KUTU-CD

KUTU-CD is a low-power, Class A television station serving Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States. The station operates on digital channel 25 and is associated with three major Spanish-language television networks: Univision, UniMás, and Telemundo. Its role is primarily that of a local broadcast outlet and network affiliate, combining network programming with locally relevant advertising, market distribution, and selected news content for Spanish-speaking audiences in the Tulsa area. The station originated on December 30, 1994, when it was established as very-low-power station K25FF. Those initial call letters were not used on air, and the station was later licensed under the call sign KLOT-LP in approximately 1996. In 2004, the facility was acquired by Woodward Broadcasting, Inc., an entity associated with Little Rock-based Equity Broadcasting Corporation, later known as Equity Media Holdings. On March 1, 2005, the station adopted the call sign KUTU-CA and became affiliated with Univision, marking its development as a Spanish-language television outlet in the Tulsa market. KUTU's ownership changed during the financial difficulties surrounding Equity Media Holdings. Equity announced in June 2008 that it intended to sell the station to Luken Communications, LLC. The transaction took place against the backdrop of Equity's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in December 2008, and proposed acquisitions involving several Equity stations were subsequently withdrawn. KUTU-CA was ultimately sold at auction to Oklahoma City-based Tyler Media Group on April 16, 2009. Tyler Media also operates other Oklahoma broadcast properties, enabling KUTU to share certain technical and operational resources with sister stations. The station's facilities include programming and advertising-sales offices at Eastland Plaza in southeast Tulsa. Its transmitter is located on Arvest Tower in downtown Tulsa. Master control and some internal operations are based at the facilities of sister stations KUOK and KTUZ-TV near Southeast 51st Street and Shields Boulevard in southern Oklahoma City. This arrangement reflects a regional operating model in which local sales and market presence are maintained in Tulsa while some broadcast infrastructure and production functions are centralized elsewhere in Oklahoma. KUTU expanded its local news presence in August 2011 by beginning to simulcast Spanish-language newscasts produced by sister station KTUZ-TV. The programs, branded Acción Oklahoma, aired on weeknights at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. and included weather information for both the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metropolitan areas. The 10 p.m. edition was adjusted around Univision's national late-night newscast, Noticiero Univision: Edición Nocturna, with KUTU leaving the local newscast before the KTUZ broadcast concluded and returning to network programming afterward. In the transition from analog to digital broadcasting, KUTU filed a construction permit proposing a move to UHF channel 45 and an increase in effective radiated power from approximately 5.06 kilowatts to about 25 kilowatts. In December 2011, it discontinued its analog signal and completed a digital flash-cut on UHF channel 25. At the same time, its call sign changed from KUTU-CA to KUTU-CD, reflecting its Class A digital status. The station remains a Tulsa-focused Spanish-language broadcast service within Tyler Media Group's Oklahoma portfolio.

KUTU-CD traces its origins to December 30, 1994, when the television facility was founded as very-low-power station K25FF. The original call letters were not used on air. The station later received a license under the call sign KLOT-LP, apparently in approximately 1996, establishing its presence as a low-power television outlet in Tulsa. In 2004, the station was sold to Woodward Broadcasting, Inc., a licensee connected with Equity Broadcasting Corporation of Little Rock, Arkansas. Equity later operated under the name Equity Media Holdings. On March 1, 2005, the station changed its call sign to KUTU-CA and became an affiliate of Univision. This affiliation placed the station within the expanding Spanish-language television ecosystem in the Tulsa market and gave it access to Univision network programming. The station became involved in the corporate restructuring surrounding Equity Media Holdings. On June 25, 2008, Equity announced that KUTU would be sold to Luken Communications, LLC. The announcement preceded Equity's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in December 2008. Luken later withdrew offers to acquire Equity-owned stations in six markets, and KUTU was ultimately sold at auction on April 16, 2009, to Tyler Media Group, an Oklahoma City-based broadcaster. Under Tyler Media ownership, KUTU operated as part of a wider Oklahoma broadcasting group. The station maintained programming and advertising-sales offices at Eastland Plaza near East 21st Street and South 145th East Avenue in southeast Tulsa. Its transmitter was installed atop Arvest Tower at the intersection of West 6th Street and South Boulder Avenue West in downtown Tulsa. Master control and some other technical or internal functions were handled from the facilities of sister stations KUOK and KTUZ-TV near Southeast 51st Street and Shields Boulevard in southern Oklahoma City. KUTU strengthened its local news presence in August 2011 by carrying Spanish-language newscasts produced by KTUZ-TV. The programs used the Acción Oklahoma brand and aired on weeknights at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Weather segments covered conditions and seven-day forecasts for both the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metropolitan areas. Scheduling of the late newscast was coordinated with Univision's national Noticiero Univision: Edición Nocturna, which followed the 10 p.m. local broadcast. The station also underwent a technical transition to digital television. It filed a construction permit involving a proposed move to UHF channel 45 and a substantial increase in effective radiated power, from approximately 5.06 kilowatts to roughly 25 kilowatts. In December 2011, KUTU ended its analog transmission and conducted a digital flash-cut on UHF channel 25. The call sign was changed from KUTU-CA to KUTU-CD to reflect its digital Class A operation. KUTU-CD's broadcast identity has included affiliations with Univision, UniMás, and Telemundo. Its business model centers on network programming, local market advertising, and participation in Tyler Media's regional Spanish-language television infrastructure. The station's documented public profile is that of an active Tulsa-area broadcast facility rather than a standalone national media brand.

1. 2011Launch of Acción Oklahoma simulcasts

   KUTU began carrying weeknight Spanish-language newscasts produced by sister station KTUZ-TV.

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2. 2011Digital conversion and KUTU-CD designation

   In December, the station shut down its analog signal, flash-cut to digital operation on UHF channel 25, and changed its call sign to KUTU-CD.

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3. 2009Tyler Media Group becomes owner

   KUTU-CA was sold at auction to Tyler Media Group on April 16.

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4. 2008Proposed sale to Luken Communications

   Equity announced a planned sale of KUTU-CA to Luken Communications during the period preceding Equity's bankruptcy filing.

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5. 2005Adopts KUTU-CA and Univision affiliation

   On March 1, the station changed its call sign to KUTU-CA and became affiliated with Univision.

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6. 2004Acquired by Equity-associated ownership

   The station was sold to Woodward Broadcasting, Inc., an entity associated with Equity Broadcasting Corporation and later Equity Media Holdings.

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7. 1996Licensed as KLOT-LP

   The facility was later licensed under the KLOT-LP call sign, approximately two years after its founding.

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8. 1994Facility founded as K25FF

   The station was established on December 30, 1994, as very-low-power facility K25FF. The call letters were not used on air.

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A Tulsa-market Spanish-language television outlet combining national network programming from Univision, UniMás, and Telemundo with local advertising, regional distribution, and news content produced within Tyler Media Group's Oklahoma station network.

• KUTU-CD television serviceTelevision broadcasting1994

  KUTU-CD is a low-power Class A digital television service for the Tulsa market. Its programming portfolio has included Spanish-language network content associated with Univision, UniMás, and Telemundo, supported by local advertising sales and Tyler Media's regional broadcast infrastructure. The station transmits digitally on UHF channel 25, with its transmitter located in downtown Tulsa.

• Acción OklahomaLocal news programming2011

  Acción Oklahoma was the Spanish-language local news service simulcast by KUTU beginning in August 2011 and produced by sister station KTUZ-TV in Oklahoma City. Weeknight editions aired at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., with weather segments designed to serve audiences in both the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metropolitan areas.

• 2011Addition of Acción Oklahoma newscastsProduct launch

  Tyler Media used its Oklahoma station network to provide Spanish-language local news coverage to KUTU's Tulsa audience.

  What changed. KUTU began simulcasting KTUZ-TV's weeknight Acción Oklahoma newscasts at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.

  Aftermath. The station gained scheduled local and regional news content, including weather information for both Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

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• 2011Conversion from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  The station pursued technical changes involving its channel assignment and transmission power as it transitioned to digital television.

  What changed. In December, KUTU ended analog transmission, flash-cut to digital operation on UHF channel 25, and changed its call sign from KUTU-CA to KUTU-CD.

  Aftermath. The station continued as a digital Class A broadcaster serving the Tulsa area.

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• 2009Acquisition by Tyler Media GroupM&A

  The station was offered at auction after the ownership and restructuring problems affecting Equity Media Holdings.

  What changed. Tyler Media Group acquired KUTU-CA at auction on April 16.

  Aftermath. KUTU became part of Tyler Media's Oklahoma broadcast portfolio and subsequently shared certain operational resources with sister stations.

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• 2008Proposed transfer to Luken CommunicationsM&A

  Equity Broadcasting's planned disposal of KUTU took place while the company was under increasing financial pressure and before its Chapter 11 filing.

  What changed. Equity announced a sale of KUTU-CA to Luken Communications, LLC.

  Aftermath. The proposed transaction did not become the station's final ownership outcome. KUTU was later sold at auction to Tyler Media Group.

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• 2011KUTU begins carrying Acción Oklahoma newscasts

  KUTU began simulcasting Spanish-language weeknight newscasts produced by sister station KTUZ-TV. The programs aired at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. and included weather coverage for Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

  Product launch
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• 2011KUTU completes digital flash-cut and adopts KUTU-CD call sign

  The station ended analog broadcasting, began digital transmission on UHF channel 25, and changed its call sign from KUTU-CA to KUTU-CD.

  Product generationRegulation
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• 2009KUTU-CA sold at auction to Tyler Media Group

  Following the financial difficulties of Equity Media Holdings and the withdrawal of certain proposed station acquisitions, KUTU-CA was sold at auction to Oklahoma City-based Tyler Media Group.

  M&ABankruptcy
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• 2008KUTU-CA announced for sale to Luken Communications

  Equity Media Holdings announced that it planned to sell KUTU-CA to Luken Communications, LLC. The proposed transaction occurred before Equity entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection later that year.

  M&A
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1. KUTU-CD
2. KUTU-CD official website