KTGF
Encyclopedia
KTGF, digital channel 45, was a television station
in Great Falls, Montana
. The station was owned by Destiny Communications, and was last affiliated with JCTV
.
television network. From its inception, the station was far behind KRTV
and KFBB-TV
in the ratings. In March 2001, Continental Television sold KTGF (along with KTMF
in Missoula
and KWYB
in Butte
) to Max Media
.
In 2003, Max Media signed an agreement to purchase KFBB, as well as KULR-TV
in Billings
, from Dix Communications. Since the Great Falls television market is not large enough to own two television stations, Max immediately put KTGF up for sale. For more than a year, Max Media could not find a buyer for the station. Finally, Max Media sold KTGF in November 2004 to Destiny Communications of Wichita, Kansas
.
In April 2005, Beartooth Communications, the owner of KTVH
(the NBC affiliate in Helena
), purchased a low power television permit in Great Falls for channel 50. It became obvious that Beartooth was positioning itself to take the NBC affiliation away from KTGF when the NBC affiliation agreement expired at the end of June. Destiny Communications filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to prevent NBC from removing the affiliation and giving it to Beartooth's station, now known as KBGF-LP. As the end of June approached, confusion reigned. Both parties claimed they would be the NBC affiliate on July 1 in Great Falls. On June 29, Destiny announced that it would affiliate with the Fox
network beginning July 1. This created another confusing situation because another television station in Great Falls, KLMN
, was already the Fox affiliate (although the local cable system did not carry the station). As a result, after the NBC affiliation moved from KTGF to KBGF on July 1, 2005, Fox programming was seen on both KTGF and KLMN for a time. Eventually, KLMN dropped Fox programming for UPN
, and in September 2006 became an affiliate of MyNetworkTV
.
In May 2007, Destiny signed a joint sales agreement with KLMN's parent company, Equity Media Holdings. As a result, Fox programming moved back to KLMN, and KTGF became an independent station. After being offline for several weeks, KTGF unveiled an updated website with a revised logo.
After Destiny defaulted on its debt payments, the station filed to transfer the KTGF license to creditor RGW Investments LLC in September 2009. Shortly afterward, the station affiliated with JCTV.
KTGF went off the air December 19, 2009, citing problems with its microwave system. However, in February 2010, the station was noted as carrying a slide stating that it was no longer airing programming; that March, Max Media, which had retained the studio building and leased it to Destiny, sold the building to a local law firm. These events indicate that KTGF has ceased operations.
KTGF's license was formally transferred to RGW Investments on September 27, 2010.
Max Media brought "local" news back to KTGF in 2002 with Big Sky News. Max Media contracted with the Independent News Network
to produce local news on Max Media's stations in Montana. The program actually originated in Davenport, Iowa
. After a year, Big Sky News was cancelled.
As a Fox affiliate and as an independent station, KTGF broadcast short news updates anchored by Karen Wolf; the only other news programming on the station was the syndicated CBN NewsWatch.
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in Great Falls, Montana
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...
. The station was owned by Destiny Communications, and was last affiliated with JCTV
JCTV
JCTV is a young adult television network devoted to music videos, owned by the Trinity Broadcasting Network. It is similar to MTV, but with a Christian focus....
.
History
KTGF started broadcasting on September 21, 1986 under the ownership of Continental Television. The station immediately became the city's first full time affiliate of the NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television network. From its inception, the station was far behind 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...
and 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 the ratings. In March 2001, Continental Television sold KTGF (along with KTMF
KTMF
KTMF is a full-service television station in Missoula, Montana, broadcasting locally in digital on UHF channel 23 as an affiliate of ABC. Founded April 12, 1989, the station is owned by Max Media of Montana...
in Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Missoula 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...
and KWYB
KWYB
KWYB is a full-service television station in Butte, Montana, broadcasting locally in digital on UHF channel 19 as an affiliate of ABC. The station's signal is rebroadcast on KWYB-LD UHF channel 28 in Bozeman...
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...
) to Max Media
Max Media
Max Media is a company that owns radio and television stations throughout the United States. It is based out of Virginia Beach, Virginia.-History:Max Media was founded in 2001...
.
In 2003, Max Media signed an agreement to purchase KFBB, as well as KULR-TV
KULR-TV
KULR-TV is an NBC affiliate broadcasting on channel 11 in Billings, Montana. KULR is currently owned by Max Media.KULR's programming and schedule is also seen on KYUS-TV in Miles City, Montana; that station is owned and operated by the Marks Radio Group, who also owns several radio stations in...
in Billings
Billings, Montana
Billings 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...
, from Dix Communications. Since the Great Falls television market is not large enough to own two television stations, Max immediately put KTGF up for sale. For more than a year, Max Media could not find a buyer for the station. Finally, Max Media sold KTGF in November 2004 to Destiny Communications of Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
.
In April 2005, Beartooth Communications, the owner of KTVH
KTVH
KTVH-DT is a full-service television station serving Helena, Montana and the surrounding area as an NBC affiliate, broadcasting on digital channel 12. The station ceased its analog broadcasts on November 10, 2008. The station is owned by Beartooth Communications Company, a subsidiary of...
(the NBC affiliate in Helena
Helena, Montana
Helena 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...
), purchased a low power television permit in Great Falls for channel 50. It became obvious that Beartooth was positioning itself to take the NBC affiliation away from KTGF when the NBC affiliation agreement expired at the end of June. Destiny Communications filed a complaint with 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) to prevent NBC from removing the affiliation and giving it to Beartooth's station, now known as KBGF-LP. As the end of June approached, confusion reigned. Both parties claimed they would be the NBC affiliate on July 1 in Great Falls. On June 29, Destiny announced that it would affiliate with the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
network beginning July 1. This created another confusing situation because another television station in Great Falls, KLMN
KLMN
KLMN was a television station in Great Falls, Montana, broadcasting locally on channel 26 as an affiliate of Fox. Founded on December 19, 2000, the station was owned by Equity Media Holdings.- History :...
, was already the Fox affiliate (although the local cable system did not carry the station). As a result, after the NBC affiliation moved from KTGF to KBGF on July 1, 2005, Fox programming was seen on both KTGF and KLMN for a time. Eventually, KLMN dropped Fox programming for UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
, and in September 2006 became an affiliate of MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
.
After Destiny defaulted on its debt payments, the station filed to transfer the KTGF license to creditor RGW Investments LLC in September 2009. Shortly afterward, the station affiliated with JCTV.
KTGF went off the air December 19, 2009, citing problems with its microwave system. However, in February 2010, the station was noted as carrying a slide stating that it was no longer airing programming; that March, Max Media, which had retained the studio building and leased it to Destiny, sold the building to a local law firm. These events indicate that KTGF has ceased operations.
KTGF's license was formally transferred to RGW Investments on September 27, 2010.
Newscasts
In KTGF's early years, the station produced a local newscast. However, due to weak ratings, the station ended its local news department in the mid 1990s.Max Media brought "local" news back to KTGF in 2002 with Big Sky News. Max Media contracted with the Independent News Network
Independent News Network
For the consortium of non-profit investigative news organizations, see .The Independent News Network, also known as INN, is a television news service based in Davenport, Iowa. It syndicates "localized" news programs for television stations across the country with little budget for news...
to produce local news on Max Media's stations in Montana. The program actually originated in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
. After a year, Big Sky News was cancelled.
As a Fox affiliate and as an independent station, KTGF broadcast short news updates anchored by Karen Wolf; the only other news programming on the station was the syndicated CBN NewsWatch.
Repeaters
- Big SandyBig Sandy, MontanaBig Sandy is a town in Chouteau County, Montana, United States. The population was 703 at the 2000 census. Big Sandy, Montana, is where the Big Bud 747, the largest farm tractor in the world, is located. The Lewis and Clark Trail, following U.S...
— K07IP - LoringLoring, MontanaLoring is an unincorporated community in Phillips County, Montana, United States. Loring is located on U.S. Route 191 north of Malta. Loring has a post office with ZIP code 59537....
— K65AH - SweetgrassSweetgrass, MontanaSweet Grass is an unincorporated community in Toole County, Montana, United States, on the Canada-US border. It is the northern terminus of Interstate 15, an important route connecting western Canada, the western United States, and Mexico.In 2004, a joint border facility opened at the Sweetgrass...
— K65DK - Toole — K42DD
- Turner — K64BQ