KAZQ

KAZQ is a non-commercial religious independent television station based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Broadcasting on virtual channel 32, the station serves the Albuquerque–Santa Fe market and transmits from Sandia Crest, northeast of Albuquerque. It is owned by Alpha Omega Broadcasting and operates alongside the company's low-power station KTVS-LD, channel 36. The two outlets share studios on Montgomery Boulevard Northeast in Albuquerque and are collectively presented as the AO Broadcasting Network. The station's origins date to an original construction permit issued on June 30, 1986. KAZQ began operation on October 12, 1987, and received its Federal Communications Commission license on March 29, 1988. The station was initially associated with cable distribution and, during its early period, carried exclusively Christian programming. Over time, its schedule broadened to include family-friendly secular entertainment while retaining a religious and non-commercial identity. KAZQ operates on a reserved educational channel. As a result, it cannot carry conventional advertising or infomercials. Its programming model is therefore based on religious content, family-oriented entertainment, and other programming that fits the station's non-commercial educational status. The station's schedule differs from that of its sister outlet KTVS-LD, which carries a greater proportion of secular programming. KAZQ's technical development included a transition from analog broadcasting to digital television. In 1997, the FCC allotted UHF channel 17 for the station's digital operation. KAZQ applied for a digital construction permit in May 2000, and the permit was granted on February 12, 2001. A special temporary authorization allowed KAZQ-DT to begin operating at reduced power in March 2003 while full-power facilities were completed. The station obtained its digital television license on January 6, 2006. It ultimately retained channel 17 as its physical digital channel after the nationwide digital transition on June 12, 2009, while digital receivers continued to display virtual channel 32. KAZQ is one of three full-power Christian television stations identified as serving the Albuquerque market; the other two are KNAT-TV and KCHF. Its distinctive position combines religious broadcasting, family-oriented programming, local-market terrestrial television, and a non-commercial operating framework. The station has remained under the ownership of Alpha Omega Broadcasting since its establishment, according to the referenced station history.

KAZQ's documented history begins with the issuance of an original construction permit on June 30, 1986. The permit authorized the development of a full-power television station for the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area. KAZQ began operating on October 12, 1987, and the Federal Communications Commission granted the station its license on March 29, 1988. During its early history, the station was associated with cable distribution for a period of approximately nine years. Its initial schedule consisted exclusively of Christian programming, reflecting the station's religious mission and the identity it has retained in the Albuquerque market. KAZQ later expanded its schedule to include family-friendly secular programs, although it continued to operate as a religious independent station rather than affiliating with a major commercial broadcast network. The station has remained under the ownership of Alpha Omega Broadcasting since its founding. Alpha Omega later developed a related broadcast operation through KTVS-LD, a low-power station on channel 36. KAZQ and KTVS-LD share studio facilities on Montgomery Boulevard Northeast in Albuquerque and are collectively branded as the AO Broadcasting Network. KTVS-LD's schedule is described as more secular than KAZQ's, allowing the two stations to serve somewhat different programming roles within the same ownership structure. KAZQ broadcasts from a transmitter located on Sandia Crest, northeast of Albuquerque. The station operates on a reserved educational channel, which prevents it from carrying ordinary commercial advertising and infomercials. This regulatory status shapes its business and programming model: rather than functioning as a conventional advertiser-supported commercial station, KAZQ provides religious, educational, and family-oriented programming within a non-commercial framework. The station also carries several hours of family entertainment each day. The transition to digital television was developed over several stages. In 1997, the FCC allotted UHF channel 17 for KAZQ's digital service. The station submitted an application for a digital construction permit in May 2000, and the permit was granted on February 12, 2001. In March 2003, KAZQ-DT received special temporary authorization to operate at reduced power while construction of its permanent full-power digital facilities continued. The station received its digital television license on January 6, 2006. KAZQ elected to retain physical channel 17 after the end of the United States digital television transition on June 12, 2009. Although its digital transmission uses channel 17, receivers identify the station through virtual channel 32, preserving the channel number associated with its former analog service. The station's continued operation places it among the full-power Christian television outlets serving the Albuquerque market, alongside KNAT-TV and KCHF.

• 2009

  Digital transition channel retained

  [1]KAZQen.wikipedia.org

  After the United States digital transition on June 12, 2009, KAZQ retained physical channel 17 while continuing to identify virtually as channel 32.

• 2006

  Digital television license obtained

  [1]KAZQen.wikipedia.org

  KAZQ obtained its digital television license on January 6, 2006.

• 2003

  Reduced-power digital service authorized

  [1]KAZQen.wikipedia.org

  A special temporary authorization allowed KAZQ-DT to begin operating at reduced power while full-power digital facilities were being built.

• 2001

  Digital construction permit granted

  [1]KAZQen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC granted KAZQ's digital construction permit on February 12, 2001.

• 2000

  Digital construction permit application

  [1]KAZQen.wikipedia.org

  KAZQ applied for a construction permit for its digital television facilities in May 2000.

• 1997

  Digital channel allocation

  [1]KAZQen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC allotted UHF channel 17 for KAZQ's digital television operation.

• 1988

  Station receives FCC license

  [1]KAZQen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC licensed KAZQ on March 29, 1988.

• 1987

  KAZQ begins broadcasting

  [1]KAZQen.wikipedia.org

  KAZQ began operation on October 12, 1987.

• 1986

  Original construction permit issued

  [1]KAZQen.wikipedia.org

  The station received an original construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission on June 30, 1986.

A non-commercial Christian and family-oriented independent television station serving the Albuquerque-area market.

• Television station · 1987

  KAZQ channel 32

  KAZQ's primary full-power television service for the Albuquerque-area market. The station broadcasts religious programming, family-friendly entertainment, and other non-commercial programming from its Sandia Crest transmitter. Its virtual channel remains 32, the number associated with its former analog service.

• Digital broadcast service · 2003

  KAZQ digital television service

  KAZQ's digital transmission operates on physical UHF channel 17. The digital service was developed through an FCC-authorized construction and testing process and became fully licensed in 2006. Following the 2009 digital transition, receivers continued to display the station as virtual channel 32.

• Television programming · 1987

  Religious and family-oriented programming

  KAZQ's programming identity is centered on Christian content and family-friendly entertainment. The station began with an exclusively Christian schedule and later added secular programs considered suitable for family viewing. Because it operates on a reserved educational channel, the service does not carry conventional advertising or infomercials.

• 2009

  Retaining physical digital channel 17Strategy

  Background

  KAZQ had been assigned UHF channel 17 for digital broadcasting while its established analog and virtual identity was associated with channel 32.

  Action taken

  The station elected to remain on physical channel 17 after the United States digital television transition, while digital receivers continued to display virtual channel 32.

  Aftermath

  KAZQ preserved its familiar channel 32 identity for viewers while transmitting digitally on channel 17.

  Source

1. 1KAZQen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KAZQ official websitekazq32.org