KBNT-CD

KBNT-CD is a low-power Class A television station serving San Diego, California, and nearby communities. Operating on digital channel 17, it carries programming from Univision, the Spanish-language television network. The station is part of Entravision Communications’ San Diego operations and is operated alongside KDTF-LD, the market’s UniMás affiliate. KBNT-CD’s studios are located on Ruffin Road in the Kearny Mesa section of San Diego, while its main transmitter is on Mount Soledad in La Jolla. Its coverage is supplemented by the digital translator K25RF-D on channel 25 in Vista. The station’s history began on May 19, 1987, when it launched as K19BN under the ownership of Cabrillo Broadcasting Corporation. It initially operated with a limited signal, and the station’s role in the local Spanish-language television market developed gradually. On January 1, 1990, K19BN obtained the Univision affiliation that had previously been carried by Televisa-owned XEWT in Tijuana. At first, many San Diego viewers could receive the station only through cable because its over-the-air signal did not reach the city effectively. Subsequent power improvements expanded reception into communities including Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, and Fallbrook, although coverage remained constrained by the station’s low-power status. A series of technical and call-sign changes shaped the station’s later identity. In 1997, K19BN adopted the KBNT-LP call sign, and ownership moved from Cabrillo Broadcasting to Entravision. In the same period, Entravision also became involved with related repeater facilities that extended the Univision service beyond the primary transmitter. A major market realignment occurred on June 28, 2000, when the Univision service moved from channel 19 to channel 17. The channel 17 operation adopted the KBNT-LP identity and gave Univision a stronger over-the-air presence in San Diego, National City, and Chula Vista. The former channel 19 operation was subsequently closed, while channel 19 was made available for digital use by another San Diego station. The station gained Class A status in 2002 and became KBNT-CA. Its relay network changed several times. A Vista facility originally associated with the call sign KHAX-LP was added to the Entravision operation and used to extend coverage northward. In 2008, KTCD-LP also changed from relaying Entravision’s Azteca América affiliate XHAS-TV to relaying KBNT. The analog Vista relay was ultimately shut down in 2020 and replaced by a digital facility, KHAX-LD, on channel 25. In 2021, the Federal Communications Commission canceled the license of KTCD-LP after it failed to convert to digital operation by the applicable deadline. KBNT-CD’s principal service is the distribution of Univision’s Spanish-language network programming, supplemented by local public-affairs content. The station produces five hours of local news each week, consisting of one hour on each weekday, with no locally produced newscasts scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays according to the referenced station information. It also produces the Sunday public-affairs program Perspectiva Nacional. Through its main signal and relay arrangements, KBNT-CD serves as a local Spanish-language broadcast outlet for the San Diego region rather than as a standalone national media brand.

KBNT-CD traces its origins to K19BN, a low-power station launched on May 19, 1987, by Cabrillo Broadcasting Corporation. The station’s early service area was limited by its weak broadcast signal. Although it could be distributed through cable, it initially did not reach San Diego proper effectively over the air. Its first major programming change came on January 1, 1990, when it assumed the Univision affiliation previously carried by XEWT in Tijuana. Signal-power improvements later allowed reception in several North County communities, including Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, and Fallbrook. In 1997, the station changed its call sign to KBNT-LP and ownership transferred from Cabrillo Broadcasting to Entravision. The Entravision operation subsequently developed a network of related low-power facilities and translators to improve Univision’s reach across the geographically varied San Diego market. A separate Vista station, launched in 1987 as K49BV and later known as KHAX-LP, became part of the broader relay structure. Another important relay arrangement involved KNSD-LP in La Jolla, whose signal was used to retransmit KBNT programming under an agreement connected with NBC affiliate KNSD. That facility was shut down in 2007. On June 28, 2000, the San Diego Univision service underwent a significant channel realignment. The affiliation moved from the channel 19 operation to channel 17, which took the KBNT-LP call sign and was acquired by Entravision. The change gave Univision a more effective over-the-air presence in San Diego, National City, and Chula Vista. The former channel 19 operation closed in 2001, allowing its digital channel allocation to be used for another station. In 2002, KBNT-LP received Class A status and became KBNT-CA, formalizing its protected low-power television position. Relay coverage continued to evolve. In the fall of 2008, KTCD-LP changed from carrying programming from sister station XHAS-TV, then associated with Azteca América, to relaying KBNT. This created a three-repeater arrangement for the Univision service. The transition from analog to digital broadcasting later altered the relay structure again. On March 4, 2020, the analog channel 49 KHAX-LP facility was shut down and a digital channel 25 station, KHAX-LD, began operating in Vista. The Federal Communications Commission canceled KTCD-LP’s license on August 9, 2021, because the analog translator had not completed its required digital transition by the July 13, 2021 deadline. The station is identified today as KBNT-CD and operates as a Univision affiliate in the San Diego market. Its studios are located on Ruffin Road in Kearny Mesa, and its primary transmitter is on Mount Soledad in La Jolla. Its signal is supplemented by K25RF-D in Vista. The station’s programming mix combines Univision’s national Spanish-language schedule with locally produced content. KBNT-CD produces five hours of local news per week, consisting of one hour each weekday, and carries the Sunday public-affairs program Perspectiva Nacional. No weekend local newscasts are identified in the referenced material.

• 2021

  KTCD-LP license canceled

  [1]KBNT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC canceled the license of KTCD-LP after the translator missed the required digital conversion deadline.

• 2020

  Digital Vista relay launched

  [1]KBNT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The analog KHAX-LP facility was shut down and a digital channel 25 relay began operating in Vista.

• 2008

  KTCD-LP began relaying KBNT

  [1]KBNT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KTCD-LP switched from relaying XHAS-TV to relaying KBNT programming.

• 2002

  Class A status obtained

  [1]KBNT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KBNT-LP became KBNT-CA after upgrading to Class A status.

• 2000

  Univision moved to channel 17

  [1]KBNT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The San Diego Univision service moved from channel 19 to channel 17, expanding its over-the-air reach in central and southern San Diego County.

• 1997

  Call sign and ownership changed

  [1]KBNT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station became KBNT-LP, and ownership transferred from Cabrillo Broadcasting to Entravision.

• 1990

  Univision affiliation began

  [1]KBNT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  K19BN took over the Univision affiliation previously carried by XEWT in Tijuana.

• 1987

  K19BN launched

  [1]KBNT-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Cabrillo Broadcasting Corporation launched the low-power station K19BN on May 19.

A local Spanish-language Univision television outlet serving San Diego and surrounding communities, with a focus on network entertainment, news, public affairs, and expanded regional over-the-air coverage.

• Spanish-language broadcast television · 1990

  Univision network service

  KBNT-CD’s core offering is the local distribution of Univision’s Spanish-language network schedule to viewers in the San Diego market. The service combines network entertainment, news, sports, and other programming with local station content. KBNT-CD’s low-power transmission and relay facilities are designed to provide regional access rather than nationwide distribution.

• Television news

  Local news

  The station produces five hours of local newscasts each week, with one hour scheduled on each weekday. The local news service provides San Diego-area coverage within the station’s Spanish-language Univision operation. The referenced material does not identify a separate weekend local-news schedule.

• Public-affairs television

  Perspectiva Nacional

  Perspectiva Nacional is KBNT-CD’s Sunday public-affairs program. It is scheduled at 6 p.m. and forms part of the station’s locally produced or locally presented civic-information programming.

• 2021

  Retire the non-digital KTCD-LP licenseOther

  Background

  KTCD-LP did not complete the required transition from analog to digital operation by the July 13, 2021 deadline.

  Action taken

  The Federal Communications Commission canceled the KTCD-LP license on August 9, 2021.

  Aftermath

  KTCD-LP ceased to be part of the station’s operating relay structure.

  Source

• 2020

  Replace the analog Vista relay with a digital facilityGeneration change

  Background

  The station’s analog relay infrastructure was being replaced or retired as television transmission moved to digital operation.

  Action taken

  KHAX-LP’s analog channel 49 operation was shut down, and digital channel 25 facility KHAX-LD began operating in Vista.

  Aftermath

  The Vista area continued to receive a digital relay of the service through the new facility.

  Source

• 2008

  Add KTCD-LP as a KBNT relayStrategy

  Background

  Entravision used low-power facilities to extend the reach of its Spanish-language television services across the San Diego market.

  Action taken

  KTCD-LP switched from relaying sister station XHAS-TV to relaying KBNT.

  Aftermath

  The change expanded the station’s relay structure and contributed to a three-repeater operation.

  Source

• 2000

  Move Univision service to channel 17Strategy

  Background

  The San Diego Univision affiliation had been carried on the channel 19 operation, whose signal and operating arrangement limited the service’s reach.

  Action taken

  The affiliation moved to channel 17, which adopted the KBNT-LP identity and was acquired by Entravision.

  Aftermath

  The change improved Univision’s over-the-air availability in San Diego, National City, and Chula Vista. The former channel 19 operation closed in 2001.

  Source

1. 1KBNT-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Univision San Diego official websiteunivisionsandiego.com