KTFQ-TV

KTFQ-TV is a full-power Spanish-language television station serving Albuquerque and much of New Mexico. The station operates on channel 41 and is affiliated with UniMás, the Spanish-language broadcast network associated with TelevisaUnivision. Its facilities are in northeastern Albuquerque on Broadbent Parkway, shared with KLUZ-TV, the market's Univision station. KTFQ-TV's transmitter is located on Sandia Crest, a prominent elevation that supports coverage across the Albuquerque area and surrounding parts of the state. The station began broadcasting in September 1987 under the KLUZ-TV call sign as an affiliate of the Univision network. During its earlier identity as KLUZ-TV, it developed local Spanish-language programming for New Mexico audiences. In 1992, the station introduced a 5 p.m. news program called 5 en Punto. The following year it expanded its news operation with Noticias 41, described as Albuquerque's first Spanish-language newscast. The evening program initially featured New Mexico native Bonita Ulibarrí as anchor, Sergio Schwartz handling weather, and Liliana Carrillo as sportscaster. A separate 5 p.m. broadcast later replaced 5 en Punto, with changes to the anchor and sports roles over subsequent years. The station also expanded its digital services. In 2007, it added LATV to digital subchannel 41.2. Like other full-power U.S. television stations, it completed the federally mandated analog-to-digital transition on June 12, 2009. Its former analog operation used UHF channel 41, while its post-transition digital signal used UHF channel 42 and retained virtual channel 41. A major identity and facility realignment occurred on December 4, 2017. In a coordinated swap involving KLUZ-TV and KTFQ, the Univision programming and KLUZ call sign moved to the facility using digital channel 22 and virtual channel 14. Entravision's facility using digital channel 42 and virtual channel 41 adopted the KTFQ-TV call sign and became the UniMás affiliate. The change aligned the station's call sign, virtual channel, and network identity with its current operation. Entravision owns KTFQ-TV and provides certain services to Univision-owned KLUZ-TV under a local marketing agreement with TelevisaUnivision. KTFQ-TV's principal role is as a local broadcast outlet for UniMás entertainment, sports, news, and other Spanish-language network programming, supplemented by locally relevant commercial and promotional activity. Its earlier local-news operation was later affected by a centralization decision: in November 2015, Entravision moved production of KLUZ's newscasts from Albuquerque to sister station KCEC in Denver. The available reference material does not establish the station's current local-news schedule, detailed ownership history before Entravision, current management roster, or complete digital subchannel lineup.

KTFQ-TV traces its operating history to September 1987, when the Albuquerque station began broadcasting as KLUZ-TV, a Univision affiliate. Its early role was to provide Spanish-language network programming to viewers in central New Mexico while developing a local presence in the Albuquerque television market. Local news became an important part of the station's earlier identity. In 1992, KLUZ introduced 5 en Punto, an early-evening Spanish-language news program. In 1993, it launched Noticias 41, a 10 p.m. newscast identified in reference material as Albuquerque's first Spanish-language television newscast. Bonita Ulibarrí served as an early anchor, with Sergio Schwartz presenting weather and Liliana Carrillo covering sports. Later that year, the station replaced 5 en Punto with a 5 p.m. newscast. Anchor and reporting assignments changed during the decade: Susana Olivares anchored the 10 p.m. edition for a period, Roberto Repreza joined in 1994 to anchor both broadcasts, and Ulibarrí subsequently returned as the sole anchor after Repreza left in 1996. The station added a digital multicast service in 2007, carrying LATV on subchannel 41.2. It shut down its analog UHF channel 41 signal on June 12, 2009, the nationwide transition date for full-power U.S. television stations. The digital operation used UHF channel 42 while continuing to identify over the air through virtual channel 41. Entravision later consolidated production of the station's news output. On November 2, 2015, production of KLUZ newscasts moved from Albuquerque to Entravision's sister station KCEC in Denver. The available sources do not specify whether all local-news services continued in the same form after the transfer. The most consequential change in the station's modern history came on December 4, 2017. KLUZ-TV and KTFQ exchanged programming identities and call signs as part of a multi-market realignment. The Univision service and KLUZ call sign moved to the facility using digital channel 22 and virtual channel 14. The Entravision facility using digital channel 42 and virtual channel 41 became KTFQ-TV and took the UniMás affiliation. This arrangement made KTFQ-TV the channel 41 UniMás station in the Albuquerque market. Today, KTFQ-TV is owned by Entravision Communications. It shares Broadbent Parkway studios in northeastern Albuquerque with KLUZ-TV, which is owned by TelevisaUnivision. Entravision provides certain services to KLUZ under a local marketing agreement. KTFQ-TV broadcasts UniMás programming to Albuquerque and a broad portion of New Mexico from a transmitter on Sandia Crest. Publicly available reference material does not provide a complete current management list, current local programming schedule, detailed ownership chronology, or a definitive current list of all digital subchannels.

• 2017

  KTFQ-TV identity established on channel 41

  [1]KTFQ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  On December 4, the KLUZ and KTFQ call signs and network programming are swapped, making the channel 41 facility the UniMás affiliate KTFQ-TV.

• 2015

  Newscast production moves to Denver

  [1]KTFQ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Entravision transfers production of KLUZ's newscasts from Albuquerque to sister station KCEC in Denver.

• 2009

  Analog broadcasting ends

  [1]KTFQ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station ends its analog UHF channel 41 transmission on June 12 and continues digitally on UHF channel 42 using virtual channel 41.

• 2007

  LATV added as a digital subchannel

  [1]KTFQ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  LATV begins airing on digital subchannel 41.2.

• 1993

  Noticias 41 launches

  [1]KTFQ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station launches Noticias 41, a Spanish-language 10 p.m. newscast for Albuquerque.

• 1992

  5 en Punto launches

  [1]KTFQ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KLUZ introduces an early-evening Spanish-language news program called 5 en Punto.

• 1987

  Station begins broadcasting as KLUZ-TV

  [1]KTFQ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The Albuquerque station starts operation in September as a Univision affiliate under the KLUZ-TV call sign.

A Spanish-language local television outlet serving Albuquerque and much of New Mexico through the UniMás network, with regional reach supported by its Sandia Crest transmitter.

• Spanish-language television network affiliate · 2017

  UniMás broadcast service

  KTFQ-TV's principal broadcast offering is the UniMás network service on virtual channel 41. It delivers Spanish-language entertainment, sports, news, and other network programming to Albuquerque and viewers across much of New Mexico through the station's terrestrial signal.

• Television news · 1992

  Local Spanish-language news

  During its earlier KLUZ-TV identity, the station produced 5 en Punto and Noticias 41. These programs established a local Spanish-language news presence in Albuquerque, although the available reference material does not document the current status or schedule of comparable KTFQ-TV newscasts.

• Digital multicast television · 2007

  LATV digital multicast service

  LATV was carried on digital subchannel 41.2 beginning in 2007. The available source does not confirm whether this service remains part of the current multicast lineup.

• 2017

  Swap KLUZ and KTFQ identities and affiliationsStrategy

  Background

  A multi-market realignment was undertaken involving the Univision-owned KLUZ-TV facility and Entravision's channel 41 facility.

  Action taken

  On December 4, KLUZ-TV moved its Univision programming and call sign to the digital channel 22 and virtual channel 14 facility. Entravision's digital channel 42 and virtual channel 41 facility became KTFQ-TV and carried UniMás.

  Aftermath

  The realignment established KTFQ-TV as the UniMás affiliate using virtual channel 41, while KLUZ-TV remained the market's Univision station on virtual channel 14.

  Source

• 2015

  Centralize KLUZ newscast production in DenverStrategy

  Background

  Entravision operated KLUZ-TV and had a sister station, KCEC, in Denver. The company decided to move production of KLUZ's newscasts away from Albuquerque.

  Action taken

  Beginning November 2, production was transferred to KCEC in Denver.

  Aftermath

  The change centralized production within the Entravision station group. The available reference does not quantify staffing, ratings, or financial effects.

  Source

1. 1KTFQ-TVen.wikipedia.org