KEZT-CD

KEZT-CD is a low-power, Class A television station licensed to serve Sacramento, California. Operating on channel 23, it functions primarily as a translator and repeater of KUVS-DT, the Modesto-licensed Univision station serving the Sacramento–Stockton market and owned and operated by TelevisaUnivision. The station's transmitter is located on 22nd Street in downtown Sacramento, while its parent station shares facilities with KTFK-DT, a Stockton-licensed UniMás station, at a studio complex on Arden Way near Cal Expo in Sacramento. The station's programming history reflects the changing economics and affiliations of low-power television. KEZT initially carried programming from The Box during the 1990s and into 2000. After The Box ceased operations, KEZT affiliated with MTV2 in 2001. In 2002, it briefly became a charter affiliate of Telefutura, the Spanish-language network launched by Univision Communications and later renamed UniMás. That arrangement changed after Univision Communications acquired KTFK-TV, channel 64, in 2003. KTFK assumed the Telefutura affiliation in 2004, and KEZT returned to English-language programming as an affiliate of the Home Shopping Network, commonly known as HSN. During its HSN period, KEZT was notable as one of only two Univision-owned stations broadcasting primarily in English, alongside KUVI-TV in Bakersfield, which was then affiliated with UPN. To satisfy Federal Communications Commission requirements applicable to Class A television stations, KEZT also retransmitted a Spanish-language KUVS newscast and two Spanish-language public-affairs programs on Sunday mornings. These broadcasts provided locally relevant programming while the station otherwise carried its English-language commercial schedule. In 2014, KEZT discontinued its HSN affiliation and began repeating KUVS-DT programming. The transition expanded the station's digital service from a single standard-definition channel to four subchannels, including two high-definition Spanish-language services with 5.1-channel surround sound and two standard-definition English-language services. The change made KEZT more directly part of TelevisaUnivision's Sacramento-area distribution strategy, extending KUVS programming to viewers in the station's coverage area. KEZT's technical history also includes the transition from analog to digital broadcasting. Because it was a Class A low-power analog station, it continued operating after the June 2009 full-power analog television shutdown. It left the air on January 26, 2012, and was replaced the same day by a digital channel operating in standard definition with two-channel audio. Its current role is best understood as a local over-the-air distribution outlet rather than an independently programmed national network brand.

KEZT-CD is a Sacramento, California, Class A low-power television station broadcasting on channel 23. It is operated as a translator of KUVS-DT, the Univision station licensed to Modesto and serving the broader Sacramento–Stockton region. The station's transmitter is located on 22nd Street in downtown Sacramento. KUVS shares studio facilities with KTFK-DT, a UniMás owned-and-operated station licensed to Stockton, at a complex on Arden Way near Cal Expo in Sacramento. KEZT's early programming history was tied to music-video and youth-oriented services. During the 1990s and through 2000, it carried The Box. When The Box ceased operations, KEZT adopted MTV2 programming in 2001. The station then entered the Spanish-language network market in 2002 as a charter affiliate of Telefutura, a network launched by Univision Communications and subsequently renamed UniMás. The Telefutura affiliation was temporary. Univision Communications acquired KTFK-TV, channel 64, in 2003, and KTFK assumed the Telefutura affiliation in 2004. KEZT consequently returned to English-language service, affiliating with the Home Shopping Network, or HSN. This period made KEZT unusual within the Univision-owned station portfolio because it was one of only two such stations broadcasting in English at the time; the other was KUVI-TV in Bakersfield, then a UPN affiliate. Although HSN supplied the station's principal schedule, KEZT continued to carry selected Spanish-language programs from KUVS on Sunday mornings. These included a Spanish-language newscast and two Spanish-language public-affairs programs. The programming helped meet FCC obligations connected with Class A station status and preserved a local and community-oriented component in the schedule. KEZT also underwent a technical transition associated with the conversion from analog to digital television. As a Class A low-power analog station, it was not required to leave the air at the same time as full-power analog broadcasters during the June 2009 transition. It continued transmitting in analog until January 26, 2012. On that date, the analog service ended and a digital standard-definition channel with two-channel audio replaced it. In 2014, the station's role changed again. KEZT discontinued HSN and began retransmitting KUVS-DT programming. The station expanded from one standard-definition service to four digital subchannels. The configuration included two high-definition Spanish-language services with 5.1-channel surround sound and two standard-definition English-language services. This arrangement integrated KEZT more closely with TelevisaUnivision's regional Univision distribution system and reduced its role as an independently scheduled English-language outlet. The station's history is therefore characterized by repeated affiliation changes, the movement of Spanish-language network service between Sacramento-area transmitters, and the gradual shift from analog low-power broadcasting to digital multicast distribution. Its present identity is primarily that of a local translator and retransmission outlet for TelevisaUnivision programming rather than a separately programmed full-service television station.

• 2014

  KUVS-DT retransmission and multicast expansion

  [1]KEZT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station dropped HSN, began repeating KUVS-DT, and expanded to four digital subchannels.

• 2012

  Digital conversion

  [1]KEZT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KEZT ended analog broadcasting on January 26 and commenced digital standard-definition operation.

• 2004

  Return to English-language HSN service

  [1]KEZT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KTFK took over the Telefutura affiliation and KEZT switched back to English-language programming through HSN.

• 2003

  Univision Communications acquires KTFK-TV

  [1]KEZT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Univision Communications acquired KTFK-TV, setting up a later reassignment of Telefutura programming to channel 64.

• 2002

  Telefutura launch affiliation

  [1]KEZT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KEZT briefly became a charter affiliate of Telefutura, a newly launched Spanish-language network.

• 2001

  MTV2 affiliation

  [1]KEZT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KEZT began carrying MTV2 after The Box was discontinued.

• 2000

  End of The Box era

  [1]KEZT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station's association with The Box ended as that service ceased operations.

• 1990

  The Box programming period

  [1]KEZT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KEZT carried programming from The Box during the 1990s and into 2000.

A Sacramento-area low-power broadcast outlet that extends TelevisaUnivision's Univision service through a local channel 23 signal, with a history of carrying both English- and Spanish-language network or commercial programming.

• Television broadcasting

  KEZT-CD channel 23 broadcast

  The station's principal offering is a local over-the-air television signal serving Sacramento, California. It operates as a Class A low-power facility and distributes programming through digital television transmission rather than functioning as a conventional nationally distributed cable network.

• Spanish-language television · 2014

  KUVS-DT retransmission

  Since 2014, KEZT has primarily repeated programming from KUVS-DT, TelevisaUnivision's Univision station for the regional market. This gives Sacramento-area viewers an additional over-the-air path to Univision programming and related Spanish-language services.

• Digital television · 2014

  Digital multicast subchannels

  KEZT expanded from a single standard-definition service to four digital subchannels. The configuration included two high-definition Spanish-language services using 5.1-channel surround sound and two standard-definition English-language services.

• Home shopping television · 2004

  HSN affiliation

  From 2004 until 2014, KEZT carried English-language Home Shopping Network programming after Telefutura service moved to KTFK. HSN was a former schedule affiliation rather than a current offering.

• 2014

  End of HSN affiliation and KUVS-DT simulcastStrategy

  Background

  TelevisaUnivision reorganized the station's role within its Sacramento-area broadcast group.

  Action taken

  KEZT dropped HSN and began repeating KUVS-DT, adding three subchannels and expanding from one service to four.

  Aftermath

  KEZT became primarily a digital translator and multicast distribution outlet for Univision-related programming.

  Source

• 2012

  Analog-to-digital conversionGeneration change

  Background

  As a Class A low-power station, KEZT remained on analog after the June 2009 full-power analog shutdown.

  Action taken

  The analog signal was taken off the air on January 26, 2012, and replaced by a digital standard-definition service with two-channel audio.

  Aftermath

  The station continued operating as a digital low-power television outlet.

  Source

• 2004

  Shift to HSN programmingStrategy

  Background

  KTFK assumed the Telefutura affiliation following its acquisition by Univision Communications.

  Action taken

  KEZT switched back to English-language programming as an HSN affiliate while retaining selected KUVS Spanish-language public-service programs.

  Aftermath

  KEZT became one of the few English-language stations in the Univision-owned portfolio during this period.

  Source

• 2002

  Temporary adoption of TelefuturaStrategy

  Background

  KEZT entered Spanish-language network broadcasting when Telefutura launched, becoming one of the network's charter affiliates.

  Action taken

  The station replaced its prior English-language schedule with Telefutura programming for a short period.

  Aftermath

  After Univision Communications acquired KTFK-TV, Telefutura programming moved to channel 64 and KEZT later adopted HSN.

  Source

1. 1KEZT-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Univision channel page for KEZT-CDunivision.com