You’ve probably noticed it while flipping through the channels or scrolling your phone over coffee. The media landscape here is shifting. If you're looking for Fox News in Colorado, you aren't just looking for one thing. You’re likely looking for two very different animals: the national powerhouse that dominates cable ratings and the local affiliates like Fox 31 in Denver or Fox 21 in the Springs that handle your morning commute and snow day alerts.
It gets confusing. Honestly, most people think they’re the same entity. They aren’t.
The Big Shakeup: Who Actually Owns the Local News?
The biggest story right now isn't what's on the screen, but who's signing the paychecks. As of early 2026, the local television scene in Colorado is in the middle of a massive consolidation. Nexstar Media Group, which already owns KDVR (Fox 31) and KWGN (Channel 2) in Denver, has been moving to acquire Tegna. Why does that matter to you? Because Tegna owns 9News (KUSA).
If this deal fully clears all the regulatory hurdles by the end of the year, one company could essentially control the two biggest newsrooms in the state.
Basically, Nexstar is becoming a titan. They already have a firm grip on the "Fox" brand across the Rockies. In Colorado Springs, they run KXRM (Fox 21). Over on the Western Slope, they manage KFQX (Fox 4) in Grand Junction through a shared services agreement.
This level of ownership concentration is unprecedented. Critics like Corey Hutchins, a prominent Colorado media analyst, have pointed out that as these large corporations swallow up local stations, we risk losing the "watchdog" style of reporting that keeps local politicians in check. You've probably already seen more "shared" segments between the Denver and Colorado Springs stations. It's efficient for them, sure, but it means fewer original boots on the ground in your specific neighborhood.
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How to Find Fox News in Colorado (Channel Guide)
Finding the right "Fox" depends entirely on your zip code and whether you’re looking for Sean Hannity or your local weather report.
- Denver & Front Range: KDVR (Fox 31) is the place for local news. If you want the national cable feed—Fox News Channel—you’ll usually find it on Xfinity channel 35 or 661 for HD. On CenturyLink Prism, it’s often 1210.
- Colorado Springs & Pueblo: KXRM (Fox 21) handles the local beat. They actually broadcast a massive amount of local content—over 40 hours a week. For the national cable channel, check your local Comcast or DirecTV listings, where it typically sits in the "News" tier alongside CNN and MSNBC.
- Grand Junction & Western Slope: KFQX (Fox 4) is your local affiliate. It’s a bit of a hybrid station; they share a building with KREX (the CBS affiliate) and often air Denver-based news from Fox 31 during the early morning hours.
Ratings Dominance in the High Country
Despite the "purple" shift in Colorado’s politics over the last decade, Fox News Channel remains a ratings juggernaut here. 2025 was actually the network's highest-rated non-election year in history.
In Colorado, the viewership is surprisingly diverse. Data from Nielsen MRI Fusion shows that it isn’t just Republicans tuning in. A significant chunk of Independents and even some Democrats in the Denver metro area keep the channel on as their background noise. "The Five" continues to be the most-watched show in cable news across the state, often pulling in more viewers than the late-evening broadcast news on other networks.
Why the stickiness? Kinda comes down to the "destination" factor. People know exactly what they’re getting. While local affiliates like Fox 31 focus on fires in Boulder or traffic on I-70, the national Fox News feed has successfully branded itself as the alternative to the "mainstream" narrative, a vibe that resonates in the more conservative pockets of Weld County and El Paso County.
The Digital Shift: Apps and Streaming
If you’ve cut the cord, you’re not alone. Colorado has one of the highest rates of "cord-cutting" in the country. To keep up, the Fox entities have gone all-in on digital.
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The FOX21 News app and the FOX31 Denver app are currently some of the most downloaded news tools in the region. They’ve pivoted to a "video-first" strategy. If there’s a brush fire near Fort Collins, you’ll see the livestream on the app before it ever hits the 9:00 p.m. broadcast.
Then there’s Fox Nation. This is the "Netflix for conservatives" streaming service. In Colorado, it’s seen a spike in subscriptions, particularly for its lifestyle and outdoor programming that features Western themes. It’s a way for the brand to stay in your living room even if you’ve ditched the $150-a-month cable bill.
What Most People Get Wrong
The most common misconception I hear is that Fox 31 (KDVR) is a "conservative" news station because of the Fox name.
That’s just not how it works.
Local affiliates are separate from the national Fox News Channel. The reporters at Fox 31 in Denver or Fox 21 in Colorado Springs are local journalists, many of whom have lived in Colorado for decades. Their focus is on the Gold King Mine spill, the rising cost of housing in Aurora, or how the Broncos are failing to find a quarterback (again).
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They carry Fox network programming like The Masked Singer or NFL on Fox, but their newsrooms are independent of the New York-based cable commentary. If you’re looking for a specific political tilt, you’ll find it on the cable channel, not the local 5:00 p.m. news.
Navigating the Future of News in the State
As we move through 2026, keep an eye on how these station mergers affect what you see. With news deserts growing on the Eastern Plains—where local papers like the Limon Leader have folded—TV stations are becoming the only source of info for many.
If you want to stay informed without the bias or the corporate fluff, here is what you can do right now:
- Download the local affiliate apps: Use the Fox 31 or Fox 21 apps specifically for weather and traffic. They are faster than the national ones.
- Verify the owner: If you feel the news is getting repetitive, check if the station is owned by Nexstar or Sinclair. Ownership matters for "must-run" segments.
- Support the "Other" Fox: Don't forget that Fox Corporation also runs Fox Weather, which is a free streaming service. Given Colorado’s insane weather patterns, it’s actually a more useful tool for many locals than the political talk shows.
- Check the subchannels: Use an over-the-air antenna. Many Fox affiliates carry "Antenna TV" or "Grit" on their 31.2 or 21.2 channels, which offer classic TV if you're tired of the news cycle.
The way we consume news is becoming more fragmented, but Fox News in Colorado remains a central pillar of the media diet here, whether through a cable box in a suburban basement or a smartphone in a mountain town. Follow the ownership changes closely; they will dictate the stories you hear for the next decade.