KUCO-LD
KUCO-LD is a low-power Univision-affiliated television station serving the Chico–Redding market in Northern California.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KUCO-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Chico, California, and serving viewers across the Chico–Redding market. The station operates as an affiliate of Univision, the Spanish-language television network, and uses channel 27 as its primary broadcast identity. Its programming provides Spanish-language network television to Northern California communities, including areas with a growing Spanish-speaking population. The station began broadcasting in 2002 under the ownership of Sainte Partners II, L.P., the broadcasting company established by country-western singer and television entrepreneur Chester Smith. Its launch expanded access to Spanish-language television in the Chico–Redding area and made KUCO the market's first Spanish-language television station. Sainte Partners later developed or operated additional Spanish-language and multilingual low-power outlets in the region, including Telemundo affiliate KXVU-LP and UniMás affiliate KKTF-LD. Following Chester Smith's death in 2008, Sainte Partners sold KUCO-LP and its remaining stations to Bonten Media Group in 2014. Bonten already owned KRCR-TV, the ABC affiliate serving the Redding area, and integrated KUCO into a broader cluster of television stations serving Northern California. Sinclair Broadcast Group announced an agreement to acquire Bonten's stations in April 2017. The transaction closed on September 1, 2017, making KUCO part of Sinclair's station portfolio alongside KRCR-TV, KCVU and several other low-power outlets. KUCO's operational base is in Redding, where its stations share studios on Auditorium Drive east of downtown. The station also maintains a news bureau and sales office in Chico at facilities formerly associated with Sainte Television Group. Its transmitter is located along Cohasset Road northeast of Chico. The combination of a Chico license, Redding production facilities and a wide regional service area reflects the geography of the Chico–Redding television market. KEUV-LD, channel 35 in Eureka, operates as a semi-satellite of KUCO-LD. It retransmits KUCO's Univision programming while carrying separate local commercials and legal station identifications. KEUV-LD has its own Eureka studios, while master control and some other internal functions are handled from KUCO's Redding facilities. The station has also used digital multicasting to carry additional programming. In October 2021, two additional subchannels were added: TBD, later rebranded as Roar, moved from KXVU-LD, and Rewind TV was introduced. KUCO changed its call sign from KUCO-LP to KUCO-LD on April 5, 2019, coinciding with the issuance of its license for digital operations. KUCO-LD remains principally a local broadcast outlet and Univision affiliate rather than a standalone national consumer brand.
History
KUCO-LD began broadcasting in 2002 as KUCO-LP. It was established by Sainte Partners II, L.P., the broadcasting company associated with country-western singer Chester Smith. The station was created to serve the Spanish-speaking population of Northern California and became the first Spanish-language television station serving the Chico–Redding market. Its launch brought Univision programming to a region that had previously lacked a dedicated Spanish-language broadcast outlet. Sainte Partners developed KUCO within a wider group of Northern California stations. Other outlets associated with the company included KXVU-LP, which carried Telemundo programming, and KKTF-LD, which carried UniMás programming. Together, these stations formed a multilingual low-power television presence across the region. KUCO's programming was distributed from facilities serving the Chico and Redding areas, while its license remained associated with Chico. After Chester Smith died in 2008, Sainte Partners continued operating the station until 2014, when it sold KUCO-LP and the rest of its stations to Bonten Media Group. Bonten was the owner of KRCR-TV, an ABC affiliate based in Redding, and the acquisition placed KUCO within a larger local television operation. The station subsequently shared infrastructure and operational resources with other Bonten outlets. Sinclair Broadcast Group announced on April 21, 2017, that it intended to purchase Bonten Media Group's stations, including KUCO-LP. The reported transaction value was $240 million, and the sale was completed on September 1, 2017. Under Sinclair ownership, KUCO became part of a Northern California cluster that included KRCR-TV, KCVU, KXVU-LD, KRVU-LD, KZVU-LD and KKTF-LD. The station's principal studios are on Auditorium Drive east of downtown Redding. It also maintains a news bureau and sales office on Main Street in downtown Chico, using facilities formerly associated with Sainte Television Group. The transmitter is located along Cohasset Road northeast of Chico. This arrangement allows the station to retain its Chico identity while operating within a broader Chico–Redding regional infrastructure. In 2016, KUCO-LP transmitted an unauthorized Emergency Alert System test. The announcement used wording identifying the activation as an Emergency Action Notification. Available descriptions do not document whether the test caused public alarm or led to a formal enforcement outcome. KUCO transitioned from analog low-power operations to digital licensing and changed its call sign from KUCO-LP to KUCO-LD on April 5, 2019. Its digital signal has also carried multicast programming. In October 2021, TBD moved to KUCO from KXVU-LD and was later rebranded as Roar; Rewind TV was added at the same time. KEUV-LD in Eureka operates as a semi-satellite of KUCO-LD. It simulcasts KUCO's Univision programming but inserts its own commercials and legal identifications. KEUV maintains local facilities in Eureka, while master control and some internal operations are based at KUCO's Redding location. KUCO-LD therefore functions both as a Spanish-language network affiliate for the Chico–Redding market and as an operational hub for related low-power television service in Northern California.
- 2021
Digital multicast expansion
[1]TBD moved from KXVU-LD to KUCO-LD and Rewind TV was added in October; TBD was later rebranded as Roar.
- 2019
Digital call-sign transition
[1]The station changed its call sign from KUCO-LP to KUCO-LD on April 5 after receiving its digital license.
- 2017
Sinclair acquisition closes
[1]Sinclair completed its acquisition of Bonten's stations, including KUCO-LP, on September 1.
- 2016
Unauthorized alert-system test
[1]KUCO-LP transmitted an unauthorized Emergency Alert System test using Emergency Action Notification wording.
- 2014
Sale to Bonten Media Group
[1]KUCO-LP and Sainte Partners' remaining stations were sold to Bonten Media Group.
- 2002
KUCO-LP begins broadcasting
[1]Sainte Partners II launched the station to provide Spanish-language television to the Chico–Redding market.
Products and positioning
A low-power Spanish-language broadcast station serving Northern California's Chico–Redding market, with a local-market role built around Univision programming, regional advertising and digital television distribution.
Spanish-language broadcast television · 2002
KUCO-LD Univision service
The station's principal offering is Univision network programming carried on channel 27. It serves Spanish-speaking viewers in the Chico–Redding market and combines network distribution with local advertising and station identification.
Digital multicast television · 2021
Roar
Roar is a digital multicast service that originated as TBD before being rebranded. It was moved to KUCO-LD from KXVU-LD as part of the station's expanded digital channel lineup.
Digital multicast television · 2021
Rewind TV
Rewind TV was added to KUCO-LD's digital multiplex in October 2021, broadening the station's over-the-air entertainment offering beyond its primary Univision service.
Brand decisions
2021
Expansion of digital multicast lineupProduct launchBackground
KUCO-LD used digital multiplexing to add programming beyond its primary Univision channel.
Action taken
The station added Rewind TV and moved TBD from KXVU-LD; TBD was later renamed Roar.
Aftermath
KUCO's over-the-air channel lineup expanded to include additional entertainment programming.
2019
Transition from KUCO-LP to KUCO-LDGeneration changeBackground
The station received a license for digital operations.
Action taken
KUCO changed its call sign to KUCO-LD on April 5, 2019.
Aftermath
The station adopted its current digital low-power call sign.
2017
Acquisition by Sinclair Broadcast GroupM&ABackground
Bonten Media Group owned KUCO-LP after acquiring it from Sainte Partners in 2014. Sinclair sought to acquire Bonten's Northern California station group.
Action taken
Sinclair announced the acquisition on April 21, 2017, and completed the transaction on September 1, 2017.
Aftermath
KUCO became part of Sinclair's Northern California cluster and continued operating as a Univision-affiliated low-power station.
Reported transaction value. $240 million (2017)
Recent events
- 2021
KUCO-LD adds two digital multicast services[1]
Product launch
KUCO-LD added two digital subchannels in October: TBD, subsequently known as Roar, moved from KXVU-LD, while Rewind TV was added to the station's multiplex.
- 2019
KUCO-LP changes call sign to KUCO-LD[1]
Other · Product generation
The station adopted the KUCO-LD call sign on April 5, coinciding with the grant of its license for digital operations.
- 2017
Sinclair announces acquisition of Bonten Media Group stations[1]
M&A
Sinclair Broadcast Group announced its planned acquisition of Bonten's stations, including KUCO-LP, in a transaction valued at $240 million.
- 2017
Sinclair completes acquisition of KUCO-LP[1]
M&A
The acquisition of Bonten Media Group's stations by Sinclair Broadcast Group was completed on September 1, bringing KUCO into Sinclair's Northern California station group.
- 2016
KUCO-LP conducts an unauthorized Emergency Alert System test[1]
Regulation · Other
The station transmitted an unauthorized Emergency Alert System test. The message described the event as an Emergency Action Notification, and the available account does not establish whether it caused public panic.
- 2014
KUCO-LP is sold to Bonten Media Group[1]
M&A
Sainte Partners II sold KUCO-LP and its remaining television stations to Bonten Media Group, which already owned KRCR-TV in the region.
Sources2 sources
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