XHPNW-TDT

XHPNW-TDT is a Mexican television station based in Piedras Negras, Coahuila. The station operates as a local independent broadcaster and is owned and operated by Grupo Zócalo, a regional media group associated with a newspaper in Saltillo and radio stations in Piedras Negras. Its concession was granted on October 31, 1994, following a selection process in which Televisora Nacional, S.A. de C.V. was chosen from four bidders. Televisora Nacional was owned by broadcaster Arnoldo Cabada de la O, whose media interests also included television stations in Ciudad Juárez and Mexicali. XHPNW began broadcasting in 1996. For much of its early operation, it carried programming from the Azteca 7 network, which did not maintain its own transmitter in Piedras Negras. This arrangement gave the station access to a national network schedule while extending Azteca 7 programming into a local market. In 2010, XHPNW ended its network relay relationship and became a local independent station under Súper Medios de Coahuila. The change allowed the broadcaster to place greater emphasis on locally produced programming and regional news. A subsequent ownership change brought the station into Grupo Zócalo's regional media portfolio. On August 24, 2015, XHPNW relaunched with a digital signal on RF channel 39 and began local high-definition programming. Its local news operation, previously known as Súper Medios Noticias, was rebranded as TeleZócalo. The station also incorporated selected programming from Multimedios Televisión, reflecting a hybrid schedule combining local output with acquired television content. In 2015, XHPNW completed the transition away from analog broadcasting. Its analog signal was switched off on December 16, 2015, together with other stations serving Piedras Negras. In 2016, the Federal Telecommunications Institute assigned the station virtual channel 12 in connection with its relationship with Multimedios. XHPNW retained channel 12 even after other Multimedios stations moved from channel 12 to channel 6. The station's concessionaire is XHFJS-TV, S.A. de C.V. The concessionaire's name refers to Francisco Juaristi Santos, identified as the owner of Grupo Zócalo. In addition to its main Piedras Negras signal, XHPNW operates four 500-watt repeaters serving Allende, Nava, Villa Unión, and Zaragoza in the Cinco Manantiales area. These repeaters use channel 33, and the main station was authorized to move to that channel as part of the Mexican television spectrum repacking process. XHPNW's identity is therefore closely tied to regional news, local programming, and Grupo Zócalo's wider media presence in northern Coahuila.

XHPNW-TDT's regulatory history began on October 31, 1994, when its concession was awarded to Televisora Nacional, S.A. de C.V. The company was selected from four bidders and was owned by Arnoldo Cabada de la O, a broadcaster with television interests in Ciudad Juárez and Mexicali. The concession created a television service for Piedras Negras, a city in northern Coahuila near the United States border. The station signed on in 1996. During most of its first period of operation, it served as a relay for Azteca 7. Because Azteca 7 did not have a transmitter in Piedras Negras, XHPNW provided the network with a local over-the-air presence. This arrangement linked the station's schedule to a national network while giving viewers in the area access to programming that otherwise lacked a local transmitter. In 2010, XHPNW separated from Azteca 7 and began operating as a local independent station under Súper Medios de Coahuila. The shift changed the station's programming model and increased the importance of local production. Its news output was initially identified as Súper Medios Noticias. The station was later sold to Grupo Zócalo, a regional media company whose assets included a newspaper based in Saltillo and five FM radio stations in Piedras Negras. Under the new ownership, XHPNW relaunched on August 24, 2015. The relaunch included the activation of a digital signal on RF channel 39 and the introduction of local programming in high definition. The news service was renamed TeleZócalo, aligning the television operation with Grupo Zócalo's broader regional identity. XHPNW also added programming supplied by Multimedios Televisión. Mexico's digital transition produced another major change in 2015. XHPNW shut down its analog transmission on December 16, along with other Piedras Negras stations, and continued as a digital terrestrial service. In 2016, the Federal Telecommunications Institute assigned the station virtual channel 12 because of its affiliation with Multimedios. XHPNW kept channel 12 even after the wider Multimedios group moved most of its stations to channel 6. The station's legal concessionaire is XHFJS-TV, S.A. de C.V. Its name references Francisco Juaristi Santos, the owner of Grupo Zócalo. XHPNW extends its coverage beyond Piedras Negras through four 500-watt repeaters located in Allende, Nava, Villa Unión, and Zaragoza. These facilities serve the Cinco Manantiales region and are associated with channel 33. As part of Mexico's broadcast-frequency repacking, the IFT approved a move for the main station on March 7, 2018. Through these changes, XHPNW evolved from a network relay into a regional independent station centered on local news and programming.

• 2018

  Frequency-repacking authorization

  [1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The IFT approved a move for the main station as part of the Mexican broadcast-spectrum repacking process.

• 2016

  Virtual channel 12 adopted

  [1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The Federal Telecommunications Institute assigned XHPNW virtual channel 12 in connection with its Multimedios affiliation.

• 2015

  Grupo Zócalo relaunch

  [1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  After its sale to Grupo Zócalo, XHPNW launched a digital RF channel 39 signal, introduced local HD programming, and rebranded its newscasts as TeleZócalo.

• 2015

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  The station shut down its analog signal on December 16 during Mexico's digital television transition.

• 2010

  Becomes a local independent station

  [1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  XHPNW ended its long-running Azteca 7 relay arrangement and began operating independently under Súper Medios de Coahuila.

• 1996

  Station begins broadcasting

  [1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  XHPNW commenced television operations in Piedras Negras.

• 1994

  Concession awarded

  [1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  Televisora Nacional, S.A. de C.V. was selected from four bidders and received the station's concession on October 31.

A regional independent television broadcaster focused on local news, community coverage, and general programming for Piedras Negras and nearby municipalities.

• Broadcast television · 1996

  XHPNW-TDT terrestrial television service

  The station's primary over-the-air television service for Piedras Negras and surrounding communities. It transitioned from analog broadcasting to digital terrestrial transmission in 2015 and has carried local programming alongside acquired network and syndicated content.

• Local news · 2015

  TeleZócalo

  XHPNW's local news identity introduced after the station's relaunch under Grupo Zócalo. It replaced the earlier Súper Medios Noticias name and represents the station's regional news and public-affairs output.

• Broadcast infrastructure

  Cinco Manantiales repeater network

  A group of four 500-watt repeaters extending XHPNW's coverage to Allende, Nava, Villa Unión, and Zaragoza. The repeaters serve communities in the Cinco Manantiales region and are associated with channel 33.

• 2018

  Spectrum-repacking frequency moveStrategy

  Background

  Mexico's broadcast spectrum was reorganized through a repacking process.

  Action taken

  The IFT authorized a move involving XHPNW's main transmission facility on March 7.

  Aftermath

  The station's main facility was scheduled to move in accordance with the revised frequency plan, while its repeaters were associated with channel 33.

  Source

• 2016

  Adoption of virtual channel 12Other

  Background

  The Federal Telecommunications Institute assigned channel numbering associated with XHPNW's Multimedios affiliation.

  Action taken

  XHPNW changed its channel number to 12 and retained that number after other Multimedios stations moved to channel 6.

  Aftermath

  Channel 12 remained part of the station's viewer-facing identity.

  Source

• 2015

  Sale to Grupo ZócaloM&A

  Background

  The station changed ownership as Grupo Zócalo expanded its regional media presence in Coahuila.

  Action taken

  Grupo Zócalo acquired and relaunched XHPNW with digital broadcasting, local HD programming, the TeleZócalo news identity, and selected Multimedios content.

  Aftermath

  XHPNW became part of a regional newspaper, radio, and television portfolio.

  Source

• 2015

  Analog-to-digital transitionStrategy

  Background

  Mexico's national transition to digital terrestrial television required stations to discontinue analog transmission.

  Action taken

  XHPNW shut off its analog signal in Piedras Negras on December 16.

  Aftermath

  The station continued as a digital television broadcaster.

  Source

• 2010

  End of Azteca 7 relay operationStrategy

  Background

  XHPNW had carried Azteca 7 programming for much of its early history because the network lacked a transmitter in Piedras Negras.

  Action taken

  The station separated from Azteca 7 and adopted a local independent operating model under Súper Medios de Coahuila.

  Aftermath

  XHPNW placed greater emphasis on locally oriented programming and news.

  Source

• 2018

  IFT authorizes XHPNW-TDT spectrum-repacking move[1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The Federal Telecommunications Institute approved a move involving the station's main transmission facility as part of the repacking of Mexican broadcast frequencies.

• 2016

  XHPNW-TDT receives virtual channel 12 assignment[1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  The Federal Telecommunications Institute assigned XHPNW channel 12 in connection with its Multimedios affiliation. The station retained the channel after other Multimedios outlets moved to channel 6.

• 2015

  XHPNW-TDT relaunches with digital and local HD programming[1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Product launch · Leadership change

  Following its sale to Grupo Zócalo, the station relaunched with a digital signal on RF channel 39, introduced local high-definition programming, renamed its news operation TeleZócalo, and added selected Multimedios programming.

• 2015

  XHPNW-TDT completes analog television shutdown[1]XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  XHPNW ended its analog transmission in Piedras Negras on December 16 as part of Mexico's transition to digital terrestrial television.

1. 1XHPNW-TDTen.wikipedia.org