KPTH

KPTH is the Fox-affiliated television station for the Southern Siouxland licensed to Sioux City, Iowa. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 49 (or virtual channel 44.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter in unincorporated Plymouth County, Iowa, east of James and US 75, along the Woodbury county line. The station can also be seen on Cable ONE channel 2 and in high definition on digital channel 475. Owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, KPTH operates CBS affiliate KMEG (owned by Waitt Broadcasting, Inc.) through a shared services agreement (SSA). The two outlets share studios along I-29 (postal address says Gold Circle) in unincorporated Dakota Dunes, South Dakota.

History

The station signed-on May 9, 1999 as the market's fifth television outlet. Airing an analog signal on UHF channel 44, KPTH, originally owned by Pappas Telecasting, immediately joined Fox. Prior to KPTH's launch, future sister station KMEG carried a secondary affiliation with the network. Initially at its sign-on, channel 44 only covered the Sioux City metro area before increasing to full-power in October 1999. This upgrade extended its coverage area to include the 23 county area that makes up the designated market area. KPTH quickly became Siouxland's most-watched station and was a member of the "Fox #1 Club" in 2004 and 2005. The station also began to air the entire FOX lineup nightly.