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Posted (edited)

Thought I would check in on KXGN-TV, the only station in the smallest Nielsen market in America, in Glendive, Montana.

 

Since the passing of owner Stephen Marks and the sale of his other TV stations to Morgan Murphy, it looks like preparations are being made to eventually sell off KXGN to another owner.

According to Wikipedia, they have ended their .2 affiliation with NBC as of the end of 2024 and no longer produce any local programming in Glendive.  Since the departure of Emelie Boyles, they only have done a weekly public affairs program "Let's Talk About it" that aired on Sundays.   It is basically a semi-satellite for KTVQ in Billings and most of their newscasts.

 

And this past March, the station was readying a sale at their building in Glendive selling off decades of artifacts from KXGN's existence.

https://www.rangerreview.com/news/kxgn-tv-to-sell-off-treasure-trove-of-broadcasting-artifacts-ahead-of-sale-of-station/article_a07b3a08-035c-11f0-9f85-7ff9936504f1.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwY2xjawK-m0xleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFvb283dlpzaDNaNEF6dDNqAR65055XO7IRzYKwCZhx3Eg-dlCBSvzSnVNCMditQ5eGEfn8aV0qDcb_tbyy8Q_aem_yyBBO_KPIIT0VrJOtlHwsw

(Based on the article, the sale was in the works and may have happened by now)

 

We shall see what happens to KXGN.  It's no longer a question of if, but WHEN... and WHO gets it?

 

Interesting footnote.  KXGN basically operates as a Central Time station, so everything (including prime time) is an hour earlier in Montana.  They fill the hour at 9pm with syndication and run 10pm onward in Mountain Time until they join CBS News in progress overnight.

Edited by tyrannical bastard
Clarifications
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Posted
3 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

Thought I would check in on KXGN-TV, the only station in the smallest Nielsen market in America, in Glendive, Montana.

 

Since the passing of owner Stephen Marks and the sale of his other TV stations to Morgan Murphy, it looks like preparations are being made to eventually sell off KXGN to another owner.

According to Wikipedia, they have ended their .2 affiliation with NBC as of the end of 2024 and no longer produce any local programming in Glendive.  Since the departure of Emelie Boyles, they only have done a weekly public affairs program "Let's Talk About it" that aired on Sundays.   It is basically a semi-satellite for KTVQ in Billings and most of their newscasts.

 

And this past March, the station was readying a sale at their building in Glendive selling off decades of artifacts from KXGN's existence.

https://www.rangerreview.com/news/kxgn-tv-to-sell-off-treasure-trove-of-broadcasting-artifacts-ahead-of-sale-of-station/article_a07b3a08-035c-11f0-9f85-7ff9936504f1.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwY2xjawK-m0xleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFvb283dlpzaDNaNEF6dDNqAR65055XO7IRzYKwCZhx3Eg-dlCBSvzSnVNCMditQ5eGEfn8aV0qDcb_tbyy8Q_aem_yyBBO_KPIIT0VrJOtlHwsw

(Based on the article, the sale was in the works and may have happened by now)

 

We shall see what happens to KXGN.  It's no longer a question of if, but WHEN... and WHO gets it?

 

Interesting footnote.  KXGN basically operates as a Central Time station, so everything (including prime time) is an hour earlier in Montana.  They fill the hour at 9pm with syndication and run 10pm onward in Mountain Time until they join CBS News in progress overnight.

 

Maybe a Billings owner like Cowles could step in and tie it to KULR?

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Posted
5 hours ago, GoldenShine_10 said:

 

Maybe a Billings owner like Cowles could step in and tie it to KULR?

KULR is basically ran, news wise, from Missoula and Spokane (in WA). Evening news now comes from Missoula and morning news comes from Spokane (but is marketed as local).  It’s been a bare bones operation for a handful of years and is getting worse by the year. KXGN is going to be a repeater for its new buyer, most likely. 

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Posted
15 hours ago, GoldenShine_10 said:

 

Maybe a Billings owner like Cowles could step in and tie it to KULR?

I am hoping that Scripps (yes, them.) would aquire KXGN-TV to fit in with the Montana Television Network.

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Posted (edited)

North Platte is the smallest market that still puts out newscasts of their own.  Even Alpena has largely ceded their news to Traverse City and Sinclair, with just a short local blip in the "B" block of their 10pm show.

 

What's the smallest market with an all-local operation these days?  May be Victoria, TX since Presque Isle's WAGM now simulcasts WABI's morning show from Bangor.

58 minutes ago, ColtFromGulfcoast said:

RIP to the Glendive market. 

The buyer of KXGN would likely turn them into an affiliate of all 4 networks, much like WBKB in Alpena.  Surprised Morgan Murphy hasn't taken the plunge..yet.
 

Edited by tyrannical bastard
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