KXOC-LP: The History and Evolution of an Oklahoma City Low-Power Station
The landscape of local broadcasting is often shaped by small, low-power stations that serve specific niches or regional interests. One such example is KXOC-LP, a station that operated in the Oklahoma City market for nearly two decades. From its beginnings as a religious broadcaster to its final days as a digital-era casualty, the trajectory of KXOC-LP reflects the shifting priorities of media ownership and the technical challenges of the analog-to-digital transition.
Key Facts
- Launch Date: June 21, 1995.
- Original Call Sign: K54DJ.
- Final Status: License cancelled by the FCC on May 20, 2015.
- Key Affiliations: Cornerstone Television, America One, Tuff TV, and This TV.
- Ownership: Transitioned from Locke Supply to the Family Broadcasting Group in 2004.
Early Years and Ownership Transitions
KXOC-LP first signed on the air on June 21, 1995, operating under the call sign K54DJ on UHF channel 54. In its infancy, the station served as an affiliate for Cornerstone Television, a religious broadcast network based in Pittsburgh. By 1999, the station shifted its programming focus by becoming an affiliate of America One.
During the late 1990s, the station was acquired by Locke Supply. Under this ownership, KXOC-LP began airing paid programming and select content from KSBI, another station owned by Locke Supply. However, the company eventually decided to pivot its focus toward its regional hardware store chain, leading to the sale of KXOC, KSBI, and its translators.
In March 2004, the sale was finalized to the Family Broadcasting Group. This local entity was founded by a group of media and financial professionals, including former KWTV meteorologist Brady Brus, CPA Angie Brus, local media personality Brenda Bennett, and Jon Bowie of Seekfirst Media LLC. Shortly after this change in ownership, the station relocated its signal to UHF channel 41 in July 2005.
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Technical Challenges and Market Reach
As a low-power analog station—a broadcast category with limited signal strength compared to full-power stations—KXOC-LP faced significant distribution hurdles. Its broadcasting radius was insufficient to cover the entire Oklahoma City metropolitan area, and it lacked its own digital signal.
To overcome these limitations, the station utilized a simulcast (the simultaneous broadcasting of the same content on two different frequencies). From February 20, 2009, to September 16, 2012, KXOC-LP was broadcast in standard definition on KSBI digital subchannel 52.2. This arrangement allowed the station to reach the full market and facilitated its carriage on Cox Communications digital channel 215.
Programming Shifts and Final Years
The early 2010s marked a period of physical and programmatic transition. In early 2011, the station disassembled its transmission tower and moved its studios from the Locke Supply corporate headquarters in southeast Oklahoma City to Yukon, an exurb in the northwest of the city.
On March 7, 2011, KXOC-LP affiliated with Tuff TV, a digital network tailored toward a male audience. This partnership lasted until the simulcast on KSBI 52.2 ended on September 17, 2012, as KSBI shifted that subchannel to the movie network This TV. Despite losing the simulcast, KXOC remained with Tuff TV until March 3, 2014, when it resumed carriage of This TV following the expiration of the Tuff TV contract.
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The End of Broadcasts
The demise of KXOC-LP was tied to the industry-wide shift toward high-definition (HD) and digital broadcasting. Drew Stone, the engineer supervisor for KSBI-TV and KXOC-LP, confirmed that the station would not transition to digital or HD formats. Consequently, the station was scheduled for shutdown shortly after its final programming changes.
KXOC went off the air on March 26, 2014. The process concluded officially on May 20, 2015, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) cancelled the station's license.
| Year | Event/Change | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Launch | Signed on as K54DJ on UHF channel 54 |
| 1999 | Affiliation Change | Became an affiliate of America One |
| 2004 | Ownership Change | Sold to Family Broadcasting Group |
| 2005 | Signal Move | Relocated to UHF channel 41 |
| 2009 | Market Expansion | Began simulcast on KSBI subchannel 52.2 |
| 2011 | Relocation | Moved studios to Yukon, OK |
| 2014 | Closure | Went off the air on March 26 |
| 2015 | License Termination | FCC cancelled license on May 20 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did KXOC-LP need a simulcast on KSBI?
Because KXOC-LP was a low-power analog station, its signal could not reach the entire Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The simulcast on KSBI digital subchannel 52.2 allowed it to reach the full market.
Who owned the station before the Family Broadcasting Group?
The station was owned by Locke Supply, a regional hardware store chain, before being sold in March 2004.
What networks were affiliated with KXOC-LP over time?
The station was affiliated with Cornerstone Television, America One, Tuff TV, and This TV.
Why was the station eventually shut down?
The station was shut down because it was not going to make the transition to digital broadcasting or high definition.
When was the KXOC-LP license officially cancelled?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) cancelled the license on May 20, 2015.