KRTV

KRTV is a television station licensed to Great Falls, Montana, and primarily serving north-central and northern parts of the state. The station broadcasts as a CBS affiliate and is part of the Montana Television Network, a statewide group of CBS-affiliated stations. KRTV is owned by The E. W. Scripps Company, which operates it alongside KTGF-LD, the local NBC affiliate. The station’s main studios, transmitter facilities, and much of its technical infrastructure are located on Old Havre Highway in Black Eagle, just outside Great Falls. KRTV began broadcasting on June 27, 1958, becoming the second television station to sign on in Great Falls. Its launch was disrupted almost immediately by a severe windstorm that damaged the station’s antenna. After a period off the air while the equipment was repaired, KRTV resumed transmission in October 1958. In its first years, the station developed from an independent broadcaster into a network outlet. It obtained a full-time NBC affiliation in 1960 and later became a primary CBS and NBC affiliate after a 1968 affiliation realignment in the Great Falls market. KRTV also played an early role in Montana television technology: its facilities were expanded in the early 1960s to support color network broadcasts, and local color production began in 1967. A major turning point came when Joe Sample acquired KRTV in 1969. Sample already owned stations in Billings and Butte, and the transaction helped create the Montana Television Network after the dissolution of the earlier Skyline Network. KRTV became an important technical and editorial hub for MTN. From 1971 to 1984, the station hosted production of statewide MTN newscasts, combining regional reporting with local inserts from participating stations. A larger facility completed in 1973 and a transmitter-power increase strengthened its technical reach. The network’s news-production strategy changed in the early 1980s when statewide production moved from Great Falls to Billings and local segments were given greater prominence. The changes initially weakened KRTV’s standing in the Great Falls news market, particularly after several prominent news staff members departed. KRTV later recovered. Beginning in 1987, it resumed producing full-length local newscasts, and by the end of the decade it had rebuilt a strong lead over its principal local competitor. The station has generally remained a leading source of local news in the Great Falls market since the 1990s. KRTV became the operator of KXLH-LD in Helena in 2005. KXLH functions as a low-power semi-satellite, carrying KRTV and MTN programming while inserting Helena-specific advertising and local news. Since 2010, KXLH has also carried Helena-focused newscasts produced from Great Falls with local reporters and separate anchor presentation. In 2013, KRTV became nationally known within the broadcasting industry after an unauthorized person accessed its Emergency Alert System equipment and transmitted a false warning claiming that dead bodies were rising and attacking the living. Station personnel quickly notified viewers that the message was fraudulent. The event prompted renewed attention from the Federal Communications Commission to broadcaster cybersecurity, including firewall protection and replacement of default equipment passwords. Scripps acquired KRTV and the other Montana Television Network stations from Cordillera Communications in 2019. In the 2020s, Scripps pursued a technical migration of the full-power MTN stations from the VHF band to UHF to improve reception. The FCC approved KRTV’s requested channel change in 2022, and the station completed the transition in December 2025, while receiving temporary authorization in January 2026 to keep its former VHF facility active while resolving a feed issue affecting a Stanford translator and downstream translators.

KRTV’s origins date to the expansion of television service in Great Falls during the 1950s. The Federal Communications Commission received several applications for a new Great Falls station after opening additional television opportunities in 1952, but the first channel 3 proposals were abandoned or withdrawn. The Cascade Broadcasting Company, controlled by Robert and Francis Laird of California, filed a new application in 1956 and received a construction permit in 1957. Dan Snyder was appointed manager, and facilities were built on a hill overlooking Black Eagle. KRTV signed on June 27, 1958. The launch was immediately affected by a powerful storm that damaged the station’s antenna. Although the station managed to complete some initial telecasting, the antenna had to be returned to its manufacturer, leaving KRTV off the air for several months. During this interruption, the Lairds sold the station to Snyder & Associates. KRTV resumed service on October 5, 1958. The station’s early business model and network role developed rapidly. Paul Crain, the owner of Great Falls radio station KUDI, acquired a minority interest in 1960. That year KRTV secured a full-time NBC affiliation, giving viewers access to live NBC programming that had previously lacked a full-time local outlet. A second microwave route was built to deliver network programming from Salt Lake City. In 1962, KRTV expanded its building and installed a color-capable transmitter. Its effective radiated power rose from 600 watts to 30,000 watts, enabling network programs to be broadcast in color. Local color production began in 1967, making KRTV one of Montana’s early full-color television operations. The Great Falls affiliation landscape changed in 1968 when KFBB-TV shifted its primary network relationship toward ABC. KRTV consequently became the market’s principal CBS and NBC outlet. A more consequential corporate change followed in 1969, when Garryowen Cascade TV, owned by Joe Sample, agreed to acquire KRTV. The FCC approved the transaction by a narrow vote despite concerns about concentration of control over Montana television. Sample already controlled stations in Billings and Butte, and the acquisition helped produce a new statewide network. The Skyline Network, which had connected several stations to network programming and advertising services, dissolved after ownership and affiliation changes. On September 30, 1969, its Montana outlets formed the Montana Television Network. KRTV became an important operational center because its Great Falls facilities were well positioned to receive and distribute feeds from across the state. Beginning in 1971, the station hosted production of MTN News, a hybrid statewide newscast that combined regional material with locally produced segments. A larger studio was completed in 1973, and KRTV’s effective radiated power was increased to 100,000 watts, the maximum permitted for a channel 3 station. The MTN production model was revised in the early 1980s. Joe Sample moved the statewide news operation from Great Falls to Billings, believing that viewers in Montana’s largest city preferred highly local coverage. The program’s local segments were also moved earlier in the broadcast. These changes improved the service’s position in Billings but weakened KRTV in Great Falls. The departure of principal anchor Ed Coghlan and other news staff further damaged the station’s ratings. KRTV later rebuilt its local operation. From 1987 onward, it increasingly originated full-length newscasts from Great Falls, and by the end of the decade it had regained a substantial lead over KFBB-TV. Don Bradley, a founding employee who returned to manage the station from 1988 to 1994, was associated with this recovery. MTN stations changed ownership again in 1986 when Evening Post Industries acquired the group, excluding KTVQ in Billings, which remained under George Lilly for several more years. KRTV and the wider MTN operation continued to develop their local and statewide news roles. In 1984, the network moved to an exclusive CBS affiliation, ending KRTV’s role as a primary NBC outlet. KRTV and KFBB-TV continued to carry a limited amount of NBC programming until KTGF began broadcasting in 1986. KRTV expanded its regional footprint in 2005 by taking over operations of KXLH-LD in Helena. The station had previously rebroadcast KXLF-TV from Butte. KXLH retained a semi-satellite relationship with KRTV, using the Great Falls operation for master control and other internal functions while inserting Helena-specific advertising. Beginning in 2010, KXLH carried locally oriented Helena newscasts produced from Great Falls with reporters assigned to the Helena area. On February 11, 2013, an intruder gained access to KRTV’s Emergency Alert System equipment and transmitted a fabricated warning about corpses rising from graves and attacking people. Station employees quickly advised viewers that the alert was false. The incident, along with similar intrusions at other stations, exposed weaknesses in broadcasters’ EAS security practices. The FCC subsequently advised stations to protect EAS equipment behind firewalls and replace default passwords. The E. W. Scripps Company acquired most of Cordillera Communications’ television stations in 2019, including KRTV and the MTN group. Under Scripps ownership, KRTV pursued a transmission modernization project. In 2021, the company proposed moving the full-power MTN stations from VHF to UHF to improve reception. The FCC approved KRTV’s request in November 2022. The physical channel transition was completed in December 2025. Because the new UHF signal did not reliably reach a translator in Stanford, Montana, the FCC authorized KRTV in January 2026 to keep the former VHF transmitter active temporarily while the feed was restored. KRTV remains an active CBS affiliate and a major local-news provider in the Great Falls market.

1. 2025UHF transition completed

   KRTV completed its move from its former VHF transmission arrangement to UHF.

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2. 2022FCC approves UHF transition

   The FCC approved KRTV’s request to change its physical transmission channel to UHF.

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3. 2019Scripps acquisition

   The E. W. Scripps Company acquired KRTV and the other Montana Television Network stations from Cordillera Communications.

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4. 2013Emergency Alert System intrusion

   A false zombie-related emergency message was transmitted after unauthorized access to KRTV’s alert equipment.

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5. 2010Helena-focused newscasts launch

   KXLH began airing Helena-area newscasts produced through KRTV’s Great Falls operation.

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6. 2005KXLH operations transferred to KRTV

   KRTV took over operational responsibility for the Helena semi-satellite KXLH-LD.

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7. 1984MTN adopts exclusive CBS affiliation

   The MTN stations, including KRTV, ended their primary NBC affiliation and aligned exclusively with CBS.

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8. 1971KRTV becomes MTN news hub

   KRTV began hosting production of the Montana Television Network’s statewide news operation.

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9. 1969Montana Television Network established

   Following Joe Sample’s acquisition, KRTV joined the stations that formed the Montana Television Network.

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10. 1967Local color production begins

    KRTV introduced local color production, becoming Montana’s first station described as fully color-capable in local operations.

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11. 1960Full-time NBC affiliation

    KRTV secured a full-time NBC affiliation and began carrying live network programming.

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12. 1958KRTV signs on

    KRTV began broadcasting on June 27, becoming the second television station in Great Falls.

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13. 1957Construction permit granted

    The Cascade Broadcasting Company received authorization to build a channel 3 television station in Great Falls.

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A locally focused CBS television station and regional news hub for Great Falls and north-central Montana, supported by the statewide Montana Television Network.

• KRTV Local NewsLocal television news

  KRTV’s locally produced news programming covers Great Falls and surrounding north-central Montana communities. The station’s local-news operation has been central to its market identity, particularly since it resumed originating full-length newscasts in the late 1980s. Coverage typically includes regional reporting, weather, sports, public affairs, and locally relevant breaking news.

• CBS Network ProgrammingBroadcast television1968

  KRTV carries CBS network programming for the Great Falls market. The station became the primary CBS outlet during Montana’s late-1960s affiliation changes and joined the MTN stations in an exclusive CBS alignment in 1984.

• Montana Television NetworkStatewide television network1969

  MTN is a statewide network of Montana CBS-affiliated stations. KRTV historically served as an important production and distribution hub, including for statewide news programming. The network enables regional coverage and shared programming while preserving local inserts and market-specific operations.

• KXLH-LDLow-power semi-satellite station2005

  KXLH-LD serves Helena as a low-power semi-satellite of KRTV. It carries the KRTV and MTN programming stream while inserting Helena-specific commercials and local content. KRTV handles master control and selected internal functions, and produces Helena-area newscasts with local reporters.

• 2021Pursue a VHF-to-UHF transmission migrationStrategy

  Scripps sought to improve reception for the full-power MTN stations by moving their physical transmission assignments to UHF.

  What changed. Scripps filed an FCC request for KRTV to move to a UHF channel, later receiving approval in 2022.

  Aftermath. The transition was completed in December 2025, with temporary VHF operation authorized afterward to address a translator-feed problem.

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• 2019Transfer ownership to ScrippsM&A

  Cordillera Communications sold most of its television stations in a transaction involving KRTV and the Montana Television Network.

  What changed. The E. W. Scripps Company acquired KRTV and the other MTN stations.

  Aftermath. KRTV became part of Scripps’ national television-station portfolio while retaining its CBS and MTN roles in Montana.

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• 2005Assume operational control of KXLH-LDStrategy

  The Helena translator had historically carried programming from KXLF-TV in Butte.

  What changed. KRTV took over KXLH-LD operations and used its Great Falls facilities for master control and related internal functions.

  Aftermath. KXLH became more closely integrated with KRTV and later added Helena-focused newscasts.

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• 1984Move MTN to exclusive CBS affiliationStrategy

  Changes in the Great Falls television market and the arrival of a new third station altered the value of maintaining a dual CBS-NBC arrangement.

  What changed. The MTN stations ended their primary NBC affiliation and aligned exclusively with CBS, while retaining limited NBC programming until KTGF began broadcasting.

  Aftermath. KRTV remained the principal CBS station in Great Falls and continued developing its local-news identity.

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• 1969Join the Montana Television NetworkM&A

  Joe Sample’s purchase of KRTV occurred during the breakdown of the Skyline Network and a broader realignment of Montana television ownership and affiliations.

  What changed. KRTV joined stations in Billings and Butte in creating the Montana Television Network, which provided shared programming, news production, and statewide distribution.

  Aftermath. KRTV became a major MTN technical and news-production center, hosting statewide news production from 1971 to 1984.

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• 2013Emergency Alert System intrusionControversy

  An unauthorized user accessed KRTV’s Emergency Alert System encoder and broadcast a fabricated warning claiming that dead bodies were rising and attacking the living. KRTV quickly informed viewers that the message was false. The event highlighted inadequate security controls around broadcast alert equipment and was followed by FCC guidance on firewalls and password management.

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• 2025KRTV completes its UHF transmission transition

  KRTV completed its approved move to a UHF transmission assignment. The former VHF facility was later allowed to remain temporarily active while a translator-feed issue was addressed.

  Other
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• 2022FCC approves KRTV channel migration

  The FCC approved KRTV’s request to move its physical transmission assignment from the VHF band to UHF to improve reception.

  Regulation
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• 2019Scripps acquires KRTV and the Montana Television Network

  The E. W. Scripps Company acquired KRTV and the other Montana Television Network stations from Cordillera Communications.

  M&A
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• 2005KRTV operates KXLH-LD in Helena

  KRTV assumed operational responsibility for the Helena low-power semi-satellite KXLH-LD.

  Other
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• 1969KRTV becomes part of the Montana Television Network

  Joe Sample’s acquisition of KRTV helped establish the Montana Television Network after the earlier Skyline Network was dissolved.

  M&A
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• 1960KRTV secures a full-time NBC affiliation

  KRTV became a full-time NBC affiliate, providing the Great Falls area with a live local outlet for NBC programming.

  Other
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• 1958KRTV begins broadcasting in Great Falls

  KRTV signed on as Great Falls’ second television station. A windstorm damaged its antenna on launch night, temporarily interrupting service before the station returned to the air later that year.

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1. KRTV
2. Official KRTV website