KTLM
KTLM is a Spanish-language television station licensed to Rio Grande City, Texas, serving the Lower Rio Grande Valley as an NBCUniversal-owned Telemundo affiliate.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KTLM is a full-power television station licensed to Rio Grande City, Texas, and serving viewers across the Lower Rio Grande Valley. It broadcasts programming from the Spanish-language Telemundo network and operates under the local identity Telemundo 40, with its news service branded Noticias Telemundo 40. The station's transmitter is located near Rio Grande City, while its studio and newsroom operations are based in the Chase Bank building in McAllen. The station originated with a construction permit issued to the Starr County Historical Foundation in 1994. The foundation initially contemplated a noncommercial station focused on tourism and promotion of the Rio Grande Valley. That concept was later abandoned, and the station's call letters changed from KAIO to KTLM in October 1998. KTLM assumed the Telemundo affiliation previously carried by XHRIO-TV, whose signal had been comparatively weak in the western parts of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Regular broadcasting began on August 1, 1999. In 2000, the Starr County Historical Foundation sold the station to Sunbelt Multimedia, a division of the Starr Camargo Bridge Company. Sunbelt Multimedia had managed the station from its launch. Financial difficulties later led to a receivership process: in 2012, the station was placed on the market, and Larry Patrick of Patrick Communications was designated to oversee it while efforts were made to repay creditors. A sale to Telemundo Rio Grande Valley LLC, an NBCUniversal subsidiary, was agreed in 2013 and completed on December 31 of that year. The transaction transformed KTLM from an independently owned affiliate into a Telemundo owned-and-operated station. KTLM launched its own local news operation in 2003, initially offering weekday evening newscasts at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. The service subsequently expanded with weekend news, the Buenos Días Frontera morning program, locally produced weather coverage, and the public-affairs program Enfoque McAllen. In 2014, the station introduced a refreshed Noticias Telemundo 40 set and reorganized its afternoon and evening schedule. It also added a 4:30 p.m. local newscast as part of a broader Telemundo station-group rollout. In 2016, KTLM introduced Telemundo Responde, a consumer investigative unit led by anchor and reporter Ana Cecilia Méndez. As a regional Spanish-language broadcaster, KTLM combines national Telemundo entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming with locally produced journalism relevant to communities in South Texas and the border region. Its terrestrial signal has also carried digital multicast programming, including Cozi TV on a third subchannel beginning in 2018. KTLM completed the United States digital television transition in 2009, temporarily retaining its analog signal under the federal SAFER Act to broadcast transition information.
History
KTLM traces its origins to a construction permit issued on June 10, 1994, to the Starr County Historical Foundation. The proposed station initially carried the call sign KAIO, assigned on September 1 of that year. The foundation's original plan was to operate a noncommercial service promoting tourism and the Rio Grande Valley. That proposal was subsequently abandoned as the station's intended role changed. On October 5, 1998, the station adopted the call letters KTLM. It also obtained the Telemundo affiliation previously associated with XHRIO-TV, a station whose signal did not serve the western Lower Rio Grande Valley effectively. KTLM began broadcasting on August 1, 1999, from its facility licensed to Rio Grande City. The station's transmitter remained near Rio Grande City, while its studio and operational base developed in McAllen. The Starr County Historical Foundation sold KTLM to Sunbelt Multimedia in 2000. Sunbelt Multimedia was a division of the Starr Camargo Bridge Company and was separate from Sunbelt Communications Company. The buyer had already been managing KTLM since its launch. During this period, the station operated as a locally owned Telemundo affiliate and developed a local news presence. KTLM launched its news department in 2003 with weekday newscasts at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Yolanda de la Cruz was identified as the original anchor. In 2010, Dalia Garza moved from a health-reporting role into the principal anchor position. The station later broadened its local programming with weekend news, the Buenos Días Frontera morning show, in-house weather coverage, and the public-affairs program Enfoque McAllen. In September 2012, Sunbelt Multimedia placed KTLM on the market. The station entered receivership, with Patrick Communications managing partner Larry Patrick designated to oversee it. Documents were submitted to the Federal Communications Commission to formalize Patrick's control. The receivership process sought to preserve the station and generate sufficient proceeds to repay Sunbelt Multimedia's creditors. A year later, Telemundo Rio Grande Valley LLC, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, reached an agreement to acquire KTLM. The transaction was completed on December 31, 2013. KTLM consequently became a Telemundo owned-and-operated station within NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group, aligning its local operations more closely with the network's broader station strategy. Following the acquisition, KTLM expanded its local-news output and refreshed its presentation. On September 2, 2014, the station debuted a new anchor team, added a co-anchor for Dalia Garza, and introduced a replacement weather anchor after Marlen Sosa's departure. The station also unveiled an updated Noticias Telemundo 40 set. On November 3, 2014, KTLM joined 14 other NBCUniversal and Telemundo stations in adding a 4:30 p.m. newscast. The schedule changes moved Al Rojo Vivo to 3 p.m. and placed Lo Mejor de Caso Cerrado in a shortened 4 p.m. slot. On May 26, 2016, KTLM launched Telemundo Responde, a consumer investigative unit led by anchor and reporter Ana Cecilia Méndez. The initiative extended the station's public-service role beyond routine newscasts by focusing on consumer complaints and investigative reporting. KTLM completed the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television on June 12, 2009. Under the SAFER Act, it continued analog transmissions until July 12, carrying public-service announcements explaining the digital transition. The station later expanded its digital footprint: on August 8, 2018, it added a third subchannel carrying Cozi TV programming, which had moved from KFXV. KTLM remains a Spanish-language Telemundo broadcaster serving the Lower Rio Grande Valley from its McAllen operations center and Rio Grande City transmission facility.
- 2018
Cozi TV added to digital multicast lineup
[1]KTLM added Cozi TV programming on a third digital subchannel.
- 2016
Telemundo Responde introduced
[1]The station launched its consumer investigative unit under Ana Cecilia Méndez.
- 2014
Local news expansion
[1]KTLM expanded local news, introduced revised on-air personnel, refreshed its set, and added a 4:30 p.m. newscast.
- 2013
NBCUniversal acquisition completed
[1]Telemundo Rio Grande Valley LLC completed its purchase of KTLM on December 31, making the station Telemundo-owned and operated.
- 2012
Receivership and sale process
[1]Sunbelt Multimedia placed KTLM on the market, with Larry Patrick overseeing the station during receivership.
- 2009
Digital television transition
[1]The station ended regular analog programming on June 12 and used the SAFER Act authorization to continue transition announcements temporarily.
- 2003
Local news department launches
[1]KTLM began producing weekday 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.
- 2000
Sale to Sunbelt Multimedia
[1]The Starr County Historical Foundation sold KTLM to Sunbelt Multimedia, a division of the Starr Camargo Bridge Company.
- 1999
Broadcast launch
[1]KTLM began broadcasting on August 1 as the Telemundo station for the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
- 1998
Call sign changes to KTLM
[1]The station changed its call letters from KAIO to KTLM and prepared to take over the Telemundo affiliation from XHRIO-TV.
Products and positioning
A Spanish-language local television broadcaster serving the Lower Rio Grande Valley, combining Telemundo network content with regional news, weather, public affairs, and consumer reporting.
Local television news · 2003
Noticias Telemundo 40
KTLM's local Spanish-language news service, covering regional events, public safety, politics, weather, transportation, and community issues in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The brand received a refreshed studio presentation and expanded scheduling after NBCUniversal acquired the station.
Morning television news
Buenos Días Frontera
A locally produced morning program created as part of KTLM's expansion beyond its original evening newscasts. It provides morning news and regional information for the station's Spanish-speaking audience.
Public affairs
Enfoque McAllen
A public-affairs program focused on issues and perspectives relevant to McAllen and the surrounding Lower Rio Grande Valley. It forms part of KTLM's locally oriented programming alongside its news and weather output.
Consumer investigative journalism · 2016
Telemundo Responde
A consumer investigative unit launched by KTLM in 2016. Led by Ana Cecilia Méndez, the initiative addresses consumer complaints and investigates problems affecting viewers and households in the station's service area.
Digital television · 2018
Digital multicast services
KTLM multiplexes its broadcast signal to provide additional digital programming. A third subchannel began carrying Cozi TV on August 8, 2018, after that service moved from KFXV.
Brand decisions
2016
Created the Telemundo Responde investigative unitProduct launchBackground
KTLM sought to broaden its local public-service and investigative journalism.
Action taken
The station launched Telemundo Responde and assigned anchor and reporter Ana Cecilia Méndez to lead it.
Aftermath
The unit added a consumer-focused investigative component to KTLM's local news offering.
2014
Expanded afternoon local news programmingProduct launchBackground
Telemundo and NBCUniversal were expanding local programming across their owned stations.
Action taken
KTLM added a 4:30 p.m. newscast, moved Al Rojo Vivo to 3 p.m., and shortened Lo Mejor de Caso Cerrado to a half-hour 4 p.m. slot.
Aftermath
The schedule created an additional local-news window and increased the station's weekday news presence.
2013
NBCUniversal acquired KTLMM&ABackground
Sunbelt Multimedia placed the station on the market during a receivership process intended to address creditor claims.
Action taken
Telemundo Rio Grande Valley LLC, an NBCUniversal subsidiary, purchased KTLM in a transaction completed on December 31.
Aftermath
KTLM became a Telemundo owned-and-operated station and subsequently expanded its local news operation.
1998
Adopted the KTLM identity and Telemundo affiliationStrategyBackground
The proposed station's initial tourism-oriented noncommercial concept was abandoned, while XHRIO-TV's signal limitations created an opportunity for a new Telemundo outlet in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Action taken
The station changed its call letters from KAIO to KTLM and took over the Telemundo affiliation.
Aftermath
KTLM launched in 1999 as the Telemundo broadcaster serving the region.
Sources2 sources
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