Nebraska Television Network

Nebraska Television Network, commonly known as NTV, is a regional television network and news operation serving much of central and western Nebraska. Its principal broadcast outlets are KHGI-TV, licensed to Kearney and operating on channel 13, and KWNB-TV, licensed to Hayes Center and operating on channel 6. The network also reaches additional communities through low-power facilities in McCook and North Platte. NTV is an ABC affiliate and produces local news programming focused primarily on the Tri-Cities area of Grand Island, Hastings, and Kearney, as well as southwestern Nebraska and the North Platte region. The network traces its origins to KHOL-TV, which began broadcasting from the Kearney area on December 25, 1953. The station was established by the Bi-States Company, a group of businessmen from Holdrege and Alma, and was the first television station in Nebraska outside the Lincoln and Omaha markets. It initially carried CBS programming, with secondary affiliations to ABC and NBC, and also maintained a relationship with the short-lived DuMont network. The station emphasized locally produced programming from its early years, including news, sports, women's programming, wrestling, boxing, and variety shows. NTV's western reach expanded after local residents and businesses helped finance a second facility at Hayes Center. Originally designated KHPL-TV, channel 6 entered service in February 1956 and provided television coverage to a large area of southwestern Nebraska. In 1961, KHOL-TV and KHPL-TV became primary ABC affiliates. During the following decade the organization added transmitters at Albion and Superior, creating a four-station regional network that adopted the Nebraska Television Network name. The Albion outlet was later separated from the network, while the Superior station eventually became associated with KSNB-TV. Ownership changed several times. NTV Enterprises, associated with the Oldfather and Payne families of Kearney, acquired the stations in 1974 and changed their call signs to KHGI-TV, KWNB-TV, KCNA-TV, and KSNB-TV. Joseph Amaturo acquired the group in 1979, and Gordon Broadcasting bought the principal NTV stations in 1985. Financial difficulties and a receivership complicated ownership during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Fant Broadcasting acquired the principal stations in 1993, after which the network became connected with Fox expansion in Nebraska through its management of KTVG-TV in Grand Island and related translator facilities. Pappas Telecasting assumed control of NTV in the mid-1990s and developed a broader portfolio of ABC and Fox outlets. KSNB-TV and associated translators moved toward Fox programming, while KHGI-TV and KWNB-TV retained ABC affiliations. Pappas later established KFXL-TV in Lincoln as a Fox outlet, and the former Fox operations were eventually closed or replaced. KHGI-TV and KWNB-TV completed the United States digital television transition in 2009. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired NTV through a bankruptcy auction in 2015. Sinclair operates NTV alongside Lincoln-licensed Fox affiliate KFXL-TV. NTV remains a locally branded ABC news and programming service, with its main facilities near Axtell and a secondary studio and news bureau at Conestoga Mall in Grand Island. Although it serves the western portion of the Lincoln–Hastings–Kearney market, it has not historically been the ABC affiliate of record for Lincoln; that role has been held by Lincoln-based KLKN-TV since 1996.

Nebraska Television Network originated with the construction of KHOL-TV by the Bi-States Company, a group of businessmen from Holdrege and Alma. The FCC granted the construction permit in 1953 after a competing Kearney application was withdrawn. Although licensed to Kearney, the station was built near Axtell and was intended in part to serve and promote Holdrege. Its transmitter began testing on December 24, 1953, and its first program aired the following day. KHOL-TV initially operated as a CBS affiliate and also carried programming from ABC, NBC, and DuMont. Local production was central to its early identity: the station produced news, sports, women's programming, wrestling, boxing, and variety programs from its small studio. Community support was particularly important when the station sought to preserve its CBS affiliation and when it needed special facilities to carry major events. The station later lost its NBC programming after the launch of KHAS-TV in Hastings. To extend coverage westward, Bi-States pursued a channel 6 allocation at Hayes Center. Residents across an eleven-county area pledged financial support, and North Platte radio station KODY organized a radiothon that raised additional funds. KHPL-TV began service on February 8, 1956. The two stations became primary ABC affiliates on February 2, 1961. A high-power tower near Lowell was completed in 1963, improving coverage from the Kearney-area facility. Additional network expansion followed in the 1960s. The FCC approved channel assignments for Albion and Superior, and Bi-States built KHQL-TV at Albion and KHTL-TV at Superior. The four-station group adopted the Nebraska Television Network identity. In 1968, the organization also launched The Bobby Mills Show, a locally produced orchestra and variety program that ran for 86 consecutive weeks. NTV Enterprises acquired the network in 1974. The stations received new call signs: KHOL-TV became KHGI-TV, KHPL-TV became KWNB-TV, KHQL-TV became KCNA-TV, and KHTL-TV became KSNB-TV. Joseph Amaturo purchased the group in 1979, and Gordon Broadcasting acquired the principal NTV stations in 1985. The Albion operation was separated in 1983 and became the independent station KBGT-TV, known as Big 8. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, NTV attempted to improve coverage through low-power facilities, including a North Platte translator that began operation in 1989. A proposed sale to Sterling Communications failed, and the stations entered a court-supervised receivership after Gordon Broadcasting defaulted on financing. Pappas Telecasting made an unsuccessful earlier bid, while Fant Broadcasting ultimately acquired the principal NTV stations in 1993. Fant connected NTV with Fox's expansion in the region. In 1994 it began managing KTVG-TV in Grand Island and secured a primary Fox affiliation for that station, while the NTV ABC outlets carried selected Fox programming, including NFL coverage. A proposed 1995 sale to Blackstar, LLC, which intended to convert the stations to Fox, was abandoned after regulatory objections and approval delays. Pappas Telecasting agreed to acquire KHGI-TV, KWNB-TV, and KSNB-TV in 1996 and immediately assumed operational control. Under Pappas, KSNB and related translator facilities moved toward Fox programming, while KHGI and KWNB remained ABC affiliates. KFXL-TV in Lincoln later became the principal Fox outlet in the area, and KSNB-TV and KTVG-TV were eventually supplanted or closed. KHGI-TV and KWNB-TV ended their analog transmissions in 2009 as part of the nationwide digital transition. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired NTV at a bankruptcy auction in 2015. The network continues to operate as a regional ABC service with studios near Axtell and a secondary Grand Island facility.

1. 2015Sinclair acquires NTV

   Sinclair Broadcast Group purchases the network at a bankruptcy auction.

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2. 2009Digital television transition

   KHGI-TV and KWNB-TV shut down their analog signals and continue with digital broadcasts.

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3. 1996Pappas assumes control

   Pappas Telecasting takes operational control and agrees to purchase the principal stations.

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4. 1993Fant Broadcasting completes acquisition

   After a prolonged receivership, Fant Broadcasting acquires the principal NTV stations.

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5. 1989North Platte low-power facility enters service

   NTV adds a low-power outlet to improve service in North Platte.

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6. 1983Albion operation separates from NTV

   KCNA-TV becomes the independent KBGT-TV, branded Big 8.

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7. 1974NTV Enterprises acquires the stations

   New ownership changes the stations' call signs and formalizes their regional identity.

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8. 1964Albion transmitter joins the network

   The Albion facility begins broadcasting, followed by the Superior facility in 1965.

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9. 1961Stations become primary ABC affiliates

   KHOL-TV and KHPL-TV switch from primary CBS service to ABC.

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10. 1956KHPL-TV launches at Hayes Center

    A community-supported channel 6 facility expands the network's reach into southwestern Nebraska.

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11. 1953KHOL-TV begins broadcasting

    The station that became the core of NTV begins service from near Axtell as Nebraska's first television station outside Lincoln and Omaha.

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A regional ABC television service combining local news, weather, sports, and network programming for communities across central, western, and southwestern Nebraska.

• KHGI-TVFull-power ABC television station1953

  NTV's principal full-power station, licensed to Kearney and broadcasting on channel 13. Its service area covers much of central Nebraska, including the Tri-Cities region. KHGI carries ABC network programming and produces local news, weather, sports, and community coverage from the NTV operation near Axtell.

• KWNB-TVFull-power ABC television station1956

  The Hayes Center-licensed channel 6 station extends NTV's ABC service across southwestern and western Nebraska. It originated as KHPL-TV, a facility developed with substantial local support to bring television coverage to communities west of the Kearney area.

• NTV local newsNews programming

  Local television news programming focused on the Tri-Cities area, southwestern Nebraska, and North Platte. Coverage includes regional reporting, weather, severe-weather information, sports, and community stories.

• McCook and North Platte low-power servicesLow-power television transmission1989

  Low-power facilities extend the NTV signal and programming to communities that are less directly served by the network's full-power transmitters, including McCook and North Platte.

• 2015Acquire NTV through bankruptcy auctionM&A

  The network became available through bankruptcy proceedings involving its prior owner.

  What changed. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired NTV and placed it alongside KFXL-TV in its Nebraska broadcast portfolio.

  Aftermath. NTV continued operating as a regional ABC affiliate under Sinclair ownership.

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• 2009Complete the digital television transitionGeneration change

  United States full-power television stations were required to transition from analog broadcasting to digital transmission.

  What changed. KHGI-TV and KWNB-TV discontinued their analog signals and continued broadcasting digitally.

  Aftermath. NTV continued its ABC service through digital terrestrial transmission.

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• 1994Expand into Fox programming through KTVG-TVStrategy

  Fant Broadcasting began managing Grand Island independent station KTVG-TV under a local marketing agreement.

  What changed. KTVG-TV became a primary Fox affiliate, while NTV's ABC stations carried selected Fox programming, including NFL broadcasts.

  Aftermath. The arrangement linked NTV's regional operation to the development of Fox service in central Nebraska without immediately ending the ABC affiliation of KHGI-TV and KWNB-TV.

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• 1961Switch to primary ABC affiliationStrategy

  The network's Kearney and Hayes Center stations had carried CBS as their principal network service since their launches.

  What changed. KHOL-TV and KHPL-TV dropped primary CBS programming and became full ABC affiliates.

  Aftermath. The affiliation established the network identity that KHGI-TV and KWNB-TV continue to maintain.

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• 2015Sinclair acquires NTV through bankruptcy proceedings

  Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired the NTV stations at a bankruptcy auction, placing the regional ABC operation alongside Sinclair's Nebraska television holdings.

  M&ABankruptcy
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• 1974NTV stations are sold to NTV Enterprises

  A company associated with the Oldfather and Payne families acquired the stations and changed their call signs to reflect the communities and regions served.

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• 1961NTV becomes a primary ABC operation

  The Kearney and Hayes Center stations ended their primary CBS affiliations and became full-time ABC affiliates.

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• 1956The network adds Hayes Center coverage

  A new channel 6 facility, originally called KHPL-TV, entered service after a locally supported fundraising effort to extend television coverage into southwestern Nebraska.

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• 1953KHOL-TV begins broadcasting from the Kearney area

  The station that later became the principal NTV outlet began broadcasting as KHOL-TV, establishing the network's foundation and becoming Nebraska's first television station outside Lincoln and Omaha.

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1. Nebraska Television Network
2. Nebraska Television Network official website