KAZT-TV

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KAZT-TV
kW
HAAT792 m (2,598 ft)
Transmitter coordinates34°41′15″N 112°7′3.5″W / 34.68750°N 112.117639°W / 34.68750; -112.117639
Links
Public license information
Websitecw7az.com
Translator (for others, see § Translators)
KAZT-CD
  • Phoenix, Arizona
Channels
History
First air date
April 22, 1986
(38 years ago) (1986-04-22)
Former call signs
KAZT-CA (2002–2010)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 22 (1986–1992)
  • Digital: 27 (UHF, 2007–2009)
Call sign meaning
Arizona Television
Technical information[2]
Facility ID72618
ClassCD
ERP15 kW
HAAT517.5 m (1,698 ft)
Transmitter coordinates33°20′2″N 112°3′43″W / 33.33389°N 112.06194°W / 33.33389; -112.06194 (KAZT-CD)
Links
Public license information

KAZT-TV (channel 7) is a television station licensed to Prescott, Arizona, United States, serving the Phoenix television market as an affiliate of The CW. The station is locally owned by the Londen family of Phoenix and managed by Nexstar Media Group under a multi-year time brokerage agreement. KAZT-TV has studios on Tower Road in Prescott and in the Londen Center on Camelback Road in Phoenix. Its main transmitter is located atop Mingus Mountain (northeast of Prescott). Its signal is relayed through a network of five low-power translators across central and northern Arizona, including Class A station KAZT-CD in Phoenix.

A construction permit for channel 7 in Prescott was approved in 1980. The first owner, William H. Sauro, unsuccessfully sought a network affiliation for the station, but by late 1981, he had switched to envisioning it as a springboard for a national network of translators. KUSK debuted on September 5, 1982; it aired limited local programming but was primarily recognized in the market for classic TV series and a heavy sports schedule. KUSK began extending its reach by a series of low-power translators in the Phoenix area,

Harry Pappas to become an affiliate of the new Azteca América
Spanish-language network.

After the sale to Pappas failed, the Londen family—owners of a life insurance company in Phoenix—acquired KUSK and overhauled the operation. The station was renamed as KAZT-TV on April 2, 2002. It remained an independent station with syndicated programming for Phoenix and Northern Arizona as well as some local shows and sports telecasts. In 2024, Nexstar assumed operational control of KAZT under a time brokerage agreement with Londen and moved the CW affiliation from a subchannel of KNXV-TV.

History

KUSK: Early years

William H. Sauro obtained a construction permit from the

KNAZ call letters were assigned to a station in Flagstaff the following year). Ground was broken on the station's Prescott studios in November 1981, by which time Sauro's plans had dramatically changed. Sauro partnered with a cable TV consultant to propose a "Neighborhood Television" network of more than 140 low-power translators in major markets across the country to air KUSK's programming; this would have cost $15 to $20 million to build.[7] The Neighborhood translators and program format for KUSK would have consisted of shows aimed at rural American audiences; Sauro described the theme as "the U.S., the greatest 'country' in the world".[8]

KUSK first signed on the air on September 5, 1982.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.[10] The station also had a local information program on Saturdays, The Carol Adams Show.[11] However, a wave of layoffs in 1985 saw the station discontinue the newscast and other local programming, which included Yavapai College basketball and Bradshaw Mountain High School football; in addition, KUSK ceased making commercials for other clients.[12][13]

KUSK comes to Phoenix

In 1985, Arizona Metro Television, Ltd., in which Sauro was a partner, acquired a Phoenix low-power TV station, K27AN, from the

California Angels, as well as the music video service Hit Video USA.[16]

Sauro obtained two further translators, K55EH from

Home Shopping Network (HSN), which Sauro claimed was due to viewer demand.[18] In 1992, K27AN was converted to run home shopping programming full-time, with KUSK broadcasting through channels 17 and 55.[19] That October, the station began broadcasting on a translator in Flagstaff.[20]

KAZT also held construction permits for another two translators, channel 43 in Casa Grande and channel 19 in Yuma.

Arizona Wildcats basketball and Northern Arizona University and Brigham Young University athletics.[24] In the 1990s, KUSK aired a talk show hosted by Sam Steiger.[27]

On December 5, 1997, KUSK, Inc., filed for

Harry Pappas, who would have relaunched KUSK as an Azteca América affiliate.[30] Money problems, however, forced delays in the launch of Azteca América and scuttled most of the network's planned purchases and affiliate switches.[31]

KAZT-TV: The Londen years

On November 30, 2001, KUSK reached an agreement to sell the station to the Londen family, owners of the Illinois-based Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Company.

Governor Jane Dee Hull, U.S. Representative Bob Stump, prominent local auto dealer Lou Grubb, Jerry Colangelo of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks, and Michael Bidwill of the Arizona Cardinals. Company patriarch Jack Londen later said that he had bought the station as a 50th anniversary gift for his wife, Dodie.[32]

Three weeks later, on April 22, the station launched a new slate of local programming, including several talk shows (one hosted by longtime Valley broadcaster

Wallace and Ladmo, a compilation of highlights from the long-running local children's show that McMahon co-hosted.[36] Bergamo continued to run the station until he was killed in a car accident in 2008.[37]

During the 2000s, the station served as a telecast outlet for various secondary sports. It picked up overflow events from

Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League;[39] in the 2008–09 season, the station carried 20 games,[40] and Fox Sports Arizona became the team's sole TV home in 2009.[41] In 2010, the station broadcast eight arena football games of the Arizona Rattlers.[42]

The 2000s also saw several changes to the station's transmitters. K19CX in Yuma was required to drop KAZT programming on December 4, 2006, due to syndication exclusivity issues with other stations within that separate market and the increasing prevalence of syndicated fare on KAZT's schedule.[43] It became a repeater of KAET (channel 8), the PBS station in Phoenix, and was sold directly to Arizona State University in 2013.[44]

After KUTP (channel 45) signed on its digital signal on channel 26, its permanent allocation, KAZT-CA began to experience adjacent channel signal interference. The station requested Special Temporary Authority (STA) to shut off its analog signal and begin operating its digital signal on the same channel (called a "flash cut"). The FCC granted the STA on August 16, 2007, and KAZT-CA began broadcasting in digital on January 15, 2008.[45][46] On August 4, 2008, KAZT-CA applied to move its signal to channel 36, citing displacement due to continuing interference from KUTP.[47] The FCC granted the displacement application on September 10, 2009, and on December 7, KAZT-CA ended broadcasts on channel 27, commencing operations on channel 36 five days later.[48]

Nexstar operation and affiliation with The CW

On January 8, 2024, it was announced that KAZT-TV would become the new Phoenix-area affiliate for The CW, effective February 1, 2024, as part of a time brokerage deal with the network's majority owner, Nexstar Media Group.[49] The time brokerage agreement began on January 5, 2024, and runs for an eight-year term.[50] The relocation of the CW affiliation came three months after the network experienced a change in its Phoenix-market outlet. The previous November, the E. W. Scripps Company, owner of longtime CW affiliate KASW (channel 61) and ABC affiliate KNXV-TV, moved CW programming from KASW to a subchannel of KNXV-TV in order to place Coyotes hockey games on channel 61.[51][52]

Local programming

On weekday mornings, KAZT-TV airs Arizona Daily Mix, produced from Phoenix and hosted by former

Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude in Phoenix on Sundays.[55]

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is

multiplexed
:

Subchannels of KAZT-TV and its translators[56]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
7.1 720p
16:9
 KAZT The CW
7.2 MeTV MeTV
7.3 480i
4:3
 HSN HSN
7.4 720p 16:9 Charge Charge!
7.5 AZTV Rewind TV

On October 13, 2008, KAZT-DT and KAZT-CA launched their first additional subchannel, featuring the

Retro Television Network (RTV).[57] On June 20, 2011, KAZT added MeTV.[58]

Analog-to-digital conversion

On February 22, 2001, the station was granted a construction permit to build its digital companion channel on UHF channel 25, and in October 2002, after receiving a grant of Special Temporary Authority (STA) to operate at roughly the same service level as its analog station, KAZT-DT came on the air. The station made its temporary operations permanent in August 2006, and on October 17, 2006, it was licensed. KAZT-TV shut down its analog signal, over

VHF channel 7, on May 15, 2009;[59] the station's digital signal then moved from UHF channel 25 to VHF channel 7.[60]

Translators

In addition to KAZT-CD in Phoenix, KAZT-TV is relayed on the following translators in northern Arizona:[61]

  • Bullhead City
    : K24DK-D
  • Flagstaff: K30DT-D
  • Kingman: K20ID-D
  • Lake Havasu City
    : K17DA-D

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KAZT-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KAZT-CD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ Velotta, Rick (May 18, 1980). "Private Interests Draw Criticism from TV Group". Arizona Daily Sun. p. 8. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Mills, Steve (July 30, 1982). "PAAT lets KUSK take heat". The Courier. p. 4A.
  5. ^ Wilkinson, Bud (February 21, 1980). "'Voice of the Giants' moves base to cover Wildcats' games in Tucson". Arizona Republic. p. D15. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ FCC History Cards for KAZT-TV
  7. ^ Wilkinson, Bud (November 6, 1981). "Prescott channel aims to go national". Arizona Republic. p. E12. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ProQuest 962711444
    .
  9. ^ Howson, Craig (September 7, 1982). "4-year dream is now a reality: KUSK is on the air". The Courier. pp. 1A, 12A.
  10. ^ Wilkinson, Bud (August 22, 1982). "Small stations seek autonomy". Arizona Republic. pp. TV Digest 3, 4. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ O'Driscoll, Mary (August 18, 1982). "Prescott TV Station to Debut". Arizona Daily Sun. p. 2. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Smith, Fred (March 13, 1985). "Prescott's Channel 7 lays off 12, cuts news shows". Arizona Republic. pp. E1, E6. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Rabe, Don (March 24, 1985). "Extra Point". Arizona Daily Sun. p. 15. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Wilkinson, Bud (July 23, 1985). "Low-power TV permit sold; new owners plan sports fare". Arizona Republic. p. C10. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Wilkinson, Bud (July 25, 1985). "KPNX has yet to pick replacement for Linda Alvarez". Arizona Republic. p. F7. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Wilkinson, Bud (April 22, 1986). "KTSP-TV general manager accepts Taft executive position". Arizona Republic. p. C9. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Wilkinson, Bud (January 6, 1988). "Sports-rich Channel 27 runs option into 'big-time'". The Arizona Republic. p. C6. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Joseph, Greg (March 28, 1990). "'Cloned' ABC series does justice to law". Arizona Republic. p. C5. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Cohn, Bob (April 9, 1992). "Clearing the air?". The Arizona Republic. p. D2. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "On the air". Arizona Daily Sun. October 10, 1992. p. 1. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Wilkinson, Bud (March 13, 1989). "KUSK-TV suitor claims operation needs bailout". The Arizona Republic. p. D11. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Trued, Jonetta R. (May 14, 1994). "TV Station Airs in Valley". Casa Grande Dispatch. pp. 1, 3.
  23. ^ Oestmann, Eric (April 17, 1994). "Prescott TV station on air in Kingman". Kingman Daily Miner. p. 2B.
  24. ^ a b Walker, Dave (April 12, 1996). "KUSK (Channel 7, 55, 6, 20, 9, 17, 13) reaches a million from Prescott". The Arizona Republic. p. D15. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Cohn, Bob (June 10, 1993). "KUSK to cable". The Arizona Republic. p. F2. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Cohn, Bob (March 2, 1995). "KUSK-TV's growth a boon for sports fans". The Arizona Republic. p. D2. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Walker, Dave (July 4, 1999). "Steiger: The last angry oracle of Old Arizona". The Arizona Republic. pp. E1, E9, E10. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Mull, Angela (December 26, 1997). "KUSK files Chapter 11 amid shareholder spat". The Business Journal of Phoenix. Retrieved September 14, 2007.
  29. ^ Callahan, Timothy (December 17, 1997). "Local television station files for reorganization". The Daily Courier. pp. 1A, 6A.
  30. ProQuest 225307130
    . Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  31. ^ Trigoboff, Dan (July 2, 2001). "Not so fast, Pappas". Broadcasting & Cable. p. 10. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  32. ^ a b Robertson, Anne (April 12, 2002). "Londens' are driving force behind KAZT". The Business Journal of Phoenix. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
  33. ^ Clancy, Michael (December 8, 2001). "'Mayor' Pratt to take over afternoon shift at KZON". Arizona Republic. p. E7. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Goodykoontz, Bill (April 22, 2002). "New station AZ local as its name". Arizona Republic. p. E6. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Gintonio, Jim (April 30, 2002). "Prescott station calls on Allen". The Arizona Republic. p. C2. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "McMahon to host the best of 'Ladmo'". Arizona Republic. October 19, 2002. p. E5. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Ruelas, Richard (January 8, 2008). "Bergamo, longtime TV exec, dies". Arizona Republic. pp. B1, B6. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "KAZ-TV expands coverage of Cards, Mercury". Arizona Republic. May 31, 2003. p. C17. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Seidenberg, Sjostrom agree to 2-year deals". Arizona Republic. July 14, 2006. p. 42. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Phoenix is a finalist for 2012-16 Final Fours". Arizona Republic. September 4, 2008. p. C3. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Gintonio, Jim (October 1, 2009). "Tippett hopeful Lang plays opener". Arizona Republic. p. C6. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "NFL Network to broadcast Arena games". Arizona Republic. February 18, 2010. p. C2. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ Gautreaux, Jeffrey (November 13, 2006). "KAZT-TV to sign off in Yuma". Yuma Sun. p. 1. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  44. ^ "Station Trading Roundup: 5 Deals, $28.8M". TVNewsCheck. July 23, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  45. ^ "AZ-TV Now All-Digital Channel 7.1 in Phoenix: What You Need To Know (And Do)". Londen Media Group. January 15, 2008. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
  46. ^ "Station KAZT-CA — Flash Cut Application for D27 - Phoenix, Arizona". Federal Communications Commission. July 24, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2007.
  47. ^ "KAZT-CA to move to channel 36". Federal Communications Commission. August 4, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  48. ^ "AZ-TV Transmitter Upgrades". KAZT website. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
  49. ^ Alex (January 8, 2024). "Nexstar Media Enters Into Time Brokerage Agreement with KAZT-TV in Phoenix, Arizona". Nexstar Media Group. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  50. ^ "Time Brokerage Agreement" (PDF). Public Inspection File. Federal Communications Commission. January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  51. ^ Dachman, Jason (November 17, 2023). "Arizona Coyotes Move to New Scripps Sports OTA Station". Sports Video Group. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  52. ^ "Arizona Coyotes Moving to New Home with Scripps Sports". Arizona Coyotes. November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  53. ^ Goodykoontz, Bill (November 3, 2019). "AZTV 7's Brad Perry talks about returning to Phoenix TV". The Arizona Republic.
  54. ^ Sunnucks, Mike; Gonzales, Angela. "KAZT-TV host Lisa Schneider-Cipriano dies after cancer battle". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  55. ^ Gonzales, Angela (December 16, 2009). "Catholic radio station set for Phoenix launch". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  56. ^ "TV Query for KAZT-TV". RabbitEars.
  57. ^ "RTN to Launch in Phoenix, Bringing Total Number of Affiliates to 40". Equity Media Holdings. December 19, 2007. Archived from the original on June 12, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  58. ^ "Me-TV Comes to AZ-TV!". AZ-TV. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  59. ^ "Analog Service Termination Notification". Consolidated Database System. Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
  60. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. May 23, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  61. ^ "List of TV Translator Input Channels". Federal Communications Commission. July 23, 2021. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.

External links