KRIV (channel 26) is a television station in Houston, Texas, United States, serving as the market's Fox network outlet. It is owned and operated by the network's Fox Television Stations division alongside MyNetworkTV station KTXH (channel 20). Both stations share studios on Southwest Freeway in Houston, while KRIV's transmitter is located near Missouri City, Texas. Established in 1971 as an independent station under the KVRL call sign and later as KDOG-TV, channel 26 hit its stride after being sold to Metromedia in 1978; it was then renamed in honor of the Metromedia executive who had encouraged the company to purchase it. Metromedia started the station's news department before being sold and becoming the nucleus of the Fox network in 1986. KRIV's local news programming has since steadily expanded to cover hours of morning, evening, and late news. History Early years On February 17, 1964, the Crest Broadcasting Company, headed by former KIKK owner Leroy J. Gloger, filed an application to build a new TV station on channel 29 in Houston. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)'s UHF allotment overhaul of 1965 substituted channel 26 for 29. Crest was selected over a competing application from radio station KXYZ, as it got the nod on diversification grounds and superior financial qualifications. KXYZ appealed and asked to submit a revised financial statement, also claiming that Crest had made a misrepresentation as to one of its stockholders, but FCC hearing examiner Chester F. Naumowicz denied the request and upheld the Crest grant. Construction got underway for KVRL in late 1970, with a mast being erected atop One Shell Plaza in downtown Houston and studios being built in the Schindler Center development at 3935 Westheimer Road in the Highland Village section, now the site of an H-E-B Central Market. The station began broadcasting on August 15, 1971. Programming mostly consisted of syndicated reruns, Texas Rangers baseball, and an affiliation with the Christian Broadcasting Network. In 1975, Leroy Gloger, who had also taken over general manager duties, was having a conversation when someone remarked that channel 26 was an underdog. For Gloger, who had a penchant for memorable station brands, it was the spark of an idea. He checked with the FCC, found that the call letters KDOG were available, and then changed channel 26 to KDOG-TV on September 1. A series of program changes accompanied the new moniker; the station added 90 minutes a night of