KPAZ-TV

KPAZ-TV is a religious television station licensed to Phoenix, Arizona, United States, and owned by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). The station broadcasts on virtual channel 21 and operates from a transmitter on South Mountain, on the southern side of Phoenix. Its programming is associated with TBN’s nationally distributed Christian television service, although the station began with a substantially different identity: it was established as Arizona’s first full-power UHF television station and initially operated as a bilingual independent outlet. The station was organized by Spanish Language Television of Arizona, Inc., which applied in 1965 for a Phoenix television station. The proposed channel was initially channel 14, but the application was amended to channel 21 after changes to the UHF allocation plan. KPAZ-TV began broadcasting on September 16, 1967, with a launch event tied to Mexican Independence Day. Its early schedule combined Spanish-language entertainment supplied through the Spanish International Network with English-language news, sports, syndicated entertainment, and locally produced programs. Among its distinctive early offerings were Spanish-language news, Mexican bullfighting broadcasts, Arizona State University sports highlights, music programming, and local talk and variety shows. The original operation struggled to establish itself against Phoenix’s better-established independent stations. Advertiser resistance contributed to the removal of bullfighting from the schedule, and Spanish Language Television of Arizona entered bankruptcy in 1969, less than two years after the station launched. The station was subsequently sold through bankruptcy proceedings to Glad Tidings Church, which introduced an expanding religious component while continuing some general-interest and local programming. Glad Tidings invested in new equipment, constructed a substantial studio complex, and used pledge drives, telethons, bonds, and other fundraising methods to support the operation. Financial difficulties continued under Glad Tidings. Disputes with RCA over unpaid equipment, tax liabilities, creditor claims, and questions surrounding church-issued savings certificates weakened the station’s position. A proposed TBN acquisition in 1975 initially collapsed after Glad Tidings attempted to renegotiate the transaction. RCA later repossessed equipment in January 1977, taking KPAZ-TV off the air. TBN renewed its efforts, reached an arrangement involving the station’s bondholders, and received regulatory approval to acquire the facility. KPAZ-TV returned to the air in September 1977 as TBN’s second television station, following KTBN-TV in Santa Ana, California. Under TBN, KPAZ-TV became a religious station rather than a general-market independent. TBN also sought to express the station’s religious identity visually, including a 1979 proposal to add an illuminated cross to the South Mountain tower; Phoenix authorities rejected that proposal. The station continued to transmit TBN programming as broadcasting technology changed. It received a digital allocation on channel 20, began digital program testing in 2007, and certified operation of its full-power post-transition facilities in 2008. TBN-owned full-power stations ended analog transmission in 2009. Following the FCC’s 2019 elimination of the Main Studio Rule, TBN closed numerous local studio facilities, including KPAZ-TV’s long-standing Phoenix studios on East McDowell Road. The station remains a TBN outlet serving the Phoenix market, with its identity centered on Christian religious programming and distribution of the network’s schedule rather than on extensive locally originated programming.

KPAZ-TV was conceived in the mid-1960s as a Spanish-language-oriented UHF station for Phoenix. Spanish Language Television of Arizona, Inc. filed its original application in 1965 for channel 14, later amending it to channel 21 after federal changes to the UHF allocation table. The company planned a Spanish International Network affiliation and contemplated broader Arizona coverage, including a future Tucson relay. KPAZ-TV ultimately signed on September 16, 1967, becoming Arizona's first full-power UHF station. Its opening included Arizona political and civic figures, and its schedule combined Spanish-language entertainment from Mexico with English-language news, sports, and locally produced programming. Early programs included the Spanish-language local newscast Hoy en Phoenix, Mexican bullfighting, Arizona State football highlights, the syndicated music series Upbeat, and local music and talk programs. The station also experimented with children's, auction, and community-oriented productions. Its programming strategy was intended to counter established Phoenix broadcasters, but KPAZ-TV had difficulty attracting advertisers and viewers. Bullfighting, one of its most recognizable features, was gradually removed after advertiser pressure. Spanish Language Television of Arizona filed for bankruptcy in 1969, leaving equipment creditors and other claimants competing over the station's future. In 1970, Glad Tidings Church was approved to purchase KPAZ-TV through the bankruptcy process. The church became involved in station management before the license transfer was completed, prompting concerns about the extent of its influence. Religious programs were added to the schedule, and the station increasingly reflected the church's ministry. Glad Tidings replaced management, acquired color videotape equipment, conducted fundraising telethons, and developed local projects such as Action Auction and Mr. Adam's Animals. It also built a new two-story studio facility on East McDowell Road; the building opened in 1975 after construction began the previous year. The church's ownership remained financially fragile. KPAZ-TV accumulated substantial debts, including obligations to RCA for broadcast equipment, and faced property-tax claims. RCA challenged aspects of the bankruptcy arrangement and obtained a federal appellate ruling supporting its ownership rights over equipment sold under credit terms. Although a negotiated settlement allowed the station to continue, the dispute reduced the value of the transaction and highlighted the station's financial instability. Glad Tidings also promoted savings certificates to support its operations. In early 1977, certificate holders sued the church and its officers, alleging that the financial condition of the certificates had not been adequately disclosed. TBN emerged as a prospective buyer in late 1975. Trinity Broadcasting of Arizona proposed purchasing the station and converting it to an entirely religious format, while also buying airtime that helped sustain KPAZ-TV. The initial transaction was terminated by Glad Tidings in 1976, apparently after the church reconsidered the proposed terms. RCA later repossessed equipment on January 19, 1977, forcing KPAZ-TV off the air. TBN continued pursuing the station, arranged an exchange involving Glad Tidings bondholders, and obtained FCC approval in July. KPAZ-TV returned to the air in September 1977 as TBN's second owned television station, after the network's flagship KTBN-TV. TBN's ownership established KPAZ-TV as a Christian religious station. A proposed illuminated cross on the South Mountain tower was rejected by Phoenix officials in 1979. The station later transitioned from analog to digital broadcasting. The FCC assigned digital channel 20 in 1997, construction authority was granted in 2001, and lower-power digital operations began under special authorization in 2002. Program testing began in 2007, with full-power post-transition facilities certified in 2008. TBN-owned full-power stations ended analog broadcasts in April 2009. After the FCC eliminated its Main Studio Rule in 2019, TBN closed 27 studio facilities, including KPAZ-TV's Phoenix studios on East McDowell Road. The closure reduced the station's local physical presence, but KPAZ-TV continued operating as a TBN broadcast outlet for the Phoenix area, transmitting the network's religious programming from its South Mountain facilities.

• 2019

  Local studio closed

  [1]KPAZ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  TBN closed KPAZ-TV's East McDowell Road studio following repeal of the FCC Main Studio Rule.

• 2008

  Full-power digital facilities certified

  [1]KPAZ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station certified its full-power digital post-transition operation.

• 1977

  TBN ownership begins

  [1]KPAZ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  TBN acquired KPAZ-TV after a temporary shutdown and returned it to the air as its second station.

• 1975

  New Phoenix studio facility opens

  [1]KPAZ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Glad Tidings opened a new studio complex on East McDowell Road.

• 1970

  Glad Tidings Church approved as buyer

  [1]KPAZ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The church purchased the station through bankruptcy proceedings, subject to regulatory approval.

• 1969

  Original owner files for bankruptcy

  [1]KPAZ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Spanish Language Television of Arizona entered bankruptcy after less than two years of operation.

• 1967

  KPAZ-TV signs on

  [1]KPAZ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Channel 21 began broadcasting as Arizona's first full-power UHF station.

• 1965

  Original construction application filed

  [1]KPAZ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Spanish Language Television of Arizona, Inc. applied to build a new Phoenix television station.

A local broadcast outlet for Trinity Broadcasting Network religious programming, serving the Phoenix market through over-the-air television transmission.

• Television station · 1967

  KPAZ-TV broadcast service

  The station's primary offering is over-the-air television service for Phoenix and surrounding parts of Arizona. It currently functions as a TBN religious outlet, using digital terrestrial transmission and a South Mountain transmitter site to distribute Christian programming associated with the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

• Digital television · 2007

  KPAZ-TV digital service

  KPAZ-TV's digital broadcasting infrastructure was developed through a series of FCC authorizations beginning in the late 1990s. The station tested digital programming in 2007 and certified full-power post-transition facilities in 2008, replacing its former analog transmission after the 2009 digital transition.

• 1977

  Savings-certificate lawsuit involving Glad Tidings

  Buyers of Glad Tidings savings certificates sued the church and its officers, alleging that the certificates' financial risks and inability to pay interest had not been disclosed. TBN later settled the case after acquiring KPAZ-TV.

  Source

Read more

• 1972Outreach '72

  Phoenix · Arizona

  Glad Tidings used an 11-day televised fundraising event to support KPAZ-TV's operations and its expanding religious programming.

  Outcome. The campaign formed part of the church's continuing effort to finance the station, although it did not resolve the underlying financial problems.

  Source

• 2019

  Closure of local studio facilitiesStrategy

  Background

  The FCC repealed the Main Studio Rule, removing the requirement that full-power stations maintain studios in or near their communities of license.

  Action taken

  TBN closed KPAZ-TV's long-standing East McDowell Road studios as part of a wider closure of 27 studio facilities.

  Aftermath

  The station continued broadcasting to Phoenix but with a reduced local physical and production presence.

  Source

• 2008

  Digital television transitionGeneration change

  Background

  The FCC assigned KPAZ-TV digital channel 20 and authorized construction and interim digital operation.

  Action taken

  The station began digital program testing and certified full-power post-transition facilities.

  Aftermath

  KPAZ-TV moved toward all-digital terrestrial broadcasting and ended analog transmission with other TBN full-power stations in 2009.

  Source

• 1977

  TBN completes acquisition of KPAZ-TVM&A

  Background

  Glad Tidings was heavily indebted, RCA had repossessed station equipment, and KPAZ-TV had gone dark. TBN had previously attempted to buy the station but the first transaction failed.

  Action taken

  TBN arranged a transaction involving the station and Glad Tidings bondholders, obtained FCC approval, and restored KPAZ-TV to the air as a religious station.

  Aftermath

  KPAZ-TV became TBN's second owned television station and shifted from its earlier independent bilingual format toward network religious programming.

  Source

1. 1KPAZ-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Trinity Broadcasting Networktbn.org