KNVO
A Spanish-language television station serving the Lower Rio Grande Valley from McAllen, Texas, and affiliated with Univision.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KNVO is a full-power television station licensed to McAllen, Texas, serving viewers across the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The station operates as an affiliate of Univision, the Spanish-language television network, and uses virtual channel 48. KNVO is part of a cluster of Entravision Communications stations serving the McAllen–Brownsville–Harlingen television market. Its sister properties include Fox affiliate KFXV, along with low-power or Class A stations carrying additional network and specialty programming in the region. The Federal Communications Commission granted an original construction permit for the station on October 9, 1983. The proposed facility was initially authorized for operation on UHF channel 48 at 4,071 kilowatts effective radiated power, although the authorized power was later revised to 3,162 kilowatts in 1992. KNVO began broadcasting on October 12, 1992. During its early years, the station quickly achieved a leading position in the local market, reflecting the importance of Spanish-language television to the region's bilingual and heavily Hispanic audience. KNVO changed ownership in the 1990s. LS Broadcasting, Ltd., Mundo Vision Broadcasting Company, and Larry Safir sold the station to Entravision Communications for $24.8 million. The transaction closed on January 24, 1997. Entravision subsequently incorporated KNVO into a broader local station group, allowing the company to operate several complementary network affiliations and distribution platforms from shared facilities on North Jackson Road in McAllen. KNVO's transmitter is located near Donna, Texas, on Farm to Market Road 493. The station launched a local news operation in 1999. Its news service has included locally produced broadcasts on weekdays and weekends, with the schedule varying over time. KNVO began producing its local news in high definition in September 2010. By 2012, its newscasts ranked second in the market behind those of ABC affiliate KRGV-TV, according to the cited station history. Entravision later discontinued the KNVO morning newscast Alegre Despertar in December 2015 as part of a wider cancellation of morning newscasts across its United States station portfolio. KNVO also completed the transition from analog to digital broadcasting. The station ended analog transmission on UHF channel 48 on June 12, 2009, the federally established deadline for full-power television stations in the United States. Its digital operation remained on pre-transition UHF channel 49 while retaining virtual channel 48 for viewers. The FCC had granted a construction permit for the station's digital facilities on October 11, 2001, following an application submitted in 1999. Full-power digital facilities were completed in June 2006, and the FCC issued the corresponding license on June 26, 2007. Today, KNVO's principal offering is free over-the-air Spanish-language television, combining Univision network programming with local news and market-specific content. Its identity is closely tied to Entravision's Rio Grande Valley station cluster and to Univision's national Spanish-language programming. Publicly available reference material provides substantial information about the station's ownership, technical history, affiliation, and news operation, but does not identify a separate KNVO corporate management team, standalone financial results, or an independently reported current programming strategy.
History
KNVO's regulatory origins date to October 9, 1983, when the Federal Communications Commission approved an original construction permit for a television station licensed to McAllen, Texas. The proposed station was assigned UHF channel 48 and was initially authorized for 4,071 kilowatts of effective radiated power. The authorized power was later changed to 3,162 kilowatts on April 16, 1992. KNVO ultimately began broadcasting on October 12, 1992, serving the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The station quickly established a strong position in the local television market. Its Spanish-language orientation matched the demographic and cultural characteristics of the region, while its affiliation with Univision connected it to a national network schedule. In 1996, LS Broadcasting, Ltd., Mundo Vision Broadcasting Company, and Larry Safir agreed to sell KNVO to Entravision Communications for $24.8 million. The transaction received regulatory completion on January 24, 1997, bringing KNVO into Entravision's growing portfolio of Spanish-language and other local television properties. KNVO added a local news operation in 1999. The news department later became an important part of the station's local identity, producing weekday and weekend broadcasts. In September 2010, KNVO moved its local news output to high definition. The station's newscasts were reported as the second-highest-rated local news broadcasts in the market in 2012, behind those of KRGV-TV. The station developed its digital broadcast facilities during the 2000s. Although Entravision requested digital authorization in 1999, the FCC granted a construction permit on October 11, 2001. Full-power digital facilities were completed in June 2006, and the FCC issued a license on June 26, 2007. KNVO discontinued its analog transmission on June 12, 2009, the nationwide transition date for full-power television stations. Digital transmission continued on UHF channel 49, while the station retained virtual channel 48. In December 2015, Entravision cancelled the morning program Alegre Despertar at KNVO, together with morning newscasts at its other United States stations. This represented a change in the company's approach to local morning programming, although KNVO continued to provide other local news output. The station's facilities are shared with several Entravision-operated properties on North Jackson Road in McAllen, while its transmitter is situated near Donna, Texas, on Farm to Market Road 493. KNVO remains a Univision affiliate serving the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
- 2015
Morning newscast discontinued
[1]Entravision cancelled Alegre Despertar as part of a company-wide United States reduction in morning newscasts.
- 2010
Local news moves to high definition
[1]The station began presenting local news in high definition in September 2010.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KNVO ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, and continued digitally on pre-transition UHF channel 49 while using virtual channel 48.
- 2007
Digital license issued
[1]The FCC granted KNVO a license for its digital facilities on June 26, 2007.
- 2006
Full-power digital facilities completed
[1]KNVO completed construction of its full-power digital facilities in June 2006.
- 2001
Digital construction permit granted
[1]The FCC granted a permit on October 11, 2001, for KNVO's digital facilities.
- 1999
Local news operation launches
[1]KNVO introduced locally produced newscasts.
- 1997
Entravision acquisition closes
[1]Entravision completed its acquisition of KNVO on January 24, 1997, for a reported $24.8 million.
- 1992
KNVO begins broadcasting
[1]KNVO commenced operations on October 12, 1992, after the station's authorized effective radiated power had been revised earlier that year.
- 1983
FCC grants original construction permit
[1]The FCC approved a permit on October 9, 1983, for a television station licensed to McAllen on UHF channel 48.
Products and positioning
A locally focused Spanish-language broadcast station serving the Lower Rio Grande Valley through Univision programming and regional news.
Spanish-language broadcast television · 1992
KNVO Univision television service
KNVO's principal service is a free, over-the-air Spanish-language television signal for the Lower Rio Grande Valley. As a Univision affiliate, it carries network entertainment, news, sports, and other programming supplied by Univision, complemented by station identification and locally relevant content.
Local television news · 1999
KNVO local news
KNVO's local news department began in 1999 and has produced news broadcasts for the McAllen-area market. The operation was converted to high-definition production in 2010. Its schedule has included locally produced weekday and weekend broadcasts, although specific current program details are not established by the supplied reference.
Morning newscast
Alegre Despertar
Alegre Despertar was KNVO's morning local news program. Entravision discontinued the program in early December 2015 as part of a broader cancellation of morning newscasts across its United States television stations.
Brand decisions
2015
Entravision ends Alegre DespertarStrategyBackground
Entravision reviewed morning-news operations across its United States television stations.
Action taken
The company cancelled KNVO's Alegre Despertar morning newscast in early December 2015, along with comparable morning broadcasts at its other United States stations.
Aftermath
KNVO's local news schedule was reduced in the morning while the station continued its other programming and local-news activities.
2010
KNVO upgrades local news to high definitionGeneration changeBackground
The station had operated a local news department since 1999 and was developing its digital broadcast capabilities.
Action taken
KNVO began broadcasting its local news programs in high definition in September 2010.
Aftermath
The upgrade modernized the presentation of KNVO's locally produced news output.
1997
Entravision acquires KNVOM&ABackground
KNVO was owned by LS Broadcasting, Ltd., Mundo Vision Broadcasting Company, and Larry Safir before being sold to Entravision Communications.
Action taken
Entravision purchased the station for a reported $24.8 million, with the transaction closing on January 24, 1997.
Aftermath
KNVO became part of Entravision's McAllen-area station group and continued operating as a Univision affiliate.
Acquisition price. $24.8 million (1996 agreement; transaction completed January 24, 1997)
Recent events
- 2015
Entravision cancels KNVO morning newscast[1]
Leadership change
Entravision ended Alegre Despertar in early December 2015 as part of a broader cancellation of morning newscasts at its United States stations.
- 2010
KNVO begins high-definition local news production[1]
Product generation
KNVO started broadcasting its local news programming in high definition in September 2010.
- 1999
KNVO launches local news operation[1]
Product launch
The station introduced locally produced newscasts, expanding its role beyond carrying network programming.
- 1997
Entravision completes acquisition of KNVO[1]
M&A
Entravision Communications completed its purchase of KNVO from LS Broadcasting, Mundo Vision Broadcasting Company, and Larry Safir on January 24, 1997.
- 1992
KNVO begins broadcasting[1]
Other
KNVO launched television operations on October 12, 1992, as a UHF station licensed to McAllen, Texas.
Sources2 sources
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