View source for KDNL-TV

{{Short description|Television station in St. Louis}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = KDNL-TV
| logo = Kdnl-logo-with-2021-ABC-logo.svg
| logo_size = 220px
| logo_alt = The ABC network logo next to an italicized black serif numeral 30
| branding = ABC 30
| digital = 31 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 30
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''30.1:''' [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| owner = [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
| licensee = KDNL Licensee, [[LLC]]
| location = [[St. Louis]], Missouri
| country = United States
| founded = June 7, 1966
| airdate = {{start date|1969|6|8}}
| callsign_meaning = <!-- '''D''' (4th letter) +<br />'''N''' (14th letter) +<br />'''L''' (12th letter) =<br />'''30''' (virtual channel number) Unknown meaning? -->
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 30 (UHF, 1969–2009)
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[Independent station|Independent]] (1969–1986)|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] (1986–1995)|[[UPN]] (secondary, 1995–1998)}}
| erp = 1,000 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|320.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 56524
| coordinates = {{coord|38|34|50|N|90|19|45|W|type:landmark_scale:2000_region:US-MO}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://abcstlouis.com/}}
}}

'''KDNL-TV''' (channel 30) is a [[television station]] in [[St. Louis]], Missouri, United States, affiliated with [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. Owned by [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], the station maintains studios at the University Tower in the suburb of [[Richmond Heights, Missouri|Richmond Heights]]<!--FCC lists as St. Louis--> and a transmitter in [[Shrewsbury, Missouri|Shrewsbury]].

Channel 30 in St. Louis was sought on several occasions in the 1950s and early 1960s, though no station materialized. The fourth attempt to build the channel was originally spearheaded by a group of local investors as well as Washington attorney [[John Dean]]; after the construction permit for KDNL-TV was sold to [[Thomas Mellon Evans]], the station began broadcasting on June 8, 1969. It served as the second [[independent station]] for the St. Louis area, airing syndicated reruns as well as financial news and sports. [[Cox Broadcasting]] purchased KDNL-TV in 1981, in part because it held a permit for over-the-air [[subscription television]] broadcasting. Cox launched this service in June 1982, but it was a business failure, and Cox shut it down in February 1983. The station continued to be an overall money-loser and a misfit in the Cox station portfolio, even though it became the first local affiliate of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] in 1986.

Barry Baker and Larry Marcus, former executives of rival independent [[KPLR-TV]] who were fired for trying to buy that station, purchased KDNL-TV from Cox in 1989. It became the first station in a St. Louis-based company eventually known as [[River City Broadcasting]], which soon acquired other independent and Fox-affiliated stations. Ratings and revenue improved with the success of the Fox network, with total viewership approaching KPLR-TV, and led the station to start a local news department in January 1995. Under a deal announced in 1994 but carried out in August 1995, KDNL-TV lost its Fox affiliation and switched with [[KTVI]] to become the affiliate of ABC in St. Louis.

In 1996, River City merged into Sinclair Broadcast Group. However, KDNL's news department failed to gain traction, hurt by the traditionally poor ratings for ABC programming in the market; high turnover in news talent; a lack of full-day news service; and the resistance to change of many St. Louis viewers. In 1999, Baker left Sinclair and assigned an option to purchase KDNL-TV and six Sinclair-owned radio stations in St. Louis to [[Emmis Communications]]; the option resulted in a lawsuit settled with Sinclair retaining the TV station and selling off the radio properties. More critically, it led to neglect of the station's transmitter facility, causing signal issues, and the suspension of early evening newscasts for the struggling news operation. In the wake of the advertising slump after the [[September 11 attacks]], Sinclair closed the KDNL-TV news department in 2001 and laid off all 47 staff. Since then, the station has largely been the fourth- or fifth-rated station in the market, with two short-lived and outsourced attempts at local news programming since the 2001 newsroom closure.

==Channel 30 prior to KDNL-TV==
Three different attempts were made to start channel 30 in St. Louis. The assignment was added in 1952 when the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) ended its nearly four-year freeze on new television stations and introduced assignments in the new [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) band.<ref name="StLo520414">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-6-new-television/128732483/|date=April 14, 1952|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-6-new-channels-a/128732516/ 4A]|title=6 New Television Channels Assigned to St. Louis With Lifting of Freeze By U.S.|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724002426/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-6-new-television/128732483/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Applications were filed by the Empire Coil Company and the [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]] for the channel,<ref name="StLo521125">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-firm-files-new-a/128732551/|date=November 25, 1952|page=8A|title=Firm Files New Application For New TV Station Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724002430/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-firm-files-new-a/128732551/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> with the latter receiving the [[construction permit]] in February 1953 after Empire Coil withdrew.<ref name="StLo530205">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-lutheran-synod-a/128732567/|date=February 5, 1953|page=3A|title=Lutheran Synod Authorized To Use Channel 30 For TV|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723235424/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-lutheran-synod-a/128732567/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The church planned to run [[KFUO (AM)|KFUO]]-TV as a noncommercial station in conjunction with its existing radio station.<ref name="StLo530614">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-3-of-5-uhf-tv-st/69239655/|date=June 14, 1953|page=6H|title=3 of 5 UHF-TV Stations in Area Plan to Be in Operation by 1954|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724003932/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-3-of-5-uhf-tv-st/69239655/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> While it initially planned an early 1954 start,{{r|StLo530614}} the station project was said to still be in consideration by February 1954,<ref name="StLo540207">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fcc-to-hear-oral/69242419/|date=February 7, 1954|page=4J|title=FCC to Hear Oral Testimony Of 3 VHF TV Applicants Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724000922/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fcc-to-hear-oral/69242419/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> and the church surrendered the permit for cancellation in January 1956 after finding the potential for a UHF station poor.<ref name="StLo560121">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-lutheran-church/128733133/|date=January 21, 1956|page=8A|title=Lutheran Church's UHF TV Permits Are Canceled|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724002426/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-lutheran-church/128733133/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

In September 1956, the Plaza Radio and Television Company of New York applied for channel 30.<ref name="StLo560927">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat-n-y-firm-seek/128733168/|date=September 27, 1956|page=2A|title=N. Y. Firm Seeks Channel 30 Here|newspaper=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724003929/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat-n-y-firm-seek/128733168/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Plaza also applied for authority to broadcast [[subscription television]] (STV) programming using the proposed station. The FCC indicated it would need to hold hearings to determine whether the channel should be awarded, even though no other group was seeking channel 30, because Plaza held but was not using a permit for channel 26 in [[San Francisco]].<ref name="StLo580703">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-use-of-uhf-chann/128733230/|date=July 3, 1958|page=7B|title=Use of UHF Channel 30 Here For Pay TV Sought|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724002428/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-use-of-uhf-chann/128733230/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> This application and another for a station in [[Detroit]] were dismissed by the FCC in September 1958.<ref name="StLo580930">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fcc-dismisses-ap/128733295/|date=September 30, 1958|page=3C|title=FCC Dismisses Application For TV Channel 30 Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724002432/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fcc-dismisses-ap/128733295/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

==Pre-construction==
For the third time, channel 30 in St. Louis was sought when [[Washington, D.C.]]–based Globe Television Corporation filed to build the station in June 1964. The two leading stockholders in Globe were lawyers: Vincent B. Welch and Edward P. Morgan of the Washington firm of Welch, Mott & Morgan.<ref name="StLo640630">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-uhf-tv-station-i/128768187/|date=June 30, 1964|page=8A|title=UHF TV Station Is Proposed Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064235/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-uhf-tv-station-i/128768187/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Welch had founded the communications law firm in 1946,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Welch Leaves FCC For Own Practice|date=July 15, 1946|page=66|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1014872882}} }}</ref> and Welch and Morgan were applying for new television stations nationwide, including [[Minneapolis]]; [[Columbus, Ohio]]; and [[Henderson, Nevada]]. The Welch–Morgan group was awarded the St. Louis permit and stations in [[Miami]] and [[San Jose, California]], in October 1964.<ref>{{Cite news|title=D.C. lawyers get CP's for 3 TV's|date=October 5, 1964|page=64|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1014491355}} }}</ref><ref name="StLo641001">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fcc-approves-per/128733410/|date=October 1, 1964|page=4A|title=FCC Approves Permit For UHF TV Station Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064240/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fcc-approves-per/128733410/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Globe Television renamed itself the Continental Summit Television Corporation after the permit was awarded; in June 1965, the company requested an extension of time to build. It stated that the [[Missouri Pacific Building]], its intended transmitter site, was inadequate, as downtown office buildings interfered with the signal in the Illinois portion of the metropolitan area. It also requested that its application be switched from channel 30 to 24, which was inserted as part of a national overhaul of the UHF table of allocations that year.<ref name="StLo650610">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fcc-asked-to-ext/32852739/|date=June 10, 1965|page=24A|title=FCC Asked to Extend Permit To Build UHF-TV Station Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064229/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fcc-asked-to-ext/32852739/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->{{efn|The channel 24 station, permitted with the call sign KGSL-TV, never took to the air. Continental was successful in building [[KICU-TV|KGSC-TV]] in San Jose and, per Welch, learned that television "is a very expensive business with extreme losses". Welch noted that the [[recession of 1969–1970]] made it impossible to obtain financing.<ref name="StLo700913">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fcc-may-cancel-p/33011193/|date=September 13, 1970|page=6B|title=FCC May Cancel Permit For New TV Station Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064227/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fcc-may-cancel-p/33011193/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The permit was canceled in March 1971.<ref name="BC730409">{{Cite news|page=41|date=April 9, 1973|title=White House's Dean tied to UHF dispute|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1285742435}} }}</ref>}}

Boyd Fellows, the former general manager of educational station [[KETC]] and assistant to the president of Continental, then left that company to become the president of a new firm seeking channel 30, the Greater St. Louis Television Corporation. Other officers included a Black dentist, Dr. Benjamin F. Davis, and a Washington attorney, [[John Dean]]; his then-wife, Karla Hennings, was also a stockholder.<ref name="StLo660319">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-30-for-u/128733522/|date=March 19, 1966|page=3A|first=James C.|last=Millstone|title=Channel 30 for UHF Station Here Is Sought by New Company: Application Filed With FCC—Operation Would Be in Clayton|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064241/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-30-for-u/128733522/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Dean had participated in the formation of Greater St. Louis Television Corporation in January, while he was still employed by Welch & Morgan; when the firm found out about the work, it dismissed Dean for what Welch called "unethical conduct". Though characterizations of his dismissal varied, one former associate told the ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' that he was ordered to leave immediately and not given time to pack up his belongings.<ref name="StLo730405">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-law-firm-fired-d/128768436/|date=April 5, 1973|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-dean-lost-job-in/128768509/ 15A]|first=Thomas W.|last=Ottenad|title=Law Firm Fired Dean In 1966 In Dispute Over TV Station Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064227/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-law-firm-fired-d/128768436/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> This story came to light during the [[Watergate hearings]], during which Dean was a crucial witness as to the cover-up of the [[Watergate scandal]], and was first reported by syndicated columnist [[Jack Anderson (columnist)|Jack Anderson]].{{r|BC730409|StLo730405}}

The Greater St. Louis Television Corporation received the construction permit for channel 30 on June 7, 1966,<ref name="StLo660607">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-new-tv-station-a/32852749/|date=June 7, 1966|page=3|title=New TV Station Authorized By FCC for UHF Channel 30|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064224/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-new-tv-station-a/32852749/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> and took the call sign KDNL-TV on August 17.<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/3744e927-c8cc-abc5-94f0-8476cef4d4fe|title=History Cards for KDNL-TV|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref>

==Evans Broadcasting ownership==
Citing "unanticipated difficulties and unexpected changed circumstances",{{r|StLo680723}} the stockholders of Greater St. Louis Television Corporation filed in April 1968 to sell the construction permit to financier [[Thomas Mellon Evans]].<ref>{{Cite news|page=76|work=Broadcasting|title=For the Record|id={{ProQuest|1014517497}}|date=April 29, 1968}}</ref> The transfer was granted by the FCC in late July.<ref name="StLo680723">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-evans-group-gran/128733619/|date=July 23, 1968|page=3B|title=Evans Group Granted TV Building Permit|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064231/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-evans-group-gran/128733619/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> At the time, Evans was in the middle of a push into UHF television, buying dormant construction permits for stations from [[Dallas]] to [[Worcester, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite news|page=45|title=Evans casts his net for another flock of U's|work=Broadcasting|date=December 16, 1968|id={{ProQuest|1016850371}} }}</ref>

Under Evans, construction activity finally commenced. The former studios of [[KMOX-TV]] at 13th and Cole streets were acquired to house channel 30, while the station was approved to build a tower in [[Shrewsbury, Missouri|Shrewsbury]], on land that was part of the [[Kenrick–Glennon Seminary|Kenrick Seminary]] of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis]].<ref name="StLo690117">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-shrewsbury-studi/128733734/|date=January 17, 1969|page=4S|title=Shrewsbury Studies UHF Station Plan|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724065733/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-shrewsbury-studi/128733734/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="StLo690131">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-shrewsbury-acts/128733793/|date=January 31, 1969|page=2S|title=Shrewsbury Acts on TV Tower Plea|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064237/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-shrewsbury-acts/128733793/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> In April, a {{convert|1100|ft|m|adj=on}} mast began rising on the site.<ref name="StLo690417">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-uhf-tv-tower-bei/128733835/|date=April 17, 1969|page=1N|title=UHF TV Tower Being Erected in Shrewsbury|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064233/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-uhf-tv-tower-bei/128733835/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

KDNL-TV debuted on June 8, 1969. Its program schedule was dominated by syndicated reruns of former network shows as well as a daytime financial news program, ''TV 30 Financial Observer''.<ref name="StLo690608">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-uhf-channel-30/128733868/|date=June 8, 1969|page=Television 5|title=UHF Channel 30, KDNL-TV, Joins St. Louis Area Telecasting Scene|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064230/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-uhf-channel-30/128733868/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --><ref name="StLo710811">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-tv-comment-bull/128768968/|date=August 11, 1971|page=2F|first=John J.|last=Archibald|title=TV Comment: Bullish Reaction To Market Show|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724070348/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-tv-comment-bull/128768968/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Channel 30 was the first station built by the newly formed Evans Broadcasting Corporation, which had plans to start activating additional stations.<ref name="StLo690608a">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-new-york-firm-ow/60639104/|date=June 8, 1969|page=4N|title=New York Firm Owns New TV Station Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724064334/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-new-york-firm-ow/60639104/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> KDNL-TV trailed the established [[independent station]] in the St. Louis market, [[KPLR-TV]], and had less than half of its audience share as of July 1972.<ref>{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting|page=39|first=Edwin H.|last=JAmes|title=Special report: The hard way to make money in television|id={{ProQuest|1014538304}}|date=March 5, 1973}}</ref>

In 1977, KDNL added coverage of [[St. Louis Blues]] hockey road games,<ref name="StLo770904">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-blues-tv-schedu/128790195/|date=September 4, 1977|page=2B|title=Blues' TV Schedule|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725010040/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-blues-tv-schedu/128790195/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> which aired through the 1980–81 season; after that, the games moved to [[KSDK]] (channel 5).<ref name="StLo810804">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-ksdk-to-televise/128790873/|date=August 4, 1981|page=2C|title=KSDK To Televise 15 Blues Games|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725010042/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-ksdk-to-televise/128790873/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

Evans made one attempt at expanding the reach of KDNL-TV deeper into Illinois. In June 1979, a subsidiary company, Southern Illinois Broadcasting Corporation, was granted the permit to build channel 13 at [[Mount Vernon, Illinois]], for which it had filed two years prior. However, the Evans proposal attracted protests from southern Illinois residents who feared the channel would merely be used to rebroadcast KDNL-TV programming and wanted to see a full-fledged local station for their area.<ref name="Sout790730">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-group-fights-to-keep/64864714/|date=July 30, 1979|page=3|title=Group fights to keep area's TV channel 13|newspaper=Southern Illinoisan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724070434/https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-group-fights-to-keep/64864714/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> A farmer in [[Salem, Illinois]], went as far as to refuse to lease her land for transmitter site construction when she learned of Evans's plans for channel 13.<ref name="Sout790819">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-will-proposed-area-t/64864700/|date=August 19, 1979|page=27|first=Ed|last=Bean|title=Will proposed area TV outlet be more than satellite?|newspaper=Southern Illinoisan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724070340/https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-will-proposed-area-t/64864700/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> Though Evans had secured another site and even shipped the {{convert|1000|ft|m|adj=on}} tower to Salem to be erected, the FCC responded to the residents' concerns by rescinding the permit grant in November 1979. In February 1980, citing the potential for years of litigation, it withdrew its attempt to build channel 13.<ref name="Sout800224">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-independent-tv-chann/64864749/|date=February 24, 1980|page=28|first=Ed|last=Bean|title=Independent TV Channel 13—A step nearer to reality?|newspaper=Southern Illinoisan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724070339/https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-independent-tv-chann/64864749/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

In April 1976, Evans Broadcasting applied for authority to broadcast over-the-air subscription television (STV) programming using KDNL-TV.{{r|hc}} The application languished because another company, Midwest St. Louis, had filed for channel 24 and proposed the same type of programming, and at the time the FCC only permitted one STV station per market.<ref name="StLo770620">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-a-flick-of-the-k/128734368/|date=June 20, 1977|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-tv/128734407/ 4A]|first=John J.|last=Archibald|title=A Flick Of The Knob And It's Hollywood: Subscribers Here Turned On... No Time-Outs For Commercials|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724070428/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-a-flick-of-the-k/128734368/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Despite that, the possibility of reaching the large, then-uncabled St. Louis market with pay TV programming excited interest from buyers in the STV space. [[Time Inc.]], which through its American Television and Communications unit had cable and pay TV operations, entered into negotiations to purchase the station from Evans.<ref name="StLo790611">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-time-inc-negoti/128734531/|date=June 11, 1979|page=1C|first=Eric P.|last=Mink|title=Time Inc. Negotiating For Purchase Of Channel 30|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724070341/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-time-inc-negoti/128734531/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Evans reached an agreement to sell the station to Buford Television, a Texas company in the process of moving into subscription programming with stations such as [[WSTR-TV|WBTI]] in [[Cincinnati]], in September 1979.<ref name="StLo790917">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-texas-firm-to-bu/65723753/|date=September 17, 1979|page=12A|title=Texas Firm To Buy KDNL-TV|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724070347/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-texas-firm-to-bu/65723753/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> With that sale pending, in February 1980, the FCC granted subscription authority to KDNL-TV.<ref name="StLo800229">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-action-by-fcc-al/128734627/|date=February 29, 1980|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-tv/128734644/ 9A]|first=Eric P.|last=Mink|title=Action By FCC Allows Subscription Television Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724070428/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-action-by-fcc-al/128734627/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Though the FCC granted the Buford deal on April 30, the agreement was withdrawn on May 8.{{r|hc}}

==Cox Broadcasting ownership==
Evans announced in March 1981 that he had sold KDNL-TV for $13.2 million to [[Cox Broadcasting]], which at the time owned no UHF stations and only one independent, [[KTVU]] in [[Oakland, California]].<ref name="StLo810303">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-atlanta-firm-agr/65724380/|date=March 3, 1981|page=9A|title=Atlanta Firm Agrees To Buy KDNL-TV Here|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724073111/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-atlanta-firm-agr/65724380/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Upon completing the purchase in January 1982, Cox announced its plans to debut subscription television service on the station later in the year, once it had acquired sufficient equipment and personnel to handle the new operation. Cox Broadcasting president William A. Schwartz believed that the service could be viable even if just 15 to 20 percent of residents signed up for it, citing the large market and relatively low cable penetration.<ref name="StLo820121">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-cox-acquires-kdn/128735019/|date=January 21, 1982|page=7C|first=Connie S.|last=Harrison|title=Cox Acquires KDNL; Plans Subscription Television|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724073108/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-cox-acquires-kdn/128735019/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Beginning on June 1, 1982, KDNL-TV replaced its prime time and late night lineup with Preview, a subscription service featuring first-run movies and late night adult programming.<ref name="StLo820602">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-30-scram/30948599/|date=June 2, 1982|page=7D|first=Monte|last=Plott|title=Channel 30 Scrambles For Extra Pay-TV Dollars|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=June 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628104432/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-30-scram/30948599/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Subscribers paid $24.90 a month plus a $49.95 installation fee.<ref>{{Cite news|work=[[Electronic Media]]|first=Lori|last=Kesler|page=17|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_televisionweek_1982-10-07_1_19/page/n15/mode/2up?q=KDNL|title=Adult movies help Preview in St. Louis|date=October 7, 1982}}</ref>

Preview failed in St. Louis due to poor economic conditions and a lack of sports rights (though seven [[St. Louis Cardinals]] baseball games were telecast<ref>{{Cite news|pages=51, 54, 56, 58, 60, 66, 70|work=Broadcasting|date=February 28, 1983|title=Special Report: Baseball 1983|id={{ProQuest|963236690}} }}</ref>), in addition to a faster-than-anticipated wiring of the area for cable. In October, the company began aggressively discounting installation fees for new subscribers, causing it to lose money for every subscriber that signed up for Preview. Amid losses estimated at $100,000 a month and with just 10,000 households signed up, Cox announced in December 1982 that it would cease subscription television service on February 28, 1983.<ref name="stlshut">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30948634/preview_paytv_operation_to_shut_down/|title=Preview Pay-TV Operation To Shut Down|first=Eric|last=Mink|page=12A|access-date=July 13, 2019|date=December 17, 1982|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|archive-date=July 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714002849/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30948634/preview_paytv_operation_to_shut_down/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Preview operation also hurt the station's ability to sell commercial advertising; advertisers were put off by the lost ad inventory and adult programming. Michael S. Kievman told a panel at the 1983 conference of the Association of Independent Television Stations (INTV) that he had received comments like "No one watches you, you're not really a TV station."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Troubled times for some STV operators|work=Broadcasting|date=January 24, 1983|pages=72–73|id={{ProQuest|1016905408}} }}</ref>

Emerging from Preview, Cox invested $2 million in updating the station's facilities. Blues hockey returned to the station,<ref name="StLo851120">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kdnls-manager-f/128735181/|date=November 20, 1985|page=3E|title=KDNL's Manager Fights 'Rerun' Image: Bill Viands takes pride in offering viewers alternative program|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725010137/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kdnls-manager-f/128735181/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> though it moved to KPLR-TV in 1986.<ref name="Dail860919">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-journal-blues-send-four-down/128791361/|date=September 19, 1986|page=5|title=Blues send four down|newspaper=The Daily Journal|agency=Associated Press|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725010042/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-journal-blues-send-four-down/128791361/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> KDNL-TV became a charter affiliate of Fox at its launch in October 1986.<ref>{{Cite news|pages=44–45|title=Fox network begins to take shape|id={{ProQuest|963254490}}|work=Broadcasting|date=August 4, 1986|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-08-04.pdf|access-date=March 11, 2023|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127014659/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-08-04.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> However, at the outset, Fox programming was little help for the station, which in May 1987 was tying KETC in the critical early evening period and was being beaten by KPLR by a factor of six-to-one.<ref name="StLo870622">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-5-still/128735441/|date=June 22, 1987|page=7D|first=Eric|last=Mink|title=Channel 5 Still Rules Ratings Roost|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725010043/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-5-still/128735441/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The network's flagging ''[[The Late Show (1986 talk show)|The Late Show]]'' with [[Joan Rivers]] was pulled from KDNL-TV's schedule two months before its cancellation.<ref name="StLo871113">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fox-tv-series-d/128735504/|date=November 13, 1987|page=9G|first=Eric|last=Mink|title=Fox TV Series: Definite Mixed Bag|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725011044/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fox-tv-series-d/128735504/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

==River City Broadcasting ownership==
===Building a media group===
{{Quote box
| quote = I said [to Cox], 'What does an outfit like yours want with that loser? It's never going to be No. 1.' That's all that mattered to them, being No. 1. They didn't see how the station could fit in. They didn't see the potential.
| author = Barry Baker
| source = on how he convinced Cox to sell KDNL-TV{{r|StLo931223}}
| align = right
| width = 250px
| salign = right
}}
In the fall of 1988, two former senior executives of KPLR-TV owner [[Koplar Communications]]—Barry Baker and Larry Marcus—formed Better Communications Inc. to acquire television and radio stations. They first offered to buy KPLR-TV and were then fired by company president Ted Koplar. Instead, their first purchase was KDNL, acquired from Cox. In selling channel 30, Cox Broadcasting president Stanley G. Mouse noted that the station "[did] not fit the profile of our other television stations", which included five network affiliates plus two independents in larger markets (KTVU and [[WKBD-TV]] in Detroit), all of which broadcast local news; another Cox source noted that the station had been a money-loser for Cox, in part because of the failed Preview service in 1982–1983. At the time of the purchase, KDNL had a total sign-on to sign-off share of five percent, trailing KPLR at 11 percent.<ref name="StLo890222">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-former-kplr-exec/128735094/|date=February 22, 1989|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kdnl/128735129/ 8A]|title=Former KPLR Executives Agree To Purchase KDNL|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725011045/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-former-kplr-exec/128735094/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

For Barry and Marcus, the purchase of KDNL-TV was the first act in the construction of a broadcasting group. In May 1989, a deal was struck to acquire [[KABB]], an independent station in [[San Antonio, Texas]], under the name River City Television Partners,<ref name="StLo890502">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-st-louis-group/128735641/|date=May 2, 1989|page=6C|title=St. Louis Group Buys TV Station In Texas|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725011045/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-st-louis-group/128735641/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> which came to represent the entire group.<ref name="StLo890915">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-owner-of-kdnl-tv/128735657/|date=September 15, 1989|page=7C|title=Owner Of KDNL-TV Sues Firm Over Delay In Selling Station|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725011130/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-owner-of-kdnl-tv/128735657/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The firm then expanded into radio broadcasting when it acquired St. Louis radio station [[KPNT|KSTZ]] out of bankruptcy in 1990. River City changed the call letters and branded the station as "The Fox", a complement to his Fox affiliate.<ref name="StLo900708">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-talbots-petites/128792064/|date=July 8, 1990|page=1C|first=Jerry|last=Berger|author-link=Jerry Berger|title=Talbot's Petites Coming To Plaza Frontenac In September|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725011049/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-talbots-petites/128792064/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> With the addition of the radio station, the company became [[River City Broadcasting]] (RCB).<ref name="StLo901011">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kstzs-buyers-pu/121016758/|date=October 11, 1990|page=7E|first=Darrell|last=McWhorter|title=KSTZ's Buyers Put Faith In New Partner|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725011119/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kstzs-buyers-pu/121016758/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

KDNL finally took flight under River City ownership. Within a year, aided in part by the introduction of meters to measure ratings, the station doubled its total-day audience share from five to eleven percent, narrowly behind KPLR, as well as its revenue.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Executive boosts ratings of former rival TV station|first=Gary Alan|last=Rosen|work=[[Electronic Media]]|date=February 26, 1990|page=8|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_televisionweek_1990-02-26_9_9/page/n7/mode/2up?q=KDNL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Rick|last=Desloge|work=St. Louis Business Journal|title=Switching channels: KDNL, KPLR increase revenues due to change in measuring viewership|id={{Gale|A8340251}}|date=January 22, 1990}}</ref> By December 1993, it was the fourth highest-rated Fox affiliate in the nation, with an intensive focus on children's programming, counterprogramming the other stations, and Fox network programming.<ref name="StLo931223">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-barry-baker-mon/128735857/|date=December 23, 1993|pages=1G, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-baker/128735887/ 7G]|first=Florence|last=Shinkle|title=Barry Baker, Money Maker: River City Broadcasting's CEO does it as an outsider who loves the battle|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725013549/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-barry-baker-mon/128735857/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The 1994 edition of its Fox 30 Kids Fair, featuring guest appearances by two [[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers|Power Rangers]], attracted more than 50,000 attendees.<ref>{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|213631082}}|work=Mediaweek|title=Oh, what a beautiful morning|first=Eric|last=Schmuckler|date=April 18, 1994|page=22}}</ref>

In February 1994, River City announced it would take the next step in growing KDNL-TV by starting a local half-hour 9 p.m. newscast to air beginning in early 1995. General manager Gregg Filandrinos credited the decision to start a newscast to [[NFL on Fox|Fox's acquisition of National Football League]] television rights.<ref name="StLo940218">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-30-is-pl/123947916/|date=February 18, 1994|page=10D|first=Jim|last=Gallagher|title=Channel 30 Is Planning To Start Own Newscast|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725013615/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-30-is-pl/123947916/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Renovation work estimated at more than $3 million began later that year to add news facilities to the channel 30 studios.{{r|StLo940827}}

===Affiliation switch to ABC and launch of local news===
{{see|1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment}}
The arrival of NFL football to Fox, however, also triggered a massive realignment in television station affiliations which began in earnest on May 23, 1994, when [[New World Pictures#New World Communications|New World Communications]] announced it would switch 12 of its stations affiliated with ABC, CBS, and NBC to Fox. Included were three stations New World had just agreed to acquire from [[Argyle Television]], including [[KTVI]], the then-ABC affiliate in St. Louis. With KTVI switching to Fox, the ABC affiliation was now open. KSDK and KMOV, the two strongest stations in the market, both were in long-term agreements with their respective networks.<ref>{{Cite magazine|first=David H.|last=Cohen|date=September 1994|magazine=St. Louis Journalism Review|title=A lot of history behind ABC's move to Channel 30|id={{Gale|A16109705}} }}</ref> This left two primary contenders: KPLR and KDNL, plus home shopping station [[WRBU|WHSL]] (channel 46). Though KPLR was the stronger-rated independent and a VHF station unlike KDNL, it was heavily committed to sports with contracts for Cardinals baseball and Blues hockey games that would lead to significant preemptions of network prime time programming, and it had also signed on to affiliate with [[The WB]] when it launched in 1995.<ref name="StLo940524">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-deal-may-let-fox/31849559/|date=May 24, 1994|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-television/128736017/ 5A]|first=Jim|last=Gallagher|title=Deal May Let Fox Go To Channel 2|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725013552/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-deal-may-let-fox/31849559/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --><ref name="StLo940529">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-scramble/75061691/|date=May 29, 1994|pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-tv/128736130/ 3E]|first=Jim|last=Gallagher|title=Channel Scramble: At Least Two Stations Seek ABC Alliance|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725013552/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-scramble/75061691/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The sports preemptions hurt KPLR in its negotiations with ABC.{{r|StLo940827}}

On August 26, 1994, ABC announced that KDNL-TV would become its St. Louis affiliate beginning in mid-1995. Once that took place, KDNL-TV planned to scale up its nascent news operation to a level befitting a "Big Three" affiliate. The already-planned 9 p.m. newscast would shift to 10 p.m. and be joined by new 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts.<ref name="StLo940827">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-abc-oks-move-to/128736176/|date=August 27, 1994|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-tv/128736205/ 4A]|first1=Adam|last1=Goodman|first2=Jerry|last2=Berger|title=ABC OKs Move To KDNL: Channel 30 Gains 10-Year Agreement|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725013552/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-abc-oks-move-to/128736176/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The agreement was concurrent with a renewal for two of the three ABC stations River City was buying at the time: [[WSYX]] in [[Columbus, Ohio]], and [[WLOS]] in [[Asheville, North Carolina]]. The third station, [[KOVR]] in [[Stockton, California]], was excluded because it was losing its ABC affiliation to a station owned by the [[Belo Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite news|page=2|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_televisionweek_1994-08-29_13_35/page/n1/mode/2up?q=KDNL|date=August 29, 1994|work=[[Electronic Media]]|title=At Press Time}}</ref>

In its last months with Fox, on January 1, 1995, KDNL began airing a 9 p.m. newscast, ''News 30 Now''. It was the first new television newsroom in St. Louis since KPLR went on the air in 1959 and heavily relied on talent from elsewhere. Of the station's anchors and reporters, only one was already working in the market—the station's public affairs director, who doubled as the weekend anchor. The on-air talent came from stations as far away as [[Winnipeg]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], and [[Spokane, Washington]]. Unlike other startup newsrooms of the period at Fox affiliates, KDNL shied away from an offbeat, edgy style in favor of a more straightforward news presentation.<ref name="StLo941229">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-birth-of-the-new/128736253/|date=December 29, 1994|pages=1G, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-newscast/128736269/ 5G], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-newscast/128736315/ 6G]|first=Gail|last=Pennington|title=Birth of the News: After 12-month gestation, Channel 30's baby goes on the air at 9 p.m. Sunday|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725013552/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-birth-of-the-new/128736253/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Channels|magazine=St. Louis Journalism Review|date=November 1994|first=Ian|last=MacBryde|id={{Gale|A16501934}} }}</ref>

In addition, KDNL began airing ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' in overnight hours in 1995 after becoming a secondary affiliate of [[UPN]].<ref name="Bell950831">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-voyager-w/128803407/|date=August 31, 1995|page=6C|title='Voyager' wins ratings in big TV markets|newspaper=The Belleville News-Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014006/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-voyager-w/128803407/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref>{{Cite press release|date=November 30, 1994|id={{ProQuest|447730881}}|title=United Paramount Network significantly boosts coverage as 22 new affiliates sign on|first=John|last=Wentworth|publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref> KDNL dropped UPN programming in January 1998, leaving the network without a St. Louis affiliate until 1999, when Christian station [[KNLC]] briefly began airing some of its programming.<ref name="StLo990530">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-24-joins/128804441/|date=May 30, 1999|page=C9|title=Channel 24 joins UPN; 'Star Trek: Voyager' returns|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014047/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-24-joins/128804441/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --><ref name="StLo000913">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-upn-is-left-home/75000298/|date=September 13, 2000|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-pennington/75000301/ E8]|first=Gail|last=Pennington|title=UPN is left homeless in St. Louis after Channel 24 cuts ties|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014007/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-upn-is-left-home/75000298/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

KDNL-TV became the new ABC affiliate in St. Louis on August 7, 1995, with its level of network programming increasing from 35 to 85 hours a week.<ref name="Bell950806">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-the-big-swi/128804073/|date=August 6, 1995|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-switch/128804148/ 11C]|first=Doug|last=Kaufman|title=The Big Switch: Channel 2 and Channel 30 adopt new identities|newspaper=The Belleville News-Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014007/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-the-big-swi/128804073/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> KDNL aired all ABC programming that KTVI had aired but maintained KTVI's preemption of the soap opera ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]].''<ref name="StLo950801">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-for-some-viewers/75000078/|date=August 1, 1995|page=6D|first=Gail|last=Pennington|title=For Some Viewers, 2 Doesn't Go Into 30|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=May 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503194950/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-for-some-viewers/75000078/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Fox Kids programming did not immediately move to KTVI; KNLC stepped in to pick up the shows,<ref name="StLo950813">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-dynamic-duo-rev/128803055/|date=August 13, 1995|page=6D|first=Gail|last=Pennington|title=Dynamic Duo? Rev. Rice, Fox Kids Shows|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014008/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-dynamic-duo-rev/128803055/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> but issues over signal quality and replacement of commercials with [[public service announcement]]s (including urging children to protest an execution), plus the size of the Fox Kids Club in St. Louis, the nation's largest, resulted in the children's block moving to KTVI in September 1996.<ref name="StLo960808">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fox-kids-program/75000167/|date=August 8, 1996|page=6G|first=Gail|last=Pennington|title=Fox Kids Programming Moves To Channel 2|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014514/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-fox-kids-program/75000167/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

Immediately upon the switch, ''News 30'' moved from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. and debuted a 6 p.m. edition.{{r|StLo950801}} The station also signed Don Marsh, a veteran St. Louis news anchor who had left KTVI the year before, to anchor its newscasts.<ref name="StLo950806">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-marsh-back-as-an/128737058/|date=August 6, 1995|page=1D|first=Gail|last=Pennington|title=Marsh Back As Anchor—At KDNL|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014512/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-marsh-back-as-an/128737058/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

==Sinclair Broadcast Group ownership==
===Purchase of River City===
On April 11, 1996, River City announced that it would merge with the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] for $2.3&nbsp;billion, creating a company with 29 television and 34 radio stations nationwide. Barry Baker relocated to [[Baltimore]], where Sinclair is headquartered, and remained with the combined company as the president and chief executive officer of its broadcasting division.<ref>{{cite magazine|id={{ProQuest|225360423}}|title=Sinclair's $2.3B powerhouse|first=Steve|last=McClellan|magazine=Broadcasting & Cable|date=April 15, 1996}}</ref> At the time, KDNL-TV was unsettled in senior management. Original news director Gary Whitaker had left to run a TV station in [[Springfield, Missouri]]; the general manager then resigned to produce a syndicated talk show. Channel 30 was described by insiders as adrift, poorly rated, and with low morale in the newsroom. Its 10 p.m. newscast was well behind third-place KTVI.<ref name="StLo960412">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-30-staff/128736602/|date=April 12, 1996|page=8E|first=Tripp|last=Frohlichstein|title=Channel 30 Staffing News: One Job Filled, Another Not|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014514/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-30-staff/128736602/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Sinclair continued to expand the former River City cluster in St. Louis by adding three radio stations being spun off by [[Heritage Media]] in 1997.<ref name="StLo970717">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-3-radio-stations/128805643/|date=July 17, 1997|page=1C|first=Kyung M.|last=Song|title=3 Radio Stations Bought By Group: WIL-FM Is Among Sinclair Additions|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014511/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-3-radio-stations/128805643/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

However, KDNL-TV's news efforts gained little traction and were plagued by high turnover as well as a reputation for sensationalized reporting.<ref name="SLJR9705a">{{Cite news|work=St. Louis Journalism Review|first=Ed|last=Bishop|title=Bumpy road for Channel 30 news|id={{Gale|A19601931}}|date=May 1997}}</ref> Tripp Frohlichstein, writing in the ''St. Louis Journalism Review'', found the news department insufficiently staffed and the anchor team lacking chemistry; of the station's two daily newscasts, he wrote that KDNL-TV "gives the impression that it is not serious about the news".<ref>{{Cite news|first=Tripp|last=Frohlichstein|title=Channel 30 news image falls short|date=May 1997|work=St. Louis Journalism Review|id={{Gale|A19601937}} }}</ref> Don Marsh left the television news business in August 1998 when he failed to come to terms with Sinclair on a contract renewal; he was replaced by Patrick Emory, who had worked for [[CNN]] as well as KMOV-TV and KSDK.<ref name="StLo981018">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-local-tv-moves/128807046/|date=October 18, 1998|page=A2|first=Jerry|last=Berger|title=Local TV moves: Edlund will exit, Emory returns|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014510/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-local-tv-moves/128807046/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The other main anchor, Leslie Lyles—who had been with the station since the news department started—exited in 1999 and returned to [[Charleston, South Carolina]], where she had been working prior to joining the KDNL news team.<ref>{{cite news|page=1F|title=Solo slot surprise for Lyles|first=Lisa|last=Lipman|work=[[The Post and Courier]]|date=August 22, 1999}}</ref> The station had three news directors in less than three and a half years, one of them—David Cohen—resigning in the wake of a racist joke he made at a news meeting.<ref name="StLo980827">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-don-marsh-leaves/128736776/|date=August 27, 1998|page=A2|first=Gail|last=Pennington|title=Don Marsh leaves Channel 30, ending his TV news career|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725014516/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-don-marsh-leaves/128736776/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> He told a Black reporter proposing a story on heart disease that "anyone who eats fried chicken and mashed potatoes is going to have heart disease".<ref>{{Cite news|first=Ed|last=Bishop|title=Do you really trust Channel 30?|work=St. Louis Journalism Review|date=September 1998|id={{Gale|A21159933}} }}</ref> Gail Pennington of the ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' would later comment that the constant changes in on-air personnel were anathema to viewers, noting that "St. Louis doesn't like change."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ajrarchive.org/Article.asp?id=2410|work=American Journalism Review|title=Darkened Set|first=Kathryn S.|last=Wenner|date=November 2001}}</ref> Frohlichstein concurred, writing, "More than most cities, St. Louis viewers stick with what they know."<ref>{{Cite news|work=St. Louis Journalism Review|title=Channel 30 pulls the plug on local news|date=October 2001|first1=Tripp|last1=Frohlichstein|first2=Ed|last2=Bishop|id={{Gale|A79412920}} }}</ref>

===Emmis option dispute===
In February 1999, Barry Baker quit his position at Sinclair, where he was the "heir apparent" to company president [[David D. Smith]], to become the president and chief operating officer of [[USA Networks]].<ref name="StLo990219">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-local-broadcast/128736970/|date=February 19, 1999|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-baker-local-per/128736941/ A10]|first=Christopher|last=Carey|title=Local broadcast figure becomes USA Networks president|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015014/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-local-broadcast/128736970/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> His employment agreement with Sinclair gave him the option to buy back Sinclair's media properties in one of two markets—St. Louis or [[Greenville, South Carolina]]—if exercised before August 8, 1999.<ref name="StLo990512">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-ex-owner-of-chan/128736874/|date=May 12, 1999|page=A2|first=Jerry|last=Berger|title=Ex-owner of Channel 30 is facing a big deadline|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015014/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-ex-owner-of-chan/128736874/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="StLo990626">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-emmis-buys-kdnl/121103633/|date=June 26, 1999|page=24 OT|first=Gail|last=Pennington|title=Emmis buys KDNL-TV, 6 radio outlets|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015014/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-emmis-buys-kdnl/121103633/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> In June, Baker transferred the option agreement to [[Emmis Communications]], an Indianapolis-based radio and television station group that already owned three St. Louis radio stations, which then proceeded to attempt to exercise the agreement to purchase KDNL-TV and Sinclair's six local radio stations.{{r|StLo990626}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Emmis to buy Sinclair stations here|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/1999/06/21/daily16.html|periodical=St. Louis Business Journals|publisher=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=June 25, 1999|access-date=July 11, 2015|archive-date=July 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712211139/http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/1999/06/21/daily16.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|The radio stations: [[KPNT]] (105.7 FM); KXOK-FM (97.1 FM, now [[KFTK-FM]]); WVRV (101.1 FM, now [[WXOS]]); WRTH (1430 AM, later [[KZQZ]]); [[WIL-FM]] (92.3); and KIHT (96.3 FM, now [[WFUN-FM]]).}} 

The manner in which the option agreement was transferred and executed instead led to a legal fight. In January 2000, Sinclair sued Emmis and Baker in its home state of [[Maryland]] and charged that the proposed buyer had no rights to acquire the stations, saying the option was too vague to take effect and was not designed to allow a party other than Baker to purchase them.<ref name="Balt000321">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-sinclair-faces-300-mi/128808013/|first=Mark|last=Ribbing|page=2C|date=March 21, 2000|title=Sinclair faces $300 million countersuit: Ex-executive, rival firm object of $40 million suit|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015015/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-sinclair-faces-300-mi/128808013/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In the lawsuit, Sinclair noted that Emmis asked Sinclair to pay millions of dollars to replace KDNL's transmitter and in employee severance costs, as well as to assign its ABC affiliation agreement unchanged to Emmis.<ref name="StLo000120">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-sinclair-sues-to/121103658/|date=January 20, 2000|page=C1|first=Jim|last=Gallagher|title=Sinclair sues to block sale of six area radio stations|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015014/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-sinclair-sues-to/121103658/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The lawsuit was read by one Wall Street analyst as a stalling tactic to allow it to keep the cash flow from the radio stations for as long as possible before selling them.<ref>{{cite news|work=Mediaweek|first=Katy|last=Bachman|page=14|title=Emmis singing the blues over Sinclair|id={{ProQuest|213630592}}|date=January 24, 2000}}</ref> Two months later, Baker and Emmis filed a countersuit against Sinclair, accusing Sinclair of interfering with their agreement and engaging in "gross mismanagement" of the St. Louis stations.{{r|Balt000321}} In June, Sinclair and Emmis settled the legal actions; Sinclair retained KDNL-TV and sold the St. Louis radio stations, the last ones it owned,<ref name="Balt000623">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-sinclair-selling-last/128808237/|date=June 23, 2000|page=2C|first=Amanda J.|last=Crawford|title=Sinclair selling last 6 of its radio stations|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015015/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-sinclair-selling-last/128808237/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> to Emmis for $220&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair to sell six radio stations to Emmis|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2000/06/19/daily20.html|periodical=St. Louis Business Journal|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=June 22, 2000|access-date=July 11, 2015|archive-date=July 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712203001/http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2000/06/19/daily20.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The effect of the option agreement dispute was to leave KDNL-TV in a state of limbo and neglect for a year. Maintenance of the station's equipment fell off, and after a late 1999 fire affecting the transmission line on its Shrewsbury mast, the transmitter repeatedly failed, forcing KDNL off the air. Because of this and work to install KDNL's digital signal, which signed on January 2, 2001,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Television & Cable Factbook|date=2006|chapter=KDNL-DT|page=A-1322}}</ref> the station operated on severely reduced power, leaving many non-cable homes without KDNL or ABC programming.<ref name="StLo011012">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-after-tonights/110563773/|date=October 12, 2001|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kdnl/110563787/ B4]|first=Gail|last=Pennington|title=After tonight's shows, it's lights out for Channel 30 news; 47 lose their jobs|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015554/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-after-tonights/110563773/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The news department downsized from 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts, having abandoned the 6 p.m. timeslot in 1996,<ref>{{Cite news|title=St. Louis|first=Eileen|last=Davis Hudson|pages=15–18|work=Mediaweek|id={{ProQuest|213633382}}|date=March 5, 2001}}</ref> to just the 10 p.m. edition. While the early report was reinstated in December 2000, it could not regain the viewers it had, with more than twice as many St. Louis-area households watching ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina the Teenage Witch]]'' on KPLR-TV. Despite this turmoil, KDNL shocked industry observers by winning the regional [[Emmy Award]] for best large-market newscast.<ref name="StLo010929">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-30-will/124074883/|date=September 29, 2001|page=14|first=Gail|last=Pennington|title=Channel 30 will drop its local news broadcasts|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015535/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-channel-30-will/124074883/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

===Discontinuation of local news===
{{Quote box
| quote = ...in St. Louis, the landscape for news is always treacherous, especially for a station like KDNL. News viewership here is deeply entrenched, with television watchers overwhelmingly choosing [[KSDK]] and [[KMOV]]. Read a ratings report from 10 years ago, or even 20, and the substance is very much the same: Channel 5 in first place, and Channel 4 battling to go ahead but never quite managing.
| author = Gail Pennington
| source = television critic, ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]''<ref name="StLo010930">{{Cite news |last=Pennington |first=Gail |date=September 30, 2001 |title=Dominant foes KO'd newscasts on KDNL |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-dominant-foes-ko/124075924/ C6] |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-dominant-foes-ko/124075910/ |access-date=May 4, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015531/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-dominant-foes-ko/124075910/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| width = 325px
}}
On September 28, 2001, KDNL-TV general manager Tom Tipton informed the staff and the public that the station would cease airing local news on October 12, laying off all 47 staffers in its newsroom. Tipton cited "the increased competitive landscape and current market conditions" that "made it increasingly difficult to operate a competitive news operation". Other factors included a negative jolt to advertising revenue compounded by the [[September 11 attacks]] and financial trouble within Sinclair itself.{{r|StLo010929|StLo011012}} At the time, Sinclair was closing down some of its underperforming news departments across the country. In November 2000, it shut down the newsroom at [[WTWC-TV]] in [[Tallahassee, Florida]]; it also had cut back the newsroom at [[WXLV-TV]] in [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina]],<ref name="BC011008">{{Cite news|page=22|first=Dan|last=Trigoboff|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=KDNL's St. Louis news blues|date=October 8, 2001|id={{ProQuest|225299908}} }}</ref> before closing it altogether in January 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-newscast/128809497/ A6]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wxlv-pulls-plug-on-newsc/128809473/|first=Jamie|last=Kritzer|title=WXLV to pull plug on newscast: The ABC affiliate has consistently had the smallest audience among the area's four network affiliates during the past six years|work=Greensboro News & Record|date=January 3, 2002|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015526/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wxlv-pulls-plug-on-newsc/128809473/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-abc-45-tv/128809583/ B6]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-abc-45-will-end-it/128809547/|work=Winston-Salem Journal|title=ABC 45 will end its news shows: Official says station was unable to make broadcasts profitable|first=Michael|last=Biesecker|date=January 3, 2002|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015528/https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-abc-45-will-end-it/128809547/|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result of closing its news department, KDNL-TV became the only [[Big Three (American television)|Big Four]]-affiliated station in the 25 largest media markets in the United States not to offer any local news.{{r|BC011008}}

Sinclair once again tried to sell the station in June 2002 as part of the company's eventually aborted attempt to sell all seven of its ABC-affiliated stations to focus on its Fox and WB stations.<ref name="SLBJ020701">{{cite news|title=KDNL for sale; could fetch $100&nbsp;million|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2002/07/01/story1.html|first=Rick|last=Desloge|periodical=St. Louis Business Journal|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=June 30, 2002|access-date=July 11, 2015|archive-date=July 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712213957/http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2002/07/01/story1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Even without local news, KDNL has largely been among the weakest affiliates of ABC since switching to the network and generally ranks fifth in total ratings.{{r|SLBJ020701}} The network's difficulty in St. Louis was not new: the market had always been an underperformer for ABC, even when KTVI was the affiliate, though NBC and CBS had higher-than-average viewership.{{r|StLo010930|SLJR9705a}}

In 2017, Sinclair entered into [[Attempted acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcast Group|an agreement]] to acquire [[Tribune Media]], owner of KTVI and KPLR. The two stations were in the top four in ratings, but KDNL was not; Sinclair proposed to own KTVI and KDNL while providing services to KPLR. In February 2018, it amended its proposal to specify a spin-off of KPLR to an independent buyer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair Unveils Tribune Merger Spin-Off Plan|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/111389/sinclair-to-spin-off-trib-tvs-in-ny-chicago|first=Harry A.|last=Jessell|work=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=February 21, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=February 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222165041/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/111389/sinclair-to-spin-off-trib-tvs-in-ny-chicago|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 24, 2018, the [[Meredith Corporation]], owner of KMOV, announced that it would purchase KPLR-TV for $65 million;<ref name="slpd-saletomeredith">{{cite news|title=KPLR among 23 stations being sold to clear Sinclair's takeover of Tribune Media|url=https://www.stltoday.com/life-entertainment/local/movies-tv/article_b9a5e295-53a8-5d45-94de-3091fbb46191.html|access-date=April 24, 2018|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|date=April 24, 2018|archive-date=April 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424235158/http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/kplr-among-stations-being-sold-to-clear-sinclair-s-takeover/article_b9a5e295-53a8-5d45-94de-3091fbb46191.amp.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the bid was soon scratched amid objections by the Department of Justice, with Sinclair instead proposing to sell KPLR to a divestiture trust.<ref name="kplrsaleoff">{{cite web|last=Jacobson|first=Adam|title=Exclusive: Meredith Bid For Sinclair Station Iced|url=https://www.rbr.com/meredith-sinclair-station-sale-deny/|work=Radio & Television Business Report|date=May 22, 2018|access-date=May 22, 2018|archive-date=May 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518124526/https://www.rbr.com/meredith-sinclair-station-sale-deny/|url-status=live}}</ref> The larger Sinclair–Tribune deal never progressed; after the FCC designated it for hearing by an [[administrative law judge]], Tribune called off the deal and sued Sinclair in August 2018.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair and Tribune Fall as FCC Slams TV Station Sale Plan|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-16/fcc-rejects-sinclair-plan-for-tv-station-sales-in-tribune-deal-jjof6bcs|first=Todd|last=Shields|agency=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg News]]|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=July 19, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004022344/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-16/fcc-rejects-sinclair-plan-for-tv-station-sales-in-tribune-deal-jjof6bcs|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tribune Kills Sinclair Merger, Files Suit|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/220320/tribune-kills-sinclair-merger/|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329181121/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/tribune-kills-sinclair-merger/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Local news programming since 2001===
====News share agreement with KSDK (2011–2014)====
{{further|KSDK#News operation}}
On January 3, 2011, NBC affiliate KSDK began producing weeknight 5 and 10&nbsp;p.m. newscasts for KDNL through a news share agreement. The newscasts, known as ''STL Now on ABC 30'', were produced at KSDK's Market Street studios in [[Downtown St. Louis]] and required the hiring of additional personnel.<ref>{{cite web|title=NewsChannel 5 to produce original content for KDNL, ABC 30|url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=226560&catid=3|website=[[KSDK]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|access-date=September 6, 2012|archive-date=July 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713010930/http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=226560&catid=3|url-status=live}}</ref> KDNL general manager Tom Tipton stated that the station did not want to run simulcast or repurposed newscasts in its efforts to return daily news broadcasts to the station. The KSDK-produced newscasts on KDNL were pre-taped in advance.<ref name="Bell101113">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-local-newsc/128813330/|date=November 13, 2010|page=B3|first=Will|last=Buss|title=Local newscasts scheduled to return to KDNL|newspaper=The Belleville News-Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 25, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725015527/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-local-newsc/128813330/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> There was no sports report featured during the program. The news share agreement between the two stations was quite unusual given the rarity of a Big Three network affiliate producing newscasts for another Big Three station. In this case, KDNL and KSDK competed against one another in both timeslots. Although KDNL only aired local news programming on weekdays, the station did air replays of KSDK's entertainment/features program ''Show Me St. Louis'' on weekends. The agreement with KSDK was to end on December 31, 2013,<ref name=slpd-ksdkonkdnlend>{{cite news|title=KSDK to stop producing newscasts for KDNL|url=http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ksdk-to-stop-producing-newscasts-for-kdnl/article_1f7db579-5ba9-55c7-ab4e-1dc5c33771dc.html|first=Lisa|last=Brown|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=June 20, 2013|access-date=June 22, 2013|archive-date=August 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821061543/http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ksdk-to-stop-producing-newscasts-for-kdnl/article_1f7db579-5ba9-55c7-ab4e-1dc5c33771dc.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but it continued into January 2014.{{r|slpd-kdnlnewsreturn?}}

====''The Allman Report'' (2014–2018)====
On February 10, 2014, the ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' reported that the station intended to restart an in-house news department, with 5 and 10&nbsp;p.m. newscasts slated to be anchored by KFTK (97.1 FM) morning host and former KMOV reporter Jamie Allman.<ref name="slpd-kdnlnewsreturn?">{{cite news|last=Holleman|first=Joe|title=KDNL plans to resurrect its own newscasts|url=http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/columns/joe-holleman/kdnl-plans-to-resurrect-its-own-newscasts/article_a90d42cf-2765-5673-ad1f-7dbe540f1998.html|access-date=February 11, 2014|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=February 10, 2014|archive-date=August 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828111647/http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/columns/joe-holleman/kdnl-plans-to-resurrect-its-own-newscasts/article_a90d42cf-2765-5673-ad1f-7dbe540f1998.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 24, 2014, KDNL officially announced that it would launch its new news program, ''The Allman Report'', in January 2015. KDNL and Allman described the program as an extension of his radio show, with a [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]], "debate-driven format" that focused on local headlines and issues. ''The Allman Report'' originated from the studios of Pelopidas in [[Brentwood, Missouri|Brentwood]] rather than from KDNL's facilities.<ref name=slpd-kdnlallmanreport>{{cite news|last1=Pennington|first1=Gail|title=KDNL will launch 'non-traditional newscast' in January|url=http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/television/gail-pennington/kdnl-will-launch-non-traditional-newscast-in-january/article_063117bd-780b-5c58-9302-d01167353510.html|access-date=November 24, 2014|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=November 24, 2014|archive-date=March 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316032504/http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/television/gail-pennington/kdnl-will-launch-non-traditional-newscast-in-january/article_063117bd-780b-5c58-9302-d01167353510.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The program continued until April 9, 2018, when it was canceled by KDNL amid calls for a viewer and advertiser boycott. The cancellation took place two weeks after Allman [[Twitter|tweeted]] a message alluding to him wanting to assault 17-year-old [[David Hogg]], a student who was on campus at the time of the [[Parkland high school shooting]], by [[sodomizing]] him with a heated [[fire poker]] for his [[gun control]] activism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/10/us/sinclair-commentator-resigns-jamie-allman-david-hogg/index.html|title=Sinclair TV host resigns after making vulgar comment about Parkland student David Hogg|last=McLaughlin|first=Eliott C.|date=April 10, 2018|publisher=CNN|access-date=September 30, 2023|quote="When we kick their ass they all like to claim we're drunk. I've been hanging out getting ready to ram a hot poker up David Hogg's ass tomorrow. Busy working. Preparing."}}</ref> Allman was fired from KFTK and took his Twitter account private.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/jamie-allman-loses-channel-show-amid-controversy-over-tweet-threatening/article_4e718dd2-1ac7-5b62-b545-c1f5a28c3bc9.html|title=Jamie Allman loses Channel 30 show amid controversy over Tweet threatening student activist|last=Rice|first=Rachel|date=April 9, 2018|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411093317/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/jamie-allman-loses-channel-show-amid-controversy-over-tweet-threatening/article_4e718dd2-1ac7-5b62-b545-c1f5a28c3bc9.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Allman was later re-hired by [[Salem Media Group]]-owned radio station [[KXFN]] in February 2019, though the program was short-lived after KXFN's sale to [[Relevant Radio]], which converted it to a Spanish-language Catholic talk format in the fall of the same year. After converting his show to a self-distributed podcast, he now hosts mornings on [[KTLK-FM]] (104.9) after [[iHeartMedia]] converted that station to a conservative talk format in August 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/allman-back-on-morning-radio-at-new-conservative-talk-station/article_47bbff69-0653-554a-ab91-e9dd303e6285.html|title=Allman back on morning radio at new conservative talk station|date=August 17, 2021|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|access-date=January 1, 2022|archive-date=January 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101014253/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/allman-back-on-morning-radio-at-new-conservative-talk-station/article_47bbff69-0653-554a-ab91-e9dd303e6285.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Local programming==
[[File:University Tower viewed from the other side of Brentwood Boulevard.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Refer to caption|In 2022, KDNL-TV moved its studios from downtown St. Louis to the University Tower in [[Richmond Heights, Missouri|Richmond Heights]].]]
KDNL-TV's local programming, as of June 2023, includes ''City Corner'', a weekly public affairs program; a selection of St. Louis-area church services; and ''Them Yo People'', a man-on-the-street interview program produced in St. Louis and also aired in other nearby markets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/column/joe-holleman/spotlight-them-yo-people-focuses-on-st-louisans-for-laughs-lessons/article_1d0c2676-1dc1-5b15-9206-2a44d57dfe92.html|first=Joe|last=Holleman|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|title=Spotlight: 'Them Yo People' focuses on St. Louisans for laughs, lessons|date=July 30, 2017|access-date=July 25, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725020027/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/column/joe-holleman/spotlight-them-yo-people-focuses-on-st-louisans-for-laughs-lessons/article_1d0c2676-1dc1-5b15-9206-2a44d57dfe92.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/662b06ac-06da-635c-b994-1687be48d609/2d806452-408b-46f3-8bb8-ed145c8d04de.pdf|title=KDNL ABC 30 Quarterly Issues and Programming Report|date=June 30, 2023|website=Public Inspection File|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref>

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
KDNL-TV is broadcast from a transmiter in [[Shrewsbury, Missouri|Shrewsbury]].{{r|FCC-LMS-56524}} Its signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of KDNL-TV<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KDNL#station|website=[[RabbitEars]]|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KDNL|access-date=December 26, 2013|archive-date=December 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227071759/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KDNL#station|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 30.1 
| [[720p]] || rowspan="5"| 16:9 || KDNL || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] 
|-
! scope = "row" | 30.2 
| rowspan="4"|480i || ROAR || [[Roar (TV network)|Roar]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 30.3 
| Charge! || [[Charge! (TV network)|Charge!]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 30.4 
| TheNest || [[The Nest (TV network)|The Nest]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 30.5
| Comet || [[Comet (TV network)|Comet]] (soon)
|- style="background-color:#DFEBF6; border-top: 2px solid #003399;"
! scope = "row" | [[KPLR-TV|11.2]] 
| 480i || 16:9 || CourtTV || [[Court TV]] ([[KPLR-TV]])
|}
{{legend|#DFEBF6|Broadcast on behalf of another station}}

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
KDNL-TV shut down its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 30, on February 17, 2009, the original date on which full-power television stations in the United States were scheduled to [[Digital television transition in the United States|transition from analog to digital broadcasts]] under federal mandate (the official date was pushed back to June 12).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|agency=Associated Press|title=List of TV stations ending analog broadcasts|date=February 17, 2009|work=NBC News|access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-date=January 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106052115/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|url-status=live}}</ref> The station's digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre-transition UHF channel 31, using [[virtual channel]] 30.<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>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://abcstlouis.com/ Official website]
*[http://rbsc.slpl.org/MA_KDNL_TV.pdf KDNL-TV Collection Finding Aid] at the [https://www.slpl.org/ St. Louis Public Library]

{{St Louis TV}}
{{Missouri TV}}
{{Illinois TV}}
{{SBGI}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kdnl-Tv}}
[[Category:1969 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company affiliates]]
[[Category:Charge! (TV network) affiliates]]
<!-- [[Category:Comet (TV network) affiliates]] -->
[[Category:The Nest (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Roar (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1969]]
[[Category:Television stations in St. Louis]]