This article is about the CW affiliate in Dallas, Texas. For the station that first used the KRLD–TV callsign, see KDFW. For the station that currently held the KNBN call letters, see KNBN.
Originally signed on the air on September 29, 1980 as KNBN-TV on UHF channel 33. It was affiliated with the Spanish International Network until Hill Broadcasting sold channel 33 to New York City-based Metromedia in the fall of 1983.
KRLD-TV
1984–1986
On July 30, 1984, the station's call letters were changed to KRLD-TV to match radio station KRLD (1080 AM), which became a sister property to the television station after Metromedia successfully sought the FCC for a waiver of its cross-ownership regulations to let it retain KRLD radio and the UHF station. (This made channel 33 the second KRLD-TV in Dallas; the call letters had been used on channel 4 when it was co-owned with KRLD until 1970.) The KNBN callsign is now used on the NBC affiliate on channel 21 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
KDAF
1986–1993
Horizontal logo (1986)
Alternate logo
Alternate logo with Fox logo (1986-1987)
Station ID (1986-1987)
In May 1985, Metromedia sold all of its independent stations (including KRLD) to News Corporation, who announced its intentions to launch the then-new Fox on May 7, 1986, with KTTV, KRIV, WFLD, WNYW, and WTTG forming what would become Fox Television Stations. As a result, the callsign was changed to KDAF, which stood for Dallas And Fort Worth.
G.I. Joe public safety announcement (September 1994)
1995–2004
Transitional logo used in slides during Summer 1995.
On July 2, 1995, CBS affiliate KDFW assumed the Fox affiliation for the Dallas-Fort Worth market as a result of the network's long-term affiliation agreement with New World Communications (KTVT took over the CBS affiliation). Concurrently, in order to move Fox programming to the higher-rated KDFW, Fox Television Stations opted to sell KDAF to Renaissance Broadcasting in a trade deal for KDVR in Denver and its Fort Collins, Colorado satellite station KFCT. On July 1, 1996, Chicago-based Tribune Broadcasting announced that it would acquire Renaissance Communications for $1.13 billion. At the time, Tribune held a partial ownership interest in The WB; however KDAF could not technically be considered an owned-and-operated station of the network since Time Warner held an 87.5% majority stake in the network – which eventually decreased to 78%, when Tribune increased its stake in the network by purchasing a portion of Time Warner's equity interest. On the date of the switch, KDAF became a WB affiliate, taking over the affiliation from KXTX-TV, which had been carrying the network since The WB's January 1995 inception under a temporary arrangement.
2004–2006
2006–2008
In 2006, UPN and The WB were merged to form The CW. KDAF, as part of an affiliation deal for most of Tribune Broadcasting's WB affiliates, joined the new network.
2008–present
2008–2011
Alternate version with The CW logo
The 33 News logo (2008–2009)
The 33 News logo (2009–2011)
2011–2017
CW 33 News logo (2011–12) Notice the CW logo doesn't have the word "THE" inside
Logo for digital subchannel 33.3
In September 2011, KDAF returned to the "CW33" branding, still using the previous "The 33" circle scheme.
2017–2019
Alternate version without callsign/city of license identification.
On December 3, 2018, Irving-based Nexstar Media Group announced it would acquire Tribune's assets for $6.4 billion in cash and debt. The deal—which made Nexstar the largest television station operator by total number of stations upon closure of the deal—gave KDAF additional sister stations nearby markets including Lawton–Wichita Falls (NBC affiliate KFDX-TV and SSA partners KJTL [Fox] and KJBO-LP [MyNetworkTV]), Waco–Bryan–College Station (Fox affiliate KWKT-TV and MyNetworkTV affiliate KYLE-TV), Tyler–Longview (NBC affiliate KETK-TV and SSA partners KFXK-TV [Fox] and KTPN-LD [MyNetworkTV]) and Abilene (CBS affiliate KTAB-TV and NBC-affiliated SSA partner KRBC-TV). Given that Nexstar's operations are based in the Metroplex, it is unclear whether KDAF will be designated as a flagship outlet for the group (either as a sole flagship or in conjunction with one of the three Tribune-owned stations in the three largest U.S. markets). The sale was approved by the FCC on September 16, and was completed on September 19, 2019.
1Nexstar operates these stations owned by Mission Broadcasting. 2Nexstar operates this station owned by Cunningham Broadcasting. 3Nexstar operates this station owned by White Knight Broadcasting through an SSA. 4Nexstar operates this station owned by Vaughan Media. 5Predecessor company of LIN Media. 6Currently a repeater for WWLP. 7Joint venture with Warner Bros. Discovery in which Nexstar owns 31% while Warner Bros. Discovery owns the remaining 69%.
Notes Stations are arranged alphabetically by state and territory, and based on the station's city of license or Designated Market Area. +Station carries CW programming on a digital subchannel, via The CW Plus. +1Local CW Plus affiliate operates as cable-only channel.
.svg "KDAF 33 (1986-April).svg (34 KB)")
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.png "KDAF The Simpsons Promo (September 1994).png (5.22 MB)")
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.png "KDAF GI Joe PSA (September 1994).png (3.98 MB)")
