EL PASO -- KFOX-TV, KFOX DT 14-1 and KFOX DT 14-2 is the exclusive El Paso and Las Cruces home for the FOX television network, American Idol, 24, the Dallas Cowboys, and the World Series. But we are also much more than that.

KFOX is a Cox Television station, recognized as an industry leader across America. Cox Television is a division of Cox Enterprises, which also owns and operates Cable TV giant Cox Communications, Cox Radio, Cox Newspapers, and Manheim Auto Auction - all among the very best in their fields.

Though Channel 14 has been around for more than three decades, our station has gone through plenty of changes over the years.

The station's first owner was International Christian Television. Initially broadcast on a low power transmitter, Channel 14 was upgraded to high power in 1979. The call letters were KCIK - K because the station is located in the Western United States, and CIK which stood for "Christ Is King." KCIK broadcast English speaking family-oriented and Christian programming, making most of its revenue through donations from the public.

In the early 80's the station was purchased by Cristo Rey Corporation, which turned KCIK into a fledgling commercial media enterprise. Initially the station was an "independent" (no network affiliation), but in 1983, Cristo Rey signed an agreement with an upstart television network that was about to change the face of network TV. Shows like "21 Jump Street", "Married With Children", "COPS", and "America's Most Wanted" were brought to America by FOX Television.

In 1988, KCIK was purchased by Jack Mulderrig Sr., a New York entrepreneur. In June 1994 Mulderrig moved KFOX's offices from 3100 N. Stanton Street to 6004 N. Mesa.

That December, Mulderrig purchased the rights to the valuable call letters "KFOX." These call letters are unique to this television station, as no two TV stations are allowed to have the same call letters.

By August 1996, KFOX was poised to become the major force in the local television industry when it was purchased by Cox Broadcasting. In September of 1997 - determined to bring a quality newscast to our region - the station launched a news department unlike any other ever seen in El Paso or Las Cruces. One local VIP who was invited to watch a newscast rehearsal told an El Paso Times reporter that it was so professional it looked "like a local version of CNN." KFOX News quickly became a hit. Within four years more people were watching KFOX News at Nine every week than any other local newscast - a distinction still held to this day. And, the KFOX News department has received more local, regional and national awards for journalistic excellence than all of the other local television stations combined. Is it any wonder that the frustrated General Manager of one competitor once ordered his staff - "watch what KFOX does and copy them!"

Responding to viewers calls for a quality newscast in the morning, The KFOX Morning News was launched in January of 2004. Again, quality was the key. While other local stations had their small morning staff report to work after 3am and repeat the news from the previous evening, KFOX fully staffed its news department all night long. That's why each weekday morning from 5am to 8am, KFOX is able to show you what's happened since you went to bed, so that you can start your day fully informed.

Then in October 2008, KFOX once again expanded its news operation with the launch of 'KFOX News at Six." This is a "newscast of record" for the events of the day that affect the El Paso and Las Cruces area. It is complimented with the area's only Eastside Bureau and the region's only Satellite truck.

KFOX now employs more than 70 people, and delivers some of the most popular and entertaining programs on network television.