{{Short description|Television station in Fort Worth, Texas (1967–1969)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox television station | logo = file:KFWTTV21Logo.jpg | callsign = KFWT-TV | city = Fort Worth, Texas | analog = 21 (UHF) | affiliations = | owner = Trinity Broadcasting Company | location = Fort Worth–Dallas, Texas | country = United States | airdate = {{start date|1967|9|14}} | last_airdate = {{ubl|{{end date|1969|9|3}}|({{age in years and days|1967|9|14|1969|9|3}})}} | callsign_meaning = Fort Worth, Texas | erp = 550 kW<ref name="fact71">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1970-71-TV-Factbook/TV-Factbook-1970-71.pdf|work=Television Factbook|date=1970–1971|access-date=April 29, 2020|page=758-b (760)|title=KFWT}}</ref> | haat = {{convert|1080|ft|m|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} | coordinates = {{coord|32|45|01|N|97|16|07|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}} }}
'''KFWT-TV''' (channel 21) was a television station licensed to Fort Worth, Texas, United States, which served the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex from 1967 to 1969. The station was owned by the Trinity Broadcasting Company (not to be confused with the Trinity Broadcasting Network, a religious broadcaster established in 1973).
==History== On January 6, 1966, the Trinity Broadcasting Company, owners of KJIM-AM-FM in Fort Worth, was granted a construction permit for a new television station on ultra high frequency (UHF) channel 40 in Fort Worth.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1966/1966-01-17-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=January 17, 1966|title=For the Record|page=86|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> Trinity was left alone in its bid for the channel after Warner Bros. withdrew applications for UHF television stations in Fort Worth, Houston and Chicago, afraid that its antitrust record would result in lengthy and costly comparative hearings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1965/1965-03-22-BC.pdf|page=110|title=Warner Bros. withdrawal application granted|work=Broadcasting|date=March 22, 1965|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> Channel 20 had originally been assigned, but in 1965, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) undertook a sweeping overhaul of the UHF table of allocations nationwide, using a UNIVAC III computer to determine new channel allocations. Trinity was upset that the lower channel 20 had been replaced with channel 40, questioning if the commission had "abdicated" its responsibilities to the computer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1965/1965-07-19-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=July 19, 1965|access-date=April 29, 2020|pages=68, 70–71|title=Is computer ruling the FCC's roost?}}</ref>
In 1966, channel 40 was changed to 21; meanwhile, Trinity sold off KJIM and changed the FM station's call letters to KFWT,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49888201/|page=2|first=Tony|last=Slaughter|date=May 5, 1966|title=Children's Hospital Sets Benefit Carnival|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|accessdate=April 29, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> which were also adopted by the television station. KFWT-TV began broadcasting September 14, 1967,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47434242/tv-21-for-family-fun/|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|title=TV 21 For Family Fun|page=5-H|accessdate=April 29, 2020|date=October 22, 1967|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> making it the first of three new UHF television stations in six months in the metroplex (alongside two Dallas-based outlets, KMEC-TV and KDTV). The station signed on using facilities leased from WBAP-TV in the Meadowbrook area of Fort Worth.<ref name="live">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48083696/|date=October 22, 1967|title=Live, Local Lineup Aim of KFWT Here|page=4-H|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|accessdate=April 29, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> At the outset, the station presented filmed and syndicated fare in color, though local shows were in black-and-white pending the delivery and installation of color studio equipment.{{r|live}}
Channel 21, an independent station, emphasized live and local programming. Its flagship block of variety music shows included the hour-long ''Southwest Showcase'' and a country music half-hour hosted by Jim "Shootin'" Newton; it was followed by a rock program, ''The Marky Baby Show'', fronted by KFJZ (1270 AM) DJ Mark Stevens.{{r|live}} A prime time movie and 10 p.m. local newscast also aired on weeknights; on the weekends, KFWT-TV aired highlights of Fort Worth Texans football along with movies and syndicated shows.{{r|live}}
By August 1969, however, financial difficulties had forced the station to go silent; at that time, Trinity owner W. C. Windsor, Jr., was reported to be in talks with a group of investors on the West Coast, including entertainer Danny Thomas, to buy KFWT-TV.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47837356/owner-of-channel-21-negotiating-for-sale/|first=Jerry|last=Coffey|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|title=Owner of Channel 21 Negotiating for Sale|page=5-A|date=August 26, 1969|accessdate=April 29, 2020}}</ref> The station spent a week off the air, temporarily returned after the FCC failed to grant permission to cease broadcasting in a timely manner,<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 26, 1969|work=The Dallas Morning News|page=5|title=Negotiations Now Underway For KFWT Sale|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//kglcgmweygwuacxqukdypvohmpenstpo_wma-gateway014_1673569562415}}</ref> and then went silent on September 3.{{r|fact71}} The general manager expressed hope that the station would return to the air in three months.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A0F99DDB671832188%40GB3NEWS-0FDF1D2CE43D591B%402440471-0FDF1D2E70B6F8BD%4069-0FDF1D33AA94D2ED?clipid=qbgnwycctodwvyuesqpbxzzhfdijepoz_wma-gateway012_1673569355495|title=21 Goes Off Air; Due Back Dec. 1|work=The Dallas Morning News|page=4|date=September 6, 1969}}</ref> The television station never sold, and Trinity Broadcasting Company filed for bankruptcy in March 1970.<ref>{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=April 29, 2020|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=March 28, 1970|title=Bankruptcy Plea Filed By KFWT|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47837471/bankruptcy-plea-filed-by-kfwt/|page=2-B}}</ref> That October, a debt payment plan was agreed under which KFWT-FM was sold for $315,000; by that time, Trinity had $1.8 million in liabilities compared to $670,000 in assets. Ownership of more than $340,000 in television station equipment purchased from RCA reverted to that company.<ref>{{cite news|title=Plan to Pay Debt OK'd by Creditors|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48086047/plan-to-pay-debt-okd-by-creditors/|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=October 28, 1970|page=4-A|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=April 29, 2020}}</ref>
Activity around the channel 21 allocation would not resume until 1976, when two groups—both named Channel 21, Inc.—filed to build new TV stations in Fort Worth.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47837638/2-groups-apply-for-tv-station/|title=2 Groups Apply For TV Station|accessdate=April 29, 2020|date=August 6, 1976|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|page=6C|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The resulting station, KTXA, signed on January 4, 1981.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49890251/|accessdate=April 29, 2020|date=January 5, 1981|title='Hunter' nets no opposition|page=10A|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DFW TV}}
Category:1967 establishments in Texas Category:1969 disestablishments in Texas FWT-TV Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 1969 Category:Television channels and stations established in 1967 Category:Television stations in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex Category:Mass media in Fort Worth, Texas