K25DM
Encyclopedia
K25DM is a low-power broadcast television station located in Phoenix, Arizona
. It transmits on channel 25 from Shaw Butte in North Phoenix. The station is owned by Mako Communications of Corpus Christi, Texas
.
. The station was quickly built and signed on the air later that year as a full-time affiliate of Channel America
. K25DM moved its transmitter location to the current Shaw Butte site in early 1993 and upgraded to the current broadcast parameters in late 1994.
After nearly fifteen years operating the station, its owners sold K25DM and sister station K42FD (now KVPA-LP
) to a new broadcast group called Latin America Broadcasting in August 2005. On November 7, 2007, Latin America Broadcasting transferred the station to Mako Communications, whose stations were the first three affiliates of LAT TV.
In November 2007, the station filed a displacement request with the FCC
to move to VHF
channel 6, citing interference concerns from full-power digital operations from KAZT-TV
in Prescott
and KMSB-TV
in Tucson
, both of whom operate their digital stations on channel 25. The FCC granted the displacement request on January 23, 2008, and assigned the station a new callsign of K06OX that will become effective when the station is licensed on the new channel. However in June 2009, the station filed a displacement request with the FCC to move its broadcast facilities from Shaw Butte to South Mountain
and move to digital
on UHF channel 18, citing interference concerns from full-power digital operations from KTVK
who operates their digital station on channel 24.
, K25DM aired old movies and '50s TV shows in the public domain as well as low-cost syndicated programming such as Hot Seat
with Wally George
. However, Channel America's programming lineup was never stable, and by the middle of 1993, K25DM was piping in the MuchMusic
network from Canada
.
Not long afterward, K25DM added subscription-only programming from the Playboy Channel during the evening hours, using old over-the-air subscription television equipment to scramble the signal. The station lacked cable television
distribution however, and the subscription service was not successful. By November 1993, K25DM had changed programming again, to the now-defunct Video Catalog Channel, a Knoxville, Tennessee
-based television auction network.
A rapid succession of shopping services followed, as the station moved from Video Catalog Channel to Panda America Shopping Network (1995), followed by ACN (1997), ValueVision/ShopNBC
(1999), and finally HSN
(2001).
With the sale of the station, K25DM was poised to change programming again, this time to the Latin America Broadcasting's Spanish-language network, LAT TV
, launched in May 2006. However, K25DM remained an HSN affiliate until September 2007, when it also switched to LAT TV. Although both K25DM and KVPA-LP aired LAT TV programming, they did not simulcast; each station maintained its own distinct schedule.
In December 2007, the station briefly affiliated with the music video network, Retro Jams
, then, in January 2008, switched to programming called "My2Fish," broadcasting music videos and advertisements for novelty text messaging
services.
In October 2008, K25DM switched back to HSN.
On May 1 2009, K25DM went silent again.
In May 2010, K25DM came back on the air, airing all Infomercial
s.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. It transmits on channel 25 from Shaw Butte in North Phoenix. The station is owned by Mako Communications of Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
.
History
An original construction permit was granted on July 10, 1990 to Broadcast Systems Inc. of Phoenix to build low-power television station K25DM on channel 25. Its transmitter was located in Deer Valley near Phoenix Deer Valley AirportPhoenix Deer Valley Airport
Phoenix Deer Valley Airport is a public use airport located 15 nautical miles north of the central business district of Phoenix, a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is owned by the City of Phoenix...
. The station was quickly built and signed on the air later that year as a full-time affiliate of Channel America
Channel America
Channel America was the first United States terrestrial broadcast television network to be intentionally assembled out of LPTV, or low-power television licensees. The network was founded by David Post in 1987 and launched in 1988...
. K25DM moved its transmitter location to the current Shaw Butte site in early 1993 and upgraded to the current broadcast parameters in late 1994.
After nearly fifteen years operating the station, its owners sold K25DM and sister station K42FD (now KVPA-LP
KVPA-LP
KVPA-LD is a low-power television station broadcasting in digital on UHF channel 42 in Phoenix, Arizona. Owned by Liberman Broadcasting of Burbank, California, the station is a owned-and-operated affiliate of the Spanish-language network Estrella TV.-History:...
) to a new broadcast group called Latin America Broadcasting in August 2005. On November 7, 2007, Latin America Broadcasting transferred the station to Mako Communications, whose stations were the first three affiliates of LAT TV.
In November 2007, the station filed a displacement request with the FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to move to VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
channel 6, citing interference concerns from full-power digital operations from KAZT-TV
KAZT-TV
KAZT-TV is an independent television station in Prescott, Arizona, broadcasting locally in digital on VHF channel 7 from its transmitter located atop Mingus Mountain northeast of Prescott. Its analog signal is simulcast across central and northern Arizona through a translator system, and its...
in Prescott
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
and KMSB-TV
KMSB-TV
KMSB is the Fox-affiliated television station serving Tucson, Arizona. The station broadcasts in digital on UHF channel 25 . Since it transmits from atop Mount Bigelow, there is no signal reception in the northern part of Tucson, Oro Valley and Marana....
in Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, both of whom operate their digital stations on channel 25. The FCC granted the displacement request on January 23, 2008, and assigned the station a new callsign of K06OX that will become effective when the station is licensed on the new channel. However in June 2009, the station filed a displacement request with the FCC to move its broadcast facilities from Shaw Butte to South Mountain
South Mountains (Arizona)
The South Mountains , known locally as simply South Mountain, is a mountain range in central Arizona in south Phoenix, Arizona. It is on public land managed by the city of Phoenix as South Mountain Park...
and move to digital
ATSC
ATSC standards are a set of standards developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee for digital television transmission over terrestrial, cable, and satellite networks....
on UHF channel 18, citing interference concerns from full-power digital operations from KTVK
KTVK
KTVK is a full-service, independent television station in Phoenix, Arizona. It broadcasts in digital on UHF channel 24 from a transmitter located on South Mountain in Phoenix, and can be seen across northern Arizona on a network of nearly two dozen translator stations...
who operates their digital station on channel 24.
Programming
While the station's ownership and facilities have been relatively steady, its programming history has been much more diverse. As an affiliate of Channel AmericaChannel America
Channel America was the first United States terrestrial broadcast television network to be intentionally assembled out of LPTV, or low-power television licensees. The network was founded by David Post in 1987 and launched in 1988...
, K25DM aired old movies and '50s TV shows in the public domain as well as low-cost syndicated programming such as Hot Seat
Hot Seat (talk show)
Hot Seat is a syndicated, politically-oriented, though often satirical and comedic television talk-show that began in the early 1980s, hosted by conservative commentator Wally George...
with Wally George
Wally George
Wally George, born George Walter Pearch , was an American conservative radio and television commentator...
. However, Channel America's programming lineup was never stable, and by the middle of 1993, K25DM was piping in the MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
network from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Not long afterward, K25DM added subscription-only programming from the Playboy Channel during the evening hours, using old over-the-air subscription television equipment to scramble the signal. The station lacked cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
distribution however, and the subscription service was not successful. By November 1993, K25DM had changed programming again, to the now-defunct Video Catalog Channel, a Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
-based television auction network.
A rapid succession of shopping services followed, as the station moved from Video Catalog Channel to Panda America Shopping Network (1995), followed by ACN (1997), ValueVision/ShopNBC
ShopNBC
ShopNBC is an American broadcast and cable home shopping network, owned and operated by ValueVision Media, which is in turn 30% owned by GE Equity and NBC Universal...
(1999), and finally HSN
Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network or HSN began in 1977 as a 24-hour/7 day a week home shopping television network televised via cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the Philippines. HSN can also be shopped online at hsn.com...
(2001).
With the sale of the station, K25DM was poised to change programming again, this time to the Latin America Broadcasting's Spanish-language network, LAT TV
LAT TV
LAT TV was a Spanish-language television network emphasizing family-oriented and educational programming. It was owned by Latin America Broadcasting of Houston, Texas and launched in May 2006, initially on five low-power television stations in Texas and Arizona, four of which were in top-ten...
, launched in May 2006. However, K25DM remained an HSN affiliate until September 2007, when it also switched to LAT TV. Although both K25DM and KVPA-LP aired LAT TV programming, they did not simulcast; each station maintained its own distinct schedule.
In December 2007, the station briefly affiliated with the music video network, Retro Jams
Retro Jams
Retro Jams was a music video network that played music videos from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and early 90s. Established in 2007, it was owned and operated by now-defunct Equity Media Holdings...
, then, in January 2008, switched to programming called "My2Fish," broadcasting music videos and advertisements for novelty text messaging
Text messaging
Text messaging, or texting, refers to the exchange of brief written text messages between fixed-line phone or mobile phone and fixed or portable devices over a network...
services.
In October 2008, K25DM switched back to HSN.
On May 1 2009, K25DM went silent again.
In May 2010, K25DM came back on the air, airing all Infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
s.