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KASW
ATSC 3.0station
The word "Arizona" in an angled rounded rectangle with the number 61 off to the right.
Channels
BrandingArizona 61
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
KNXV-TV
History
First air date
September 23, 1995
(29 years ago)(1995-09-23)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog:61 (UHF, 1995–2009)
  • Digital:49 (UHF, 2002–2018)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID7143
ERP445kW
HAAT551.8 m (1,810 ft)
Transmitter coordinates33°20′1″N112°3′47″W/ 33.33361°N 112.06306°W/33.33361; -112.06306
Links
Public license information
Websitearizona61.com

KASW(channel 61), brandedArizona 61,is anindependent television stationinPhoenix, Arizona,United States. It is owned by theE.W. Scripps CompanyalongsideABCaffiliateKNXV-TV(channel 15). The two stations share studios on North 44th Street on the city's east side; KASW's primary transmitter is located onSouth Mountain.

KASW went on the air in 1995 as the Phoenix affiliate ofThe WB.Its first owner contracted withKTVK(channel 3) for programming and support services, and KTVK bought the station in 1999. In addition to being an affiliate of The WB and later The CW, the station also broadcast several secondary local sports teams at various times. KASW was split from KTVK in 2014 as the result of KTVK's sale to theMeredith Corporation,owner ofKPHO-TV.

Scripps acquired it in 2019 and added local newscasts from KNXV. In 2023, Scripps flip-flopped the programming on KASW and KNXV's secondsubchannel,with KASW becoming an independent station and home to telecasts of theArizona Coyoteshockey team. KASW is the high-powerATSC 3.0(NextGen TV) station for the Phoenix area and provides the ATSC 3.0 broadcasts of six major Phoenix commercial stations.

Prior use of channel 61 in Phoenix

[edit]

Prior to KASW's sign-on, the UHF channel 61 frequency in the Phoenix market was originally occupied bylow-powerstation K61CA; that station carried a locally programmedmusic videoformat known as "Music Channel" and operated from March 15, 1983,[2]until November 12, 1984, closing due to mounting debts and lack of cash to continue operating.[3]

The construction permit for K61CA remained active for several more years; by 1988, it was owned by Channel 61 Development Corporation and was planned as a satellite-fed relay ofKSTS,aTelemundoaffiliate inSan Jose, California.[4]

History

[edit]

In November 1987, theFederal Communications Commission(FCC) allocated channel 61 for full-power use in Phoenix.KUSK-TVapplied alongside four other groups;[5]the field was narrowed to three, and Brooks Broadcasting, owned byChandlerfarmer Gregory R. Brooks, was granted the permit in February 1991 by the FCC review board.[6]

WB affiliation

[edit]
On a red triangle trimmed in black, the "WB" from the WB logo in the upper left. A white 61, slightly abstract, trimmed in black, sits in the center, above a yellow squiggle running on the bottom.
KASW's original logo, used from 1995 until 1999

Little activity occurred on the permit, with the call sign KAIK; Brooks considered running home shopping on the station, and he was approached byKPHO-TVabout potentially splitting rights to a new major league baseball team with the station.[7]

In December 1994, Brooks entered into alocal marketing agreementwith Media America Corporation, then owners ofKTVK(channel 3). KTVK, in the concluding phase of losing its ABC affiliation, had acquired a large inventory of children's programs, includingFox Kids,and theWBaffiliation that did not fit with its planned programming as an independent. Brooks, who was wanting to run a station catering to Phoenix's youth audience but had not been able to get the station going, was surprised when KTVK approached him; Delbert Lewis, the owner, owned a farm adjacent to one of Brooks's properties inFlorencebut had never met him.[8]

KASW signed on September 23, 1995, as the first new full-power Phoenix television station sinceKUTPstarted up in December 1985.[7]In addition to WB, Fox Kids and syndicated shows, as well as old movies on the nights when The WB did not air programming,[9]it also aired a 30-minute newscast, known asNewsNight,produced by KTVK;[10]the logo fit the station's youth appeal and was described by Dave Walker ofThe Arizona Republicas "reminiscent of an amoeba-shaped 1960s coffee table".[9]Brooks, a member ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,also aired the twice-yearlyLDS General Conferenceon channel 61.[10]KTVK and KASW also split over-the-air coverage rights to thePhoenix Coyoteshockey team when it moved to Phoenix in 1996, with 20 of the 25 games in the package airing on channel 61.[11]

In July 1999, MAC America (the former Media America) announced it would sell KTVK to theBelo Corporation.[12]Later that year, Belo announced that it would purchase KASW from Gregory Brooks, forming the first televisionduopolyin the Phoenix market just as they were being legalized.[13]

From The WB to The CW

[edit]

On January 24, 2006, the Warner Bros. unit ofTime WarnerandCBS Corporation(which had been created as a result of the split of Viacom at the start of the year) announced that the two companies would shut down The WB andUPNand combine the networks' respective programming to create a new "fifth" network calledThe CW.[14][15]The local UPN affiliate was KUTP, owned byFox Television Stations.None of Fox's UPN stations, some of which were in the same market as charter network outlets owned by CBS andTribune Broadcasting,were selected for the new network, and in late February, Fox announced it would startMyNetworkTVto serve its ex-UPN portfolio (including KUTP) and other stations that would not join The CW.[16][17]On March 8, Belo signed an affiliation agreement with for KASW to become The CW's affiliate in Phoenix.[18][19]

On June 13, 2013, Belo announced that KTVK and KASW would be acquired by theGannett Company,owner of local NBC affiliateKPNXand theArizona Republic.Since this would have given Gannett control of three stations in the Phoenix market, Gannett announced that it would spin off KTVK and KASW to Sander Media,LLC(operated by former Belo executive Jack Sander). While Gannett intended to provide services to the stations through ashared services agreement,KTVK and KASW's operations would have remained largely separate from KPNX and theRepublic.[20]On December 23, 2013, shortly after the approval and completion of the Gannett/Belo deal, theMeredith Corporationannounced that it would purchase KTVK and the non-license assets of KASW from Sander Media and Gannett in a $407.5 million transaction.[21]As Meredith already ownedCBSaffiliate KPHO-TV (channel 5), the KASW license was instead sold toSagamoreHill Broadcasting,with Meredith operating the station under a shared services agreement.[22]

Sale to Nexstar and separation from KTVK

[edit]

The FCC approved the sale of KASW and KTVK to SagamoreHill and Meredith on June 17, 2014, and the deal closed two days later. The two companies also agreed to voluntarily divest KASW to an independent buyer within 90 days of the deal's closure; on October 23, 2014, Meredith and SagamoreHill announced that it would sell KASW toNexstar Broadcasting Groupfor $68 million, giving the company its first station in the Phoenix market. The FCC approved the sale to Nexstar on December 19, and the sale was consummated on January 30, 2015, ending the nearly 20-year partnership between KASW and KTVK.[23][24]The station began migrating out of KTVK's facilities in September 2015.[25]

Sale to Scripps; switch to independent status

[edit]
All in black: The CW network logo at left next to a black 61 in a sans serif. Beneath both, the word "ARIZONA".
CW61 Arizona logo, used until 2023

In March 2019, Nexstar announced it would purchase Tribune Media. This acquisition required divestitures of several overlapping stations; however, in addition to stations in markets where divestiture was necessary, Nexstar opted to also sell KASW to theE. W. Scripps Company,owner of local ABC affiliateKNXV-TV(channel 15), creating Phoenix's third TV duopoly. Although other stations acquired from the Nexstar/Tribune divestitures came from the Tribune portfolio, KASW was the only Nexstar station to be bought out by Scripps.[26][27][28]The sale was approved by the FCC on September 16 and was completed on September 19.[29]Scripps added newscasts from KNXV and also upgraded the station's syndicated programming inventory.[30]

On November 20, 2023, CW programming moved to the second subchannel of KNXV-TV (which otherwise carriedAntenna TVprogramming), and KASW became anindependent stationknown as Arizona 61; the station airs a mix of local news, sports (including Arizona Coyotes hockey), and entertainment programming, as well as content fromScripps News.The rebranded station moved to channel 95 onCox Communicationscable systems in the Phoenix metro area, as KNXV's second subchannel took over KASW's channel 6 placement.[31][32]This service in turn lost the CW affiliation on February 1, 2024, toKAZT-TVafter CW ownerNexstar Media Groupbegan programming the station under a multi-yeartime brokerage agreementwith KAZT-TV's owner Londen Media Group.[33]

Programming

[edit]

Local newscasts

[edit]
Further information:KNXV-TV § News operation

From 1995 to 1997, KTVK produced a half-hour 9 p.m. newscast for KASW.[9]

After the station was sold to Scripps, KNXV-TV began producing two local newscasts for KASW; both of them debuted in a gradual basis over the course of 2020. The first of these newscasts debuted on March 30, when KASW debuted a two-hour extension of KNXV's morning newscast, anchored by a separate team of anchors from the existing morning newscast; a noon news hour followed as daytime news viewership spiked during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[30]It was followed on August 30 by a half-hour long 9 p.m. newscast, anchored by the station's evening team.[34]

Sports programming

[edit]

KASW served as the first over-the-air broadcast home of theNHL'sPhoenix Coyotes,airing the team's games from the time that the franchise moved to Phoenix in 1996[35][36]until 2006, when the Coyotes announced the move of their over-the-air telecasts toKAZT-TV.[37]The Coyotes returned to KASW in November 2023 as part of Scripps's broadcast deal with the team, airing all regionally-televised games.[32]Though the franchise was relocated to Salt Lake City after the 2023–24 season, Scripps retained the rights to broadcast theUtah Hockey Club,which will air on KASW[38]and on Scripps-ownedKUPX-TVinSalt Lake City.[39]The station also airs select games from theVegas Golden Knights.[40]

From 1997 to 2004 and again in 2019, KASW broadcastArizona Rattlersarena football,[41][42]and KASW also aired games of thePhoenix Mercuryfrom 1997 through 1999.[43]Phoenix Rising FCsoccer was seen on KASW from 2019 through 2021.[44][45]

Technical information

[edit]
KASW is located in Maricopa County, Arizona
South Mountain (445 kW)
South Mountain (445 kW)
Shaw Butte (18.5 kW)
Shaw Butte (18.5 kW)
class=notpageimage|
Transmitters of KASW

Subchannels

[edit]

The station's ATSC 1.0 channels are carried on themultiplexedsignals of other Phoenix television stations:

Subchannels provided by KASW (ATSC 1.0)[46]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming ATSC 1.0 host
61.1 1080i 16:9 AZ61 Main KASW programming KNXV-TV
61.2 480i Grit Grit KPNX
61.3 Mystery Ion Mystery KTVK
61.4 HSN HSN KSAZ-TV

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

KASW shut down its analog signal, overUHFchannel 61, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United Statestransitioned from analog to digital broadcasts.The station's digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre-transition UHF channel 49, usingvirtual channel61.[47]The station was then repacked to channel 27 in 2019.[48]

ATSC 3.0

[edit]
Subchannels of KASW (ATSC 3.0)[48]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
5.1 1080p 16:9 KPHO-NG CBS(KPHO-TV)DRM
10.1 720p KSAZ-NG Fox(KSAZ-TV)
12.1 1080p KPNX-NG NBC(KPNX)
15.1 ABC15NG ABC(KNXV-TV)
45.1 720p KUTP-NG MyNetworkTV(KUTP)
61.1 1080p AZ61 NG Main KASW programming
Subchannel broadcast withdigital rights management

On March 27, 2020, this station was launched as a high-power ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) transmitter for Phoenix, operating alongsideKFPH-CDand carrying the main program streams of KASW, KNXV, KSAZ and KUTP. It also is being used in the testing ofsingle-frequency networks,with a second transmitter atopShaw Butte.[49]

On July 8, 2021, KPHO and KPNX were added to KASW from KFPH-CD, placing all four major network affiliates on the same ATSC 3.0 multiplex.[50]

Translators

[edit]
Further information:KNXV-TV § Translators,KTVK § Translators,KPNX § Translators,andKSAZ-TV § Translators

At the time of ATSC 3.0 conversion, KASW had three dedicated translators: K34EF-D inKingman,K21EA-D inLake Havasu City,and K34EE-D inCottonwood.[51]

Since conversion, programming from KASW has been seen through the translators of its ATSC 1.0 hosts. K34EE-D in Cottonwood was switched to rebroadcast KNXV-TV in June 2021.[52]Mohave County also surrendered the licenses of its two translators carrying KASW in July 2022.

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^"Facility Technical Data for KASW".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^Wilkinson, Bud (March 15, 1983)."Low-power music-oriented station to debut in portions of Valley".The Arizona Republic.p. C5.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 24,2021.
  3. ^Wilkinson, Bud (November 13, 1984)."Debts, lack of cash signal low-power station's demise".The Arizona Republic.p. B15.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 24,2021.
  4. ^"Translators"(PDF).Television Factbook.1988. p. B-57.Archived(PDF)from the original on March 10, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 24,2021.
  5. ^"(4 FCC Rcd 2) Hearing Designation Order".FCC Record.November 30, 1988.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 24,2021.
  6. ^"For the Record"(PDF).Broadcasting.March 25, 1991. p. 99.ProQuest1014749437.Archived(PDF)from the original on December 6, 2022.RetrievedDecember 21,2022.
  7. ^abWalker, Dave (September 24, 1995)."At last! Channel 61 joins the airwaves".The Arizona Republic.pp. B1,B2.Archivedfrom the original on December 18, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 24,2021.
  8. ^Walker, Dave (December 6, 1994)."'Power Rangers' to spawn new station for kids' shows ".The Arizona Republic.pp. A1,A4.Archivedfrom the original on June 30, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 24,2021.
  9. ^abcWalker, Dave (July 11, 1995)."Channel 61 schedule aimed at kids of all ages".Arizona Republic.p. D1,D5.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2023.RetrievedDecember 21,2022– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^abLeonard, Susan (June 17, 1996)."Now he can watch favorite programs on his own TV station".The Arizona Republic.p. Tempe Community 3.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 24,2021.
  11. ^"Coyotes, TV stations finalize agreement to broadcast games".The Arizona Republic.September 18, 1996. p. D3.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 24,2021.
  12. ^Clancy, Michael (July 3, 1999)."Texas firm purchases Channel 3".The Arizona Republic.pp. A1,A25.Archivedfrom the original on June 30, 2021.RetrievedMarch 16,2021– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^Clancy, Michael (October 2, 1999)."Top 50 bigwig list lacking in color".The Arizona Republic.p. D5.Archivedfrom the original on June 30, 2021.RetrievedMarch 16,2021– via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^Seid, Jessica (January 24, 2006)."'Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September ".CNN Money.CNN.Archivedfrom the original on March 16, 2017.RetrievedAugust 3,2020.
  15. ^Carter, Bill (January 24, 2006)."UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on October 17, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 22,2017.
  16. ^"News Corp. to launch new mini-network for UPN stations".USA Today.February 22, 2006.Archivedfrom the original on September 23, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 21,2013.
  17. ^"News Corp. Unveils MyNetworkTV".Broadcasting & Cable.February 22, 2006.Archivedfrom the original on April 17, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 24,2012.
  18. ^"Belo Signs With CW in Phoenix".Broadcasting & Cable.March 8, 2006.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 23,2012.
  19. ^"New Nets Reeling in Affiliates"(PDF).TelevisionWeek.March 20, 2006. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on February 3, 2014.
  20. ^Brown, Lisa (June 13, 2013)."Gannett to buy TV station owner Belo for $1.5 billion".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.Archivedfrom the original on September 6, 2020.RetrievedJune 13,2013.
  21. ^"Gannett Completes Its Acquisition of Belo".TVNewsCheck.December 23, 2013.Archivedfrom the original on July 26, 2014.RetrievedDecember 23,2013.
  22. ^"Meredith Buying Three Stations From Gannett".TVNewsCheck.December 23, 2013.Archivedfrom the original on December 24, 2013.RetrievedDecember 23,2013.
  23. ^"Consummation Notice".Consolidated Database System.Federal Communications Commission.Archivedfrom the original on February 18, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 2,2015.
  24. ^"Nexstar Buying KASW Phoenix For $68M".October 23, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on October 27, 2014.RetrievedOctober 26,2014.
  25. ^"Excuse the mess, we're moving".YourPHX.com.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 26,2015.
  26. ^Farrell, Mike (March 20, 2019)."Scripps, Tegna to Buy 19 Nexstar Stations".Multichannel.Archivedfrom the original on September 21, 2019.RetrievedMarch 20,2019.
  27. ^Hayes, Dade (March 20, 2019)."Nexstar Sells Off TV Stations Worth $1.3B, Including New York's WPIX".Deadline.Archivedfrom the original on March 30, 2019.RetrievedMarch 21,2019.
  28. ^Ahmed, Nabila; Sakoui, Anousha (March 20, 2019)."Nexstar to Sell Stations to Tegna, Scripps for $1.32 Billion".Bloomberg News.Bloomberg, L.P.Archivedfrom the original on April 13, 2019.RetrievedMarch 20,2019.
  29. ^"Scripps Closes Acquisition of Eight TV Stations from Nexstar-Tribune Merger Divestitures".E. W. Scripps Company.September 19, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2021.RetrievedOctober 4,2019.
  30. ^abMalone, Michael (February 15, 2021)."Scripps Revamps Phoenix CW Station".Broadcasting & Cable.Archivedfrom the original on November 26, 2021.RetrievedDecember 26,2021.
  31. ^Dachman, Jason (November 17, 2023)."Arizona Coyotes Move to New Scripps Sports OTA Station".Sports Video Group.RetrievedNovember 21,2023.
  32. ^ab"Arizona Coyotes Moving to New Home with Scripps Sports".Arizona Coyotes.November 15, 2023.RetrievedNovember 16,2023.
  33. ^Alex (January 8, 2024)."Nexstar Media Enters Into Time Brokerage Agreement with KAZT-TV in Phoenix, Arizona".Nexstar Media Group.RetrievedFebruary 1,2024.
  34. ^"ABC15 News is expanding on CW61".KNXV.August 18, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on November 23, 2020.RetrievedDecember 28,2020.
  35. ^"Coyotes, TV stations finalize agreement to broadcast games".Arizona Republic.September 18, 1996. p. D3.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2022.RetrievedDecember 21,2022– via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^"Coyotes".Arizona Republic.September 21, 2005. p. C1.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2022.RetrievedDecember 21,2022– via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^Vest, David (July 14, 2006)."Seidenberg, Sjostrom agree to 2-year deals".Arizona Republic.p. C8.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2023.RetrievedDecember 21,2022– via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^Ortiz, Jenna (April 19, 2024)."NHL games in Utah to be shown in Arizona; Coyotes fans unimpressed".RetrievedApril 20,2024.
  39. ^Tavss, Jeff (April 18, 2024)."Utah NHL games to air free on Utah 16".KSTU.RetrievedApril 19,2024.
  40. ^"VGK, Scripps Sports Announce Broadcasts in Phoenix, Tucson".Vegas Golden Knights. September 26, 2024.RetrievedOctober 3,2024.
  41. ^"11 Rattlers games will be televised".Arizona Republic.March 20, 1997. p. D2.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2022.RetrievedDecember 21,2022– via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^"Rattlers to Partner with KASW-TV (Your Phoenix CW) to Air Home Games".Arizona Rattlers.February 11, 2019. Archived fromthe originalon April 8, 2019.
  43. ^Metcalfe, Jeff (May 29, 1997)."Tables turn for Millers in Valley".Arizona Republic.p. D7.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2022.RetrievedDecember 21,2022– via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^"Phoenix Rising matches to be broadcast on Your Phoenix CW in 2019".Arizona Sports.January 29, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2022.RetrievedDecember 21,2022.
  45. ^Mackie, Theo (March 3, 2022)."Phoenix Rising games to air on Bally Sports Arizona as part of new partnership".The Arizona Republic.Archivedfrom the original on January 10, 2023.RetrievedDecember 21,2022.
  46. ^"RabbitEars TV Query for KNXV".RabbitEars.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2022.RetrievedDecember 21,2022.
  47. ^"DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds"(PDF).Federal Communications Commission. May 23, 2006. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on August 29, 2013.RetrievedAugust 29,2021.
  48. ^ab"RabbitEars TV Query for KASW".RabbitEars.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2022.RetrievedDecember 21,2022.
  49. ^Balderston, Michael (October 28, 2020)."Phoenix Model Market Adds SFN to Improve NextGen TV Reception".TV Technology.Archivedfrom the original on March 1, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 24,2021.
  50. ^"Scripps KASW 3.0 Request for Modification of Special Temporary Authority (STA)".FCC Licensing and Management System. June 29, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2021.RetrievedJuly 10,2021.
  51. ^"List of TV Translator Input Channels".Federal Communications Commission. July 23, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on December 9, 2021.RetrievedDecember 17,2021.
  52. ^"Renewal of License (KNXV-TV) (LMS #192762)".FCC Licensing and Management System. June 1, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on July 15, 2022.RetrievedJuly 13,2022.
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