K17MJ-D

K17MJ-D is a low-power digital television station licensed to serve San Antonio, Texas. The station is identified by its call sign rather than by a consumer-facing national brand and operates as part of the local broadcast infrastructure in the San Antonio market. Its current operation is associated with Innovate Corp., and its programming primarily consists of subchannels carrying infomercials and digital multicast-network services. The station began broadcasting in 1991 as K52EA. Its early operation was based in the Tower Life Building and included religious programming supplied by the Faith Pleases God Church in Harlingen. During the middle and latter part of the 1990s, it operated as a translator for Ortiz-owned KTRG-TV in Del Rio. This period reflected the station's original role as a low-power relay and local distribution outlet rather than as a large independent broadcaster. From June 1998 through the launch of KBEJ on channel 2 in 2000, the station served as San Antonio's only full-time source of UPN programming. That affiliation gave the outlet a more prominent role in the market despite its low-power status. In 1999, Hispanic Television Network announced an acquisition of the station. The transaction connected the facility to a broader Hispanic-oriented television organization, although the station's subsequent programming identity continued to change. The station began carrying the Multimedios network in early 2006. In December of that year, it moved to channel 51 and changed its call sign to K51JF. The Multimedios affiliation represented a significant change from the station's earlier translator and UPN roles, placing it within a network-oriented programming arrangement. A proposed 2013 sale to Landover 5 LLC, part of a larger package involving 51 low-power television stations, was ultimately abandoned in June 2016. The Federal Communications Commission issued the station a digital-broadcasting license for channel 17 on August 29, 2017, after which its call sign became K17MJ-D. Also in 2017, Mintz Broadcasting sold the station to HC2 Holdings. HC2 Holdings subsequently became associated with the corporate structure now identified with Innovate Corp., which is listed as the station's owner in the reference material. Today, K17MJ-D's role is principally that of a low-power digital multiplex carrying commercial and digital-network content for viewers in and around San Antonio.

K17MJ-D traces its history to 1991, when it began broadcasting as K52EA, a low-power television station in San Antonio, Texas. The station initially operated from the Tower Life Building and carried religious programming provided by the Faith Pleases God Church in Harlingen. Its early configuration was characteristic of low-power broadcasting: rather than serving as a major independent network outlet, it provided a limited-power local signal and helped distribute programming to viewers in the market. During the mid-to-late 1990s, K52EA functioned as a translator for KTRG-TV of Del Rio, a station owned by Ortiz. Its role changed in June 1998 when it became San Antonio's only full-time source of UPN programming. That status lasted until 2000, when KBEJ launched on channel 2 and supplied the market with another full-time UPN outlet. The UPN period nevertheless marked an important expansion in the station's practical value to local viewers, since it provided access to a nationally distributed entertainment schedule despite the facility's low-power classification. Hispanic Television Network announced the station's acquisition in 1999. The ownership change placed the outlet within a company associated with Hispanic television distribution. In early 2006, the station began carrying the Multimedios network. Later that year, in December, it moved to channel 51 and adopted the K51JF call sign. The shift linked the San Antonio facility to Multimedios programming and replaced the earlier K52EA identity. In June 2013, K51JF was identified as part of a proposed sale to Landover 5 LLC. The transaction was structured as a larger package involving 51 low-power television stations. The proposed transfer was not completed; the sale fell through in June 2016. This episode illustrates the consolidation and portfolio trading that affected many low-power television facilities during the period, but no completed change of ownership resulted from that proposal. The station's technical identity changed again in 2017. On August 29, it was issued a license for digital broadcasting on channel 17, and its call sign became K17MJ-D. Mintz Broadcasting also sold the station to HC2 Holdings during 2017. The reference material identifies Innovate Corp. as the current owner, reflecting the later corporate identity associated with that ownership structure. K17MJ-D now operates as a low-power digital station serving the San Antonio area. Its multiplexed signal is used mainly for infomercials and digital multicast networks, commonly called diginets. The station's present role is therefore primarily distributional: it provides additional commercial and network content over the air rather than functioning as a prominent full-power local-news or general-programming brand. Its history encompasses religious broadcasting, translator service, UPN distribution, Multimedios affiliation, a transition to digital channel 17, and ownership changes within the low-power television sector.

• 2017

  Digital license issued and call sign changes to K17MJ-D

  [1]K17MJ-Den.wikipedia.org

  The station received a digital-broadcasting license for channel 17 on August 29 and changed its call sign from K51JF to K17MJ-D.

• 2017

  Mintz Broadcasting sale to HC2 Holdings

  [1]K17MJ-Den.wikipedia.org

  Mintz Broadcasting sold the station to HC2 Holdings.

• 2016

  Proposed Landover 5 sale falls through

  [1]K17MJ-Den.wikipedia.org

  The proposed transfer to Landover 5 LLC was abandoned.

• 2013

  Proposed Landover 5 transaction

  [1]K17MJ-Den.wikipedia.org

  K51JF was included in a proposed sale of 52 low-power television stations to Landover 5 LLC.

• 2006

  Adds Multimedios programming and changes call sign

  [1]K17MJ-Den.wikipedia.org

  The station picked up the Multimedios network in early 2006, moved to channel 51 in December, and adopted the K51JF call sign.

• 1999

  Hispanic Television Network acquisition announced

  [1]K17MJ-Den.wikipedia.org

  Hispanic Television Network announced a deal to acquire the station.

• 1998

  Begins full-time UPN distribution in San Antonio

  [1]K17MJ-Den.wikipedia.org

  From June 1998 until 2000, the station was San Antonio's only full-time source of UPN programming.

• 1991

  Station begins broadcasting as K52EA

  [1]K17MJ-Den.wikipedia.org

  The San Antonio low-power television station began operations as K52EA, initially carrying religious programming from the Faith Pleases God Church in Harlingen.

• 1990

  Station operates as a KTRG-TV translator

  [1]K17MJ-Den.wikipedia.org

  During the mid-to-late 1990s, the station served as a translator for Ortiz-owned KTRG-TV of Del Rio.

A low-power local television outlet focused on distributing multicast-network and commercial programming rather than operating as a major full-power general-entertainment station.

• Broadcast service · 2017

  Digital over-the-air television service

  K17MJ-D provides a low-power digital television signal to the San Antonio area. Its channel identity changed to K17MJ-D after the station received a digital-broadcasting license for channel 17 in 2017. The service is delivered through a multiplexed signal rather than a single analogue-style program stream.

• Commercial television programming

  Infomercial programming

  The station's current programming mix includes subchannels devoted to infomercials. These long-form commercial programs occupy part of the station's digital multicast capacity and form one of the main types of content associated with its present operation.

• Diginet television programming

  Digital multicast networks

  K17MJ-D multiplexes digital-network services, often referred to as diginets, alongside other programming. The available reference identifies this broad category but does not specify every individual network or subchannel carried at a given time.

• 2017

  Transition to digital channel 17 identityGeneration change

  Background

  The station's technical authorization and call-sign identity were updated as low-power television broadcasting moved to digital operation.

  Action taken

  The station received a digital-broadcasting license for channel 17 on August 29, 2017, and changed its call sign from K51JF to K17MJ-D.

  Aftermath

  K17MJ-D became the station's identifying call sign, while its multiplexed operation continued to emphasize infomercials and digital multicast networks.

  Source

• 2006

  Adoption of Multimedios programmingStrategy

  Background

  After earlier periods as a translator and UPN outlet, the station needed a new programming arrangement. It began carrying the Multimedios network in early 2006.

  Action taken

  The station added Multimedios programming and later moved to channel 51 in December 2006, changing its call sign to K51JF.

  Aftermath

  The change established a new network-oriented identity before the station's later transition to digital broadcasting and its K17MJ-D call sign.

  Source

1. 1K17MJ-Den.wikipedia.org