KINC

KINC is a full-power Spanish-language television station serving Las Vegas, Nevada, on virtual channel 15. The station is affiliated with Univision and is owned by Entravision Communications through Entravision Holdings, LLC. Its facilities are shared with low-power UniMás affiliate KELV-LD at studios on Pilot Road in Paradise, Nevada, using a Las Vegas mailing address. KINC transmits from Mount Arden near Henderson and also reaches Laughlin through translator KNTL-LD on channel 35. The station originated with a Federal Communications Commission construction permit granted on May 22, 1992, to Tierra Alta Broadcasting, Inc. It was initially authorized as a new full-service UHF station with the call sign KZIR, adopted in November 1993. During 1995, Tierra Alta revised the construction authorization by relocating the proposed transmitter, reducing authorized power, and changing the call sign to KINC. The station began broadcasting in January 1996 and received its license in November of that year. Ownership changed soon after launch. Tierra Alta Broadcasting announced the sale of KINC to Entravision Holdings, LLC in December 1996. The FCC approved the transfer in April 1997, and Entravision assumed control the following month. Under Entravision, KINC developed a local news operation alongside its carriage of programming supplied by the national Univision network. Its Spanish-language newscasts became a prominent source of local television news for Spanish-speaking viewers in the Las Vegas Valley. The station has also carried special local and political programming, including Spanish-language translations of Nevada Republican and Democratic gubernatorial primary debates in 2006. KINC produces live weekday evening newscasts at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Its news operation also produces short news briefs shown on KINC and KELV-LD, as well as recurring news-oriented station identifications during selected afternoon and evening hours. This combination of network programming and locally produced news positions KINC as a Spanish-language broadcast outlet focused on Nevada communities, particularly the Las Vegas market. The station transitioned from analog to digital broadcasting during the nationwide United States digital television transition. The FCC assigned digital companion channel 16 to KINC in 1997, and the allocation remained unchanged in the agency's final table issued in 1998. Construction of full-power digital facilities was delayed by supplier problems. KINC received special temporary authority in February 2003 to operate a lower-power digital facility while the permanent installation was completed. Full-power digital construction was finished in June 2006, and the digital license was granted in March 2007. KINC selected channel 16 as its permanent digital channel and surrendered its analog channel 15 authorization when analog broadcasting ended on June 12, 2009; viewers continued to identify the station through virtual channel 15. KINC began broadcasting in high definition in June 2010, including available Univision network programming and locally produced newscasts. KINC remains an active Univision affiliate serving the Las Vegas area. Its brand is principally associated with Spanish-language network television, local Nevada news, community-oriented information, and over-the-air broadcast distribution rather than with a standalone consumer product line.

KINC's history began with an FCC construction permit issued on May 22, 1992, to Tierra Alta Broadcasting, Inc. The authorization was for a new full-service UHF television station serving the Las Vegas area. The station was initially planned at a higher authorized power level and was assigned the call sign KZIR in November 1993. In 1995, Tierra Alta modified the construction permit. The transmitter site was moved to the tower used by KFBT, now known as KVCW, the planned power level was reduced, and the call sign became KINC. Broadcasting commenced in January 1996, making KINC one of the Las Vegas market's Spanish-language television outlets. The station was formally licensed in November 1996. The initial ownership period was brief. Tierra Alta announced the sale of KINC to Entravision Holdings, LLC in December 1996. The FCC approved the transaction in April 1997, and Entravision took over operations one month later. KINC subsequently operated as an Entravision-owned Univision affiliate, with network programming supplemented by a local news department. The local news operation became a central part of the station's identity. KINC produces weekday evening newscasts at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., covering Nevada and especially the Las Vegas Valley. It also produces short news briefs that are shared with Entravision's Las Vegas-area UniMás station, KELV-LD, together with recurring news-related station identifications. In 2006, KINC carried Spanish-language versions of both Nevada Republican and Democratic gubernatorial primary debates, extending its role beyond routine newscasts into civic and political information. KINC's technical development followed the United States digital television transition. The FCC assigned KINC-DT digital companion channel 16 in 1997, and retained that allocation in the final digital table released in 1998. The station received a construction permit for digital facilities in November 2000. Delays involving equipment suppliers led the FCC to authorize a temporary lower-power digital installation in February 2003. Full-power digital facilities were completed in June 2006, and the station received its digital license on March 8, 2007. When broadcasters selected their permanent post-transition channels, KINC chose channel 16. The analog channel 15 authorization was returned to the FCC when analog broadcasting ended on June 12, 2009, but channel 15 remained the station's virtual channel under digital television standards. KINC began high-definition broadcasting in June 2010, carrying Univision programs available in HD and producing its local newscasts in high definition. KINC's current technical footprint includes its main transmitter on Mount Arden near Henderson and a translator, KNTL-LD, serving Laughlin on channel 35. A former analog translator in Mesquite, KWWB-LP, had its license surrendered in July 2021 and was subsequently canceled. The station continues to operate as an Entravision-owned Univision affiliate focused on Spanish-language television and locally relevant Nevada news.

• 2021

  Former Mesquite translator license canceled

  [1]KINCen.wikipedia.org

  The license for former analog translator KWWB-LP in Mesquite was surrendered and canceled in July.

• 2010

  High-definition broadcasting begins

  [1]KINCen.wikipedia.org

  KINC began carrying available Univision programming and local newscasts in high definition.

• 2009

  Analog broadcasting ends

  [1]KINCen.wikipedia.org

  KINC surrendered its analog channel 15 authorization when the United States analog television shutdown took effect, while retaining virtual channel 15 digitally.

• 2006

  Full-power digital facilities completed

  [1]KINCen.wikipedia.org

  KINC completed construction of its full-power digital facilities and also carried Spanish-language translations of Nevada gubernatorial primary debates.

• 2003

  Temporary digital authority granted

  [1]KINCen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC granted special temporary authority for a lower-power digital facility while construction of the full-power digital system was delayed.

• 1997

  Entravision ownership approved

  [1]KINCen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC approved the transfer of KINC to Entravision Holdings, LLC in April, and Entravision assumed control the next month.

• 1996

  KINC begins broadcasting

  [1]KINCen.wikipedia.org

  KINC debuted in January and received its broadcast license in November.

• 1995

  Call sign changed to KINC

  [1]KINCen.wikipedia.org

  Tierra Alta revised the construction authorization, including a transmitter relocation and power reduction, and changed the call sign to KINC.

• 1993

  KZIR call sign adopted

  [1]KINCen.wikipedia.org

  The proposed station adopted the call sign KZIR in November.

• 1992

  Original construction permit granted

  [1]KINCen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC granted Tierra Alta Broadcasting, Inc. authorization to construct a new full-service UHF television station for the Las Vegas area.

A Spanish-language Univision television outlet combining national network programming with locally produced Nevada news for viewers in the Las Vegas area.

• Television news

  KINC local news

  KINC's local news department produces live weekday evening broadcasts at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., with coverage focused on Nevada and the Las Vegas Valley. The operation also creates short news briefs shared with KELV-LD and recurring news-related station identifications for KINC.

• Spanish-language network television · 1996

  Univision programming

  The majority of KINC's schedule is supplied by the national Univision network. The station distributes Spanish-language entertainment, news, sports, and other network programming to the Las Vegas market, including available programming in high definition.

• Broadcast transmission · 2006

  Digital television service

  KINC operates as a digital television station using virtual channel 15 and physical digital channel 16. Its principal transmitter is located on Mount Arden near Henderson, with additional coverage in Laughlin through translator KNTL-LD.

• 2006Nevada gubernatorial primary debate broadcasts

  Nevada · Las Vegas

  KINC aired Spanish-language translations of both Republican and Democratic Nevada gubernatorial primary debates, making major state political events more accessible to Spanish-speaking viewers.

  Source

• 2010

  High-definition service introducedProduct launch

  Background

  Following completion of its digital facilities, KINC expanded its technical presentation.

  Action taken

  The station began broadcasting available Univision programming and its local newscasts in high definition.

  Source

• 2006

  Permanent digital channel selectedGeneration change

  Background

  The FCC required stations with digital companion channels to select the channel they would retain after the transition.

  Action taken

  KINC selected physical digital channel 16 as its permanent post-transition channel.

  Aftermath

  The analog channel 15 authorization was returned in 2009, while virtual channel 15 remained in use.

  Source

• 1997

  Sale to Entravision approvedM&A

  Background

  Tierra Alta Broadcasting announced the sale of the station after its launch.

  Action taken

  The FCC approved the transfer to Entravision Holdings, LLC, which assumed control in May.

  Aftermath

  KINC became an Entravision-owned Univision affiliate.

  Source

• 1995

  Construction plan and call sign revisedStrategy

  Background

  Before launch, Tierra Alta Broadcasting amended the station's construction authorization.

  Action taken

  The planned transmitter location was changed, authorized power was reduced, and the call sign was changed from KZIR to KINC.

  Aftermath

  KINC began broadcasting in January 1996 and was licensed later that year.

  Source

1. 1KINCen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KINC Las Vegas station websitenoticiasya.com