History of KTBS-TV in Timeline

KTBS-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station located in Shreveport, Louisiana. Owned by KTBS, LLC, it operates alongside CW affiliate KPXJ. The stations share studios in Shreveport, while KTBS-TV's transmitter is in northern Caddo Parish. Notably, KTBS-TV is one of the few American television stations with locally based ownership.

1929: KTBS Radio Founded

In 1929, the Wray-owned radio station on 710 AM, KTBS, was founded, standing for "Tri-State Broadcasting System."

June 27, 1952: KTBS Inc. Files Initial Application

On June 27, 1952, Shreveport-based KTBS Inc. filed the initial application for a construction permit to build and operate a new television station on VHF channel 3.

August 16, 1953: KCMC-TV Debuts

On August 16, 1953, KCMC-TV (channel 6, now KTAL-TV) debuted in Texarkana, Texas.

December 4, 1953: FCC Approves KTBS Inc.'s Request

On December 4, 1953, the FCC Broadcast Bureau reversed a hearing examiner's decision and approved KTBS Inc.'s request to subpoena International Broadcasting/KWKH for a "merger" agreement between the Times and the Journal.

1953: KTBS-FM Signs On

In 1953, KTBS FM on 96.5 signed on as a sister station to KTBS radio.

January 1, 1954: KSLA Signs On

On January 1, 1954, Shreveport-based KSLA (channel 12) signed on the air.

June 16, 1954: Initial Decision Favors KTBS Inc.

On June 16, 1954, FCC Hearing Examiner Basil Cooper issued an initial decision looking to grant the construction permit application for channel 3 to KTBS Inc.

February 16, 1955: KTBS Inc. Granted Exclusive Rights

On February 16, 1955, the FCC Broadcast Bureau granted exclusive rights to the permit to Shreveport Television Company, formally denying KRMD and Southland Television's respective bids.

May 1955: Petition Denied

In May 1955, the FCC denied KWKH's petition to reconsider the grant of the channel 3 permit to KTBS Inc.

September 3, 1955: KTBS-TV Signs On

On September 3, 1955, KTBS-TV signed on the air as the third television station in the Shreveport–Texarkana market, primarily affiliated with NBC and secondarily with ABC.

March 1956: Appeal Denied

In March 1956, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana denied an appeal by International Broadcasting/KWKH seeking to overturn the grant.

1957: WVUE-TV Becomes Full-Time ABC Affiliate

In 1957, WVUE-TV (now a Fox affiliate) in New Orleans became a full-time ABC station.

1960: KCMC Relocates Transmitter

In 1960, Camden News Publishing Co. received permission to move KCMC's transmitter to consolidate Shreveport and Texarkana into a single television market.

March 1961: NBC Reaches Agreement with KCMC-TV

In March 1961, NBC reached an agreement with KCMC-TV to become the network's primary affiliate for the enlarged Shreveport–Texarkana market.

September 3, 1961: KTAL Becomes Exclusive NBC Affiliate, KTBS Exclusive ABC Affiliate

On September 3, 1961, KTAL became the exclusive NBC affiliate for the Shreveport–Texarkana market; KTBS-TV concurrently became the market's exclusive ABC affiliate.

September 1962: KTBS contract with NBC was to expire

KTBS's contract with NBC was not scheduled to expire until September 1962.

June 1983: The First Word Begins Airing on KTBS

In June 1983, The First Word, broadcasts of the morning worship services at First Baptist Church of Bossier City, began airing on KTBS channel 3.

May 1987: KTBS Launches Stereo Broadcasting

In May 1987, KTBS became the first of the local "Big Three" affiliates in Shreveport and the second television station in the market to launch stereo broadcasting.

1993: KTBS Aired Louisiana Lottery Drawings

In 1993, KTBS aired the Louisiana Lottery's televised drawings from the lottery's inception.

April 1994: KTBS-TV became one of two default ABC affiliates for the Monroe–El Dorado market

In April 1994, KTBS-TV became one of two default ABC affiliates (alongside KLAX-TV in Alexandria) for the Monroe–El Dorado market after that market's ABC affiliate, KARD-TV, became a Fox affiliate.

December 1998: The Monroe–El Dorado market would not receive an ABC affiliate of its own again until KAQY signed on the air

In December 1998, The Monroe–El Dorado market would not receive an ABC affiliate of its own again until KAQY signed on the air.

January 1999: KTBS Assumes Responsibilities for KPXJ

In January 1999, KTBS, LLC assumed partial operational responsibilities for Pax TV owned-and-operated station KPXJ under a joint sales agreement with Paxson Communications.

September 2000: KPXJ airs tape delayed rebroadcasts of KTBS-TV newscasts

In September 2000, KPXJ began airing tape delayed rebroadcasts of KTBS-TV's 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts Monday through Fridays at 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. in conjunction with the joint sales agreement that Paxson had signed with KTBS-TV.

June 17, 2003: Paxson Announces Sale of KPXJ to KTBS

On June 17, 2003, Paxson announced it would sell KPXJ to KTBS, LLC for $10 million, but the FCC rejected the application.

September 1, 2003: KPXJ discontinues rebroadcasts of KTBS-TV newscasts and KTBS begins producing a nightly newscast for KPXJ

On September 1, 2003, KPXJ discontinued rebroadcasts of KTBS-TV newscasts, coinciding with KPXJ's assumption of the UPN affiliation. On the same date, KTBS began producing a nightly, half-hour prime time newscast at 9 p.m. for channel 21.

September 12, 2005: KTBS began producing a half-hour weekday 7 a.m. newscast for KPXJ

On September 12, 2005, KTBS began producing a half-hour weekday 7 a.m. newscast for KPXJ, predating the debut of a two-hour-long 7 a.m. newscast on Fox affiliate KMSS-TV (channel 33) by two years.

May 2008: KTBS Newscasts Placed Number One

During the May 2008 ratings period, KTBS's newscasts placed number one in several time periods.

October 15, 2008: KTBS begins broadcasting newscasts in 16:9 widescreen standard definition

On October 15, 2008, KTBS began broadcasting its newscasts in 16:9 widescreen standard definition.

December 30, 2008: KTBS Files to Purchase KPXJ

On December 30, 2008, KTBS, LLC filed an application with the FCC to purchase KPXJ from Minden Television for $10.3 million, aiming to create the market's first legal television duopoly.

April 2009: KTAL Acquires Lottery Drawing Rights

In April 2009, KTAL acquired the rights to the Louisiana Lottery's televised drawings from KTBS.

June 12, 2009: KTBS-TV discontinued regular programming on its analog signal

On June 12, 2009, KTBS-TV discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over VHF channel 3, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 28, using virtual channel 3.

August 3, 2009: KTBS expands the nightly prime time newscast

On August 3, 2009, KTBS expanded its nightly, half-hour prime time newscast at 9 p.m. for channel 21 to a full hour.

June 28, 2010: KTBS expands its 6 p.m. newscast to one hour

On June 28, 2010, KTBS expanded its 6 p.m. newscast to one hour, becoming the first station in the market to carry an hour-long 6 p.m. newscast.

July 2010: KTBS expands the weekend edition of its 10 p.m. newscast to one hour

In July 2010, KTBS expanded the weekend edition of its 10 p.m. newscast to one hour.

August 30, 2010: KTBS expands its weekday morning newscasts to 2+1⁄2 hours

On August 30, 2010, KTBS expanded its weekday morning newscasts to 2+1⁄2 hours, by moving its start time to 4:30 a.m.

October 14, 2010: KTBS begins broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition

On October 14, 2010, KTBS became the first television station in the Shreveport–Texarkana market to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition, starting with the station's 5 p.m. newscast.

February 2012: KTBS expands the weekday newscast for KPXJ

In February 2012, the weekday 7 a.m. newscast for KPXJ was expanded to one hour.

December 2012: KTBS ensnared over the controversial firing of meteorologist Rhonda Lee

In December 2012, KTBS became ensnared over the controversial firing of meteorologist Rhonda Lee. The station claims that she was fired for violating the station's policy on responding to Facebook comments.

2012: KTBS Re-acquires Lottery Rights

In 2012, KTBS re-acquired the rights to the Louisiana Lottery's televised drawings, and now air on sister station KPXJ.

September 1, 2013: KTBS Aired MDA Show of Strength

On September 1, 2013, KTBS aired the MDA Show of Strength as part of the ABC network schedule.

September 2013: KTBS shifts the weekday newscast for KPXJ

In September 2013, the one hour weekday newscast for KPXJ was shifted to 9 a.m., placing it in direct competition with a half-hour newscast in that slot on KSLA.

August 31, 2014: KTBS Aired Final MDA Show of Strength

On August 31, 2014, KTBS aired the last telecast of the MDA Show of Strength as part of the ABC network schedule.

2014: KAQY goes dark in 2014

In 2014, KAQY went dark and returned to the air the next year as a MeTV station.

2015: MDA Discontinues Telethon

In 2015, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) discontinued the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, which KTBS had aired for several decades.

August 22, 2016: KTBS began producing an hour-long weekday afternoon newscast at 4 p.m. for KPXJ

On August 22, 2016, KTBS began producing an hour-long weekday afternoon newscast at 4 p.m. for KPXJ (titled KTBS 3 News at 4:00 on KPXJ 21), making it the first television station in the market to offer a local newscast to air in that timeslot.

April 2018: KTBS Broadcasts Complete ABC Schedule

In April 2018, KTBS-TV began broadcasting the complete ABC network schedule, reducing its Sunday 5 p.m. newscast to accommodate ABC World News Tonight.