KXLF-TV

KXLF-TV (channel 4) is a television station in Butte, Montana, United States, affiliated with CBS and The CW Plus. Owned by the E. W. Scripps Company, it is part of the Montana Television Network, a statewide network of CBS-affiliated stations. KXLF-TV's studios are located on South Montana Street in downtown Butte, and its transmitter is located on XL Heights east of the city.

KXLF-TV

Butte, Montana United States
Channels	Digital: 5 (VHF) (to move to 15 (UHF)^[1]^[2]) Virtual: 4
Branding	KXLF 4; MTN News
Programming
Affiliations	4.1: CBS 4.2: The CW Plus 4.3: Grit 4.4: Ion Television 4.5: Court TV
Ownership
Owner	E. W. Scripps Company (Scripps Broadcasting Holdings LLC)
History
First air date	August 14, 1953 (69 years ago) (1953-08-14)
Former channel number(s)	Analog: 6 (VHF, 1953–1956) 4 (VHF, 1956–2009)
Former affiliations	Primary: NBC (1953–1960) ABC (1976–1984) Secondary: DuMont (1953–1955) NBC (1960–1966) ABC (1955–1976; 1984–1990) UPN (2000–2006)
Call sign meaning	XL Radio Network
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	35959
ERP	10 kW
HAAT	588 m (1,929 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	46°0′27″N 112°26′33″W / 46.00750°N 112.44250°W / 46.00750; -112.44250
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Website	kxlf.com

KXLF-TV operates a semi-satellite in Bozeman, KBZK (channel 7), with studios on Television Way in Bozeman and transmitter atop High Flat, southwest of Four Corners.

KXLF-TV acts as a central hub for all MTN stations across Montana. The station operates its programming and commercials with an automated playout system and video servers. Programming and commercials are microwaved from Butte to Bozeman's KBZK. All MTN stations are connected via microwave radio, with KXLF and XL Heights being the central location where all data is routed.

History

KXLF-TV was founded on August 14, 1953. It is Montana's oldest television station, and was originally owned by Television Montana, a company largely owned by industry pioneer Ed Craney; it was a sister station to KXLF radio (AM 1370, now KXTL). At the outset, the station operated on channel 6 as a primary NBC affiliate, with some DuMont programming.^[3] The NBC affiliation matched its radio sister, which was part of the "Z-Bar Network," a regional Pacific Northwest radio network based in Portland and including affiliates in Spokane, Helena, Great Falls, Missoula, and Bozeman. KXLF added ABC programming in 1955;^[4] soon afterward, the station lost DuMont when it shut down.

KXLF-TV's first home was the second floor of a Pay 'n Save food and drug store in downtown Butte along with KXLF radio. However, the studio soon suffered heavy damages because of a burglary to the grocery store downstairs. The burglars cut a hole in the floor of the studio and used the studio camera cable to climb down and gain access to the grocery store. A few months later, the cable was replaced and the studio was up and running for good.

In addition to network programming, in its early years KXLF-TV aired a number of local programs, all of which was produced live in the studio, including shows and commercials. Some of Butte's local shows in the 1950s were The Oldtimer, featuring John Diz, This Afternoon with You, hosted by Darien Carkeet, What's New? hosted by Ed Craney and KXLF the Clown, featuring Wes Haugen, and Shadow Stumpers where viewers called in to identify what object's shadow was on TV.

 

The KXLF-TV studios in Butte

KXLF-TV moved to channel 4 in October 1956 due to concerns that the concurrent operation of channel 6 stations in Butte and Pocatello would result in interference (channel 4 had previously been used in Butte by KOPR-TV from 1953 to 1954, while channel 6 would return to the air in Butte as KTVM in 1970).^[5][6] The following year was a time of change for the station. A complicated operation saw the transmitter moved on top of a mountain east of Butte, subsequently dubbed XL Heights. The transmitter tower was directly positioned on the Continental Divide, thereby giving the station the moniker "The Continental Divide Station". The new transmitter location made an off-air signal available for KXLJ-TV in Helena (now KTVH-DT) creating the first TV "network" in Montana. Also in 1957, KXLF found a permanent home in the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad station on Montana Street. The station was built in 1916 and features a 95-foot (29 m) clock tower. In the 1970s, the depot became one of Butte's first major restoration projects. It continues to serve as an example of historic restoration. In the late 1990s, KXLF installed a live webcam atop the clock tower, which offers a live view of downtown Butte.

In 1958, KXLF-TV and KXLJ-TV, in association with KFBB-TV in Great Falls, KOOK-TV in Billings (now KTVQ), KID-TV in Idaho Falls, Idaho (now KIDK), and KLIX-TV in Twin Falls, Idaho (now KMVT), formed the Skyline Network.^[7] KFBB was later replaced by Great Falls' other station, KRTV. Later that year, the station added a secondary affiliation with CBS;^[8] by 1960, CBS was the station's primary network, though NBC was retained on a secondary basis.^[9] That year, Craney sold KXLF-AM-TV, along with KXLJ-AM-TV in Helena, to Joe Sample, president of Garryowen Corporation and owner of KOOK-TV, for over $1 million—earning a handsome return on his original investment in KXLF radio in 1929.^[10] Sample immediately spun the KXLJ stations off to Helena TV, a local cable TV company;^[10] KXLJ-TV (which was renamed KBLL-TV) eventually severed its ties with KXLF and left the Skyline Network.

In March 1966, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) merged Butte and Missoula into a single television market. KXLF-TV became the CBS affiliate for the merged market; it kept the secondary ABC affiliation but lost NBC to KGVO-TV (now KECI-TV).^[11] The Skyline Network shut down on September 30, 1969, after various ownership and affiliation changes at its stations made it difficult for the network to continue operating.^[12] The following month, Sample started the Montana Television Network, composed of KXLF-TV, KOOK-TV, and KRTV.^[13] In 1970, Sample expanded his Montana network by building KPAX-TV in Missoula, which operated as a semi-satellite of KXLF for several years. KXLF, along with KPAX, became primary ABC affiliates on August 30, 1976;^[14] CBS programming was then split between KXLF/KPAX and KGVO-TV/KTVM.^[15] This made KXLF one of the few stations to have been a primary affiliate of each of the Big Three television networks.

In 1984, Sample sold the MTN stations to SJL, Inc. for $20 million;^[16] KXLF radio was concurrently sold to separate interests. That year, KXLF-TV returned to a primary CBS affiliation; it continued to air ABC in the off-hours (shared with KTVM)^[17] until the early 1990s. SJL sold KXLF, KPAX-TV, and KRTV to Evening Post Publishing Company, through its Cordillera Communications subsidiary, for $24 million in 1986.^[18]

In 1995,^[19] KXLF launched a low-power repeater in Helena,^[20] K25EJ (channel 25); on August 22, 2000, that station changed its call letters to KXLH-LP.^[21] In 2005, KXLH's operating responsibilities were transferred to sister station KRTV; it now operates as KXLH-LD (channel 9). During the early 2000s, KXLF-TV had a secondary affiliation with UPN;^[22] the network shut down in 2006 as part of the formation of The CW, which is seen on a digital subchannel of KXLF and KBZK. After the DTV conversion on June 12, 2009, KXLF was one of more than 10 stations asking for a power increase because of the problems with VHF digital signals, particularly VHF-LO frequencies.^[23]

Main article: KBZK

In 1993, Evening Post acquired Bozeman station KCTZ, a separate ABC affiliate associated with KSVI of Billings, and made it a satellite of KXLF-TV;^[24] two Cordillera-owned translators, K26DE (channel 26) in Bozeman and K43DU (channel 43) in Butte, then began carrying most of KSVI's programming (including ABC programming),^[25] as well as local Bozeman newscasts produced by Cordillera.^[26] After KWYB (channel 18) signed on in September 1996 and took the ABC affiliation in the Butte-Bozeman market, K43DU was taken off-the-air^[26] (the repeater was sold to Montana State University in 2001^[27] and now carries Montana PBS); on October 31, after K26DE's ABC affiliation ended in advance of the launch of KWYB repeater K28FB (channel 28, now KWYB-LD), KCTZ became a Fox affiliate, and channel 26 became a repeater of KXLF.^[28] During this time, channel 7 also took on a secondary affiliation with UPN.^[29]

KCTZ dropped Fox on August 21, 2000, saying that the network usually generated lower ratings than the Big Three networks in smaller markets.^[30] At that point, the station once again became a satellite of KXLF-TV (though with separate advertising)^[31] and changed its call letters to KBZK-TV (the "-TV" suffix was dropped eight days later).^[32] Area cable systems then picked up Foxnet for Fox programming after an unsuccessful attempt to pipe in KHMT from Billings;^[31] the Butte–Bozeman market would not get another Fox affiliate until KBTZ (channel 24) signed on in 2003.

News operation

KXLF's newscasts at 5:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. have long dominated the market, in no small part because they are the only local newscasts in the area. In addition to local news, KXLF produces a noon news segment.

KCTZ produced local Bozeman newscasts while owned by Big Horn Communications;^[33] after the station was sold to Cordillera Communications, these newscasts were broadcast on K26DE.^[26] Local news returned to KCTZ after the switch to Fox in 1996;^[28] however, after channel 7 became KBZK in 2000, the newscasts were canceled and replaced with simulcasts of KXLF's newscasts, retaining a small newsroom in Bozeman to cover stories from the area.^[31] In 2007, KBZK returned to producing a separate newscast from its studios in Bozeman.

Current news staff

• Donna Kelley – weeknights at 5:30; also executive producer

Notable former on-air staff

• Cara Capuano, sports reporter now back with ESPN (previously with FSN).
• Stella Inger, Emmy nominated reporter
• Pat Kearney (1955–2014), reporter, anchor and news director during his tenure (1981–88), turned local author and historian

Technical information

Subchannels

The stations' digital signals are multiplexed:

Subchannels of KXLF-TV and KBZK-TV^[34][35]

Channel		Res.	Aspect	Short name		Programming
KXLF-TV	KBZK-TV			KXLF-TV	KBZK-TV
4.1	7.1	1080i	16:9	KXLF-TV	KBZK	Main programming / CBS
4.2	7.2	720p		CW	KBZK-CW	The CW Plus
4.3	7.3	480i		Grit		Grit
4.4	7.4			ION		Ion Television
4.5	7.5			Court TV		Court TV
4.6	7.6			Newsy		Newsy

Translators

City of license	Call sign	Channel	Facility ID	ERP	HAAT	Transmitter coordinates	Owner
Basin	K09BG-D	9	4043	0.006 kW	−316 m (−1,037 ft)	46°16′31.2″N 112°16′8.9″W / 46.275333°N 112.269139°W / 46.275333; -112.269139 (K09BG-D)	Basin
Boulder	K08KT-D	8	6520	0.019 kW	−149 m (−489 ft)	46°15′20.7″N 112°8′55.8″W / 46.255750°N 112.148833°W / 46.255750; -112.148833 (K08KT-D)	Boulder
Polaris	K07OC-D	7	24900	0.026 kW	−3 m (−10 ft)	45°25′59.7″N 113°9′3.1″W / 45.433250°N 113.150861°W / 45.433250; -113.150861 (K07OC-D)	Grasshopper TV Association

References

1. "Channel Substitution/Community of License Change". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
2. "Report & Order", Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 29 November 2022, Retrieved 12 January 2023.
3. 1954–55 Telecasting Yearbook-Marketbook (PDF). 1954. p. 188. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
4. 1955–56 Telecasting Yearbook-Marketbook (PDF). 1955. p. 170. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
5. "KXLF-TV Moved to Ch. 4" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. July 23, 1956. p. 56. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
6. "KXLF-TV Butte, Mont., Target Date This Month" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. October 1, 1956. p. 83. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
7. "Idaho-Montana Group Form Six Station Tv Network" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 11, 1958. p. 68. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
8. "Network Shorts" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 15, 1958. p. 44. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
9. 1960 Broadcasting Yearbook (PDF). 1960. p. A-64. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
10. "Changing hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 17, 1960. p. 56. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
11. 1967 Broadcasting Yearbook (PDF). 1967. p. A-40. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
12. "Stations' changes bring end to Skyline network" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 29, 1969. p. 46. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
13. "Three outlets set up Montana TV network" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 27, 1969. p. 54. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
14. "WSOC-TV ships on with ABC-TV" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 1, 1977. pp. 32–3. Retrieved September 29, 2015. 1976–…acquired KXLF-TV Butte, Mont., on channel 4, and channel 8 satellite KPAX-TV Missoula, Mont., from CBS on Aug. 30…
15. 1977 Broadcasting Yearbook (PDF). 1977. pp. B-115–6. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
16. "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 16, 1984. p. 138. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
17. 1985 Broadcasting Cablecasting Yearbook (PDF). 1985. p. C-35. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
18. "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 29, 1986. p. 78. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
19. "Application Search Details (DKXLH-LP)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
20. "Public Notice Comment (BPTT-19910503RC)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
21. "Call Sign History (DKXLH-LP)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
22. . UPN.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
23. Eggerton, John (2009-06-29). "Boise Station Gets Power Boost". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
24. Caton, William F. (September 17, 1993). "In Re Application of BIG HORN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (Assignor) and KCTZ COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (Assignee) For Consent to Assign the License for Station KCTZ(TV), Channel 7, Bozeman, Montana". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
25. Smith, Doug (April 1994). "TV News" (PDF). VHF-UHF Digest. p. 7. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
26. Ellig, Tracy (October 21, 1996). "Bozeman to get new ABC TV station owner". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
27. "Application Search Details (K43DU-D)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
28. Ellig, Tracy (October 24, 1996). "TV news station changes affiliation". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
29. . UPN.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 1999. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
30. Lutey, Tom (August 2, 2000). "Bozeman TV station drops affiliation with Fox". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
31. Lutley, Tom (August 22, 2000). "KCTZ pulls pin on Fox Network". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
32. "Call Sign History (KBZK)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
33. Haines, Joan (January 5, 2000). "Online birding: Moseley puts Montana birds at your fingertips". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved October 2, 2015. He was the anchor and news director of KCTZ-TV in Bozeman from April 1992 until December 1993.
34. "RabbitEars TV Query for KXLF". RabbitEars.
35. "RabbitEars TV Query for KBZK". RabbitEars.

External links

• Official website
• Montana CW