KTVT

KTVT
Company type	Television station
Industry	Broadcasting
Founded	September 11, 1955; 71 years ago in Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Headquarters	Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Area served	Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and surrounding areas
Owner	CBS News and Stations
Parent	CBS Television Stations

KTVT (channel 11), known on-air as CBS Texas, is a television station licensed in Fort Worth, Texas and serves the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is owned by CBS under the umbrella of CBS News and Stations, operating in tandem with the independent station KTXA (channel 21). Both stations share production facilities on Bridge Street in Fort Worth. Additionally, KTVT maintains a secondary studio and newsroom located in the CBS Tower on North Central Expressway in Dallas, which houses its advertising sales division as well as the Dallas bureau for CBS News. The station’s transmitter is positioned in Cedar Hill, Texas.

1955–1971: Independent beginnings

In the early 1950s, three entities vied for control of the VHF channel 11 allocation in Fort Worth: Lechner Television Co., the Texas State Network led by oil entrepreneur Sid W. Richardson, and the Fort Worth Television Co., comprised of local oil and business figures. Following an FCC reassignment in 1953 that shifted channel 10 to Waco and assigned channel 11 to Fort Worth, all applicants updated their submissions accordingly. The FCC awarded the construction permit to the Texas State Network on September 17, 1954; the station adopted the callsign KFJZ-TV, aligning with its AM radio counterpart.

KFJZ-TV commenced broadcasting on September 11, 1955, marking it as Texas's first independent television station and the fourth within the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Initially operating from studios on West Freeway in Fort Worth with a limited broadcast schedule, it relocated its transmitter to Cedar Hill in 1964, significantly enhancing its broadcast reach. This upgrade intensified competition for NBC affiliation; however, WBAP-TV retained the NBC affiliation following transmitter relocation agreements.

During its formative years, KFJZ-TV functioned as an independent outlet featuring syndicated programs and local productions and briefly held an affiliation with the NTA Film Network. In May 1960, ownership transferred from Texas State Network to NAFI Telecasting Corporation for $4 million; due to FCC regulations prohibiting different owners from sharing base call letters, the station changed its callsign to KTVT on September 1.

In February 1962, WKY Television System (later Gaylord Broadcasting) purchased KTVT for $4 million, making it their largest market property. Under Gaylord's leadership and Vice President/General Manager James R. Terrell, KTVT evolved into a leading independent station across the Southwestern U.S., offering a mix of cartoons, sitcoms, Westerns, movies, and public affairs programming. The station initiated color broadcasts in July 1966 after upgrading its technical equipment.

KTVT primarily targeted rural and suburban viewers within the Metroplex and benefited from its advantageous VHF frequency amid emerging UHF competitors. Its first significant competition arrived in 1968 with Doubleday Broadcasting's KMEC (channel 39), followed by Christian Broadcasting Network's KXTX-TV (channel 33) launching in 1973. KMEC faced financial difficulties and was eventually donated to CBN; after restructuring as KDTV (formerly KMEC), it ceased operations shortly thereafter.

1971–1993: Growth into a regional superstation

Starting in the late 1970s, KTVT broadened its reach beyond Dallas–Fort Worth by distributing its signal via cable providers throughout Texas and neighboring states. This expansion elevated it to superstation status alongside WTBS, WGN-TV, and WOR-TV. Its broadcast signal was carried by approximately 400 cable systems and C-band satellite subscribers primarily across the Southwestern United States, covering nearly every cable operator in Texas and Oklahoma as well as substantial parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico.

Throughout the 1980s, KTVT maintained its position as Dallas–Fort Worth’s leading independent station despite facing competition from four new UHF independents launched between 1980 and 1981: KNBN-TV (now KDAF), KTXA, KTWS-TV (now KDFI), among others. Its primary market competitor was KXTX, which also achieved regional superstation status; both stations remained consistently profitable independents within the area.

On July 1, 1984, Tulsa-based United Video Satellite Group uplinked KTVT’s signal to Satcom IV satellite for distribution to cable and satellite subscribers across the Southwestern U.S., reinforcing its superstation identity. This satellite feed replicated the Metroplex programming schedule for about six years and was accessible directly by satellite dish owners. During this era, KTVT marketed itself as "Channel 11, The Super Ones."

KTVT opted not to affiliate with Fox Broadcasting Company at Fox’s October 1986 launch. Fox had acquired KRLD-TV (previously KNBN-TV/KDAF) in 1985 through its Metromedia merger, making that station a Fox owned-and-operated outlet. Furthermore, most smaller markets within KTVT’s cable reach already had exclusive Fox affiliates, limiting incentives for KTVT to join Fox. In late 1985, KTVT moved into new studio facilities at 5233 Bridge Street due to freeway expansion projects.

While expanding regionally, KTVT underestimated competitor KTXA’s aggressive acquisition of syndicated programming. Grant Broadcasting—the owner of KTXA—utilized its national network of independents to secure top syndicated shows, allowing KTXA to surpass KTVT's ratings by fall of 1984. In reaction, Gaylord appointed Charles L. Edwards as executive vice president and general manager that year; under his guidance, KTVT obtained popular series like The Cosby Show, Night Court, and Cheers, reclaiming its leading independent status by Edwards’ retirement in 1989.

The FCC’s Syndication Exclusivity Rights Rule (SyndEx), enacted on May 19, 1988, mandated cable providers to blackout syndicated programs on out-of-market stations if local stations held exclusive rights. Gaylord declined to produce a separate feed with alternate programming for markets outside Dallas–Fort Worth; consequently, when SyndEx took effect on January 1, 1990, several cable operators removed KTVT from their lineups.

In December 1993, Gaylord initiated discussions with Time Warner regarding affiliating KTVT along with sister independents—KHTV (now CW affiliate KIAH) in Houston; WVTV (now CW affiliate) in Milwaukee; and KSTW in Seattle–Tacoma—with the newly announced WB Network. The WB aimed at younger viewers alongside UPN as emerging competitors against established networks ABC, NBC, and CBS. However, prior affiliation agreements altered network-station dynamics before any formal arrangement was finalized.

1994–1998: Operating as a CBS Affiliate

On May 23, 1994, News Corporation acquired a 20% interest in New World Communications, which entered into a long-term affiliation agreement to switch its nine stations—previously aligned with CBS, ABC, or NBC—to Fox. This strategic move came shortly after Fox secured NFC broadcast rights for $1.58 billion commencing with the 1994 NFL season. Included in this transition was KDFW-TV in Dallas–Fort Worth, a CBS affiliate since 1949, part of New World's $717 million purchase of four stations from Argyle Television Holdings. However, due to FCC ownership restrictions, New World excluded NBC affiliate WVTM-TV in Birmingham from this agreement.

Anticipating KDFW's contract expiration in July 1995, CBS sought a new partner in the Dallas market. Efforts to affiliate with KXAS-TV and WFAA were unsuccessful because of existing commitments. The sole feasible candidate was the independent station KTVT, owned by Gaylord. Nevertheless, Time Warner contested Gaylord’s plans to convert both KTVT and Seattle’s KSTW from WB to CBS affiliations, leading to legal disputes over alleged contract violations.

Despite these challenges, CBS and Gaylord finalized a ten-year affiliation deal on September 14, 1994, transferring the Dallas–Fort Worth affiliation to KTVT and Seattle’s to KSTW. Following Fox's announcement to divest KDAF after acquiring KDFW, The WB network affiliated with KDAF. Subsequently, Gaylord and United Video discontinued distributing KTVT as a regional superstation by late 1994 due to FCC non-duplication regulations.

Ahead of its formal affiliation start on July 2, 1995, KTVT began broadcasting CBS daytime shows such as The Price Is Right and The Bold and the Beautiful. The station adopted the slogan "The Eye of Texas" along with a new logo inspired by KCBS-TV in Los Angeles. Concurrently, KDFW transitioned to Fox affiliation while KDAF officially became a WB station.

Initially resembling an independent station’s programming schedule, KTVT retained popular sitcoms like The Cosby Show and Full House. Over time, it shifted toward a network affiliate model by expanding local news offerings and incorporating first-run syndicated newsmagazines and game shows. Although CBS experienced a national ratings boost after acquiring AFC rights in 1998, KTVT generally ranked fourth locally but maintained stronger viewership compared to Seattle’s former CBS affiliate KSTW.

During this era, Gaylord began divesting its broadcast properties, selling its television stations and cable networks to other media companies.

1999–Present: Transition to a CBS Owned-and-Operated Station

On April 12, 1999, Gaylord announced it would exit television broadcasting by selling its final station, KTVT, to CBS Television Stations for $485 million; the FCC approved the transaction on August 3, 1999. This acquisition aligned KTVT with Infinity Broadcasting Corporation’s six Metroplex radio outlets—including KRLD (1080 AM) and KLUV (98.7 FM). That same year, KTVT relocated its main operations from Stemmons Freeway to an office on North Central Expressway owned by Gaylord, likely aiming to consolidate radio and television operations under CBS and reduce expenses.

On September 7, 1999, Viacom revealed plans for a $35.6 billion merger with CBS Corporation that was completed on April 26, 2000. This consolidation created a duopoly between KTVT and UPN affiliate KTXA under Viacom's Paramount Stations Group umbrella, reuniting it with Seattle’s KSTW under shared ownership. Subsequently, KTXA moved its operations into KTVT’s Fort Worth facility. After Viacom's split in 2006, these stations became part of the restructured CBS Corporation.

On August 26, 2013, the Dallas business offices of KTVT/KTXA moved into a renovated building at 12001 North Central Expressway—renamed CBS Tower—while maintaining primary studio and technical functions at their Bridge Street location in Fort Worth. The former Dallas office was sold in 2015 for hotel development.

On August 13, 2019, National Amusements announced the reunification of Viacom and CBS Corporation into ViacomCBS through a deal valued up to $15.4 billion; the merger finalized on December 4, 2019. This made CBS Television Stations—including KTVT/KTXA—a division of ViacomCBS. The company later rebranded as Paramount Global on February 16, 2022.

In February 2023, KTVT updated its primary on-air branding to CBS Texas, renaming its newscasts and sports programming as CBS News Texas and CBS Sports Texas, respectively. The "star 11" logo remains as secondary branding. This change reflects the station’s extensive coverage area and viewer research highlighting strong Texan identity but does not impact other CBS affiliates across Texas.

KTVT-DT2

On May 25, 2015, KTVT introduced a digital subchannel on virtual channel 11.2, becoming an inaugural affiliate of Decades, a classic TV network jointly owned by CBS Television Stations and Weigel Broadcasting. This network showcases programming from the CBS Television Distribution archive (now known as CBS Media Ventures), including historic CBS News footage. It debuted alongside most CBS-owned stations and Weigel’s CBS affiliate WDJT-TV in Milwaukee as part of its initial rollout. On September 3, 2018, KTVT transitioned from Decades to the Start TV network.

Programming

KTVT is one of the limited number of CBS stations located in the Central Time Zone that broadcasts The Young and the Restless at 11:30 a.m., a scheduling choice maintained since the cancellation of its noon newscast in January 2004. Prior to September 2022, the station aired Let's Make a Deal at 9 a.m. on weekdays rather than the national 2 p.m. timeslot; this arrangement originated following the end of Guiding Light in 2009 and is typical among CBS owned-and-operated outlets. In September 2022, KTVT debuted a 9 a.m. newscast, which was followed by a half-hour edition of The Drew Barrymore Show, resulting in Let's Make a Deal shifting to the 2 p.m. slot. Since affiliating with CBS, KTVT has consistently broadcast CBS’ weekend children’s programming blocks, currently featuring a half-hour segment of the CBS Dream Team on Sunday mornings preceding CBS News Sunday Morning during weeks with Saturday sports events.

Texas Rangers

In 1985, KTVT acquired rights to televise Texas Rangers games under a decade-long agreement tied to Gaylord Broadcasting president Edward L. Gaylord’s acquisition of a 33% ownership share in the MLB team from Eddie Chiles. Initially, American League owners expressed reservations about Gaylord potentially converting KTVT into a national superstation akin to WTBS or WGN-TV. The arrangement received approval from MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth in February 1985 under a "best interests of baseball" provision, which mandated retransmission fees for broadcasts outside the station’s six-state cable service area. Gaylord’s attempt to gain majority control was unsuccessful when George W. Bush and associates purchased the remaining shares for $86 million in April 1989.

During the first ten years, KTVT aired approximately 95 Rangers games each season, initially limiting broadcasts to away games through 1989; home games were incorporated starting in 1990 based on expected attendance figures. Following its affiliation with CBS, KTVT and independent station KXTX-TV coordinated in 1995 for KXTX to air CBS programs preempted by Rangers broadcasts on KTVT as well as certain games contracted to Channel 11 due to network preemption restrictions. The Rangers’ local over-the-air telecasts officially shifted to KXTX beginning with the 1996 season.

Other sports

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, KTVT served as the flagship broadcaster for the well-known local professional wrestling program Saturday Night Wrestling, also airing the two-hour wrestling series Championship Sports on Saturdays. The station additionally covered Texas-based college football and basketball contests, including syndicated games from the now-defunct Southwestern Conference (1984–1996) via Raycom Sports, showcasing teams such as the University of Texas Longhorns. Broadcast rights were occasionally shared with KTXA.

From 1982 until 1998, KTVT was the primary television station for Dallas Mavericks NBA games, initially splitting coverage with WFAA. Starting with the 1986–87 season, KTXA replaced WFAA as KTVT’s broadcast partner. After joining CBS in 1995, Channel 11 progressively reduced Mavericks telecasts, with KTXA assuming principal local broadcast rights by 1998. Moreover, during their inaugural season following relocation from Minneapolis (1993–94), KTVT held local television rights for Dallas Stars NHL games.

Since September 1998, KTVT has been recognized as the official TV partner of the Dallas Cowboys, airing team-related content such as the Cowboys Postgame Show, specials including Making of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Calendar, and preseason contests not carried nationally. Under CBS’ NFL contract covering American Football Conference matchups, KTVT broadcasts Cowboys regular-season interconference home games along with select cross-flexed National Football Conference contests starting in 2014. The majority of other Cowboys games are televised locally on Fox affiliate KDFW due to Fox’s NFC rights package, while NBC’s KXAS-TV airs Sunday Night Football appearances featuring Dallas.

News operations

KTVT airs a total of hours each week featuring locally produced newscasts, including hours on weekdays, hours on Saturdays, and hours on Sundays. Additionally, it offers two sports programs on Sunday evenings following the 10 p.m. news: The Score and The Blitz: The Dallas Cowboys Report, both co-hosted by sports journalist Bill Jones.

History of the news department

The station began its news division in 1960 as an independent channel with brief local news segments. In 1981, KTVT introduced live updates called Headline News, which lasted for 60 seconds. A significant expansion occurred in 1990 under Gaylord Broadcasting, with the launch of a one-hour prime time newscast at 7 p.m. titled Newswatch 11, aimed at viewers who missed early evening broadcasts on other local stations. This program was moved to the 9 p.m. slot in January 1991 to prevent scheduling conflicts with sports events, marking it as the first commercial newscast in the Metroplex to air at that hour.

By February 1993, the weeknight 9 p.m. broadcast was extended to a full hour and renamed The Nine O'Clock News, with weekend editions added in 1994. Despite competing against popular network dramas on major affiliates, the show became a formidable contender.

When CBS sought a new affiliate in the Metroplex to replace KDFW, KTVT's established news operation played a key role in the network choosing it on July 1, 1995. Upon affiliating with CBS, KTVT rebranded its newscasts as 11 News (later known as CBS 11 News) and expanded its schedule to include a one-hour morning show at 6 a.m., an early evening newscast at 6 p.m., and shifted the late news to 10 p.m. The station doubled its newsroom staff from 40 to 80 employees, retaining several anchors while recruiting new talent such as Cameron Harper and Karen Borta.

During its initial decade with CBS, KTVT frequently modified its news programming by adding half-hour newscasts at noon and 5 p.m. in 1996 and briefly airing a weeknight segment at 6:30 p.m. in 1999. A 4 p.m. newscast was introduced in 2000 but underwent multiple cancellations and reinstatements before settling into a consistent hour-long format by 2010. Weekend morning newscasts were discontinued in 2006 due to budget constraints but were brought back in September 2014.

Historically trailing other CBS stations in total day and local news ratings, KTVT has seen improvements since the late 2000s, occasionally outperforming market leader WFAA during key viewing times. Notably, during the February 2011 sweeps period, its newscasts at 6 and 10 p.m. ranked first for total audience for the first time.

On September 24, 2007, KTVT became the third station in Dallas-Fort Worth to deliver local news broadcasts in high definition. In May 2010, it adopted CBS's uniform graphics package and theme music from Gari Media Group's "New Generation" series.

On May 18, 2020, KTVT launched its digital streaming news platform, CBSN Dallas–Ft. Worth (now known as CBS News Texas), as part of CBS's initiative to expand localized digital news services across its owned stations.

Current notable on-air personnel

Steve Pickett – anchor and general assignment reporter

Former notable on-air personnel

Jim Acosta – journalist (1998–2000)
Andy Adler – sports reporter and anchor
Julie Bologna – meteorologist (2004–2008)
Bill Camfield – host of horror movie programs Slam Bang Theatre and Nightmare (1955–1972)
Dale Cardwell – reporter
Candice Crawford – reporter and co-host of the Dallas Cowboys program The Blitz (2007–2009)
Jody Dean – weekday afternoon anchor and co-host of Positively Texas! (1995–1999)
Tamron Hall – reporter (1995–1997)
Iola Johnson – anchor and host of Positively Texas (2000–2008)
Babe Laufenberg – sports director and weeknight sports anchor (1997–2015)
Marc Lowrance – announcer for Saturday Night Wrestling (1983–1990)
Boyd Matson
Curt Menefee – sports anchor (1992–1995)
Bill Mercer – announcer for Saturday Night Wrestling (1976–1985)
Betty Nguyen – morning news anchor
Uma Pemmaraju – reporter
Tracy Rowlett – anchor, reporter, and managing editor (1999–2008)
Suzanne Sena – entertainment reporter (2004–2006)
Jane Slater – sports anchor and reporter
Rene Syler – anchor and reporter (1997–2002)
Fredricka Whitfield – reporter (1990–1991)

Subchannels

The station's broadcast is divided into multiple digital subchannels:

Channel	Resolution	Aspect Ratio	Identifier	Network Programming
11.1	1080i	16:9	KTVT-DT	CBS
11.2	480i		StartTV	Start TV
11.3	480i		DABL	Dabl
11.4	480i		FAVE	Fave TV
11.5	480i		KTVT.5	Charge!

Analog-to-digital conversion

KTVT initiated digital transmissions on UHF channel 19 starting May 1, 1999, initially broadcasting in standard definition. The station discontinued its analog signal on VHF channel 11 on June 12, 2009, in adherence to the federally mandated digital transition deadline. Subsequently, the digital broadcast shifted from channel 19 to channel 11; however, this change resulted in significant reception difficulties, leading to a loss of approximately 57% of viewers within the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

On July 23, 2009, the Federal Communications Commission granted KTVT permission to revert its digital signal back to channel 19. Similarly, sister station KTXA returned to its original transition channel, channel 18. This adjustment was implemented on August 4, 2009.

Until December 2013, KTVT was also simulcast on digital subchannel 21.2 of KTXA before that subchannel switched to MeTV affiliation. Prior to November 2012, KTVT transmitted simultaneously on both UHF channel 19 and VHF channel 11; both were mapped as virtual channel 11.1, which caused duplicated listings on certain television receivers.

The FCC approved KTVT's permanent relocation to channel 19 on September 10, 2009. Construction permits for the new facilities were issued in November for both KTVT and KTXA's updated channels. On November 26, 2012, KTVT ceased broadcasts on VHF channel 11 entirely and fully transitioned to its current operations on UHF channel 19, sharing transmission infrastructure with KTXA.

External links