KXAS-TV

KXAS-TV
Callsign	KXAS-TV
City	Fort Worth, Texas
Digital	24 (UHF)
Country	United States

KXAS-TV is a television station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, affiliated with the National Broadcasting Company and licensed to Fort Worth, Texas. The station operates on virtual channel 5 and transmits a digital signal on UHF channel 24, serving a media market that includes Dallas, Texas, Tarrant County, Texas, and surrounding communities. Over decades, the station has been involved in local news, sports broadcasting, and network programming, interacting with regional institutions such as AT&T Stadium, American Airlines Center, and civic organizations in the Metroplex.

History

The station began broadcasting in the early television era and emerged amid a landscape shaped by the Federal Communications Commission's allocation plans, the rise of the National Broadcasting Company, and the expansion of UHF and VHF services in the United States. Early ownership and management linked the station to media conglomerates that also controlled newspapers and radio properties in markets like Dallas County, Texas and Tarrant County, Texas. During the postwar decades, the station adapted to technological shifts including the advent of color television, satellite distribution via providers like DirecTV and Dish Network, and regulatory changes stemming from decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court affecting broadcast ownership.

The station's history intersects with major broadcast milestones, such as the transition to digital television following the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 and the repackaging of broadcast spectrum in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission incentive auction. Corporate transactions involved mergers and acquisitions with firms linked to General Electric, multinational media holdings, and network-affiliate realignments that echoed broader consolidation trends involving entities like NBCUniversal, Comcast, and investment firms. Local programming initiatives reflected partnerships with cultural institutions such as the Dallas Museum of Art and sporting franchises including the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks.

News Operation

The station maintains a local news department producing weekday and weekend newscasts, competing in ratings with outlets owned by organizations like A. H. Belo Corporation, Gannett Company, and Fox Corporation. The news operation covers municipal governance in Fort Worth, Texas and Dallas, Texas, major events at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, regional politics involving representatives to the United States Congress, and natural hazards such as severe weather events associated with the Southern Plains and the Gulf Coast. Technological investments included upgrades to high-definition broadcasting, mobile journalism units, and integration with social platforms operated by companies like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for audience engagement.

Investigative reporting teams have produced pieces examining topics that draw scrutiny from state-level institutions such as the Texas Legislature and enforcement agencies including the Texas Department of Public Safety. The station's meteorology staff collaborates with entities like the National Weather Service to provide storm coverage and tornado warnings relevant to counties including Tarrant County, Texas and Collin County, Texas. Partnerships with local universities such as University of Texas at Dallas and Texas Christian University support internships and research-driven journalism projects.

Programming

As an affiliate of the National Broadcasting Company, the station airs network programming including entertainment, sports, and news content from NBC's slate, aligning schedules with national events like the Olympic Games, the National Football League broadcasts, and daytime programming. Locally produced shows have included community affairs programs, lifestyle segments, and special reports tied to regional festivals such as State Fair of Texas and cultural celebrations at institutions like the Kimbell Art Museum.

Syndicated programming historically has featured series and talk formats distributed by syndicators such as Warner Bros. Television Distribution and Debmar-Mercury, while weekend scheduling accommodates sports telecasts and locally originated public affairs programming. During political seasons, the station provides candidate forums in cooperation with civic groups and media coalitions, often coordinating with academic debate forums at schools like Southern Methodist University.

Technical Information

The station transmits a digital signal on UHF channel 24 with virtual channel mapping to channel 5, following the nationwide digital transition overseen by the Federal Communications Commission. Technical facilities include transmitters and directional antenna systems sited to cover the expansive Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex terrain, with effective radiated power and height above average terrain engineered to serve both urban centers and outlying counties. The station participated in the post-incentive auction repack affecting many broadcasters nationwide, adjusting RF assignments and coordinating with spectrum auction winners including wireless carriers such as AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications.

Multiplexed subchannels have carried additional content, sometimes featuring networks owned by corporate groups like Telemundo and multicast services from companies such as Ion Media Networks. The station's engineering staff liaises with the Society of Broadcast Engineers and uses standards from the Advanced Television Systems Committee for digital transmission and emergency alerting through the Emergency Alert System.

Notable On-Air Staff

Prominent anchors, reporters, and meteorologists who have been associated with the station include professionals who later moved to or from markets represented by organizations like CBS News, ABC News, and cable outlets such as CNN and MSNBC. Some on-air talent have earned recognition from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and regional chapters of the Associated Press for journalism and weather coverage. The station's alumni network intersects with media figures working at national syndicators, major market stations in Los Angeles, California and New York City, and sports broadcasting roles with networks like NBC Sports.

Ownership and Corporate Affairs

Ownership history features transactions involving media conglomerates and investment firms, with corporate governance shaped by regulatory oversight from the Federal Communications Commission and business strategies tied to parent companies such as Comcast and legacy firms like General Electric. Corporate affairs have also involved community stewardship initiatives, philanthropic partnerships with organizations including the United Way and local chapters of the American Red Cross, and compliance with broadcasting obligations under federal statutes and FCC licensing procedures. The station's business operations coordinate advertising sales in concert with national agencies and local advertisers engaged in markets across Dallas County, Texas and Tarrant County, Texas.

Category:Television stations in Texas