KXII

KXII is a television station licensed to Sherman, Texas, and serving viewers across the Sherman–Denison, Texas–Ada, Oklahoma market. Its principal service is CBS programming on its primary channel, supplemented by MyNetworkTV and Fox programming on digital subchannels. The station also distributes programming through low-power facilities, including KXIP-LD in Paris, Texas, and additional carriage on the digital subchannels of KAQI-LD, a low-power Telemundo affiliate operated alongside KXII. The station began broadcasting on August 12, 1956, as KVSO-TV. It was originally licensed to Ardmore, Oklahoma, and was established by the family group connected with The Daily Ardmoreite newspaper and KVSO radio. The station initially operated as an NBC affiliate, although its early access to network programming was technically constrained because the owners could not afford a direct NBC network feed. Engineers therefore relied on relaying programming from an Oklahoma City station. A tornado in April 1957 destroyed the original transmission tower and forced KXII to use temporary facilities before a replacement transmitter was built near Madill, Oklahoma. That relocation improved service toward Durant and the Texas side of the market. The station was sold in 1958 to Texoma Broadcasting, controlled by Milford N. “Buddy” Bostick, and soon adopted the call sign KXII, reflecting the Roman numeral for channel 12. Beginning in 1960, it carried CBS programming in addition to NBC. During the 1960s and early 1970s, KXII operated as a hybrid affiliate, airing selected CBS programming while retaining much of the NBC schedule. In the mid-1970s, management progressively increased the proportion of CBS programming. By January 1977, CBS had become the station’s primary affiliation, and in September 1985 KXII became an exclusive CBS affiliate after NBC programming moved to competing station KTEN. KXII developed a two-community operating structure. Its main facilities were ultimately established in Sherman, while an Ardmore facility continued as an Oklahoma news bureau. In 1992, the Federal Communications Commission approved a change in the station’s city of license from Ardmore to Sherman, strengthening its formal association with the northern portion of the market. The station’s news operation continues to cover communities on both sides of the Red River, with local reporting, weather, sports, public affairs, and emergency coverage forming important parts of its identity. Gray Communications Systems, now Gray Media, acquired KXII in 1999. The transaction placed the station within a larger regional and national broadcasting group and supported the transition to digital television. KXII later expanded its local network portfolio through digital subchannels. A MyNetworkTV-affiliated subchannel launched in February 2006, while a Fox-affiliated third subchannel created the market’s first full-time local Fox service that same year. The Fox service is branded Fox 12 and carries network programming as well as selected local and syndicated material. KXII also provides programming such as severe-weather coverage, sports content, and public-affairs programming across its digital services. Today, KXII operates as a local broadcast brand rather than a standalone media company. Its value lies in network affiliation, regional news gathering, weather and emergency information, local sports and public affairs, terrestrial transmission, digital subchannels, and distribution through translators and partner low-power stations. The brand remains active under Gray Media ownership and serves a geographically broad but relatively compact regional television market spanning northeastern Texas and south-central Oklahoma.

KXII signed on August 12, 1956, as KVSO-TV, an Ardmore, Oklahoma station created by a family consortium linked to The Daily Ardmoreite and KVSO radio. The station had received a channel 12 construction authorization after federal frequency reallocations affecting the Sherman–Ada area. It began as an NBC affiliate, but limited finances prevented the owners from obtaining a direct network feed. As a result, station personnel sometimes relayed NBC programming from Oklahoma City and combined it with local and syndicated material. The station suffered a serious technical setback on April 2, 1957, when a tornado destroyed its 360-foot transmission tower north of Ardmore. Temporary facilities were used until a new transmitter and tower were constructed near Madill in 1958. The new site improved coverage toward Durant, Sherman, Denison, and neighboring parts of Texas, helping KXII compete more effectively across the wider regional market. Late in 1958, the Riesen-Easley interests sold the station to Texoma Broadcasting, a company associated with Milford N. “Buddy” Bostick. Following the sale, KVSO-TV adopted the KXII call sign. In 1960, CBS became a secondary affiliation. KXII consequently carried a mixture of NBC and CBS programs for much of the 1960s and into the 1970s. Its CBS schedule initially concentrated on daytime programs and sports, including National Football League broadcasts, while much of the network’s programming was supplied through affiliates in nearby markets. Beginning in the mid-1970s, KXII shifted progressively toward CBS. In 1974, it added a larger share of CBS daytime, prime-time, and sports programming and replaced NBC’s evening newscast with the CBS Evening News. By January 1977, CBS was the primary affiliation. The station moved its Ardmore operations to South Commerce Street in 1977; that facility later continued as an Oklahoma news bureau while the main studio developed in Sherman. In September 1985, KXII became an exclusive CBS affiliate after KTEN acquired the remaining local NBC programming, including Today. KXII’s regulatory and market identity also changed. In 1992, the FCC approved a move of its city of license from Ardmore to Sherman. The change gave the station a formal connection to Grayson County and the northern part of the Sherman–Ada market while retaining its established Oklahoma facilities and audience. In 1999, Gray Communications Systems announced its acquisition of KXII and related Bostick-owned stations. The transaction closed on October 1 and made KXII part of the Gray television group, now known as Gray Media. Ownership by a larger broadcaster provided a corporate framework for digital conversion and later multi-channel expansion. KXII launched a MyNetworkTV digital subchannel in February 2006. It also introduced Fox 12, a Fox-affiliated third digital subchannel, creating a full-time local Fox service for the market. This followed the end of KTEN’s earlier secondary Fox relationship and gave the two major commercial stations in the market a broader collection of national network affiliations. KXII’s digital services have also carried severe-weather simulcasts, special reports, sports programming, and public-affairs content. The station ended its overnight sign-offs in September 2009 and moved to continuous weekly operation. Its current service includes CBS programming on the main channel, MyNetworkTV and Fox programming on digital subchannels, regional news from Sherman and Ardmore, and distribution through low-power facilities including KXIP-LD and KAQI-LD subchannels. KXII remains an active Gray Media station serving northeastern Texas and south-central Oklahoma.

1. 2009Continuous broadcasting begins

   KXII adopts a full 168-hour weekly schedule and ends its regular overnight sign-offs.

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2. 2006Digital MyNetworkTV and Fox services launch

   KXII expands its network portfolio through digital subchannels, including a MyNetworkTV service and Fox 12.

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3. 1999Gray acquires KXII

   Gray Communications Systems completes its acquisition of KXII.

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4. 1992City of license changes to Sherman

   The FCC approves KXII’s city-of-license change from Ardmore to Sherman.

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5. 1985KXII becomes an exclusive CBS affiliate

   The station ends its remaining NBC carriage after KTEN assumes the local NBC affiliation.

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6. 1977CBS becomes the primary affiliation

   KXII shifts its schedule toward CBS and establishes the South Commerce Street Ardmore facility that later serves as a news bureau.

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7. 1960CBS becomes a secondary affiliation

   KXII begins carrying selected CBS programs alongside its NBC schedule.

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8. 1958Station adopts the KXII call sign

   Texoma Broadcasting acquires the station and changes its call letters from KVSO-TV to KXII.

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9. 1957Tornado destroys the original transmission tower

   A tornado destroys the station’s original tower, prompting temporary transmission arrangements until replacement facilities are built.

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10. 1956KVSO-TV begins broadcasting

    The station signs on from Ardmore, Oklahoma, as KVSO-TV and initially affiliates with NBC.

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A regional broadcast news and network-affiliate brand emphasizing local coverage, severe-weather information, community service, and multi-network programming for viewers in southern Oklahoma and north-central Texas.

• KXII CBS 12Primary broadcast television service1956

  KXII’s primary broadcast service is a CBS affiliate carrying the network’s regular schedule together with local news, weather, sports, public affairs, syndicated programming, and emergency information. It is the core brand through which the station serves the Sherman–Denison and Ardmore-area audience.

• Fox 12Digital television subchannel2006

  Fox 12 is KXII’s Fox-affiliated digital subchannel, historically identified as KXII-DT3. It provides Fox network programming to the local market and supplements the national schedule with selected local sports, severe-weather coverage, breaking-news material, and other programming produced or distributed by KXII.

• MyNetworkTV digital serviceDigital television subchannel2006

  KXII operates a digital subchannel associated with MyNetworkTV. The service broadened the station’s network portfolio and gave local viewers access to programming from a national network that was not available on the station’s principal CBS feed.

• KXII NewsLocal news service

  KXII News gathers and presents reporting from Sherman, Ardmore, and communities across the Texoma region. Its coverage includes local government, education, public safety, regional sports, weather, and severe-weather events, supported by the station’s main studio and Oklahoma bureau.

• 2006Digital subchannel expansionProduct launch

  Digital television enabled KXII to add network services without replacing its principal CBS affiliation.

  What changed. KXII launched a MyNetworkTV service and a Fox-affiliated digital subchannel branded Fox 12.

  Aftermath. The station became a multi-network broadcaster and restored a local Fox presence in the Sherman–Ada market.

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• 1999KXII joins Gray’s station groupM&A

  KXII’s previous ownership faced the cost of constructing and operating digital television facilities, while Gray sought to expand its broadcast portfolio.

  What changed. Gray Communications Systems agreed to acquire KXII from KXII Broadcasters and completed the transaction on October 1, 1999.

  Aftermath. KXII became part of Gray’s regional and national television-station portfolio and remains under Gray Media ownership.

  Announced transaction value for KXII, KWTX-TV, and KBTX-TV. $139 million announced consideration (Announced April 15, 1999; completed October 1, 1999)

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• 2009KXII expands to continuous weekly broadcasting

  The station ended its longstanding practice of signing off during overnight hours and adopted a full 168-hour weekly schedule, using paid and syndicated programming to fill previously vacant periods.

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• 2006KXII launches digital Fox service

  KXII introduced a Fox-affiliated digital subchannel, branded Fox 12, giving the Sherman–Ada market a full-time local Fox outlet after Fox programming had previously been carried only as a secondary service by KTEN.

  Product launch
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• 1999KXII is acquired by Gray Communications Systems

  Gray announced an agreement to acquire KXII, together with other stations associated with Buddy Bostick’s broadcasting interests. The transaction closed on October 1, 1999, bringing KXII into the Gray station group.

  M&A
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1. KXII
2. KXII official website