hybrid local-state news format that had been used at MTN since 1971 was abolished, with each station beginning to produce full-length local newscasts. While MTN was changing owners, a low-power TV station was going on the air at Kalispell. Owned by Thom Curtis and Daniel Coon of Billings, stockholders in KOUS-TV in Hardin, K18AJ made its debut on July 10, 1985, and primarily aired programming from the Satellite Program Network. It went silent in mid-1988 and was sold to KPAX-TV, returning to the air in November as a translator with local commercials. In addition, a news reporter was stationed full-time in the Kalispell area; separate evening newscasts have been produced since 2000 for Kalispell. The call sign was altered to KAJJ-CA in 2011 and KAJJ-CD in 2012. KECI-TV with KCFW in Kalispell generally had the lead in local news in the Missoula market until KPAX-TV surpassed it in 1993, aided by the defection of anchor Jill Valley from KECI. The station began producing a local morning newscast in 1996. Notable former on-air staff Christine Clayburg – meteorologist Technical information Subchannels The station's digital signal is multiplexed: Translators Analog-to-digital conversion KPAX-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 8, on June 12, 2009, the official date in which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 7. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 8. References External links Official KPAX-TV website Official KAJJ-CD website CW 8.2 Montana Television Network CBS network affiliates The CW affiliates Grit (TV network) affiliates Ion Television affiliates Court TV affiliates Television channels and stations established in 1970 PAX-TV 1970 establishments in Montana E. W. Scripps Company television stations