K22JA-D

K22JA-D is a low-power television station serving Corpus Christi and the surrounding Coastal Bend region of Texas. The station is associated with the KDF service, an independent television outlet, and with KAJA, a Telemundo service carried on a related digital subchannel. The station is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company alongside KRIS-TV, the Corpus Christi NBC affiliate. Scripps also supplies certain services to KZTV, a CBS affiliate owned by SagamoreHill Broadcasting, under a shared services agreement. The stations share studios on Artesian Street in downtown Corpus Christi, and K22JA-D's transmitter is located at the same facility. The station's history began on January 11, 1989, when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi launched K47DF, branded KDF. Its initial schedule emphasized family-oriented and religious programming. The construction permit had previously been sold to the diocese by KEDT, Corpus Christi's public television station. In 1991, the diocese moved KDF into a commercial subsidiary named Paloma Broadcasting. The restructuring was intended to separate the station's growing commercial income from the diocese's tax position. Paloma pursued an unusually ambitious programming strategy for a low-power station. KDF acquired prominent syndicated programs including Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, helping it obtain broad cable carriage in the region. In 1993, Paloma expanded its television operation by establishing KAJA, a new Telemundo service, and by constructing translators serving communities including Bishop and the area between Beeville and Refugio. KDF later became a Fox affiliate in 1994, giving viewers in the Coastal Bend a local outlet for Fox programming that had previously been available primarily through Foxnet or a San Antonio station carried on cable systems. The Paloma operation encountered financial and governance difficulties in the mid-1990s. In January 1997, Paloma announced the sale of its stations to Miramar Broadcasting Company, a venture that included T. Frank Smith, then associated with KRIS. Paloma was not profitable, and its financial position deteriorated after the diocese reduced subsidies amid litigation involving the use of funds connected with another foundation. The company entered bankruptcy later that month while owing state and county taxes and amounts to program syndicators. Under Miramar, KDF added a secondary UPN affiliation. The stations were subsequently included in Smith's sale of KRIS to Cordillera Communications in 1998, bringing KDF and KAJA into the same broader ownership structure as KRIS. KDF lost its Fox affiliation when higher-powered KUQI took over the network's programming in February 2008. KDF then returned to independent programming. The station's technical identity also changed as federal digital-transition and spectrum rules affected low-power facilities. K47DF converted to digital operation, later moved to channel 22, and adopted the K22JA-D call sign. In 2014, the digital operation became a companion facility for the related K47DF-D service. The KAJA Telemundo programming is carried on K47DF-D's primary digital service and is also available through a subchannel of KZTV. KDF has also operated local news programming. It introduced a 9 p.m. newscast in November 1993, initially a 15-minute program hosted by former KRIS anchor Jay Ricci. The program expanded to 30 minutes in January 1994, moved to 10 p.m. later that year, and ended in March 1995 for financial reasons. After KRIS acquired KDF and KAJA outright, the KDF news product was expanded to a half-hour in January 1999. Local news has also been carried on the Telemundo service in early- and late-evening time slots. Today, K22JA-D functions within a Scripps-operated Corpus Christi station group, combining local broadcasting infrastructure with independent and Spanish-language network programming.

K22JA-D developed from the KDF television operation launched as K47DF by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi on January 11, 1989. The station began as a low-power outlet with a family-oriented schedule that included religious programming. Its construction permit had been obtained from KEDT, the local public television station. In 1991, the diocese transferred the commercial operation into Paloma Broadcasting, a subsidiary structure intended to keep the station's increasing commercial income separate from the diocese's tax position. Paloma made KDF unusually ambitious for a low-power broadcaster. It purchased well-known syndicated programs such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, which helped the station secure unusually extensive cable carriage throughout the Corpus Christi area. In 1993, Paloma broadened its presence by launching the KAJA Telemundo service and building translators for both services in parts of the Coastal Bend. KDF became a Fox affiliate in 1994, improving local access to Fox programming that had previously reached the area mainly through distant or cable-delivered outlets. By the middle of the 1990s, Paloma's financial condition had worsened. The diocese reduced its subsidies after legal action by Texas Attorney General Dan Morales concerning the use of funds associated with another foundation. Paloma was reported to owe taxes to state and county authorities as well as money to major programming suppliers. It filed for bankruptcy near the end of January 1997. Earlier that month, Paloma had announced a sale to Miramar Broadcasting Company, whose investors included T. Frank Smith, an owner connected with KRIS. Miramar added a secondary UPN affiliation to KDF. The Miramar stations later became part of Smith's sale of KRIS to Cordillera Communications in 1998. KDF's Fox affiliation ended when higher-powered KUQI assumed the network's programming beginning February 4, 2008, immediately after Super Bowl XLII. KDF reverted to an independent format. The related KAJA facility also underwent technical changes. The FCC cancelled K68DJ's license in February 2013 because it operated on an out-of-core channel and had not constructed a replacement facility by the applicable deadline. KAJA had stopped using that facility earlier in January. K47DF then converted to digital operation, moved to channel 22 in 2015, and became K22JA-D. The relationship between the KDF and KAJA services was consolidated through digital broadcasting. In 2014, K22JA-D became a digital companion channel for K47DF-D. KAJA is carried on K47DF-D's primary service in 720p and is also available as a subchannel of KZTV. K22JA-D currently operates within the E. W. Scripps Company's Corpus Christi station group, alongside KRIS-TV. Scripps also provides selected services to KZTV under a shared services agreement with SagamoreHill Broadcasting. The stations share downtown Corpus Christi studios on Artesian Street, with K22JA-D's transmitter located at the same site. Local news has been an intermittent part of the station's history. KDF launched The Nine O'Clock News in November 1993 with Jay Ricci as host. It expanded from 15 minutes to 30 minutes in January 1994, moved to 10 p.m. later in the year, and ended in March 1995 because of financial constraints. After KRIS obtained direct ownership of KDF and KAJA, the KDF newscast expanded to 30 minutes in January 1999. News was also supplied on the Telemundo service at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.

• 2015

  The operation moves to channel 22

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  The digital station moved to channel 22 and operated under the K22JA-D call sign.

• 2014

  K22JA-D becomes a digital companion facility

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  K22JA-D became the digital companion channel for K47DF-D, consolidating the related KDF and KAJA services.

• 2013

  K47DF converts to digital operation

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  After the FCC cancelled the related K68DJ license, K47DF converted to digital broadcasting.

• 2008

  KDF becomes independent again

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  KUQI assumed the Fox affiliation on February 4, and KDF returned to independent programming.

• 1999

  KDF local news expands

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  After KRIS acquired KDF and KAJA outright, the existing KDF news product was expanded to a half-hour.

• 1998

  KDF and KAJA become part of the KRIS-related station group

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  The stations were included in T. Frank Smith's sale of KRIS to Cordillera Communications.

• 1997

  Paloma stations enter a Miramar transaction and bankruptcy

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  Paloma announced a sale to Miramar Broadcasting Company and filed for bankruptcy amid tax, programming, and subsidy-related financial problems.

• 1994

  KDF joins Fox

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  KDF became a Fox affiliate, bringing a local Fox outlet to the Coastal Bend market.

• 1993

  Paloma launches KAJA and KDF begins local news

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  Paloma expanded its operations with the KAJA Telemundo service and introduced KDF's first local evening newscast.

• 1991

  KDF moves into Paloma Broadcasting

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  The diocese placed KDF under the commercial subsidiary Paloma Broadcasting as the station's commercial income grew.

• 1989

  KDF begins broadcasting as K47DF

  [1]K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org

  The Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi launched the low-power KDF service on January 11 with a family-oriented and religious schedule.

A local low-power television operation serving the Corpus Christi market through independent programming, Spanish-language Telemundo content, local news, and digital subchannel distribution.

• Independent television service · 1989

  KDF

  KDF is the station's independent programming service. It originated as the family-oriented K47DF operation in 1989, later carrying major syndicated programs and, for a period, Fox and UPN programming. Since losing Fox in 2008, the service has operated as an independent outlet within the Corpus Christi television market.

• Telemundo television service · 1993

  KAJA

  KAJA is the Spanish-language Telemundo service established by Paloma Broadcasting in 1993. Its distribution has evolved through low-power facilities, digital companion channels, and a subchannel carried by KZTV. The service also carries local news programming for the Corpus Christi market.

• Local news programming · 1993

  KDF local news

  KDF's local news offering has included evening newscasts produced or expanded in association with the KRIS operation. The original 1993 program changed time slots and ended in 1995, while a later version was expanded to 30 minutes after KRIS acquired KDF and KAJA outright.

• 2013

  Conversion from analog low-power broadcasting to digital operationGeneration change

  Background

  The related K68DJ facility lost its license after operating on an out-of-core channel and failing to build a replacement facility by the applicable deadline.

  Action taken

  K47DF converted to digital broadcasting and later moved to channel 22 under the K22JA-D call sign.

  Aftermath

  The KDF and KAJA services continued through digital companion and subchannel distribution.

  Source

• 2008

  Return to independent programmingStrategy

  Background

  A higher-powered competitor, KUQI, was selected to carry Fox programming.

  Action taken

  KDF ended its Fox affiliation and resumed independent programming beginning February 4.

  Aftermath

  KDF continued as an independent service within the local station group.

  Source

• 1994

  KDF takes the Fox affiliationStrategy

  Background

  Fox programming had previously reached the Coastal Bend mainly through Foxnet or a distant San Antonio station.

  Action taken

  KDF affiliated with Fox.

  Aftermath

  The station provided a local Fox outlet until the affiliation moved to higher-powered KUQI in 2008.

  Source

• 1991

  Commercial restructuring under Paloma BroadcastingStrategy

  Background

  The diocese's commercial television operation was generating income, creating concerns about its effect on the diocese's tax status.

  Action taken

  KDF was placed under the commercial subsidiary Paloma Broadcasting.

  Aftermath

  Paloma pursued commercial programming acquisitions and later expanded into the KAJA Telemundo service.

  Source

1. 1K22JA-Den.wikipedia.org
2. 2KDF TVkdftv.com