KTVT
KTVT is a CBS-owned television station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area and branded as CBS Texas.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KTVT is a television station licensed to Fort Worth, Texas, and serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The station broadcasts on VHF channel 11 and operates as a CBS owned-and-operated station under the CBS News and Stations division. It is commonly presented to viewers under the CBS Texas brand and is paired corporately with independent station KTXA, channel 21. The station began broadcasting on September 11, 1955, as KFJZ-TV. Its original owner was the Texas State Network, a Fort Worth-centered broadcasting consortium associated with oilman and philanthropist Sid W. Richardson and other Texas business figures. The station was created as an independent outlet rather than as an affiliate of one of the major television networks. It initially broadcast a relatively short daily schedule from Fort Worth, carrying locally produced material and syndicated entertainment. A key technical and competitive turning point came in 1964, when the station moved its transmitter to Cedar Hill. The new site improved coverage across the increasingly integrated Dallas–Fort Worth television market and strengthened KTVT's position against UHF independent stations. In the early years, channel 11 also attracted attention as a possible participant in the market's competition for NBC programming, but NBC ultimately consolidated its affiliation elsewhere. The station changed ownership several times during its early history. Texas State Network sold the television station to NAFI Telecasting Corporation in 1960 for a reported $4 million. The call letters became KTVT on September 1 of that year; the final letters were intended to evoke the phrase “Television for Texans.” In 1962, NAFI sold the station to the WKY Television System, a subsidiary of the Oklahoma Publishing Company. The group was later associated with Gaylord Broadcasting. Under Gaylord ownership, KTVT developed into one of the leading independent stations in the American Southwest. Its schedule featured cartoons, off-network situation comedies, Westerns, dramatic series, films, sports and public-affairs programming. The station began color broadcasting in 1966, inaugurating local color production with coverage of the Miss Texas Pageant. Its strong VHF signal and broad general-entertainment schedule helped it maintain a leading position even as several UHF competitors entered the North Texas market during the late 1960s and early 1980s. From the late 1970s through the 1980s, KTVT expanded beyond its terrestrial coverage area through cable and satellite distribution. Providers across Texas and in parts of Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and New Mexico carried the station, giving it regional superstation status. United Video Satellite Group uplinked KTVT to satellite in 1984, extending its availability to cable systems and satellite subscribers throughout the Southwest. During this period, the station promoted itself as “Channel 11, The Super Ones.” KTVT remained an independent station during the launch of the Fox network in 1986. Fox's Dallas–Fort Worth outlet was connected to the former Metromedia station that became KDAF, while KTVT continued with its established independent schedule. The station's later evolution into a CBS owned-and-operated outlet reflected the changing structure of American television, as local independent programming gave way to network affiliation and a stronger emphasis on local news. Today, KTVT serves the Dallas–Fort Worth market with CBS network programming, locally produced news and weather coverage, sports and public-affairs content. Its principal facilities are shared with KTXA on Bridge Street east of downtown Fort Worth. KTVT also maintains a secondary studio and newsroom at CBS Tower on North Central Expressway in Dallas; that site includes advertising-sales offices and the Dallas bureau for CBS News. The station's transmitter is located in Cedar Hill, supporting coverage across the metropolitan area.
History
KTVT traces its origins to a Fort Worth television license contested by several local business groups in the early 1950s. The original allocation was designated as channel 10, but the Federal Communications Commission reassigned channel 11 to Fort Worth in 1953 as part of a broader effort to resolve interference and allocation issues involving proposed stations in Texas and Oklahoma. The Texas State Network ultimately received the construction permit in September 1954 after competing applications were dismissed. The station signed on September 11, 1955, as KFJZ-TV. Sid W. Richardson performed the ceremonial activation of the transmitter. It was the first independent television station to sign on in Texas and the fourth television station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Its original facilities were located on West Freeway in Fort Worth, and its initial broadcast day ran from mid-afternoon until midnight. The station carried locally produced programs and acquired entertainment rather than belonging to a major national network. In 1964, KFJZ-TV moved its transmitter to Cedar Hill, the principal antenna site for television stations serving the wider metropolitan area. This change materially improved the station's reach across Dallas and Fort Worth. It also made channel 11 a more formidable competitor to UHF independent stations that entered the market later. Although the station was considered in discussions surrounding the market's NBC affiliation, NBC eventually established an exclusive arrangement with WBAP-TV, which became KXAS-TV. Texas State Network sold the television station to NAFI Telecasting Corporation in 1960. The radio stations associated with the KFJZ calls were not part of the sale. Because of FCC call-sign rules then in effect, the television station adopted the KTVT calls on September 1, 1960. The new calls were associated with the phrase “Television for Texans.” In 1962, NAFI sold KTVT to the WKY Television System, a subsidiary of the Oklahoma Publishing Company. That ownership group later became identified with Gaylord Broadcasting. Gaylord's management helped KTVT become a major independent station in the Southwest. Its programming mix included cartoons, syndicated comedies, Westerns, dramatic programs, feature films, sports and public affairs. The station's VHF status, strong transmitter position and broad schedule supported its leadership over several UHF competitors. KTVT also broadcast in color beginning in July 1966, with the Miss Texas Pageant among its first locally produced color programs. The station's influence expanded significantly when cable systems began carrying its signal outside the immediate Dallas–Fort Worth area. By the late 1970s and 1980s, KTVT was available on hundreds of cable systems and to satellite-dish households across Texas and neighboring states. Its coverage included substantial portions of Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and New Mexico. In July 1984, United Video Satellite Group uplinked KTVT to satellite, allowing more providers to receive the station through satellite distribution rather than microwave relay. KTVT promoted this regional role with the “Channel 11, The Super Ones” identity. The station remained independent during the 1986 launch of Fox. KTVT was not selected as the market's initial Fox outlet, in part because Fox's corporate predecessor had acquired the former Metromedia station that became KDAF. KTVT continued operating as a high-profile independent while the American television market underwent consolidation and the value of network affiliations increased. KTVT subsequently became a CBS station and is now owned by the CBS television network through CBS News and Stations. The station operates alongside KTXA, an independent channel 21 outlet. Their primary facilities are on Bridge Street east of downtown Fort Worth. KTVT also has a Dallas studio and newsroom at CBS Tower on North Central Expressway, which houses station sales operations and CBS News' Dallas bureau. The Cedar Hill transmitter remains central to the station's over-the-air service. Under the CBS Texas brand, KTVT's contemporary identity centers on network programming and locally produced news, weather, sports and public-affairs content for the Dallas–Fort Worth region.
- 1986
KTVT remains independent during Fox launch
[1]KTVT did not become the Dallas–Fort Worth market's initial Fox affiliate and continued operating as an independent station.
- 1984
Satellite distribution begins
[1]United Video Satellite Group uplinked KTVT to satellite for wider cable and satellite distribution throughout the Southwest.
- 1970
Regional superstation distribution expands
[1]KTVT's signal became increasingly available through cable systems across Texas and neighboring states, extending its influence beyond the local broadcast market.
- 1966
Color broadcasting introduced
[1]The station began broadcasting programming in color, including locally produced coverage of the Miss Texas Pageant.
- 1964
Transmitter moved to Cedar Hill
[1]KTVT moved its transmitter to Cedar Hill, improving coverage across the Dallas–Fort Worth television market.
- 1962
Gaylord-associated ownership begins
[1]NAFI sold KTVT to the WKY Television System, a subsidiary of the Oklahoma Publishing Company that later became associated with Gaylord Broadcasting.
- 1960
Sale to NAFI and adoption of KTVT calls
[1]Texas State Network sold the television station to NAFI Telecasting, and the station changed its call letters from KFJZ-TV to KTVT.
- 1955
KFJZ-TV begins broadcasting
[1]The station signed on from Fort Worth on September 11 as an independent television station.
- 1954
Construction permit awarded
[1]The FCC granted the channel 11 permit to the Texas State Network after dismissing competing applications.
- 1953
Channel 11 assigned to Fort Worth
[1]The FCC reassigned the Fort Worth commercial VHF allocation from channel 10 to channel 11 while addressing interference concerns involving proposed stations in Texas and Oklahoma.
Products and positioning
CBS owned-and-operated television station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth market, combining national CBS programming with local news, weather, sports and public-affairs coverage.
Local television news
CBS Texas local news
KTVT's local-news operation provides reporting, live coverage, weather, traffic and public-affairs content for viewers across the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The operation is based primarily in Fort Worth, with additional Dallas facilities at CBS Tower.
Network television
CBS network programming
As a CBS owned-and-operated station, KTVT distributes the CBS schedule to the Dallas–Fort Worth market. Its network service complements locally produced news, weather, sports and public-affairs programming.
Cable and satellite television
Regional superstation service
During the late twentieth century, KTVT supplied its programming to cable and satellite viewers well beyond its terrestrial coverage area. The service was particularly prominent across Texas and parts of surrounding states.
Brand decisions
1984
Satellite uplink for regional distributionStrategyBackground
KTVT had already become widely available through cable systems in Texas and nearby states, but microwave-based distribution limited the efficiency and scale of that expansion.
Action taken
United Video Satellite Group uplinked the KTVT signal to satellite for distribution to cable operators and satellite households.
Aftermath
The move reinforced KTVT's identity as a Southwestern regional superstation and broadened its availability beyond the Dallas–Fort Worth market.
1964
Relocation of the transmitter to Cedar HillStrategyBackground
The station needed stronger coverage across the combined Dallas–Fort Worth television market, where Dallas and Fort Worth had developed into a single major broadcast market.
Action taken
KTVT moved its transmitter facilities to the Cedar Hill antenna farm.
Aftermath
The improved signal strengthened KTVT's competitive position against later UHF independent stations and expanded its practical metropolitan reach.
1960
Adoption of the KTVT call signStrategyBackground
After the station was sold separately from its former radio sisters, its existing KFJZ-TV identity could no longer be retained under the FCC call-sign rules then in force.
Action taken
The station changed its call letters to KTVT, a name associated with “Television for Texans.”
Aftermath
The KTVT identity remained in use through subsequent ownership changes and became the station's enduring call-sign brand.
Sources1 sources
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