KTPN-LD
KTPN-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Tyler, Texas, operating primarily as an independent station with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KTPN-LD is a low-power television station serving Tyler, Texas, and the surrounding East Texas television market. The station broadcasts on digital channel 36 and is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns NBC affiliate KETK-TV in Tyler and operates Fox affiliate KFXK-TV. KTPN-LD shares studio facilities on Richmond Road in Tyler with KETK-TV and KFXK-TV, while its transmitter is located west of Texas Loop 323, northeast of Tyler. The station began broadcasting in 1990 as K48DP. It initially operated as an independent outlet, but became a charter affiliate of The WB when that network launched in January 1995. A related Longview repeater, originally identified as K22EH, was launched later in 1995 to extend the station's programming into the eastern portion of the market. In 1997, both outlets left The WB for United Paramount Network, or UPN. The Tyler station adopted the KTPN call sign, derived from “Tyler Paramount Network,” and the two outlets were promoted together under UPN-branded channel combinations. The Longview repeater went through several channel and call-sign changes. It moved from channel 22 to channel 58 in 1998 to accommodate KETK-TV's digital operations, becoming K58FS before adopting the KLPN-LP call sign in 2000. In 2003, the low-power stations were joined by full-power KCEB, creating a three-station UPN presentation. That arrangement changed when KCEB moved to The WB, and in January 2006 KTPN and KLPN lost UPN programming after CBS affiliate KYTX placed UPN on a digital subchannel. The two stations consequently returned to independent programming. KTPN-LD and KLPN-LP became charter affiliates of MyNetworkTV when that service launched in September 2006 following the announced closures of The WB and UPN. KCEB became the market's CW outlet. KTPN-LD has retained a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation while operating primarily as an independent station. Because KTPN-LD operates at low power, its over-the-air coverage is concentrated around Tyler rather than the entire Tyler–Longview market. To broaden distribution, its programming is simulcast in high definition on KFXK-TV's second digital subchannel, 51.2, from KFXK's transmitter in rural northwestern Rusk County. The former Longview relay, KLPN-LD, was discontinued when its license was canceled on June 6, 2016. KTPN-LD completed its own transition from analog to digital service in 2013 by shutting down its analog channel 48 signal and flash-cutting to digital operation.
History
KTPN-LD traces its history to 1990, when the Tyler, Texas station signed on as K48DP. It began as an independent low-power outlet. In January 1995, it became a charter affiliate of The WB, a network created by Warner Bros. and Tribune interests. A companion Longview outlet, initially operating as K22EH, began later that year as a repeater carrying the Tyler station's programming and network affiliation. In 1997, the Tyler and Longview outlets moved from The WB to United Paramount Network. The Tyler station changed its call sign to KTPN-LP, reflecting the phrase “Tyler Paramount Network,” and the pair were marketed together as “UPN 22/48.” The Longview station moved to channel 58 in 1998 so that KETK-TV could use channel 22 for digital broadcasting. It temporarily operated as K58FS and was renamed KLPN-LP in 2000, creating a matching Tyler–Longview identity. The station group expanded in 2003 when full-power KCEB signed on and simulcast UPN programming with KTPN and KLPN. The three outlets were promoted under a combined channel presentation. That structure did not last: KCEB later moved from UPN to The WB, and in January 2006 UPN programming moved to a digital subchannel of KYTX, the Tyler market's CBS affiliate. KTPN and KLPN consequently returned to independent operation. The network landscape changed again in 2006. CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. announced the closure of UPN and The WB and the creation of The CW, while News Corporation announced MyNetworkTV as a separate new programming service. KTPN-LP and KLPN-LP became charter MyNetworkTV affiliates when MyNetworkTV launched on September 5, 2006. KCEB assumed The CW affiliation later that month. KTPN has since combined independent programming with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation. KTPN-LD's distribution has been shaped by its low-power license. The station's direct broadcast signal primarily serves Tyler and does not cover the full Tyler–Longview market. Its programming has therefore been carried in high definition on KFXK-TV's second digital subchannel, 51.2, allowing viewers across more of East Texas to receive the service. The former Longview relay, KLPN-LD, ended its role after its license was canceled on June 6, 2016. The station also transitioned from analog to digital transmission. KLPN-LP ended analog broadcasting in January 2012 and flash-cut to digital channel 47. KTPN-LP ended its analog channel 48 transmission in 2013 and flash-cut to digital operation. The station later became part of Nexstar's ownership structure. Following a broader station transaction involving Communications Corporation of America, Nexstar operated the outlet in connection with KETK-TV and KFXK-TV. On July 6, 2021, Nexstar exercised an option to purchase KTPN-LD directly from White Knight; the acquisition closed on October 1, 2021. Today, KTPN-LD remains an active low-power television station licensed to Tyler and associated with Nexstar's East Texas station group.
- 2021
Nexstar acquires KTPN-LD outright
[1]Nexstar exercises its purchase option in July, with the transaction completed on October 1.
- 2016
KLPN license is canceled
[1]The former Longview relay's license is canceled on June 6.
- 2013
KTPN completes digital transition
[1]KTPN ends analog channel 48 operations and flash-cuts to digital broadcasting.
- 2012
KLPN completes analog shutdown
[1]The Longview relay ends analog broadcasting and flash-cuts to digital channel 47.
- 2006
UPN affiliation ends
[1]KTPN and KLPN lose UPN programming after KYTX adds the network to a digital subchannel and return to independent programming.
- 2006
MyNetworkTV affiliation begins
[1]KTPN and KLPN become charter affiliates of MyNetworkTV at the service's launch.
- 2003
KCEB joins the UPN presentation
[1]Full-power KCEB signs on and simulcasts UPN programming with KTPN and KLPN.
- 2000
Longview call sign changes to KLPN-LP
[1]The Longview station adopts a call sign matching the KTPN identity.
- 1998
Longview outlet moves to channel 58
[1]The Longview repeater changes from channel 22 to channel 58 to accommodate KETK-TV digital operations.
- 1997
Stations join UPN
[1]The Tyler and Longview outlets leave The WB for UPN, with the Tyler station adopting the KTPN call sign.
Products and positioning
A locally licensed, low-power East Texas television outlet positioned primarily as an independent station, with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation and broader market reach through a digital-subchannel simulcast.
Low-power television broadcasting · 1990
KTPN-LD television service
The station's primary broadcast service is a digital low-power television signal licensed to Tyler, Texas. It operates mainly as an independent station, combining locally available programming with syndicated and network-supplied content. Its limited over-the-air radius is supplemented by distribution through KFXK-TV's digital subchannel 51.2.
Network affiliation · 2006
MyNetworkTV programming
KTPN-LD has maintained a secondary affiliation with MyNetworkTV since the programming service launched in 2006. The affiliation exists alongside the station's primary independent positioning rather than defining the entire schedule.
Digital multicast distribution
KFXK-TV 51.2 simulcast
KTPN-LD programming is carried in high definition on KFXK-TV's second digital subchannel. This arrangement extends the station's reach beyond the immediate Tyler area into more of the broader East Texas market.
Brand decisions
2021
Nexstar exercises purchase optionM&ABackground
Nexstar had been operating the station within its East Texas television group and held an option to acquire it from White Knight.
Action taken
Nexstar exercised the option on July 6, with the acquisition closing on October 1.
Aftermath
KTPN-LD became directly owned by Nexstar Media Group and remained connected operationally with KETK-TV and KFXK-TV.
2006
Adopt MyNetworkTV affiliationStrategyBackground
The WB and UPN were scheduled to close as their owners created The CW, while News Corporation introduced MyNetworkTV as a separate programming service.
Action taken
KTPN-LD and its former Longview relay became charter MyNetworkTV affiliates while continuing to carry independent programming.
Aftermath
KTPN-LD retained a secondary MyNetworkTV relationship and remained primarily positioned as an independent station.
1997
Shift from The WB to UPNStrategyBackground
The Tyler and Longview outlets changed network affiliations during the late-1990s competition among emerging broadcast networks.
Action taken
Both stations joined UPN, and the Tyler station adopted the KTPN call sign to reinforce the Paramount Network identity.
Aftermath
The stations were promoted together under UPN-branded channel combinations until UPN programming later moved to KYTX in 2006.
Sources2 sources
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