KXLT-TV

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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 (or virtual channel 47.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter in Grand Meadow Township, Minnesota. Owned by SagamoreHill Broadcasting, KXLT is operated through a shared services agreement (SSA) by Quincy Newspapers.

This makes it a sister station to NBC affiliate KTTC and the two outlets share studios in Rochester on Bandel Road Northwest along U.S. 52. KXLT also operates an advertising sales office on Lakeview Drive in Clear Lake, Iowa that also serves Mason City. Syndicated programming on the station includes Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, and 30 Rock among others.

Digital channels

Channel	Video	Aspect	PSIP Short Name	Programming
47.1	720p	16:9	KXLT-DT	Main KXLT programming/Fox HD
47.2	480i	4:3		Me-TV

History

KXLT signed-on in August 1987 as a full-time satellite of St. Cloud-based Independent outlet 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 KVRR 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.

As a KXLI satellite, 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 KMSP (and before it WFTC) 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. On November 1, 1998 in partnership with The WB, KXLT established a cable-only affiliate of the network. Known by the faux calls "KWBR", the station was programmed by the national The WB 100+ service but local promotion and advertising sales were handled by KXLT.

In 2001, Shockley Communications was bought by Quincy Newspapers, owner of KTTC. However, Quincy could not buy KXLT due to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules governing duopolies. The FCC does not allow two of the four highest-rated stations to be owned by one company. 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.

In September 2006, The WB and UPN merged to create The CW. KTTC subsequently established a new second digital subchannel to offer The CW through The CW Plus, a similar national programming service as The WB 100+. At that point, the "KWBR" operation was shut down. KXLT ceased broadcasting regular analog programming on channel 47 at noon on February 17, 2009 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.

News operation

File:KXLTopen.PNG

News open seen every night except Saturday.

Through a news share agreement in place since 2001, KTTC produces a half-hour prime time newscast on KXLT seen Sunday through Thursday nights. Known as Fox 47 News at Nine, the program originates from a secondary set at the Bandel Road Northwest studios. It features a unique graphics package and news music theme that is different from KTTC. KXLT uses most of the NBC outlet's on-air personnel but maintains separate news anchors who can report for KTTC.

At some point in 2009, CBS affiliate KIMT added the market's second prime time local news show at 9 to its MyNetworkTV-affiliated second digital subchannel. This newscast could be seen for thirty minutes competing with KXLT's broadcast. Eventually, the effort would be reduced to a five minute weather cut-in featuring an updated forecast. On March 21, 2011 a day after KTTC performed an upgrade to high definition news production, KXLT completed the switch. With the change to HD came an updated set of graphics (still separate from the NBC station) that is similar to Quincy-owned Fox affiliate WSJV in South Bend, Indiana.

On July 28, 2014, KXLT debuted a weekday morning show known as Fox in the Morning (that is produced by KTTC). Airing for thirty minutes at 8 a.m., the program is formatted like a magazine with lifestyle, cooking, and style segments although there are local weather updates featured in the show. Eventually, this broadcast may be extended into the 7 o'clock hour to offer a true local alternative to the national morning programs seen on the big three affiliates. Like the evening news, the morning program on KXLT maintains separate anchors from KTTC (except for weather segments) and its own graphics scheme. KTTC is the only station in the market to operate its own Doppler weather radar and this device (also featured on KXLT) is based next to the main studios in Rochester. The NBC outlet also maintains an Austin Bureau, within the Riverland Community College campus, on 8th Avenue Northwest.

External links

• MyFox47.com - Official KXLT-TV Website
• m.myfox47.com KXLT-TV mobile
• MeTVRochester.com - Official Me-TV Rochester Website
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