KFWT-TV

On January 6, 1966, the Trinity Broadcasting Company, owners of KJIM-AM-FM in Fort Worth, was granted a construction permit for a new television station on channel 40 in Fort Worth.[2] Trinity was left alone in its bid for the channel after Warner Bros. withdrew applications for UHF television stations in Chicago, Fort Worth and Houston, afraid that its antitrust record would result in lengthy and costly comparative hearings.[3] Channel 20 had originally been assigned, but in 1965, the Federal Communications Commission undertook a sweeping overhaul of the UHF table of allocations nationwide, using a UNIVAC III computer to determine new channel allocations. Trinity was upset that the lower channel 20 had been replaced with channel 40, questioning if the commission had "abdicated" its responsibilities to the computer.[4]

In 1966, channel 40 was changed to 21; meanwhile, Trinity sold off KJIM and changed the FM station's call letters to KFWT,[5] which were also adopted by the television station. KFWT-TV began broadcasting September 14, 1967,[6] making it the first of three new UHF television stations in six months in the Metroplex (alongside two Dallas-based outlets, KMEC-TV and KDTV). The station signed on using facilities leased from WBAP-TV in the Meadowbrook area of Fort Worth.[7] At the outset, the station presented filmed and syndicated fare in color, though local shows were in black-and-white pending the delivery and installation of color studio equipment.[7]

Channel 21, an independent, emphasized live and local programming. Its flagship block of variety music shows included the hour-long "Southwest Showcase" and a country music half-hour hosted by Jim "Shootin'" Newton; it was followed by a rock program, "The Marky Baby Show" fronted by KFJZ (1270 AM) DJ Mark Stevens.[7] A primetime movie and 10:00 p.m. local newscast also aired on weeknights; on the weekends, KFWT-TV aired highlights of Fort Worth Texans football and movies and syndicated shows.[7]

By August 1969, however, financial difficulties had forced the station to go silent; the 1970–71 Television Factbook lists its final day of operation as September 3, 1969.[1] At that time, Trinity owner W. C. Windsor, Jr., was reported to be in talks with a group of investors on the West Coast, including entertainer Danny Thomas, to buy KFWT-TV.[8] The television station never sold, and Trinity Broadcasting Company filed for bankruptcy in March 1970.[9] That October, a debt payment plan was agreed under which KFWT-FM was sold for $315,000; by that time, Trinity had $1.8 million in liabilities compared to $670,000 in assets. Ownership of more than $340,000 in television station equipment purchased from RCA reverted to that company.[10]

Activity around the channel 21 allocation would not resume until 1976, when two groups—both named Channel 21, Inc.—filed to build new TV stations in Fort Worth.[11] The resulting station, KTXA, signed on January 4, 1981.[12]