KREX-TV

KREX-TV is a television station on channel 5 in Grand Junction, Colorado, serving the Western Slope region. The station operates as a CBS affiliate and is owned by Nexstar Media Group. Its facilities on Hillcrest Avenue are also used by sister or commonly operated stations KFQX, a Fox affiliate, and KGJT-CD, an independent station that carries MyNetworkTV programming. KREX-TV's broadcast footprint is supplemented by translators serving communities in western Colorado. The station's roots are closely connected to Rex Howell, a Grand Junction broadcaster who had moved the KFXJ radio operation from the Denver area to Grand Junction in 1930. In 1953, Howell's Western Slope Broadcasting Company received a Federal Communications Commission construction permit for a television station on channel 5. KFXJ-TV began regular broadcasting on May 30, 1954, initially carrying NBC and DuMont programming. CBS was added later in 1954 through the network's Extended Market Plan, which supplied network programming to stations in smaller or geographically isolated markets. The station adopted the KREX-TV call sign in 1956. During its early decades, it functioned as the principal television outlet for a broad and sparsely populated region. Satellite stations in Montrose and Durango expanded the network's reach, and the collection of stations was promoted as the XYZ network. KREX-TV carried programming from multiple major networks, although CBS became its principal affiliation. Before the arrival of additional full-service stations in Grand Junction, KREX-TV was effectively the market's sole local television source and provided viewers with a wide mixture of network entertainment, news and sports. The station's network role changed as competition developed. ABC programming moved to KJCT when that station launched in 1979. KREX-TV continued with CBS and NBC for a period, using available network feeds and local scheduling arrangements. Full-time NBC service arrived in the market with the launch of KKCO in 1996. KREX-TV remained a CBS station, while the wider ownership operation also developed a Fox outlet that ultimately became KFQX. Ownership passed from Howell's interests to Withers Broadcasting in the mid-1980s and then to Hoak Media in 2003. Under Withers and Hoak, the operation expanded its regional assets, upgraded transmission facilities and introduced digital and high-definition broadcasting. The station's physical plant suffered a major setback on January 20, 2008, when a fire destroyed the Hillcrest studios. News staff temporarily worked from other local facilities and continued gathering material for the station's website while technical operations were restored. A rebuilt, smaller facility opened in 2009. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired KREX-TV and its associated stations from Hoak Media in 2014 through a transaction connected with Gray Television's acquisition of most of Hoak. KREG-TV was divested to comply with ownership limits at the time of Nexstar's later merger with Media General. KREX-TV continues to serve as a local CBS outlet, combining network programming with regional news, weather, sports, advertising and community coverage under the Western Slope Now digital and promotional identity.

KREX-TV originated in the early development of television broadcasting in western Colorado. On March 25, 1953, the FCC granted Western Slope Broadcasting Company a construction permit for a channel 5 station in Grand Junction. The company was controlled by Rex Howell, whose KFXJ radio station had established a local broadcasting presence after moving from Edgewater, Colorado, to Grand Junction in 1930. Howell expanded the radio facilities to accommodate television production, and KFXJ-TV began regular programming on May 30, 1954, following test transmissions earlier that month. At launch, the station carried NBC and DuMont programming. CBS joined the lineup in December 1954 through the network's Extended Market Plan, which was designed to provide service to small and geographically difficult markets. The station became KREX-TV in 1956. A live CBS connection became available later that year, improving the reliability and immediacy of network programming. In the period before permanent network microwave links were available, the station sometimes used improvised relay arrangements to receive distant network signals. A permanent microwave connection introduced in 1966 expanded access to NBC and ABC sports and other network content. Howell and affiliated companies built a regional system around the Grand Junction station. KREY-TV served Montrose, while KREZ-TV eventually served Durango after a predecessor station was destroyed by fire in 1964. The three-station combination was marketed as the XYZ network. KREX-TV was the dominant local television outlet in Grand Junction for much of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, carrying programming from CBS, NBC and ABC while maintaining a primary relationship with CBS. The arrangement gave the station a particularly broad schedule at a time when the Western Slope had limited local broadcast competition. In 1966, Howell sold the television interests to XYZ Television, Inc., although financial difficulties later led him to resume managerial control in 1970. Howell remained an important figure in the station's history until his death in 1978. A new era began when Withers Broadcasting acquired the television properties in 1985. Withers expanded the regional footprint by returning a Glenwood Springs station to the air as KREG-TV in 1987. It also developed a Fox service for Grand Junction: Fox programming began on a low-power channel in 1994 and later moved to full-power KFQX. The market became more competitive after KJCT launched in 1979 as an ABC affiliate. KREX-TV continued to carry CBS and selected NBC programming until KKCO established full-time NBC service in 1996. The station's ownership group sold the Durango outlet in the mid-1990s, while the Grand Junction operation retained its principal CBS role. Hoak Media acquired KREX-TV and related assets in 2003. Hoak invested in transmission and production infrastructure, including repairs to a transmitter damaged by lightning and the introduction of digital and high-definition broadcasts in 2006. On January 20, 2008, a fire destroyed the KREX-TV and KFQX studio complex. Investigators could not establish a definitive cause, although the heat source was believed to have been associated with a defective space heater. The fire interrupted local production and temporarily made CBS and Fox programming unavailable to some over-the-air and satellite viewers. The transmitter and digital equipment survived because they were housed separately in a reinforced former bomb shelter. Temporary facilities restored network transmission, and the news operation resumed from Western Colorado Community College in March 2008. The rebuilt station facility opened in August 2009. Gray Television announced plans to acquire Hoak Media in 2013. Because Gray already owned or operated other Grand Junction stations, KREX-TV and related properties were assigned to a separate buyer. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired KREX-TV, its satellites and related assets in a transaction completed in June 2014. KREG-TV was later sold to Marquee Broadcasting as part of ownership-cap compliance associated with Nexstar's acquisition of Media General. KREX-TV remains a Nexstar-owned CBS affiliate and operates alongside other stations serving the Grand Junction market.

1. 2014Nexstar ownership begins

   Nexstar completed its acquisition of KREX-TV on June 13.

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2. 2009Rebuilt studios open

   The station moved into rebuilt facilities on the original site in August.

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3. 2008Studio fire disrupts operations

   A fire destroyed the Hillcrest studio complex, forcing temporary production and news arrangements.

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4. 2006Digital and high-definition broadcasting begins

   KREX-TV and KFQX began digital and high-definition broadcasts on November 10.

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5. 2003Hoak Media acquisition

   Hoak Media purchased KREX-TV and its related television assets.

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6. 1996Full-time NBC competition begins

   KKCO launched as a full-time NBC affiliate, ending KREX-TV's shared CBS-NBC role.

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7. 1994Fox programming begins on a low-power outlet

   Withers began carrying Fox programming in Grand Junction on a low-power channel that preceded full-power KFQX.

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8. 1987KREG-TV returns to the air

   A Glenwood Springs operation returned as KREG-TV, extending the regional television group into the Roaring Fork Valley.

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9. 1985Withers Broadcasting acquisition

   Withers Broadcasting acquired the KREX television properties.

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10. 1979Local competition arrives

    KJCT launched in Grand Junction as an ABC affiliate, ending KREX-TV's long period as the market's only local television station.

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11. 1966Permanent microwave network link enters service

    A permanent microwave connection improved access to live NBC and ABC programming, especially sports.

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12. 1956KREX-TV call sign adopted

    The Grand Junction station changed from KFXJ-TV to KREX-TV as its regional satellite structure developed.

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13. 1954Regular television service begins

    KFXJ-TV began regular broadcasts on May 30, initially carrying NBC and DuMont programming.

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14. 1954CBS affiliation added

    CBS programming was added in December through the network's small-market Extended Market Plan.

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15. 1953FCC grants construction permit

    The FCC authorized Western Slope Broadcasting Company to construct a channel 5 television station in Grand Junction.

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A long-established local CBS broadcaster positioned as a regional news, weather and community-information source for Grand Junction and Colorado's Western Slope.

• KREX-TV CBS serviceTelevision broadcasting1954

  The station's core offering is an over-the-air CBS affiliate service for Grand Junction and surrounding Western Colorado communities. It combines CBS network programming with locally inserted advertising, station promotions, weather information and local news. Its regional signal is supported by translator facilities serving additional communities across the Western Slope.

• Local news and weatherBroadcast journalism1954

  KREX-TV produces local news, weather and community coverage focused on Grand Junction and the wider Western Slope. The news operation has historically competed with other Grand Junction stations and has used temporary production facilities during periods when its own studios were unavailable.

• Western Slope Now digital serviceDigital media

  Western Slope Now is the station's web and promotional identity for digital news, video, weather and regional information. It extends KREX-TV's local-news presence beyond scheduled television newscasts and provides an online destination for Western Colorado audiences.

• 2014Sale to NexstarM&A

  Gray Television's planned acquisition of Hoak Media created overlapping ownership issues in the Grand Junction market because Gray already owned or operated other local stations.

  What changed. KREX-TV and related assets were sold to Nexstar Broadcasting Group, with the transaction completed in June 2014.

  Aftermath. KREX-TV became part of Nexstar's national station portfolio, while KREG-TV was separately divested to address ownership limits associated with Nexstar's later corporate merger.

  Reported transaction value for KREX-TV and associated assets. (2013 announced transaction; completed 2014)

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• 2008Temporary relocation after studio fireStrategy

  The January 2008 fire destroyed the main studio complex and interrupted local production, although key transmission equipment survived.

  What changed. KREX-TV restored network transmission through temporary facilities, used partner organizations' space for news production and continued reporting through its website before rebuilding on the original site.

  Aftermath. News production resumed in March 2008 and the rebuilt studios opened in August 2009.

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• 2014Nexstar acquires KREX-TV

  Nexstar completed its acquisition of KREX-TV and associated assets from Hoak Media on June 13, 2014, in a transaction related to Gray Television's purchase of Hoak properties.

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• 2008KREX-TV studios destroyed by major fire

  A January fire destroyed the station's main studios. Broadcast equipment in a separate reinforced area survived, while news and production operations temporarily moved to facilities provided by other local media and educational organizations.

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• 1956Station adopts the KREX-TV identity

  The Grand Junction station changed its call sign from KFXJ-TV to KREX-TV as the related Montrose operation took over the former KFXJ-TV identity.

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• 1956KREX-TV develops regional satellite network

  The station expanded its Western Colorado reach through related operations in Montrose and later Durango, creating a regional service promoted as the XYZ network.

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• 1954KREX-TV begins regular broadcasting as KFXJ-TV

  The station launched regular television service in Grand Junction on May 30, 1954, initially carrying NBC and DuMont programming.

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1. KREX-TV
2. Western Slope Now