KXRM-TV

KXRM-TV is a full-power commercial television station licensed to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and affiliated with the Fox network. The station operates on virtual channel 21 and is marketed to viewers through the Fox 21 News brand. Its programming combines Fox network content with locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs coverage, syndicated programming, and other entertainment offerings. KXRM is owned by Nexstar Media Group and is operated alongside low-power CW affiliate KXTU-LD. The two stations share studios on Wooten Road in Colorado Springs, while KXRM's transmitter is located on Cheyenne Mountain. KXRM began broadcasting on January 22, 1985, as an independent station. It was the first independent commercial television station in Southern Colorado and represented the region's first new commercial television outlet since the launch of KRDO-TV more than three decades earlier. The station had intended to begin service on Christmas Eve 1984, but technical problems delayed the launch. Its call letters were designed to reference both the station's original religious and family-oriented programming concept and its Rocky Mountain service area: the first two letters were associated with “Khrist,” the next two with “Xalted,” and the final two with the Rocky Mountains. Early programming included classic and contemporary cartoons, family entertainment, Christian teaching, and talk shows. In 1986, KXRM joined the initial group of independent stations to affiliate with the newly established Fox Broadcasting Company. It has remained a Fox affiliate since that transition, making the network relationship one of the defining features of the station's identity. The station was locally owned until 2000, when it was acquired by Raycom Media. Following Raycom's merger with the Liberty Corporation, KXRM was among the stations separated into Barrington Broadcasting. Barrington later sold the station group to Sinclair Broadcast Group in a transaction announced in 2013 and completed that November. KXRM subsequently moved to Media General in December 2014 as part of a broader station exchange connected with Media General's combination with LIN Media. Nexstar's acquisition of Media General was approved by the Federal Communications Commission in January 2017 and closed shortly afterward, bringing KXRM into the Nexstar portfolio. Local news has become a central part of KXRM's business and public identity. A half-hour 9 p.m. newscast began in 2001 and was initially produced by Colorado Springs CBS affiliate KKTV. KXRM created its own news department in 2006 and expanded the evening program to a full hour. The station added a substantial weekday morning operation in 2007 and later introduced a weeknight 10 p.m. newscast in 2016. According to the referenced station information, KXRM produces more local news hours than any other broadcast station in the Colorado Springs–Pueblo market, including extensive weekday, weekend, morning, and evening schedules. Its journalism has received regional recognition, including a National Edward R. Murrow Award in 2013 for continuing coverage of the Waldo Canyon Fire. KXRM has also participated in the transition from analog to digital broadcasting and in the expansion of local distribution through digital subchannels and translators. It carried Retro Television Network programming on its second digital channel beginning in 2007 and later used that channel to simulcast KXTU-LD. The station ended regular analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, while retaining an analog signal temporarily under the federal SAFER Act to provide digital-transition information. Its present positioning is that of a locally focused Fox affiliate: it uses the national network for prime-time entertainment and sports while differentiating itself through Colorado Springs–Pueblo news, weather, emergency coverage, and community relevance.

KXRM-TV signed on January 22, 1985, as an independent station serving Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado. Its planned Christmas Eve 1984 launch was postponed because of technical difficulties. The station was created as Southern Colorado's first independent station and the area's first new commercial television station since KRDO-TV began broadcasting 31 years earlier. Its original concept emphasized family-oriented programming, cartoons, Christian teaching, and talk shows. The call letters were intended to evoke the station's religious founding concept and the Rocky Mountain region. In 1986, KXRM became one of the first independent stations to affiliate with the Fox Broadcasting Company. The affiliation continued through subsequent ownership changes and became the foundation of the station's Fox 21 identity. KXRM remained locally owned until 2000, when Raycom Media acquired it. After Raycom's combination with the Liberty Corporation, the station was spun off to Barrington Broadcasting. Barrington announced the sale of its station group to Sinclair Broadcast Group in February 2013, with the transaction closing in November of that year. In 2014, Sinclair announced a station swap that transferred KXRM and associated low-power station KXTU-LD to Media General. The transaction closed in December 2014 and was linked to Media General's broader combination with LIN Media. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its planned acquisition of Media General in January 2016. The FCC approved the transaction in January 2017, and the deal closed later that month, making KXRM a Nexstar-owned station. Nexstar's later acquisition of Tribune Media also consolidated ownership of additional Fox and CW stations in Colorado, although KXRM continued to serve the Colorado Springs–Pueblo market. The station's news operation developed in stages. In March 2001, KXRM began airing a half-hour 9 p.m. newscast produced by KKTV. In 2006, it established an in-house news department and expanded the program to an hour. A morning newscast began in 2007 and subsequently developed into a substantial weekday program. KXRM later added weekend morning broadcasts and a weeknight 10 p.m. newscast in January 2016. The station has been described as having the largest local-news output among broadcast stations in its market. It also received a 2013 National Edward R. Murrow Award for its continuing coverage of the Waldo Canyon Fire. KXRM expanded its digital presence during the transition away from analog television. Its second digital subchannel carried Retro Television Network programming beginning in 2007, replacing The Tube, and later carried a simulcast of KXTU. KXRM ended regular analog programming on June 12, 2009, while maintaining an analog informational loop for a limited period under the federal SAFER Act. The station's principal digital transmission uses virtual channel 21, with transmission facilities on Cheyenne Mountain and additional translator service in parts of Eastern and Southern Colorado.

• 2017

  KXRM joins Nexstar

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC approves the Nexstar–Media General transaction on January 11, and the deal closes on January 17.

• 2016

  Nexstar announces Media General acquisition

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar announces a planned acquisition of Media General, which includes KXRM.

• 2014

  Transfer to Media General

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KXRM and KXTU-LD move to Media General through a station exchange completed in December.

• 2013

  Sinclair acquisition announced and Murrow recognition received

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Barrington announces the sale of KXRM to Sinclair, while KXRM receives a National Edward R. Murrow Award for Waldo Canyon Fire coverage.

• 2009

  Analog broadcasting ends

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Regular analog programming ends during the United States digital television transition; an informational analog loop continues temporarily under the SAFER Act.

• 2007

  Digital subchannel programming expands

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KXRM begins carrying Retro Television Network programming on digital subchannel 21.2 and launches a substantial morning news operation.

• 2006

  In-house news department established

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station takes local-news production in-house and expands its 9 p.m. broadcast to one hour.

• 2001

  Launch of 9 p.m. local newscast

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KXRM begins a half-hour prime-time newscast produced by KKTV.

• 2000

  Raycom Media acquisition

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KXRM leaves local ownership after its acquisition by Raycom Media.

• 1986

  Station affiliates with Fox

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KXRM joins the early group of independent stations affiliated with the Fox Broadcasting Company.

• 1985

  KXRM-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KXRM signs on as an independent commercial station in Colorado Springs on January 22.

Local Fox affiliate serving Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Southern Colorado, with a strong emphasis on high-volume local news and severe-weather or emergency coverage.

• Local television news · 2001

  Fox 21 News

  KXRM's local-news operation, branded Fox 21 News, provides reporting, weather, traffic, breaking news, public-affairs content, and community coverage for Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and surrounding Southern Colorado. The operation includes weekday morning, evening, late-night, and weekend broadcasts and is a principal differentiator from the station's nationally supplied Fox programming.

• Broadcast television programming · 1986

  Fox network programming

  KXRM carries programming supplied by the Fox network, including the network's entertainment and sports schedule. The affiliation began in 1986, when KXRM was among the early independent stations to join Fox, and it has remained central to the station's programming and marketing identity.

• Digital television service · 2007

  Digital subchannel 21.2

  KXRM's second digital channel has carried changing supplementary services. It carried Retro Television Network programming beginning in 2007 and later became a simulcast of KXTU-LD, extending the reach of the associated CW service before KXTU completed its own digital transition.

• 2017

  Integration into Nexstar Media GroupM&A

  Background

  Nexstar agreed to acquire Media General in a transaction requiring regulatory review.

  Action taken

  After FCC approval, the acquisition closed and KXRM became a Nexstar-owned station.

  Aftermath

  KXRM joined Nexstar's national local-broadcast portfolio and remained paired with KXTU-LD in Colorado Springs.

  Announced transaction value. $4.6 billion announced acquisition (Announced January 2016; completed January 2017)

  Source

• 2016

  Add a weeknight 10 p.m. newscastProduct launch

  Background

  KXRM had already developed a substantial morning and 9 p.m. local-news schedule.

  Action taken

  The station added a 10 p.m. newscast on weeknights.

  Aftermath

  The addition increased the station's late-evening local-news presence.

  Source

• 2007

  Launch of expanded morning news and digital-subchannel serviceProduct launch

  Background

  The station was developing its local-news operation while digital television created additional broadcast capacity.

  Action taken

  KXRM introduced a three-hour morning newscast and began carrying Retro Television Network programming on digital subchannel 21.2.

  Aftermath

  The station broadened both its local-news inventory and its supplementary digital programming.

  Source

• 2006

  Build an in-house local-news operationStrategy

  Background

  KXRM's initial 9 p.m. newscast had been produced by KKTV since 2001.

  Action taken

  The station established its own news department and expanded the prime-time newscast from 30 minutes to one hour.

  Aftermath

  Local news became a larger part of KXRM's programming mix and subsequent market positioning.

  Source

1. 1KXRM-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KXRM-TV official websitefox21news.com