KPAX-TV

KPAX-TV is a commercial television station serving Missoula and Western Montana in the United States. It broadcasts on virtual channel 8 and operates as a CBS affiliate within the Montana Television Network, a statewide group of CBS-affiliated stations. The station is owned by The E. W. Scripps Company and its main studios are on West Central Avenue in Missoula. Its transmitter is located on TV Mountain north of the city. The station developed from a long-running effort to improve television service in Missoula. Before KPAX-TV launched, viewers in the area received the signal of KXLF-TV in Butte through a translator established in the Rattlesnake Valley in 1958. In 1969, Joe Sample, whose Montana Television Network interests included KXLF-TV, sought permission to replace the translator with a full-power satellite station for Missoula. The Federal Communications Commission granted the construction permit in December of that year. KPAX-TV began provisional broadcasting in May 1970 and moved to its full-power facility in June. For its first years, the station was closely linked electronically and operationally to KXLF-TV. That arrangement changed in the mid-1970s when a former television and appliance store on Regent Street was remodeled as a local KPAX studio. In January 1977, KPAX began producing local news and commercials from Missoula, becoming a fully developed local station rather than merely a retransmission outlet. The station later expanded its local journalism and introduced a local morning newscast in 1996. KPAX-TV’s affiliation history reflects broader changes in Montana television. The KXLF-KPAX operation carried ABC programming for a period while CBS programming was shared with another local service. In 1984, after the Montana Television Network was sold to SJL, Inc., the network became exclusively affiliated with CBS. ABC programming in the relevant Montana markets subsequently moved to stations associated with the Eagle Communications network. Ownership changed again in 1986, when the MTN stations outside Billings, including KPAX-TV, were sold to Evening Post Publishing Company through Cordillera Communications. Around the same period, the network discontinued its earlier hybrid local-state news model, allowing each station to produce full-length local newscasts. KPAX later became a leading local-news competitor in the Missoula market, surpassing KECI-TV in 1993 after the recruitment of anchor Jill Valley. KPAX’s service footprint includes a low-power Class A semi-satellite in Kalispell, KAJJ-CD, branded on air as KAJ. KAJJ generally carries the same programming schedule as KPAX while inserting local advertising and news segments. It produces separate weeknight newscasts at 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., a format that began in 2010, and has maintained a dedicated local news presence in the Flathead Valley for many years. KPAX also reaches additional communities through a network of dependent translators. The station completed the United States’ federally mandated analog-to-digital transition on June 12, 2009. Its digital service remained on VHF channel 7 while continuing to use virtual channel 8. Today, KPAX-TV’s core offering consists of CBS network programming, locally produced news, weather and community reporting, syndicated or other scheduled television programming, local advertising, and related digital content for viewers across Western Montana.

KPAX-TV traces its origins to the effort to provide full-power television service to Missoula, Montana. Before the station existed, viewers received KXLF-TV from Butte through a translator established in the Rattlesnake Valley in 1958. In December 1965, the Federal Communications Commission authorized arrangements involving translators for KXLF-TV and KMSO-TV. These facilities provided interim coverage but did not give Missoula its own full-power station. On October 15, 1969, Joe Sample, associated with the Montana Television Network, applied through Garryowen Butte TV to replace the KXLF translator with a full-power satellite station. The FCC approved the construction permit on December 23. KPAX-TV began provisional service from a small temporary tower on May 9, 1970, and began operating from its full 257,000-watt facility on June 5. The station initially remained closely tied to KXLF-TV in programming and operations. A major local-development phase began in 1977. Sample remodeled a former television and appliance store on Regent Street for use as a KPAX studio. The facility allowed the station to produce its own Missoula news and commercial material and to end its electronic dependence on KXLF. KPAX thus became Missoula’s second full-fledged television station. During the preceding period, the KXLF-KPAX operation had carried ABC as its primary affiliation, with CBS programming shared with KGVO-TV, later known as KTVM-TV, in the Missoula and Butte areas. In 1984, Sample sold the Montana Television Network stations to SJL, Inc. The network then adopted an exclusively CBS-affiliated identity. ABC programming moved to the Eagle Communications network, whose stations included KECI, KTVM, and KCFW. Two years later, the Montana stations outside Billings, including KPAX-TV, were sold to Evening Post Publishing Company through Cordillera Communications for $24 million. Under the new ownership structure, the earlier hybrid local-state news format was discontinued, and individual stations began producing full-length local newscasts. KPAX’s regional reach expanded through its relationship with the Kalispell low-power station originally identified as K18AJ. That station began broadcasting in July 1985 under independent ownership and primarily carried Satellite Program Network programming. After going silent in 1988, it was sold to KPAX-TV and returned to the air later that year as a translator carrying KPAX programming, local commercials, and a dedicated reporter serving the Kalispell area. The station later became KAJJ-CA in 2011 and KAJJ-CD in 2012. It operates as a Class A semi-satellite, generally sharing KPAX’s schedule while inserting local material. Separate Kalispell evening newscasts have been produced since 2000, and its own weeknight 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts premiered in 2010. In Missoula, KPAX developed into a significant local-news competitor. KECI-TV and KCFW historically held the leading position in the market, but KPAX surpassed KECI in 1993, helped by the arrival of anchor Jill Valley. The station added a local morning newscast in 1996. Its broader distribution now includes KAJJ-CD and numerous dependent translators serving communities in north-central and northern Montana. KPAX-TV completed the United States’ mandated analog-to-digital conversion on June 12, 2009. The analog VHF channel 8 signal was shut down, while the digital signal remained on pre-transition VHF channel 7 and continued to identify virtually as channel 8. The station is now part of The E. W. Scripps Company and remains within the Montana Television Network, providing CBS programming, local news, weather, advertising, and regional public-service coverage to Western Montana.

1. 2012Kalispell station becomes KAJJ-CD

   The station’s call sign changed from KAJJ-CA to KAJJ-CD after its Class A digital designation.

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2. 2011Kalispell station adopts KAJJ-CA call sign

   The Kalispell semi-satellite’s call sign changed to KAJJ-CA.

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3. 2010KAJ launches separate weeknight newscasts

   KAJJ-CD began separate 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. weeknight newscasts for Kalispell.

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4. 2009Digital conversion completed

   The station shut down its analog signal and continued digitally on VHF channel 7 using virtual channel 8.

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5. 1996Local morning newscast launches

   KPAX-TV began producing a local morning newscast.

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6. 1993KPAX leads Missoula local news

   KPAX-TV surpassed KECI-TV in local-news performance in the Missoula market.

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7. 1986Cordillera Communications acquires KPAX-TV

   Evening Post Publishing Company acquired KPAX-TV through Cordillera Communications.

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8. 1984MTN adopts exclusive CBS affiliation

   The Montana Television Network became exclusively affiliated with CBS after its sale to SJL, Inc.

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9. 1977Local Missoula production begins

   A new Regent Street studio enabled KPAX-TV to produce local news and commercials in Missoula.

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10. 1970KPAX-TV launches

    KPAX-TV began provisional broadcasting in May and full-power operation in June on virtual channel 8.

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11. 1969Full-power Missoula satellite receives construction approval

    Garryowen Butte TV, associated with Joe Sample and the Montana Television Network, received FCC approval to replace the translator with a full-power Missoula station.

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12. 1958KXLF translator begins serving Missoula

    A translator in the Rattlesnake Valley began relaying KXLF-TV from Butte to viewers in Missoula, establishing the predecessor service to KPAX-TV.

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A locally focused CBS television service combining Missoula-based journalism with statewide Montana Television Network resources and regional distribution through KAJJ-CD and dependent translators.

• KPAX Local NewsLocal television news1977

  Locally produced news programming from Missoula covering Western Montana, including regional reporting, weather, public affairs, and community stories. The service expanded substantially after the station opened its local studio in 1977 and later added a local morning newscast in 1996.

• CBS Network ProgrammingNetwork television1984

  KPAX-TV’s principal network offering as a CBS affiliate. The station became part of the Montana Television Network’s exclusive CBS affiliation structure in 1984 and distributes CBS programming across its Western Montana service area.

• KAJRegional television service1988

  The on-air brand of KAJJ-CD in Kalispell, a low-power Class A semi-satellite of KPAX-TV. It carries the KPAX schedule while inserting local commercials and local news, including separate weeknight newscasts for the Kalispell area.

• Weather and Community CoverageLocal information service

  Regional weather reporting and community-focused coverage distributed through KPAX broadcasts, KAJ programming, dependent translators, and associated digital channels. These services support viewers across the geographically broad Western Montana market.

• 2010Expand KAJ’s independent local newsProduct launch

  KAJJ-CD carried much of KPAX-TV’s schedule but had an established local presence in the Kalispell area.

  What changed. KAJ introduced separate weeknight 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts with its own anchor.

  Aftermath. The Kalispell service gained additional local programming while remaining a semi-satellite of KPAX-TV.

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• 2009Convert from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  United States full-power television stations were required to complete a federally mandated analog-to-digital transition.

  What changed. KPAX-TV ended its analog VHF channel 8 transmission and continued digital broadcasting on VHF channel 7 under virtual channel 8.

  Aftermath. The station continued service as a digital broadcaster while retaining its established channel identity.

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• 1986Sell KPAX-TV to Cordillera CommunicationsM&A

  The Montana Television Network was reorganized after the 1984 ownership change, with stations outside Billings placed in a separate transaction.

  What changed. Evening Post Publishing Company purchased KPAX-TV and other non-Billings MTN stations through Cordillera Communications.

  Aftermath. The stations moved to new ownership and the prior hybrid local-state news model was replaced by fuller station-level local newscasts.

  Reported acquisition price. $24 million (1986 acquisition)

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• 1984Adopt an exclusive CBS affiliationStrategy

  The Montana Television Network had historically carried a mix of network programming, including ABC and CBS content, across its Montana stations.

  What changed. After SJL, Inc. acquired the network, MTN standardized its network relationship around CBS. ABC programming moved to the Eagle Communications station group.

  Aftermath. KPAX-TV became part of a more clearly defined CBS affiliate network serving Montana.

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• 1977Build an independent local production operationStrategy

  KPAX-TV initially relied heavily on its relationship with KXLF-TV in Butte and functioned largely as a satellite service.

  What changed. The station remodeled a Missoula commercial property into a local studio and began producing its own news and commercials.

  Aftermath. KPAX became a full-fledged Missoula television station with greater editorial and commercial independence.

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• 2010KAJJ begins separate weeknight newscasts for Kalispell

  The Kalispell low-power semi-satellite began producing separate 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. weeknight newscasts with its own anchor while continuing to carry the KPAX schedule.

  Product launch
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• 2009KPAX-TV completes the United States analog television transition

  The station ended analog broadcasting on VHF channel 8 as part of the federally mandated nationwide transition to digital television. Its digital signal continued on channel 7 under virtual channel 8.

  Regulation
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• 1993KPAX-TV surpasses KECI in Missoula local news

  KPAX-TV became the leading local-news station in the Missoula market, following sustained development of its local operation and the recruitment of anchor Jill Valley from KECI.

  OtherLeadership change
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• 1986KPAX-TV changes ownership through Cordillera Communications

  Evening Post Publishing Company acquired KPAX-TV and other Montana Television Network stations outside Billings through its Cordillera Communications subsidiary.

  M&A
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• 1984Montana Television Network becomes exclusively affiliated with CBS

  Following the sale of the Montana Television Network to SJL, Inc., the network adopted an exclusively CBS-affiliated structure, while ABC programming shifted to the Eagle Communications group in the affected markets.

  Other
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• 1977KPAX opens a local Missoula studio and expands original programming

  A remodeled Regent Street facility enabled KPAX-TV to produce local news and commercials in Missoula and operate as a full local station independent of its previous electronic connection to KXLF-TV.

  Other
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• 1970KPAX-TV begins full-power broadcasting in Missoula

  KPAX-TV launched provisionally in May 1970 and commenced operation from its full-power facility in June, replacing the earlier translator-based service used to relay KXLF-TV into Missoula.

  Other
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1. KPAX-TV
2. Official KPAX-TV website