Photo courtesy of Fox 4 News
IRVING, Texas — A Historic Milestone for FOX 4 News
FOX 4 News has taken a major step into the future, officially breaking ground on a cutting-edge television station in Irving’s prestigious Las Colinas community.
Located on Royal Lane, the new two-story, 60,000-square-foot facility will feature a modern studio, an innovative newsroom, and state-of-the-art podcast suites. This next-generation facility is designed to redefine the broadcasting experience, operating entirely via fiber. Gone are the traditional TV towers and antennas, with minimal reliance on satellite dishes.
The project is the culmination of months of collaboration with the City of Irving, architects, and construction managers.
“These things do not just happen overnight,” said Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer. “We are immensely proud that KDFW has selected Irving as its new home.”
For the past 75 years, KDFW FOX 4 has been headquartered in Downtown Dallas. Over those decades, the Dallas-Fort Worth market has evolved dramatically, now standing as the fourth-largest media market in the nation. The relocation marks a strategic move to better serve the growing and dynamic North Texas community.
“The new facility will enable us to continue delivering exceptional service and coverage to the people of Dallas-Fort Worth,” said Jeff Gurley, Senior Vice President and General Manager of FOX 4.
Construction of the new building is expected to be completed in approximately two years.
A Storied Legacy
The history of KDFW FOX 4 is deeply rooted in the broadcasting industry, dating back more than 80 years to the golden age of radio. It all began on October 30, 1926, when KRLD-AM first went on the air. The station’s call letters, KRLD, were derived from the names of its joint owners: Edwin J. “K”iest and the “R”adio “L”aboratories of “D”allas.
In 1927, KRLD was acquired by the Dallas Times Herald newspaper and became Texas’s first affiliate of the newly launched Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) radio network.
The transition to television came in the 1940s with the dawn of the TV era. KRLD-TV, Channel 4, was granted a license by the Federal Communications Commission and made its debut on December 3, 1949. The station’s inaugural broadcast was a quintessential Texas event: a football game between SMU and Notre Dame.
Channel 4 quickly expanded its offerings to include news, local entertainment, and programming from the CBS television network, cementing its place as a cornerstone of North Texas broadcasting.
As FOX 4 embarks on this exciting new chapter in Irving, it continues to honor its rich heritage while embracing the future of media innovation.