KPXE
Encyclopedia
KPXE-TV, virtual channel
50, is the Ion Television-affiliated television station for the Kansas City
television market. It is owned by ION Media Networks
(formerly Paxson Communications). The station runs religious shows in the mornings, infomercials in the late afternoons, and family entertainment on weekends.
The station broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 51, using its former analog assignment of channel 50 as its virtual digital channel via PSIP
. On cable, KPXE can be seen on channel 1481 in high definition only on Time Warner Cable
, and on channel 15 in standard definition and digital channel 705 in high definition on Surewest
.
affiliate KCTY (on channel 25) in the 1950s. KCIT filled its schedule mostly with programming that the network affiliates in the market (KCMO-TV
(channel 5, now KCTV), KMBC-TV
(channel 9), and WDAF-TV
(channel 4) turned down. However, in some cases, the network affiliates turned down so many shows that even KCIT couldn't air them all. It also managed to produce a few local programs. One of them was Torey and Friends, hosted by popular children's host Torey Southwick. Landing Southwick was a major coup for the station; he had been on KMBC-TV since 1960.
However, KCIT got competition at the start of the 1970-71 television season when KBMA-TV (now KSHB-TV
) began broadcasting on channel 41. KBMA had wealthier owners and a stronger signal than channel 50; KCIT lost its early appeal as a result. Also, Allied Broadcasting had somehow gotten into severe financial straits. By late June, the station had bumped its sign-on time to 2:30 p.m. By the end of the month, the station had finally decided to call it quits. For the last week in June and the first week of July, it was only on the air for two hours a day—the minimum to cover the license. The first version of Channel 50 pulled the plug for good on July 7, 1971. KBMA became the sole independent station in Kansas City for several years afterward.
The channel 50 license remained dormant for seven years; at the time, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) was not willing to delete UHF licenses. The station returned to the air on December 17, 1978 as KYFC-TV, a religious station named after its owner, Kansas City Youth For Christ. Its lineup remained largely religious through the 1980s, but a few "family-friendly" secular shows had been added to its schedule. The station ran newscasts from CNN Headline News
at least once a day for several years, replacing the commercials with other announcements.
Pledges to support the commercial-free station declined during the 1990s. Station managers also grew concerned about the cost of converting to digital operations, something they were reluctant to pass on to their financial supporters. In 1997, the station was sold to Paxson Communications, and began to air infomercials and Worship
(Contemporary Christian
) programming shortly thereafter, along with some religious shows. It also changed its call letters to KINB. In 1998, Pax TV programming was added to the lineup, and the station changed its callsign again, this time to KPXE. In 2001, KPXE entered into a joint sales agreement with NBC affiliate KSHB-TV
(channel 41), as part of an agreement between Paxson Communications and three E.W. Scripps-owned stations, allowing KSHB-TV's evening newscasts to be rebroadcast on KPXE on a half-hour delay; this arrangement ended after Pax TV rebranded as I: Independent Television in 2005.
Prior to January 31, 2010, KPXE offered The Worship Network as multiplexed channel 50.4.
. The station remained on its pre-transition channel 51. Through the use of PSIP
, KPXE-TV's virtual channel
is displayed as 50. KPXE digital channel 50-1 started broadcasting in High Definition
late in the spring of 2010.
Virtual channel
In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
50, is the Ion Television-affiliated television station for the Kansas City
Kansas City Metropolitan Area
The Kansas City Metropolitan Area is a fifteen-county metropolitan area that is anchored by Kansas City, Missouri and is bisected by the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. As of the 2010 Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 2,035,334. The metropolitan area is the...
television market. It is owned by ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks is an American television broadcasting company that owns and operates over 60 television stations in most major American markets. It is now a privately owned company.-History:...
(formerly Paxson Communications). The station runs religious shows in the mornings, infomercials in the late afternoons, and family entertainment on weekends.
The station broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 51, using its former analog assignment of channel 50 as its virtual digital channel via PSIP
Program and System Information Protocol
The Program and System Information Protocol is the protocol used in the ATSC digital television system for carrying metadata about each channel in the broadcast MPEG transport stream of a TV station and for publishing information about television programs so that viewers can select what to watch...
. On cable, KPXE can be seen on channel 1481 in high definition only on Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
, and on channel 15 in standard definition and digital channel 705 in high definition on Surewest
Surewest
SureWest is a Roseville, CA based telecommunications company, servicing the Greater Sacramento Valley and Kansas City region markets. SureWest was founded in 1914 by William Doyle as the Roseville Telephone Company - SureWest became the official name in 2003...
.
History
The station originally began on October 29, 1969 as KCIT-TV (probably standing for Kansas City Independent Television), owned by Allied Broadcasting. It was the first independent station in the Kansas City market, and the first new commercial station in the area since short-lived DuMont Television NetworkDuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
affiliate KCTY (on channel 25) in the 1950s. KCIT filled its schedule mostly with programming that the network affiliates in the market (KCMO-TV
KCTV
KCTV channel 5 is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area that is licensed to the Missouri side. Owned by the Meredith Corporation, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate KSMO-TV and the two share facilities on Shawnee Mission Parkway KCTV channel 5 is...
(channel 5, now KCTV), KMBC-TV
KMBC-TV
KMBC-TV virtual channel 9 is a television station affiliated with the ABC television network, located in Kansas City, Missouri. KMBC-TV is owned by Hearst Television and its studios are located on Winchester Ave. near Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri. The station's high guyed mast broadcast...
(channel 9), and WDAF-TV
WDAF-TV
WDAF-TV, virtual channel 4.1, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas designated market area. The station is owned by Local TV LLC, the media arm of private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners. Its studios and transmitter are located in the Signal Hill...
(channel 4) turned down. However, in some cases, the network affiliates turned down so many shows that even KCIT couldn't air them all. It also managed to produce a few local programs. One of them was Torey and Friends, hosted by popular children's host Torey Southwick. Landing Southwick was a major coup for the station; he had been on KMBC-TV since 1960.
However, KCIT got competition at the start of the 1970-71 television season when KBMA-TV (now KSHB-TV
KSHB-TV
KSHB-TV, virtual channel 41, is the NBC-affiliated television station serving the entire Kansas City metropolitan area; the station is commonly known by its branding NBC Action News. It is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, alongside independent station KMCI as the company's only existing duopoly...
) began broadcasting on channel 41. KBMA had wealthier owners and a stronger signal than channel 50; KCIT lost its early appeal as a result. Also, Allied Broadcasting had somehow gotten into severe financial straits. By late June, the station had bumped its sign-on time to 2:30 p.m. By the end of the month, the station had finally decided to call it quits. For the last week in June and the first week of July, it was only on the air for two hours a day—the minimum to cover the license. The first version of Channel 50 pulled the plug for good on July 7, 1971. KBMA became the sole independent station in Kansas City for several years afterward.
The channel 50 license remained dormant for seven years; at the time, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) was not willing to delete UHF licenses. The station returned to the air on December 17, 1978 as KYFC-TV, a religious station named after its owner, Kansas City Youth For Christ. Its lineup remained largely religious through the 1980s, but a few "family-friendly" secular shows had been added to its schedule. The station ran newscasts from CNN Headline News
CNN Headline News
HLN, formerly known as CNN Headline News and CNN2, is a cable television news channel based in the United States and a spinoff of the cable news television channel, CNN. Initially airing tightly-formatted 30-minute newscasts around the clock, since 2005, the channel has increasingly aired long-form...
at least once a day for several years, replacing the commercials with other announcements.
Pledges to support the commercial-free station declined during the 1990s. Station managers also grew concerned about the cost of converting to digital operations, something they were reluctant to pass on to their financial supporters. In 1997, the station was sold to Paxson Communications, and began to air infomercials and Worship
The Worship Network
The Worship Network, or Worship, is a broadcast television service that provides alternative Christian worship-themed programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week...
(Contemporary Christian
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
) programming shortly thereafter, along with some religious shows. It also changed its call letters to KINB. In 1998, Pax TV programming was added to the lineup, and the station changed its callsign again, this time to KPXE. In 2001, KPXE entered into a joint sales agreement with NBC affiliate KSHB-TV
KSHB-TV
KSHB-TV, virtual channel 41, is the NBC-affiliated television station serving the entire Kansas City metropolitan area; the station is commonly known by its branding NBC Action News. It is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, alongside independent station KMCI as the company's only existing duopoly...
(channel 41), as part of an agreement between Paxson Communications and three E.W. Scripps-owned stations, allowing KSHB-TV's evening newscasts to be rebroadcast on KPXE on a half-hour delay; this arrangement ended after Pax TV rebranded as I: Independent Television in 2005.
KPXE-DT
KPXE's digital signal is broadcast on UHF channel 51.| Virtual channel |
Physical channel |
Video | Aspect Aspect ratio The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,... |
Name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50.1 | 51.1 | 720p 720p 720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan... |
16:9 16:9 16:9 is an aspect ratio with a width of 16 units and height of 9. Since 2009, it has become the most common aspect ratio for sold televisions and computer monitors and is also the international standard format of HDTV, Full HD, non-HD digital television and analog widescreen television ... |
KPXE-DT | Main KPXE / Ion Television programming |
| 50.2 | 51.2 | 480i 480i 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode, namely the US NTSC television system or digital television systems with the same characteristics. The i, which is sometimes uppercase, stands for interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution of 480 lines containing picture information; while NTSC... |
4:3 | qubo Qubo Qubo is a multi-platform children's television specialty channel endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media... |
Children's programming |
| 50.3 | 51.3 | 480i 480i 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode, namely the US NTSC television system or digital television systems with the same characteristics. The i, which is sometimes uppercase, stands for interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution of 480 lines containing picture information; while NTSC... |
4:3 | ION Life ION Life ION Life is a digital television network carried by ION Television affiliates, airing lifestyle programming during the day, and movies in the evening. It was launched February 19, 2007... |
Lifestyle and entertainment programming |
Prior to January 31, 2010, KPXE offered The Worship Network as multiplexed channel 50.4.
Post-analog shutdown
KPXE-TV ended analog operations on June 12, 2009, as part of the DTV transition in the United StatesDTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
. The station remained on its pre-transition channel 51. Through the use of PSIP
Program and System Information Protocol
The Program and System Information Protocol is the protocol used in the ATSC digital television system for carrying metadata about each channel in the broadcast MPEG transport stream of a TV station and for publishing information about television programs so that viewers can select what to watch...
, KPXE-TV's virtual channel
Virtual channel
In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
is displayed as 50. KPXE digital channel 50-1 started broadcasting in High Definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
late in the spring of 2010.