KLTV

KLTV is a television station licensed to Tyler, Texas, and serving the East Texas television market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 7 and has been affiliated with ABC since it first went on the air in October 1954. It also carries Telemundo programming on a digital subchannel, while its sister station KTRE in Lufkin operates as a semi-satellite serving the southern portion of the broader Tyler–Longview–Lufkin–Nacogdoches market. The station was founded by Buford Television, a locally based company owned by Lucille Buford. At launch, KLTV carried ABC as a secondary affiliation while also offering programming from CBS and NBC; it additionally carried selected DuMont programming until 1955. The station originally operated from facilities on Texas Loop 323 in eastern Tyler. After the Federal Communications Commission incorporated Lufkin and Nacogdoches into the Tyler market in 1964, the Buford family acquired KTRE and converted it into a semi-satellite of KLTV. KTRE continues to share much of KLTV’s network, syndicated and locally produced programming while maintaining separate local inserts, legal identifications, selected newscasts and a separate website. KLTV’s affiliation structure changed as competing stations entered the market. It lost CBS in 1984 after the launch of KLMG-TV in Longview and retained a secondary NBC relationship until KETK-TV began broadcasting in 1987. From that point, KLTV became an exclusive ABC affiliate. Ownership changed in 1989, when Buford Television sold KLTV and KTRE to Civic Communications. Civic later became part of Cosmos Broadcasting through a 2000 merger, and the stations subsequently came under Liberty Corporation and then Raycom Media. Gray Television’s merger with Raycom was completed in January 2019, making KLTV part of Gray’s station portfolio. The station is known for a strong local-news operation and has historically been the dominant news provider in its market. It broadcasts more than 31 hours of locally produced newscasts each week, including weekday morning, midday, afternoon and evening programs, together with weekend coverage. KLTV’s newsroom also supplies programming to KTRE. The station has received Lone Star Emmy recognition and adopted the long-running slogan “Proud of East Texas” in 1985. Its local newscasts began broadcasting in high definition in 2010, and an hour-long weekday 4 p.m. newscast was introduced in 2012. KLTV has also developed a substantial digital and over-the-air distribution footprint. Its multiplex includes the main ABC service, Telemundo and a rotating digital-network service on subchannel 7.2. The station launched a digital signal in 2005 and completed its transition from analog broadcasting in 2009. A major technical disruption occurred in February 2006 when its 1,078-foot transmitter tower collapsed, temporarily interrupting over-the-air service and also affecting nearby radio station KVNE. Cable distribution continued through a fiber connection, and temporary and replacement transmission arrangements restored coverage. A replacement tower was completed in 2007 following a station promotion called “Flip the Switch.” Today, KLTV remains an active Gray Media station with studios in downtown Tyler and a transmitter in northern Smith County. Its service combines ABC network programming, local journalism, syndicated content, digital multicast services and Telemundo programming. Through KTRE and translator facilities, the KLTV brand reaches a broad area of East Texas through broadcast, cable, satellite and digital platforms.

KLTV began broadcasting on October 14, 1954, as a Tyler, Texas, station established by Buford Television, a company owned by Lucille Buford. It entered the market as an ABC affiliate, although ABC initially operated as a secondary service. The station also carried programs from CBS and NBC and briefly presented DuMont programming. Its original facilities were located on Texas Loop 323 on Tyler’s east side. A major structural change occurred in 1964, when the FCC combined Lufkin and Nacogdoches with the Tyler television market. The Buford family subsequently acquired KTRE, channel 9 in Lufkin, and made it a semi-satellite of KLTV. KTRE retained some independent local functions but relied on KLTV for much of its network and syndicated programming and for significant portions of its news output. The arrangement allowed the two stations to cover the northern and southern portions of the enlarged East Texas market while being treated as one ratings unit. KLTV’s network affiliations evolved as new competitors appeared. In September 1984, the station lost CBS affiliation after Longview station KLMG-TV signed on. KLTV continued to carry NBC programming on a secondary basis until KETK-TV began operations in March 1987. Thereafter, KLTV became an exclusive ABC affiliate, a role it continues to hold. Buford Television owned KLTV and KTRE until 1989, when it sold both stations to Civic Communications of Jackson, Mississippi. Civic merged with Cosmos Broadcasting, a division of the Liberty Corporation, in 2000. Liberty later sold itself to Raycom Media in 2006, placing KLTV within a larger regional broadcast group. On the day after Raycom formally assumed ownership in February 2006, KLTV suffered one of its most significant operational incidents when a 1,078-foot transmitter tower at Red Springs collapsed. The event took the station’s analog and digital over-the-air signals off the air and also affected radio station KVNE. Cable viewers continued receiving the station through a fiber feed, while satellite viewers temporarily lost access. KLTV restored a reduced-power analog signal within hours and installed a replacement transmitter the following day. Digital service was restored several days later. A new, shorter tower was completed in 2007, and the station marked the restoration with the “Flip the Switch” viewer promotion. The station moved from its longtime Loop 323 facilities to a downtown Tyler location in 1996. The new studios occupied a former savings-and-loan branch and office complex near the Smith County courthouse. The old facility was later demolished. KLTV celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2004 and continued building its local identity around the slogan “Proud of East Texas,” which had been used since 1985. KLTV expanded its digital operations during the 2000s. It launched a digital signal in December 2005 and carried a local weather service on subchannel 7.2. That service later changed affiliations among several multicast networks, including This TV, Bounce TV and Circle, before The365 assumed the slot after Circle ceased operation. Telemundo programming is carried on subchannel 7.3. KLTV ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide full-power television transition, and its digital signal ultimately operated on channel 7. The station’s news operation is central to its brand. KLTV produces more than 31 hours of local newscasts each week, with weekday morning, midday, afternoon and evening programs and weekend broadcasts. KTRE simulcasts substantial portions of this coverage while producing selected local material for the Lufkin area. KLTV introduced an hour-long weekday 4 p.m. newscast in 2012 and converted its local news broadcasts to high definition in 2010. The newsroom and its staff have received Lone Star Emmy recognition. Former on-air personnel associated with the station include weather anchor Sandra Brown and news anchor Devin Scillian, who worked at KLTV from 1986 to 1989. Gray Television announced its merger with Raycom in 2018. Regulatory approval was obtained in December of that year, and the transaction closed on January 2, 2019. KLTV and KTRE consequently became Gray stations and gained additional sister-station relationships in nearby Texas markets. Gray later expanded KLTV’s broadcast distribution through translator facilities, including a full simulcast translator placed on the air in 2021 and subsequent facility upgrades in 2023. The station remains active from downtown Tyler, providing ABC service, local journalism, weather information, syndicated programming and digital multicast content to East Texas.

1. 2019KLTV joins Gray Media

   Gray completes its merger with Raycom, making KLTV and KTRE part of Gray’s station group.

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2. 2012Afternoon newscast launches

   The station debuts a one-hour weekday 4 p.m. local newscast.

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3. 2010Local news moves to high definition

   KLTV begins presenting its locally produced newscasts in high definition.

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4. 2009Analog transmission ends

   KLTV ends analog broadcasting and continues as a digital television station on channel 7.

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5. 2007Replacement tower activated

   A new Red Springs tower is placed into service through the station’s “Flip the Switch” promotion.

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6. 2006Transmitter tower collapse

   A major tower failure interrupts broadcast transmission; temporary facilities and a replacement transmitter restore service.

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7. 2005Digital transmission begins

   KLTV launches its digital signal and introduces a weather-oriented digital subchannel.

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8. 1996Operations move to downtown Tyler

   KLTV relocates from its longtime Loop 323 facilities to a renovated downtown complex near the Smith County courthouse.

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9. 1989Buford Television sells KLTV and KTRE

   The stations are sold to Civic Communications.

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10. 1987KLTV becomes an exclusive ABC affiliate

    The station drops its remaining secondary NBC programming after the launch of KETK-TV.

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11. 1984KLTV loses CBS affiliation

    The station’s shared CBS relationship ends after KLMG-TV signs on in Longview.

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12. 1964Lufkin and Nacogdoches join the Tyler market

    Following the FCC market realignment, the Buford family acquires KTRE and operates it as a semi-satellite of KLTV.

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13. 1954KLTV begins broadcasting

    KLTV signs on from Tyler on October 14 as a Buford Television station and begins its long-running ABC affiliation.

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A dominant East Texas broadcast-news brand positioned around regional service, local reporting, weather coverage and ABC network affiliation. Its “Proud of East Texas” identity emphasizes geographic connection and community presence.

• KLTV local newsTelevision news1954

  KLTV’s locally produced news operation covers Tyler and communities across East Texas through weekday morning, midday, afternoon and evening broadcasts, plus weekend programming. Coverage includes breaking news, weather, sports, public affairs and regional reporting. The operation also supplies substantial programming to semi-satellite station KTRE in Lufkin.

• ABC programmingNetwork television1954

  KLTV has carried ABC programming since its first broadcast. After initially sharing primary affiliation with other networks, it became an exclusive ABC affiliate in 1987. The service remains the station’s principal broadcast offering on virtual channel 7.

• Telemundo on subchannel 7.3Multicast television

  KLTV distributes Telemundo programming through digital subchannel 7.3. The subchannel extends Spanish-language network television to viewers within the station’s broadcast and retransmission footprint.

• The365 on subchannel 7.2Multicast television2024

  The station’s 7.2 digital subchannel carries The365. It previously hosted a local weather service and several multicast networks, including This TV, Bounce TV and Circle, reflecting KLTV’s continuing use of digital spectrum for supplementary programming.

• KTRE semi-satellite serviceRegional television network1964

  KTRE channel 9 serves the southern portion of the East Texas market from Lufkin. It simulcasts significant KLTV programming while maintaining separate commercials, legal identifications, selected newscasts, religious programming and local facilities.

• 2007Flip the Switch

  East Texas

  To mark completion of its replacement transmitter tower, KLTV invited viewers to submit short videos explaining why they should activate the new facility. The winner was selected through a public online vote.

  Outcome. Jeff Heimer was selected and activated the replacement transmitter on April 17, 2007.

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• 1985Proud of East Texas

  East Texas

  KLTV adopted the “Proud of East Texas” slogan as a long-term brand expression emphasizing regional identity, community service and local coverage.

  Outcome. The slogan became associated with the station’s established local-news positioning.

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• 2019Join Gray Media through the Raycom mergerM&A

  Gray Television announced a merger with Raycom Media in 2018, subject to regulatory review.

  What changed. The transaction received approval and closed on January 2, 2019, transferring KLTV and KTRE into Gray’s station portfolio.

  Aftermath. KLTV gained additional sister-station relationships within Gray’s regional television network.

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• 2009Complete the analog-to-digital transitionGeneration change

  Federal rules required full-power television stations in the United States to end analog broadcasting.

  What changed. KLTV shut down its analog channel 7 signal and continued digital broadcasting, ultimately using channel 7 for post-transition digital operations.

  Aftermath. The station continued expanding multicast and high-definition services through its digital transmission platform.

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• 1987Become an exclusive ABC affiliateStrategy

  KLTV’s historic shared network arrangement changed as new CBS and NBC stations entered the market.

  What changed. After KETK-TV launched, KLTV ended its remaining secondary NBC programming and focused exclusively on ABC network service.

  Aftermath. ABC became the station’s sole primary network affiliation.

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• 1964Convert KTRE into a semi-satelliteStrategy

  The FCC expanded the Tyler television market to include Lufkin and Nacogdoches, creating an opportunity for coordinated regional coverage.

  What changed. The Buford family acquired KTRE and aligned much of its programming and operations with KLTV while retaining selected local functions.

  Aftermath. KLTV and KTRE developed a combined northern-and-southern East Texas coverage model that continues under Gray ownership.

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• 2023KLTV upgrades translator facilities

  A digital translator associated with KLTV was tested at an upgraded site on the station’s tower, while the existing translator was taken silent in preparation for further facility changes.

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• 2021KLTV adds a full-simulcast translator

  Gray Television placed translator K31PR on the air as a full simulcast of KLTV, extending the station’s terrestrial coverage with the same channel lineup.

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• 2019Gray Television completes merger with Raycom Media

  Gray’s acquisition of Raycom was completed after regulatory approval, bringing KLTV and KTRE into the Gray station group.

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• 2010KLTV begins broadcasting local newscasts in high definition

  KLTV became the third station in the Tyler–Longview market to present its locally produced newscasts in high definition.

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• 2007KLTV launches “Flip the Switch” transmitter promotion

  The station promoted completion of its replacement Red Springs tower through a viewer video contest. The selected winner was invited to activate the new transmitter during an on-air event.

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• 2006KLTV transmitter tower collapses, interrupting over-the-air service

  A 1,078-foot transmission tower at the station’s Red Springs site collapsed shortly after Raycom took ownership. The collapse interrupted KLTV’s analog and digital over-the-air signals and also affected radio station KVNE. Cable distribution continued through a fiber connection, while temporary and replacement transmission arrangements restored service.

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1. KLTV