KBTV-CD

KBTV-CD is a low-power, Class A television station serving Sacramento, California. The station broadcasts on digital channel 8 and is owned by Innovate Corp. Its current service combines a primary Buzzr affiliation with multicultural programming presented under the Crossings TV brand on a digital subchannel. The station's second digital subchannel is also distributed across the Central Valley through Comcast Xfinity channel 398. The station began broadcasting on December 19, 1994, as K25EL. During its first years, it carried programming from syndicated independent television services, including the American Independent Network and America One, alongside local content. By 2004, the station had adopted a home-shopping format. A subsequent ownership change in 2005 brought the station under a group of investors led by Frank Washington. The new owners repositioned it as a multicultural service, carrying imported and independently produced programming in languages including Russian, Chinese, Tagalog, and Hmong. Regional cable distribution helped extend the service beyond its over-the-air coverage area. The multicultural operation developed into Crossings TV, a brand that was established by January 2013. Crossings TV's programming model has focused on serving ethnic and multilingual audiences through a mix of acquired international content, independently produced local programming, and specialty programming. The station has also carried Shop LC during late-night hours. Its studios are located on West El Camino Avenue in Sacramento's Natomas district, in the same building as KVIE, although KBTV-CD operates separately from that public television station. The transmitter is located in downtown Sacramento. Ownership and technical status changed several times. Crossings TV, through Tower of Babel LLC, owned the station until 2010, when it was sold to Mako Communications. Mako completed the station's conversion to digital television in December 2010. A proposed 2013 sale to Landover 5 LLC, included in a larger transaction involving numerous low-power stations, was ultimately abandoned in June 2016. Mako later sold its stations, including KBTV-CD, to HC2 Holdings in 2017; HC2 Holdings subsequently became known as Innovate Corp. The station's digital lineup changed in 2022. On October 3, 2022, Crossings TV moved from digital subchannel 8.1 to 8.2, exchanging positions with Visión Latina, a television venture associated with the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Visión Latina was later removed, and on May 18, 2024, KBTV-CD began carrying Buzzr. The station therefore represents a hybrid local television operation: its over-the-air identity includes a national digital network affiliation, while its subchannel and cable presence retain a multicultural, multilingual orientation under the Crossings TV name.

KBTV-CD began broadcasting on December 19, 1994, as K25EL, a low-power television station serving Sacramento, California. By 1997, its schedule included programming from the American Independent Network and America One, together with local programming. The station later changed direction, adopting a home-shopping format by 2004. A significant repositioning occurred in 2005, when KBTV-LP was sold to a group of investors led by Frank Washington. The new ownership converted the station into a multicultural outlet, carrying imported and independently produced local programs in languages such as Russian, Chinese, Tagalog, and Hmong. The format was supported by carriage on regional Comcast cable systems, allowing the service to reach viewers beyond the station's terrestrial footprint. Washington had previously been associated with a similar multicultural television format at KBCB in the Seattle market. The multicultural service subsequently developed into Crossings TV, a brand established by January 2013. Through Tower of Babel LLC, Crossings TV owned the station until 2010. That year, the station was sold to Mako Communications, which completed its conversion to digital television in December. Mako later attempted to sell KBTV-CD to Landover 5 LLC as part of a broader proposed transaction involving 51 other low-power television stations. The transaction did not close and was abandoned in June 2016. In 2017, Mako Communications sold its stations, including KBTV-CD, to HC2 Holdings, now known as Innovate Corp. The station's studios are located on West El Camino Avenue in Sacramento's Natomas district, in the same building as KVIE but under separate operations. Its transmitter is located in downtown Sacramento. The station's digital programming arrangement changed in the 2020s. On October 3, 2022, Crossings TV moved from digital subchannel 8.1 to 8.2, exchanging positions with Visión Latina, a United States television venture associated with the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Visión Latina was subsequently dropped. On May 18, 2024, KBTV-CD affiliated with Buzzr. The station's second subchannel continues to serve as the home of Crossings TV's multicultural programming, including programming in multiple ethnic languages and Shop LC during late-night hours. The resulting service combines a national digital-network affiliation with a distinct multicultural local and regional television identity.

• 2024

  Buzzr affiliation

  [1]KBTV-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Following the removal of Visión Latina, the station affiliated with Buzzr on May 18.

• 2022

  Crossings TV moves to subchannel 8.2

  [1]KBTV-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Crossings TV exchanged positions with Visión Latina and moved from 8.1 to 8.2.

• 2017

  Acquisition by HC2 Holdings

  [1]KBTV-CDen.wikipedia.org

  HC2 Holdings acquired the station from Mako Communications as part of a wider station portfolio transaction.

• 2013

  Crossings TV identity

  [1]KBTV-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station's multicultural service had developed into the Crossings TV brand by January.

• 2010

  Digital conversion

  [1]KBTV-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Mako Communications completed the station's conversion to digital television in December.

• 2005

  Multicultural repositioning

  [1]KBTV-CDen.wikipedia.org

  New investors led by Frank Washington transformed the station into a multicultural and multilingual service.

• 2004

  Home-shopping format

  [1]KBTV-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station had shifted to a home-shopping format by this year.

• 1997

  Independent-network programming

  [1]KBTV-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station carried American Independent Network and America One programming alongside local content.

• 1994

  Initial broadcast

  [1]KBTV-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station began broadcasting on December 19 as K25EL in Sacramento.

A Sacramento-area low-power television service combining a national digital-network affiliation with multicultural and multilingual programming for ethnic communities in Northern and Central California.

• Broadcast television · 1994

  KBTV-CD over-the-air television service

  The station's low-power Class A broadcast service operates from Sacramento, with its transmitter located downtown. Its digital lineup includes a Buzzr affiliation and a second-subchannel service associated with Crossings TV.

• Multicultural television · 2013

  Crossings TV

  Crossings TV is the station's multicultural television identity. Its programming includes imported and independently produced content in languages including Russian, Chinese, Tagalog, and Hmong. The service is carried on KBTV-CD's second digital subchannel and has also been distributed through Comcast Xfinity in the Central Valley.

• Digital television network affiliation · 2024

  Buzzr affiliation

  Since May 18, 2024, KBTV-CD has carried Buzzr after the departure of Visión Latina. Buzzr occupies the station's principal digital-network role, while Crossings TV remains associated with the second digital subchannel.

• 2024

  Adoption of Buzzr affiliationProduct launch

  Background

  Visión Latina was removed from the station's lineup after its 2022 placement.

  Action taken

  KBTV-CD began carrying Buzzr on May 18.

  Aftermath

  The station's primary digital service became affiliated with Buzzr while Crossings TV remained on the second digital subchannel.

  Source

• 2022

  Digital-subchannel realignmentStrategy

  Background

  The station added Visión Latina and reorganized its digital lineup.

  Action taken

  On October 3, Crossings TV moved from subchannel 8.1 to 8.2, exchanging positions with Visión Latina.

  Aftermath

  Crossings TV continued as the station's second-subchannel multicultural service.

  Source

• 2013

  Proposed sale to Landover 5M&A

  Background

  Mako Communications included KBTV-CD in a proposed transaction involving Landover 5 LLC and 51 other low-power television stations.

  Action taken

  Mako attempted to transfer the station as part of the larger portfolio transaction.

  Aftermath

  The proposed sale did not close and was abandoned in June 2016.

  Source

• 2010

  Conversion to digital televisionGeneration change

  Background

  Following Mako Communications' acquisition of the station, KBTV-CD underwent a technical transition from analog low-power broadcasting.

  Action taken

  Mako completed the station's digital conversion in December.

  Aftermath

  The station continued operating as a digital low-power Class A service with multiplexed programming.

  Source

• 2005

  Repositioning as a multicultural stationStrategy

  Background

  After the station was acquired by investors led by Frank Washington, its previous format was replaced with multicultural and multilingual programming.

  Action taken

  The new owners introduced imported and independently produced programming in several ethnic languages and pursued regional cable carriage.

  Aftermath

  The service evolved into the Crossings TV brand and established a continuing multicultural role in the Sacramento and Central Valley markets.

  Source

1. 1KBTV-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Crossings TVcrossingstv.com