XETV-TDT
XETV-TDT is a Mexican television station based in Tijuana whose terrestrial signal reaches the San Diego area and currently carries Canal 5 and NU9VE programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
XETV-TDT is a television station licensed to Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, operating on channel 6 and associated digital channels including channel 16. Owned by Grupo Televisa, the station transmits from facilities at Mount San Antonio in Tijuana. Its signal crosses the Mexico–United States border and has historically served viewers in both Tijuana and the San Diego metropolitan area. The station signed on April 29, 1953, after Mexican authorities assigned Tijuana a VHF channel allocation. Its ownership was connected to Telesistema Mexicano, the predecessor of Televisa. Although Mexican-licensed, XETV initially oriented much of its business toward San Diego, where television ownership was more developed than in Tijuana. It operated bilingual programming and maintained sales, production, and news facilities in San Diego for much of its history. The station promoted itself in its early years as “The International Station.” XETV’s cross-border status made its American network affiliations legally and operationally unusual. From 1956 to 1973 it carried ABC programming under a special authorization allowing content to be delivered from San Diego. Because direct transmission across the border required regulatory approval, some programming was physically recorded in San Diego and transported to the Tijuana transmitter. The ABC affiliation ended after the FCC concluded that an American station, KCST-TV, was available to serve the market. XETV subsequently returned to independent programming. In 1986, XETV became a charter affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company. Fox programming was initially recorded and moved across the border, and a later Section 325 authorization allowed live transmission of Fox programming, including National Football League broadcasts. The station remained a Fox affiliate until 2008, when it became an affiliate of The CW. During this period it continued to operate an American-facing business and production organization through Bay City Television, a Televisa-owned California corporation. XETV’s San Diego-oriented era ended in 2017. The station ceased its San Diego operations on May 31, 2017, and The CW affiliation moved to a digital subchannel of KFMB-TV on June 1. The cable distribution associated with San Diego channel 6 also moved to KFMB-DT2. XETV continued as a Mexican station, later carrying programming from Televisa’s Canal 5 and NU9VE services. Its current identity is therefore primarily that of a Tijuana-based Mexican broadcaster with significant historical importance in the cross-border San Diego television market.
History
XETV originated in the postwar expansion of television broadcasting in northwestern Mexico. Tijuana received a television allocation at a time when the San Diego and Los Angeles markets had largely exhausted their usable VHF assignments. Technical concerns involving co-channel interference, terrain, and signal propagation made an additional San Diego VHF station difficult to authorize. Mexican channel 6 therefore provided a practical route for a third VHF service reaching the San Diego area. A concession for the station was initially associated with XEAC-TV, but the call sign became XETV by the end of 1952. The Azcárraga family and Rómulo O’Farrill, associated with Telesistema Mexicano, obtained the concession and appointed Alexander Nervo as general manager. XETV began broadcasting on April 29, 1953. It initially operated independently with bilingual programming from Tijuana, while its San Diego office handled advertising and commercial relationships. The station emphasized its binational reach and used the “International Station” identity. XETV’s first major network relationship was with ABC. The station sought authorization under Section 325 of the U.S. Communications Act to receive programming from San Diego. After litigation and regulatory proceedings, ABC programming began in 1956 through a temporary arrangement that included the physical transport of recorded programs across the border. The FCC repeatedly reviewed the authorization. Critics argued that XETV’s Mexican license and limited American-oriented local programming made the arrangement inappropriate, and there were also disputes concerning content edited or declined because of Mexican legal and cultural restrictions. In 1968, a competing U.S. station, KCST, challenged the continued ABC authorization. The FCC ultimately determined that the original public-interest rationale no longer applied because a viable American station was available. After appeals, XETV surrendered ABC programming in 1973 and became independent again. Its schedule consisted largely of syndicated series, films, children’s programs, and other acquired content. During this period the station also produced local programming, including the film-parody series Disasterpiece Theatre in the early 1980s. The station joined Fox in 1986 and became an important cross-border affiliate as Fox expanded its programming schedule. The arrival of Fox’s NFL rights in 1994 created another regulatory issue because live network programming had to be transmitted from the United States to a Mexican station. A Section 325 authorization was granted after temporary permission for NFL broadcasts, and the North American Free Trade Agreement affected the regulatory framework for foreign stations serving American viewers. XETV continued as a Fox affiliate until 2008, when it became a CW affiliate. Bay City Television, a Televisa-owned California company, managed the station’s San Diego-facing activities. XETV maintained American offices and, at different times, studio and newsroom functions in San Diego, while its transmitter and core technical facilities remained in Tijuana. On May 31, 2017, XETV closed its San Diego operations. The CW moved to KFMB-TV’s digital subchannel the next day, and the associated San Diego cable channel was also transferred. XETV remained on the air as a Mexican broadcaster, carrying programming from Televisa services including Canal 5 and NU9VE. Its history reflects the distinctive legal, technical, and commercial conditions of border broadcasting rather than the conventional history of a single-country local station.
- 2017
San Diego operations close
[1]XETV ends its San Diego operations; The CW moves to KFMB-TV’s digital service while XETV continues in Mexico.
- 2008
Becomes a CW affiliate
[1]XETV replaces Fox with The CW as its principal American network affiliation.
- 1994
Live Fox programming authorization
[1]The FCC grants authorization for Fox programming, including NFL broadcasts, to be transmitted to XETV across the border.
- 1986
Fox affiliation
[1]XETV becomes a charter affiliate of the newly launched Fox network.
- 1973
Return to independent programming
[1]XETV loses ABC after the FCC finds that a U.S.-licensed station can serve the San Diego market.
- 1956
ABC affiliation begins
[1]XETV begins carrying ABC programming through a cross-border delivery arrangement authorized under Section 325.
- 1953
XETV signs on
[1]XETV begins broadcasting from Tijuana on channel 6, serving viewers on both sides of the border.
Products and positioning
A Mexican border-market television broadcaster whose signal and historical operations have served audiences in Tijuana and San Diego.
Television broadcasting · 1953
Channel 6 terrestrial service
XETV’s principal over-the-air service originates in Tijuana and uses the channel 6 identity associated with the station since its 1953 launch. Its signal historically reached the San Diego area, making it one of the most prominent cross-border television services in the region. The service is now primarily associated with Mexican network programming.
Digital television
Channel 16 digital service
The station’s digital operation includes channel 16 alongside its channel 6 identity. It forms part of XETV’s Mexican terrestrial broadcasting infrastructure and supports the station’s current distribution of Televisa programming.
Network programming
Canal 5 programming
XETV carries programming associated with Televisa’s Canal 5, a Mexican broadcast service known for entertainment, acquired series, films, sports, and youth-oriented programming. This programming represents the station’s current Mexican-market role after the end of its San Diego CW affiliation.
Network programming
NU9VE programming
XETV also broadcasts programming from NU9VE, a Televisa network serving Mexican audiences with general entertainment and other network content. Its inclusion reinforces XETV’s present orientation toward Tijuana and Mexico rather than U.S. network affiliation.
Brand decisions
2017
Closing San Diego operationsStrategyBackground
Televisa ended the station’s San Diego-facing operational structure while retaining XETV as a Mexican broadcaster.
Action taken
XETV shut its San Diego offices and related operations. The CW moved to KFMB-TV’s digital subchannel, and the associated cable distribution also transferred.
Aftermath
XETV continued broadcasting from Tijuana with Mexican programming from Canal 5 and NU9VE.
2008
Changing from Fox to The CWStrategyBackground
XETV’s long-running Fox affiliation ended as the station’s American network relationship changed.
Action taken
XETV became an affiliate of The CW.
Aftermath
The CW remained on XETV until the station closed its San Diego operations in 2017.
1986
Joining FoxProduct launchBackground
The newly launched Fox network needed affiliates, while XETV had returned to independent programming after losing ABC.
Action taken
XETV signed with Fox and became one of the network’s early charter affiliates.
Aftermath
The station carried Fox programming across the border and later obtained authorization for live network content, including NFL broadcasts.
1973
End of ABC affiliationStrategyBackground
The FCC concluded that the justification for allowing a Mexican station to carry ABC programming had weakened because KCST provided a viable U.S.-licensed alternative in San Diego.
Action taken
XETV and ABC pursued appeals but ultimately transferred ABC programming to KCST in stages and returned XETV to independent scheduling.
Aftermath
XETV relied on syndicated programming, films, children’s content, and locally produced shows until joining Fox in 1986.
- KCST-TV — KCST challenged the continuation of XETV’s ABC authorization and sought to take the affiliation for its own U.S.-licensed station.
Recent events
- 2017
XETV ends San Diego operations as CW affiliation moves to KFMB-TV[1]
Leadership change · Other
XETV ended its San Diego business and production operations on May 31, 2017. The CW affiliation and related cable distribution moved to KFMB-TV digital services the following day, while XETV continued operating as a Mexican station.
- 1986
XETV becomes a Fox charter affiliate[1]
Other
XETV joined the Fox Broadcasting Company at the network’s launch period, becoming one of its early affiliates outside the original group of former Metromedia stations.
- 1973
XETV loses ABC affiliation after FCC review[1]
Regulation
Following a regulatory dispute involving KCST, XETV transferred ABC programming to the American station in stages during June and July 1973 and returned to independent programming.
Sources1 sources
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