KXTU-LD
KXTU-LD, virtual channel 57 (UHF digital channel 20), is a low-powered CW-affiliated television station licensed to Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States and also serving Pueblo. Owned by Nexstar Media Group, it is a sister station to Fox affiliate KXRM-TV (channel 21). The two stations share studios on Wooten Road in Colorado Springs; KXTU-LD's transmitter is located on Cheyenne Mountain.
 | |
| Colorado Springs/Pueblo, Colorado United States | |
|---|---|
| City | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Channels | Digital: 20 (UHF) Virtual: 57 (PSIP) |
| Branding | SOCO CW |
| Slogan | Dare to Defy |
| Programming | |
| Affiliations | 57.1: The CW (2006–present) 57.2: Bounce TV 57.3: Laff |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Nexstar Media Group (Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.) |
| Sister stations | KXRM-TV |
| History | |
| Founded | May 3, 1999 |
| First air date | November 5, 1999[1] |
| Former call signs | K57HR (1999, CP only) KXTU-LP (1999–2010)[1] |
| Former channel number(s) | Analog: 57 (UHF, 1999–2010) |
| Former affiliations | Analog/LD1: UPN (1999–2006) LD2: MundoFox/MundoMax (2013–2016) |
| Call sign meaning | KX = KXRM (sister station) TU (2) may refer to this sister station status |
| Technical information | |
| Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 22681 |
| ERP | 1.5 kW |
| HAAT | 649 m (2,129 ft) |
| Transmitter coordinates | 38°44′42.9″N 104°51′41.9″W |
| Translator(s) | KXRM-DT 21.2 (22.4 UHF) Colorado Springs |
| Links | |
| Public license information | Profile LMS |
| Website | www |
The station is simulcast in high definition on KXRM's second digital subchannel. This signal increases KXTU's broadcasting radius; KXTU did not convert to digital until 2010, and even in digital, its coverage area is effectively limited to El Paso and Pueblo counties.
History
The station signed on as KXTU-LP on November 5, 1999[1] as a UPN affiliate under the brand of UPN57.
When UPN left the air on September 17, 2006, KXTU switched to The CW, which was created by the merger of The WB (which had been available in the market by way of Denver's KWGN-TV) and UPN.
Unlike most other low-powered stations, KXTU is available to viewers on DirecTV and Dish Network, as well as on cable systems throughout southern Colorado. This is because under the retransmission consent portion of the must-carry rules, KXRM has the right to require cable and satellite providers to carry KXTU as part of the compensation for carrying KXRM.
On August 30, 2010, KXTU-LP flash-cut from analog to digital on channel 57.[2] On October 27, 2010, it changed its call sign to KXTU-LD.[1]
In early 2012, the station moved from channel 57 to channel 20 and rebranded from CW 57 to SOCO CW.
On February 28, 2013, Barrington Broadcasting announced the sale of its entire group, including KXTU-LD, to Sinclair Broadcast Group.[3] The sale was completed on November 25.[4]
On August 20, 2014, Sinclair announced that it would sell KXRM-TV and KXTU-LD, along with WTTA in Tampa Bay, to Media General in a swap for WJAR in Providence, Rhode Island, WLUK-TV and WCWF in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and WTGS in Savannah, Georgia. The swap is part of Media General's merger with LIN Media.[5][6] The sale was completed on December 19.[7] A condition of the sale maintained the station's affiliation with Sinclair's American Sports Network package of college sports.[8]
Digital television
Digital channels
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | KXTU-LD | Main KXTU-LD programming / The CW |
| 57.2 | 480i | Bounce | Bounce TV | |
| 57.3 | Laff | Laff | ||
| 57.4 | Antenna | Antenna TV | ||
The station carried programming from MundoFox/MundoMax on its second subchannel throughout its three-year existence from August 2013 until December 2016. The station launched Antenna TV in June 2020.
News operation
Unlike its sister station, KXTU does not air newscasts, but during a breaking news event or weather bump, it simulcasts KXRM's newscasts.
References
- "Digital TV Market Listing for KXTU". Rabbit Ears.info. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- CW57 to go all digital Monday, ColoradoConnection.com, Jaryd Wilson, August 24, 2010
- Malone, Michael (February 28, 2013). "Sinclair's Chesapeake TV Acquires Barrington Stations". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Media General, LIN Sell Stations In 5 Markets". TVNewsCheck. August 20, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- Malone, Michael (August 20, 2014). "Media General, LIN Divest Stations in Five Markets". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes on Certain Station Acquisitions and Divestitures with Media General Archived 2014-12-19 at the Wayback Machine, Press Release, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Retrieved 19 December 2014
- Minium, Harry (August 27, 2014). "ODU's opener with Hampton to be televised in 66 markets". HamptonRoads.com. The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
- RabbitEars TV Query for KXTU-LD