KFTR-DT
KFTR-DT is the Los Angeles area's UniMás television station, licensed to Ontario, California, and operated by TelevisaUnivision.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
KFTR-DT is a Spanish-language television station licensed to Ontario, California, serving the greater Los Angeles market. It operates as the West Coast flagship station of UniMás, the Spanish-language broadcast network owned by TelevisaUnivision. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 46, with its digital transmission facility located on Mount Wilson, and shares operational and studio resources with sister Univision station KMEX-DT, channel 34. The two stations' facilities are in the Westchester area of Los Angeles near Interstate 405. The station began broadcasting in 1972 as KBSA after a lengthy construction-permit process. Its early history was unusually unsettled. It initially carried predominantly Spanish-language programming and briefly served as an early home for the television ministry that became the Trinity Broadcasting Network. After subsequent ownership changes, the station was acquired by the Berean Baptist Church and later became involved in financial and regulatory difficulties. It went off the air in 1977, while creditors and competing purchasers disputed control of the license and the station's financial condition. In 1979, the Federal Communications Commission designated its renewal application for hearing, citing allegations involving misleading bond-sale information, diversion of operating funds, and an unauthorized transfer of control. A distress-sale process eventually led to Hispanic ownership of the license. The station returned to broadcasting in 1984 under the call sign KIHS-TV. Its programming was initially centered on Catholic and family-oriented content, supported by the De Rance Foundation and associated organizations. Financial pressures led to a gradual increase in secular entertainment and commercial programming. In 1986, Home Shopping Network acquired the station, ending plans for a broader Catholic television operation. Following the acquisition, it became KHSC and adopted a full-time home-shopping format associated with Home Shopping Club. The station became one of HSN's more successful broadcast outlets by sales volume during the late 1980s. In the late 1990s, HSN's broadcast assets were reorganized under USA Broadcasting. The company considered converting the station into a general-entertainment outlet under its CityVision concept, with the proposed identity KLIK or “Click 46.” Those plans did not take effect. Univision Communications instead acquired the station and most of USA Broadcasting's stations in a transaction completed around 2002. The call sign became KFTR-TV, and the station became part of the launch platform for TeleFutura, which was later renamed UniMás. KFTR-DT primarily carries network programming rather than producing a standalone local newscast. It has historically simulcast or carried selected KMEX newscasts when Univision network programming, sports, or special events displaced them on KMEX. Examples include temporary carriage of KMEX's morning news during FIFA World Cup coverage and carriage of KMEX evening news during Teletón USA programming. KFTR has also carried entertainment programming and network or locally relevant sports content. Its role in the Los Angeles market includes cross-promotion and complementary programming with KMEX rather than a separate full-service local-news operation. The station has participated in several notable Spanish-language sports partnerships. From 2016, KFTR and KMEX carried Spanish-language Los Angeles Rams preseason games and related studio programming under a three-year Univision agreement, marking Univision's first media-rights arrangement involving an NFL team. In 2018, Univision Los Angeles announced a programming partnership with Los Angeles FC that made KFTR the Spanish-language outlet for selected regular-season matches and associated pregame and postgame programs. That arrangement lasted approximately two years before the rights moved to Estrella TV station KRCA. KFTR completed the United States digital-television transition in 2009, shutting down its analog channel 46 signal while retaining virtual channel 46 on digital channel 29. The station later upgraded its digital network transmission to high definition. Its signal has also been distributed through mobile digital television and through a simulcast on a KMEX digital subchannel. A translator has operated in Ridgecrest under the call sign K15HJ-D. Today, KFTR-DT remains an active UniMás outlet serving Southern California's large Spanish-speaking audience and functions as a major network station within TelevisaUnivision's Los Angeles operation.
History
KFTR-DT traces its origins to a 1962 application by Broadcasting Service of America for a new television station in the Inland Empire. The proposed facility was initially associated with channel 40 and a Guasti license, but the application was amended to channel 46 before the FCC approved it in 1964. The permit received the call sign KBSA. Although the station was authorized to use Mount Wilson facilities, it did not begin regular operation until August 16, 1972, and primarily carried Spanish-language programming. KBSA's first years were unstable. Paul Crouch and Jim Bakker purchased airtime for the television ministry that became the Trinity Broadcasting Network, making KBSA an early broadcast home for that organization. The station subsequently changed hands, including a sale to the Berean Baptist Church. Berean planned religious programming, while other churches and specialty programs also used the channel. Financial problems soon developed. The station went silent in April 1977, and competing transactions to sell its license produced additional uncertainty. In 1979, the FCC designated KBSA's renewal application for hearing, citing allegations concerning false bond-sale information, use of station funds, and an unauthorized change in control. Creditors reportedly claimed substantial unpaid obligations while the station lacked operating equipment. A distress-sale process resulted in FCC approval of Hispanic Broadcasters, Inc. as a purchaser in 1980, followed by another license transaction involving HBI Acquisition. The call sign changed to KIHS-TV in late 1983, and the station returned to the air on April 21, 1984. The new programming strategy was predominantly Catholic, reflecting the involvement of the De Rance Foundation and related charitable interests. The schedule included religious services, family films, general entertainment, and the three-hour news magazine Heart of the Nation. Operating pressures caused the station to reduce its broadcast day in 1985 and then add more secular and commercial content. By 1986, the schedule included syndicated news, sports, movies, and home shopping. Home Shopping Network acquired KIHS-TV in September 1986 for a reported $35 million, with the transaction closing in January 1987. The station became KHSC and switched to full-time Home Shopping Club programming. It remained a significant HSN broadcast outlet, supplemented by weather reports, public-service announcements, and a public-affairs program intended to satisfy local-programming obligations. During the late 1990s, HSN's broadcast holdings were reorganized as USA Broadcasting. The company considered converting KHSC into a general-entertainment independent station under its CityVision model, with the proposed name Click 46 and call sign KLIK. The plan was overtaken by Univision Communications' acquisition of the station and most of USA Broadcasting's outlets. Around 2002, channel 46 adopted the call sign KFTR-TV and became a key station for Univision's new second Spanish-language network, TeleFutura. TeleFutura was subsequently rebranded UniMás, and KFTR became the network's West Coast flagship. KFTR operates in close conjunction with KMEX-DT. It does not maintain a separate local-news department, but it has carried or simulcast KMEX news programs when network coverage or special events affected KMEX's schedule. The station has also carried entertainment programming and significant sports partnerships, including Los Angeles Rams Spanish-language programming from 2016 and a Los Angeles FC partnership beginning in 2018. The latter included selected regular-season matches and studio coverage and later ended when the rights moved to another Los Angeles Spanish-language station. Technically, KFTR shut down its analog channel 46 transmission on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated digital transition. Its digital signal remained on channel 29 while preserving virtual channel 46. The station later introduced high-definition network transmission and participated in mobile digital television distribution through KMEX infrastructure. A Ridgecrest translator has also been associated with the station. KFTR-DT remains an active TelevisaUnivision station serving Spanish-speaking viewers throughout the Los Angeles region.
- 2018
Begins Los Angeles FC partnership
[1]KFTR became the Los Angeles Spanish-language outlet for selected LAFC matches and related studio programs.
- 2016
Begins Los Angeles Rams Spanish-language programming
[1]KFTR participated in Univision's three-year Rams programming agreement.
- 2009
Completes digital transition
[1]Analog transmission ended while digital broadcasting continued on channel 29 with virtual channel 46.
- 2002
Joins TeleFutura launch group
[1]Univision acquired the station, changed its call sign to KFTR-TV, and made it part of TeleFutura, later UniMás.
- 1987
Becomes KHSC under Home Shopping Network
[1]The station adopted a full-time home-shopping format following HSN's acquisition.
- 1984
Returns as KIHS-TV
[1]After roughly seven years off the air, the station resumed operation with Catholic-oriented programming.
- 1979
Renewal application designated for FCC hearing
[1]The FCC raised questions about the station's finances, disclosures, and control arrangements.
- 1977
Station goes silent
[1]KBSA ceased broadcasting amid financial and ownership difficulties.
- 1972
KBSA begins broadcasting
[1]The station signed on August 16 as KBSA, serving the Inland Empire and Los Angeles-area audiences.
- 1964
FCC approves channel 46 authorization
[1]The application was amended from channel 40 to channel 46 and approved by the FCC.
Products and positioning
A Spanish-language network television station serving the Los Angeles market, positioned as UniMás's West Coast flagship and as a complementary outlet to sister Univision station KMEX-DT.
Spanish-language broadcast television · 2002
UniMás network service
KFTR's principal offering is the UniMás network schedule on virtual channel 46. The service provides Spanish-language entertainment, sports, news-related programming, and special events to viewers in the Los Angeles market. KFTR functions as UniMás's West Coast flagship and is operated alongside TelevisaUnivision's KMEX-DT.
Sports broadcasting · 2016
Local and regional sports programming
KFTR has carried Spanish-language sports programming tied to major Southern California teams. Notable examples include Los Angeles Rams preseason games and studio programs during Univision's 2016–2018 agreement, followed by selected Los Angeles FC matches and pregame and postgame coverage under a partnership announced in 2018.
Broadcast advertising · 1972
Television advertising
As a commercial television station, KFTR offers advertising access to Spanish-speaking viewers in the Los Angeles area through network inventory, local avails, sponsorships, and sports or special-event programming. Specific advertising products and rates are not identified in the supplied sources.
Controversies
1979
FCC scrutiny of KBSA renewal and station finances
The FCC designated KBSA's license-renewal application for hearing after alleging false information connected with bond sales, diversion of operating funds, and an unauthorized transfer of control. Creditors also asserted that the financially distressed station owed substantial obligations while lacking basic operating assets.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Los Angeles FC Spanish-language partnership
Los Angeles
Univision Los Angeles and Los Angeles FC established an exclusive Spanish-language programming relationship. KFTR carried 18 regular-season matches along with pregame and postgame shows.
Outcome. The relationship ended after approximately two years, after which the rights moved to Estrella TV station KRCA.
- 2016Los Angeles Rams Spanish-language media partnership
Los Angeles · Southern California
Univision announced a three-year arrangement for Spanish-language Los Angeles Rams preseason games and studio programming. KFTR and sister station KMEX carried the programming, with additional outlets serving the Bakersfield area.
Outcome. In the final year of the agreement, KFTR was the only one of the two Los Angeles stations identified as carrying the games.
Brand decisions
2010
High-definition network upgradeOtherBackground
Univision undertook a company-wide technical upgrade of its television stations.
Action taken
KFTR upgraded its digital signal to carry network programming in high definition.
Aftermath
The station improved its technical service for HD television viewers and participated in mobile digital distribution through KMEX.
2009
Analog-to-digital conversionGeneration changeBackground
The United States implemented a federally mandated transition from analog to digital television.
Action taken
KFTR shut down its analog channel 46 signal and continued digital transmission on pre-transition channel 29 while retaining virtual channel 46.
Aftermath
The station continued service as a digital broadcast outlet and later expanded high-definition and mobile digital distribution.
2002
Univision acquisition and TeleFutura launch strategyM&ABackground
USA Broadcasting was developing general-entertainment formats for its stations, but Univision sought outlets for a second Spanish-language network.
Action taken
Univision Communications acquired channel 46 and most of USA Broadcasting's stations, changed the call sign to KFTR-TV, and placed it in the TeleFutura network group.
Aftermath
The station became a core outlet of TeleFutura, which was later renamed UniMás, and serves as the network's West Coast flagship.
1986
Home Shopping Network acquisitionM&ABackground
KIHS-TV was experiencing financial pressure and had been moving away from its original Catholic programming emphasis.
Action taken
Home Shopping Network acquired the station and converted it to a full-time home-shopping operation, later using the KHSC call sign.
Aftermath
The station became one of HSN's stronger broadcast outlets by sales volume during the late 1980s.
Reported acquisition price. $35 million (September 1986 reported transaction; closing in January 1987)
Recent events
- 2018
KFTR becomes Spanish-language partner of Los Angeles FC[1]
Campaign · Other
Univision Los Angeles announced a partnership under which KFTR carried selected Los Angeles FC matches and pregame and postgame programs.
- 2016
Univision reaches Spanish-language Los Angeles Rams agreement[1]
Campaign · Other
KFTR and KMEX began carrying Los Angeles Rams preseason games and related Spanish-language studio programs under a three-year agreement.
- 2010
KFTR upgrades network programming to high definition[1]
Product generation
KFTR upgraded its digital signal to carry network programming in high definition as part of Univision's station-wide technical modernization.
- 2009
KFTR completes the analog-to-digital transition[1]
Product generation · Regulation
The station ended analog transmission on channel 46 and continued digitally on channel 29 while retaining virtual channel 46.
- 2002
Univision acquires the station for its second network[1]
M&A · Product launch
Univision Communications acquired channel 46 and most of USA Broadcasting's stations, renamed it KFTR-TV, and used it as part of the foundation for TeleFutura, later UniMás.
- 1986
Home Shopping Network acquires KIHS-TV[1]
M&A
Home Shopping Network acquired the station, which shifted to a full-time home-shopping format and later adopted the KHSC call sign.
- 1984
Channel 46 returns as Catholic KIHS-TV[1]
Product launch
After approximately seven years off the air, the station resumed broadcasting as KIHS-TV with predominantly Catholic and family-oriented programming.
- 1980
Hispanic ownership approved through a distress sale[1]
Regulation · M&A
The FCC approved a distress sale of the financially troubled station to Hispanic Broadcasters, Inc., beginning a new phase of Hispanic ownership.
- 1973
KBSA becomes an early home of the Trinity Broadcasting Network[1]
Other
Paul Crouch and Jim Bakker purchased airtime on KBSA to launch the television ministry that developed into the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
- 1972
KFTR-DT signs on as KBSA[1]
Other
The station began broadcasting from the Ontario-area license as KBSA, initially carrying primarily Spanish-language programming.
Sources1 sources
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