KREN-TV
KREN-TV is a Univision-affiliated television station serving the Reno, Nevada, market.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
KREN-TV is a full-power television station serving Reno, Sparks, and surrounding communities in northern Nevada. It broadcasts on virtual channel 27 and is affiliated with Univision, the Spanish-language television network. The station is owned by Entravision Communications Corporation, which also operates the low-power Class A station KRNS-CD in the same market. KREN-TV and KRNS-CD share studio facilities on Wells Avenue in Reno, while KREN-TV's transmitter is located on Slide Mountain between State Route 431 and the I-580/U.S. 395 corridor in unincorporated Washoe County. The station was established on March 1, 1982, but did not begin broadcasting until October 1986. Its original programming relationship was with the Spanish International Network, the predecessor of Univision. The station's early ownership was associated with Sainte Broadcasting Group, a company connected in part to the later Sainte Partners II organization. At the end of 1994, Pappas Telecasting acquired KREN-TV and changed its programming strategy. Rather than continuing as a Spanish-language outlet, the station became an English-language general-entertainment service and joined The WB when that network launched in January 1995. KREN-TV later carried programming from Pax TV, the network now known as Ion Television, on a secondary basis. Its relationship with The WB changed during the early 2000s as Reno cable distribution and the market's virtual network arrangements evolved. In 2000, The WB affiliation was shifted to a cable-only service using the fictional call sign KWBV, commonly identified as WB6. The affiliation returned to KREN-TV in 2002, effectively restoring the station's role as the market's WB outlet and placing the service on the local cable channel position previously associated with WB6. In 2006, the merger of The WB and UPN created The CW, and KREN-TV became one of the network's initial affiliates. Much of its schedule was supplied through The CW Plus, a package designed for smaller and mid-sized markets. During this period the station also developed a local news operation. In December 2006, it introduced a one-hour 10 p.m. newscast, promoted as the first high-definition newscast on a CW station and as Reno's only prime-time local television newscast at the time. The operation used a videojournalist model in which reporters handled multiple production roles. The news service was reduced in length in early 2008 and was ultimately shut down in March of that year amid weak advertising revenue. Pappas Telecasting placed KREN-TV and other stations into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2008. The company cited difficult conditions affecting the television industry, while court filings described substantial company-wide debt and asset obligations. A bankruptcy trustee subsequently placed KREN-TV under contract to Entravision Communications for a minimum bid of $4 million. After no higher suitable bid emerged, Entravision completed the acquisition on April 1, 2009. The change in ownership also brought a major programming reversal. Entravision moved Univision programming from KNVV-LP to KREN-TV's main channel, returning KREN-TV to its original Spanish-language network identity. The CW service was moved to the station then known as KAZR-CA, now KRNS-CD. KNVV-LP subsequently became associated with TeleFutura, now UniMás, and programming from that service was also carried on a KREN-TV digital subchannel for a period. After the acquisition, KREN-TV carried local inserts and news programming connected with Entravision's Spanish-language operations, including newscasts originating from sister station KINC in Las Vegas. KREN-TV completed its transition from analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, leaving its digital signal on physical UHF channel 26 while retaining virtual channel 27. Its principal digital service later returned to high-definition transmission after an interim standard-definition period associated with the initial Entravision transition. The station also provides coverage through translators serving parts of rural Nevada, including Hawthorne, Mina/Luning, and Walker Lake. KREN-TV remains a Spanish-language broadcast outlet within Entravision's portfolio and is focused on Univision network programming, local market access, and related digital distribution.
History
KREN-TV was established on March 1, 1982, and began broadcasting in October 1986 from Reno, Nevada. Its first network relationship was with the Spanish International Network, which later became Univision. The station was initially associated with Sainte Broadcasting Group, a company with links to the Sainte Partners organization. Pappas Telecasting acquired KREN-TV at the end of 1994 and changed the station from a Spanish-language service into an English-language general-entertainment station. When The WB launched on January 11, 1995, KREN-TV became its Reno affiliate. The station also carried Pax TV programming on a secondary basis after Paxson Communications launched that network in 1998. In 2000, The WB affiliation moved to a cable-only service identified by the fictional call sign KWBV, or WB6. The affiliation returned to KREN-TV in 2002, consolidating the station's role with the cable position associated with the service. The WB merged with UPN in 2006 to form The CW. KREN-TV became a charter CW affiliate, with much of its schedule supplied through The CW Plus. During its CW period, the station expanded into local news. It launched a one-hour 10 p.m. newscast on December 27, 2006, using a videojournalist production model. The program was notable in the station's history as a high-definition local newscast and as a prime-time news service in the Reno market. Weekend editions appeared later in 2007. The station reduced its newscasts to 30 minutes in January 2008, and on March 11, 2008, KREN-TV and KAZR canceled their local newscasts and dismissed the entire news staff. Pappas cited low advertising revenue. Pappas Telecasting filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 10, 2008, along with 12 other stations. The company cited the difficult national television business environment; the bankruptcy process also followed challenges associated with network performance, prior involvement with Azteca América, and the approaching end of analog television. In September 2008, bankruptcy trustee E. Roger Williams placed KREN-TV under contract to Entravision Communications for a $4 million minimum bid. No suitable competing bid was submitted, and Entravision completed the acquisition on April 1, 2009. Entravision changed the station's identity again by moving Univision programming from KNVV-LP to KREN-TV's main channel. The decision returned KREN-TV to the Spanish-language programming role it had held at launch. The CW affiliation moved to KAZR-CA, which is now known as KRNS-CD. KNVV-LP subsequently became a TeleFutura, now UniMás, affiliate, and that programming was carried on a KREN-TV digital subchannel for a period. Around August 2009, a third digital subchannel began rebroadcasting KNVV-LP. The ownership transition also affected the station's technical presentation. During Pappas ownership, KREN-TV's main digital signal used 1080i high definition. After Entravision's takeover, the primary signal temporarily reverted to 480i standard definition and a 4:3 presentation because much Univision programming was still produced in standard-definition formats. The station returned to 1080i transmission in spring 2010 as Univision's programming moved toward high definition. KREN-TV ended analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, under the then-scheduled national digital-transition timetable. Its digital signal remained on physical channel 26 and continued to identify as virtual channel 27. The station's coverage has also been extended through digital translators serving Hawthorne, Mina/Luning, and Walker Lake. A former translator in Susanville, California, operated as KREN-LP until April 2010; Entravision returned that license to the Federal Communications Commission in April 2011, and the call sign was deleted later that month. In its current documented role, KREN-TV is an Entravision-owned Univision affiliate serving the Reno market. It shares Reno studio facilities with KRNS-CD and forms part of Entravision's Spanish-language television operations in the western United States.
- 2010
High-definition transmission restored
[1]The main signal returned to 1080i transmission in spring 2010 after an interim standard-definition period.
- 2009
Entravision ownership begins
[1]Entravision completed its acquisition of KREN-TV on April 1.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KREN-TV shut down its analog signal and continued digitally on physical channel 26.
- 2008
Pappas enters Chapter 11
[1]KREN-TV was among the Pappas stations included in the company's Chapter 11 filing.
- 2006
Becomes a CW charter affiliate
[1]KREN-TV joined The CW when The WB and UPN were combined.
- 2006
Local prime-time news launches
[1]The station introduced a 10 p.m. local newscast in December.
- 2002
The WB affiliation returns
[1]The WB affiliation moved back to KREN-TV after a period involving a cable-only WB service.
- 1995
The WB affiliation begins
[1]KREN-TV became a Reno affiliate of The WB when the network launched in January.
- 1994
Pappas Telecasting acquisition
[1]Pappas Telecasting acquired the station and began transitioning it toward English-language general entertainment.
- 1986
First broadcast
[1]KREN-TV signed on in October 1986 as an affiliate of the Spanish International Network.
Products and positioning
A Spanish-language local television station serving the Reno, Nevada, market as an Entravision-owned Univision affiliate.
Spanish-language broadcast television · 2009
Univision Reno
KREN-TV's principal service is the Reno-market Univision affiliation. It delivers Spanish-language network programming, including entertainment, news, sports, specials, and other content distributed by Univision, together with locally targeted station branding and market information.
Local television news · 2009
Local Spanish-language news coverage
Following Entravision's acquisition, KREN-TV carried Spanish-language newscasts from sister station KINC in Las Vegas, supplemented by Reno-specific inserts. The station previously operated its own English-language 10 p.m. news service during its CW period, but that operation ended in 2008.
Digital terrestrial television · 2009
Digital broadcast service
KREN-TV transmits digitally on physical UHF channel 26 while retaining virtual channel 27. Its broadcast footprint is supplemented by translators serving rural communities in Nevada, including Hawthorne, Mina/Luning, and Walker Lake.
Brand decisions
2009
Entravision acquires KREN-TV through the Pappas bankruptcy processM&ABackground
Pappas Telecasting entered Chapter 11 proceedings and KREN-TV was offered through a bankruptcy-supervised sale.
Action taken
Entravision secured the station under a $4 million minimum bid arrangement and completed the ownership transfer on April 1, 2009.
Aftermath
KREN-TV joined Entravision's portfolio and its programming identity was changed from The CW to Univision.
Minimum bid. $4 million (2008 bankruptcy sale process)
2009
Univision returns to KREN-TV's main channelStrategyBackground
Entravision controlled KREN-TV and had previously distributed Univision programming through KNVV-LP.
Action taken
Entravision moved Univision programming to KREN-TV's main channel and moved The CW service to KAZR-CA, now KRNS-CD.
Aftermath
KREN-TV returned to a Spanish-language network role, while the related low-power station carried the CW service.
2009
Analog-to-digital transitionGeneration changeBackground
Federal policy required full-power American television stations to transition away from analog broadcasting.
Action taken
KREN-TV ended its analog transmission on UHF channel 27 and continued digitally on physical UHF channel 26.
Aftermath
Viewers continued to identify the station through virtual channel 27 while receiving its digital signal.
Sources2 sources
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