KSVN-CD

KSVN-CD is a low-power digital television station licensed to Ogden, Utah, and serving viewers in the broader Salt Lake City market. The station originated in the mid-1990s under the ownership of broadcaster Rolando Collantes, who received a construction permit on March 28, 1995, for a low-power station on UHF channel 21. It was licensed as K21ET on March 1, 1996, and initially carried programming largely supplied by the Univision network. The station soon adopted the KSVN-LP call sign, connecting it with KSVN radio, an AM station also associated with Collantes. In 1999, Collantes organized Azteca Broadcasting Corporation and transferred the station's license to that company. The station later underwent a series of technical and regulatory changes. In 2000, it moved from channel 21 to channel 49 because of displacement concerns and received a Class A license in December of that year. Its call sign changed to KSVN-CA in January 2001. In July 2002, the station ended its Univision affiliation and joined Azteca América, reflecting a shift in its programming identity and its relationship with Spanish-language television networks. A related translator serving Salt Lake City, originally designated K66FN, was also established in the 1990s. It began on UHF channel 66 and followed the main station's transition from Univision to Azteca América. The translator later pursued a channel change to UHF 39 and was broadcasting digitally on that channel by 2010. This facility helped extend the station's reach into the Salt Lake City market while the primary license remained associated with Ogden. KSVN developed a distinctive Spanish-language local programming profile. It was described as the first local Spanish-language station to broadcast live regular-season matches of Real Salt Lake. The station also carried Contacto Directo, a live Spanish-language talk program that began in September 2012. Hosted by Carlos Macias and Lili Uriostegui, the program was identified as Utah's only live Spanish-language talk show of its type in the station's reference material. In February 2023, Bridge Media Networks announced an agreement to acquire KSVN-CD for $2 million. Bridge Media Networks is associated with NewsNet, a headline-news service backed by entrepreneur Manoj Bhargava. The transaction closed on April 26, 2023, making KSVN-CD a NewsNet-owned and operated station and the second such station in Utah. Following the acquisition, the existing Estrella TV service was moved to the station's fourth digital subchannel, while NewsNet occupied another position in the station's multiplex. NewsNet subsequently shut down in 2024. In August of that year, the affected subchannel was replaced by ShopHQ. KSVN-CD therefore represents a hybrid local television asset: it has roots in Spanish-language broadcasting, retains a local-market identity, and distributes multiple services through digital subchannels, cable carriage, and its over-the-air signal. Unlike many low-power stations, it has also been available on Comcast cable channel 98 in the Salt Lake City area. Its primary terrestrial channel is 25 under the KSVN-CD designation.

KSVN-CD traces its origins to a construction permit issued to Rolando Collantes on March 28, 1995, for a low-power television station on UHF channel 21 serving Ogden, Utah. The station received its initial license as K21ET on March 1, 1996. Its early programming was primarily affiliated with Univision, and it later adopted the KSVN-LP call sign, reflecting Collantes's connection with KSVN radio on AM 730. In 1999, Collantes established Azteca Broadcasting Corporation and placed the station's license under that company. Regulatory and technical changes followed in 2000. Because of displacement from channel 21, the station moved to channel 49 in September 2000. It was upgraded to Class A status in December and changed its call sign to KSVN-CA the following month. In July 2002, KSVN ended its Univision relationship and became an Azteca América affiliate. The station's Salt Lake City coverage was supported by a related translator. K66FN received a construction permit in October 1995 and was licensed on March 1, 1996. It initially operated on UHF channel 66 and followed the principal station's network transition from Univision to Azteca América. The translator later sought authority to move to channel 39. By January 2010, it was no longer operating on channel 66 and had begun digital broadcasting on channel 39. KSVN's programming identity included both network television and local Spanish-language content. It became known for carrying live Spanish-language broadcasts of Real Salt Lake regular-season games. In September 2012, it launched Contacto Directo, a live Spanish-language talk show hosted by Carlos Macias and Lili Uriostegui. The program was described as the only live Spanish talk show in Utah and aired on Thursday evenings. On February 17, 2023, Bridge Media Networks announced a planned acquisition of KSVN-CD for $2 million. Bridge Media Networks operates in association with NewsNet, a 24-hour headline-news service backed by Manoj Bhargava. The sale closed on April 26, 2023, making KSVN-CD the second NewsNet-owned and operated station in Utah. As part of the post-acquisition channel arrangement, Estrella TV moved to the station's fourth digital subchannel. NewsNet shut down in 2024. In August of that year, the NewsNet subchannel on KSVN-CD was replaced by ShopHQ. The station continues to function as a low-power digital television outlet licensed to Ogden and serving the Salt Lake City area. It is distributed through its over-the-air signal and has also been carried by Comcast on channel 98 in the Salt Lake City market. The station's current call sign reflects its digital Class A television status.

• 2024

  ShopHQ replaces NewsNet

  [1]KSVN-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Following NewsNet's shutdown, ShopHQ replaced the former NewsNet service on a KSVN-CD subchannel.

• 2023

  Acquisition by Bridge Media Networks

  [1]KSVN-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Bridge Media Networks completed its acquisition of KSVN-CD, adding the station to the NewsNet-owned station group.

• 2012

  Contacto Directo launches

  [1]KSVN-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station began airing its live Spanish-language talk show Contacto Directo.

• 2002

  Azteca América affiliation begins

  [1]KSVN-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KSVN ended its Univision affiliation and joined Azteca América.

• 2000

  Channel move and Class A upgrade

  [1]KSVN-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved from channel 21 to channel 49 and was upgraded to Class A status.

• 1999

  License transferred to Azteca Broadcasting Corporation

  [1]KSVN-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Collantes formed Azteca Broadcasting Corporation and moved the station's license into the new company.

• 1996

  Initial license and KSVN identity

  [1]KSVN-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station was licensed as K21ET and later adopted the KSVN-LP call sign.

• 1995

  Construction permit issued

  [1]KSVN-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Rolando Collantes received a permit to build a low-power station on UHF channel 21 for the Ogden area.

A low-power, locally oriented television station serving the Ogden and Salt Lake City markets, with a historical emphasis on Spanish-language programming and a current role as a digital multicast platform.

• Spanish-language talk show · 2012

  Contacto Directo

  Contacto Directo is a live Spanish-language talk program associated with KSVN's local programming schedule. It began airing in September 2012 and has been hosted by Carlos Macias and Lili Uriostegui. The program was described as the only live Spanish-language talk show in Utah and was scheduled for Thursday evenings at 10 p.m.

• Broadcast television

  KSVN-CD digital television service

  KSVN-CD provides low-power digital television service to the Ogden and Salt Lake City areas. Its multiplex can carry several services at once, allowing the station to combine local, Spanish-language, news, shopping, and other network programming. The station is also available through Comcast cable in the Salt Lake City area.

• 2024

  Replacement of NewsNet subchannelStrategy

  Background

  NewsNet shut down during 2024, leaving its position in the station's digital multicast lineup available for reassignment.

  Action taken

  ShopHQ replaced the former NewsNet service on the affected KSVN-CD subchannel in August 2024.

  Aftermath

  The station's digital lineup shifted from headline-news programming to a shopping-oriented service on that subchannel.

  Source

• 2023

  Bridge Media Networks acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Bridge Media Networks sought to expand its NewsNet-owned and operated television presence in Utah.

  Action taken

  Bridge Media Networks agreed to acquire KSVN-CD for $2 million, with the transaction closing on April 26, 2023.

  Aftermath

  KSVN-CD became a NewsNet-owned and operated station, and Estrella TV was moved to the fourth digital subchannel.

  Acquisition price. $2 million (Announced February 17, 2023; completed April 26, 2023)

  Source

• 2002

  Switch from Univision to Azteca AméricaStrategy

  Background

  KSVN had previously carried programming from Univision and was connected to Collantes's Azteca Broadcasting Corporation.

  Action taken

  The station ended its Univision affiliation and began carrying Azteca América programming.

  Aftermath

  The change established a new Spanish-language network identity for the station.

  Source

1. 1KSVN-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KSVN-CD station websitesaltlakecity.newsnetmedia.com