About KXLT FOX47
KXLT became a full-time satellite of St. Cloud-based independent outlet KXLI in August 1987. It was both the market's first independent station and the region's first new commercial station in 33 years. Its programming was largely low-budget syndicated material and cartoons, however it would occasionally show Minnesota North Stars hockey. However, it struggled, not least because KMSP-TV in Minneapolis-Saint Paul was already accessible on cable.Halcomm Inc. held KXLI / KXLT, with Dale W. Lang, chairman of magazine publisher Lang Communications Inc., as its largest owner and president. Lang intended to launch the "Minnesota Independent Network" (MIN) with 11 stations, but the project never progressed beyond planning and preliminary work.
Lang also loaned Halcomm $9.6 million. The station ceased operations in December 1988, with Lang assuming control of the stations in 1989.
Of 1989, Lang became the major investor in the Star Television Network, which aired 4 hours of infomercials and 8 hours of classic programming under the TV Heaven banner. On September 29, 1990, KXLT reappeared as an owned and operated Star station, simulcasting KXLI programming, with both stations on the air 22 hours a day. Following the demise of Star in January 1991, KXLI / KXLT began broadcasting infomercials, religious programs, and the Home Shopping Network.
Due to KXLI's financial difficulties, KXLT operated at less-than-licensed power. KXLI and KXLT were sold to Paxson Communications in 1996, and both stations were transformed to an all-infomercial programming as part of Paxson's "inTV" network. Paxson decided to sell KXLT in 1997 in order to obtain funds for the Pax network (today's Ion Television). Shockley Communications bought KXLT late that year.