KPXJ

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KPXJ
Minden / Shreveport, Louisiana
Branding	KPXJ CW 21 or KPXJ 21 on some occasions (during their newscasts, for example)
Channels	defunct; was 21 (UHF) analog, 21 (UHF) digital
Affiliations	The CW
Owner	Wray family
Founded	1998
Call letters meaning	K PaX (former affiliation) J = meaning unknown
Former callsigns	WPXO (August 1998-January 1999)
Former affiliations	Pax (now i: Independent Television) (1998-2003, secondary 2003-2004), UPN (September 2003 to September 2006) UPN (2003-2006)
Website	www.kpxj21.com

KPXJ is a digital-only television station on channel 21 in Shreveport, Louisiana. KPXJ is an affiliate of The CW. The station is seen via satellite through DirecTV, but not Dish Network. Its transmitter is located near Cotton Valley, Louisiana.

Contents 1 History 2 News 3 Newscasts 3.1 Weekdays 3.2 Nightly 4 Previous Logos 5 External links

[edit] History

KPXJ launched on August 31, 1998. The station's calls were originally WPXO and it served as the affiliate for the PAX (now i: Independent Television) network which launched the same day. On January 8, 1999, WPXO's calls changed to KPXJ.

In 2003, KPXJ was sold to the Wray family by Paxson Communications. The Wray Family also owns ABC affiliate KTBS, whose 5:00 and 10:00pm newscasts had already been airing on KPXJ.

In September of the same year, KPXJ switched to being a UPN affiliate, UPN programming originally aired on WB affiliate KSHV before then airing after WB programming ended at 9:00pm. It continued to broadcast Pax programming on a secondary basis until April of 2004.

In September of 2005, it launched its digital signal. Because KPXJ never got a companion digital channel, it had to "flash-cut" to digital, or turn its NTSC signal off. This move caused an uproar with viewers of the station who did not have the equipment to receive such digital broadcasts or cable. Three months later, DirecTV put the station on their signal. However, Dish Network has yet to put it on their satellite signal. This is because its original deal with the Pax network put the national feed in their main package in exchange for not carrying the local Paxson stations. The next must-carry cycle is in 2008, and it would go into effect in 2009.

On March 9, 2006, it was confirmed that KPXJ will become the Shreveport-Texarkana affiliate of The CW, a new television network owned by Time Warner and CBS Corporation (formerly part of Viacom) which will premiere in September 2006 as a merger of The WB and UPN networks. [1] UPN and The WB ceased independent operations in September, while thirteen days earlier, KSHV joined another new network, My Network TV, owned by News Corporation, parent company of Fox. In the summer, KPXJ removed the UPN branding, unlike most UPN and WB stations converting to The CW, replacing it with the CW branding.

[edit] News

KPXJ began airing local newscasts from KTBS in 2001 when it and numerous other Pax affiliates began airing rebroadcasts of local newscasts.

In 2003, after KPXJ was sold to become a duopoly with KTBS, the station began producing repurposed editions of KTBS 3 News for KPXJ named UPN (and later CW) 21 News at Nine airing at 9:00pm nightly. The weekday newscasts are anchored by KTBS education reporter and KTBS 3 News at 6 co-anchor Gwen Campbell while the weekend edition is anchored by reporter and KTBS 3 News weekend anchor Jodi Lowery. Additionally, KTBS produces a morning news program for KPXJ, CW21 News at Seven, anchored by KTBS 3 First News anchors Sonja Bailes and Ed Walsh.

On Friday nights during high school football season, KPXJ airs a one-hour highlights show, Friday Football Fever. The show is hosted by longtime KTBS sports anchor Tim Fletcher.

[edit] Newscasts

[edit] Weekdays

• CW21 News @ 7:00 - 7:00-7:30AM

[edit] Nightly

• CW21 News @ 9:00 - 9:00-10:00PM

[edit] Previous Logos

Previous version of KPXJ logo, without "The CW".

[edit] External links

• Query the FCC's TV station database for KPXJ