KKAX-LD

KKAX-LD is a low-power television station broadcasting on channel 36 in the Kingman, Arizona, area. Although its nominal city of license is Hilltop, an unincorporated area within Kingman, the station serves a broader portion of Mohave County, including Kingman, Golden Valley, Bullhead City, and Mohave Valley. Its terrestrial transmission facilities are located at Hayden Peak, and the station's coverage is extended toward neighboring communities through a microwave link associated with Black Mountain near Oatman and through a digital translator in Lake Havasu City. The station's origins date to a construction permit granted on November 18, 1985, to Group Seven Communications of New York City. The permit assigned the station the callsign K36AX and contemplated service to the Kingman area from a Hilltop license. The station received its initial license on August 25, 1987. Information about its earliest programming is limited, although its original operator was noted for marketing efforts directed toward Hispanic viewers. Group Seven Communications sold K36AX to Tri-State Broadcasting in September 2000. Under the new operator, the station changed transmission facilities several times as it sought to improve coverage. In April 2002 it moved from its earlier site to Getz Peak, increasing the signal's reach. The station adopted the callsign KKAX-LP in July 2002, retaining a connection to the original K36AX designation. In September 2003 it moved to Hayden Peak, a site selected in part to establish a clear microwave path for feeds to translators serving Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City. KKAX-LD is affiliated with YTA TV, a television network focused on syndicated and entertainment programming. The station is operated by Tri-State Broadcasting, LLC, which is owned by Arizona State Mine Inspector Joe Hart and his wife, Rhonda Hart. Its current low-power digital designation reflects its digital authorization in 2021, when the station changed its callsign from KKAX-LP to KKAX-LD. KKAX-LD functions primarily as a regional broadcast outlet rather than as a national consumer brand, with its identity tied to local over-the-air distribution and its YTA TV affiliation.

KKAX-LD traces its history to a construction permit issued on November 18, 1985, by the relevant United States broadcast regulator to Group Seven Communications of New York City. The proposed station was assigned channel 36 and the callsign K36AX. Its intended service area was Kingman, while its formal city of license was Hilltop, an unincorporated locality within Kingman. The original technical plan placed the transmitter on a bluff overlooking downtown Kingman. The station was granted its license on August 25, 1987. The available historical record does not identify its initial programming schedule, but it notes that Group Seven Communications was known for marketing directed at Hispanic audiences. A major ownership change occurred in September 2000, when Group Seven Communications sold K36AX to Tri-State Broadcasting. The change placed the station within the Tri-State Broadcasting operation that continues to operate it. The station subsequently pursued improvements to its transmission footprint. In April 2002 it moved its transmitter to Getz Peak, a change that increased its signal coverage across the Kingman region. During July 2002, it introduced the callsign KKAX-LP, derived from the earlier K36AX callsign. The station made another important facilities change in September 2003, moving to Hayden Peak. The new location was selected not only for terrestrial coverage but also for network distribution logistics. It provided a clear microwave path that could be used to feed translators serving communities beyond the immediate Kingman area, including Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City. A microwave link near Black Mountain, close to Oatman, helped extend the signal toward Bullhead City and Mohave Valley. Lake Havasu City was served through the K23BJ-D translator. KKAX-LD is affiliated with YTA TV and operates as a low-power regional television station. Its service is centered on Kingman and Golden Valley, with additional reach into nearby communities through relay infrastructure. The station's ownership is associated with Tri-State Broadcasting, LLC, owned by Arizona State Mine Inspector Joe Hart and his wife, Rhonda Hart. On August 27, 2021, KKAX-LP was licensed for digital operation and changed its callsign to KKAX-LD. This change marked the station's transition to its current digital low-power designation. The station remains a local broadcast facility whose principal value lies in delivering affiliated television programming over the air across a geographically dispersed Arizona market.

• 2021

  Digital operation authorized

  [1]KKAX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station was licensed for digital operation on August 27 and changed its callsign from KKAX-LP to KKAX-LD.

• 2003

  Transmitter moved to Hayden Peak

  [1]KKAX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KKAX-LP moved to Hayden Peak, enabling a clear microwave route for feeds to translators in nearby communities.

• 2002

  Transmitter moved to Getz Peak

  [1]KKAX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved its transmitter to Getz Peak in April, improving coverage, and adopted the KKAX-LP callsign in July.

• 2000

  Acquired by Tri-State Broadcasting

  [1]KKAX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Group Seven Communications sold K36AX to Tri-State Broadcasting in September 2000.

• 1987

  Initial station license issued

  [1]KKAX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station received its license on August 25, 1987, with Hilltop as its nominal city of license.

• 1985

  Construction permit granted

  [1]KKAX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Group Seven Communications received a construction permit for a channel 36 low-power television station intended to serve the Kingman area under the K36AX callsign.

A regional low-power television outlet providing YTA TV programming and over-the-air service to Kingman and nearby communities in northwestern Arizona.

• Low-power television broadcasting · 1987

  KKAX-LD channel 36 service

  The station's principal offering is a digital low-power television signal on channel 36 serving Kingman, Golden Valley, and surrounding parts of Mohave County. Its formal license is associated with Hilltop, while its practical audience is regional rather than limited to that locality.

• Television network affiliation

  YTA TV programming

  KKAX-LD carries programming associated with YTA TV. The affiliation gives the station a network programming identity while its local transmission infrastructure distributes that service across the Kingman-area market.

• Broadcast signal relay · 2003

  Regional translator distribution

  The station's regional distribution model uses microwave connectivity and translator facilities to extend service beyond Kingman. The reported network includes a microwave link near Black Mountain and the K23BJ-D translator serving Lake Havasu City.

• 2021

  Conversion to digital low-power operationGeneration change

  Background

  The station updated its technical authorization as low-power television broadcasting moved to digital operation.

  Action taken

  KKAX-LP was licensed for digital operation on August 27, 2021, and adopted the KKAX-LD callsign.

  Aftermath

  The station entered its current digital low-power operating phase under the KKAX-LD designation.

  Source

• 2003

  Move to Hayden Peak for expanded distributionStrategy

  Background

  The station needed a suitable technical position for both local transmission and microwave delivery to nearby translator facilities.

  Action taken

  KKAX-LP moved its transmitter to Hayden Peak and established a clear microwave path toward relay infrastructure serving neighboring communities.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement supported distribution toward Bullhead City, Mohave Valley, and Lake Havasu City.

  Source

• 2002

  Relocation to Getz Peak and adoption of KKAX-LP callsignStrategy

  Background

  After Tri-State Broadcasting acquired the station, it pursued broader coverage and a refreshed station identity.

  Action taken

  The transmitter was moved to Getz Peak in April 2002, and the station adopted the KKAX-LP callsign in July.

  Aftermath

  The move increased signal coverage, while the new callsign preserved a link to the former K36AX identity.

  Source

• 2021

  KKAX-LD receives authorization for digital operation[1]KKAX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Other

  The station was licensed for digital operation on August 27, 2021, and adopted the KKAX-LD callsign, replacing its previous low-power analog-style designation, KKAX-LP.

• KKAX-LD continues YTA TV affiliation[1]KKAX-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  KKAX-LD is identified as an affiliate of YTA TV and broadcasts the network's programming to its regional service area.

1. 1KKAX-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tri-State Broadcasting station webpagekgmn.net