KFJX was founded in 2003 as the Fox affiliate for the Pittsburg, Kansas/Joplin, Missouri market. It is owned by Saga Communications' Surtsey Media subsidiary, and is a sister station to Saga-owned KOAM-TV. KFJX was launched primarily to bring a Fox affiliate to the area, since the closest Fox affiliates were located in Kansas City, Springfield, and Tulsa. KFJX may have also been launched in response to the Nexstar Broadcasting Group KODE-TV/KSNF duopoly, which began in 2004. On May 8, 2009, a severe storm rolled through the Joplin area and damaged the antenna of KFJX.