KTDO
KTDO is an NBCUniversal-owned Telemundo television station licensed to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and serving the El Paso–Las Cruces market.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KTDO is a Spanish-language television station serving the El Paso, Texas–Las Cruces, New Mexico, metropolitan area through its affiliation with the Telemundo network. Although the station is licensed to Las Cruces, its principal studios are in El Paso, and its transmitter is located on the Franklin Mountains near El Paso. The station operates as part of NBCUniversal’s Telemundo Station Group and is marketed to audiences across the bi-national region, including viewers in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, through the broader El Paso television market. The station began broadcasting on November 18, 1984, as KASK-TV, an English-language independent station associated with KASK radio. Its initial schedule included locally produced southern New Mexico news, but the operation encountered financial and regulatory difficulties soon after launch. KASK-TV entered receivership in 1986, left the air in 1987 during a proposed transmitter reconstruction, and remained off the air while prospective owners attempted to revive or sell it. In 1990, the station returned as KZIA under the ownership of Robert and Carol Muñoz’s Southwestern Broadcasting Company. KZIA emphasized local Las Cruces news, New Mexico State University sports, syndicated entertainment, and selected programming carried through arrangements with other New Mexico stations. It also sought to reach the larger El Paso audience through cable carriage and microwave-linked news. These efforts did not produce a sustainable business, and KZIA filed for bankruptcy protection in 1992. Lee Enterprises acquired the station in 1993 and introduced programming linked to its Albuquerque television operation, including KRQE news and New Mexico sports coverage. KZIA became an affiliate of the United Paramount Network in January 1995. Later that year, a dispute concerning microwave facilities and the station’s transmission path contributed to the relocation of its studios from Las Cruces to east El Paso. The change reflected the station’s growing orientation toward the larger El Paso market rather than Las Cruces alone. Lee Enterprises converted the station from English-language general entertainment to Spanish-language Telemundo programming in January 1998. The call sign changed first to KMAZ, and later to KTYO after Council Tree Communications acquired the station in 2001. The affiliation positioned channel 48 as a major Spanish-language competitor in a heavily Hispanic market, alongside Univision affiliate KINT-TV. In 2004, ZGS Broadcast Holdings purchased the station and changed its call sign to KTDO. Under ZGS, KTDO developed its first dedicated Spanish-language local news department. Weeknight 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts launched in November 2010, establishing direct local-news competition with KINT-TV. NBCUniversal’s Telemundo Station Group acquired ZGS’s television stations in a transaction announced in 2017 and completed on February 1, 2018. Following the acquisition, KTDO expanded its local news schedule with 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. broadcasts in June 2018. In 2023, the station moved into a new El Paso facility. KTDO completed the United States digital television transition in 2009, ending analog broadcasting on UHF channel 48 while continuing to use virtual channel 48 digitally. Its physical digital channel later moved from channel 47 to channel 26 in 2020 as part of the nationwide spectrum-reallocation process. Today, KTDO combines Telemundo’s national Spanish-language programming with locally produced news and community-oriented coverage for the El Paso–Las Cruces market.
History
KTDO traces its history to KASK-TV, which began broadcasting from Las Cruces on November 18, 1984. The station was created as an independent English-language commercial outlet and included local news focused on southern New Mexico. Financial losses, licensing complications related to its common ownership with KASK radio, and difficulties surrounding a planned transmitter reconstruction led to receivership and an eventual interruption of service. The station returned to the air on June 13, 1990, as KZIA under Southwestern Broadcasting Company, owned by Carol and Robert Muñoz. Its programming combined local news, entertainment, and New Mexico State University sports. KZIA attempted to broaden its reach into El Paso through cable carriage and arrangements to carry news from Albuquerque and El Paso outlets. Weak advertising support and costly sports programming contributed to another financial crisis, and the station entered bankruptcy reorganization in August 1992. Lee Enterprises acquired KZIA in 1993 and connected it with its Albuquerque broadcasting interests. The station carried KRQE news, New Mexico sports, and a local sports program, while also improving coverage in parts of Las Cruces through a translator. It joined the United Paramount Network in January 1995. Later that year, the station moved its studios to east El Paso after a dispute involving microwave dishes needed to maintain a transmission path to its transmitter. In late 1997, Lee Enterprises decided to target the region’s large Hispanic audience by converting channel 48 to Spanish-language programming. The call sign became KMAZ in November 1997, and the station joined Telemundo on January 15, 1998. The change replaced the previous Telemundo arrangement involving Ciudad Juárez station XHIJ-TV and made channel 48 a dedicated Spanish-language network outlet. Council Tree Hispanic Broadcasters purchased the station in 2001, changing the call sign to KTYO. Council Tree had previously held a controlling interest in Telemundo, although it later sold that network interest to NBC while retaining the station. ZGS Broadcast Holdings acquired the station in 2004 for a reported $11.8 million and adopted the KTDO call sign effective October 1 of that year. ZGS expanded KTDO’s local identity by launching Spanish-language local newscasts in 2010. NBCUniversal announced its acquisition of ZGS’s television stations in December 2017, and the transaction closed on February 1, 2018. KTDO subsequently expanded its news schedule with afternoon broadcasts. The station moved to a new El Paso building in 2023. Its transmission facilities remain associated with the Franklin Mountains, while its virtual channel remains 48 despite later changes to its physical digital channel.
- 2023
KTDO moves to a new El Paso building
[1]The station relocates its operations to a new facility in El Paso.
- 2020
Digital transmission channel changes
[1]KTDO moves its physical digital signal from channel 47 to channel 26 following the United States spectrum auction and repacking process.
- 2018
NBCUniversal completes ZGS acquisition
[1]KTDO becomes part of NBCUniversal’s Telemundo Station Group, which later adds afternoon newscasts.
- 2010
KTDO launches local Spanish-language news
[1]The station debuts weeknight 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.
- 2004
ZGS acquires the station and adopts KTDO call sign
[1]ZGS Broadcast Holdings purchases the station and changes the call sign to KTDO effective October 1.
- 2001
Council Tree acquires the station
[1]Council Tree Hispanic Broadcasters purchases the station and changes its call sign to KTYO.
- 1998
Channel 48 becomes a Telemundo affiliate
[1]After changing its call sign to KMAZ, the station begins Spanish-language Telemundo programming on January 15.
- 1995
KZIA joins UPN and moves studios
[1]The station becomes a UPN affiliate and relocates its studios from Las Cruces to east El Paso.
- 1993
Lee Enterprises acquires KZIA
[1]Lee Enterprises purchases the station and links its programming to Albuquerque-based KRQE.
- 1992
KZIA files for bankruptcy protection
[1]The station seeks bankruptcy reorganization after continued operating losses and weak advertising support.
Products and positioning
A Spanish-language Telemundo station serving the large Hispanic and bilingual El Paso–Las Cruces television market, with local news and regional coverage centered in El Paso.
Spanish-language broadcast television · 1998
Telemundo network service
KTDO carries Telemundo’s Spanish-language national schedule, including entertainment, news, sports, and special programming. The network affiliation has been the station’s central identity since January 1998 and supports coverage of the El Paso–Las Cruces market.
Local television news · 2010
KTDO Noticias
KTDO’s locally produced Spanish-language news service covers El Paso, southern New Mexico, and related regional issues. The station began dedicated local newscasts in 2010 and expanded its schedule with afternoon broadcasts in 2018.
Over-the-air television · 2009
Digital broadcast channel 48
KTDO distributes its programming over digital terrestrial television using virtual channel 48. Its physical digital assignment changed over time, moving to channel 26 in 2020 after the United States spectrum-reallocation process.
Brand decisions
2018
Join NBCUniversal’s Telemundo Station GroupM&ABackground
NBCUniversal announced the purchase of ZGS’s television stations, including KTDO, to expand its directly operated Telemundo station portfolio.
Action taken
The transaction closed on February 1, 2018, transferring KTDO to NBCUniversal ownership and management through the Telemundo Station Group.
Aftermath
KTDO expanded its local news schedule with 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. broadcasts later in 2018.
2010
Launch a dedicated local news departmentProduct launchBackground
After several years as a Telemundo affiliate without its own full local-news operation, ZGS sought to strengthen KTDO’s relevance in the El Paso market.
Action taken
KTDO introduced Spanish-language local newscasts at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weeknights.
Aftermath
The station entered direct local-news competition with KINT-TV and expanded the market role of the KTDO brand.
1997
Convert channel 48 to Spanish-language Telemundo programmingStrategyBackground
Lee Enterprises viewed the El Paso–Las Cruces region as a strong Hispanic television market and considered Spanish-language programming more commercially promising than remaining a general-market English-language outlet.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign to KMAZ and replaced its previous programming model with Telemundo programming beginning January 15, 1998.
Aftermath
The change established channel 48 as a Spanish-language competitor in the regional market and set the direction that continued through later KTYO and KTDO identities.
Sources2 sources
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