Montana Television Network
Encyclopedia
The Montana Television Network is a network of CBS
affiliates in Montana
, all but one owned by the Evening Post Publishing Company
.
MTN was founded by Montana broadcasting pioneer Joseph S. "Joe" Sample. He signed on KOOK-TV (now KTVQ
) in Billings, Montana's second television station, in 1953. He bought KXLF-TV
in Butte
in 1955 (KXLF had signed on three months before KOOK in 1953). KFBB-TV
in Great Falls
and KMSO-TV in Missoula (now KECI-TV
) began sharing programs with KOOK and KXLF in 1958; the four stations formed the Skyline Network.
KMSO-TV left the network in 1964, and the network was without a Missoula outlet until Sample opened KPAX-TV
as a semi-satellite of KXLF in 1970. In 1966, KFBB left the network, and Sample bought Great Falls' other station, KRTV
. The network became known as the Montana Television Network in the early 1970s.
Sample sold the stations to SJL Broadcasting in 1984, who in turn sold them to Evening Post in 1994. Evening Post runs the stations as part of its Cordillera Communications subsidiary. Combined, the stations and their numerous translators reach 89% of Montana, as well as portions of Wyoming
.
Four of the full-powered MTN stations, KTVQ, KXLF, KRTV, and KPAX, also carry programming from The CW on their digital subchannels.
The MTN stations identify as separate stations in their own right, but use a two-way microwave system to share news stories. They also brand as "Montana's News Station." All of the stations (excluding KXGN) air Jeopardy!
at 6 & Wheel of Fortune at 6:30.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliates in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, all but one owned by the Evening Post Publishing Company
Evening Post Publishing Company
The Evening Post Publishing Company is a privately held media company, based inCharleston, South Carolina, United States.In addition to The Post and Courier of Charleston, the South's oldest daily newspaper, the company owns six other newspapers in South Carolina, including the Aiken Standard...
.
MTN was founded by Montana broadcasting pioneer Joseph S. "Joe" Sample. He signed on KOOK-TV (now KTVQ
KTVQ
KTVQ is the CBS TV affiliate in Billings, Montana, USA. It broadcasts on channel 2 and is owned by the Evening Post Publishing Company...
) in Billings, Montana's second television station, in 1953. He bought KXLF-TV
KXLF-TV
KXLF-TV is a television station in Butte, Montana, broadcasting locally as a CBS affiliate on digital channel 4-1 . Various programs from CBS are broadcast in high definition at 1080i. Programming from The CW is broadcast on digital channel 4-2 in standard definition.The station operates a...
in Butte
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
in 1955 (KXLF had signed on three months before KOOK in 1953). KFBB-TV
KFBB-TV
KFBB-TV is a full-service television station in Great Falls, Montana, broadcasting locally on digital VHF channel 8 as an affiliate of ABC. Founded March 21, 1954, the station is owned by Max Media. KFBB-TV also operates a semi-satellite for the Helena area, KHBB-LD channel 21...
in Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
and KMSO-TV in Missoula (now KECI-TV
NBC Montana
NBC Montana is a network of three television stations in western Montana, all affiliated with NBC.The flagship station is KECI in Missoula, broadcasting on channel 13. It includes two semi-satellites: KCFW, channel 9 in Kalispell, Montana, and KTVM, channel 6 in Butte, Montana...
) began sharing programs with KOOK and KXLF in 1958; the four stations formed the Skyline Network.
KMSO-TV left the network in 1964, and the network was without a Missoula outlet until Sample opened KPAX-TV
KPAX-TV
KPAX-TV is a television station in Missoula, Montana, broadcasting locally on channel 8 as an affiliate of CBS, with programming from The CW on digital. The station is owned by Evening Post Publishing Company. The station is part of the Evening Post's Montana Television Network, a network of...
as a semi-satellite of KXLF in 1970. In 1966, KFBB left the network, and Sample bought Great Falls' other station, KRTV
KRTV
KRTV is a television station in Great Falls, Montana, broadcasting on digital channel 7 as an affiliate of CBS. The station is owned by Evening Post Publishing Company. The station is part of the Evening Post's Montana Television Network, a network of Montana CBS stations.-History:KRTV began...
. The network became known as the Montana Television Network in the early 1970s.
Sample sold the stations to SJL Broadcasting in 1984, who in turn sold them to Evening Post in 1994. Evening Post runs the stations as part of its Cordillera Communications subsidiary. Combined, the stations and their numerous translators reach 89% of Montana, as well as portions of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
.
Four of the full-powered MTN stations, KTVQ, KXLF, KRTV, and KPAX, also carry programming from The CW on their digital subchannels.
The MTN stations identify as separate stations in their own right, but use a two-way microwave system to share news stories. They also brand as "Montana's News Station." All of the stations (excluding KXGN) air Jeopardy!
Jeopardy!
Griffin's first conception of the game used a board comprising ten categories with ten clues each, but after finding that this board could not be shown on camera easily, he reduced it to two rounds of thirty clues each, with five clues in each of six categories...
at 6 & Wheel of Fortune at 6:30.
MTN-owned stations
(Owned by the Evening Post Publishing Company)- KTVQKTVQKTVQ is the CBS TV affiliate in Billings, Montana, USA. It broadcasts on channel 2 and is owned by the Evening Post Publishing Company...
- Billings, MontanaBillings, MontanaBillings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over... - KRTVKRTVKRTV is a television station in Great Falls, Montana, broadcasting on digital channel 7 as an affiliate of CBS. The station is owned by Evening Post Publishing Company. The station is part of the Evening Post's Montana Television Network, a network of Montana CBS stations.-History:KRTV began...
- Great Falls, MontanaGreat Falls, MontanaGreat Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
- KXLHKRTVKRTV is a television station in Great Falls, Montana, broadcasting on digital channel 7 as an affiliate of CBS. The station is owned by Evening Post Publishing Company. The station is part of the Evening Post's Montana Television Network, a network of Montana CBS stations.-History:KRTV began...
- Helena, MontanaHelena, MontanaHelena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
- KXLH
- KXLFKXLF-TVKXLF-TV is a television station in Butte, Montana, broadcasting locally as a CBS affiliate on digital channel 4-1 . Various programs from CBS are broadcast in high definition at 1080i. Programming from The CW is broadcast on digital channel 4-2 in standard definition.The station operates a...
- Butte, MontanaButte, MontanaButte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
- KBZKKXLF-TVKXLF-TV is a television station in Butte, Montana, broadcasting locally as a CBS affiliate on digital channel 4-1 . Various programs from CBS are broadcast in high definition at 1080i. Programming from The CW is broadcast on digital channel 4-2 in standard definition.The station operates a...
- Bozeman, MontanaBozeman, MontanaBozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists...
- KBZK
- KPAXKPAX-TVKPAX-TV is a television station in Missoula, Montana, broadcasting locally on channel 8 as an affiliate of CBS, with programming from The CW on digital. The station is owned by Evening Post Publishing Company. The station is part of the Evening Post's Montana Television Network, a network of...
- Missoula, MontanaMissoula, MontanaMissoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
- KAJJ-CAKPAX-TVKPAX-TV is a television station in Missoula, Montana, broadcasting locally on channel 8 as an affiliate of CBS, with programming from The CW on digital. The station is owned by Evening Post Publishing Company. The station is part of the Evening Post's Montana Television Network, a network of...
- Kalispell, MontanaKalispell, MontanaKalispell is a city in and the county seat of Flathead County, Montana, United States. The 2010 census put Kalispell's population at 19,927 up 5,704 over 2000. At 40.1% this is the largest percentage of growth of any incorporated city in Montana. Kalispell is the largest city and commercial center...
- KAJJ-CA
External links
- MontanasNewsStation.com--shared by all stations