KNAT-TV
A TBN-owned religious television station serving Albuquerque, New Mexico, with its transmitter located on Sandia Crest.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
KNAT-TV is a full-power religious television station serving Albuquerque, New Mexico, on channel 23. The station is owned by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and carries TBN religious programming. Its transmission facilities are located on Sandia Crest, the principal high-elevation broadcast site serving the Albuquerque area. Although its present identity is closely associated with TBN, the station has passed through several distinct ownership, programming, and call-sign eras since it first went on the air in 1975. The channel began broadcasting as KMXN-TV on August 10, 1975. It was established by Spanish Television of New Mexico, a company headed by New Mexico state senator Odis Echols, and initially affiliated with the Spanish International Network. The station broadcast from a transmitter on top of the Western Bank Building. Its early years were marked by management disputes, financial pressure, and legal allegations involving former officers and owners. At the same time, KMXN-TV attempted to broaden its local relevance beyond its Spanish-language schedule. It carried selected sports programming, including Monday Night Baseball when Albuquerque ABC affiliate KOAT-TV declined to air it, and later added high-school football. Ownership changed during the late 1970s. Eddie Peña acquired interests in Spanish Television of New Mexico and obtained approval to move the station's transmitter to Sandia Crest. On May 19, 1980, channel 23 was relaunched as KLKK-TV, an English-language independent station. The change made it the first independent English-language television station in the Albuquerque market. Programming included locally oriented material, a program about Native American issues called Pueblo Speaks, a live call-in show, and productions associated with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The station ended its Spanish International Network affiliation, with Peña saying that the network's Latin American programming had not performed well in the local market. Peña soon sought a buyer. In 1982, Carson Communications Corporation acquired the station and related programming contracts for $3.6 million. The buyer was a consortium associated with entertainer Johnny Carson and included investors such as Neil Simon, David Letterman, Joan Rivers, and Paul Anka. Following a short transition period, channel 23 returned as KNAT on August 8, 1982. The new ownership pursued advertisers aggressively and used Carson's entertainment-industry profile in its promotional efforts. KNAT nevertheless faced increasingly intense competition from other independent stations, while programming expenses rose sharply as competitors bid for syndicated content. The competitive environment became financially unsustainable. In April 1985, the station announced plans to cease broadcasting, citing difficulties in marketing the outlet and the cost of its programming commitments. KNAT continued briefly with a reduced schedule, including music videos, before going off the air at midnight on May 1, 1985. The Trinity Broadcasting Network purchased the silent station for $2.25 million, and KNAT returned to the air with TBN programming on December 17, 1985. TBN sold the station in December 1989 to All American TV, a minority-owned company that operated other stations affiliated with TBN. The transaction allowed TBN to pursue a station in a larger market while complying with the Federal Communications Commission's then-existing limit on the number of stations a group owner could control. TBN reacquired KNAT in March 2000 through its purchase of All American TV. The station later completed the transition from analog to digital broadcasting: TBN-owned full-power stations ended analog transmissions on April 16, 2009, while KNAT-TV continued digitally on UHF channel 24 using virtual channel 23. In 2019, TBN closed KNAT-TV's former Coors Boulevard studio in northwestern Albuquerque, along with several other local facilities. The closures followed the FCC's elimination of the Main Studio Rule, which had required full-service television stations to maintain a studio in or near their communities of license. KNAT-TV therefore represents both a local broadcast outlet and a distribution point within TBN's religious television network, with its current operation centered on over-the-air transmission and network programming rather than a substantial locally based production facility.
History
Channel 23 in Albuquerque began broadcasting on August 10, 1975, as KMXN-TV. Spanish Television of New Mexico owned the station, and state senator Odis Echols was among the company's leading figures. KMXN-TV initially operated as an affiliate of the Spanish International Network and transmitted from the Western Bank Building. The station encountered management and financial problems relatively early. A former officer brought a lawsuit alleging improper advertising arrangements and political uses of the station, while a bank later pursued the company over a defaulted loan. Despite these difficulties, KMXN-TV experimented with programming outside its core Spanish-language schedule, including baseball and high-school football. Eddie Peña began acquiring interests in the station in 1978. He secured authorization to move the transmitter to Sandia Crest and undertook a broad programming reset. On May 19, 1980, the station became KLKK-TV and shifted to English-language independent programming. It ended its Spanish International Network affiliation and added locally focused material, including Pueblo Speaks, a program addressing Native American issues, a live call-in program, and productions connected with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The move made channel 23 the first English-language independent station in the Albuquerque market, although new competitors soon entered the field. Peña looked for a purchaser soon after the relaunch. Carson Communications Corporation acquired the station in 1982 for $3.6 million, including programming contracts. The buyer was a consortium headed by Johnny Carson and involving several entertainment figures. After a short period off the air during the ownership transition, the station returned on August 8, 1982, as KNAT. Carson's association gave the outlet a high-profile promotional identity, and the station made an energetic attempt to attract advertisers. It also faced a crowded independent-station market. KGSW-TV had entered the market, followed by additional independent and religious outlets licensed to Santa Fe. Competition for syndicated programs pushed programming costs to approximately six times their earlier level, while the independent stations competed for a limited advertising base. The financial model failed to stabilize. In April 1985, KNAT announced that it planned to go dark, with management attributing the crisis to inadequate marketing and the burden of programming costs. Most programming was returned, and the station briefly filled its schedule with music videos while potential buyers were considered. KNAT finally stopped broadcasting at midnight on May 1, 1985. The Trinity Broadcasting Network purchased the station for $2.25 million and returned it to the air on December 17 of that year with TBN programming. In December 1989, TBN sold KNAT to All American TV, a minority-owned broadcaster that operated multiple TBN affiliates. The sale was part of TBN's effort to remain within the FCC's then-applicable ownership limit while pursuing a station in a larger market. TBN later reacquired the Albuquerque station in March 2000 as part of its purchase of All American TV. KNAT-TV ended analog operation on April 16, 2009, in the course of TBN's digital transition. Its digital signal remained on UHF channel 24 and continued to identify as virtual channel 23. The station's transmission site is on Sandia Crest. In 2019, TBN closed the former Coors Boulevard studio in northwestern Albuquerque. This followed the FCC's abolition of the Main Studio Rule, which had required full-service stations to maintain a local or nearby studio. The closure reduced KNAT-TV's physical local footprint while leaving it as a TBN-owned religious broadcast outlet serving Albuquerque through digital over-the-air transmission.
- 2019
Former local studio closes
[1]TBN closes KNAT-TV's former Coors Boulevard studio after the FCC removes the Main Studio Rule.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KNAT-TV ends analog operation and continues digitally on UHF channel 24 with virtual channel 23.
- 2000
TBN reacquires the station
[1]TBN regains KNAT-TV through its acquisition of All American TV.
- 1989
Sale to All American TV
[1]TBN sells KNAT to All American TV in connection with group ownership-limit considerations.
- 1985
TBN acquires KNAT
[1]After the station goes dark, TBN purchases it and restores broadcasting with religious programming.
- 1982
Carson Communications ownership begins
[1]A Johnny Carson-led consortium acquires the station, which returns as KNAT.
- 1980
English-language independent relaunch
[1]The station becomes KLKK-TV and adopts an English-language independent format.
- 1975
KMXN-TV launches
[1]Channel 23 begins broadcasting in Albuquerque under the KMXN-TV call sign and affiliates with the Spanish International Network.
Products and positioning
A local full-power religious television station operating as part of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, serving the Albuquerque market primarily through TBN programming and digital terrestrial transmission.
Television broadcasting · 2009
KNAT-TV digital broadcast service
KNAT-TV is a full-power digital television service for the Albuquerque market. Its transmitter is located on Sandia Crest, providing coverage from the region's principal broadcast site. Following the 2009 analog shutdown, the station's digital signal continued on UHF channel 24 while using virtual channel 23 for viewer identification.
Religious television programming · 1985
TBN religious programming
Since returning to the air under TBN ownership in December 1985, KNAT-TV has served as a local broadcast outlet for Trinity Broadcasting Network programming. Its current identity is centered on religious television distribution rather than the general-entertainment independent format used during the early 1980s.
Independent television programming · 1980
KLKK-TV independent programming
From 1980 until the Carson-era relaunch, the station operated as KLKK-TV, an English-language independent outlet. Its schedule included locally oriented productions, a live call-in program, Native American affairs coverage, and other programming acquired for a competitive independent-station market.
Controversies
1977
Allegations concerning KMXN-TV management
A former officer sued figures connected with Spanish Television of New Mexico, alleging that KMXN-TV was used for advertising kickbacks and political purposes. The available reference describes the allegations and litigation but does not establish a final finding.
Marketing campaigns
- 1982KNAT advertiser outreach
Albuquerque · New Mexico
Following its relaunch under Carson Communications, KNAT pursued advertisers aggressively and used promotional appearances and events associated with Johnny Carson to raise the station's profile.
Outcome. The station remained commercially pressured as competition among Albuquerque-area independent stations increased and syndicated-program costs escalated.
Brand decisions
2019
Closure of Coors Boulevard studioStrategyBackground
The FCC abolished the Main Studio Rule, which had required full-service stations to maintain facilities in or near their communities of license.
Action taken
TBN closed KNAT-TV's former studio on Coors Boulevard in northwestern Albuquerque.
Aftermath
The station's local physical presence was reduced while its broadcast operation continued.
2009
Digital television transitionGeneration changeBackground
TBN-owned full-power stations were required to end analog transmissions as part of the United States digital television transition.
Action taken
KNAT-TV shut down its analog UHF channel 23 signal and continued digitally on UHF channel 24, retaining virtual channel 23.
Aftermath
The station continued serving the Albuquerque market through digital terrestrial broadcasting.
2000
TBN reacquisitionM&ABackground
All American TV owned KNAT after the 1989 divestiture.
Action taken
TBN reacquired KNAT-TV as part of its purchase of All American TV.
Aftermath
The station returned to direct ownership within the TBN group.
1989
Sale to All American TVM&ABackground
TBN sought to acquire a station in a larger market while remaining within the FCC's then-effective limit on group ownership.
Action taken
TBN sold KNAT to All American TV, a minority-owned company with other TBN-affiliated stations.
Aftermath
TBN later regained the station through its acquisition of All American TV.
1985
TBN acquisition after shutdownM&ABackground
KNAT became financially unsustainable amid competition from other independent stations and high syndicated-program expenses, and it ceased broadcasting in May 1985.
Action taken
The Trinity Broadcasting Network purchased the station for $2.25 million and returned it to the air with TBN programming in December.
Aftermath
KNAT became a religious television outlet within TBN's station network.
Acquisition price. $2.25 million (1985)
1982
Carson Communications acquisitionM&ABackground
After Peña began seeking a buyer, a consortium associated with Johnny Carson pursued ownership of channel 23.
Action taken
Carson Communications Corporation acquired the station and its programming contracts for $3.6 million, then relaunched it as KNAT.
Aftermath
The station entered a more aggressive commercial phase but faced growing competition and sharply higher programming costs.
Acquisition price. $3.6 million (1982)
1980
Shift to English-language independent programmingStrategyBackground
Station owner Eddie Peña judged that the Spanish International Network's Latin American programming was not performing adequately in the Albuquerque market.
Action taken
Channel 23 ended its SIN affiliation, adopted the KLKK-TV call sign, and relaunched with English-language independent programming and local productions.
Aftermath
The move made the station Albuquerque's first English-language independent outlet, but new competitors soon intensified pressure on the business.
Recent events
- 2019
TBN closes KNAT-TV's Albuquerque studio[1]
Regulation
TBN closes the station's former Coors Boulevard studio after the FCC eliminates the Main Studio Rule for full-power television stations.
- 2009
KNAT-TV completes digital transition[1]
Product generation · Regulation
The station ends analog broadcasting on UHF channel 23 and continues digital transmission on UHF channel 24 while retaining virtual channel 23.
- 2000
TBN reacquires KNAT through All American TV purchase[1]
M&A
TBN regains ownership of KNAT-TV through its acquisition of All American TV, which had owned the station since 1989.
- 1985
KNAT-TV goes off the air amid financial pressure[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
After facing strong competition and rapidly escalating programming costs, KNAT-TV suspends broadcasting while ownership seeks a buyer.
- 1985
TBN purchases and relaunches KNAT-TV[1]
M&A · Product launch
The Trinity Broadcasting Network purchases the silent station for $2.25 million and restores it to service with TBN programming.
- 1982
Carson Communications acquires channel 23[1]
M&A · Leadership change
A consortium associated with Johnny Carson purchases the station and programming contracts for $3.6 million, followed by a relaunch as KNAT.
- 1980
Channel 23 relaunches as KLKK-TV[1]
Product generation
After a programming and transmission overhaul, channel 23 shifts to English-language independent programming and adopts the KLKK-TV call sign.
- 1977
KMXN-TV faces management and financial disputes[1]
Lawsuit
A former company officer filed allegations concerning the station's management and political use, while a bank separately sued over an unpaid loan.
- 1975
KMXN-TV begins broadcasting in Albuquerque[1]
Other
Channel 23 begins operation as KMXN-TV under Spanish Television of New Mexico and affiliates with the Spanish International Network.
Sources2 sources
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