KXLT-TV
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| Rochester/Austin, Minnesota- Mason City, Iowa | |
|---|---|
| City of license | Rochester |
| Branding |
Fox 47 (general) Fox 47 News Me-TV 47.2 (on DT2) |
| Slogan | Watch It |
| Channels |
Digital: 46 (UHF) Virtual: 47 (PSIP) |
| Subchannels |
47.1 Fox 47.2 Me-TV |
| Owner |
SagamoreHill Broadcasting (operated through SSA by Quincy Newspapers) (SagamoreHill of Minnesota Licenses, LLC) |
| First air date | August 1987 [1] |
| Call letters' meaning |
derived from former sister station KXLI in St. Cloud; K-XLI (41 in Roman numerals, KXLI's channel position) Television |
| Former callsigns | KXLT (1987-1989) |
| Former channel number(s) | 47 (UHF analog, 1987-2009) |
| Former affiliations | Independent (1987-1998) |
| Transmitter power | 220 kW |
| Height | 343 m |
| Facility ID | 35906 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 43°38′34.2″N 92°31′35.3″W / 43.642833°N 92.526472°W |
| Website | www.myfox47.com |
KXLT-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Southeastern Minnesota and Northeastern Iowa. Licensed to Rochester, Minnesota, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 46 (virtual channel 47.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter in Frankford Township, Minnesota. The station can also be seen on Mediacom and Charter channel 8. There is a high definition feed offered on Charter digital channel 788 and Mediacom digital channel 808.
Owned by SagamoreHill Broadcasting, KXLT is operated through a shared services agreement (SSA) by Quincy Newspapers as sister to NBC affiliate KTTC. The two stations share studios on Bandel Road Northwest in Rochester along US 52. Syndicated programming on KXLT includes Extra, Two and a Half Men, Friends, and Family Guy among others.
History
KXLT signed-on in August 1987 as a full-time satellite of St. Cloud-based Independent KXLI. It was the market's first independent station, as well as the area's first new commercial station in 33 years. Its programming consisted mostly of low-budget syndicated fare and cartoons, though for a time it also aired Minnesota North Stars hockey. However, it found the going difficult, not in the least because KMSP-TV in Minneapolis was already available on cable.
KXLT attempted to create the Minnesota Independent Network (MIN) along with KXLI, KTMA in Minneapolis and KVNJ in Fargo, North Dakota. After a significant amount of planning and initial work, the plan fell through. Unable to find additional revenue, KXLT and KXLI both went off the air in 1988, but returned in 1990 airing mostly religious programming and infomercials.
During the KXLI simulcast, KXLT operated at lower-than-licensed power due to KXLI's financial problems. KXLI and KXLT were sold to Paxson Communications in 1996 which converted both stations to an all-infomercial format under Paxson's "inTV" network. In 1997, Paxson decided to sell KXLT to raise money to launch the Pax network (today's Ion Television). Late that year, Shockley Communications purchased KXLT.
On January 19, 1998, Shockley relaunched the station as a Fox affiliate. Previously, cable systems on the Minnesota side of the market carried WFTC (and before it KMSP) from the Twin cities, while those on the Iowa side carried KDSM-TV from Des Moines. Shockley instantly invested in the station, upgrading it to full power operations and moving to new studios in November of that year. In 2001, Shockley Communications was bought by Quincy Newspapers, owner of KTTC. However, Quincy could not buy KXLT due to Federal Communications Commission rules governing duopolies. The FCC does not allow two of the four highest-rated stations to be owned by one person. Additionally, Rochester/Austin/Mason City has only six full-power stations, not enough to legally permit a duopoly in any case. Nevertheless, Quincy took over KXLT's operations under a shared services agreement. As part of the arrangement, Quincy provides all technical support, promotions, commercial production, and master control for KXLT. Shockley would later sell the station to current owner SagamoreHill Broadcasting in 2005.
It ceased broadcasting regular analog programming on channel 47 at noon on February 17, 2009 [2] with it remaining on-air for a few more days airing "nightlight" service. KXLT's digital facility on channel 46 has been fully operational since 2004.
Digital television
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | PSIP Short Name | Video | Aspect | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47.1 | KXLT-DT | 720p | 16:9 | Main KXLT-TV programming / Fox |
| 47.2 | 480i | 4:3 | Me-TV |
Newscasts
Through a news share agreement, KTTC produces a thirty minute broadcast seen Sunday through Friday nights on KXLT. Known as Fox 47 News at Nine, the newscast originates from a secondary set featuring a unique graphics package and news music theme. KXLT uses most of KTTC's on-air personnel but maintains separate news anchors (who can report for the NBC affiliate) and a weeknight sports personality.
At some point in 2009, KIMT added the market's second prime time broadcast at 9 to its MyNetworkTV-affiliated second digital subchannel. That show could be seen for a half hour competing with KXLT. Eventually, it would be reduced to a five minute weather cut-in featuring an updated forecast. On June 12, 2009, KIMT became the first television outlet to upgrade local newscasts to 16x9 enhanced definition widescreen with some parts in full high definition. Although not truly HD, the aspect ratio matches that of high definition television screens. Video reports from the field are still seen in pillarboxed 4:3 standard definition.
It would not be until March 20, 2011 when KTTC performed an upgrade to full high definition local news shows. With the launch to HD came a brand new set and HD graphics. KXLT made the switch a day later debuting updated graphics of its own similar to sister station WSJV in South Bend, Indiana. KTTC operates its own Doppler weather radar at the main studios which is also used on KXLT. In addition to the main facility, it operates an Austin Bureau on 8th Avenue Northwest.
News team
Anchors
- Mary McGuire - Sunday-Thursdays at 9 p.m.; also reporter
- Nicole Goodrich - Fridays at 9 p.m.; also reporter
FOX 47 Precision Weather
- Randy Brock (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 9 p.m.
- Jonathan Kegges (NWA Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; Sundays at 9 p.m.
Sports team
- Ben Chambers - sports anchor; Monday-Thursdays at 9 p.m.
- Eric Leare - sports anchor; Friday and Sundays at 9 p.m., also sports reporter
Reporters
- Dymanh Chhoun - photographer
- Chuck Sibley - Chief Photographer
- Nicole Goodrich
- Courtney Sturgeon - Austin Bureau
References
- ↑ The Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook says August 1, while the Television and Cable Factbook says August 10.
- ↑ TV's digital conversion begins in Rochester, Post-Bulletin, Feb 17/2009
External links
- MyFox47.com - Official KXLT-TV Website
- MeTVRochester.com - Official Me-TV Rochester Website
- Query the FCC's TV station database for KXLT-TV
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