KETF-CD

KETF-CD is a low-power Class A television station serving Laredo, Texas, United States. The station operates on virtual channel 39 and is owned by Entravision Communications Corporation, which also operates Univision affiliate KLDO-TV and Fox affiliate KXOF-CD in the Laredo market. The stations share studio facilities on Monarch Drive, while KETF-CD's transmitter is located on Shea Street north of downtown. The station began operating in 1999 under the call sign KNEZ-LP. During its first years, it was associated with the executors of Carlos Ortiz's estate, who had also been involved in the La Familia Network and Fe-TV. KNEZ-LP carried TBN Enlace USA programming on a continuous basis from 1999 through 2007. This made the station primarily a Spanish-language religious television outlet rather than a general-entertainment commercial affiliate. Entravision acquired the station in March 2007 and prepared it for a major programming and branding change. In July of that year, the station adopted the call sign KXOF-CA and began carrying Fox programming. The change expanded Fox's local presence in Laredo and led to the removal of San Antonio Fox affiliate KABB from Time Warner Cable's Laredo lineup because of Federal Communications Commission carriage rules. A further technical and programming transition took place on August 1, 2012, when the station ended analog transmission and began broadcasting in digital high definition on virtual channel 39.1. Its 39.2 digital subchannel initially carried MundoFox in standard definition. MundoFox was renamed MundoMax in 2015 and ceased operations on November 30, 2016. In February 2017, the second digital stream began carrying Azteca América, giving the Laredo market local access to that Spanish-language network in addition to its national cable feed. The station's identity changed again on December 13, 2018, when KETF-CD and KXOF-CD exchanged call signs. The Fox/MyNetworkTV service retained the KXOF-CD designation, while the station covered by this dossier became KETF-CD. Following the exchange, KETF-CD became a dual UniMás and Azteca-affiliated station. Its role is therefore centered on Spanish-language entertainment, news, sports, and other network programming distributed through digital broadcasting in the Laredo area. KETF-CD remains part of Entravision's local cluster and complements the company's Univision and Fox offerings in the market.

KETF-CD traces its operating history to 1999, when it began broadcasting in Laredo as KNEZ-LP. From 1999 until 2007, the station carried TBN Enlace USA programming around the clock. Its ownership during this period was connected with the executors of Carlos Ortiz's estate, who were also associated with the La Familia Network and Fe-TV. Entravision Communications Corporation acquired the station in March 2007. The acquisition was followed by a repositioning from religious Spanish-language programming to commercial network television. In July 2007, the station changed its call sign to KXOF-CA and began airing Fox programming. The change also affected local cable distribution: San Antonio Fox affiliate KABB was removed from Time Warner Cable's Laredo lineup in connection with FCC carriage requirements. On August 1, 2012, the station completed a transition from analog to digital transmission. It broadcast Fox in high definition on virtual channel 39.1 and used virtual channel 39.2 for MundoFox in standard definition. MundoFox adopted the MundoMax name in 2015, but the network shut down on November 30, 2016. The second digital stream was subsequently reassigned to Azteca América in February 2017. Before the local digital affiliation began, Azteca América had been available in the area primarily through the network's national feed on Time Warner Cable. The station's current identity resulted from a call-sign exchange with sister station KXOF-CD on December 13, 2018. After the exchange, the Fox/MyNetworkTV affiliate kept the KXOF-CD designation, and the station formerly identified as KXOF-CD became KETF-CD. KETF-CD consequently became a dual UniMás/Azteca-affiliated station. Entravision operates it alongside KLDO-TV, the local Univision affiliate, and KXOF-CD, the local Fox affiliate. The three stations share studios on Monarch Drive, and KETF-CD transmits from a site on Shea Street north of downtown Laredo. KETF-CD's business is local over-the-air television distribution rather than the sale of standalone consumer products. Its principal offerings are the UniMás and Azteca network services delivered through its digital broadcast signal, together with local advertising opportunities for businesses seeking access to the Laredo viewing area. The station's programming history reflects the evolution of the market from religious broadcasting to English-language network affiliation and then to a Spanish-language network configuration aligned with Entravision's broader portfolio.

• 2018

  Call-sign exchange creates the KETF-CD identity

  [1]KETF-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KETF-CD and KXOF-CD exchange call signs, leaving KETF-CD as the UniMás/Azteca station.

• 2017

  Azteca América added

  [1]KETF-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Azteca América begins occupying the station's 39.2 digital subchannel.

• 2016

  MundoMax shuts down

  [1]KETF-CDen.wikipedia.org

  MundoMax ceases operations, ending the network's presence on the station's second digital stream.

• 2012

  Digital transition

  [1]KETF-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station ends analog transmission and begins digital broadcasting on virtual channel 39, with Fox on 39.1 and MundoFox on 39.2.

• 2007

  Entravision acquisition and Fox launch

  [1]KETF-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Entravision acquires the station, changes its call sign to KXOF-CA, and launches Fox programming.

• 1999

  Station begins as KNEZ-LP

  [1]KETF-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The Laredo low-power station begins broadcasting under the KNEZ-LP call sign with TBN Enlace USA programming.

A Spanish-language local television outlet serving the Laredo market through UniMás and Azteca programming as part of Entravision's local station portfolio.

• Primary television network affiliation

  UniMás

  KETF-CD's primary service is affiliated with UniMás, providing Spanish-language network programming to viewers in the Laredo market. The affiliation places the station within Entravision's Spanish-language broadcast portfolio and gives the local over-the-air service a general-entertainment orientation.

• Digital television subchannel · 2017

  Azteca

  The station's secondary digital stream carries Azteca programming. The service replaced MundoMax on channel 39.2 in February 2017 and provides a second Spanish-language network offering within KETF-CD's local digital signal.

• 2018

  Call-sign exchange with KXOF-CDStrategy

  Background

  Entravision operated both KETF-CD and KXOF-CD in the Laredo market, with the stations carrying different network combinations.

  Action taken

  The two stations exchanged call signs on December 13.

  Aftermath

  The Fox/MyNetworkTV outlet retained KXOF-CD, while the UniMás/Azteca station adopted the KETF-CD identity.

  Source

• 2017

  Replacement of MundoMax with Azteca AméricaStrategy

  Background

  MundoFox, later renamed MundoMax, ceased operations in November 2016.

  Action taken

  Entravision placed Azteca América on KETF-CD's 39.2 digital subchannel in February 2017.

  Aftermath

  The station continued offering a Spanish-language secondary network after the shutdown of MundoMax.

  Source

• 2012

  Transition from analog to digital transmissionGeneration change

  Background

  The station had been operating as a low-power analog outlet.

  Action taken

  On August 1, the station shut down its analog signal and launched digital services on virtual channel 39.

  Aftermath

  Fox was carried in high definition on 39.1, while MundoFox occupied 39.2 in standard definition.

  Source

• 2007

  Entravision acquires the stationM&A

  Background

  The station was operating as KNEZ-LP with continuous TBN Enlace USA programming.

  Action taken

  Entravision acquired the station in March and repositioned it for Fox affiliation later that year.

  Aftermath

  The station changed its call sign to KXOF-CA and began airing Fox programming in July 2007.

  Source

1. 1KETF-CDen.wikipedia.org