Big fish landed: KTXD-TV (Ch. 47) gets broadcast station rights to late season Cowboys game

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom
The Dallas Cowboys will travel to Chicago to meet the Bears on Dec. 9th in what could be a pivotal game in determining their playoff hopes.

ESPN has the game nationally on Monday Night Football. And in case you haven’t heard yet, the broadcast station rights in D-FW have been won locally by little KTXD-TV (Ch. 47).

It’s a major step up for the Dallas-based, London Broadcasting-owned station, which will simulcast the ESPN presentation. The NFL still mandates that games originating on cable networks also be available on “free” stations in the two teams’ home markets. This will mark the first time that KTXD has secured such rights.

KTXD also has an ESPN package that this season includes some SMU football games.

Meanwhile, KTXD is readying a locally produced “marathon” tied to the 50th anniversary of the Nov. 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas. It would air on that day.

Phil Hurley, executive vice president of London Broadcasting (which owns KTXD), says the station is “still putting the plan together” and isn’t ready to release further details. But sources say the elongated, single-day telecast will include contributions from a number of “pundits” currently seen on KTXD’s baby boomer-aimed The Texas Daily program. All but a few were among the living on that day.

Under current plans, the marathon also would be syndicated to London Broadcasting’s other owned-and-operated stations in Texas. According to the company, the stations reach 41 percent of the Texas population.

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