrategy

  Background

  Before the change, Fox programming in the region was available through secondary arrangements, imported stations, or cable feeds from outside markets. Benedek Broadcasting owned KMIZ and acquired two low-power stations that could be used to establish an in-market Fox service.

  Action taken

  Benedek relaunched the acquired operations alongside KMIZ as a full-time Fox affiliate, initially using the Fox 11 identity and cable channel 11 distribution.

  Aftermath

  The move created a dedicated local Fox outlet for Mid-Missouri, although the low-power signal initially limited over-the-air reach and some cable systems continued to import Fox programming from other markets.

  Source

• 2013

  KQFX expands its weeknight prime-time newscast[1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Other

  The station lengthened its weeknight prime-time newscast from 30 minutes to 60 minutes under News-Press & Gazette ownership.

• 2012

  News-Press & Gazette Company acquires KQFX-LD and KMIZ[1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  News-Press & Gazette Company purchased KQFX-LD and KMIZ from JW Broadcasting, bringing the stations into the Networks of Mid-Missouri group.

• 2009

  KQFX adopts the Fox 22 identity after digital transition[1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The station moved to digital channel 22 following the television transition and began operating under the Fox 22 branding.

• 2003

  KMIZ-produced local news added to the Fox service[1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  After JW Broadcasting acquired the relevant low-power station, the Fox operation added a 9 p.m. local newscast produced by KMIZ.

• 1997

  Benedek Broadcasting brings full-time Fox affiliation to Mid-Missouri[1]KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Benedek Broadcasting acquired predecessor low-power stations in Columbia and Jefferson City and relaunched them alongside KMIZ as the market's first in-market, full-time Fox affiliate.

1. 1KQFX-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KQFX-LD official station pageabc17news.com