KXVA
KXVA is a full-power television station serving Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Fox and MyNetworkTV.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KXVA is a television station licensed to Abilene, Texas, broadcasting on UHF channel 15. Its primary affiliation is with Fox, while its second digital subchannel carries MyNetworkTV programming. The station serves viewers across the Abilene and broader West Texas market, with its transmission facilities located in rural southwestern Callahan County. The station was created to provide a full-power Fox outlet for the Abilene area. Its origins are connected to an earlier low-power translator operation associated with KIDY in San Angelo. That arrangement became less adequate after Fox acquired the rights to carry the National Football League in the mid-1990s, because the translator did not provide sufficient coverage for the wider market. A Star Broadcasting application for a new full-power station on channel 15 was ultimately cleared through a settlement approved by the Federal Communications Commission in 1999. The station received its final construction permit in June 2000 and began broadcasting on January 18, 2001, becoming Abilene's first new full-power television station since KTAB-TV launched in 1979. KXVA has operated within a succession of broadcast ownership groups. Bayou City Broadcasting acquired the station in 2008, and London Broadcasting Company purchased it in a 2012 transaction. Gannett acquired KXVA and related London stations in 2014. When Gannett separated its publishing and broadcasting operations in 2015, KXVA became part of the broadcast and digital company Tegna. The station later became associated with Nexstar Media Group following Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna, subject to regulatory and court-related restrictions described in the station's reference history. KXVA's local identity is closely linked to KIDY, the Fox affiliate serving San Angelo. The stations share operational resources, local production, branding, and much of their programming under the Fox West Texas name. Their news operation has evolved from retransmitted San Antonio programming and brief local updates into locally produced newscasts covering both the Abilene and San Angelo areas. KXVA has used the Fox 15 brand at various points and has carried shared programs such as Fox News First at Nine and Wake Up West Texas. In addition to its main Fox service, the station has carried MyNetworkTV on KXVA-DT2 since 2011. The subchannel became the Abilene market's sole MyNetworkTV affiliate after the related KIDZ-LD service ended in January 2018. KXVA also reaches portions of its territory through digital translators, including services in Albany and Brownwood. The station completed its analog-to-digital transition through a flash cut on February 17, 2009, retaining UHF channel 15 for its digital transmission.
History
KXVA developed from a West Texas broadcast expansion effort tied to KIDY, the Fox affiliate in San Angelo. In 1992, Sage Broadcasting established a low-power translator identified as K54DT, branded KDT, to extend KIDY-related service. The outlet changed its call sign to KIDZ-LP in 1996. The limitations of that service became more important after Fox obtained the rights to broadcast National Football League games in 1994. Because the low-power signal did not adequately cover the intended market, Fox football rights in the area were instead carried by ABC affiliate KTXS. The wife of one of KIDY's owners, operating through Star Broadcasting, applied in 1995 to construct a full-power station on channel 15. Four parties initially sought the allocation. Changes associated with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 meant that newly available commercial broadcast channels were to be awarded through auctions, and the applicants were directed toward that process. The auction did not occur, however, because the FCC approved a settlement in 1999 that cleared the way for the Star Broadcasting application. The FCC issued a final construction permit on June 15, 2000. The proposed station had already been publicly identified as KXVA, with a plan to move Fox programming to the new full-power channel while converting the low-power service to a UPN affiliate. Construction delays, including equipment problems and poor weather affecting tower work, postponed the planned autumn 2000 launch. KXVA finally began broadcasting on January 18, 2001. It was the first new full-power television station established in Abilene since KTAB-TV began operation in October 1979. The station's ownership changed several times. Bayou City Broadcasting purchased KXVA in 2008 in a transaction reported at approximately $3 million. In September 2012, Bayou City announced an agreement to sell KXVA and seven other stations to London Broadcasting Company, a Dallas-based broadcaster. The FCC approved the transaction on November 14, and the sale closed on December 31. London owner DuJuan McCoy used the transaction as part of a broader decision to leave broadcasting temporarily and refocus on acquiring major-network affiliates in larger mid-sized markets. Gannett announced in May 2014 that it would purchase KXVA, KIDY, and four other London stations for $215 million. Gannett described the deal as a way to expand its presence in growing markets and to give local advertisers access to its digital marketing capabilities. The transaction closed on July 8, 2014. In June 2015, Gannett separated its publishing activities from its broadcasting and digital operations. KXVA remained with the latter company, which adopted the name Tegna. KXVA's news development has been closely integrated with KIDY. Beginning in 2009, the stations carried KABB's San Antonio 9 p.m. newscast, supplemented by local headlines. A simulcast of KABB's morning program was added in 2010, while KXVA also aired weekday local updates throughout the day using headline and information resources from the Abilene Reporter-News. On January 20, 2014, KXVA and KIDY introduced Fox News First at Nine, a locally produced half-hour newscast originating in San Angelo. Other programming included Texas Daily and The Broadcast, programs produced by Dallas sister station KTXD-TV. In August 2016, KXVA relaunched its news operation. The early evening newscast moved from 6:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., the prime-time newscast moved to 10 p.m., and the station introduced a new studio, standalone website, and Fox 15 on-air identity. By 2019, KXVA and KIDY had recombined their news operation and branding under Fox West Texas. The shared schedule included a half-hour 6 p.m. newscast and an hour-long 9 p.m. newscast. A joint morning program, Wake Up West Texas, aired on both stations until 2020. KXVA expanded its digital service in 2011 by adding a second subchannel carrying a simulcast of KIDZ-LD. When KIDZ-LD signed off on January 25, 2018, KXVA-DT2 became the Abilene market's only MyNetworkTV affiliate. The station also uses translator facilities to extend its signal, including services in Albany and Brownwood. Two other translators were later discontinued: the Stamford facility closed in 2020 during the repurposing of 600 MHz spectrum for cellular use and its license was surrendered in 2021, while the Sweetwater facility closed in 2022. KXVA completed its analog-to-digital transition on February 17, 2009. Because its original construction permit was issued after the FCC's digital allotment plan was finalized, it did not receive a separate companion digital channel; instead, it shut down its analog UHF 15 transmission and began digital operation on the same channel. The reference history also reports Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of Tegna, announced in 2025 and completed in 2026, as well as subsequent court restrictions delaying integration with Nexstar's Abilene stations KTAB-TV and KRBC-TV.
- 2019
Fox West Texas consolidation
[1]KXVA and KIDY recombined their news operation and branding as Fox West Texas.
- 2018
KXVA-DT2 becomes sole MyNetworkTV affiliate
[1]KXVA-DT2 assumed the market's sole MyNetworkTV affiliation after KIDZ-LD ceased operation.
- 2015
Station moves to Tegna
[1]KXVA became part of Tegna after Gannett separated its broadcasting and publishing businesses.
- 2014
Gannett acquisition completed
[1]Gannett completed its acquisition of KXVA and related London Broadcasting stations on July 8.
- 2011
Second digital subchannel added
[1]KXVA added a second digital channel carrying a simulcast of KIDZ-LD.
- 2009
Analog-to-digital transition
[1]KXVA ended analog broadcasting and flash-cut its digital service to UHF channel 15 on February 17.
- 2008
Bayou City Broadcasting acquisition
[1]Bayou City Broadcasting acquired KXVA.
- 2001
KXVA launches
[1]KXVA began full-power broadcasting on January 18, becoming Abilene's first new full-power television station in more than two decades.
- 2000
Final construction permit issued
[1]The FCC issued the final construction permit for channel 15 on June 15.
- 1999
FCC settlement clears channel 15 application
[1]The FCC approved a settlement that allowed the Star Broadcasting application to proceed without the contemplated channel auction.
Products and positioning
A regional Fox television outlet combining network entertainment and sports programming with shared local news coverage for Abilene, San Angelo, and surrounding West Texas communities.
Broadcast television · 2001
Fox affiliate service
KXVA's main service carries Fox network programming, including entertainment, news, and sports content, for viewers in the Abilene and surrounding West Texas market. The service is transmitted from the station's facility in southwestern Callahan County and is supported by translator stations serving additional communities.
Digital subchannel · 2011
MyNetworkTV on KXVA-DT2
KXVA-DT2 carries MyNetworkTV programming. The subchannel began as a simulcast of KIDZ-LD in 2011 and became the sole MyNetworkTV affiliate in the Abilene market after KIDZ-LD ended operation in January 2018.
Local news · 2014
Fox West Texas local news
KXVA shares a regional news operation with KIDY in San Angelo. The service has included evening newscasts, local headline updates, and a shared morning program, with coverage designed for communities across the Abilene and San Angelo areas.
Broadcast distribution
Digital translator service
KXVA's signal is relayed through digital translator facilities serving communities including Albany and Brownwood. Earlier facilities serving Stamford and Sweetwater were later closed or surrendered.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Fox West Texas
Abilene · San Angelo · West Texas
KXVA and KIDY combined their news operation and regional branding to present shared coverage across West Texas.
Outcome. The stations operated with shared evening newscasts and previously shared a morning program.
- 2016Fox 15 news relaunch
Abilene · West Texas
KXVA refreshed its news presentation through a new studio, standalone website, revised evening schedule, and Fox 15 on-air branding.
Outcome. The operation later returned to a shared Fox West Texas identity with KIDY.
Brand decisions
2016
Reconfigure the news schedule and presentationGeneration changeBackground
KXVA sought to refresh its local news product and station identity.
Action taken
The station moved its early evening newscast to 6 p.m., moved its prime-time newscast to 10 p.m., and introduced new facilities and Fox 15 branding.
Aftermath
The operation was later recombined with KIDY under the Fox West Texas brand.
2014
Introduce locally produced evening newsProduct launchBackground
KXVA had previously relied on simulcasts and limited local updates for much of its news output.
Action taken
The station launched Fox News First at Nine, a half-hour newscast produced from San Angelo for KXVA and KIDY.
Aftermath
The local news operation was later rebranded and consolidated under Fox West Texas.
2014
Sell KXVA to GannettM&ABackground
London Broadcasting sought to exit or reshape parts of its station portfolio.
Action taken
Gannett agreed to acquire KXVA, KIDY, and four other London stations.
Aftermath
KXVA became part of Tegna after Gannett separated its broadcast and publishing operations.
Reported transaction value. $215 million (Announced May 14, 2014; completed July 8, 2014)
2011
Add a MyNetworkTV digital subchannelProduct launchBackground
KXVA sought to expand its digital programming beyond the main Fox service.
Action taken
The station added KXVA-DT2 as a simulcast of KIDZ-LD, later making it the market's sole MyNetworkTV outlet.
Aftermath
After KIDZ-LD ended operation in 2018, the KXVA subchannel retained the MyNetworkTV affiliation for Abilene.
2001
Launch a full-power Fox stationProduct launchBackground
The earlier KIDY translator did not provide sufficient coverage for the market, particularly after Fox acquired NFL broadcasting rights.
Action taken
KXVA launched on channel 15 and became the full-power Fox outlet associated with the Abilene market.
Aftermath
Fox programming moved to the new station, while the low-power outlet was planned for a different network affiliation.
1999
Proceed through FCC settlement rather than auctionStrategyBackground
Four applicants had sought the channel 15 allocation, while post-1996 FCC rules pointed toward auctioning new commercial broadcast allocations.
Action taken
An FCC-approved settlement cleared the Star Broadcasting application to continue without the planned auction.
Aftermath
The settlement enabled construction of the full-power station that became KXVA.
Sources1 sources
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