KFXB-TV

Last updated

KFXB-TV
City Dubuque, Iowa
Channels
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
June 1, 1970(54 years ago) (1970-06-01)
Former call signs
KDUB-TV (1970–1995)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 40 (UHF, 1970–2009)
  • Digital: 43 (UHF, until 2018)
  • ABC (1970–1974, 1976–1995)
  • Dark (1974–1976)
  • Fox (1995–2004)
Call sign meaning
Disambiguation of former sister station KFXA
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 17625
ERP 580 kW
HAAT 261 m (856 ft)
Transmitter coordinates 42°31′9″N90°37′11″W / 42.51917°N 90.61972°W / 42.51917; -90.61972
Links
Public license information
Website ctnonline.com/affiliate/kfxb/

KFXB-TV (channel 40) is a religious television station licensed to Dubuque, Iowa, United States, serving the Eastern Iowa television market as an owned-and-operated station of the Christian Television Network (CTN). The station's studios are located on Main Street in downtown Dubuque, and its transmitter is located in extreme southwestern Grant County, Wisconsin (in the Madison television market).

Contents

History

The station signed on as KDUB-TV on June 1, 1970, on channel 40 [2] as an ABC affiliate. [3] Original owner Dubuque Communications Corporation, owned by Gerald J. Green, his brother Timothy, and their wives, had been established in May 1968, even after Green had been advised that Dubuque was too small to support a television station; the station was initially unable to obtain an affiliation with any of the three television networks before ABC finally agreed to affiliate with KDUB-TV. [4] In 1972, Gerald Green, who also served as station president and general manager, was embroiled in a controversy with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over whether $19,000 he paid to an ABC network representative was a bribe. Green testified that he thought the money was a legitimate expense in obtaining the network affiliation. [5] Green was later exonerated, but the ABC executive was found guilty of extorting payoffs. [6]

After encountering financial difficulties, KDUB-TV ceased operations at 11:06 p.m. on September 30, 1974, after that night's Monday Night Football telecast; the shutdown was announced to viewers during halftime by news director Jim Esmoil, who said that the station would be leaving the air instead of producing a newscast that night. Much of KDUB-TV's equipment was repossessed by the station's largest creditor, RCA. The closure came after Green spent two years trying to sell the station, including unsuccessful negotiations with the Moline Television Corporation, owner of Quad Cities station WQAD-TV. [4]

In 1976, Dubuque Communications Corporation, which had become insolvent, sold the dormant station for $30,000 to Lloyd Hearing Aid Corp [7] of Rockford, Illinois. [2] The new owners returned KDUB-TV to the air on September 12, 1976, [2] again as an ABC affiliate. [8] Lloyd Hearing Aid Corp. would sell the station to the Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company in 1979; [9] the $1.5 million sale to Birney Imes Jr. and his family added KDUB-TV to a broadcast group that included WCBI-TV in Columbus, Mississippi, WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and several Mississippi radio stations. [10] Dubuque TV Limited Partnership, led by general partner Thomas Bond, acquired the station in April 1985; [11] Bond, whose group paid $3.25 million for KDUB-TV, had been a manager at WCBI-TV. [12]

KFXB-TV's former studios in downtown Dubuque KFXB-TV Television Studio - panoramio.jpg
KFXB-TV's former studios in downtown Dubuque

The first and only television station to be based out of Dubuque, KDUB was originally based in an office building just south of Dubuque, near Key West, Iowa. The station eventually moved into offices on the ninth floor of the former Roshek's Department Store building in downtown Dubuque, and later moved to its current location on Main Street.

For a number of years, KDUB and KCRG-TV (channel 9), the ABC affiliate in Cedar Rapids, were in conflict with each other. In 1981, KDUB won a decision in which the Dubuque cable company was required to black out KCRG when the same shows were shown at the same time on both stations. [12] In August 1987, KDUB's owners turned down a $2.4 million offer to sell channel 40 to KCRG; [13] that December, Bond announced that KDUB would be sold to Sage Broadcasting, a Stamford, Connecticut–based radio station group, for $4 million. [11] The sale was challenged by KCRG in January 1988, claiming that KDUB had conspired with TCI Cablevision by using the blackouts to limit KCRG's ability to reach Dubuque viewers. [14] While the sale would receive FCC approval in early 1989, [14] a clause in the deal allowed for it to be canceled if it was not approved within 180 days; [13] Sage would walk away from the deal in late 1988, and Bond announced on March 17, 1989, that KDUB would not be sold. [15] In April 1990, KDUB's owners sued KCRG, claiming its objections led to the sale falling through. [13] TCI would ultimately stop blacking out KCRG on April 1, 1988. [14]

In 1995, KDUB entered into a management agreement with Second Generation of Iowa, which was in the process of acquiring Cedar Rapids Fox affiliate KOCR-TV (channel 28). On August 13, KDUB discontinued the ABC affiliation and joined Fox as KFXB, a semi-satellite of channel 28 (which concurrently relaunched as KFXA). [16] Most programming was simulcast from KFXA, but KFXB would continue its news operation (at that time, KFXA had no newscast at all). Prior to this, KOCR served as the network's over-the air affiliate for most of the southern portion of the market while Foxnet (which had launched in 1991) served as the network's cable-only affiliate for the remainder of the market, including the cities of Waterloo and Dubuque (it was carried on cable channel 13 in Dubuque); between October 7, 1994, and August 12, 1995, Foxnet was carried on all cable systems in most of Eastern Iowa as KOCR was off the air during that time due to financial issues. [17] [18] The first season of the NFL on Fox was carried by Cedar Rapids CBS affiliate KGAN, which had a greater coverage area than KOCR; Foxnet was blacked out during the games. [16]

On October 14, 2002, KFXB announced that the Dubuque news operation would be closed after October 25; the cancellation of the local Dubuque newscasts at 5 and 10 p.m. was a byproduct of an agreement between KFXA and KGAN to launch a regional 9 p.m. newscast to air on both KFXA and KFXB. [19] KFXB's eight news staffers were laid off in the transition, with its former reporters telling the Telegraph Herald that the first indication of the planned change was a promo aired during Fox's baseball coverage. [20]

In September 2004, Dubuque TV Limited Partnership sold the station to the Christian Television Network, who switched the station to its primarily-religious programming; general partner Tom Bond, who would stay with the relaunched KFXB as general manager, said that he felt that Christian programming was "the niche that the station could best fill in this market". Fox programming would continue to be transmitted on KFXA—which would operate as the sole Fox affiliate for northeast Iowa. [21] At that time, KFXB lost its longstanding channel 4 assignment on Mediacom's Dubuque cable system to KFXA, with KFXB being moved to channel 14. [22] Mediacom would add KFXB to its Cedar Rapids and Iowa City systems in 2005.

KFXB has been digital-only since February 17, 2009. [23]

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KFXB-TV [24]
Channel Res. Aspect Short nameProgramming
40.1 480p 4:3 KFXB CTN
40.2LifestyCTN Lifestyle
40.3CTNiCTNi
40.4 16:9 BUZZR Buzzr

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEAR-TV</span> ABC affiliate in Pensacola, Florida

WEAR-TV is a television station licensed to Pensacola, Florida, United States, serving as the ABC affiliate for northwest Florida and southwest Alabama. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside Fort Walton Beach–licensed MyNetworkTV affiliate WFGX ; Sinclair also provides certain services to Mobile, Alabama–licensed NBC affiliate WPMI-TV and Pensacola-licensed independent station WJTC under a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Deerfield Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KGAN</span> TV station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

KGAN is a television station licensed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States, serving Eastern Iowa as an affiliate of CBS and Fox. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, which provides certain services to Dabl affiliate KFXA under a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Second Generation of Iowa, Ltd. The two stations share studios at Broadcast Park on Old Marion Road Northeast in Cedar Rapids; KGAN's transmitter is located in Rowley, near the junction of Buchanan, Benton and Linn counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDSM-TV</span> TV station in Des Moines, Iowa

KDSM-TV is a television station in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and has studios on Fleur Drive in Des Moines; its transmitter is located in Alleman, Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFXT</span> TV station in Boston

WFXT is a television station in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, affiliated with the Fox network and owned by Cox Media Group. Its studios are located on Fox Drive in Dedham, and its transmitter is located on Cabot Street in Needham. WFXT is the largest Fox affiliate by market size that is not owned and operated by the network, although it was previously owned by Fox on two occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGEM-TV</span> TV station in Quincy, Illinois

WGEM-TV is a television station licensed to Quincy, Illinois, United States, serving the Quincy, Illinois–Hannibal, Missouri–Keokuk, Iowa market as an affiliate of NBC, The CW Plus, and Fox. Owned by Gray Television, it is sister to the company's sole radio property, sports station WGEM-FM (105.1). The two stations share studios in the New Tremont Apartments on Hampshire Street in downtown Quincy. WGEM-TV's transmitter is located east of the city on Cannonball Road near I-172.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAGM-TV</span> TV station in Presque Isle, Maine

WAGM-TV is a television station in Presque Isle, Maine, United States, affiliated with CBS, Fox, and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside Fort Kent–licensed low-power NBC affiliate WWPI-LD. The two stations share studios on Brewer Road in Presque Isle; WAGM-TV's transmitter is located on the northern section of Mars Hill Mountain among the wind turbines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCRG-TV</span> TV station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

KCRG-TV is a television station licensed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States, serving Eastern Iowa as an affiliate of ABC, MyNetworkTV, and The CW. Owned by Gray Television, the station has studios on Second Avenue Southeast in downtown Cedar Rapids, and its transmitter is located near Walker, Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWWL (TV)</span> TV station in Waterloo, Iowa

KWWL is a television station licensed to Waterloo, Iowa, United States, serving as the NBC affiliate for Eastern Iowa. Owned by Allen Media Broadcasting, KWWL maintains studios on East 5th Street in Waterloo, with news bureaus and advertising sales offices in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Iowa City. The station's transmitter is located north of Rowley, Iowa, a city in Buchanan County.

WAWV-TV is a television station in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States, affiliated with ABC. It is owned by Mission Broadcasting, which maintains joint sales and shared services agreements with Nexstar Media Group, owner of dual NBC affiliate/CW owned-and-operated station WTWO, for the provision of certain services. The two stations share studios on US 41/150 in unincorporated Sullivan County, where WAWV-TV's transmitter is also located.

KFXA is a television station licensed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States, serving Eastern Iowa as an affiliate of the digital multicast network Dabl. It is owned by Second Generation of Iowa, Ltd., which maintains a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of dual CBS/Fox affiliate KGAN, for the provision of certain services. The two stations share studios at Broadcast Park on Old Marion Road Northeast in Cedar Rapids; KFXA's transmitter is located in Van Horne, Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPXT</span> TV station in Portland, Maine

WPXT is a television station in Portland, Maine, United States, affiliated with The CW. It is owned by Hearst Television alongside Poland Spring–licensed ABC affiliate WMTW. The two stations share studios on Ledgeview Drive in Westbrook; WPXT's transmitter is located in West Baldwin, Maine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KIMT</span> TV station in Mason City, Iowa

KIMT is a television station licensed to Mason City, Iowa, United States, serving North Central Iowa and Southeast Minnesota as an affiliate of CBS and MyNetworkTV. Owned by Allen Media Group, the station maintains studios on North Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Mason City, with a news bureau on Highway 52 North in Rochester, Minnesota, and a sales office on East William Street in downtown Albert Lea, Minnesota. Its transmitter is located near Meyer, Iowa south of the Minnesota state line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGXA</span> TV station in Macon, Georgia

WGXA is a television station in Macon, Georgia, United States, affiliated with Fox and ABC. Owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, the station maintains studios on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in downtown Macon, and its transmitter is located on GA 87/US 23/US 129 ALT, along the Twiggs–Bibb county line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPGA-TV</span> TV station in Perry, Georgia

WPGA-TV is a television station licensed to Perry, Georgia, United States, serving as the MeTV affiliate for the Macon area. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power Peachtree Sports Network outlet WPGA-LD. The two stations share offices at the corner of Second and Cherry streets in downtown Macon, with master control and most internal operations based at Gray flagship WANF in Atlanta; WPGA-TV's transmitter is located on GA 87/US 23/US 129 ALT, along the Twiggs–Bibb county line.

KWQC-TV is a television station licensed to Davenport, Iowa, United States, serving the Quad Cities area as an affiliate of NBC. Owned by Gray Television, the station maintains studios on Brady Street in downtown Davenport, and its transmitter is located in Bettendorf, Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foxnet</span> National cable feed of Fox for smaller markets (1991–2006)

Foxnet was a national cable programming service of the Fox Broadcasting Company that was owned by the Fox Entertainment Group division of News Corporation. The service, which operated from June 6, 1991 to September 12, 2006, was intended for American television markets ranked #100 and above by Nielsen Media Research estimates that lacked availability for a locally based Fox broadcast affiliate.

WICZ-TV is a television station in Binghamton, New York, United States, affiliated with Fox and MyNetworkTV. Owned by Imagicomm Communications, the station has studios on Vestal Parkway East in Vestal, and its transmitter is located on Ingraham Hill Road in the town of Binghamton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KYOU-TV</span> TV station in Ottumwa, Iowa

KYOU-TV is a television station licensed to Ottumwa, Iowa, United States, serving Ottumwa and Kirksville, Missouri, as an affiliate of Fox, NBC and The CW Plus. The station is owned by Gray Television and maintains studios on West 2nd Street in Downtown Ottumwa; its transmitter is located one mile (1.6 km) east of Richland, Iowa. A translator, K30MG-D, offers additional coverage in the Kirksville area.

KFBB-TV is a television station in Great Falls, Montana, United States, affiliated with ABC, Fox and MyNetworkTV. Owned by the Cowles Company, the station maintains studios and transmitter facilities on Old Havre Highway in Black Eagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBQD-LP</span> Television station in the United States

WBQD-LP was a low-power television station licensed to Davenport, Iowa, United States, which operated from 2002 to 2011. Last owned by Four Seasons Broadcasting, it was affiliated with UPN and MyNetworkTV. The station was operated under a local marketing agreement (LMA), and a technical services agreement by The New York Times Company, and later by Local TV LLC, as a sister station to Moline, Illinois–licensed ABC affiliate WQAD-TV. WBQD-LP's operations were housed at WQAD-TV's studios on Park 16th Street in the Prospect Park section of Moline; its transmitter was located on 70th Street, next to Black Hawk College, near Moline's Poplar Grove neighborhood.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KFXB-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. 1 2 3 Television Factbook No. 48. 1979. p. 312-B.
  3. ↑ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting . June 15, 1970. p. 60.
  4. 1 2 Brimeyer, Jack (October 1, 1974). "KDUB blacks out; no help in sight". Telegraph Herald . p. 1.
  5. ↑ "Testimony conflicts in bribe case" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 27, 1972. p. 39. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Duel in Dubuque" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 7, 1974. p. 7. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  7. ↑ "For the Record". Broadcasting . May 10, 1976. p. 66.
  8. ↑ "Plus three". Broadcasting . September 6, 1976. p. 42.
  9. ↑ Television & Cable Factbook No. 54. 1986. p. A-393.
  10. ↑ "Changing Hands". Broadcasting . May 21, 1979. p. 61.
  11. 1 2 Kirchen, Rich (December 6, 1987). "KDUB sold to Sage". Telegraph Herald . p. 3A. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Hendricks, Mike (December 9, 1984). "No changes planned after KDUB sold for $3.25 million". Telegraph Herald . Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 "KDUB sues KCRG over sales contract". Telegraph Herald . April 11, 1990. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 Kirchen, Rich (March 17, 1989). "KDUB-TV gets OK for sale". Telegraph Herald . p. 3A. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  15. ↑ Kirchen, Rich (March 18, 1989). "Despite FCC ruling, KDUB sale is off". Telegraph Herald . p. 3A. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Webber, Steve (August 11, 1995). "Are you ready for some… football?". Telegraph Herald . p. 4C. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  17. ↑ "TCI to pick up Fox shows" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 10, 1994.
  18. ↑ Neumann, Douglas (October 7, 1994). "KOCR-TV is evicted, but Fox still on cable". The Gazette . p. 1A.
  19. ↑ Greene, Kylie (October 15, 2002). "Fox 40 will cut evening news; switch to regional broadcast". Telegraph Herald . p. 3A. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  20. ↑ Kittle, M.D. (November 3, 2002). "Former Fox 40 news staff feels abandoned by decision to close". Telegraph Herald . pp. 1A, 2A. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  21. ↑ Kittle, M.D. (September 26, 2004). "KFXB switching networks". Telegraph Herald . pp. 1A, 2A. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Mediacom changes lineup". Telegraph Herald . September 26, 2004. p. 2A. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  23. ↑ Iowa TV Stations Switching To Digital Broadcast On Feb. 17, All Headline News, February 5, 2009
  24. ↑ "RabbitEars TV Query for KFXB". RabbitEars.info.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.