KABE-CD

KABE-CD is a low-power Class A television station serving Bakersfield, California, and the surrounding Southern San Joaquin Valley. The station broadcasts Spanish-language Univision programming on digital channel 39 and is owned and operated by TelevisaUnivision. It operates within a local station group that also includes KBTF-CD, a UniMás affiliate, and KUVI-DT, a Quest affiliate. The stations share facilities at the Univision Broadcast Center on Truxtun Avenue in western Bakersfield, while KABE-CD's transmission facilities are located on Mount Adelaide. The station began broadcasting on July 31, 1989, under the call sign K52DJ. Its original role was as a translator for KFTV, Fresno's Univision station, extending that network's Spanish-language service into the Bakersfield market. The station later underwent several call-sign and channel changes as local television ownership and network affiliations developed. In 1998, after Univision acquired KUZZ-TV from the entertainer Buck Owens, the station moved to channel 39 and adopted the call sign KSUV-LP. In 2002, during the launch of TeleFutura, it became KBTF-LP. A 2004 call-sign exchange with the original KABE-CA on channel 31 resulted in the station becoming KABE-LP, while the former KABE outlet became the station now known as KBTF-CD. KABE received Class A status in 2013. Class A classification provides a higher level of regulatory protection than a conventional low-power authorization, although the station remains a low-power service rather than a full-power broadcaster. Its digital signal carries the primary Univision service, and the station's programming is also simulcast in high definition on KUVI-DT's second digital subchannel, 45.2, from a separate Mount Adelaide transmitter. This arrangement gives Univision programming broader and more reliable reach in the local market. The station has also used its digital multicast capacity for secondary network affiliations. Its 39.2 subchannel previously carried the True Crime Network, but that affiliation ended on September 25, 2017, after KUVI obtained the network affiliation in the same market. The subchannel remained inactive until 2019, when KABE began carrying Court TV under an arrangement involving Scripps and Univision. Court TV programming was subsequently removed in 2021. KABE-CD's primary role is local distribution of Univision's Spanish-language entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming rather than the development of a separately branded national product line. Its importance lies in providing a Spanish-language network outlet for Bakersfield and nearby communities, while its association with TelevisaUnivision connects the station to one of the largest Spanish-language media groups in the United States. The station remains active as part of TelevisaUnivision's Bakersfield broadcasting cluster.

KABE-CD began service on July 31, 1989, as K52DJ, a translator for KFTV, the Univision station serving Fresno. Its initial function was to relay Univision programming into Bakersfield and nearby communities, rather than to operate as a separately programmed full-power television station. The station's identity changed as the Bakersfield television market was reorganized. In 1998, following Univision's purchase of KUZZ-TV from Buck Owens, the station moved to channel 39 and changed its call sign to KSUV-LP. The move and new call sign reflected the station's evolving place within Univision's local broadcast holdings. In 2002, it became KBTF-LP during the launch of TeleFutura, the Spanish-language network that was later rebranded as UniMás. A call-sign exchange in 2004 led to another important change. The station adopted KABE-LP, while the original KABE-CA on channel 31 took the KBTF identity. This arrangement established the call-sign relationship associated with the two Spanish-language outlets in the Bakersfield station group. In 2013, KABE obtained Class A status, improving the regulatory standing of its low-power authorization. KABE's operations are integrated with those of other TelevisaUnivision stations in Bakersfield. KABE-CD, UniMás outlet KBTF-CD, and KUVI-DT share the Univision Broadcast Center on Truxtun Avenue in western Bakersfield. KABE transmits from Mount Adelaide and also has its Univision service simulcast in high definition on KUVI-DT's 45.2 digital subchannel, using a separate transmitter at the same general transmission site. The arrangement combines local market coverage with shared technical and operational resources. The station's secondary digital capacity has changed over time. Its 39.2 subchannel carried True Crime Network programming until September 25, 2017, when that affiliation was discontinued after KUVI received the network. The subchannel then remained dark for a period. In 2019, KABE restored programming on 39.2 with Court TV as part of an agreement involving Scripps and Univision in markets where another local station's signal was not readily received. That Court TV affiliation ended in 2021. Today, KABE-CD remains a TelevisaUnivision-owned and operated Univision affiliate. Its core role is to distribute Spanish-language network television to Bakersfield and adjacent areas, with its digital signal and KUVI simulcast complementing the group's other local television services. Available public information does not identify a separately branded news operation, independent founder, or separately reported financial results for the station.

• 2021

  Court TV affiliation ended

  [1]KABE-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KABE discontinued Court TV programming on its second digital subchannel.

• 2019

  Court TV added to digital subchannel

  [1]KABE-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Court TV began airing on KABE's previously inactive 39.2 subchannel through an arrangement involving Scripps and Univision.

• 2017

  True Crime Network affiliation ended

  [1]KABE-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station discontinued True Crime Network on its 39.2 digital subchannel after KUVI obtained the affiliation.

• 2013

  Class A status obtained

  [1]KABE-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KABE obtained Class A status as a low-power television station.

• 2004

  Adoption of the KABE call sign

  [1]KABE-CDen.wikipedia.org

  A call-sign exchange with the original KABE-CA on channel 31 resulted in the station becoming KABE-LP.

• 2002

  Rebranded as KBTF-LP

  [1]KABE-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the KBTF-LP call sign during the launch of TeleFutura, later known as UniMás.

• 1998

  Move to channel 39 and adoption of KSUV-LP

  [1]KABE-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved to channel 39 and changed its call sign to KSUV-LP after Univision acquired KUZZ-TV in Bakersfield.

• 1989

  Launch as K52DJ

  [1]KABE-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station began broadcasting on July 31 as K52DJ, serving as a translator for Fresno Univision station KFTV.

A local Spanish-language television outlet that extends Univision's national network service across Bakersfield and the surrounding Southern San Joaquin Valley, supported by TelevisaUnivision's shared station infrastructure.

• Spanish-language television network affiliate · 1989

  Univision broadcast service

  KABE-CD's principal service is the over-the-air distribution of Univision's Spanish-language television schedule in the Bakersfield market. The schedule is supplied through the Univision network and may include entertainment, news, sports, specials, and other network programming. KABE also makes the service available in high definition through a simulcast on KUVI-DT's 45.2 subchannel.

• Digital television subchannel · 2017

  Digital multicast service

  KABE-CD has used its secondary digital capacity for additional television network programming. The 39.2 subchannel previously carried True Crime Network and later carried Court TV, although the available reference material records that Court TV was dropped in 2021. Current secondary-subchannel programming is not specified in the supplied sources.

• 2021

  Dropped Court TVOther

  Background

  The station's secondary digital programming arrangement changed after its period of Court TV carriage.

  Action taken

  KABE ended Court TV programming on the 39.2 subchannel.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference does not specify the subsequent programming status of the subchannel.

  Source

• 2019

  Added Court TV to the 39.2 subchannelProduct launch

  Background

  A Scripps–Univision arrangement supported Court TV distribution in areas where another local station's signal was not easily received.

  Action taken

  KABE restored programming to its 39.2 digital subchannel with Court TV.

  Aftermath

  Court TV remained on the subchannel until the affiliation was dropped in 2021.

  Source

• 2017

  Ended True Crime Network carriageOther

  Background

  KUVI obtained the True Crime Network affiliation in the Bakersfield market.

  Action taken

  KABE discontinued True Crime Network on its 39.2 digital subchannel.

  Aftermath

  The subchannel went dark until Court TV was added in 2019.

  Source

• 2002

  Adopted the KBTF-LP identity for TeleFuturaStrategy

  Background

  TeleFutura was launched as a new Spanish-language television network within Univision's broader media portfolio.

  Action taken

  KABE's predecessor station changed its call sign to KBTF-LP during the TeleFutura launch.

  Aftermath

  The station later returned to the KABE identity after a 2004 call-sign exchange.

  Source

• 1998

  Moved the station to channel 39Strategy

  Background

  Following Univision's acquisition of KUZZ-TV in Bakersfield, the station's channel assignment and call sign were changed as part of the local station group's reorganization.

  Action taken

  The station moved to channel 39 and became KSUV-LP.

  Aftermath

  The change established the channel identity later associated with KABE-CD's Univision service.

  Source

1. 1KABE-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KABE-CD official websiteunivision39.com