Arizona TV Station Update - May 2014

[dhett]

Questions, additions, comments and corrections are always welcome.

New licenses

• K39FC-D 10.x East Flagstaff (NW Communications of Phoenix, Inc.) has been granted a license to cover its flash cut to digital. As a KSAZ-TV translator, the station should be virtual channel 10, but it is unknown how the subchannels will show up, as K48GI Flagstaff has also flash cut to digital and is also a KSAZ-TV translator. Technical specifications: Ch 39; TL 35-14-26 N, 111-35-48 W (Mt. Eldon); ERP 0.7 kW directional; HAAT 578 m.
• K48GI-D 10.x Flagstaff (NW Communications of Phoenix, Inc.) has been granted a license to cover its flash cut to digital. As a KSAZ-TV translator, the station should be virtual channel 10, but it is unknown how the subchannels will show up, as K39FC East Flagstaff has also flash cut to digital and is also a KSAZ-TV translator. Technical specifications: Ch 48; TL 35-14-34 N, 111-36-40 W (Mt. Eldon); ERP 1.44 kW directional; HAAT 559 m.
• K14HC-D 45.x Prescott (Fox Television Stations, Inc.) has applied for and was gratned a license to cover its flash cut to digital. Technical specifications: Ch 14; TL 34-32-27 N, 112-25-40 W (Badger Mtn.); ERP 1.55 kW directional; HAAT 191 m.
• K15CR-D 45.x Lake Havasu City (Fox Television Stations, Inc.) has applied for and was granted a license to cover its flash cut to digital. Technical specifications: Ch 15; TL 34-36-9 N, 114-22-13 W (Goat Hill); ERP 1.09 kW directional; HAAT 45 m.
• K19IP-D Flagstaff (Luke Skelton) has applied for and was granted a license to cover its original construction permit. Technical specifications: Ch 19; TL 35-14-30 N, 111-36-36 W (Mt. Eldon Devils Head Peak); ERP 1 kW directional; HAAT 539 m.
• K38LW-D Payson (Luke Skelton) has applied for and was granted a license to cover its original construction permit. Technical specifications: Ch 38; TL 34-17-23 N, 111-11-26 W (Diamond Point); ERP 1.51 kW directional; HAAT 539 m.
• K18CB 45.x Bullhead City (Fox Television Stations, Inc.) has applied for a license to cover its flash cut to digital. Technical specifications: Ch 18; TL 35-14-50 N, 114-44-35 W (Little Peak); ERP 2.54 kW directional; HAAT 688 m.

Programming changes

• KPHE-LD 44.x (16) Phoenix (Lotus TV of Phoenix, LLC) has restored its fourth subchannel. Channel 44.2 is again a simulcast of Telemax; 44.3 is again Smart Lifestyle TV and 44.4 is The Family Channel.
• KTVD-LD 22.x Phoenix (Mako Communications, LLC) has changed the PSIP short description on channel 22.6 to SHOPNOW. The channel still has no programming.
• K14HC-D Prescott (Fox Television Stations, Inc.) has flash cut to digital, rebroadcasting KUTP 45.x Phoenix.
• K15CR-D Lake Havasu City (Fox Television Stations, Inc.) has flash cut to digital, rebroadcasting KUTP 45.x Phoenix.
• K18CB Bullhead City (Fox Television Stations, Inc.) has flash cut to digital, rebroadcasting KUTP 45.x Phoenix.
• K29DK Williams (KAZT, LLC) is silent.
• KYUM-LP 15.x Yuma (Centro Cristiana Vida Abundante) has begun broadcasting Tele Vida Abundante programming on its digital channel.
• K19IP-D Flagstaff (Luke Skelton) has begun broadcasting. Its multiplexed signal carries Good News TV on 19.1, Más TV on 19.2 and 19.4, and Proclaim on 19.3.
• K50LV-D Prescott (Luke Skelton) has begun broadcasting with temporary call sign K32LO-D. Its multiplexed signal carries Good News TV on 32.1, Más TV on 32.2 and 32.4, and Proclaim on 32.3.
• K38LW-D Payson (Luke Skelton) has begun broadcasting. Its multiplexed signal carries Good News TV on 38.1, Más TV on 38.2 and 38.4, and Proclaim on 38.3.
• K17JQ St. George UT (EICB-TV East, LLC) is silent.

Transactions

• KEEN-CD 17.x Las Vegas NV (Christian Media Associates International, Inc.) has been sold to LeSEA Broadcasting Corporation, producers of World Harvest Network, which has broadcast on channel 17.1 for some time. The sale is pending FCC approval. A Local Marketing Agreement will allow LeSEA to fully program KEEN until the sale closes.

Applications and Special Temporary Authorizations requested

• K14KK-D 8.x Flagstaff (Arizona Board of Regents for ASU) has requested to increase power from 0.1 kW to 0.63 kW. All other broadcast parameters are to remain the same. Technical specifications: Ch 14; TL 35-14-26 N, 111-35-48 W (Mt. Eldon TV Hill site); ERP 0.63 kW directional; HAAT 585 m.
• K25DM 25.x Phoenix (Mako Communications LLC) has filed a Silent STA request, effective 12/18/2013, claiming to have torn down its old site on North Mountain, but not having yet received authorization from the City of Phoenix to build at its proposed South Mountain site.
• K50LV-D 32.x Prescott (Luke Skelton) has requested another extension of its original construction permit. The station operates on channel 32, and has requested a formal move to that channel, but the application is awaiting Mexican coordination. Technical specifications: Ch 32; TL 34-29-25 N, 112-31-57 W (Mt. Francis); ERP 1.2 kW directional; HAAT 487 m.
• K49LZ-D Lake Havasu City (Luke Skelton) has requested an extension of time to construct the station. As the permit expired May 17, the request is over three weeks late, but will probably be granted.
• K29DK Williams (KAZT, LLC) has requested silent STA, effective May 1. The station suffered an equipment failure and AZTV is contemplating its digital options for the station.
• KTUD-CD 25.x (20) Las Vegas NV (VegasTV, LLC) has modified its previous application to display correct data, including a move to Mako Communications' existing antennal array on Black Mtn. Arden site, and dropping power output request from 15 kw to 8 kW, which should simplify its efforts to get back on the air, since an increase in coverage is no longer being sought. Technical specifications: Ch 20; TL 35-56-46 N, 115-2-34 W (Black Mtn. Arden site); HAAT 547 m.
• K17JQ St. George UT (EICB-TV East, LLC) has requested silent STA, effective June 2, while it evaluates its digital options.
• KCSG 4.x (14) Cedar City UT (Southwest Media, LLC) has applied for a new low power DTV station to serve St. George UT on channel 27. It currently operates a station on with temporary call sign K27MK-D via STA, but is looking for a permanent station, KCSG1-D. Technical specifications: Ch 27; TL 37-9-18 N, 113-52-57 W (West Mountain Peak); ERP 1.1 kW directional; HAAT 1093 m.

Dismissed, canceled, expiring or expired

• K07PH LeChee (University of Utah) has turned in its license. The station has been silent for months, having been replaced by digital station K33IY-D.
• K50LV-D Prescott (Luke Skelton) requested and received dismissal of a request to extend its digital construction permit beyond October 2014. The FCC ruled that the extension request was filed too early.
• K49LZ-D Lake Havasu City (Luke Skelton) has not constructed its station in the three years since its original construction permit was granted, so its construction permit has expired. The applicant has filed an extension request.
• KTUD-CD 25.x (20) Las Vegas NV (VegasTV, LLC) requested that the FCC dismiss its application to increase power to 15 kW. The FCC has dismissed the application.

License Renewals

Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico licenses expire October 1, 2014, and the stations must file license renewals by June 1, 2014. The following stations have not yet filed license renewal applications:

• KCAB-LP 28 Casa Grande (Central Arizona Broadcasting)
• KCOS-LP 28 Phoenix (Aracelis Ortiz Corporation)
• KDPH-LP 48 Phoenix (Community Television Educators, Inc.)
• KDTP-LP 48 Phoenix (Community Television Educators, Inc.)
• KJPO-LP 49 Parker (Hispanic Christian Community Networks)
• KRPO-LP 21 Quartzsite (Hispanic Christian Community Networks)
• KYPO-LP 27 Tacna (LMO Christian Media, Inc.)
• KZVE-LP 30 Littlefield (Hispanic Christian Community Networks)
• K02MT Parker (Arizona West Media, LLC)
• K15DX Fredonia (Western Kane County Service District #1)
• K17CM Duncan (Gospel Light Broadcasting, Inc.)
• K18DD Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K19FD Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K20HS Flagstaff (Turner Enterprises)
• K21GE Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K23FZ Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K25MK-D Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K31LZ Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K32FK Shiprock Chinle (Christian Broadcasting Communications)
• K33CG Sierra Vista (Florinda Mae Balfour)
• K35FH Flagstaff (Jerry Marth)
• K38CX Shonto (Digital Networks)
• K44BB Window Rock (The Navajo Nation)
• K45LU-D 5.x Window Rock (The Navajo Nation)
• K46IL Verde Valley (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K47IK Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K49HP Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K51AV Chinle (The Navajo Nation)
• K51IO Bullhead City (Digital Networks)
• KGNG-LP 47 Las Vegas NV (King Kong Broadcasting, Inc.)
• KGNG-LD 47.x (48) Las Vegas NV (King Kong Broadcasting, Inc.)
• KVTE-LP 35 Las Vegas NV (Mountain Ridge Holdings, Inc.)
• K33GE St. George UT (Brigham Young University)

 

[Sammi Brie]

Questions, additions, comments and corrections are always welcome.

• KCAB-LP 28 Casa Grande (Central Arizona Broadcasting) — Station had applied for RF 47 digital (displacement from KUAS) but it was dismissed. Isn't this station basically gone? Shame too, because their DTV move would have greatly expanded their OTA coverage. They'd be in most of Pinal County AND the East Valley!
• KCOS-LP 28 Phoenix (Aracelis Ortiz Corporation) — It's been silent for years and I think Mexico has messed with its DTV conversion attempts.
• KDPH-LP 48 Phoenix (Community Television Educators, Inc.) — What's going on here? I can see Daystar only keeping one of the two stations, but still...
• KDTP-LP 48 Phoenix (Community Television Educators, Inc.)
• KJPO-LP 49 Parker (Hispanic Christian Community Networks)
• KRPO-LP 21 Quartzsite (Hispanic Christian Community Networks)
• KYPO-LP 27 Tacna (LMO Christian Media, Inc.)
• KZVE-LP 30 Littlefield (Hispanic Christian Community Networks)
• K02MT Parker (Arizona West Media, LLC)
• K15DX Fredonia (Western Kane County Service District #1)
• K17CM Duncan (Gospel Light Broadcasting, Inc.) — It was predicted that these people wouldn't renew in an older thread.
• K18DD Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club) —*Have conversion costs done them in?
• K19FD Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K20HS Flagstaff (Turner Enterprises)
• K21GE Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K23FZ Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K25MK-D Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K31LZ Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K32FK Shiprock Chinle (Christian Broadcasting Communications)
• K33CG Sierra Vista (Florinda Mae Balfour)
• K35FH Flagstaff (Jerry Marth)
• K38CX Shonto (Digital Networks)
• K44BB Window Rock (The Navajo Nation)
• K45LU-D 5.x Window Rock (The Navajo Nation)
• K46IL Verde Valley (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K47IK Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K49HP Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
• K51AV Chinle (The Navajo Nation)
• K51IO Bullhead City (Digital Networks)
• KGNG-LP 47 Las Vegas NV (King Kong Broadcasting, Inc.)
• KGNG-LD 47.x (48) Las Vegas NV (King Kong Broadcasting, Inc.)
• KVTE-LP 35 Las Vegas NV (Mountain Ridge Holdings, Inc.) — Lost its transmitter site.
• K33GE St. George UT (Brigham Young University) —*Replaced by digital K39JZ-D. K33GE looks like it's gone, and UU applied for a new KUED relay on 33 there.

Some of these stations (KCAB, K38CX, KCOS) additionally have the same broadcast consultant, a Richard Goetz. I wonder if there's something on his part.

One thing I'm curious to see is the Palo Verde Valley TV Club in Blythe, California. It's operated Phoenix TV translators for decades (the stations once were in the 70s) but there's no conversion plan. Another station set lacking a conversion plan: 15 and 41 in Williams (KTVK and KASW). There is no KPHO translator in Williams, and both stations need to be converted to digital. The 15 is a former 70+ station too.

 

[dhett]

KCAB-LP 28 Casa Grande (Central Arizona Broadcasting) — Station had applied for RF 47 digital (displacement from KUAS) but it was dismissed. Isn't this station basically gone? Shame too, because their DTV move would have greatly expanded their OTA coverage. They'd be in most of Pinal County AND the East Valley!

They've been dark for some time - the owners gave up a long time ago; this station's a goner. Too bad too, because I think that this station could have done a great job covering Pinal County with local reports from Maricopa, Casa Grande, Coolidge, Florence, San Tan Valley, Eloy and Apache Junction.

KCOS-LP 28 Phoenix (Aracelis Ortiz Corporation) — It's been silent for years and I think Mexico has messed with its DTV conversion attempts.

Mexico didn't do this station in; they've been a joke from day one. Putting it out of its misery is a good thing, I think.

KDPH-LP 48 Phoenix (Community Television Educators, Inc.) — What's going on here? I can see Daystar only keeping one of the two stations, but still...
KDTP-LP 48 Phoenix (Community Television Educators, Inc.)

I think Daystar is abandoning their analog stations. They currently have KDPH-LP 48 and KDPH-LD 48.1 on channel 46. I'm not sure I should have included KDPH-LP on this list, but the analog station was not included in the digital station's license renewal. Daystar had to take KDTP-LP 58 silent on 12/31/2012 and they "moved" it to channel 48 to be in-core, but it's been over a year now that they've been silent. Daystar has an application for a digital companion station on channel 11 that has been granted temporary authorization, so I think they're set.

KJPO-LP 49 Parker (Hispanic Christian Community Networks)
KRPO-LP 21 Quartzsite (Hispanic Christian Community Networks)
KYPO-LP 27 Tacna (LMO Christian Media, Inc.)
KZVE-LP 30 Littlefield (Hispanic Christian Community Networks)

Our phavorite phantoms actually timely filed their renewal applications; the FCC didn't post them until a week later.

K02MT Parker (Arizona West Media, LLC)

The little station that never was. Arizona West Media bought the channel for $1,000, payable in 10 monthly installments of $100. Did it ever have a future?

K15DX Fredonia (Western Kane County Service District #1)

Kane County abandoned this station a long time ago. Makes sense - why should taxpayers fund a station that doesn't even cover the district?

K17CM Duncan (Gospel Light Broadcasting, Inc.) — It was predicted that these people wouldn't renew in an older thread.

8 years ago, they failed to file a renewal and the FCC canceled the license. Then they filed and the FCC reinstated it. This time around, they'll be required to upgrade to digital, and I don't think Gospel Light has that kind of money laying around.

K18DD Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club) —*Have conversion costs done them in?

K18DD did file a timely renewal application, but the FCC didn't post it until a week later. However...

K19FD Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
K21GE Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
K23FZ Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
K25MK-D Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
K31LZ Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
K46IL Verde Valley (The Camp Verde TV Club)
K47IK Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)
K49HP Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club)

...these stations still haven't filed. I think that by October 1, Camp Verde will no longer be served by OTA TV, except for those areas that can pick up the Cottonwood signals from Mingus Mtn., which is where K18DD broadcasts from. Too many stations to convert, too many problems with Squaw Peak (frequent lightning strikes, inaccessibility during the winter, etc.) and not enough funding.

K20HS Flagstaff (Turner Enterprises)

A phantom if there ever was one.

K32FK Shiprock Chinle (Christian Broadcasting Communications)

Translator of a TBN station in Farmington NM. I think it's been abandoned.

K33CG Sierra Vista (Florinda Mae Balfour)

TBN translator owned by Richard Richards. Was blocked by Mexico every time it tried to upgrade signal, then Richards suffered a debilitating injury and his daughter Florinda took control of the station. I think this one has been abandoned.

K35FH Flagstaff (Jerry Marth)

At last renewal, this was owned by KPAZ. I don't know what will happen here - did Marth already file? did he forget? is the station to be abandoned?

K38CX Shonto (Digital Networks)
K51IO Bullhead City (Digital Networks)

K38CX is likely abandoned. It's a former TBN station with a colorful story. Soon after the sale to Digital Networks, which is Luken, I was at Monument Valley and returned home via US 160, which took me right through the K38CX coverage area. I decided to look for the transmitter, as Trip Ericson, who worked at Luken at the time, had reported to me that TBN hadn't kept good records or contact with its transmitter sites, and no one had any idea where this station was or who was managing it. Armed with the coordinates and a copy of the local map from Mapquest, I decided to look for the transmitter. After a little bit of searching, I found it - literally in someone's back yard. The homeowner's father had signed the contract with TBN and his daughter and her husband owned the property it sat on. They were anxious to get rid of the station - the satellite dish was where the man wanted to expand his garage. I spoke to the father and gave him Trip's info, and Trip passed the info along to the folks at Luken. I don't think Luken ever wanted the station, and the hosts didn't want it either.

K51IO is in the process of moving to Las Vegas. It is to be replaced by digital companion K47OE-D, transmitting from Searchlight NV, so I believe that Luken plans to license that station before October 1.

K44BB Window Rock (The Navajo Nation)
K45LU-D 5.x Window Rock (The Navajo Nation)
K51AV Chinle (The Navajo Nation)

This is either an oversight, or the renewal has been filed but not published. I would imagine that the two analog stations are abandoned.

KGNG-LP 47 Las Vegas NV (King Kong Broadcasting, Inc.)
KGNG-LD 47.x (48) Las Vegas NV (King Kong Broadcasting, Inc.)

This is either an oversight, or the renewal has been filed but has not been published.

KVTE-LP 35 Las Vegas NV (Mountain Ridge Holdings, Inc.) — Lost its transmitter site.

They have a construction permit to build elsewhere, and just filed a license to cover that site. Oh, and they forgot to file a renewal. That's been taken care of now.

K33GE St. George UT (Brigham Young University) —*Replaced by digital K39JZ-D. K33GE looks like it's gone, and UU applied for a new KUED relay on 33 there.

Agreed. BYU never turned in the license; this is probably how they're planning to do it.

Some of these stations (KCAB, K38CX, KCOS) additionally have the same broadcast consultant, a Richard Goetz. I wonder if there's something on his part.

Nope. These are three abandoned stations. The consultant is just a coincidence.

One thing I'm curious to see is the Palo Verde Valley TV Club in Blythe, California. It's operated Phoenix TV translators for decades (the stations once were in the 70s) but there's no conversion plan. Another station set lacking a conversion plan: 15 and 41 in Williams (KTVK and KASW). There is no KPHO translator in Williams, and both stations need to be converted to digital. The 15 is a former 70+ station too.

Palo Verde Valley TV Club probably no longer exists. The stations are long gone, ever since Blythe has been able to receive crystal-clear pictures from Yuma/El Centro.

 

[Sammi Brie]

If the Gila River Indian Community ever gets to build those LPTVs it applied for (who knows how repacking will kill them), the KCAB digital proposed site/specs would offer them excellent coverage of their area (penetrating most of the East Valley and Pinal County right with it; it would probably be receivable at ASU's Tempe campus and by Scottsdale Fashion Square, to give you an idea of just how far into town that signal would have gone). It's right near Sacaton, too. Their analog site didn't even reach all of CG well; had they gone digital they'd be in all of central Pinal County, and basically all of the county except the San Manuel/Oracle area. The market has absolutely tremendous long term growth potential, though that signal could have easily tempted them into trying to enter the Phoenix market and flopping.

However it seems that low-power television is being frostbitten in Washington to keep other interests (cable and wireless) toasty.

 

[dhett]

I am stunned: Digital Networks Southwest LLC has just filed a license renewal for K38CX Shonto. I was sure that station was a goner after talking to the people who host the satellite dish and antenna.

 

[Prescott Joe]

Let us not forget that K38CX Shonto also serves the fabulous
"Cow Springs" area..... Need I say more!