KXTX-TV

KXTX-TV is a Spanish-language broadcast television station licensed to Dallas, Texas, and serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. It operates as the market’s Telemundo station and is owned and operated by NBCUniversal’s Telemundo Station Group. KXTX-TV is paired with NBC affiliate KXAS-TV, and the two stations share facilities at the CentrePort Business Park in Fort Worth. KXTX-TV’s transmitter is located in Cedar Hill, Texas, a major transmission site for North Texas television stations. The station’s consumer-facing identity is closely associated with Telemundo Dallas, while its Federal Communications Commission call sign remains KXTX-TV. The station’s history began with the launch of KDTV on February 5, 1968. Doubleday Broadcasting, a subsidiary of the publishing company Doubleday and Company, developed the UHF station as an English-language independent outlet. Its early schedule was unusual for a general-market independent: daytime programming prominently included business news and stock-market information, while the station also carried local sports, public-affairs programs, syndicated entertainment, and films. KDTV was an early television partner of several Dallas–Fort Worth sports properties, including the Dallas Chaparrals, Dallas Blackhawks, Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs, Dallas Tornado, and the newly established Texas Rangers. KDTV struggled to compete against the established independent KTVT. The station experienced substantial early losses and did not build a strong audience position. A major technical setback occurred in May 1969, when a windstorm destroyed its original Cedar Hill transmission tower, taking the station off the air for twelve days. By 1973, Doubleday sought to transfer the financially troubled station to a nonprofit organization rather than continue operating it. The Christian Broadcasting Network was selected to assume the license, facilities, programming obligations, and staff relationship. CBN had recently reactivated a separate Dallas UHF facility as KXTX-TV on channel 33. On November 14, 1973, CBN moved the KXTX-TV call sign to channel 39 and consolidated the operations there; the former channel 33 facility subsequently went dark. Under CBN ownership, KXTX-TV initially emphasized religious and family-oriented programs, including CBN’s The 700 Club, alongside general entertainment. During the late 1970s and 1980s, the station deliberately broadened its schedule to appeal to a larger audience and compete more directly as an independent station. It expanded local and syndicated sports, added entertainment reruns, carried the Independent Network News, experimented with radio simulcasts, and reduced the prominence of religious programming. The station also produced World Class Championship Wrestling during the 1980s and carried a range of syndicated children’s and youth-oriented programs. Its religious orientation nevertheless affected advertising policy and cable distribution, including restrictions on alcohol advertising and special regulatory treatment that later changed. KXTX-TV was placed on the market by CBN, later known as the Continental Broadcasting Network, in the 1980s. Multiple sales efforts failed, in part because bids were considered inadequate, syndicated-program contracts were expensive, and financing conditions for independent stations deteriorated. In 1994, KXAS-TV began operating and programming KXTX-TV under a local marketing agreement. The station provided an outlet for NBC programs preempted from KXAS-TV and briefly carried The WB during 1995. KXTX-TV also became involved in the regional sports-rights strategy surrounding Texas Rangers baseball and Dallas Stars hockey, although the related regional sports-network concept was not pursued through the station. Southwest Sports acquired the KXTX-TV license in 2000 and attempted to sell the station to Pappas Telecasting for use in the proposed Azteca América network. Financing problems caused that transaction to collapse. Telemundo subsequently acquired KXTX-TV, and on January 1, 2002, the station replaced KFWD as Telemundo’s Dallas–Fort Worth outlet. NBC acquired Telemundo during the same period, bringing KXTX-TV into the NBCUniversal television portfolio. In 2006, KXTX-TV moved its operations from Dallas to the Fort Worth facilities used by KXAS-TV. Today, KXTX-TV’s principal role is as a Spanish-language local television service for North Texas. Its programming includes Telemundo network content, locally produced Spanish-language newscasts, and a morning news program distributed to Telemundo stations across Texas. The station combines national network entertainment, news, sports, and special programming with local coverage aimed at the region’s Spanish-speaking communities. Unlike its early years as KDTV and its CBN-era period, the modern station is not positioned as an independent or religious outlet; its brand, programming, and business model are integrated into Telemundo’s national network and NBCUniversal’s owned-station structure.

KXTX-TV traces its lineage to Dallas UHF channel 39, which began broadcasting as KDTV on February 5, 1968. Doubleday Broadcasting built the station with studios on Harry Hines Boulevard and a transmitter in Cedar Hill. Its early identity combined business information, local sports, public affairs, syndicated entertainment, and movies. The station’s signature early program was a daytime stock-market and business-news block, supported by information supplied through Scantlin Electronics and The Wall Street Journal. KDTV also carried local teams and became an early television partner of the Texas Rangers in 1972. The station had difficulty attracting viewers against the stronger independent KTVT and suffered significant financial losses. Technical problems compounded the challenge: a May 1969 windstorm destroyed its first Cedar Hill tower and forced a twelve-day interruption. Doubleday eventually sought a nonprofit recipient for the struggling operation. In 1973, the Christian Broadcasting Network was chosen to assume the station. CBN had entered the Dallas market through a separate channel 33 operation using the KXTX-TV call sign. On November 14, 1973, the call sign and CBN operation moved to channel 39, while the former channel 33 facility went dark. CBN’s KXTX-TV initially concentrated on religious, family-oriented, and general-entertainment programming. The station’s schedule included CBN-produced religious content and The 700 Club, but it gradually pursued a broader audience. During the late 1970s and 1980s, KXTX-TV added more sports, syndicated entertainment, youth programming, news, and public-affairs material. It carried the Independent Network News, experimented with a radio-program simulcast, promoted entertainment reruns, and produced World Class Championship Wrestling. By the mid-1980s, religious programming occupied a smaller share of the schedule than it had previously, leaving the market open for a more consistently religious competitor. The station’s business environment remained difficult. Dallas–Fort Worth gained several additional independent stations, increasing competition for programs and advertising. Changes in copyright royalty rules and cable-system policies reduced some of KXTX-TV’s distant cable carriage. CBN and its successor, Continental Broadcasting Network, attempted to sell the station in the 1980s, but proposed transactions did not close. Some efforts were affected by low bids, long-term syndicated-program obligations, tax-law changes, and a weakening market for independent stations. In June 1994, KXAS-TV began programming KXTX-TV through a local marketing agreement. Channel 39 served as an outlet for NBC programs preempted by KXAS-TV and briefly became the Dallas–Fort Worth affiliate of The WB in 1995. The station also participated in sports programming and rights discussions involving the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars. In 2000, Southwest Sports acquired the license and proposed selling the station to Pappas Telecasting for the planned Azteca América network. Financing problems prevented that deal from closing. Telemundo then acquired KXTX-TV. On January 1, 2002, it became Telemundo’s Dallas–Fort Worth outlet, replacing KFWD. NBC’s acquisition of Telemundo placed the station within the NBCUniversal portfolio. In 2006, KXTX-TV moved its operations to Fort Worth and began sharing CentrePort Business Park facilities with KXAS-TV. Its current service consists of Telemundo network programming, locally produced Spanish-language news, and a Texas-focused morning news program distributed across Telemundo stations in the state.

• 2006

  Operations move to Fort Worth

  [1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KXTX-TV relocates to shared NBC/KXAS-TV facilities at CentrePort Business Park.

• 2002

  Telemundo affiliation begins

  [1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KXTX-TV becomes Telemundo’s Dallas–Fort Worth station, replacing KFWD.

• 2000

  Southwest Sports acquires the license

  [1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Southwest Sports acquires KXTX-TV and proposes a sale to Pappas Telecasting, but the planned transaction fails because of financing difficulties.

• 1994

  KXAS-TV begins local marketing agreement operations

  [1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KXAS-TV begins programming KXTX-TV and uses it for overflow NBC programming.

• 1973

  Christian Broadcasting Network assumes channel 39

  [1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  CBN consolidates its Dallas stations and moves the KXTX-TV identity to the former KDTV channel 39 license.

• 1969

  Original transmission tower is destroyed

  [1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  A windstorm knocks down the Cedar Hill tower, taking KDTV off the air for twelve days.

• 1968

  KDTV launches on channel 39

  [1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Doubleday Broadcasting’s new Dallas UHF station begins broadcasting with business news, sports, public affairs, syndicated programs, and films.

A Spanish-language Telemundo network station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, with local news and regional coverage integrated into NBCUniversal’s owned-station portfolio.

• Local television news · 2002

  Telemundo Dallas local news

  Locally produced Spanish-language newscasts covering Dallas, Fort Worth, North Texas, weather, traffic, community issues, and regional events. These broadcasts form the station’s principal original programming and adapt Telemundo’s national presentation style to the Dallas–Fort Worth audience.

• Spanish-language network television · 2002

  Telemundo network programming

  KXTX-TV carries the Telemundo network schedule, including Spanish-language news, entertainment, sports, specials, and other nationally distributed programming. The network service is the station’s central modern programming proposition, replacing its earlier independent and religious-programming identities.

• Morning television news

  Texas morning news programming

  KXTX-TV produces a morning news program associated with Telemundo’s Texas station group. The program provides early-day local and regional information and is distributed to Telemundo outlets across Texas.

• Televised sports entertainment

  World Class Championship Wrestling

  A wrestling program produced by the World Class Championship Wrestling promotion and broadcast by KXTX-TV during the 1980s. It reflected the station’s broader push into locally relevant sports and entertainment programming during its CBN-era transition away from an overwhelmingly religious schedule.

• 2002

  Conversion to a Telemundo-owned-and-operated stationStrategy

  Background

  A proposed sale to Pappas Telecasting for the planned Azteca América network collapsed after financing problems.

  Action taken

  Telemundo acquired KXTX-TV and made it the network’s Dallas–Fort Worth outlet, replacing KFWD.

  Aftermath

  NBC’s acquisition of Telemundo placed KXTX-TV within NBCUniversal, where it remains paired with KXAS-TV.

  Source

• 1994

  Local marketing agreement with KXAS-TVStrategy

  Background

  KXTX-TV faced a competitive independent-station market and had previously struggled to sustain a strong audience and financial position.

  Action taken

  KXAS-TV began operating and programming KXTX-TV under a local marketing agreement.

  Aftermath

  KXTX-TV served as an overflow outlet for preempted NBC programs and briefly carried The WB in 1995.

  Source

• 1973

  Consolidation of CBN’s Dallas operationsStrategy

  Background

  Doubleday sought a nonprofit solution for the financially troubled KDTV, while CBN operated a separate Dallas station using the KXTX-TV call sign on channel 33.

  Action taken

  CBN assumed the KDTV license and facilities and moved the KXTX-TV call sign and programming operation to channel 39.

  Aftermath

  The channel 33 facility went dark, and channel 39 entered a long period under CBN ownership with religious and family-oriented programming later supplemented by broader entertainment.

  Source

• 2006

  KXTX-TV moves operations to Fort Worth[1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station relocated its operating facilities to the CentrePort Business Park, where it shares studios with NBC affiliate KXAS-TV.

• 2002

  KXTX-TV becomes Telemundo Dallas–Fort Worth station[1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Following Telemundo’s acquisition of the station, KXTX-TV replaced KFWD as the Telemundo affiliate serving the Metroplex on January 1.

• 1994

  KXAS-TV begins operating KXTX-TV under local marketing agreement[1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  KXAS-TV assumed programming and operational responsibilities for KXTX-TV, which also became an outlet for preempted NBC programming.

• 1973

  KXTX-TV moves to channel 39 under CBN[1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Christian Broadcasting Network consolidated its Dallas operations, moving the KXTX-TV call sign from channel 33 to the former KDTV channel 39 facility.

• 1969

  Windstorm destroys KDTV transmission tower[1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A windstorm brought down the station’s original Cedar Hill tower, interrupting broadcasts for twelve days until replacement transmission facilities were completed.

• 1968

  KXTX-TV begins broadcasting as KDTV[1]KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Dallas channel 39 facility launched as KDTV, an English-language independent station operated by Doubleday Broadcasting with business news, sports, public affairs, syndicated programming, and films.

1. 1KXTX-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Telemundo Dallas official websitetelemundodallas.com