KTLN-TV

KTLN-TV is a television station serving the San Francisco Bay Area from a license assigned to Palo Alto, California. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 68 and is affiliated with Heroes & Icons, a Weigel Broadcasting network centered on classic television series and other library programming. It also carries MeTV on a secondary digital channel. KTLN-TV is owned by Weigel Broadcasting and operates alongside the company's low-power Class A station KAXT-CD, which carries Catchy Comedy programming. The station's technical and distribution arrangements are unusual. Although KTLN-TV holds a full-power license, it shares spectrum with KAXT-CD. Because KAXT-CD's low-power signal does not cover the entire San Francisco Bay Area, KTLN-TV depends substantially on cable and satellite distribution to make its programming available throughout the market. Its studios are shared with KAXT-CD on Pelican Way in San Rafael, while its transmission facilities are located on Mount Allison. The station's MeTV service is also available through another local outlet, KPYX's third digital subchannel, whose signal is stronger than KTLN-TV's in parts of the market. KTLN-TV's history includes several ownership changes and periods of operational transition. It was originally owned outright by Christian Communications of Chicagoland, the organization associated with WCFC-TV in Chicago, now known as WCPX-TV. The station was formerly licensed to Novato in Marin County. In 2011, Christian Communications of Chicagoland agreed to sell KTLN-TV to OTA Broadcasting, a company controlled by Michael Dell's investment vehicle MSD Capital. The transaction closed in October 2011, while the former owner continued operating the station under a local marketing agreement. Weigel Broadcasting later expanded its Northern California and Pacific Northwest portfolio by agreeing in 2017 to acquire KTLN-TV and KAXT-CD, together with KVOS-TV and KFFV in the Seattle market, from OTA Broadcasting. The transaction was valued at $23.2 million according to the cited reference material. The sale was completed in April 2019. KTLN-TV returned to the air shortly afterward, carrying a high-definition Heroes & Icons signal on channel 68.1 and MeTV on channel 68.2. The station had been temporarily off the air by June 2018 during the period surrounding the ownership and operational transition. KTLN-TV completed the nationwide U.S. analog-to-digital television transition on June 12, 2009. Its analog transmission had operated on UHF channel 68, while its post-transition digital signal remained on UHF channel 47 and retained virtual channel 68. Today, the station's primary role is as a local distribution outlet for Weigel's national classic-television services rather than as a conventional local-news broadcaster.

KTLN-TV is a San Francisco Bay Area television station identified by virtual channel 68 and licensed to Palo Alto, California. Its facilities are associated with San Rafael, where it shares studio space on Pelican Way with KAXT-CD, a low-power Class A station owned by Weigel Broadcasting. The stations use transmission facilities on Mount Allison. KTLN-TV's current identity is closely tied to Weigel's national classic-television networks, particularly Heroes & Icons and MeTV. The station's earlier ownership was connected to Christian Communications of Chicagoland, the former owner of WCFC-TV, now WCPX-TV. KTLN-TV was once licensed to Novato in Marin County. During its period under Christian Communications of Chicagoland, the station operated as an independently owned local television facility. In June 2011, its owner filed to transfer the station to OTA Broadcasting, a company controlled by MSD Capital, the investment firm associated with Michael Dell. The transaction closed on October 6, 2011. Christian Communications of Chicagoland continued to operate KTLN-TV for a time through a local marketing agreement, creating a transitional arrangement between legal ownership and day-to-day station operations. KTLN-TV's technical history also reflects the transition from analog to digital broadcasting in the United States. It ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009, in accordance with the federally mandated digital television conversion. The former analog service used UHF channel 68. After the transition, the station's digital signal operated on UHF channel 47 while continuing to use virtual channel 68 for viewer identification. OTA Broadcasting later consolidated several broadcast assets for sale. On October 18, 2017, Weigel Broadcasting agreed to acquire KTLN-TV and KAXT-CD, as well as Seattle-area stations KVOS-TV and KFFV. The reported value of the transaction was $23.2 million. During the broader transition, KTLN-TV was temporarily off the air by June 2018. The acquisition was completed on April 15, 2019. After the sale closed, KTLN-TV resumed service at midnight on April 17, 2019. Its primary digital stream carried Heroes & Icons in high definition on 68.1, while MeTV appeared on 68.2. This programming structure made KTLN-TV part of Weigel's network distribution system in Northern California. Heroes & Icons supplies classic television programming, while MeTV provides another library-oriented service on the station's multicast operation. Despite holding a full-power license, KTLN-TV shares spectrum with KAXT-CD. Since KAXT-CD is a low-power station, its over-the-air coverage does not reach the entire San Francisco Bay Area. Consequently, KTLN-TV relies on cable and satellite carriage to extend access to the full market. MeTV is also carried by KPYX's third digital subchannel, which has a stronger local signal than KTLN-TV. These arrangements shape the station's role: it functions less as a traditional local-news outlet and more as a market distribution platform for nationally branded classic-television networks.

• 2019

  Weigel ownership begins and service resumes

  [1]KTLN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The sale to Weigel Broadcasting closed on April 15. KTLN-TV returned at midnight on April 17 with Heroes & Icons in high definition on 68.1 and MeTV on 68.2.

• 2018

  Station temporarily off the air

  [1]KTLN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KTLN-TV was reported to be temporarily off the air during the period preceding completion of its transfer to Weigel Broadcasting.

• 2017

  Weigel announces acquisition

  [1]KTLN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Weigel Broadcasting agreed to acquire KTLN-TV and KAXT-CD, together with KVOS-TV and KFFV, from OTA Broadcasting in a reported $23.2 million deal.

• 2011

  Transfer to OTA Broadcasting closes

  [1]KTLN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  OTA Broadcasting completed its acquisition of KTLN-TV from Christian Communications of Chicagoland on October 6. The former owner continued operating the station under a local marketing agreement.

• 2009

  Analog broadcasting ends

  [1]KTLN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KTLN-TV shut down its analog UHF channel 68 signal as part of the United States digital television transition. Its digital operation continued on UHF channel 47 while retaining virtual channel 68.

Local San Francisco Bay Area television broadcaster and distribution outlet for Weigel Broadcasting's classic-television networks.

• Digital television network affiliation

  Heroes & Icons

  Heroes & Icons is KTLN-TV's primary service and is carried on virtual channel 68.1. The network supplies classic television programming, including library series associated with action, crime, science-fiction, western and adventure genres. Following the station's return to the air in April 2019, the service was broadcast in high definition.

• Digital multicast television service

  MeTV

  MeTV is carried by KTLN-TV on virtual channel 68.2 as a secondary digital service. It provides a schedule of classic television programming and complements the Heroes & Icons primary service. MeTV is also available in the market through KPYX's third digital subchannel, which has a stronger over-the-air signal than KTLN-TV in some areas.

• 2019

  Programming relaunch under Weigel ownershipProduct launch

  Background

  After the ownership transfer and a period when the station was temporarily off the air, KTLN-TV returned to service.

  Action taken

  The station restored high-definition Heroes & Icons on 68.1 and added MeTV on 68.2.

  Aftermath

  KTLN-TV became a local Weigel Broadcasting outlet for two classic-television services in the San Francisco Bay Area.

  Source

• 2017

  Weigel Broadcasting agrees to acquire KTLN-TVM&A

  Background

  OTA Broadcasting placed KTLN-TV, KAXT-CD and two Seattle stations in a package offered to Weigel Broadcasting.

  Action taken

  Weigel agreed to purchase the four-station group in a reported $23.2 million transaction.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed in April 2019. KTLN-TV subsequently resumed service with Heroes & Icons and MeTV programming.

  Reported transaction value. $23.2 million (2017 transaction announcement)

  Source

1. 1KTLN-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Heroes & Icons station disclosures and schedule informationheroesandicons.tv