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KDFW

KDFW, channel 4 (digital 35), is the Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox owned-and-operated television station in the Dallas, Texas|Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth Metroplex designated market area. The station is licensed to Dallas and its studios and business offices are located downtown Dallas|downtown. The station's transmitter is located in Cedar Hill. It is co-owned with MyNetworkTV affiliate KDFI, channel 27, as well as Fox Sports Net|Fox Sports Southwest.

History

As a CBS affiliate

The station signed on as CBS affiliate '''KRLD-TV''' on December 3, 1949, owned by the now-defunct ''Dallas Times Herald'' newspaper, which also operated KRLD (AM)|KRLD radio (1080 kHz.). Channel 4 was the third television station in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area to sign-on, following Dallas-based KBTV (now WFAA-TV, channel 8) earlier in 1949, and Fort Worth-based WBAP-TV (now KXAS-TV, channel 5) in 1948. KRLD-TV served as the home base for the CBS News|CBS network's coverage of the John F. Kennedy assassination|assassination of President John F. Kennedy, led by Dan Rather, on November 22, 1963. News director Eddie Barker was the first person to announce Kennedy's death on television, passing along word from a Parkland Memorial Hospital|Parkland Hospital official (because of a local press pool|pool arrangement, Barker's scoop appeared live simultaneously on CBS and ABC News|ABC). KRLD-TV's transmission tower in Cedar Hill, Texas|Cedar Hill, which was 586 feet tall and was considered the highest television transmission tower in the world, was hit by a military helicopter doing training exercises in 1968. The two passengers survived, but the tower had to be reconstructed. Federal Communications Commission rules at the time prevented Concentration of media ownership|common ownership of newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same market, and the combination of KRLD-AM-TV and the ''Dallas Times-Herald'' was protected under a grandfather clause from forced divestiture. However, the newspaper and its broadcast holdings were sold to the Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles-based Times-Mirror Company on May 15, 1970 for United States dollar|$30 million. As a result of the sale, Times-Mirror could not keep the ''Times-Herald'''s grandfathered protection for the radio and television stations, but was granted a waiver to keep the newspaper together with the television station, which was renamed '''KDFW-TV''' on July 2, 1970. KRLD radio was sold to Metromedia soon thereafter; the newspaper was sold off in 1986, and was shut down five years later. In 1993, KDFW and the other Times-Mirror stations were sold to Argyle in a group deal. Early in 1994, KDFW began managing a struggling station, KDFI (channel 27), which was rebroadcasting KDFW's newscasts in different time slots.

As a Fox station

In late 1993, when Fox gained the contract from CBS to carry the NFC package of the National Football League, New World Communications reached an agreement for its stations to make the big switch to the network. Afterwards, New World bought out Argyle, which owned KDFW along with sister stations KTVI (channel 2) in St. Louis, Missouri|St Louis, WVTM (channel 13) in Birmingham, Alabama, and KTBC (channel 7) in Austin, Texas|Austin. When that buyout was final, KDFW, along with KTBC and KTVI switched affiliations to Fox on July 1, 1995 -- while WVTM remained affiliated with NBC because former ABC affiliate WBRC (channel 6) in the same market was sold directly to Fox (WVTM was subsequently sold to NBC before being purchased by current owner Media General). Upon the network switch, the Dallas Cowboys|Cowboys football games moved back to KDFW after a one year absence; KDFW as a CBS affiliate carried the Cowboys through 1993, after which the NFC package moved from CBS to Fox. The CBS affiliation moved to KTVT, and former Fox O&O station KDAF (channel 33; which Fox sold to Renaissance, later Tribune Company) took The WB affiliation from KXTX (channel 39). News Corporation purchased KDFW and its local marketing agreement|LMA with KDFI in a group deal in early 1997. Like most New World-owned stations, KDFW did not pick up Fox Kids; it stayed with KDAF until 1997 when Fox Kids moved to KDFI (Fox/NewsCorp eventually bought KDFI outright in 2000). KDFW is not the only Fox owned-and-operated station to replace a previous Fox O&O; sister station WAGA (TV)|WAGA (channel 5) in Atlanta replaced WATL (TV)|WATL (channel 36) during the Fox/New World agreement in 1994. KDFW and KDFI are one of three groups of network O&Os (albeit a duopoly) based in Dallas (with KTVT and KTXA being owned by CBS; KXAS and KXTX being owned by NBC). With Fox switching from a UHF to a VHF position, Dallas-Fort Worth became the first market at the time where all "Big Four" affiliates are on the VHF dial alongside WNYW|New York, KTTV|Los Angeles, KTVU|San Francisco, WTTG|Washington, DC, WSVN|Miami, KVVU|Las Vegas and KCPQ|Seattle. KPTV|Portland and KMSP-TV|Minneapolis-St. Paul would not join suit until 2002. On the morning of July 30, 2007 around 7 a.m., KDFW's news helicopter, SkyFox, had crashlanded near Joe Pool Lake after the engine suddenly lost power. Helicopter pilot Curtis Crump was able to make a hard emergency landing, with the aircraft skidding and then tipping over before coming to a stop near a lake dam. All three people in the helicopter, Crump, traffic reporter Chip Waggoner and KRLD-AM and KVIL-FM traffic reporter Julie DeHarty, suffered only minor injuries.

Digital Television

After the DTV transition|analog television shutdown of June 12, 2009 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf, KDFW-DT remains on channel 35 CDBS Print Program and System Information Protocol|PSIP is used to display KDFW's virtual channel as 4 on digital television receivers. Their analog signal was nightlighting until July 12, 2009.List of Participants in the Analog Nightlight Program - Federal Communications Commission|FCC (accessed June 14, 2009)

Programming

Being a network O&O, KDFW airs the entire Fox network schedule (primetime, Saturday late night and sports programming, and the political talk show Fox News Sunday). Syndicated programming includes talk shows (such as ''Live with Regis and Kelly'', ''The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet'' and ''The Tyra Banks Show''), court shows (such as ''Judge Judy'', ''Judge Joe Brown'' and ''Cristina's Court''), newsmagazines (such as ''Access Hollywood''), off-network dramas (such as ''Stargate: Atlantis'') and weekend morning children's shows. The station began to broadcast a few off-network sitcoms by the late 1990s (though for a brief period during the mid-2000s and also as of the 2008-2009 season, no off-network sitcoms were on its schedule -- a rarity for a Fox station). Some of the syndicated court shows airing on the station air in both daytime and late night. By the very late 1990s, the station began to broadcast a few off-network sitcoms. KDFW is also the alternate flagship station for Texas Rangers baseball; sister station KDFI (channel 27) is the official flagship, and Fox Sports Net also broadcasts some Rangers games. In 1972, the station debuted ''4 Country Reporter'', hosted by Bob Phillips. In 1986, Phillips left KDFW and began selling the show in syndication, which was renamed ''Texas Country Reporter'', and now airs in all 22 television markets in Texas. KDFW did not pick up the syndicated version, but rival station WFAA carried the show (calling it ''8 Country Reporter'').

News Operation

KDFW broadcasts a total of 44 hours of local news a week (7½ hours on weekdays, four hours on Saturdays and 2½ hours on Sundays), more than any other station in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the most of any television station in Texas; however as is standard with Fox stations that carry early evening weekend newscasts, KDFW's Sunday 5PM newscast is subject to preemption and the Saturday 6PM newscast is subject to delay due to sports coverage. From the time KDFW became a Fox affiliate (and later owned-and-operated station) in 1995, the station has placed more emphasis on local news; maintaining a newscast schedule that is very similar to a CBS, ABC, or NBC affiliated station, along with the added 5:30 and 9PM newscasts and the additional two hours of news on weekday mornings. KDFW is one of a steadily growing number of Fox stations with a newscast in the traditional late news timeslot (with Texas being located in the Central time zone, at 10PM in KDFW's case), in addition to the primetime (9PM) newscast, along with one of the few to continue their Big Three-era 10PM (or 11PM) newscast after the affiliation switch. In 2006, Fox Television Stations Group started to push expansion into that time slot (sister station KTBC in Austin, Texas|Austin had a 10PM newscast for years after switching to Fox, which was moved to 9PM in 2000). After the switch, KDFW's 10PM newscast was scaled back to weeknights only (Fox late night programming airs on Saturdays at 10PM, while the sports wrap-up show "FOX4 Sports Sunday" airs Sundays in that timeslot). It is likely that Fox will have all of its owned-and-operated stations add these later newscasts within the next few years (at least half of the Fox O&Os already have added newscasts at 11PM (ET/PT)/10PM (CT/MT)). Starting in 2006, the Fox-owned stations began revamping their sets and graphics to be more closely aligned with Fox News Channel. The stations now have standardized logos that resemble Fox News Channel's. KDFW debuted the new logo, set, graphics and news music (OSI Music's FOX O&O News Theme|Fox Affiliate News Package, formerly WTVT NewsEdge Theme) on September 20, 2006 on their 9PM newscast. The station also launched a new website, which features more news and video with the "myfox" name and interface (the "My" in the "myfox" name may be a reference to MySpace, which Fox's parent News Corporation owns). On February 18, 2009 at noon, KDFW became the fifth station in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to broadcast local news in High-definition television|High Definition, thus leaving KDAF (channel 33, a CW affiliate the Metroplex's original Fox O&O owned by Tribune Company) as the only local English-language television station not to broadcast their newscasts in HD.

FOX4 Notable Personalities

Current On-Air Talent

(as of September 2009)

Current Anchors
- '''Steve Eagar''' - weeknights at 5:30, 6 and 9PM
- '''Dan Godwin''' - weekdays at noon and Saturday mornings "Good Day"
- '''Heather Hays''' - weeknights at 6 and 9PM
- '''Lauren Przybyl''' - weekday mornings "Good Day"
- '''Richard Ray''' - Saturdays at 6, Sundays at 5, and weekends at 9PM
- '''Tim Ryan''' - weekday mornings "Good Day"
- '''Natalie Solis''' - Saturdays at 6, Sundays at 5, and weekends at 9PM
- '''Clarice Tinsley''' - weeknights at 5 and 10PM
Reporters
- '''Fil Alvarado''' - general assignment reporter
- '''Dionne Anglin''' - general assignment reporter
- '''Adrian Arambulo''' - morning reporter
- '''Lari Barager''' - general assignment reporter (also fill-in anchor)
- '''Melissa Cutler''' - general assignment reporter
- '''Peter Daut''' - general assignment reporter
- '''Saul Garza''' - general assignment and "What's Buggin' You" feature reporter
- '''Matt Grubs''' - general assignment reporter
- '''Krystle Gutierrez''' - general assignment reporter (also fill-in anchor)
- '''Lynn Kawano''' - general assignment reporter
- '''Emily Lopez''' - general assignment reporter
- '''Doug Luzader''' - Fox News Washington D.C. correspondent
- '''Steve Noviello''' - "FOX4 On Your Side" consumer reporter
- '''Becky Oliver''' - investigative reporter
- '''Shawn Rabb''' - general assignment reporter
- '''Sophia Reza''' - general assignment reporter
- '''James Rose''' - general assignment and "Street Squad" feature reporter
- '''Brandon Todd''' - general assignment reporter
- '''Chip Waggoner''' - traffic reporter; seen weekdays 5-9AM and 5-6PM
4WARN Weather Team
In addition to providing forecasts on KDFW, the 4WARN Weather Team also provides forecasts for KLIF radio.
- '''Dan Henry''' (American Meteorological Society|AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval) - Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 5:30, 6, 9 and 10PM
- '''Ron Jackson''' (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekend mornings "Good Day", Saturdays at 6, Sundays at 5, and weekends at 9PM
- '''Evan Andrews''' (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekday mornings "Good Day"
- '''Fiona Gorostiza''' - Weather Anchor; weekdays at noon
Sports Team
- '''Mike Doocy''' - Sports Anchor; weeknights at 6, 9 and 10PM (also "Sports Sunday" host)
- '''Max Morgan''' - Sports Anchor; Saturdays at 6, Sundays at 5, and weekends at 9PM (also sports reporter)

KDFW alumni

A — I
- '''Paul Adrian''' - investigative reporter (?-2008)
- '''Rebecca Aguilar''' - reporter (1994-2008)
- '''Howard Ballou''' - weekend anchor/reporter (1989-1991)
- '''Ashleigh Banfield''' - anchor (1995-2000)
- '''Eddie Barker''' - newscaster (1949-1972)
- '''Gary Bazner''' - weather anchor (1978-1982; deceased)
- '''Steve Bosh''' - anchor (1984-1990)
- '''Bill Brown''' - reporter (1970s)
- '''Jack Brown''' - ''Jack Brown's Texas'' feature reporter (1980-1998; deceased)
- '''Mike Burger''' - meteorologist (1989-1996)
- '''Todd Carruth''' - "Team Traffic" reporter (2004-2008)
- '''Bill Ceverha''' - anchor/reporter (1962-1972)
- '''Bill Clarke''' - consumer reporter (1974-1975)
- '''Paul Crane''' - sports anchor (1983-1992)
- '''Katherine Creag''' - reporter (2002-2005)
- '''Jeff Crilley''' - longtime reporter (?-2008)
- '''John Criswell''' - anchor (1990-1997)
- '''Steve Crocker''' - anchor (1995-1998)
- '''Warren Culbertson''' - meteorologist (1963-1984; deceased)
- '''Ryan Davis''' - "Sky 4" aerial photojournalist (1996-2000)
- '''Steve Dawson''' - anchor (1984-1986)
- '''Ted Dawson''' - sports anchor (1987-1995)
- '''John Discepolo''' - sports anchor (2000-2001;)
- '''Sam Donaldson''' - announcer (1959-1960)
- '''Jack Dubberley''' - station announcer/weekend weather anchor (?-?)
- '''Jack Harrison''' - weather anchor (?-?)
- '''Linda Edwards''' - anchor/reporter (1990-1997)
- '''Bobby Estill''' - sports anchor (1992)
- '''Walter Evans''' - anchor (1963-1993)
- '''Wayne Freedman''' - reporter (1980-1981)
- '''Warren Fulks''' - reporter/anchor (?-?)
- '''John Gilbert''' - Capitol Bureau reporter
- '''Bud Gillett''' - reporter (1978-2000)
- '''Eric Glasser''' - anchor (1995-2005)
- '''Frank Glieber''' - sports reporter/anchor (deceased)
- '''Sylvia Gomez''' - reporter/anchor (1990-1992)
- '''Cynthia Gouw''' - weekend anchor/reporter (1993-1994)
- '''Patricia Guillermo''' - reporter (1996-1998);
- '''Judd Hambrick''' - anchor (1972-1973)
- '''John Hammarley''' - medical reporter (1996-2008)
- '''Dale Hansen''' - sports anchor (1980-1983)
- '''Barbara Harrison''' - anchor/reporter (1979-1980)
- '''Tim Heller''' - chief meteorologist (1994-2002)
- '''Megan Henderson''' - ''Good Day'' anchor (2003-2009) J —
- '''Baron James''' - 5 and 10PM anchor (1996?-2009)
- '''Craig James (American football)|Craig James''' - sports anchor (1992-1993)
- '''Dick Johnson (reporter)|Dick Johnson''' - anchor (1976-1982)
- '''Judy Jordan Greene''' - anchor (1966-1980)
- '''Kim Keelor''' - anchor (mid 1990s)
- '''Su Keenan''' - reporter (1980s)
- '''Kimberly Kennedy''' - anchor (1992;)
- '''Stephanie Lucero''' - reporter
- '''Bill Mercer''' - sportscaster/wrestling announcer (1953-1964)
- '''Kevin McCarthy''' - sports reporter (1981-1986)
- '''Marlene McClinton''' - anchor/reporter (1980-1984)
- '''Stan Miller''' - anchor/reporter (1985-1986)
- '''Chip Moody''' - anchor (1980-1984; deceased)
- '''Jason Overstreet''' - Metro North Bureau (?-2008)
- '''Bob Phillips''' - host of ''4 Country Reporter'' (1972-1986)
- '''Liz Priestley''' - 6pm News Producer. (1986-1989)
- '''George Riba''' - sports reporter (1975-1977)
- '''Dick Risenhoover''' - sports anchor (1970-1973; deceased)
- '''Erika Ruiz''' - reporter (1999-2004)
- '''Cameron Sanders''' - reporter (?-1988)
- '''Hosea Sanders''' - weekend anchor/reporter (1981-1986)
- '''Scott Sayres''' - business news reporter (?-2008)
- '''Dale Schornack''' - anchor/reporter (1991-1995;)
- '''Wayne Shattuck''' - meteorologist (1981-1984)
- '''Brett Shipp''' - investigative reporter (1990-1992)
- '''Sara Sidner''' - reporter
- '''James Spann''' - meteorologist in (mid 1980s;)
- '''Casey Stegall''' - reporter (2005-2007;)
- '''Steve Stoler''' - reporter (1985-2002)
- '''Maria Sotolongo''' - noon weather anchor (2003-2008)
- '''Bill Swanbeck''' - sports anchor (1986-1987)
- '''Julia Jackson-Somers''' - morning anchor/reporter (1992-2003)
- '''Roger Twibell''' - sports reporter (1975-1976)
- '''Scott Wapner''' - business news reporter
- '''Phyllis Watson''' - anchor (1995-1998)
- '''Ray Walker''' - anchor (1973-1978)
- '''Barbara White''' - reporter (1981-2005)
- '''Dick Wheeler''' - anchor/reporter
- '''Charlie Wilson''' - reporter (1968-1991; deceased)
- '''Wes Wise''' - sports anchor (1961-1968; former Mayor of Dallas, Texas)
- '''Bill Woods''' - station announcer (?-?)
- '''Nita Wiggins''' - sports reporter (?-2008)

News/Station Presentation

Newscast Titles

- ''The Esso Reporter'' (1949-1963)
- ''Big City News'' (1963-1968, 5:30 p.m. newscast)
- ''Nightly News'' (1963-1968, 10 p.m. newscast)
- ''NewsScene'' (1968-1975, 5 p.m. newscast)
- ''24 Hours'' (1968-1978, 10 p.m. newscast)
- ''Eyewitness News'' (1975-1978)
- ''Channel 4 News'' (1978-1980 and 1984-1990)
- ''News 4 Dallas-Fort Worth'' (1980-1984)
- ''News 4 Texas'' (1990-1996; KDFW kept this news title after switch to Fox in 1995)
- ''Fox 4 News'' (1996-present)

Station Slogans

- ''Eyewitness News: Dallas/Fort Worth's #1 News Team'' (1975-1978)
- ''Reach for the Stars on Channel 4'' (1981-1982; localized version of CBS campaign)
- ''Great Moments on Channel 4'' (1982-1983; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
- ''Hello Dallas'' (1984-1989; during period station used Frank Gari's ''Hello News'')
- ''Share The Spirit on Channel 4'' (1986-1989; localized version of CBS campaign)
- ''Channel 4 News, Working For You'' (1989)
- ''Believing in Texas'' (1989)
- ''Your 24-Hour News Source'' (1990-1995)
- ''Fox 4 Texas'' (1995-1996)
- ''Nobody Gets You Closer'' (1996-1997)
- ''Fox 4: The News Station'' (1997-present; primary slogan from 2009-present)
- ''Now You Know'' (2009-present; secondary news slogan)
- ''So Fox 4'' (2009-present; localized version of Fox ad campaign)