KTMF
KTMF is an ABC- and Fox-affiliated television station serving Missoula and northwestern Montana.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
KTMF is a broadcast television station licensed to Missoula, Montana, operating on channel 23 and serving the surrounding western Montana market. The station is affiliated with ABC and carries Fox programming through a digital subchannel. It is owned by The Cowles Company, a privately held media group that acquired KTMF and several other Montana stations from Max Media in 2013. The station originated in an effort to provide Missoula with a full-service affiliate for all three major commercial networks. On April 12, 1989, the Federal Communications Commission granted Continental Television Network an original construction permit for a full-power station on channel 23. The proposed station initially received the call sign KLFV, but the calls were changed to KTMF before broadcasting began. KTMF commenced operations on November 16, 1990. Its launch gave Missoula a full local ABC service after ABC programming had previously been carried only through limited clearances on other stations or through cable carriage of an out-of-market station from Spokane. KTMF expanded its network role in 1994 by adding Fox programming. Its service footprint also includes KTMF-LD, a low-power station serving Kalispell. KTMF-LD operates as a semi-satellite: it generally retransmits KTMF's network and syndicated programming while inserting its own commercials and legal identification material. The KTMF signal is additionally extended through a group of low-power translators serving communities around Flathead Lake and other parts of northwestern Montana. Ownership changed several times during the station's development. Continental Television Network sold KTMF and related Montana properties to Max Media of Montana in February 2001, marking Max Media's first television acquisitions in the state. The Cowles Company later purchased Max Media's Montana television cluster, including KTMF, in a transaction announced in September 2013 and completed on November 29 of that year. The reported purchase price for the cluster was $18 million. KTMF's local news activity developed gradually. In 2002, Max Media contracted Independent News Network to produce a regional program called Big Sky News for several of its Montana stations. That early-evening service ended in 2004 and was later replaced by a Montana-wide late newscast produced from Great Falls. For a period, KTMF's principal local news offering was a short late broadcast branded 10@10. The station began building its own news operation in August 2012, ahead of the September launch of a 9 p.m. newscast on its Fox digital subchannel. Today, KTMF functions as a regional network affiliate and local media outlet rather than as a national consumer brand. Its principal programming includes ABC network content, Fox programming on a digital subchannel, syndicated programming, local news, weather and community information. Its terrestrial coverage is supplemented by KTMF-LD and numerous translators across western Montana.
History
KTMF's history began with a Federal Communications Commission construction permit granted on April 12, 1989, to Continental Television Network for a full-power station on channel 23 in Missoula. The station was initially assigned the call sign KLFV, but the calls were changed to KTMF before launch. KTMF signed on November 16, 1990, becoming Missoula's full-service ABC affiliate. Its arrival was significant because ABC had previously been available locally only through limited programming clearances on existing stations or through cable carriage of KXLY-TV from Spokane. The station's studios were established on Stephens Avenue in Missoula, in a building that had previously housed the Carousel bar. Fox programming joined the lineup in 1994, creating the station's long-running dual-network role. KTMF later carried Fox through a digital subchannel, while ABC remained associated with the main channel. KTMF's ownership changed in February 2001, when Continental Television Network sold it and related Montana stations to Max Media of Montana. The transaction represented Max Media's first television-station acquisitions in Montana. Under Max Media, KTMF participated in regional news experiments. In September 2002, Independent News Network produced Big Sky News for KTMF, KWYB and KTGF, with reporters contributing stories from several Montana communities while the program was presented from Iowa. The early newscast was discontinued at the beginning of 2004. After Max Media acquired KFBB-TV in Great Falls in 2005, a Great Falls-produced Montana News Network program replaced the earlier format, although that service was eventually discontinued as well. For several years, KTMF's main local news presence was a short late broadcast known as 10@10. The digital transition reshaped KTMF's network distribution. On July 13, 2009, the station launched a second digital subchannel carrying Fox. The move followed the silence of Equity Broadcasting's KMMF and KMMF-LP, which had been unable to complete a digital transition. MyNetworkTV programming was also carried on the subchannel in a late-night time slot. KTMF strengthened its local programming in 2012, beginning its own news operation in August in preparation for a 9 p.m. newscast on the Fox subchannel the following month. The station's ownership changed again in 2013. The Cowles Company announced the purchase of Max Media's Montana cluster on September 30, and the transaction closed on November 29. The group included KTMF, KWYB, KFBB-TV, KHBB-LD and KULR-TV. KTMF's Kalispell service has a related but separate technical history. The FCC authorized a low-power station for Kalispell in 1992. It initially operated as K59EQ, was licensed in 1995 and later became KTMF-LP. The station received authority to move to channel 42 and later to convert from analog to digital. Its call sign changed to KTMF-LD in January 2013, and its digital operation was eventually moved to channel 36, effective December 26, 2018. KTMF-LD functions as a semi-satellite, generally simulcasting KTMF while airing separate commercial inserts and legal identifications. Additional translators extend the service across communities in western Montana and the Flathead Lake region.
- 2018
KTMF-LD digital channel relocation
[1]KTMF-LD's digital broadcast operation moved to channel 36.
- 2013
Cowles Company acquisition closes
[1]The Cowles Company completed its acquisition of Max Media's Montana television properties.
- 2009
Fox digital subchannel launches
[1]KTMF began carrying Fox on a second digital subchannel.
- 2001
Max Media ownership begins
[1]Max Media of Montana acquired KTMF and related stations from Continental Television Network.
- 1994
Fox programming added
[1]Fox programming became part of KTMF's schedule.
- 1990
KTMF signs on
[1]KTMF began broadcasting on November 16 as a full-service ABC affiliate.
- 1989
Original construction permit granted
[1]The FCC granted Continental Television Network a permit for a full-power television station on channel 23 in Missoula.
Products and positioning
A regional broadcast television service combining ABC network programming, Fox programming, local news and community coverage for Missoula, Kalispell and communities across northwestern Montana.
Full-power television station · 1990
KTMF channel 23
The primary KTMF service licensed to Missoula, Montana. It carries ABC network programming, syndicated content, advertising and local information programming for the Missoula market. Its transmitter is located on TV Mountain north of Missoula, while the station's studios are on Stephens Avenue.
Digital television subchannel · 2009
KTMF Fox digital subchannel
A digital subchannel that carries Fox programming across KTMF's coverage area. The service was launched in 2009 and has also carried MyNetworkTV programming during a late-night schedule.
Low-power television station · 1995
KTMF-LD
KTMF-LD serves Kalispell as a semi-satellite of KTMF. It generally simulcasts KTMF's network and syndicated programming but can insert separate commercials and legal identifications. Its digital operation is on channel 36.
Local news service · 2002
KTMF local news
KTMF has operated several local and regional news formats, including the regional Big Sky News and Montana News Network initiatives, followed by the short 10@10 broadcast and an internally developed news operation launched in 2012.
Brand decisions
2013
Sale to The Cowles CompanyM&ABackground
Max Media operated a cluster of television stations across Montana, including KTMF.
Action taken
The Cowles Company agreed to acquire Max Media's Montana television properties; the transaction closed on November 29.
Aftermath
KTMF became part of The Cowles Company's Montana broadcast portfolio.
Reported purchase price. $18 million (2013 transaction)
2012
Development of an in-house news operationStrategyBackground
Earlier regional news programs produced for Max Media's Montana stations had been discontinued or reduced to a short late broadcast.
Action taken
KTMF began building its own news operation in August ahead of a 9 p.m. newscast on its Fox subchannel.
Aftermath
The initiative expanded KTMF's local programming presence beyond network and syndicated content.
2009
Launch of Fox digital subchannelProduct launchBackground
The closure of Equity Broadcasting's KMMF and KMMF-LP left Fox without its previous local Montana outlets after the digital television transition.
Action taken
KTMF launched a second digital subchannel carrying Fox programming, with MyNetworkTV scheduled later at night.
Aftermath
KTMF became the Fox outlet associated with its broader Missoula and northwestern Montana service.
Recent events
- 2013
The Cowles Company acquires KTMF[1]
M&A
The Cowles Company acquired Max Media's Montana station group, including KTMF, in a transaction completed on November 29.
- 2012
KTMF develops an in-house news operation[1]
Product launch
KTMF began developing its own news operation before launching a 9 p.m. newscast on its Fox subchannel.
- 2009
Fox launches on KTMF's digital subchannel[1]
Product launch · Product generation
A second digital subchannel began carrying Fox programming after the closure of Equity Media's KMMF operation.
- 2001
Max Media acquires KTMF and related Montana stations[1]
M&A
Continental Television Network sold KTMF and several associated Montana properties to Max Media of Montana.
- 1994
KTMF adds Fox programming[1]
Product launch
Fox programming was added to KTMF's lineup, broadening the station's network offering.
- 1990
KTMF begins broadcasting in Missoula[1]
Other
KTMF signed on November 16, 1990, providing Missoula with a full-service ABC affiliate.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/ktmf · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled