KSTS is the Telemundo-owned Spanish-language television station serving San Jose and the wider San Francisco Bay Area.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KSTS is a television station licensed to San Jose, California, and operates as the San Francisco Bay Area affiliate and owned-and-operated outlet of Telemundo, the Spanish-language television network within NBCUniversal. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 48 and serves a market extending across the Bay Area, with its primary audience concentrated in San Jose, Santa Clara Valley, and surrounding communities. It is part of the Telemundo Station Group and shares common ownership, facilities, and selected resources with NBC-owned KNTV, the Bay Area's NBC outlet. The station began as an independent operation rather than as a Spanish-language broadcaster. The Federal Communications Commission granted National Group Television a construction permit for channel 48 in 1978. The permit initially used the call letters KQWT before the station adopted KSTS in January 1979. After efforts to secure a major-network affiliation failed, KSTS signed on May 31, 1981, with a schedule combining syndicated entertainment, business programming, and other independent material. Its early identity was strongly connected to business and technology content, including the local program Business Today and programming from the Financial News Network. KSTS also experimented with subscription television. It carried STAR TV programming beginning in late 1981 and later offered International Network Television, a service organized around Japanese-language, Chinese-language, and adult programming blocks. Subscription operations ended in 1983 after attracting only a small subscriber base. The station then developed a distinctive schedule of brokered and specialty programs, including Chinese-language material, Filipino and Vietnamese programming, shows about computers and business, and programs focused on sports, wine, and photography. Its computer-oriented programming earned it the informal reputation of being “The Computer Connection.” In 1984, it carried a rebroadcast of an Apple Computer shareholder meeting at which the Macintosh was introduced. Telemundo Group acquired KSTS in 1987 for $17 million, selecting San Jose over another Bay Area station in part because of the concentration of Hispanic residents in the South Bay. The acquisition turned KSTS into a principal Spanish-language television outlet in the region, although the station continued to carry some Portuguese, Persian, and other non-Spanish programming for a period. KSTS launched a local news department in 1988, beginning with a 6 p.m. newscast and later adding an 11 p.m. edition. Its news schedule expanded again in the early 2000s, was temporarily reorganized into a regional operation during NBCUniversal's NBCUni 2.0 cost-cutting program, and returned to local production in 2010. KSTS has continued to evolve as a local news and digital television operation. It became the first Spanish-language television station in the Bay Area to present its local newscasts in high definition in 2012. A broad Telemundo news expansion in 2014 added or restored several local programs, expanded staffing, introduced a new studio set, increased locally produced weather coverage, and added the Telemundo Responde consumer-investigative franchise. Some weekday editions were later discontinued in 2016 as the station shifted resources toward weekend local newscasts. Technically, KSTS ended analog broadcasting in 2009 and moved to a repacked digital channel in 2020. Its current role combines network programming, Spanish-language local news, community affairs, weather, consumer reporting, and digital broadcast subchannels.
History
KSTS was created during the late-1970s expansion of UHF television in Northern California. On March 29, 1978, the FCC granted National Group Television permission to construct a San Jose station on channel 48. The permit initially carried the call sign KQWT, which was changed to KSTS on January 2, 1979. National Group Television principal John Douglas spent more than a year seeking a network affiliation, but established CBS and NBC affiliates in the San Francisco market did not want a new station to dilute their audiences. KSTS therefore launched as an independent station on May 31, 1981. The early schedule mixed syndicated programs with locally oriented business material. Business Today was among the station's local productions, while the Financial News Network supplied much of the daytime schedule after its launch in late 1981. KSTS also pursued subscription television as a way to supplement advertising revenue. STAR TV programming began on November 8, 1981, after delays connected with the service's transfer from Universal Subscription Television. The arrangement did not last: STAR became unable to pay the station, and the resulting revenue loss contributed to the cancellation of Business Today and layoffs. KSTS replaced the service with International Network Television, which offered Japanese-language and Chinese-language blocks alongside a late-night adult tier. Subscription broadcasting ended on September 1, 1983, when the service had only about 3,000 subscribers. After abandoning subscription television, KSTS built an unusual independent-station identity around specialized programming. Chinese-language shows occupied portions of prime time, and independent producers supplied Filipino, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Persian, and other ethnic programs. Business, computing, sports, wine, and photography were prominent themes. Programs such as Affordable Computer Hotline connected the station with Silicon Valley's growing technology culture. KSTS also carried a rebroadcast of Apple's 1984 shareholder meeting, including the introduction of the Macintosh, after the company could not accommodate everyone wishing to attend. The station's specialty focus helped distinguish it, although weak ratings and the loss of certain cable carriage arrangements limited its reach. Telemundo Group purchased KSTS in 1987 for $17 million. The buyer chose the San Jose station rather than KCNS in San Francisco, with the South Bay's Hispanic population a significant factor in the decision. The acquisition gave Telemundo a strategic Bay Area outlet and positioned KSTS as a competitor in Spanish-language television. The transition was gradual: even after the sale, the station continued to carry some Portuguese and Persian programs and was not immediately Spanish-language around the clock. A KSTS translator, K15CU or KCU, began serving the Salinas area in 1990 as part of an effort to broaden the station's regional coverage. KSTS launched its local news department in 1988 with a half-hour 6 p.m. newscast led initially by Celina Rodriguez and Dante Betteo. An 11 p.m. edition was subsequently added. The 1990 employee strike over low wages and working conditions interrupted the news operation: the 6 p.m. program was temporarily suspended and the 11 p.m. broadcast was canceled. Employees later organized with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, reaching a contract in 1992. The late newscast eventually returned in 1997. In 1999, the station's hiring of model Mónica Mesones as a weather presenter generated controversy, reflecting wider debates about presentation and qualifications in television news. The news schedule expanded in 2001 with the morning program Noticiero 48 Esta Mañana and the mid-morning Noticiero 48 Al Mediodía. Both were discontinued in 2004. In 2006, NBCUniversal's NBCUni 2.0 cost-reduction program replaced KSTS's local news production with a regional operation serving the western United States. That model was later reversed, and local production returned in 2010. On February 27, 2012, KSTS upgraded its local newscasts to high definition. A further expansion occurred in 2014. KSTS launched Noticiero Telemundo 48 Primera Edición in June and added a 5:30 p.m. newscast and a 10 a.m. edition in November. It received a new set, expanded locally produced weather coverage, introduced Telemundo Responde consumer investigations, added roughly 20 news-department employees, and increased resource sharing with KNTV. The station later adjusted this schedule: effective June 27, 2016, it canceled the morning and 10 a.m. programs and began producing weekend editions of its 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts on July 2. NBC's acquisition of Telemundo in 2002 placed KSTS within NBCUniversal. Around the same period, NBC acquired KNTV and converted it into the market's NBC owned-and-operated station. KSTS and KNTV subsequently moved from separate premises to a shared facility on North 1st Street in North San Jose. The stations remain linked through common ownership, selected news and public-affairs resources, and shared technical infrastructure. KSTS transmits from Mount Allison, while some subchannels are carried through the KNTV tower on San Bruno Mountain. It discontinued analog transmission on June 12, 2009, continued digitally using virtual channel 48, and moved from digital channel 49 to channel 19 during the 2020 spectrum repack.
- 2020
Digital channel repack
[1]KSTS moved its digital transmission from channel 49 to channel 19 while retaining virtual channel 48.
- 2016
Weekday schedule is refocused
[1]The station canceled its morning and 10 a.m. newscasts and added weekend evening editions.
- 2014
Local news expansion
[1]KSTS added newscasts, staff, locally produced weather, a new set, and consumer-investigative reporting.
- 2012
High-definition news begins
[1]The station began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition on February 27.
- 2010
Local news production returns
[1]KSTS restored locally produced news after the regional model was reversed.
- 2006
Local news is reorganized regionally
[1]NBCUni 2.0 cost reductions replaced the local news operation with a regional western-U.S. service.
- 2002
NBC acquires Telemundo
[1]KSTS became part of NBCUniversal through NBC's acquisition of Telemundo.
- 1990
Regional expansion begins
[1]The KCU translator began broadcasting in Salinas, extending KSTS's regional reach.
- 1988
Local news department launches
[1]KSTS introduced its first regular local newscast, a half-hour 6 p.m. program.
- 1987
Telemundo acquisition
[1]Telemundo Group bought KSTS for $17 million and made it part of its Bay Area Spanish-language network strategy.
Products and positioning
A local Spanish-language broadcast platform for the Bay Area, combining Telemundo network entertainment and news with San Jose-centered local journalism, community programming, weather, and consumer advocacy.
Spanish-language television network service · 1987
Telemundo network programming
KSTS carries programming supplied by Telemundo, including Spanish-language entertainment, news, sports, and other network content. This service forms the core of the station's identity following Telemundo's acquisition of the channel in 1987.
Local television news · 1988
Telemundo 48 local news
KSTS's local news operation covers San Jose and the San Francisco Bay Area for Spanish-speaking viewers. It has included evening, late-night, morning, mid-morning, and weekend editions at different points in the station's history, with local weather and consumer reporting integrated into the service.
Consumer-investigative journalism · 2014
Telemundo Responde
Telemundo Responde is a consumer-investigative franchise used by KSTS to examine viewer complaints, marketplace problems, and consumer issues. The local version was introduced during the station's 2014 news expansion.
Public-affairs programming
Comunidad del Valle
Comunidad del Valle is a community-oriented public-affairs program associated with KSTS and supported through resource sharing with NBC-owned KNTV. It provides a platform for regional issues and community discussion.
Digital television broadcasting · 2009
Digital multicast services
KSTS operates a multiplexed digital signal that carries multiple television services. Some services are coordinated or simulcast with KNTV's digital facilities, while the KSTS transmission originates from Mount Allison and related Bay Area broadcast infrastructure.
Brand decisions
2020
KSTS completes digital spectrum repackOtherBackground
Federal spectrum repacking required many television stations to change their physical broadcast channels.
Action taken
KSTS moved its digital transmission from physical channel 49 to channel 19 while continuing to identify on virtual channel 48.
Aftermath
The station continued digital broadcasting under its established channel branding.
2016
News schedule shifts toward weekend editionsStrategyBackground
KSTS reviewed the schedule introduced during the 2014 expansion.
Action taken
The station canceled its morning and 10 a.m. newscasts and began producing weekend editions of its 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. programs.
Aftermath
The change concentrated local-news production on selected evening and weekend broadcasts.
2014
KSTS expands its local news portfolioProduct launchBackground
Telemundo undertook a broader national investment in local news programming at several owned stations.
Action taken
KSTS added Primera Edición, a 5:30 p.m. newscast, a 10 a.m. edition, locally produced weather, Telemundo Responde, a new set, and additional news staff.
Aftermath
The station increased its local-news capacity and strengthened resource sharing with KNTV, although portions of the expanded weekday schedule were later discontinued.
2006
Local news operation is centralizedStrategyBackground
NBCUniversal's NBCUni 2.0 initiative sought cost reductions and operational efficiencies across its television businesses.
Action taken
KSTS's locally produced news was replaced with a regional news operation serving the western United States.
Aftermath
The regional approach was later reversed, and KSTS restored local news production in 2010.
1987
Telemundo acquires KSTSM&ABackground
Telemundo Group was seeking Bay Area distribution for its developing Spanish-language network. The San Jose market was strategically important because of the Hispanic population concentrated in the South Bay.
Action taken
Telemundo Group purchased KSTS from National Group Television and incorporated the station into its owned-station portfolio.
Aftermath
KSTS became a principal Spanish-language broadcast outlet for the Bay Area, although its schedule retained some non-Spanish programming during the early transition.
Acquisition price. 17000000 (1987)
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