KUTP
KUTP is a Phoenix television station branded Fox 10 Xtra that primarily operates as an independent station while retaining a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
KUTP is a full-power television station serving Phoenix, Arizona, on virtual channel 45. The station is owned by Fox Television Stations and operates in a duopoly with KSAZ-TV, the Fox affiliate branded FOX 10. Although KUTP retains a MyNetworkTV affiliation, its schedule is primarily composed of independent programming under the Fox 10 Xtra identity. The station originated after the Federal Communications Commission allocated a new channel 45 frequency to Phoenix in 1984. United Television, a subsidiary of Chris-Craft Industries, had petitioned for the allocation and ultimately obtained a construction permit after acquiring the interests of competing applicants. KUTP began broadcasting on December 23, 1985, becoming Phoenix's third major independent station at the time. Its early schedule relied on films, syndicated programs, and locally oriented entertainment, including an attempted revival of The Lloyd Thaxton Show. Sports became an important part of KUTP's identity. In 1988, it acquired over-the-air rights to Phoenix Suns road games and eventually carried at least 45 Suns games in many seasons. For 23 years, through the 2010–11 NBA season, KUTP served as the Suns' principal local broadcast outlet for games not reserved for national or cable networks. The station later carried selected Grand Canyon University sports, including men's and women's basketball, men's baseball, and softball. KUTP became a charter affiliate of the United Paramount Network when UPN launched in January 1995. After Viacom acquired Chris-Craft's interest in UPN and Fox Television Stations purchased Chris-Craft's UPN stations in 2000, KUTP became part of the Fox-owned Phoenix duopoly with KSAZ-TV. When UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW in 2006, Fox's stations were not selected for the new network. KUTP therefore transitioned first to temporary PHX 45 branding and then to MyNetworkTV when that Fox-created programming service launched in September 2006. The station also introduced the locally produced interactive dating program My Dating Place. In August 2017, KUTP adopted the Fox 10 Xtra brand, linking it more visibly to KSAZ-TV and Fox's Phoenix news operation. The station began carrying a weekday block of programming derived from KSAZ's live-streaming news service, originally Fox 10 News Now and later LiveNOW from Fox, as well as Fox 10 Talks. KSAZ began producing a regular 7 p.m. newscast for KUTP in July 2018, giving the station its first regularly scheduled local newscast. KUTP can also carry KSAZ newscasts when sports programming displaces them on the primary station. Since February 2022, KUTP has additionally carried selected Fox Weather programming. Its transmitter is located on South Mountain, and its signal is supplemented by digital translators serving communities including Bullhead City, Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Prescott. The station completed the United States digital television transition in June 2009, ending analog broadcasting on channel 45 while continuing digital transmission on UHF channel 26 with virtual channel 45.
History
The Federal Communications Commission allocated UHF channel 45 to Phoenix in May 1984 after United Television sought an additional local station frequency. United, a Chris-Craft subsidiary, faced twelve competing applicants but acquired their interests and received a construction permit on December 20, 1984. The company initially considered the call sign KOLT-TV, but could not secure the necessary designation rights from a Nebraska radio station. The station instead launched as KUTP on December 23, 1985. United designed KUTP as an independent outlet alongside KPHO-TV and KNXV. Its early programming consisted mainly of movies and syndicated shows, with a revived version of The Lloyd Thaxton Show serving as a notable local entertainment initiative. Sports soon became central to the station's audience strategy. Beginning in 1988, KUTP carried Phoenix Suns road games and later expanded its package to include selected home games, reaching roughly 45 or more broadcasts in a typical season. It remained the Suns' principal over-the-air local outlet for 23 years, through the 2010–11 season. KUTP carried Prime Time Entertainment Network programming during part of the early 1990s and joined UPN at that network's January 1995 launch. In 2000, Fox Television Stations acquired Chris-Craft's UPN stations in a transaction that placed KUTP and KSAZ-TV under common ownership. Their operations were consolidated at KSAZ's West Adams Street studios in downtown Phoenix. The collapse of UPN and The WB prompted another major change. In January 2006, CBS and Warner Bros. announced the creation of The CW. Fox-owned UPN stations, including KUTP, were not selected as CW affiliates. Fox subsequently created MyNetworkTV, which launched in September 2006 with KUTP as its Phoenix outlet. During the transition, the station used PHX 45 branding and introduced the local interactive dating show My Dating Place. KUTP was renamed Fox 10 Xtra in August 2017, emphasizing its relationship with KSAZ's FOX 10 brand. The revised identity incorporated weekday blocks from the station's digital news service, initially called Fox 10 News Now and later LiveNOW from Fox, along with Fox 10 Talks. In July 2018, KSAZ began producing Fox 10 Xtra News at 7, giving KUTP a regular local news presence. The station also carries KSAZ newscasts when sports events disrupt the primary station's schedule. Fox Weather programming was added in February 2022. KUTP also resumed a meaningful role in local sports through a partnership with Grand Canyon University. Beginning in 2019, the station carried GCU men's basketball, later adding women's basketball and men's baseball, followed by softball. KUTP's broadcast footprint includes its South Mountain transmitter and digital translators serving several Arizona communities. It ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009, while retaining virtual channel 45 through its digital signal.
- 2022
Fox Weather programming added
[1]KUTP began carrying selected Fox Weather programming on weekdays and Sundays.
- 2018
First regular local newscast launches
[1]KSAZ began producing Fox 10 Xtra News at 7 for KUTP.
- 2017
Fox 10 Xtra identity introduced
[1]The station adopted Fox 10 Xtra branding and added programming associated with KSAZ's digital news operation.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KUTP ended analog broadcasting during the federally mandated United States digital television transition.
- 2006
MyNetworkTV affiliation begins
[1]KUTP became a MyNetworkTV affiliate after UPN was replaced by The CW.
- 2000
Fox ownership begins
[1]Fox Television Stations acquired KUTP's former owner, Chris-Craft's UPN station group.
- 1995
UPN affiliation begins
[1]KUTP became a charter affiliate of UPN at the network's launch.
- 1988
Phoenix Suns broadcasts begin
[1]KUTP acquired local over-the-air rights to Phoenix Suns road games.
- 1985
KUTP begins broadcasting
[1]KUTP signed on December 23 as an independent Phoenix station.
- 1984
FCC allocates channel 45 to Phoenix
[1]The FCC allocated UHF channel 45 to Phoenix and began accepting applications for a new full-power station.
Products and positioning
A Fox-owned Phoenix independent station positioned as an extension of KSAZ-TV's FOX 10 news and entertainment operation, with MyNetworkTV as a secondary network affiliation and a schedule supplemented by sports, syndicated content, and digital-news programming.
Television station brand · 2017
Fox 10 Xtra
The station's current on-air identity, introduced in 2017, presents KUTP as an extension of KSAZ-TV's FOX 10 operation. Its schedule combines independent programming and MyNetworkTV content with selected local news, digital-news, talk, weather, and sports programming.
Local television news · 2018
Fox 10 Xtra News at 7
A KSAZ-produced evening newscast created for KUTP and launched in July 2018. It provided the station with its first regularly scheduled local newscast and complements KUTP's broader Fox 10 Xtra positioning.
Sports broadcasting · 1988
Phoenix Suns broadcasts
KUTP carried Phoenix Suns games from 1988 through the 2010–11 NBA season. The package primarily covered road games without exclusive national or cable rights and later included selected home games, making the Suns a major audience draw for the station.
Sports broadcasting · 2019
Grand Canyon University sports
KUTP began carrying Grand Canyon University men's basketball in 2019 and subsequently expanded the arrangement to women's basketball, men's baseball, and softball. The broadcasts are produced for GCU by Sneaky Big Studios.
Weather broadcasting · 2022
Fox Weather programming
Selected Fox Weather programming has aired on KUTP since February 2022, including weekday and Sunday blocks integrated into the station's broadcast schedule.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Fox 10 Xtra rebrand
Phoenix
Fox Television Stations repositioned KUTP as Fox 10 Xtra, connecting the station with KSAZ-TV's FOX 10 brand and its digital news output.
Outcome. The station continues to operate under the Fox 10 Xtra identity while retaining MyNetworkTV as a secondary affiliation.
Brand decisions
2017
Reposition the station as Fox 10 XtraStrategyBackground
Fox sought to use KUTP as an extension of the established KSAZ-TV FOX 10 operation.
Action taken
KUTP adopted Fox 10 Xtra branding and began carrying blocks associated with KSAZ's streaming-news service.
Aftermath
The station gained a closer operational and branding relationship with KSAZ while maintaining its separate channel identity.
2006
Move from UPN to MyNetworkTVStrategyBackground
KUTP was not selected as a charter affiliate of The CW after UPN and The WB announced their combination.
Action taken
Fox placed KUTP in its new MyNetworkTV network and used temporary PHX 45 branding during the transition.
Aftermath
KUTP retained a network connection while remaining increasingly reliant on independent, syndicated, local, and Fox-related programming.
1995
Join UPN at launchStrategyBackground
United Television and Paramount created UPN as a new national programming network for selected independent stations.
Action taken
KUTP became a charter UPN affiliate while continuing to serve the Phoenix market.
Aftermath
The affiliation lasted until UPN was replaced by the network restructuring that led to MyNetworkTV.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/kutp · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled