KXLF-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = KXLF-TV / KBZK
city =
station_
station_slogan = Fair. Accurate. To the point.
station_branding = Montana's News Station
analog =
KXLF: 4 (VHF)
KBZK: 7 (VHF)
digital =
KXLF: 5 (VHF)
KBZK: 13 (VHF)
affiliations = CBS/MTN
The CW (DT2)
network =
founded =
airdate = KXLF: August 14, 1953
KBZK: September 1, 1987
location = KXLF: Butte, Montana
KBZK: Bozeman, Montana
callsign_meaning = KXLF: Call letters once part of "XL" radio network
KBZK: BoZeman
former_callsigns = KXLF: none
KBZK:
KCTZ (1987-2000)
former_channel_numbers = KXLF: 6 (1953-1958)
KBZK: none
owner = Evening Post Publishing Company
licensee = KXLF: KXLF Communications, Inc.)
(KBZK: KCTZ Communications, Inc.
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = KXLF:
NBC, DuMont (1950s)
KBZK:
Fox (until 2000)
effective_radiated_power = KXLF:
100 kW (analog)
8 kW (digital)
KBZK:
43.7 kW (analog)
18.9 kW (digital)
HAAT = KXLF:
576 m (both)
KBZK:
249 m (analog)
271 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = KXLF: 35959
KBZK: 33756
coordinates = KXLF:
coord|46|0|27|N|112|26|33|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
KBZK:
coord|45|40|22.4|N|110|52|2.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=KBZK
homepage = [http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/ www.montanasnewsstation.com]

KXLF-TV is a television station in Butte, Montana, broadcasting locally on analog VHF channel 4 as a CBS affiliate and broadcasting a digital signal on channel 4-1 (VHF Ch. 5). Various programs from CBS are broadcast in high definition at 1080i. Programming from The CW is broadcast on digital channel 4-2 (VHF Ch. 5) in standard definition.

KXLF hit the airwaves in 1922 as KGIR, Butte's first radio station, and evolved into Montana's first commercial television station in 1953. Both were started by industry pioneer Ed Craney, who also owned KXLJ (now KXLH) in Helena. In 1968, KXLF, KOOK (now KTVQ in Billings), and KRTV in Great Falls formed the Montana Television Network.

KXLF's first home was the second floor of a Pay N Save food and drug store in downtown Butte. However, the studio soon suffered heavy damages because of a burglary to the grocery store downstairs. The burglars cut a hole in the floor of the studio and used the studio camera cable to climb down and gain access to the grocery store. A few months later, the cable was replaced and the studio was up and running for good.

In the early years of KXLF, there was no network affiliation. Everything was done live in the studio, including shows and commercials. Some of Butte's local shows in the 1950s were "The Oldtimer," featuring John Diz, "This Afternoon with You," hosted by Darian Carkeet, "What's New?" hosted by Ed Craney and "KXLF the Clown," featuring Wes Haugen, and "Shadow Stumpers" where viewers called in the identify what object's shadow was on TV.

The year 1957 was a time of change for KXLF. A complicated operation saw a transmitter placed on top of a mountain east of Butte, subsequently dubbed XL Heights. The transmitter tower was directly positioned on the Continental Divide, thereby giving the station the moniker "The Continental Divide Station." The new transmitter location made an off-air signal available for KXLJ in Helena creating the first TV "network" in Montana. That same year, KXLF found a permanent home in an old train depot on Montana Street. The depot was constructed in 1916 and has a 95-foot clock tower, which is where the live webcam is mounted, providing internet users with a view of Butte.

In the early 1960s, Joe Sample, President of Garryowen Corporation purchased KXLF. Sample soon expanded his Montana network by building a new satellite station in Missoula called KPAX. KXLF later was sold to the SJL Company, who in turn sold it to Evening Post Publishing Company in 1986.

In the 1970s, the depot became on of Butte's first major restoration projects. It continues to serve as an example of historic restoration.

In the late 1980s, KXLF began doing local broadcasts, which replaced the earlier MTN statewide newscasts based in Great Falls. The Butte newscasts at 5:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. have always earned top ratings. In addition to local news, KXLF produces a noon news segment, and a half hour weekly news show called "Focus".

KXLF is the technical operations center for all of Evening Post Publishing Co. properties in Montana. The station operates it's programming and commercials with an automated playout system and video servers.

For many years, KXLF operated KXLH-LP in Helena. However, in late 2007, KXLH was transferred to sister station KRTV in Great Falls.

Montana's News Station can also be seen in Bozeman, Montana, on KBZK channel 7. In 2007, KBZK launched a separate newscast from their studios in Bozeman, specifically for the Bozeman market.

KBZK formerly served as the area's Fox affiliate, broadcasting under the call letters "KCTZ".

News openings

Repeaters

* Boulder — K08KT
* Bozeman — K26DE
* Condon — K07GM
* Dell — K11IN
* Emigrant — K10AH
* Gallatin River — K07LE
* Grasshopper — K07OC
* Livingston — K55CF
* Philipsburg — K07KX
* Townsend — K13KH
* White Sulphur Springs — K09MH

Notable staff

*Stephanie Abrams worked as an anchor and reporter here.
*Cara Capuano, sports reportner for FSN, worked as the sports director here.
*Stella Inger, Emmy nominated reporter, worked here.

External links

* [http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/ Montana's News Station official site]
* [http://yourcwtv.com/partners/butte/ Montana CW]
*TVQ|KXLF
*TVQ|KBZK
*TVQ|K07GM
*TVQ|K07KX
*TVQ|K07LE
*TVQ|K07OC
*TVQ|K08KT
*TVQ|K09MH
*TVQ|K10AH
*TVQ|K11IN
*TVQ|K13KH
*TVQ|K26DE
*TVQ|K55CF
*BIA|KXLF|TV|TV
*BIA|KBZK|TV|TV