KXXV

KXXV is a full-power television station licensed to Waco, Texas, and serving the Waco–Temple–Bryan market. The station operates as an ABC affiliate and is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company. Its main studios are on South New Road in Waco, while its transmitter is near Moody, Texas. KXXV also operates KRHD-CD, a low-power semi-satellite serving Bryan and the Brazos Valley under a channel 15 brand. KRHD-CD carries KXXV programming while allowing separate local advertising and local news coverage for the Brazos Valley. The station was created to fill a significant gap in the Central Texas television market. Before KXXV launched, the Waco–Temple–Bryan area did not have full-time affiliates for all three major American broadcast networks. Central Texas Broadcasting Company, led by Waco businessman Robert A. Mann, pursued the Federal Communications Commission authorization for channel 25 during a lengthy comparative licensing process. The station was initially planned under the call sign KWVT, but the call sign KXXV was selected before construction. The name uses Roman numerals corresponding to channel 25. KXXV began broadcasting on March 22, 1985, as an NBC affiliate. NBC soon decided to return to KCEN-TV, its former local affiliate, and KXXV negotiated an accelerated affiliation change. On December 30, 1985, the station became an ABC affiliate, a role it has retained. The change gave the market a stable ABC outlet while KCEN-TV resumed its long-standing NBC relationship. Ownership changed several times. Shamrock Broadcasting acquired the station in the late 1980s, followed by Drewry Communications in 1994. Drewry expanded the station’s regional reach by acquiring a Bryan low-power outlet and relaunching it as a KXXV semi-satellite. Raycom Media purchased Drewry’s broadcasting portfolio in 2015. In 2019, after Gray Television’s acquisition of Raycom, KXXV and KRHD were sold to Scripps. The transaction ended KXXV’s secondary Telemundo relationship because of overlapping ownership and market considerations. Local news has been a central part of the station’s identity. KXXV introduced evening newscasts at launch, later adding morning and weekend morning programs. It has invested in weather technology, severe-weather reporting and regional bureaus, including coverage from Killeen and a renewed Bryan–College Station presence. The station has generally competed behind longer-established market leaders in local-news ratings, although it briefly moved ahead of KCEN in an early-evening ratings period in 1989. KXXV’s broadcast history also includes a major aviation accident. In November 2004, a Fort Hood Black Hawk helicopter struck guy wires associated with the station’s transmission tower near Moody and crashed, killing all seven people aboard. The tower lighting had been disabled by storms, and the station had notified the Federal Aviation Administration of the outage. In the digital era, KXXV transitioned from analog channel 25 to digital channel 26 while retaining virtual channel 25. Today, its business combines network television, local news, weather, advertising and community service for Central Texas, with additional localized coverage through KRHD-CD.

The channel 25 license in Waco attracted competing applicants in the late 1970s. Central Texas Broadcasting Company, organized by Robert A. Mann, applied alongside Business Communications Inc., Heart O’ Texas Broadcasting Company and Blake-Potash Corporation. The FCC placed the applications into comparative hearings in 1979. An administrative law judge initially favored Blake-Potash, but the FCC review board later reversed that decision and awarded the permit to Central Texas Broadcasting. The ruling was challenged, yet Central Texas proceeded with development. In 1984, the proposed station was publicly identified as KWVT and was expected to become an NBC affiliate. Its planned facilities included studios on New Road and Bagby and a transmitter near Moody. Before construction was completed, the station adopted the call sign KXXV, reflecting its channel number in Roman numerals. Construction experienced weather-related delays, but KXXV ultimately began broadcasting on March 22, 1985. KXXV’s first affiliation was short-lived. NBC wanted to restore its relationship with KCEN-TV, which had recently carried ABC. The two stations negotiated an earlier transition, and KXXV became an ABC affiliate on December 30, 1985. This arrangement established the station’s long-term network identity. Central Texas Broadcasting agreed to sell KXXV to Shamrock Broadcasting in 1987 for a reported $12.5 million. Regulatory approval was obtained over objections from former competing applicants, and the transaction closed in early 1988. Shamrock announced plans to sell the station in 1990, but KXXV remained with the company until Drewry Communications acquired it in 1994. Drewry assumed control on December 1, 1994, and made substantial management and news-department changes. Drewry introduced a morning newscast in 1995 and weekend morning broadcasts the following year. It also invested in severe-weather coverage, including new vehicles, Doppler radar and a weather channel carried on local cable. The station established a Killeen bureau and worked to improve coverage of Fort Hood and western parts of the market. In 1998, Drewry acquired a low-power Bryan station and relaunched it as KRHD, a semi-satellite with local advertising and some locally oriented programming. KXXV and KRHD briefly carried additional networks. In 2002, the outlets added The WB after the market’s previous WB station was sold to Univision. The secondary affiliation moved later that year to Fox affiliate KWKT and its satellite KYLE. KXXV also became a local Telemundo outlet during this period, carrying the network through the local cable system and adding local news briefs and advertising. That relationship ended after Scripps acquired KXXV. A notable safety incident occurred on November 29, 2004, when a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk from nearby Fort Hood struck guy wires on the KXXV transmission tower near Moody. All seven people aboard died. The tower’s warning lights were not operating after recent storms, although the station had notified the FAA about the lighting problem. Drewry planned to sell its stations to London Broadcasting in 2008, but the proposed transaction collapsed in early 2009. London instead acquired KCEN-TV. Drewry later sold its full broadcast portfolio to Raycom Media for $160 million in 2015. In 2018, Gray Television announced a $3.6 billion agreement to acquire Raycom. Gray retained other overlapping Texas stations and agreed to sell KXXV and KRHD to Scripps for $55 million. The sale closed on January 2, 2019. KXXV began digital broadcasting by January 2004. It ended analog transmission on February 17, 2009, and continued digital broadcasting on UHF channel 26 while retaining virtual channel 25. The station remains an ABC affiliate serving Central Texas, with KRHD-CD providing a Brazos Valley-oriented extension of the brand.

1. 2019Scripps ownership begins

   Scripps completed its purchase of KXXV and KRHD on January 2.

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2. 2015Raycom acquires Drewry portfolio

   Raycom Media purchased Drewry Communications’ stations, including KXXV.

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3. 2009Analog transmission ends

   The station ended analog service and continued digitally on channel 26 with virtual channel 25.

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4. 2004Digital broadcasting and tower accident

   KXXV began digital transmission and later that year experienced the fatal Black Hawk tower-wire accident.

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5. 1998KRHD semi-satellite launches

   A Bryan low-power station was relaunched as KRHD, extending KXXV’s service into the Brazos Valley.

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6. 1994Drewry acquires KXXV

   Drewry Communications took control on December 1.

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7. 1988Shamrock ownership closes

   Shamrock Broadcasting completed its acquisition of KXXV.

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8. 1985KXXV signs on

   KXXV began broadcasting on March 22 as an NBC affiliate.

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9. 1985ABC affiliation begins

   The station switched from NBC to ABC on December 30.

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10. 1979FCC comparative hearing process begins

    The FCC placed four competing applications into comparative hearing status.

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11. 1977Initial channel 25 applications

    Several applicant groups, including Central Texas Broadcasting Company, sought authorization to operate Waco’s channel 25.

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A regional broadcast-news and ABC network outlet focused on Central Texas, with localized service for both the Waco–Temple area and the Brazos Valley.

• KXXV ABC serviceBroadcast television1985

  The station’s primary over-the-air service, carrying ABC network programming alongside locally produced news, weather, public-affairs and advertising content for Waco, Temple, Bryan and surrounding Central Texas communities.

• KRHD-CDLow-power semi-satellite television station1998

  KXXV’s low-power extension in Bryan, branded as channel 15, serves the Brazos Valley. It carries much of the KXXV schedule while supporting local advertising and localized news coverage.

• KXXV local newsTelevision news1985

  KXXV’s local news operation provides scheduled morning, midday or evening coverage, regional reporting and weather services. Its reporting footprint includes Waco, Temple, Killeen, Fort Hood, Bryan, College Station and surrounding communities.

• 2019Sale to the E. W. Scripps CompanyM&A

  Gray Television’s acquisition of Raycom created ownership overlaps among Texas stations and led to the divestiture of KXXV and KRHD.

  What changed. Scripps purchased the stations for $55 million, with the transaction closing on January 2, 2019.

  Aftermath. KXXV joined Scripps, and its Telemundo affiliation was transferred to KWTX-TV.

  Reported purchase price. $55 million (2019 transaction)

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• 1998Launch of KRHD semi-satelliteProduct launch

  Drewry sought to strengthen KXXV’s presence in the separate Bryan–College Station and Brazos Valley area.

  What changed. The company acquired a low-power Bryan station and relaunched it as KRHD, a KXXV semi-satellite with local advertising and regional programming capability.

  Aftermath. KXXV gained a dedicated low-power extension serving Brazos Valley viewers.

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• 1985Move from NBC to ABCStrategy

  NBC decided to return to KCEN-TV, its former affiliate, after KXXV had launched as the market’s NBC outlet.

  What changed. KXXV and KCEN-TV agreed to bring the affiliation change forward, making KXXV an ABC affiliate on December 30, 1985.

  Aftermath. ABC became KXXV’s enduring primary network affiliation, while KCEN-TV resumed NBC service.

  • KCEN-TV — KCEN-TV regained the NBC affiliation and ended its period as a full-time ABC affiliate.
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• 2019Scripps completes acquisition of KXXV and KRHD

  The E. W. Scripps Company completed its purchase of KXXV and KRHD from Raycom Media following Gray Television’s acquisition of Raycom.

  M&A
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• 2004Black Hawk helicopter strikes KXXV tower wires

  A Fort Hood Black Hawk helicopter clipped guy wires on the station’s tower near Moody and crashed, killing all seven occupants. The tower lights had failed after storms, and KXXV had reported the outage to the FAA.

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• 1998KXXV launches KRHD semi-satellite service in Bryan

  Drewry Communications acquired a Bryan low-power station and relaunched it as KRHD, extending KXXV programming while permitting local advertising and Brazos Valley coverage.

  Product launch
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• 1985KXXV begins broadcasting as an NBC affiliate

  KXXV signed on in Waco on March 22, initially providing NBC service to a market that had lacked a full complement of major-network affiliates.

  Product launch
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• 1985KXXV changes affiliation from NBC to ABC

  After NBC arranged to return to KCEN-TV, KXXV moved to ABC on December 30, eight months earlier than the original NBC agreement’s scheduled expiration.

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1. KXXV
2. KXXV official website