KDFW-TV News

KDFW-TV signed on in 1949 as CBS network affiliate KRLD-TV, and was the third station in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, next to WBAP-TV (now KXAS-TV) and KBTV-TV (now WFAA-TV). During its years as KRLD, the station became famous for hosting the CBS Television’s network coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, headed by a young Dan Rather in November 1963. In 1970, KRLD became KDFW. And in 1994, KDFW was sold to New World Communications. In 1995, in what is the largest affiliate swap in Dallas TV history, KDFW assumed the Fox affiliation from KDAF-TV, Channel 33, now a WB Network affiliate.

Ironically, KDAF, one of the original Fox network affiliates in 1986, had changed its call letters from KRLD-TV to KDAF-TV following its purchase from Metromedia Television by Fox in 1986. KTVT-TV, Channel 11, assumed the CBS Network affiliation. In 1997, the station was turned over to Fox Television Stations. The station co-owns and operates independent station KDFI-TV Channel 27.