KSNF

KSNF is a television station licensed to Joplin, Missouri, and serving viewers across southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas. The station operates as the market's NBC affiliate and is identified locally through the KSN and KSN 16 brands. Its programming combines NBC network content, locally produced news, syndicated programs, weather coverage, community reporting, and selected digital multicast services. KSNF is part of Nexstar Media Group's Joplin operations and shares facilities and certain operational arrangements with KODE-TV, the market's ABC affiliate, which is owned by Mission Broadcasting. The stations share studios on South Cleveland Avenue in Joplin, and KSNF's transmitter is located at the same general site. KSNF began broadcasting on January 4, 1968, under the call sign KUHI-TV. It was the first station in the Joplin–Pittsburg market to use the UHF band. The station initially carried CBS programming and was owned by Marvin Caldwell & Associates. In 1975, Mid-America Broadcasting sold the station to the owners of the Kansas State Network, after which it adopted the KTVJ call letters. The station became KSNF in August 1982 and changed from CBS to NBC shortly afterward in an affiliation exchange with KOAM-TV. Although its original connection with the Kansas State Network eventually ended, the KSN identity remained established with local audiences. Ownership changed several times. Price Communications acquired the station in 1986 and later sold it, along with two other NBC affiliates, to U.S. Broadcast Group in 1995. Nexstar Broadcasting Group, now Nexstar Media Group, acquired KSNF in 1998. In the early 2000s, Nexstar planned a closer operational integration of KSNF and KODE-TV. Some departments moved between the facilities, but the consolidation was not fully completed for several years. Nexstar's later acquisition of the Kansas State Network stations reunited KSNF with stations that had once shared the KSN identity. A major turning point came in May 2009, when severe thunderstorms destroyed KSNF's transmission tower and heavily damaged the station's studio. The collapse interrupted regular over-the-air broadcasting. During the outage, the station supplied short news updates through its FourStatesHomepage.com website, while NBC programming could be received in parts of the market from out-of-market stations. KSNF returned to the air in June 2009 through a temporary digital arrangement using KODE-TV's signal. It subsequently rebuilt and remodeled its facilities and resumed operations from the South Cleveland Avenue complex. The station has continued to develop its local-news operation and digital distribution. NBC high-definition programming became available to local cable and satellite viewers in 2008, followed by a transition of local newscasts to 1080i high definition in December 2012. KSNF expanded its local schedule with an hour-long early-evening newscast and introduced the lifestyle program Living Well in the 4 p.m. period. In May 2023, it adopted the KSN 16 identity, restoring the channel number to its logo and news presentation while introducing a new studio set. Today, KSNF remains a regional broadcast and local-information brand whose principal value comes from NBC affiliation, local news, weather, emergency coverage, and its cross-platform Four States presence.

KSNF signed on January 4, 1968, as KUHI-TV, a CBS affiliate licensed to Joplin, Missouri. Owned by Marvin Caldwell & Associates, it was the first UHF television station in the Joplin–Pittsburg market. Mid-America Broadcasting later sold the station to the owners of the Kansas State Network. In 1975, the new owners changed its call sign to KTVJ, reflecting its Joplin identity. The station became KSNF on August 23, 1982. Approximately two weeks later, it exchanged network affiliations with KOAM-TV and joined NBC. For a period, KSNF partially simulcast programming from Wichita NBC affiliate KSNW. That arrangement ended after SJL Communications acquired the KSN stations and reduced costs by discontinuing microwave links serving KSNF and other stations. Even after the operational relationship ended, the KSN branding remained familiar in the local market. Price Communications acquired KSNF in 1986. In 1995, Price sold the station and fellow NBC affiliates KJAC-TV in Beaumont, Texas, and KFDX-TV in Wichita Falls, Texas, to U.S. Broadcast Group. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired KSNF, KFDX-TV, and KBTV-TV from U.S. Broadcast Group in January 1998. The station launched its digital signal on channel 46 in 2003. Nexstar announced plans in 2002 to combine aspects of KSNF's operation with KODE-TV, an ABC affiliate licensed to Joplin. The stations used joint sales and shared-services arrangements, and departments gradually moved between facilities, although the intended consolidation remained incomplete for years. KSNF began delivering NBC programming in high definition to local cable and satellite viewers in June 2008. At that stage, local and syndicated programming remained in standard definition while the station upgraded its production systems. On May 8, 2009, severe thunderstorms caused the KSNF tower to fall onto the studio and nearby homes. The damage stopped the station's normal broadcast transmission. KSNF maintained a limited public presence through several short daily news updates on FourStatesHomepage.com, while viewers in portions of the market could obtain NBC programming from distant stations. On June 17, KSNF returned to the air as a digital subchannel of KODE-TV and operated temporarily from a news set inside KODE's facility. Plans to move both operations into remodeled KSNF studios were announced publicly in 2010. The news department expanded and changed its presentation over the following decade. In 2010, KSNF introduced the area's first hour-long 6 p.m. newscast. In 2011, it replaced its 5 p.m. newscast with the hour-long Living Well lifestyle program at 4 p.m., retaining Jeopardy! in the 5 p.m. slot before NBC Nightly News. Local newscasts moved to 1080i high definition in December 2012, accompanied by the KSN Local News brand. In May 2023, the station reintroduced the channel number through the KSN 16 identity, renamed its news programming KSN 16 Your Local News, and unveiled a new studio set. KSNF currently operates as a Nexstar-owned NBC affiliate serving the Four States region, with local news, weather, network programming, syndicated content, and digital distribution as its principal activities.

1. 2023KSN 16 rebrand

   The station restores channel 16 to its branding and introduces a new set.

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2. 2012Local news moves to high definition

   KSNF launches 1080i local newscasts and adopts the KSN Local News presentation.

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3. 2009Storm damage and temporary return

   A severe storm destroys the tower; the station later resumes service through KODE-TV while rebuilding.

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4. 2003Digital signal launches

   KSNF begins digital transmission on channel 46.

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5. 1998Nexstar ownership begins

   Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquires KSNF from U.S. Broadcast Group.

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6. 1982KSNF identity and NBC affiliation begin

   The station adopts KSNF and becomes an NBC affiliate after exchanging affiliations with KOAM-TV.

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7. 1975Call sign changes to KTVJ

   Following a change in ownership, the station adopts the KTVJ call sign.

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8. 1968KUHI-TV signs on

   The Joplin station begins broadcasting as KUHI-TV, a CBS affiliate and the market's first UHF station.

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A regional NBC affiliate and local-news provider for the Four States area, combining network entertainment and news with Joplin-centered reporting, weather, and community information.

• KSN 16 Your Local NewsLocal television news2023

  KSNF's principal local-news identity, covering Joplin and communities across the Four States region. The operation includes scheduled newscasts, regional reporting, weather, breaking-news coverage, and digital extensions through the station's website. In 2023, the news brand was updated to KSN 16 Your Local News as part of a broader station rebrand.

• NBC programmingNetwork television1982

  KSNF carries most of the NBC schedule for its regional service area. The station has not historically cleared every NBC overnight and lifestyle program, and it does not carry the Sunday edition of Today, using some periods for syndicated programming instead.

• Living WellLifestyle television2011

  An hour-long local lifestyle program introduced in the 4 p.m. period after KSNF discontinued its 5 p.m. newscast in 2011. The program represented an effort to broaden the station's locally produced content beyond conventional news and weather.

• FourStatesHomepage.comDigital news platform

  KSNF's web presence supports local reporting, weather, video, alerts, and station information for the Joplin–Pittsburg region. During the 2009 transmission outage, the website carried brief recurring news updates while the television signal was unavailable.

• Digital multicast servicesMulticast television2021

  KSNF's digital platform has carried additional television networks alongside its NBC service. The station added Antenna TV to the Joplin–Pittsburg market on a digital subchannel in 2021, and Nexstar previously announced multicast affiliations involving Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV.

• 2023KSN 16 rebrand

  Joplin–Pittsburg · Southwest Missouri · Southeast Kansas

  KSNF refreshed its station identity by bringing the number 16 back into its logo, graphics, vehicles, and news presentation. The local-news name became KSN 16 Your Local News, and the station introduced a new studio set.

  Outcome. The rebrand strengthened the connection between the station's long-established KSN identity and its over-the-air channel number.

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• 2021Antenna TV returns to KSNF's digital serviceProduct launch

  Antenna TV had previously left the Joplin–Pittsburg market after being dropped by another low-power station.

  What changed. KSNF-DT4 brought Antenna TV back to the market.

  Aftermath. Viewers regained access to the classic-television multicast network through KSNF's digital platform.

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• 2016Multicast network expansionProduct launch

  Nexstar entered an affiliation agreement with Katz Broadcasting covering several digital multicast networks.

  What changed. KSNF and KODE-TV were included among the Nexstar stations slated to carry Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV.

  Aftermath. The agreement broadened the stations' digital programming portfolios beyond their primary NBC and ABC services.

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• 2012High-definition local-news transitionOther

  After NBC programming had become available in high definition, KSNF continued upgrading production systems for local and syndicated content.

  What changed. The station launched local newscasts in 1080i high definition and adopted the KSN Local News brand.

  Aftermath. The move completed a major presentation upgrade and modernized the station's local-news output.

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• 2011Afternoon schedule restructuringStrategy

  KSNF reviewed its afternoon lineup and sought to expand local lifestyle content.

  What changed. The station replaced its 5 p.m. newscast with Living Well at 4 p.m. and scheduled Jeopardy! at 5 p.m. before NBC Nightly News.

  Aftermath. The change created an expanded local lifestyle block and differentiated the station's early-evening schedule.

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• 2009Emergency continuity after tower collapseOther

  A severe storm destroyed KSNF's tower and damaged its studio, preventing normal over-the-air transmission.

  What changed. The station distributed short news updates online and later returned temporarily through KODE-TV's digital signal while rebuilding.

  Aftermath. KSNF resumed independent service after reconstruction and planned relocation of shared operations into remodeled studios.

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• 2002Planned operational merger with KODE-TVStrategy

  Nexstar announced plans to combine operations involving KSNF and Joplin ABC affiliate KODE-TV.

  What changed. Departments began moving between the stations and the KSNF facility was selected for planned expansion and shared operations.

  Aftermath. The consolidation remained incomplete for several years, although the stations continued to share services and facilities.

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• 1982Switch to NBC affiliationStrategy

  KSNF, then operating under the newly adopted KSNF call sign, exchanged network affiliations with KOAM-TV in the Joplin market.

  What changed. The station moved from CBS to NBC and became the market's NBC affiliate.

  Aftermath. NBC affiliation became a defining element of KSNF's long-term market position.

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• 2023KSNF rebrands as KSN 16

  The station restores channel 16 to its visual identity, renames its news output KSN 16 Your Local News, and introduces a new studio set.

  CampaignProduct generation
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• 2016KSNF adds multicast network affiliations

  Nexstar announces an agreement with Katz Broadcasting covering Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV affiliations for stations including KSNF and KODE-TV.

  Product launch
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• 2012KSNF launches high-definition local news

  The station begins transmitting local newscasts in 1080i high definition and rebrands its news operation as KSN Local News.

  Product generationProduct launch
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• 2009Severe storm destroys KSNF tower

  Severe thunderstorms collapse the station's transmission tower and damage its studio, interrupting regular broadcasting and forcing temporary distribution through KODE-TV.

  Other
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• 2009KSNF returns to the air through KODE-TV

  After the storm-related outage, KSNF resumes service as a subchannel of sister station KODE-TV while rebuilding its own facilities.

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• 1998Nexstar acquires KSNF

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquires KSNF from U.S. Broadcast Group as part of a transaction involving additional television stations.

  M&A
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• 1982Station adopts KSNF call sign and switches to NBC

  The station changes its call letters to KSNF in August and becomes an NBC affiliate in September after an affiliation exchange with KOAM-TV.

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• 1968KSNF begins broadcasting as KUHI-TV

  The station signs on in Joplin as KUHI-TV, a CBS affiliate and the first UHF station in the Joplin–Pittsburg market.

  Other
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1. KSNF
2. FourStatesHomepage.com