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{{good article}}
{{short description|MyNetworkTV station in Houston}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=OctoberJanuary 20222024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = KTXH
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| logo = KTXH 2018 Logo.svg
| logo_upright = .9
| branding = My 20My20 Vision
| digital = 19 ([[ultra high frequency|UHF]])
| virtual = 20
| affiliations = {{unbulleted list|'''20.1:''' [[MyNetworkTV]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| owner = [[Fox Television Stations]], [[Limited liability company|LLC]]
| location = [[Houston|Houston, Texas]]
| country = United States
| airdate = {{start date and age|1982|11|7|p=y|br=yes}}
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| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 20 (UHF, 1982–2009)
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[Independent station|Independent]] (1982–1995)|[[UPN]] (1995–2006)}}
| erp = 421 [[kilowatt|kW]]
| haat = {{convert|596|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 51569
| coordinates = {{Coord|29|33|45.1|N|95|30|35.8|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.fox26houston.com/my20-houston/}}
}}
 
'''KTXH''' (channel 20), branded on-air as '''My 20My20 Vision''', is a [[television station]] in [[Houston|Houston, Texas]], United States, serving as the local outlet for the [[MyNetworkTV]] programming service. It is [[owned-and-operated station|owned and operated]] by [[Fox Television Stations]] alongside [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] outlet [[KRIV (TV)|KRIV]] (channel 26). BothThe two stations share studios on Southwest Freeway ([[Interstate 69 in Texas|I-69]]/[[U.S. Route 59 in Texas#Interstate 37 to Houston|US 59]]) in Houston, while; KTXH's transmitter is located near [[Missouri City, Texas]].
 
KTXH began broadcasting in November 1982 as Houston's third [[independent station]]. A month after going on air, its broadcast tower collapsed in a construction accident that killed five people. The station recovered and emerged as Houston's sports independent, beginning long associations with the [[Houston Astros]] and [[Houston Rockets]] that continued uninterrupted through the late 1990s and sporadically until the early 2010s. Not long after starting up, KTXH was sold twice in rapid succession for large amounts. However, when the independent station trade, advertising market, and regional economy cooled, it was sold again for less than half of its previous value. The [[Paramount Stations Group]] acquired KTXH and other stations in two parts between 1989 and 1991, bringing much-needed stability.
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==History==
===Construction, start-up, and tragedy===
Interest in channel 20 in Houston began to emerge in 1976, as three groups filed applications for new television stations in light of the emerging technology of [[subscription television]] (STV). These were Channel 20 Houston, Inc., a group led by Robert S. Block of [[Milwaukee]];<ref>{{cite news|date=October 26, 1976|title=Public Notice|page=3:25|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> Channel 20, Inc., headed by [[Sidney Shlenker]];<ref>{{cite news|date=October 26, 1976|title=Notice|page=3:25|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> and CPI Subscription TV, subsidiary of cable television company Communications Properties, Inc.<ref>{{cite news|page=5:5|title=UHF TV permit sought|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=June 23, 1976}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|id={{ProQuest|1016886154}}|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1976/1976-06-28-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=June 28, 1976|page=65|title=For the Record|via=World Radio History|access-date=October 7, 2022-10-07|archive-date=October 7, 2022-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007061308/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1976/1976-06-28-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> CPI withdrew, and a settlement application between the Block and Shlenker consortia—Channel 20, Inc.—was granted the [[construction permit]] by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) on May 19, 1980.<ref name="hc">{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff380e45a9c01810069b8a42241|title=FCC History Cards for KTXH|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=October 7, 2022-10-07|archive-date=October 7, 2022-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007061317/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff380e45a9c01810069b8a42241|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the second joint settlement between Block and Shlenker for a Texas station; the Shlenker consortium, with [[Grant Broadcasting|Milt Grant]] as head of operations, had previously received the construction permit for [[KTXA]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] in March. That station began broadcasting in February 1981 as a hybrid operation, with commercial programming and [[ON TV (TV network)|ON TV]], the STV service owned by [[Oak Industries]]. Oak was to own a [[Controlling interest|majority stake]] in the local ON TV operation.<ref>{{cite news|title=For another side of Garner, tune in tonight|page=3:8|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=January 18, 1982|first=Ann|last=Hodges}}</ref> Channel 20's launch was delayed due to holdups in determining the local structure of the ON TV franchise and a dispute involving the mineral rights under the new [[Senior Road Tower]], a {{convert|1971|ft|m|adj=on}} mast in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]] that would be used to transmit KTXH and nine Houston [[FM broadcasting|FM]] radio stations.<ref>{{Cite news|page=3:11|title=KTXH-TV plans to provide mixed fare for viewers|date=August 18, 1982|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|first=Ann|last=Hodges}}</ref>▼
In 1969, [[United Artists#United Artists Broadcasting|United Artists Broadcasting]] had held a construction permit to build channel 20 in Houston under the "'''KUAB-TV'''" callsign.
 
KTXH began broadcasting on November 7, 1982, branding on-air as "20-Vision" and broadcasting from studios at 8950 Kirby Drive in Houston. By that time, though, Oak had frozen its plans into eventual cancellation, with Grant telling Ann Hodges of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' that their operation had shut down completely.<ref name="HC821107">{{cite news|title=Welcome aboard, Channel 20|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=November 7, 1982|page=TV Chronilog 6|first=Ann|last=Hodges}}</ref> This was to the benefit of KTXH's ad-supported commercial offerings, giving it prime time hours to program (particularly with sports) and making reticent cable systems more willing to put the new station on their lineups.{{r|HC821107}} On opening night, the station showed the film ''[[The Deer Hunter]]'', and five nights later, the station aired its first [[Houston Rockets]] basketball game; Shlenker was a 10 percent stakeholder in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] team.{{r|HC821107}} The 30 games the Rockets were slated to telecast in 1982–83 marked a record for the club.<ref>{{cite news|page=3:9|title=Rockets will telecast 30|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 25, 1982}}</ref> Shortly before signing on, the Houston Sports Association, owner of the [[Houston Astros]] baseball club, became a new 38- percent stockholder in KTXH, bringing with them television rights to the Astros.<ref>{{cite news|page=5:5|first=Ann|last=Hodges|date=October 14, 1982|title=Ch. 20 to begin broadcasting Nov. 7 as full-time commercial station|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>▼
▲Interest in channel 20 in Houston began to emerge in 1976, as three groups filed applications for new television stations in light of the emerging technology of [[subscription television]] (STV). These were Channel 20 Houston, Inc., a group led by Robert S. Block of [[Milwaukee]];<ref>{{cite news|date=October 26, 1976|title=Public Notice|page=3:25|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> Channel 20, Inc., headed by [[Sidney Shlenker]];<ref>{{cite news|date=October 26, 1976|title=Notice|page=3:25|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> and CPI Subscription TV, subsidiary of cable television company Communications Properties, Inc.<ref>{{cite news|page=5:5|title=UHF TV permit sought|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=June 23, 1976}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|id={{ProQuest|1016886154}}|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1976/1976-06-28-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=June 28, 1976|page=65|title=For the Record|via=World Radio History|access-date=2022-10-07|archive-date=2022-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007061308/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1976/1976-06-28-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> CPI withdrew, and a settlement application between the Block and Shlenker consortia—Channel 20, Inc.—was granted the [[construction permit]] by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) on May 19, 1980.<ref name="hc">{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff380e45a9c01810069b8a42241|title=FCC History Cards for KTXH|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=2022-10-07|archive-date=2022-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007061317/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff380e45a9c01810069b8a42241|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the second joint settlement between Block and Shlenker for a Texas station; the Shlenker consortium, with [[Grant Broadcasting|Milt Grant]] as head of operations, had previously received the construction permit for [[KTXA]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] in March. That station began broadcasting in February 1981 as a hybrid operation, with commercial programming and [[ON TV (TV network)|ON TV]], the STV service owned by [[Oak Industries]]. Oak was to own a [[Controlling interest|majority stake]] in the local ON TV operation.<ref>{{cite news|title=For another side of Garner, tune in tonight|page=3:8|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=January 18, 1982|first=Ann|last=Hodges}}</ref> Channel 20's launch was delayed due to holdups in determining the local structure of the ON TV franchise and a dispute involving the mineral rights under the new [[Senior Road Tower]], a {{convert|1971|ft|m|adj=on}} mast in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]] that would be used to transmit KTXH and nine Houston [[FM broadcasting|FM]] radio stations.<ref>{{Cite news|page=3:11|title=KTXH-TV plans to provide mixed fare for viewers|date=August 18, 1982|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|first=Ann|last=Hodges}}</ref>
 
In the first month on air, Houston's third independent station claimed eight percent of the viewing audience in the Houston metropolitan area, immediately moving into a tie for the lead, with its program lineup organized into thematic blocks.<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 17, 1983|work=Broadcast Week|title=Indies flex their muscles|pages=7–10|first=Fred|last=Dawson|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Broadcast-Week/Broadcast-Week-1983-01-17.pdf|via=World Radio History|access-date=October 7, 2022-10-07|archive-date=March 9, 2022-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309054340/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Broadcast-Week/Broadcast-Week-1983-01-17.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
▲KTXH began broadcasting on November 7, 1982, branding on-air as "20-Vision" and broadcasting from studios at 8950 Kirby Drive in Houston. By that time, though, Oak had frozen its plans into eventual cancellation, with Grant telling Ann Hodges of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' that their operation had shut down completely.<ref name="HC821107">{{cite news|title=Welcome aboard, Channel 20|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=November 7, 1982|page=TV Chronilog 6|first=Ann|last=Hodges}}</ref> This was to the benefit of KTXH's ad-supported commercial offerings, giving it prime time hours to program (particularly with sports) and making reticent cable systems more willing to put the new station on their lineups.{{r|HC821107}} On opening night, the station showed the film ''[[The Deer Hunter]]'', and five nights later, the station aired its first [[Houston Rockets]] basketball game; Shlenker was a 10 percent stakeholder in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] team.{{r|HC821107}} The 30 games the Rockets were slated to telecast in 1982–83 marked a record for the club.<ref>{{cite news|page=3:9|title=Rockets will telecast 30|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 25, 1982}}</ref> Shortly before signing on, the Houston Sports Association, owner of the [[Houston Astros]] baseball club, became a new 38-percent stockholder in KTXH, bringing with them television rights to the Astros.<ref>{{cite news|page=5:5|first=Ann|last=Hodges|date=October 14, 1982|title=Ch. 20 to begin broadcasting Nov. 7 as full-time commercial station|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>
 
KTXH was the first tenant to use the Senior Road Tower. A month later, work began to install the antenna that the FM radio stations would use on the mast. The first part was put into place on December 6. Despite winds, work proceeded the next morning, December 7. A failure in a clamping device on the hoisting mechanism caused a {{convert|75|ft|m|adj=on}} section of antenna to fall off, severing a [[Guy-wire|guy wire]] and leading to the tower's collapse. Five people, all tower workers employed by a New Jersey company, died. KTXH suffered a $1.5 million loss in equipment, including the transmitter, on which the falling mast collapsed.<ref>{{cite news|pages=1:1, 16|title=5 die in collapse of broadcast tower|first1=Rick|last1=Nelson|first2=P.I.|last2=Evans|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=December 8, 1982|edition=Morning}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Clamping-device failure blamed in tower collapse|pages=1:1, 16|first=P.I.|last=Evans|date=December 9, 1982|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> A man in the transmitter building saw the tower collapse and fled.<ref>{{cite news|page=1:1|title=At least 5 killed as TV-radio tower collapses|date=December 7, 1982|edition=Evening Final|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>▼
▲In the first month on air, Houston's third independent station claimed eight percent of the viewing audience in the Houston metropolitan area, immediately moving into a tie for the lead, with its program lineup organized into thematic blocks.<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 17, 1983|work=Broadcast Week|title=Indies flex their muscles|pages=7–10|first=Fred|last=Dawson|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Broadcast-Week/Broadcast-Week-1983-01-17.pdf|via=World Radio History|access-date=2022-10-07|archive-date=2022-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309054340/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Broadcast-Week/Broadcast-Week-1983-01-17.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
▲KTXH was the first tenant to use the Senior Road Tower. A month later, work began to install the antenna that the FM radio stations would use on the mast. The first part was put into place on December 6. Despite winds, work proceeded the next morning, December 7. A failure in a clamping device on the hoisting mechanism caused a {{convert|75|ft|m|adj=on}} section of antenna to fall off, severing a [[Guy-wire|guy wire]] and leading to the tower's collapse. Five people, all tower workers employed by a New Jersey company, died. KTXH suffered a $1.5 million loss in equipment, including the transmitter, on which the falling mast collapsed.<ref>{{cite news|pages=1:1, 16|title=5 die in collapse of broadcast tower|first1=Rick|last1=Nelson|first2=P.I.|last2=Evans|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=December 8, 1982|edition=Morning}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Clamping-device failure blamed in tower collapse|pages=1:1, 16|first=P.I.|last=Evans|date=December 9, 1982|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> A man in the transmitter building saw the tower collapse and fled.<ref>{{cite news|page=1:1|title=At least 5 killed as TV-radio tower collapses|date=December 7, 1982|edition=Evening Final|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>
 
In the wake of the tower collapse, KTXH was out of service for a total of 61 days.<ref>{{cite news|title=Channel 20 sues firms in fatal tower collapse|page=1:28|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 12, 1983}}</ref> The station filed a $42 million lawsuit, alleging negligent construction and claiming a $7 million loss in equipment and advertising. It also immediately ordered a new transmitter<ref name="HC830114">{{cite news |date=January 14, 1983 |title=Ch. 20 sets target date of late February |page=5:8 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref name="HC831017">{{cite news |last=Evans |first=P.I. |date=October 17, 1983 |title=Broadcast tower that crashed killing 5 is rebuilt |page=1:3 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> as the Senior Road Tower consortium moved ahead with reconstruction of the mast,<ref>{{Cite news|first=Bob|last=Grace|title=Stations hope to reconstruct tower by midsummer|date=January 15, 1983|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|page=1:20}}</ref> where KTXH would return upon its completion in October 1983.{{r|HC830114|HC831017}} Even while broadcasting from a temporary facility atop the [[Wells Fargo Plaza (Houston)|Allied Bank Plaza]], KTXH continued to post competitive numbers against KRIV.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ann|last=Hodges|page=4:4|title=Ch. 20 wins top Nielsen ratings for independents|date=September 6, 1983|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>
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The pairing of KTXA and KTXH had proven to be successful and highly lucrative. Grant's aggressive programming and promotions strategy, plus a favorable climate for independent stations nationally, made the two stations highly profitable and attracted major bidders. Outlet Communications, the broadcasting division of [[The Outlet Company]] of Rhode Island, was one of several parties negotiating to buy KTXA and KTXH. However, negotiations fell through, and Grant instead sold the pair to the Gulf Broadcast Group for $158 million in May 1984.<ref name="Fort840517">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284589/florida-group-to-buy-ktxa-houston/|date=May 17, 1984|page=1B|first=John|last=Spelich|title=Florida group to buy KTXA: Houston station KTXH is also in $150 million deal|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|location=Fort Worth, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-date=July 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726215837/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284589/florida-group-to-buy-ktxa-houston/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The sale was held up for several months at the FCC, which conditioned the purchase on Gulf divesting FM stations in both cities.<ref name="Aust841215">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284687/todays-digest-amd-thanks-its-workers/|date=December 15, 1984|page=C1|first=Pamela|last=Johnson|title=Today's digest: AMD thanks its workers|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|location=Austin, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-date=July 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726215837/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284687/todays-digest-amd-thanks-its-workers/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The sale price was considered unprecedented given the short period of operation of the stations.<ref name="Fort850305">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284768/tv-stations-buy-out-logical-and/|date=March 5, 1985|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284795/ 6B]|first=Jerry|last=Coffey|title=TV station's buy-out logical and inevitable|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|location=Fort Worth, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-date=July 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726215837/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284768/tv-stations-buy-out-logical-and/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->
 
Gulf had scarcely owned the stations when it sold its entire stations group for $755 million to [[Taft Broadcasting]] in 1985.<ref name="Fort850202">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284720/channel-21-to-be-sold-to-ohio-firm/|date=February 2, 1985|page=9B|first=Marti|last=Benedetti|title=Channel 21 to be sold to Ohio firm|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|location=Fort Worth, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-date=July 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726215837/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284720/channel-21-to-be-sold-to-ohio-firm/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Taft doubled the size of the KTXH facility to include a second studio and more office space.<ref>{{cite news|first=Bob|last=Grace|page=4:1|title=Magic 102 stays on top of radio ratings; KODA moves up|date=January 11, 1986|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> Over the course of late 1985 and late 1986, Taft was fending off overtures from activist investor [[Robert Bass]], who was amassing shares in the company.<ref name="Fort851220">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106285018/bass-group-increases-taft-stake/|date=December 20, 1985|page=32A|first=Dan|last=Piller|title=Bass group increases Taft stake|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|location=Fort Worth, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-date=July 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726215837/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106285018/bass-group-increases-taft-stake/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="Fort860802">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106285164/bass-leading-group-buying-up-taft-shares/|date=August 2, 1986|page=11B|first=Stephen|last=Rassenfoss|title=Bass leading group buying up Taft shares|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|location=Fort Worth, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-date=July 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726215917/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106285164/bass-leading-group-buying-up-taft-shares/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Meanwhile, in addition to a worsening regional economy, the independent television market nationally was softening; the two Texas stations were believed to be the weakest in the Taft chain,<ref>{{cite news|pages=3:1, 2|title=Taft will sell KTXH TV here, 4 other stations|date=November 18, 1986|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> even as KTXH boasted the highest audience share of any independent station in a top-35 market built since 1981.<ref>{{cite news|id={{ProQuest|220595947}}|title=WXIN Pleased With Audience Growth|page=9A|work=Indianapolis Business Journal|date=May 5, 1986|first=Will|last=Higgins}}</ref> On Rockets telecasts during this time, a young [[Hannah Storm]] hosted pregame and postgame shows.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/life/article/Hannah-Storm-long-on-gumption-1718050.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007061312/https://www.chron.com/life/article/Hannah-Storm-long-on-gumption-1718050.php%7Cwork%3DHouston |archive-date=October 7, 2022-10-07 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=September 12, 2010|first=David|last=Barron|title=Hannah Storm long on gumption}}</ref>
 
Taft put its broadcast group up for sale in August 1986 due to agitation by Bass. While it asked $500 million for five independent stations, the winning bidder—[[TVX Broadcast Group]]—only paid $240 million, and Taft estimated its after-tax loss for the sale at $45 to $50 million.<ref name="Fort861117">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106285185/taft-broadcasting-sells-channel-21/|date=November 17, 1986|page=A17|first=Stephen|last=Rassenfoss|title=Taft Broadcasting sells Channel 21|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|location=Fort Worth, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-date=July 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726215917/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106285185/taft-broadcasting-sells-channel-21/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> TVX implemented budget cuts, laying off about 15 percent of the staff at the acquisitions, and renegotiated programming costs; KTXH's production unit was completely disbanded.<ref name="DMN870708">{{cite news|title=Broadcaster to focus on trimming costs: Channel 21's new owner 'doing deals'|page=1D|first=Michael|last=Weiss|date=July 8, 1987|work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]}}</ref>
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===Paramount ownership and UPN affiliation===
In 1991, Paramount acquired the remainder of TVX.<ref>{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|1014747206}}|pages=57, 61|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-03-04.pdf|title=Paramount acquires TVX Group|work=Broadcasting|date=March 4, 1991|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108160308/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-03-04.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The deal gave Paramount a strategic entrance into the television stations market; three years later, Paramount merged with [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]], and the following year, KTXH became one of the charter outlets of the [[UPN|United Paramount Network]] (UPN).<ref>{{cite news|title=United Paramount Network launches five shows|page=TV Week 4|date=January 15, 1995|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> In 1996, Viacom purchased a 50 percent ownership interest in UPN.<ref name="Dail961205">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115028125/viacom-adding-upn-to-programing-plans/|date=December 5, 1996|page=33|first=Angela G.|last=King|title=Viacom adding UPN to programing plans|newspaper=Daily News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 22, 2022|archive-date=December 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222211522/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115028125/viacom-adding-upn-to-programing-plans/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->
 
KTXH's relationship with the Rockets continued until the 1997–1998 season, when [[KIAH|KHTV]] (channel 39) outbid channel 20 for the rights to the team's road games.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rockets to switch road TV channel|page=Sports 8|first=David|last=Barron|date=June 6, 1997|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> The move was largely precipitated by what was believed to be a reluctance to commit to sports preemptions of UPN programming. KHTV, which became KHWB in 1999, cited its affiliation with [[The WB]] when it dropped the team after three years; after a disastrous start to the 2000–2001 season on new independent [[KTBU]], plagued by low ratings and signal coverage issues in parts of the Houston metropolitan area, the Rockets moved their games back to KTXH, with some [[Houston Comets]] women's basketball telecasts appearing on the station.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 9, 2000|title=Station break: Rockets back on Channel 20 after ending deal with Channel 55|page=Sports 7|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=May 28, 2001|title=No surprise as Comets draw national exposure|page=Sports 8|first=David|last=Barron|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> At the same time, the Astros—which aired 64 games in the 1997 campaign on channel 20<ref>{{cite news|page=Sports 7|first=Mike|last=McDaniel|title=First week will not be typical of Astros' TV exposure|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=April 7, 1997}}</ref>—left for independent station [[KYAZ|KNWS-TV]] (channel 51), with KTXH's increasing obligations to UPN as a core factor.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 16, 1998|title=Astros TV deal could be home run for Channel 51|first=David|last=Barron|page=Sports 12|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Astros pull the switch, move road games to Channel 51|page=Baseball 1998 16|date=March 29, 1998|first=David|last=Barron}}</ref> In both cases, ratings fell after the teams moved their games off KTXH.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 7, 1997|first=David|last=Barron|page=Sports 5|title=Fox Southwest, Rockets unable to reach telecast agreement|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=November 23, 1998|page=Sports 7|title='Anything can happen' as Astros mull broadcast options|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|first=David|last=Barron}}</ref>
 
===Sale to Fox; conversion to MyNetworkTV===
[[File:KRIVFox26Channel20StationHouston.JPG|thumb|Studios for KRIV and KTXH on Southwest Freeway in Houston|alt=A stucco and glass building with a sign outside bearing the KRIV and KTXH logos.]]
[[File:KTXH logo late 2006.svg|upright=0.65|thumb|left|KTXH's logo from 2006 to 2018, when the station rebranded as "My 20My20 Vision"|alt=A rounded rectangle divided into blue and gray parts with the word "my" in white and a black "20" in the lower right. Beneath, on two lines, is the text "KTXH-TV Houston".]]
In 2000, Viacom purchased CBS. On August 12 of that year, [[BHC Communications|United Television]]—the United in UPN—sold its UPN stations to the [[Fox Television Stations]] subsidiary of [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] for $5.5 billion;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hofmeister |first=Sallie |date=August 12, 2000 |title=News Corp. to Buy Chris-Craft Parent for $5.5 Billion, Outbidding Viacom |work=Los Angeles Times |url=httphttps://articleswww.latimes.com/2000archives/la-xpm-2000-aug/-12/business/-fi-3272-story.html |access-date=March 23, 2011 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232639/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/aug/12/business/fi-3272 |url-status=live }}</ref> the deal was finalized on July 31, 2001. As part of its acquisition of the United stations, Fox had purchased [[KPYX|KBHK-TV]] in San Francisco, a city in which Fox did not own its affiliate—but there was a CBS [[owned-and-operated station]]. Similarly, Viacom now owned UPN stations in Houston (KTXH) and Washington, D.C. ([[WDCA]]), markets where it did not own the CBS affiliate but where there was a Fox owned-and-operated station. As a result, Fox traded KBHK-TV to Viacom in exchange for KTXH and WDCA, resulting in three new duopolies, including new Fox duopolies in Houston and Washington.<ref name="swap">{{Cite news |last=Trigoboff |first=Dan |date=August 13, 2001 |title=Fox swaps for a pair of duops |page=9 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |id={{Gale|A77287508}} |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-2001/BC-2001-08-13.pdf |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308034433/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-2001/BC-2001-08-13.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The FCC approved the deal in August 2001 on the condition that Viacom sell one of its San Francisco radio stations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McConnell |first=Bill |date=October 26, 2001 |title=FCC clears Fox, Viacom trade |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/fcc-clears-fox-viacom-trade-90127 |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927203801/https://www.nexttv.com/news/fcc-clears-fox-viacom-trade-90127 |url-status=live }}</ref> KTXH vacated the Kirby Drive facilities and consolidated with KRIV at its Southwest Freeway facility; the move led to some job losses.<ref>{{cite news|title=KTXH to consolidate operations with KRIV|page=Houston 4|first=Mike|last=McDaniel|date=December 13, 2001|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> The Rockets departed KTXH in 2002 for a new agreement with KNWS-TV and KHWB.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 1, 2002|title=Dish dispute leaves viewers out in cold|first=David|last=Barron|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|page=Sports 3}}</ref>
 
On January 24, 2006, the [[Warner Bros.]] unit of [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]] and [[CBS Corporation]] (which had been created as a result of the split of Viacom at the start of the year) announced that the two companies would shut down [[The WB]] and UPN and combine the networks' respective programming to create a new "fifth" network called [[The CW]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seid |first=Jessica |date=January 24, 2006 |title='Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |website=[[CNN Business|CNN Money]] |publisher=CNN |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316043531/http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=January 24, 2006 |title=UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017035638/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl |url-status=live }}</ref> In unveiling the merged network, while WB and UPN affiliates owned by WB minority stakeholder [[Tribune Media|Tribune Broadcasting]] (including KHWB in Houston) and by [[CBS Television Stations]] were announced as charter outlets, none of the Fox-owned UPN stations—many of which were competitors to these stations—were chosen. The next month, News Corporation then announced the creation of its own secondary network, [[MyNetworkTV]], to serve its own outgoing UPN stations as well as those that had not been selected for The CW.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 22, 2006 |title=News Corp. to launch new mini-network for UPN stations |work=[[USA Today]] |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-02-22-fox-my-network_x.htm |access-date=January 21, 2013 |archive-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923100154/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-02-22-fox-my-network_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 22, 2006 |title=News Corp. Unveils MyNetworkTV |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php |access-date=September 24, 2012 |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417165134/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Even past the MyNetworkTV switch, KTXH continued its association with local sports. In late 2007 and early 2008, the Rockets and Astros returned to KTXH with a reduced schedule of games, largely in a complementary role to [[Fox Sports Houston]], the Fox-owned [[regional sports network]] (RSN).<ref>{{Cite news|title=Astros are going back to longtime TV home|page=Sports 2|date=February 8, 2008|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|first=David|last=Barron}}</ref> The Astros aired all of their games on Fox Sports Houston in 2011, which was to be their last season on the RSN as the two teams prepared to launch [[Comcast SportsNet Houston (now [[Space City Home Network]]) in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=TV-Radio notebook - SHO benefits from golf buzz|page=Sports 2|date=March 30, 2012|first=David|last=Barron|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>
 
==Technical information==
In 1999, KTXH began broadcasting a digital signal, which was not broadcast from the Senior Road tower but at a new, purpose-built mast in the same area.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1999/BC-1999-03-22.pdf|title=Houston to get $7m DTV tower|id={{ProQuest|225324903}}|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=March 22, 1999|page=44|via=World Radio History|access-date=October 7, 2022-10-07|archive-date=November 8, 2021-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151311/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1999/BC-1999-03-22.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> KTXH discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] channel 20, on June 12, 2009, as part of the [[Digital television transition in the United States|federally mandated transition from analog to digital television]]; the station's digital signal continued on UHF channel 19, using [[virtual channel]] 20.<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>
 
On December 7, 2021, KTXH became one of two [[ATSC 3.0]] (NextGen TV) transmitters for the Houston area as part of a deployment involving 10 stations in the market.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/tech/article/10-houston-stations-launch-nextgen-tv/|work=TVNewsCheck|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|date=December 7, 2021|title=10 Houston Stations Launch NextGen TV|access-date=October 7, 2022|archive-date=October 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007061315/https://tvnewscheck.com/tech/article/10-houston-stations-launch-nextgen-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Line 101 ⟶ 99:
===ATSC 3.0 lighthouse service===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of KTXH (ATSC 3.0)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KTXH#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KTXH|website=RabbitEars|access-date=October 7, 2022-10-07|archive-date=October 7, 2022-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007061320/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KTXH#station|url-status=live}}</ref>
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
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[[Category:MyNetworkTVATSC affiliates3.0 television stations]]
[[Category:Movies! affiliates]]▼
[[Category:TheGrio affiliates]]▼
[[Category:Buzzr affiliates]]
[[Category:Former Viacom subsidiaries]]▼
[[Category:Fox Television Stations]]
▲[[Category:Movies! affiliates]]
▲[[Category:TheGrioMyNetworkTV affiliates]]
[[Category:Paramount Stations Group]]▼
[[Category:Taft Broadcasting]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1982]]
[[Category:Television stations in Houston|TXH]]
[[Category:TaftTheGrio Broadcastingaffiliates]]
▲[[Category:Former Viacom subsidiaries]]
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[[Category:ATSC 3.0 television stations]]
[[Category:TVX Broadcast Group]]
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