KXJB-LD

KXJB-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Horace, North Dakota, and serving viewers in the Fargo–Grand Forks market. The station is associated with CBS and The CW Plus programming and operates alongside NBC affiliate KVLY-TV under Gray Media ownership. Its principal studio and operational base are shared with KVLY on 21st Avenue South in Fargo, while its low-power transmitter is also located in the Fargo area. The current KXJB-LD service represents a later chapter in a television identity that historically belonged to a full-power CBS station on channel 4. That earlier station used the KXJB call sign for decades before its CBS programming was moved to KVLY-TV's second digital subchannel in late 2014. The former channel 4 facility subsequently returned to the air under the KRDK-TV call sign and a different programming structure. Gray Media later established low-power KXJB facilities and translators to preserve the KXJB identity and extend CBS and related programming across portions of the previous coverage area. Because KXJB-LD is low power, its direct over-the-air coverage is concentrated around Fargo and is substantially smaller than that of a full-power regional station. To broaden access, the station's principal CBS service is simulcast in high definition on KVLY's second digital subchannel, identified as channel 11.2. Additional translators, including K28MA-D in Argusville and K30LR-D in Grand Forks, repeat KXJB programming in rural and outlying parts of the market. Other listed translators extend service into locations including Baudette and Roseau, Minnesota, and Williams, Minnesota. KXJB's programming portfolio includes CBS network programming, a CW Plus service on a separate subchannel, and Heroes & Icons programming. Its local news operation is branded Valley News Live and is produced in coordination with KVLY. KXJB carries weekday local newscasts at noon, 5:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.; other Valley News Live programs, including morning, late-evening, and weekend broadcasts, are simulcast with KVLY. In September 2016, the station introduced Valley News Live at 9 on its CW-affiliated service, positioning the program against established 9 p.m. newscasts from competing Fargo–Grand Forks stations. The station's market role is therefore broader than its low-power transmitter alone suggests. KXJB-LD functions as a distributed broadcast brand: its local signal, KVLY simulcast, digital subchannels, and translator network collectively deliver network television and regional news to viewers across the Red River Valley. Its strategic importance lies in maintaining CBS access and the Valley News Live news identity while using shared infrastructure with KVLY to overcome the technical limitations of a low-power license.

KXJB-LD is the current low-power successor to a long-running KXJB television identity in the Fargo–Grand Forks market. From 1955 through 2014, the KXJB call sign and CBS affiliation were associated with a full-power channel 4 station whose license is now connected with KRDK-TV. The earlier station was co-owned with the KX Television network in western North Dakota from 1959 to 1971 and retained its CBS affiliation for most of its existence. Between 2000 and 2003, CBS programming was also carried with Grand Forks news and commercial inserts on KXJC-LP, a semi-satellite arrangement that ended when KVLY-TV assumed operational responsibility for the original KXJB service. A major ownership and regulatory transition began in 2013. Parker Broadcasting announced the sale of its station group to Excalibur Broadcasting. The transaction occurred alongside Hoak Media's sale of most of its stations to Gray Television. Because the Federal Communications Commission was scrutinizing local marketing agreements and comparable operating arrangements, Gray chose not to retain the KXJB license in the same manner as its other market assets. Instead, the KXJB intellectual unit and programming were to be shifted to a digital subchannel of KVLY, while the former license was divested to a minority-owned broadcaster. KVLY began carrying KXJB's CBS service on its second digital subchannel in November 2014. The original full-power KXJB-TV operation signed off at midnight on December 1, 2014, but CBS programming continued through KVLY-DT2. The service retained the recognizable KX4 branding associated with the earlier CBS affiliate. The former channel 4 facility was sold to Major Market Broadcasting in December 2014 and returned to the air in January 2015 as KRDK-TV. KRDK subsequently carried a collection of multicast services, including Cozi TV, MyNetworkTV, and locally operated BEK Sports programming, rather than restoring the former KXJB CBS operation. Gray rebuilt the KXJB service as a group of low-power television facilities in September 2016. These facilities used the KXJB call sign and were designed to replicate portions of the coverage formerly associated with the full-power station. The CBS service continued to be carried on KVLY's second digital subchannel, while KXJB's own multicast structure included CBS, The CW Plus, and Heroes & Icons. Translators in Argusville, Grand Forks, Baudette, Roseau, and Williams helped extend the service into rural areas from the Fargo region toward Grand Forks, Valley City, Mayville, and parts of northwestern Minnesota. The KXJB news operation is integrated with KVLY and marketed as Valley News Live. KXJB produces weekday noon, 5:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. newscasts, while morning, late-evening, and weekend programming is simulcast with KVLY. In September 2016, the CW-affiliated service added Valley News Live at 9, a half-hour prime-time newscast intended to compete with established 9 p.m. programs on Fox affiliate KVRR and the WDAY-TV/WDAZ-TV operation. This programming expansion reinforced KXJB's role not only as a network outlet but also as part of a regional news organization. The station's modern operating model reflects the economics and technical realities of low-power broadcasting. Rather than relying solely on its local transmitter, KXJB combines a direct low-power signal with KVLY's higher-reach digital simulcast and a network of translators. The arrangement preserves CBS distribution, supports CW Plus and other multicast services, and maintains a recognizable local news brand across a geographically dispersed market.

1. 2016Low-power KXJB facilities sign on

   Gray launched low-power stations and translators using the KXJB identity to restore distributed coverage in the market.

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2. 2016Valley News Live at 9 launches

   The CW-affiliated service introduced a weekday prime-time local newscast under the Valley News Live brand.

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3. 2015Former channel 4 facility returns as KRDK-TV

   The former KXJB channel 4 facility returned to the air under the KRDK-TV call sign with a different multicast programming lineup.

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4. 2014CBS service shifts to KVLY-DT2

   KVLY added the KXJB CBS simulcast to its second digital subchannel, and the original full-power KXJB-TV operation left the air in December.

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5. 2013Parker Broadcasting sale announced

   Parker Broadcasting announced the sale of its station group to Excalibur Broadcasting during a broader restructuring involving Hoak Media and Gray.

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6. 2003KXJC-LP license canceled

   The KXJC-LP license was canceled after KVLY took over operations of the original KXJB service.

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7. 2000KXJC-LP begins semi-satellite CBS carriage

   KXJC-LP carried CBS programming with Grand Forks-oriented news and commercials as a semi-satellite of KXJB.

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8. 1959Co-ownership with the KX Television network

   KXJB became co-owned with the KX Television network in western North Dakota, an arrangement that continued until 1971.

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9. 1955KXJB identity begins on channel 4

   The KXJB call sign and CBS-affiliated service began their long association with the market's channel 4 facility.

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A local and regional television service that combines CBS and CW Plus programming with Valley News Live news coverage, using KVLY-TV simulcasts and translators to reach the wider Fargo–Grand Forks market despite its low-power license.

• CBS serviceNetwork-affiliated television

  KXJB's principal service carries CBS network programming for the Fargo–Grand Forks market. Because the station is low power, the CBS feed is also simulcast through KVLY-TV's second digital subchannel, giving viewers a larger over-the-air footprint than KXJB's local transmitter could provide on its own. The service is associated with the KX4 identity used by the market's earlier CBS affiliate.

• The CW PlusDigital multicast television2016

  The CW Plus occupies a separate KXJB digital subchannel and supplies CW network and syndicated programming to the market. The service became part of KXJB's modern low-power and multicast structure after previously being available through other local digital outlets.

• Valley News LiveLocal television news

  Valley News Live is the shared local-news operation associated with KXJB and KVLY. KXJB carries weekday midday and evening newscasts and simulcasts additional morning, late-night, and weekend programming. The brand provides local reporting, weather, sports, and regional coverage for viewers in the Red River Valley.

• Valley News Live at 9Prime-time local news2016

  Valley News Live at 9 is a half-hour prime-time newscast launched on KXJB's CW-affiliated service. It was introduced to compete directly with other 9 p.m. local-news programs in the Fargo–Grand Forks market.

• Heroes & IconsDigital multicast television2016

  Heroes & Icons programming is carried on one of KXJB's digital multicast services, complementing the station's CBS and CW Plus offerings with a schedule focused on classic television and genre-oriented programming.

• 2016Launch of the low-power KXJB networkProduct launch

  The earlier full-power KXJB service had ended, leaving a need to preserve the KXJB identity and extend CBS-related coverage across portions of the former service area.

  What changed. Gray launched low-power KXJB facilities and translators, with CBS, The CW Plus, and Heroes & Icons programming distributed through the resulting structure.

  Aftermath. KXJB returned as a distributed low-power brand supported by KVLY's higher-power simulcast and multiple translators.

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• 2016Launch of Valley News Live at 9Product launch

  The Fargo–Grand Forks market already included competing 9 p.m. local newscasts, creating an opportunity for the CW-affiliated service to add a prime-time news product.

  What changed. KXJB launched a half-hour Valley News Live newscast at 9 p.m. on its CW service.

  Aftermath. The newscast expanded the Valley News Live schedule and directly competed with programs from KVRR and WDAY-TV/WDAZ-TV.

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• 2014Move CBS distribution to KVLY's digital subchannelStrategy

  The full-power KXJB operation was being separated from the CBS programming service amid ownership changes and FCC scrutiny of local marketing and similar operating agreements.

  What changed. CBS programming was placed on KVLY-DT2, where it continued after the original KXJB-TV facility signed off.

  Aftermath. KVLY-DT2 became the market's principal CBS outlet, while the KXJB identity was later rebuilt through low-power facilities and translators.

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• 2016KXJB low-power service launched with expanded translator coverage

  Gray signed on low-power stations using the KXJB call sign and associated translators, recreating a distributed service in areas that had previously received the full-power KXJB signal.

  Product launch
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• 2016Valley News Live at 9 launched on KXJB's CW service

  KXJB introduced a half-hour prime-time newscast on its CW-affiliated subchannel, competing with 9 p.m. news programs from KVRR and WDAY-TV/WDAZ-TV.

  Product launchCampaign
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• 2016Pay-TV channel placement changed after KRDK-TV must-carry request

  After KRDK-TV sought carriage on channel 4, local pay-TV providers moved the KX4-branded CBS service to channel 9, placing it nearer to other major network affiliates.

  Regulation
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• 2014KXJB programming moved to KVLY's second digital subchannel

  KVLY began carrying a KXJB CBS simulcast on its second digital subchannel, replacing MeTV there and extending CBS coverage after the former full-power KXJB service left the air.

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• 2014Former KXJB channel 4 service ended and later returned as KRDK-TV

  The former KXJB-TV channel 4 operation signed off in December, while CBS remained available through KVLY-DT2. The channel 4 facility later returned under the KRDK-TV identity and a different collection of multicast networks.

  Product generation
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1. KXJB-LD
2. Valley News Live