KSFX Springfield Changes Calls, Branding

Nexstar Broadcasting, owner of former Fox affiliate KSFX Springfield, Mo. (DMA 74), announced today that the station will become KOZL on Sept. 1, with the new branding of Ozarks Local.

The move comes about two months after Nexstar and Fox could not come to terms on an affiliation renewal.

KOZL’s new focus, Nexstar said, will be a combination of locally originated news, lifestyle, sports, weather and entertainment programming and it will “significantly expand on its weekly, highly-viewed, locally-produced newscasts.” In addition, it will add original feature-oriented weekly programming along with new syndicated and primetime programming.

Mark Gordon, VP-GM, commented: ”This is a very exciting time for our community and KOZL-TV, as launching Ozarks Local reflects our deep commitment to the community and focus on addressing the interests of our audiences in the Ozarks area.”

News, Programming & Primetime Lineup

Morning viewers will now get an additional helping of news and information with the expansion of its weekday morning news by an additional hour starting Sept. 1. Ozarks Local: The Morning Rush will be a live, local newscast airing from 7 to 9 a.m.

In addition to its, hour-long 9 p.m. newscast every night of the week, KOZL will be adding a half-hour newscast on Sundays at 6 p.m. followed at 6:30 by a new weekly local business show, Ozarks Local Business Journal, which will premiere in October.

On Tuesday, Sept. 6, KOZL will debut an afternoon lifestyle program, Ozarks Local Live At 4,which will run weekdays from 4 to 5 p.m. and feature local stories on health, diet, fashion, family, money and local and national entertainment.

The expansion of local programming continues to the weekend, with two new live, half-hour local sports shows.  Ozarks Sports Saturday and Ozarks Sports Sunday will air live each Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 p.m.

And, in addition to the markets’ only local sports half hour programs on Saturday and Sunday, collegiate sports programming will also be added to the KOZL, including 37 SEC Basketball games plus the first two rounds of the SEC Tournament.

Sept. 1 will also mark the debut of KOZL’s new weekday primetime lineup beginning with Inside Edition at 7 p.m. followed by The Insider at 7:30.  Monday through Fridays at 8 p.m. will feature My Name is Earl followed at 8:30 by Everybody Loves Raymond.

On Sundays starting Sept. 4 at 7 p.m., KOZL will present Ozarks Local Family Movie Night with marquee titles such as A River Runs Through It with Brad Pitt, Green Mile with Tom Hanks and Under Suspicion with Gene Hackman.

In October, more locally-produced programming will debut, including a local outdoor sports and recreation program centered on the Ozarks region and a local variety program, both airing Saturday evenings in primetime.