KTAZ

KTAZ is a full-power Spanish-language television station licensed to Phoenix, Arizona, and affiliated with Telemundo. The station broadcasts on channel 39 and is owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group. Its studios are located on South 33rd Place in Phoenix, while its main transmitter is positioned on South Mountain. KTAZ serves the Phoenix market and contributes programming to Telemundo's wider Arizona news operation. Its statewide news broadcasts, branded Noticiero Telemundo Arizona, are produced in Phoenix and are also carried by KHRR, Telemundo's Tucson station, which functions as a semi-satellite with local advertising. The station's current identity emerged from a complicated sequence of licenses, facilities, call signs, and market arrangements. Telemundo programming first reached the Phoenix area in 1989 through a low-power outlet that later used the call signs KDRX-LP and KDRX-CA. Although the low-power signal was commercially disadvantaged against Univision's full-power Phoenix station, the outlet developed local news capabilities in the late 1990s and was acquired by Telemundo in the early 2000s. A separate full-power station, KPHZ, was built in Holbrook, Arizona, and began broadcasting in 2001 with home-shopping programming. NBC acquired the station in 2002, after which it ultimately became part of Telemundo's Arizona strategy. KPHZ was economically weak because Holbrook was a small market, while Telemundo's Phoenix low-power operation lacked the coverage needed to compete effectively. NBCUniversal therefore negotiated a complex arrangement with the Daystar Television Network. The transaction exchanged licenses, facilities, cities of license, and channel positions, enabling Telemundo to move the full-power KPHZ authorization to Phoenix on channel 39 while Daystar received a station serving Holbrook. The Federal Communications Commission approved the arrangement in 2005 and issued relevant construction permits in 2006. The KTAZ call sign was transferred to the channel 39 license in May 2006, and the permanent Phoenix transmission facilities became operational that July. Local news has been central to KTAZ's role. Its Phoenix newscast lineage dates to 1997, when programming was produced for the early Telemundo outlet by local ABC affiliate KNXV. KTAZ later produced its own news, temporarily moving production to a Telemundo news hub in Fort Worth during a 2007 cost-reduction period. Phoenix production was subsequently restored. KTAZ also produced local broadcasts for Telemundo's Las Vegas station, KBLR, until that station launched its own newscast in 2014. From 2014 onward, KTAZ expanded its local news schedule, adding weekend evening broadcasts, local weather production, an afternoon newscast, a second afternoon block, and a midday program. It later added a local edition of Enfoque, Telemundo's public-affairs format. The station's news operation incorporates reporting and weather information from Tucson so that KHRR viewers receive an Arizona-wide service with market-specific elements. KTAZ also participates in the transition to newer broadcast technology. Its main program stream is multiplexed digitally and is additionally available in ATSC 3.0, or NextGen TV, through KFPH-CD. The station completed the federally mandated analog-to-digital transition through a flash-cut on June 12, 2009, using its former analog UHF channel as its digital channel. KTAZ remains an active local broadcast brand within Telemundo's U.S. station portfolio, combining Spanish-language network programming, locally produced journalism, weather, public affairs, and digital distribution.

Telemundo television service in the Phoenix area began in 1989 on low-power station K64DR, later known as KDRX-LP and KDRX-CA. The operation eventually carried local news, with the first Phoenix Telemundo newscast debuting in October 1997 through a production arrangement with ABC affiliate KNXV. The low-power service was acquired by Telemundo in 2002, but its limited coverage made it difficult to compete with Univision's full-power Phoenix outlet. The present KTAZ facility is linked to KPHZ, a full-power station originally intended for Holbrook, Arizona. The Federal Communications Commission designated VHF channel 11 for Holbrook in 1986. After a construction application was filed in 1996 and approved in 1998, the station was developed by Channel 11 LLC and then sold to Venture Technologies Group. Venture adopted the KPHZ call sign and placed the station on the air in January 2001 with America's Collectibles Network, a home-shopping service later known as Jewelry Television. The FCC granted the station's license in December 2001. NBC acquired KPHZ in 2002 after reaching an agreement with Venture. The station became part of Telemundo's Arizona portfolio, but it continued carrying home-shopping programming until July 2003, when it switched to Telemundo programming. KPHZ was strategically useful as a full-power authorization but was financially unsuitable as a stand-alone operation in the small Holbrook market. NBCUniversal also determined that its Phoenix low-power Telemundo station could not match the market reach of Univision's full-power station. NBCUniversal and Daystar negotiated a complicated license and facility exchange. The plan moved KPHZ's license from Holbrook to Phoenix and reassigned channel 39 for commercial broadcasting, while Daystar's KDTP authorization moved from Phoenix to Holbrook on channel 11. The agreement also transferred certain low-power facilities and preserved a Daystar presence in Phoenix. Because the arrangement affected channel reservations and cities of license, it required FCC review and attracted opposition from Univision. In October 2005, the FCC concluded that the public benefit of adding a competing full-power Spanish-language station in Phoenix outweighed the loss of the noncommercial reservation on channel 39. Construction permits were issued in April 2006. The KTAZ call letters moved to the channel 39 license on May 27, 2006. During the transition, technical and programming complications meant that Telemundo programming temporarily remained on the former channel 11 service while the new Phoenix transmitter was completed. The permanent move was completed on July 23, 2006. KTAZ thereafter operated as Telemundo's Phoenix station, with KHRR in Tucson serving as a semi-satellite carrying the shared Arizona news product and local advertising. KTAZ's news operation changed over time. In 2007, cost reductions shifted production to Telemundo's Fort Worth news hub, but Phoenix-based production was restored in later years. Until July 2014, KTAZ also produced local newscasts for KBLR in Las Vegas. Beginning in 2014, Telemundo expanded KTAZ's local schedule with weekend evening news, local weather forecasting, and new afternoon programs. A midday newscast followed in 2018, and a local Enfoque public-affairs program was introduced around 2020. The station completed the United States' full-power analog-to-digital transition through a flash-cut on June 12, 2009. Its principal digital service is also distributed using ATSC 3.0 through KFPH-CD, giving KTAZ a role in newer broadcast delivery technology. Today, KTAZ remains an active Telemundo station focused on Spanish-language programming and locally produced news for Phoenix and broader Arizona audiences.

• 2020

  Local Enfoque edition begins

  [1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  KTAZ begins producing a local public-affairs edition of Enfoque.

• 2018

  Midday newscast launches

  [1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  The station introduces a midday local news program.

• 2014

  Local news expansion

  [1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  KTAZ adds weekend newscasts, local weather production, and expanded afternoon coverage.

• 2009

  Digital television transition

  [1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  KTAZ completes its federally required analog shutdown and digital flash-cut.

• 2006

  KTAZ moves to Phoenix channel 39

  [1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  The call sign is transferred to the Phoenix channel 39 license, and the permanent transmitter move is completed in July.

• 2003

  KPHZ switches to Telemundo programming

  [1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  The Holbrook station ends its home-shopping schedule and begins carrying Telemundo programming.

• 2002

  NBC acquires KPHZ

  [1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  KPHZ becomes part of NBC's Telemundo station portfolio.

• 2001

  KPHZ begins broadcasting from Holbrook

  [1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  The full-power KPHZ signs on with home-shopping programming.

• 1997

  Phoenix Telemundo local news begins

  [1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  The first local Telemundo newscast in Phoenix is produced through a relationship with KNXV.

• 1989

  Telemundo service reaches Phoenix through a low-power station

  [1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  The network begins its Phoenix-area presence on K64DR, the predecessor to later KDRX low-power operations.

A Spanish-language full-power television station combining Telemundo network entertainment and news with locally produced Arizona journalism, weather, and public-affairs coverage.

• Local television news

  Noticiero Telemundo Arizona

  KTAZ's principal Arizona news operation, produced in Phoenix and distributed to KTAZ viewers and KHRR viewers in Tucson. The broadcasts combine Phoenix-area reporting with Tucson news and weather elements, creating a shared statewide service while allowing the Tucson station to carry local advertising.

• Spanish-language television · 2003

  Telemundo network programming

  KTAZ carries Telemundo's Spanish-language network schedule, including entertainment, news, sports, and other programming supplied by the national network. This network affiliation forms the core of the station's daily broadcast offering.

• Public-affairs television · 2020

  Local Enfoque

  A local version of Telemundo's Enfoque public-affairs format. The program provides a periodic forum for regional issues and community-focused discussion, airing twice monthly as part of KTAZ's local information programming.

• Digital broadcast distribution

  ATSC 3.0 service

  KTAZ's primary program stream is also distributed in ATSC 3.0, or NextGen TV, through KFPH-CD. This extends the station's availability to compatible receivers using a newer terrestrial broadcasting standard.

• 2014

  Expansion of local news outputProduct launch

  Background

  Telemundo expanded local news commitments across multiple owned stations.

  Action taken

  KTAZ added weekend evening newscasts, local weather forecasting, and a 4:30 p.m. weekday newscast, followed by a 4 p.m. half-hour in 2016.

  Aftermath

  The station developed a broader local-news schedule and reduced reliance on externally produced weather coverage.

  Source

• 2007

  Temporary centralization of local news productionStrategy

  Background

  Telemundo implemented cost-reduction measures affecting KTAZ's news operation.

  Action taken

  Production of KTAZ news was moved temporarily to a Telemundo news hub in Fort Worth, Texas.

  Aftermath

  Phoenix-based production was restored several years later.

  Source

• 2005

  Pursuit of a full-power Phoenix Spanish-language stationStrategy

  Background

  NBCUniversal considered its Holbrook full-power station economically weak and its Phoenix low-power Telemundo outlet insufficiently competitive against Univision.

  Action taken

  NBCUniversal negotiated a license and facility exchange with Daystar that moved the full-power authorization to Phoenix channel 39 and shifted Daystar's authorization to Holbrook channel 11.

  Aftermath

  The FCC approved the arrangement after determining that a competing full-power Spanish-language station would provide a public benefit in the Phoenix market. KTAZ subsequently became the Phoenix channel 39 service.

  Payment to Daystar. $49 million (License and facility exchange approved in 2005)

  • Univision — Univision opposed the proposal during FCC review, including objections related to the removal of the noncommercial reservation on Phoenix channel 39.

  Source

• 2020

  KTAZ begins local Enfoque production[1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  KTAZ launched a local edition of Telemundo's public-affairs program, airing twice monthly and addressing regional issues for Arizona viewers.

• 2018

  KTAZ adds midday news and local public affairs coverage[1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The station introduced a midday newscast and later began producing a local version of Enfoque, extending its local information service beyond scheduled morning and evening broadcasts.

• 2014

  KTAZ expands local news and weather programming[1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  KTAZ added weekend evening newscasts and began producing local weather forecasts, followed by additional afternoon news programming as part of Telemundo station-group expansions.

• 2005

  FCC approves Telemundo-Daystar Arizona license and facility exchange[1]KTAZen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The FCC approved an unusual arrangement allowing Telemundo to relocate the KPHZ full-power authorization from Holbrook to Phoenix on channel 39 while Daystar received the Holbrook facility and related assets.

1. 1KTAZen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Telemundo Arizonatelemundoarizona.com