KWTX-TV

KWTX-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Waco, Texas, and serving the broader Central Texas region. The station broadcasts on channel 10 and is the market's long-standing CBS affiliate. It is owned by Gray Media, formerly Gray Television, and operates alongside the company's other Central Texas properties, including CW affiliate KNCT in Belton and KBTX-TV in Bryan. KBTX-TV functions as a semi-satellite of KWTX-TV, carrying much of the same network and syndicated programming while producing separate local inserts, legal identifications, newscasts, and other material for the eastern portion of the Waco–Temple–Bryan market. KWTX-TV began broadcasting on April 3, 1955, as an independent station owned by Texoma Broadcasting, a company associated with Milford N. "Buddy" Bostick and KWTX radio. Its early competitive environment was unstable. Waco's UHF station KANG-TV experienced financial problems at a time when relatively few television receivers could readily tune UHF channels and ceased operations at the end of 1955. Texoma acquired KANG's assets and sold a minority interest in KWTX-TV to the Texas Broadcasting Company. The transaction brought the CBS affiliation to KWTX-TV, which has remained its principal network relationship for most of the station's history. The station briefly changed its primary network alignment in the late 1970s. From 1977 to 1983, KWTX-TV and KBTX-TV operated as primary ABC affiliates before returning to CBS. This change was part of a wider reshuffling of network affiliations in the Central Texas market. KWTX-TV also gained national attention in December 1955 when it televised the murder trial of Harry L. Washburn. The broadcast has been described as the first live television coverage of a courtroom trial in the United States and was praised in contemporary accounts for allowing coverage without disrupting court proceedings. KWTX-TV's news operation also became closely associated with coverage of the 1993 federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco. Station cameraman Dan Mulloney recorded footage of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents entering the compound, and station personnel assisted injured agents after the initial exchange of gunfire. In subsequent investigations and litigation, questions were raised about information passed by station personnel to individuals connected with the compound before the raid. The station's journalists were criticized by some participants and commentators, but the referenced investigations did not result in criminal charges against the journalists involved. Gray acquired KWTX-TV, KBTX-TV, and KXII from the Bostick-controlled Texoma broadcasting interests in a transaction announced in 1999 and completed on October 1 of that year. The acquisition expanded Gray's presence in Texas and placed the stations under common ownership. In 2018, Gray agreed to acquire the license of KNCT, a PBS member station owned by Central Texas College. The transaction was approved by the Federal Communications Commission in December 2018 and completed that month. On January 2, 2019, KNCT resumed operation under Gray ownership as a CW affiliate, while KWTX-TV's former CW digital-subchannel service was replaced by Telemundo programming. KWTX-TV's digital subchannel history reflects the changing economics and structure of local television. The second subchannel began in January 2006 as UPN Waco, adopted the CW 12 Central Texas identity in September 2006, and switched to Telemundo in January 2019 after the CW affiliation moved to KNCT. KWTX-TV completed its transition from analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, moving its post-transition digital operation to VHF channel 10. Today, the station combines CBS network programming, local news and weather, syndicated content, digital multicast programming, and online news distribution for viewers across Central Texas.

KWTX-TV signed on in Waco on April 3, 1955, as an independent station operated by Texoma Broadcasting. Its ownership was linked to Milford N. "Buddy" Bostick, who also controlled KWTX radio. The station entered a difficult local television market that included KANG-TV, a UHF operation whose financial position was weakened by the limited availability of UHF television receivers. When KANG ceased operations at the end of 1955, Texoma acquired its assets and Texas Broadcasting Company purchased a minority interest in KWTX-TV. KWTX-TV consequently assumed the CBS affiliation and became the market's principal CBS outlet. The station's network identity changed in 1977, when KWTX-TV and its Bryan semi-satellite KBTX-TV became primary ABC affiliates. The arrangement lasted until 1983, when both stations returned to CBS. KWTX-TV and KBTX-TV have continued to operate as a coordinated regional television service, with KWTX-TV focused on the western part of the Waco–Temple–Bryan market and KBTX-TV serving the Brazos Valley and Bryan–College Station area. One of the station's earliest notable broadcasts was its live coverage of the Harry L. Washburn murder trial, which began on December 6, 1955. The broadcast was regarded as an important early example of live courtroom television and received favorable comments concerning the conduct of the station's crew. KWTX-TV was also a significant news-gathering organization during the 1993 confrontation at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco. Cameraman Dan Mulloney filmed the federal agents' entry, while other station personnel were present at the scene and later helped transport injured agents. Investigations and later court proceedings examined whether information from station personnel, including cameraman James Peeler, contributed to people at the compound learning that law-enforcement action was imminent. The station's journalists became targets of criticism, but the available account states that they were not charged with crimes. In 1999, Gray Communications Systems acquired KWTX-TV, KBTX-TV, and KXII from Bostick-associated broadcasting companies. The transaction was completed on October 1 and established Gray as the stations' owner. Gray later expanded its Central Texas television holdings by acquiring the license of KNCT from Central Texas College. The FCC approved the transaction in December 2018, and the deal closed on December 17. KNCT returned to the air on January 2, 2019, as a CW affiliate, creating a duopoly with KWTX-TV. KWTX-TV has used its digital capacity to carry several secondary services. Its second digital subchannel launched as UPN Waco in January 2006 and was rebranded CW 12 Central Texas in September of that year. Following the move of CW programming to KNCT, the subchannel switched to Telemundo in January 2019. KWTX-TV ended analog transmission on February 17, 2009, and continued digitally on VHF channel 10. Its present operation combines CBS network service, local news and public-affairs coverage, weather reporting, commercial advertising, syndicated programming, and digital distribution for Central Texas.

1. 2019Telemundo replaces CW on the secondary channel

   The second digital subchannel switches to Telemundo after CW programming moves to KNCT.

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2. 2009Digital transition

   The station ends analog broadcasting and operates digitally on VHF channel 10.

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3. 2006Digital subchannel launches

   The second digital subchannel begins as UPN Waco and later becomes CW 12 Central Texas.

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4. 1999Gray ownership begins

   Gray completes its acquisition of KWTX-TV and related Texoma stations.

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5. 1993Coverage of the Branch Davidian raid

   KWTX-TV crews provide widely distributed footage of the federal raid near Waco.

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6. 1983Return to CBS

   KWTX-TV and KBTX-TV resume their primary CBS affiliations.

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7. 1977Primary affiliation changes to ABC

   KWTX-TV and KBTX-TV become primary ABC affiliates.

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8. 1955KWTX-TV signs on

   The station begins broadcasting in Waco as an independent outlet on April 3.

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9. 1955CBS affiliation begins

   After the shutdown of KANG-TV and the acquisition of its assets, KWTX-TV becomes a primary CBS affiliate.

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10. 1955Live courtroom trial coverage

    KWTX-TV televises the Harry L. Washburn murder trial beginning December 6.

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A regional broadcast and local-news brand serving Central Texas, anchored by a long-established CBS affiliation and supplemented by multilingual network programming, weather coverage, digital news, and commercial television services.

• KWTX CBS serviceBroadcast television1955

  The station's primary broadcast service carries CBS network programming together with locally produced news, weather, public-affairs content, syndicated programs, and commercial advertising for viewers in the Waco–Temple–Bryan market.

• Telemundo digital subchannelDigital multicast television2019

  KWTX-TV's second digital subchannel carries Telemundo programming. It previously operated under UPN Waco and CW 12 Central Texas identities before the 2019 affiliation change.

• KBTX-TV semi-satellite serviceRegional television network1957

  KBTX-TV in Bryan operates as a semi-satellite of KWTX-TV. It receives much of its network and syndicated programming through the KWTX operation while maintaining separate local newscasts, advertising inserts, legal identifications, and a distinct digital presence for the Brazos Valley.

• 2019Move CW programming to KNCT and adopt TelemundoStrategy

  Gray acquired KNCT from Central Texas College, creating a duopoly with KWTX-TV.

  What changed. CW programming moved from KWTX-TV's secondary digital channel to KNCT, while KWTX-TV began carrying Telemundo on that channel on January 2.

  Aftermath. Gray retained both CW and Telemundo services within its Central Texas station group.

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• 2006Launch and rebrand of second digital subchannelProduct launch

  Digital multicasting enabled KWTX-TV to add a secondary network service.

  What changed. The subchannel launched as UPN Waco on January 23 and was rebranded CW 12 Central Texas on September 15.

  Aftermath. The service continued as a CW outlet until the affiliation moved to KNCT in 2019.

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• 1999Sell KWTX-TV to Gray Communications SystemsM&A

  The Bostick-controlled broadcasting companies faced the cost of launching and operating digital television signals, while shareholders supported a sale.

  What changed. Gray acquired KWTX-TV, KBTX-TV, and KXII, completing the transaction on October 1.

  Aftermath. KWTX-TV became part of Gray's station portfolio and later operated in a Central Texas duopoly with KNCT.

  Reported transaction value. $139 million announced transaction value (1999)

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• 1977Switch primary network affiliation to ABCStrategy

  KWTX-TV and KBTX-TV operated in a market undergoing network-affiliation changes.

  What changed. Both stations became primary ABC affiliates on September 1.

  Aftermath. The stations returned to CBS in 1983.

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• 1993Questions surrounding Branch Davidian raid coverageControversy

  KWTX-TV personnel were criticized during investigations and subsequent proceedings concerning the federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco. Accounts examined whether a station cameraman's conversation with a person connected to the group helped convey that law-enforcement action was imminent. Station journalists also recorded the raid and assisted injured agents. The referenced material indicates that the journalists were not criminally charged.

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• 2019KWTX-TV replaces CW subchannel with Telemundo programming

  After Gray moved CW programming to KNCT, KWTX-TV's second digital subchannel began carrying Telemundo on January 2.

  Product launch
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• 2018Gray acquires KNCT license and creates Central Texas duopoly

  The FCC approved Gray's acquisition of KNCT, allowing it to operate the Belton-licensed station alongside KWTX-TV.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2009KWTX-TV completes analog shutdown

  KWTX-TV ended analog transmission on VHF channel 10 and moved its digital operation to that channel as part of the United States digital television transition.

  Regulation
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• 2006KWTX-TV launches UPN programming on its second digital subchannel

  The station's second digital subchannel began operation as UPN Waco on January 23.

  Product launch
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• 2006Second digital subchannel adopts CW branding

  The former UPN subchannel was relaunched as CW 12 Central Texas on September 15.

  Product generation
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• 1999Gray announces acquisition of KWTX-TV and related stations

  Gray Communications Systems announced an agreement to acquire KWTX-TV, KBTX-TV, and KXII from interests associated with Texoma Broadcasting.

  M&A
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• 1999Gray completes acquisition of KWTX-TV

  The acquisition of KWTX-TV and the related stations was completed on October 1, bringing the group under Gray ownership.

  M&A
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• 1983KWTX-TV returns to CBS affiliation

  After operating as a primary ABC affiliate with KBTX-TV, KWTX-TV returned to CBS, its principal network affiliation thereafter.

  Other
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• 1955KWTX-TV begins broadcasting as a Waco independent station

  KWTX-TV signed on April 3 as an independent station owned by Texoma Broadcasting.

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• 1955KWTX-TV broadcasts the Washburn murder trial

  Beginning December 6, the station televised the Harry L. Washburn murder trial, an early and historically notable live courtroom broadcast.

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1. KWTX-TV
2. KWTX-TV official website