KFTV-DT
KFTV-DT is a Spanish-language Univision television station licensed to Hanford, California, serving the Fresno area.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
KFTV-DT is a full-power Spanish-language television station licensed to Hanford, California, and serving viewers in the Fresno and broader Central San Joaquin Valley market. The station broadcasts the Univision network and operates on virtual channel 21. Although the channel has roots reaching back to an earlier independent station, its present identity dates from its relaunch as KFTV in 1972 under the Spanish International Network, the predecessor of Univision. The station's history began with an application by Gann Television Enterprises for a new channel 21 facility in Hanford. The first station, KDAS, began broadcasting under special temporary authority in December 1961 as an independent outlet using the slogan and concept of a local hometown station. Its programming included locally produced news, sports, religious services, and other community-oriented material. Disputes among the original ownership partners, operational difficulties, and financial pressures eventually led to the station receiving authorization to go silent in December 1964. A subsequent ownership group brought the channel back as KSJV-TV in February 1966. The relaunch included plans for a new transmitter site and affiliation with a proposed network, but the station remained on the air for only a short period before suspending operations for technical changes. The Federal Communications Commission later moved to delete the permit for failure to prosecute, although the permit was preserved after a successful challenge and the prospect of a sale to the Spanish International Broadcasting Company. The Spanish International Network acquired the channel in the late 1960s. Following the transaction, the station adopted the KFTV call sign and ultimately returned to the air on September 20, 1972. It initially operated as a satellite of KMEX in Los Angeles, with Danny Villanueva serving as its first general manager. A new Hanford studio complex opened in 1973, and KFTV began developing local programming and news operations for the Central Valley. Network distribution shifted to satellite delivery in 1977, helping integrate the station more closely with the expanding Spanish-language network. KFTV moved its studio operations from Hanford to a facility on Ashlan Avenue in Fresno in 1985. In 2003, Univision acquired the Porterville-licensed UniMás station KTFF-DT, and the two outlets later consolidated at the larger Univision Fresno Broadcast Center on Herndon Avenue, where they operate alongside Univision's local radio facilities. KFTV's transmitter is located on Blue Ridge in rural northwestern Tulare County, providing coverage across the Fresno market. Local news has been a central part of the station's role. KFTV produced a local evening newscast from the 1970s, introduced the weekday public-affairs and morning program Arriba Valle Central in 1990, added a late local newscast in 1996, and established weekend newscasts in 2004. The station currently produces approximately seven hours of locally produced newscasts each week, together with Arriba Valle Central, which is scheduled on weekday mornings. Its programming serves Spanish-speaking audiences with regional news, public affairs, weather, traffic, community coverage, and Univision network programming. KFTV completed the federally mandated United States transition from analog to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009. Its digital signal initially used UHF channel 20 while retaining virtual channel 21. As part of the nationwide spectrum-auction repack, the station later moved its digital allocation to UHF channel 21 during phase ten of the 2019–2020 repack. KFTV-DT remains an active Univision station serving the Fresno-area Hispanic and Latino audience.
History
The channel 21 license in Hanford has a complicated prehistory. Gann Television Enterprises, a partnership associated with Harold D. Gann, Louis Maccagno, and George L. Naron, applied to construct a station on October 31, 1960. The application was approved in March 1961, and KDAS began broadcasting under special temporary authority on December 20, 1961. It was conceived as an independent local station, offering news, sports, religious services, and other locally produced programs to the Hanford area. The first ownership group soon experienced internal conflict and operational problems. Partnership disputes included allegations that management conduct had contributed to employee departures and technical difficulties. The station was transferred to a different partnership in 1963, but it was authorized to suspend operations in December 1964. A new ownership group, led by Fresno-area automobile dealer Harvey F. Himes and Cy Newman, announced plans to revive the facility as KSJV-TV. The plan involved a transmitter move, a new call sign referencing the San Joaquin Valley, and affiliation with a proposed network called the Unisphere Broadcasting System. The FCC approved the KSJV-TV transaction in February 1966, and the station returned to the air on February 10 with a live entertainment program from its Hanford studios. The revival was short-lived. In May, the owners announced another shutdown for equipment and technical work. The FCC subsequently initiated deletion proceedings in 1967 because of failure to prosecute the permit. KSJV Television, Inc. challenged the action, and the petition for reconsideration was granted in 1968. The permit survived in part because Cy Newman located a buyer in the Spanish International Broadcasting Company, which operated the Spanish International Network and owned stations in Los Angeles and San Antonio. The FCC approved the sale in March 1969. The new owner changed the call sign to KFTV and sought to relocate the transmitter to Black Mountain, but the station did not immediately resume broadcasting. KFTV finally returned to the air on September 20, 1972, marking the beginning of its current Spanish-language identity. It initially functioned as a satellite of KMEX, with Danny Villanueva as its first general manager. A Hanford studio complex opened in 1973, allowing KFTV to expand its local presence. The station began producing local news soon afterward, and its Spanish-language service became an established part of the Fresno television market. In 1977, Spanish International Network programming began reaching KFTV through satellite distribution, a technical development that improved network delivery and supported the network's growth. KFTV transferred studio operations to Fresno in 1985, moving to a facility on Ashlan Avenue. Its local programming portfolio developed over subsequent decades. The station launched the weekday morning public-affairs program Arriba Valle Central in 1990, added a late local newscast in 1996, and introduced weekend newscasts in 2004. Pedro Santos, who became the station's first news anchor, later served as KFTV's public relations director and was described as one of the longest-serving news anchors in the Fresno market during his tenure. Univision expanded its Central Valley presence by acquiring the Porterville-licensed UniMás outlet KTFF-DT in 2003. KFTV and KTFF later moved into a shared facility on Herndon Avenue in Fresno, now known as the Univision Fresno Broadcast Center. The complex also houses Univision's local radio operations. KFTV's transmitter is situated on Blue Ridge in rural northwestern Tulare County, while its license remains associated with Hanford. The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, in accordance with the United States full-power television digital transition. Its digital signal initially operated on pre-transition UHF channel 20 while preserving virtual channel 21 for viewers. KFTV was subsequently among the many American stations affected by the FCC spectrum-auction repack. During phase ten of the 2019–2020 repack, it moved its digital allocation to UHF channel 21. KFTV-DT currently serves the Fresno-area Spanish-speaking audience as a Univision affiliate. It broadcasts approximately seven hours of locally produced newscasts per week, including weekday, Saturday, and Sunday editions, and continues to air Arriba Valle Central on weekday mornings. Its role combines national Spanish-language network programming with local reporting, public affairs, weather, traffic, and community information for the Central San Joaquin Valley.
- 2020
Digital channel repack completed
[1]The station reallocated its digital transmission to UHF channel 21 during phase ten of the FCC spectrum repack.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KFTV shut down its analog signal on June 12 as part of the United States digital television transition.
- 2008
Shared Fresno broadcast center opens
[1]KFTV and KTFF moved from the Ashlan Avenue facility to a larger shared site on Herndon Avenue in Fresno.
- 2004
Weekend newscasts introduced
[1]KFTV expanded its local news schedule with Saturday and Sunday newscasts.
- 2003
KTFF-DT acquired
[1]Univision acquired the Porterville-licensed UniMás station KTFF-DT, establishing a two-station local operation with KFTV.
- 1996
Late local newscast launches
[1]KFTV added a late local news program to its schedule.
- 1990
Arriba Valle Central launches
[1]The station introduced its weekday morning public-affairs program Arriba Valle Central.
- 1985
Studio operations move to Fresno
[1]KFTV moved its studio operations from Hanford to a new Fresno facility on Ashlan Avenue.
- 1977
Satellite network distribution begins
[1]Spanish International Network programming began reaching KFTV by satellite.
- 1973
Hanford studio complex opens
[1]KFTV opened a new studio complex in Hanford and expanded its local operations.
Products and positioning
A local Spanish-language broadcast outlet combining Univision network entertainment and news with Central Valley-focused journalism, public affairs, and community coverage.
Spanish-language network television · 1972
Univision programming
KFTV's principal service is the Univision Spanish-language network schedule, delivered to the Fresno market through virtual channel 21. The offering includes network entertainment, news, sports, specials, and other programming supplied by Univision. KFTV supplements the national schedule with locally produced programming directed at Central Valley viewers.
Local television news · 1973
Local newscasts
KFTV produces local Spanish-language news for the Fresno and Central San Joaquin Valley market. The current schedule includes weekday, Saturday, and Sunday newscasts, totaling approximately seven hours of locally produced news each week. Coverage focuses on regional news, weather, traffic, public information, and community issues.
Public affairs and morning television · 1990
Arriba Valle Central
Arriba Valle Central is KFTV's weekday morning public-affairs program. Introduced in 1990, it provides a local platform for Central Valley information and community-oriented discussion and is scheduled during the station's morning programming block.
Broadcast distribution · 2009
Digital terrestrial transmission
KFTV operates as a full-power digital television station using virtual channel 21. Its post-transition digital service initially used UHF channel 20 and was later moved to UHF channel 21 during the nationwide spectrum repack.
Brand decisions
2020
Reallocate digital broadcast channelGeneration changeBackground
The FCC spectrum-auction repack required many United States television stations to change their digital transmission channels.
Action taken
KFTV moved its digital allocation to UHF channel 21 during phase ten of the repack.
Aftermath
The station retained virtual channel 21 while completing its federally coordinated frequency reassignment.
2009
Convert from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
The United States required full-power television stations to end analog transmission as part of the national digital television transition.
Action taken
KFTV shut down its analog UHF channel 21 signal on June 12, 2009, while continuing digital service with virtual channel 21.
Aftermath
The station continued as a digital terrestrial broadcaster and initially used pre-transition UHF channel 20 for its digital signal.
2008
Consolidate KFTV and KTFF operationsStrategyBackground
Following Univision's acquisition of KTFF-DT in 2003, the two Spanish-language outlets required facilities capable of supporting their shared local operations.
Action taken
KFTV and KTFF moved to a larger Univision Fresno Broadcast Center on Herndon Avenue in Fresno.
Aftermath
The stations gained shared studios and operated alongside Univision's local radio cluster.
1985
Move studio operations to FresnoStrategyBackground
KFTV was licensed to Hanford but served the larger Fresno television market, creating a rationale for locating production and newsroom facilities closer to the primary audience center.
Action taken
The station moved its studio operations from Hanford to a new facility on Ashlan Avenue in Fresno.
Aftermath
The move reinforced KFTV's role as a Fresno-market station while retaining its Hanford license.
1972
Relaunch as a Spanish-language network stationStrategyBackground
The channel 21 facility had previously operated unsuccessfully as the independent stations KDAS and KSJV-TV. After the Spanish International Broadcasting Company acquired the permit, the station adopted the KFTV call sign and pursued a Spanish-language network role.
Action taken
KFTV returned to the air on September 20, 1972, initially functioning as a satellite of KMEX in Los Angeles.
Aftermath
The relaunch established the station's continuing Spanish-language identity and connected it to the network that became Univision.
Recent events
KFTV launches sustainable production report[3]
Reported:
KFTV launched an in-depth report about sustainability in the film and TV sector. The report was sponsored by Media Flights.
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/kftv-dt · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled