Branding News Channel 25 | Affiliations ABC | |
Slogan Breaking News, Tracking Storms Channels Digital: 26 (UHF)
Virtual: 25 (PSIP) Subchannels 25.1 ABC
25.2 Telemundo
25.3 25 Weather Now Translators KRHD-CD 40 Bryan/College Station | ||
KXXV, virtual channel 25 and UHF digital channel 26, is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Central Texas that is licensed to Waco. Its transmitter is located near Moody. It is owned by Raycom Media. The station maintains primary studio and offices facilities located on South New Road in Waco.
Contents
KXXV also operates a low-powered, Class-A, digital semi-satellite in Bryan, KRHD-CD channel 40.
History
KXXV signed on for the first time on March 22, 1985 as an NBC affiliate. The station was originally owned by Central Texas Broadcasting Company, Ltd. Waco was one of the last markets in the nation to gain full service from all three of the traditional broadcast networks. It switched to ABC that fall. Central Texas Broadcasting sold KXXV to Shamrock Broadcasting in 1987. Drewry Communications purchased the station from Shamrock in 1994.
KRHD-CD's call letters are based on the name of Robert H. Drewry, an Oklahoma native and founder of the Drewry Communications Group.
A planned late 2008 sale of the Drewry stations to London Broadcasting fell through due to the late 2000s credit crisis. [1] London Broadcasting subsequently purchased local NBC affiliate KCEN-TV (that station is now owned by Tegna Media). On August 10, 2015, Raycom Media announced that it would purchase Drewry Communications for $160 million. The sale was completed on December 1.
Digital channels
KXXV's broadcasts have been digital since the original deadline for the digital switchover on February 17, 2009.
In Waco/Killeen/Temple, KXXV broadcasts on cable channel 5, while in Bryan/College Station KRHD-CD broadcasts on cable channel 9. In Waco, cable operator Grande Communications carries both KXXV and Dallas ABC Station WFAA. Only WFAA's local news can be seen on cable channel 8. During ABC Network programming, a message appears informing viewers to tune to KXXV for network shows.
Programming
Syndicated programs broadcast by KXXV include Judge Judy, The Insider, The Doctors, Steve Harvey and Hot Bench. As part of a tradition with other former Drewry stations, KXXV airs an annual telethon, benefiting the West Texas Rehabilitation Center in Abilene.
News Operation
KXXV currently broadcasts 29 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with five hours on weekdays, and two hours each on Saturday and Sunday.) The station maintains a news bureau in Killeen to serve the western portion of the area, including Fort Hood. KRHD also has a small studio and offices in Bryan. KXXV simulcasts its morning newscast, Good Morning Texas and its 11AM newscast, The Texas Report Midday on KRHD. Both programs feature stories from the main focus area of Waco/Temple/Killeen but also include some stories from Bryan/College Station and the Brazos Valley.
Until January 5, 2015, KXXV produced a taped 30 minute newscast for KRHD, called The ABC40 Nighbeat, that aired at 10PM weekdays. The newscast incorporated stories produced by reporters stationed at the Bryan facility. Outside of the morning news simulcasts, KRHD no longer airs local programming.