View source for WFTC

{{Short description|Television station in Minneapolis}}
{{distinguish|Working Families Tax Credit}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox television station dual
| logo = WFTC 2017 Logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_alt = The Fox logo in sky blue, the numeral 9 from the KMSP in black, and a superscript plus symbol in sky blue
| branding = Fox 9 Plus
| translators = ''see {{section link||Translators}}''
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''[[KMSP-TV|9.1/26.1]]:''' [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]|'''9.2/26.2:''' [[MyNetworkTV]]|''for others, see {{section link||KMSP-TV/WFTC subchannels}}''}}
| country = US
| owner = [[Fox Television Stations, LLC]]
| sister_stations = KMSP-TV
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.fox9.com/}}
| name1 = WFTC
| name2 = KFTC
| city1 = [[Minneapolis]]–[[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]
| city2 = [[Bemidji, Minnesota]]
| virtual1 = 9.2
| virtual2 = 26
| digital1 = 29 ([[UHF]])
| digital2 = 26 (UHF)
| former_callsigns1 = {{ubl|WFBT (1982–1984)|KITN-TV (1984–1994)}}
| callsign_meaning1 = "Fox Twin Cities"
| callsign_meaning2 = "Fox Twin Cities"
| former_channel_numbers1 = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 29 (UHF, 1982–2009)|'''Digital:''' 21 (UHF, 2001–2009)|'''Virtual:''' 29 (2001–2014)}}
| former_channel_numbers2 = {{ubl|'''Analog:'''|26 (UHF, 1999–2009)}}
| facility_id1 = 11913
| facility_id2 = 83714
| airdate1 = {{start date and age|1982|10|6|p=y|br=yes}}
| airdate2 = {{start date and age|1999|10|1|p=y|br=yes}}
| erp1 = 1,000 [[kW]]
| erp2 = 4.5 kW
| haat1 = {{convert|389|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| haat2 = {{convert|156|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| coordinates1 = {{Coord|45|3|30|N|93|7|28|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| coordinates2 = {{Coord|47|33|21|N|94|48|5|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=KFTC}}
| former_affiliations1 = {{ubl|[[Independent station|Independent]] (1982–1988)|Fox (1988–2002)|[[UPN]] (2002–2006)}}
| former_affiliations2 = {{ubl|Fox (1999–2002)|UPN (2002–2006)}}
}}

'''WFTC''' (channel 9.2) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Minneapolis]], Minnesota, United States, broadcasting the [[MyNetworkTV]] programming service to the [[Twin Cities]] area. It is [[owned and operated]] by [[Fox Television Stations]] alongside [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] outlet [[KMSP-TV]] (channel 9). The two stations share studios on Viking Drive in [[Eden Prairie]]; WFTC's [[KMSP Tower|transmitter]] is located in [[Shoreview, Minnesota]]. '''KFTC''' (channel 26) in [[Bemidji, Minnesota]], rebroadcasts the main subchannels of WFTC and KMSP-TV, alongside a network of [[broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translators]] across Minnesota.

This station began broadcasting on October 6, 1982, as WFBT-TV on channel 29. Owned by Channel 29 Television and the Faith Broadcasting Network<!--No relation to the one that has an article.-->, it intended to be a family-friendly [[independent station]] with Christian ministry programming and classic TV shows. Ratings were low, and in 1984 the [[The Beverly Hills Hotel|Beverly Hills Hotel Corporation]] acquired the station. It relaunched in May 1984 as a more conventionally programmed independent under the KITN-TV call sign. KITN became a major sports station under the ownership of Beverly Hills and [[Nationwide Communications]], at various times in its history holding rights to telecast games of the [[Minnesota North Stars]], [[Minnesota Timberwolves]], and [[Minnesota Twins]]. In 1988, it became the Fox affiliate for the Twin Cities after KMSP-TV dropped the network over its underperforming Saturday night lineup.

[[Clear Channel Television]] acquired the station in 1993 and changed its call sign to WFTC ("Fox Twin Cities") in September 1994. WFTC was Clear Channel's largest-market TV station and, by 2001, its highest-billing. The station began airing a 9 p.m. local newscast in April 2001, but this was overshadowed by Fox parent [[News Corporation]]'s acquisition of [[BHC Communications|Chris-Craft Television]], the owner of KMSP-TV. Speculation circulated for more than a year that KMSP-TV, with its existing news department and higher profile, would become the new Fox affiliate for the Twin Cities. This proved correct: on September 8, 2002, KMSP-TV became a Fox affiliate and WFTC a [[UPN]] affiliate. WFTC's news department was partially absorbed into KMSP's operation, with the 9 p.m. news moved to 10 p.m., but ratings fell even as they rose for KMSP's newscasts, leading to the cancellation of WFTC's news on June 30, 2006.

When UPN and [[The WB]] merged into [[The CW]] in September 2006, Fox's UPN stations were not invited, with competing stations in many markets (though not the Twin Cities) announced as affiliates. Fox started MyNetworkTV to serve stations not chosen for The CW, including WFTC. The station rebranded as Fox 9+ in 2017 and began airing a 7&nbsp;p.m. local newscast.

==History==
===WFBT-TV: The Faith Broadcasting years===
On November 30, 1976, Faith Broadcasting Network<!--No relation to the California one--> applied with the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) for permission to build a TV station on channel 29 in [[Minneapolis]]. It was the second application for the channel that year, after one by Buford Television of [[Tyler, Texas]]. Buford was interested in programming a [[subscription television]] (STV) station, while Faith was interested in a family-friendly [[independent station]] with Christian programming.<ref name="Minn761204">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-christian-family-tv/82833119/|date=December 4, 1976|page=6A|first=Willmar|last=Thorkelson|title=Christian family TV sought for Cities|newspaper=The Minneapolis Star|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Buford was the second group interested in STV in the Twin Cities. The first was Viking Television, the permitholder for [[WUCW|KTMA]] (channel 23), which had been authorized in 1969 but was delayed by tower siting issues.<ref name="Minn790720">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-faith-needs-money-t/82833218/|date=July 20, 1979|page=8A|first=Willmar|last=Thorkelson|title=Faith needs money to move FCC to give television license|newspaper=The Minneapolis Star|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --> In 1980, Faith Broadcasting Network opened a studio in [[Edina, Minnesota|Edina]] to produce programming for cable television.<ref name="Minn800815">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-faith-broadcasting/175740083/|date=August 15, 1980|page=10A|title=Faith Broadcasting plans studio dedication|newspaper=The Minneapolis Star|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

In 1980, Buford Television dropped its bid for channel 29 and bought 80 percent of Viking Television, the channel 23 permittee.<ref>{{Cite news |id={{ProQuest|962746244}} |date=February 11, 1980 |title=In Brief |page=36 |work=Broadcasting |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1980/1980-02-11-BC.pdf |access-date=August 5, 2021 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308044201/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1980/1980-02-11-BC.pdf |url-status=live |via=World Radio History}}</ref> However, tower siting woes continued to snarl channel 29's attempts to get on air. The FCC in the late 1960s had required that the VHF television stations give room to new UHF stations that wished to broadcast from Shoreview, and [[KMSP-TV]]'s mast was supposed to accommodate channel 23 and channel 29. However, when [[KSTP-TV]] obtained permission for a {{convert|274|ft|m|sp=us|adj=on}} height extension to its tower (which also held [[WCCO-TV]]), only the [[KMSP Tower|KMSP tower]] was left out because it could not be extended with the UHF stations on it. This prompted KMSP-TV to rescind the agreement, resulting in legal action.<ref name="grounded">{{Cite news |last=Vick |first=Karl |date=April 13, 1981 |title=Grounded: 2 UHF stations can't get signals in the air |pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82833808/2-uhf-stations-cant-get-signal-off-the/ 12C] |work=The Minneapolis Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82833675/grounded-2-uhf-stations-cant-get-signa/ |access-date=August 5, 2021 |archive-date=August 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810064050/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82833675/grounded-2-uhf-stations-cant-get/ |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref> Faith sold 90 percent ownership in the station, forming Channel 29 Television,<ref name="Star820923">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-ktca-birthday-bash-will-dwe/175740144/|date=September 23, 1982|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-carman/175740138/ 18C]|title=Max Winter could pass as nimble quarterback|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --> to strengthen its financial qualifications and obtained a lease on the KMSP tower. The station was given a construction permit in July 1981.<ref name="Minn810724">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-fcc-approves-christ/175865365/|date=July 24, 1981|page=13|title=FCC approves Christian TV station in Twin Cities|newspaper=The Minneapolis Star|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --> An attempt to locate the station's studios in a historic barn in [[Brooklyn Center, Minnesota|Brooklyn Center]] fell through,<ref name="Star820422">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-historic-barn-may-house-are/175740111/|date=April 22, 1982|page=Community Northwest (1) 6|title=Historic barn may house area's first Christian TV studio|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref name="Star820610">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-tv-station-drops-plan-for-f/175740126/|date=June 10, 1982|page=Community Northwest (1) 14|title=TV station drops plan for farm|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --> channel 29 set up in a building in [[Brooklyn Park, Minnesota|Brooklyn Park]].<ref name="Star820624">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-christian-tv-station-select/175740129/|date=June 24, 1982|page=Community Northwest (1) 16|title=Christian TV station selects new location|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

WFBT-TV ("We're Family Broadcasting for the Twin Cities"<ref name="SPD820921">{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/new-tv-station-plans-religious-family-shows/hmkiwiyzchefrqqfhayrxrbtautoxxcg_ip-10-166-46-120_1751578885310|first=Lucy|last=Daiglish|title=New TV station plans religious, 'family' shows|pages=1A, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/tv-prime-time-ptl/dahgndwgjfucarvautrkdeudoncfivbx_ip-10-166-46-74_1751578934248 5A]|date=September 21, 1982|work=St. Paul Daily Press}}</ref>) began broadcasting on October 6, 1982.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/bbc-borrows-theme-mr-chips/izkoynzsqbxnahrcialnlczkrjncvyxv_ip-10-166-46-154_1751580783472|first=Rick|last=Shefchik|pages=1B, 7B|title=BBC borrows theme from 'Mr. Chips'|work=[[St. Paul Dispatch]]|date=October 8, 1982}}</ref> Half of its programs were religious, with local Christian ministries and national producers from the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] and [[PTL Satellite Network]], while the other half consisted of shows deemed to be family-friendly.{{r|SPD820921}} It was one of three television stations to debut in 1982 alongside KTMA and [[KPXM-TV|KXLI-TV]] in [[St. Cloud, Minnesota]].<ref name="Star821003">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-choices-multiply-in-twin-ci/175740152/|date=October 3, 1982|pages=1G, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-carman/175740147/ 12G]|first=John|last=Carman|title=Choices multiply in Twin Cities' year of the video onslaught|newspaper=Minneapolis Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

WFBT-TV made comparatively little impact on the Twin Cities television market. The combination format of Christian programming and classic TV series confused viewers and reduced potential advertising revenue. Some Christian viewers were displeased by programming such as ''[[The Merv Griffin Show]]'', and the station's October 1983 telethon fell $80,000 short of its goal. Its highest ratings came from telecasts of [[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's hockey]] games.<ref name="Star831206">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-ch-29-negotiating-sale-tha/175740240/|date=December 6, 1983|page=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-coleman/175740235/ 8C]|title=Ch. 29 negotiating sale that may shift focus from religion|first=Nick|last=Coleman|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

==="The KITN that Roars": Becoming a general independent station===
In December 1983, the [[The Beverly Hills Hotel|Beverly Hills Hotel Corporation]] (owned by [[New York City]] financier [[Ivan Boesky]]), agreed to purchase WFBT-TV from Channel 29 Television for $12 million. The company had entered the television industry earlier that year by buying [[Oklahoma City]] independent station [[KOCB|KGMC-TV]].{{r|Star831206}} The acquisition by Beverly Hills Hotel Corporation heralded a new direction for channel 29 as a more conventionally programmed independent station with a limited inventory of religious programs. The new ownership named Robert Fransen general manager; Fransen had been the manager of [[KARE (TV)|WTCN-TV]] from 1964 to 1980, mostly during its period as an independent.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/robert-fransen-head-new-channel-29-operation/eupjpzenbbvxnglwffsgokedotzuufml_ip-10-166-46-94_1721928006730|work=Saint Paul Dispatch|first=Rick|last=Shefchik|pages=11A, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/shefchik/fodmftyiuobkzvbkmmrwidwhptduvitu_ip-10-166-46-155_1721928127870 19A]|title=Robert Fransen to head new Channel 29 operation|date=March 23, 1984}}</ref>

The new ownership took over on May 1, 1984, and the station changed its call sign to KITN-TV ("Independent Twenty-Nine"<ref name="Star840607">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kitn-gives-viewer-ticket-to/175740253/|date=June 7, 1984|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-coleman-area-viewers-hit-j/175740258/ 8C]|first=Nick|last=Coleman|title=KITN gives viewer ticket to more shows|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu -->). On May 6, the station launched a new program lineup with syndicated programming and movies.<ref name="Star840501">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-hockey-fans-pay-dearly-to-s/175740297/|date=May 1, 1984|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-coleman/175740290/8C]|first=Nick|last=Coleman|title=Hockey fans pay dearly to see Stars on Spectrum|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Beverly Hills Hotel Corporation sold KITN-TV to [[Nationwide Communications]], the broadcasting subsidiary of [[Columbus, Ohio]]–based [[Nationwide Insurance]], in 1985 for $24 million.<ref name="Star850624">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-ch-29-being-sold-41-alter/175740480/|date=June 24, 1985|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-coleman-some-favorite-sitc/175740481/ 6C]|first=Nick|last=Coleman|title=Ch. 29 being sold; 41 alters scheduling|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The station called itself "The KITN That Roars"; one station promotion featured Oscar, a growling {{convert|115|lb|kg|adj=on}} pet cougar.<ref name="Star880303">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-owner-cant-keep-pet-in-ply/175867631/|date=March 3, 1988|page=4Be|title=Owner can't keep pet in Plymouth|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

With its new orientation, KITN-TV became an aggressive competitor for sports rights. In 1984, channel 29 became the new home of [[Minnesota North Stars]] hockey telecasts that fall, airing a 25-game regular-season package<ref name="Star840913">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-mazzocco-buxton-to-call-st/175867507/|date=September 13, 1984|page=2D|title=Mazzocco, Buxton to call Stars on TV|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --> and ending a six-year relationship between the team and KMSP.<ref name="Star840602">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-stars-switch-channels/137758698/|date=June 2, 1984|page=2D|first=Jon|last=Roe|title=Stars switch channels|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> A bid to air [[Minnesota Twins]] baseball was unsuccessful, as the team renewed with KMSP.<ref name="Star841220">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-1984-12-20-kmsp-twins-right/66908061/|date=December 20, 1984|page=3D|title=Ch. 9 will carry 71 Twins' games|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --> In 1985, it added [[Big Ten Conference]] football,{{r|Star850624}} followed the next year by a package of Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey and basketball events, outbidding KMSP-TV.<ref name="Star860926">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kitn-tv-expects-up-to-half/175740352/|date=September 26, 1986|page=2D|first=Jon|last=Roe|title=KITN-TV expects up to half of viewers to tune in Gophers|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The relationship with the University of Minnesota expanded in 1987,<ref name="Star870724">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kitn-gophers-near-signing/175740367/|date=July 24, 1987|page=63|title=KITN, Gophers near signing 3-year deal|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|first=Jon|last=Roe|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --> though channel 29 lost the North Stars to KXLI because the team was interested in reaching more fans in outstate Minnesota.<ref name="Star870424">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-north-stars-switch-to-kxli/175873991/|date=April 24, 1987|page=9D|first=Jon|last=Roe|title=North Stars switch to KXLI, KXLT|newspaper=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

While channel 29 had become more aggressive, KITN-TV remained the second-rated independent in the Twin Cities. Hoping to spark a change, Nationwide dismissed Fransen in October 1987<ref name="Star871009">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kitn-drops-its-general-mana/175740377/|date=October 9, 1987|page=10C|title=KITN drops its general manager|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --> and replaced him with Gail Brekke, who had been running [[WGBO-DT|WGBO-TV]] in the Chicago market.<ref name="Star871119">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kitn-names-new-general-mana/175740397/|date=November 19, 1987|page=4M|title=KITN names new general manager|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

===Fox affiliation===
When the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network began in 1986, its Twin Cities affiliate was KMSP-TV.<ref name="Dail860804">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-fourth-net-to-cover-80-of/106394158/|date=August 4, 1986|page=23|title='Fourth net' to cover 80% of U.S.|newspaper=Daily News|location=New York, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The network offered programming by the 1987–88 season on Saturday and Sunday nights, but the Saturday night lineup was comparatively anemic. In December 1987, KMSP-TV owner [[BHC Communications|Chris-Craft]] moved to cancel the Fox Saturday night lineup for KMSP-TV and [[KPTV]] in [[Portland, Oregon]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Two Fox Affils Cancel Saturday Night Lineup|page=48|work=Variety|id={{ProQuest|1438472599}}|date=December 23, 1987}}</ref> Though Chris-Craft postponed the decision so it could meet with network executives,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Orlando Fox Affiliate Dumps Saturday Lineup; Chris-Craft Backpedals A Similar Decision|pages=23, 34|work=Variety|date=December 30, 1987|id={{ProQuest|1438478325}} }}</ref> KMSP-TV dropped the Fox Saturday night lineup in favor of movies it believed would attract better ratings.<ref name="Star880116">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-mr-t-will-don-gray-flannel/175756571/|date=January 16, 1988|pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-holston/175756546/ 2E]|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Mr. T will don gray flannel suit for new series|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Ultimately, KMSP-TV refused to give in to Fox's insistence that it resume airing the Saturday lineup and, on July 21, 1988, cut ties with the network effective at the end of August.<ref name="Star880723">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kmsp-to-drop-fox-tv-shows/175874499/|date=July 23, 1988|page=2Bw|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=KMSP to drop Fox TV shows: Movies, reruns to fill the spots|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> KMSP and KPTV were two of three stations to disaffiliate from Fox after the 1987–88 season: Fox president [[Jamie Kellner]] told ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', "Fox feels it's strong enough to say goodbye to the two United [Television] stations. We just weren't willing to accept half a marriage."<ref name="Var880727">{{Cite news|title=Unhappy With Saturday Lineup, 3 Fox Affiliates Won't Renew|first=John|last=Dempsey|page=39|date=July 27, 1988|work=Variety|id={{ProQuest|1438499512}} }}</ref>

After the announcement, Fox began negotiating an affiliation agreement with KITN-TV.{{r|Var880727}}<ref name="Star880804">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-fox-eyeing-channel-29-to/175756610/|date=August 4, 1988|pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-holston-fox-may-yet-find-s/175756635/ 9E]|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Fox, eyeing Channel 29, to gain from writer strike|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --> KITN-TV replaced KMSP-TV as the Fox affiliate in September, carrying the full network schedule.<ref name="Star880911">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-local-tv-channels-revise-sc/175756657/|date=September 11, 1988|page=6F|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Local TV channels revise schedules|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sun --> In 1989, KITN added two professional sports teams to its lineup. Under a deal with [[WCCO-TV]] owner [[Midwest Communications (1952–1992)|Midwest Communications]], channel 29 began airing 30 Minnesota Twins baseball games a year;<ref name="Star881021">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kitn-tv-expected-to-carry-3/175740415/|date=October 21, 1988|page=4C|first=Jon|last=Roe|title=KITN-TV expected to carry 30 Twins games next year|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --> with [[KSTP-TV]], it split the rights to the [[NBA]]'s expansion [[Minnesota Timberwolves]], airing 17 games a season.<ref name="Star880902">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kitn-kstp-to-share-timberw/175740407/|date=September 2, 1988|page=3C|first=Jon|last=Roe|title=KITN, KSTP to share Timberwolves|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --> That same year, the station lost University of Minnesota athletic events to WCCO-TV.<ref name="Star891029">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-wolves-broadcast-plan-is-u/175868319/|date=October 29, 1989|page=7S|first=Jon|last=Roe|title=Wolves' broadcast plan is unique|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

Nationwide Communications, citing "an offer we couldn't refuse", sold KITN to [[Clear Channel Television]] for $36 million in 1993. Clear Channel owned seven other TV stations, of which six were Fox affiliates. At the time, Minneapolis was the largest market in which the company operated in radio or television.<ref>{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Clear Channel's latest: KITN-TV|date=August 9, 1993|page=42|id={{ProQuest|1014743955}} }}</ref> With Fox's increasing network offerings, the station dropped its local sports coverage. The Twins remained on KITN through the 1993 season, after which time station management dropped them due to the increasing preemptions of network programming that baseball games necessitated and the games moved to [[WUCW|KLGT-TV]].<ref name="Star931218">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-football-turnover-fox-outb/82924825/|date=December 18, 1993|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-fox-cbs-still-in-bidding-f/82924684/ 15A]|first=Jerry|last=Zgoda|title=Football turnover: Fox outbids CBS for NFL TV rights|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The Timberwolves followed suit, with KLGT replacing KITN for the 1994–95 NBA season.<ref name="Star940804">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-davis-takes-interim-job-wit/160719567/|date=August 4, 1994|page=C2|title=Davis takes interim job with the 'U'|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --> On September 16, 1994, the station changed its call sign to WFTC, for "Fox Twin Cities", as part of a push to "Fox-ify and localize" the station.<ref name="Star940916">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-new-kitn-call-letters-refle/175740278/|date=September 16, 1994|page=2B|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=New KITN call letters reflect aim to 'Fox-ify'|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The call sign change came even though [[Rupert Murdoch]] visited KSTP-TV in hopes of persuading it to switch from ABC to Fox.<ref name="Star940917">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-murdoch-romancing-kstp-tv-t/175740492/|date=September 17, 1994|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-hubbard/175740499/ 3D]|title=Murdoch romancing KSTP-TV to join Fox network: Hubbard says media baron to visit Twin Cities next week bearing candy and flowers|first=Noel|last=Holston|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

Rip Riordan was named channel 29's general manager after Clear Channel took it over<ref name="Star931016">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-new-owners-fire-kitn-manage/175740469/|date=October 16, 1993|page=8E|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=New owners fire KITN managers|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> and remained in the post until being promoted to head of operations for the entire station group, based in Minneapolis, in 1995.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Clear Channel names TV operations chief|work=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|first=Joe|last=Fohn|date=November 28, 1995}}</ref> Riordan remained associated with the station. In 1997, an educational children's program, ''Algo's FACTory'', was produced at the WFTC studios, with Riordan as executive producer; it aired nationally on [[UPN]] but in the Twin Cities on channel 29.<ref name="Star970802">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-another-kidvid-offering-bei/175757087/|date=August 2, 1997|page=E8|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Another kidvid offering being filmed at WFTC|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Riordan's connections with the [[Minnesota Vikings]] football team, which at the time was facing ownership turmoil, led him to put the owners in touch with [[Red McCombs]], who eventually bought the team in 1998.<ref name="Post980704">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-standard-red-needs-to-win-the-h/175875773/|date=July 4, 1998|page=C2|first=Bob|last=Sansevere|agency=Saint Paul Pioneer Press|title=Red Needs To Win The Hearts Of Fans|newspaper=The Post-Standard|location=Syracuse, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

In 1999, Clear Channel acquired the construction permit for KAGR (channel 26) in [[Bemidji, Minnesota|Bemidji]] from Media Properties Inc.<ref>{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|1016957704}}|work=Broadcasting & Cable|page=56|title=Changing Hands|date=February 1, 1999}}</ref> The station began broadcasting October 1, 1999, as KFTC, a [[satellite station]] of WFTC.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter=KFTC|title=Television and Cable Factbook|date=2006|publisher=Warren Communications News|page=A-1201}}</ref>

===News department launch and affiliation uncertainty===
On April 26, 2000, WFTC general manager Steve Spendlove announced that the station would begin airing a local newscast in April 2001 from a new facility in Minneapolis. At the time, the station was the largest-market Fox affiliate that did not offer local news.<ref name="Star000427">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-fox-ch-29-prepares-to-laun/175757197/|date=April 27, 2000|page=E11|first=Judd|last=Zulgad|title=Fox Ch. 29 prepares to launch local newscast|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --> While WFTC began taking steps toward local news, another development emerged. That August, [[News Corporation]], the parent company of Fox, agreed to buy Chris-Craft, owner of KMSP-TV. Provisions in WFTC's Fox affiliation agreement gave Fox the option to move its programming to a station it owned without penalty, potentially leaving channel 29 without the network.<ref name="Star000815">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-news-corp-deal-may-be-blow/175875968/|date=August 15, 2000|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kmsp/175875974/ D2]|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=News Corp. deal may be blow to UPN: KMSP, other Chris-Craft stations could become Fox affiliates|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In spite of the uncertainty, WFTC moved ahead with news department development, hiring a news director in November.<ref name="Star001104">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-critics-notes-local-garde/175757243/|date=November 4, 2000|page=E10|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Critic's notes: Local garden among 'secrets' on HGTV|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> To anchor its weeknight 9 p.m. newscast, the station hired people who mostly had prior experience in the market. Lead male anchor Chris Conangla had worked at KSTP prior to a stint at [[KCBS-TV]] in Los Angeles; sports director John Henk was a local native moving back to the market after 16 years in [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]; and meteorologist Karl Spring was a native of [[Hopkins, Minnesota|Hopkins]].<ref name="Star010223">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-old-faces-sign-on-for-new-w/175757341/|date=February 23, 2001|page=B4|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Old faces sign on for new WFTC show|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

''Fox 29 News @ 9'' debuted on April 23, 2001. It was the third 9 p.m. newscast in the Twin Cities after offerings from KMSP-TV, whose late newscast was among the highest-rated in the country, and [[KSTC-TV]].<ref name="Star010423">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-fox-and-the-newshounds/175757367/|date=April 23, 2001|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-wftc/175757375/ E2]|title=Fox and the newshounds|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Mon --> In its first ratings survey, it captured 3% of the audience compared to 8% for KMSP.<ref name="Star010526">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kare-11-wins-mays-10-pm/175757602/|date=May 26, 2001|page=B4|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=KARE-11 wins May's 10 p.m. news race|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> That July, the station signed a deal to become the over-the-air broadcast home of the Timberwolves for the first time since 1994, airing 35 games per season for three years.<ref name="Star010704">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-wolves-to-return-to-ch-29/160718911/|date=July 4, 2001|page=C2|first=Judd|last=Zulgad|title=Wolves to return to Ch. 29|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

The FCC approved News Corporation's acquisition of the Chris-Craft stations on July 25, 2001.<ref name="Star010726">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-station-sale-may-put-fox-on/160718842/|date=July 26, 2001|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kmsp-likely-to-get-lineup-s/160718819/ C3]|first1=Ann|last1=Merrill|first2=Judd|last2=Zulgad|title=Station sale may put Fox on Channel 9|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Days later, News Corporation announced a station trade with Clear Channel by which it traded [[KTVX]] in [[Salt Lake City]], a market where Fox already owned a station and thus had to sell, and [[WOAI-TV|KMOL-TV]] in [[San Antonio]], Clear Channel's headquarters city, for WFTC, which had been Clear Channel's highest-billing TV station. This created a [[duopoly (broadcasting)|duopoly]] of KMSP and WFTC.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fox TV eyes swaps for more duopolies|work=Mediaweek|date=July 30, 2001|page=12|id={{ProQuest|213625458}}|first=Jeremy|last=Murphy}}</ref>

===Affiliation switch to UPN===
As had been expected since 2000, Fox announced on May 24, 2002, that Fox programming would move to KMSP-TV and UPN to WFTC on September 8.<ref name="Star020524">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kmsp-wftc-to-swap-affiliat/175757643/|date=May 24, 2002|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-changes-in-newscasts-will-e/160718650/ D2]|first=Judd|last=Zulgad|title=KMSP, WFTC to swap affiliations this fall|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The changeover was timed to coincide with the first regular-season Vikings game of the year, aired by Fox.<ref name="Star020906">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-vikings-game-kicks-off-fox/160718750/|date=September 6, 2002|page=C5|first=Judd|last=Zulgad|title=Vikings game kicks off Fox's move to KMSP|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

Concurrent with the affiliation change was a restructuring of WFTC's news offerings. The 9&nbsp;p.m. newscast—which had aired five nights a week—was replaced by a seven-day-a-week newscast at 10&nbsp;p.m. This removed competition with KMSP, which at the same time dropped its newscast in that time slot.{{r|Star020524}} Though the two stations' newsrooms and other operations such as sales were combined at an expanded KMSP facility in [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]], leaving behind the leased quarters occupied by WFTC, the two stations retained separate news identities and their existing anchor talent.<ref name="Star020907">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-television-switch-is-abou/175876447/|date=September 7, 2002|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-tv/175876441/ A14]|first=Deborah|last=Caulfield Rybak|title=Television 'switch' is about more than shows|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --><ref>{{Cite news|pages=10–17|title=Minneapolis-St. Paul|first=Eileen|last=Davis Hudson|work=Mediaweek|date=December 2, 2002|id={{ProQuest|213646534}} }}</ref> Channel 29 lost the Timberwolves to KSTC-TV after 2004,<ref>{{Cite news|page=C4|title=KSTC adds Wolves to growing sports slate|first=Judd|last=Zulgad|work=Star Tribune|date=July 9, 2004|id={{ProQuest|427644355}} }}</ref> but it picked up a 28-game package of Twins games in 2005 as part of a five-year deal including the Fox-owned [[regional sports network]] [[Fox Sports North]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Twins' over-the air telecasts switch from Ch. 45 to Ch. 2|page=C4|id={{ProQuest|427672876}}|date=December 3, 2004|first=Judd|last=Zulgad|work=Star Tribune}}</ref>

After the switch, the balance of news ratings and resources tipped toward KMSP, which experienced increases in ratings for its morning and late evening news and expanded to a 5 p.m. newscast under the leadership of news director Ted Canova.<ref name="Star060110">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-signing-off-news-director/175757886/|date=January 10, 2006|page=B3|first=Deborah|last=Caulfield Rybak|title=Signing off: News director of KMSP and WFTC resigns|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In November 2004 alone, KMSP added three percentage points of the viewing audience while WFTC lost more than half of its viewership.<ref>{{Cite news|title=KMSP swept to a big gain in the November sweeps; But sister station WFTC did just the opposite, and KARE remained at the summit|work=Star Tribune|first=Deborah|last=Caulfield Rybak|date=December 24, 2004|page=B4|id={{ProQuest|427675158}} }}</ref> With low ratings and poor lead-in programming, the WFTC 10 p.m. newscast was discontinued on June 30, 2006, and replaced with a new newscast from KMSP that debuted on August 28. Conangla and Jordana Green, the channel 29 anchor team, were not retained, but 23 other WFTC news staffers were absorbed into the KMSP newsroom.<ref name="Star060602">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-wftc-drops-newscast-at-10/175757923/|date=June 2, 2006|page=B2|first=Deborah|last=Caulfield Rybak|title=WFTC drops newscast at 10; KMSP adds it|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="Star060802">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-salt-lake-city-anchor-jeff/175757990/|date=August 2, 2006|page=A2|first=Deborah|last=Caulfield Rybak|title=Salt Lake City anchor, Jeff Passolt paired for KMSP's 10 p.m. newscast|newspaper=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 4, 2025}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

===MyNetworkTV and Fox 9+===
[[File:WFTC Minneapolis.jpg|thumb|right|Logo used as ''My29'' from 2006 until 2017]]
On January 24, 2006, the [[Warner Bros.]] unit of [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]] and [[CBS Corporation]] announced that the two companies would shut down UPN and [[The WB]] and combine the networks' respective programming to create a new jointly owned broadcast network called [[The CW]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seid |first=Jessica |date=January 24, 2006 |title='Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316043531/http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |access-date=August 3, 2020 |website=[[CNN Money]] |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=January 24, 2006 |title=UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017035638/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |access-date=February 22, 2017 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In unveiling the merged network, while WB and UPN affiliates owned by WB minority stakeholder [[Tribune Media|Tribune Broadcasting]] and by [[CBS Television Stations]] were announced as affiliates, none of the Fox-owned UPN stations—many of which were competitors to these stations—were chosen. Fox president [[Peter Chernin]] moved immediately to remove all UPN branding from all of the company's stations.<ref name="BC060208">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/chernin-upbeat-cw-despite-affils-lost-78790|first=John Michael|last=Higgins|date=February 8, 2006|title=Chernin Upbeat On CW Despite Affils Lost|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=November 12, 2024|archive-date=November 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113051406/https://www.nexttv.com/news/chernin-upbeat-cw-despite-affils-lost-78790|url-status=live}}</ref> The next month, Fox parent [[News Corporation]] announced the creation of its own secondary network, [[MyNetworkTV]], to serve its outgoing UPN stations as well as those WB and UPN affiliates owned by others that had not been selected for The CW.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 22, 2006 |title=News Corp. to launch new mini-network for UPN stations |work=[[USA Today]] |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-02-22-fox-my-network_x.htm |access-date=January 21, 2013 |archive-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923100154/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-02-22-fox-my-network_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 22, 2006 |title=News Corp. Unveils MyNetworkTV |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/news-corp-unveils-my-network-tv-78935 |access-date=September 24, 2012 |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417165134/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php |url-status=live }}</ref> After the 2010 season, the Twins moved to a cable-exclusive package, with almost all games on Fox Sports North.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Justin |first=Neal |date=February 17, 2011 |title=Twins OK exclusive cable deal with FS North |url=https://www.startribune.com/twins-ok-exclusive-cable-deal-with-fs-north/116340349 |access-date=July 4, 2025 |work=Star Tribune |language=en}}</ref> The Timberwolves broadcast 10 games on channel 29 in 2010–11, none in 2011–12, and up to 25 in 2012–13.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Youngblood |first=Kent |date=May 30, 2012 |title=Wolves renew deal with over-the-air broadcaster |url=https://www.startribune.com/wolves-renew-deal-with-over-the-air-broadcaster/155778195 |access-date=July 4, 2025 |work=Star Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

From 2013 to 2016, WFTC broadcast a local entertainment program, ''On the Fly'', late on weeknights. Hosted by local radio personality Tony Fly, the program featured interviews with celebrity guests and interactive segments.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wftc-debuts-locally-produced-on-the-fly/|work=TVNewsCheck|title=WFTC Debuts Locally Produced 'On The Fly'|date=June 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.startribune.com/my29-s-on-the-fly-canceled-after-more-than-two-years/364280631|work=Star Tribune|title=My29's 'On the Fly' canceled after more than two years|first=Neal|last=Justin|date=January 5, 2016}}</ref> In 2016 and 2017, the station broadcast [[Minnesota United FC]] soccer, covering their last season in the [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|North American Soccer League]] and first season in [[Major League Soccer]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Loons pair with new TV partner - MY29 WFTC will televise all home and away matches this season, which begins April 2|work=Star Tribune|first=David|last=La Vaque|page=C7|date=March 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=March 3, 2017|first=Andy|last=Greder|work=St. Paul Pioneer Press|title=My29, 1500 land United broadcasts|page=B7}}</ref>

On August 11, 2017, WFTC rebranded as "Fox 9+", a brand extension of KMSP-TV, and debuted a half-hour 7 p.m. newscast.<ref name="TVNC170811">{{Cite web|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/fox-rebrands-wftc-adds-7-p-m-newscast/|title=Fox Rebrands WFTC, Adds 7 P.M. Newscast|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|date=August 28, 2017|accessdate=July 15, 2024}}</ref>

==Programming==
===Sports programming===
In 2023, WFTC became the official media outlet for the [[University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)|University of St. Thomas]] [[St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies|Tommies]] athletics teams. The station broadcasts select home competitions for the football, men's and women's basketball, and men's and women's hockey teams.<ref>{{cite news |title=St. Thomas athletics signs first-of-its-kind TV deal with Fox 9+ |url=https://www.startribune.com/st-thomas-athletics-signs-tv-deal-with-fox-9-plus/600304375/ |newspaper=[[Star Tribune]]|access-date=October 23, 2023 |date=September 13, 2023}}</ref> The [[Western Collegiate Hockey Association]] also reached an agreement with WFTC to carry a package of regular season games and the conference championship series; these games are simulcast with [[Big Ten Network#Streaming platforms|Big Ten Plus]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 5, 2023 |title=FOX9+ to televise WCHA games in 2023-24 |url=https://wcha.com/news/2023/10/5/general-fox9-to-televise-wcha-games-in-2023-24.aspx |access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=wcha.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2024 |title=FOX9+ to Televise WCHA Games in 2024-25 |url=https://wcha.com/news/2024/9/19/hockey-fox9-to-televise-wcha-games-in-2024-25.aspx |access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=wcha.com |language=en}}</ref> That year, the [[Minnesota Aurora]] women's soccer club began airing select games on WFTC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yoch |first=Andrea |date=April 10, 2025 |title=Minnesota Aurora renews with FOX9+ |url=https://mnaurora.com/minnesota-aurora-renews-with-fox9/ |access-date=July 4, 2025 |publisher=Minnesota Aurora |language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2025, WFTC aired matches from the [[Coachella Valley Invitational]] preseason tournament featuring [[Minnesota United FC]] of [[Major League Soccer]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 3, 2025|url=https://coachellavalleyinvitational.com/2025/02/03/fox-television-stations-and-gray-media-to-televise-mls-and-nwsl-matches-live-from-the-coachella-valley-invitational/|title=Fox Television Stations and Gray Media To Televise MLS and NWSL Matches Live From the Coachella Valley Invitational|website=Coachella Valley Invitational|access-date=February 3, 2025}}</ref> Later in 2025, WFTC announced an agreement with the [[St. Paul Saints]], the Triple-A affiliate of the [[Minnesota Twins]], to air 11 games.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 22, 2025|url=https://www.milb.com/st-paul/news/saints-return-to-fox-9-adding-10-dates-11-games-to-their-tv-schedule|title=Saints Return To FOX 9+ Adding 10 Dates, 11 Games To Their TV Schedule|website=St. Paul Saints|access-date=April 23, 2025}}</ref>

===Newscasts===
{{see|KMSP-TV#News operation}}

WFTC airs a 7 p.m. newscast, ''Fox 9+ News at 7'', on weeknights.{{r|TVNC170811}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/318babf4-6705-bcd7-5cf1-9031dc5b2275/7eaa8b65-874c-4b0d-8c5b-3f3418381082.pdf|date=March 31, 2025|title=WFTC-TV, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, First Quarter Community Service Report|website=Public Inspection File|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref>

==Technical information==
{{#section:KMSP-TV|subchannels}}
===Analog-to-digital conversion===
On February 5, 2009, WFTC's Bemidji-based satellite station KFTC began broadcasting its signal in digital only. WFTC shut down its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 29, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States [[Digital television in the United States|transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts]] under federal mandate. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 21 to former UHF analog channel 29 for post-transition operations<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> on August 18.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Viewers with converter boxes need to rescan Channel 29|work=St. Paul Pioneer Press|date=August 16, 2009|first=Amy|last=Carlson Gustafson}}</ref> KFTC, which did not receive a companion digital channel prior to the digital transition, flash-cut to digital on its former analog channel assignment of UHF channel 26.{{r|Analog to Digital}}

===Translators===
{{#section:KMSP-TV|translators}}

==See also==
* [[KVCW|KFBT]] in Las Vegas, a station started by Faith Broadcasting Network after it sold WFBT-TV

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{MSP TV}}
{{Minnesota TV}}
{{Wisconsin TV}}
{{Fox (company)}}
{{Major U.S. TV O-O Stations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wftc}}
[[Category:1982 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Fox Television Stations]]
[[Category:Movies! affiliates]]
[[Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates]]
[[Category:Nationwide Communications]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1982]]
[[Category:Television stations in Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]