KJNK-LD

KJNK-LD is a low-power television station serving Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding Twin Cities area in Minnesota. The station broadcasts on virtual and physical channel 25 and operates as an affiliate of Telemundo, the Spanish-language television network owned by NBCUniversal. Its transmitter is located at the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis, giving the station a central transmission site for the metropolitan market. KJNK-LD also reaches viewers in the Mankato area through K28OH-D in nearby St. James, which operates through the locally municipal-operated Cooperative TV translator network. The station originated as a translator rather than as a full-power local broadcaster. It first signed on April 9, 1984, under the call sign K58BS, carrying programming from the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Its call sign and channel assignment changed several times as the station moved through different UHF facilities. It became K65GC in 1994, used K65GV from 1997 to 1998, returned to K58BS in 1998, and moved to channel 25 in 2005 as K25IA. A digital counterpart, K25IA-D, began operating in 2009 as part of the transition and expansion to digital broadcasting. Ownership and programming changed substantially during the 2010s. In 2012, the Trinity Broadcasting Network sold K25IA-D among a group of translators to Regal Media, a company led by George Cooney. After the transaction, the station initially continued to carry TBN services. In 2013, it temporarily replaced those services with Informed TV, an instructional and lecture-oriented programming service, before restoring TBN programming later that year. Regal Media sold the station to King Forward in 2014. On June 9, 2014, the station adopted the KJNK-LD call sign. Later that year, it shifted from religious and translator-oriented programming to a commercial network affiliation when it became a Telemundo affiliate on November 23. DTV America Corporation, a broadcaster based in Sunrise, Florida, operated the station at the time. The affiliation positioned KJNK-LD as a Spanish-language competitor to WUMN-LP, the local Univision affiliate. Its second digital subchannel initially carried Doctor TV, a health and wellness service, with some overnight programming from The Worship Network. Doctor TV was subsequently replaced by the Sonlife Broadcasting Network, while another subchannel carried Hmong-language programming aimed at the Twin Cities' Hmong-American community. The station gained expanded cable visibility in February 2015, when Comcast began carrying KJNK on Xfinity channel 100 and Xfinity digital channel 624. In 2017, King Forward sold KJNK-LD and its other stations to HC2 Holdings. The station is now identified as being owned by Innovate Corp., the successor organization associated with HC2 Holdings. KJNK-LD's principal role is to distribute Telemundo's Spanish-language entertainment, news, sports, and network programming to viewers in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul market, while its translator arrangement extends coverage beyond the Twin Cities.

KJNK-LD began broadcasting on April 9, 1984, as K58BS, a low-power translator carrying Trinity Broadcasting Network programming in the Minneapolis area. Because it operated as a translator, the station's early role was primarily to relay programming rather than produce a large local schedule. Its identity changed as its channel assignment and call sign evolved. In 1994 it became K65GC, used K65GV from 1997 to 1998, and returned to K58BS in 1998. The station moved to UHF channel 25 in 2005 and adopted the K25IA call sign. Its digital counterpart, K25IA-D, began operating in 2009. In April 2012, the Trinity Broadcasting Network sold K25IA-D and a group of other translators to Regal Media, a company led by George Cooney. The station initially retained TBN's five services after the sale. In September 2013, those services were temporarily replaced by Informed TV, a lecture-oriented service associated with Alan Roebke. By mid-November 2013, K25IA-D had resumed carrying TBN and its subchannels. Regal Media sold the station to King Forward in 2014. On June 9 of that year, the station changed its call sign to KJNK-LD. The most important programming change followed on November 23, 2014, when the station became an affiliate of Telemundo. DTV America Corporation operated the station at that time. The affiliation transformed KJNK-LD from a primarily religious translator into a Spanish-language commercial network outlet serving the Twin Cities. It also placed the station in direct local competition with WUMN-LP, the market's Univision affiliate. KJNK-LD's second digital subchannel initially carried Doctor TV, a health-focused network featuring medical, fitness, and wellness programming, along with some overnight programming from The Worship Network. During 2015, Doctor TV was replaced by the Sonlife Broadcasting Network. A separate subchannel carried Hmong-language programming for the local Hmong-American community, reflecting the ethnic and multilingual composition of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region. In February 2015, Comcast added KJNK to its Xfinity service on channel 100 and digital channel 624. This increased the station's availability beyond households using an antenna. King Forward sold KJNK-LD to HC2 Holdings in 2017. The station is currently identified as owned by Innovate Corp., the corporate successor associated with HC2 Holdings. Its transmitter is located at the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis. In addition to serving the Twin Cities, KJNK-LD reaches the Mankato market through K28OH-D in St. James, operated through the Cooperative TV translator network.

1. 2017Acquisition by HC2 Holdings

   King Forward sells the station to HC2 Holdings.

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2. 2015Cable carriage added

   Comcast begins carrying the station on its Xfinity systems.

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3. 2014KJNK-LD identity introduced

   The station adopts the KJNK-LD call sign on June 9.

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4. 2014Telemundo affiliation begins

   KJNK-LD becomes a Telemundo affiliate on November 23.

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5. 2012Sale from TBN to Regal Media

   Regal Media acquires K25IA-D in a transaction involving 36 TBN translators.

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6. 2009Digital service begins

   K25IA-D signs on as the station's digital counterpart.

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7. 2005Move to channel 25 as K25IA

   The station moves to UHF channel 25 and changes its call sign to K25IA.

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8. 1998Return to K58BS

   The station resumes its original K58BS call sign.

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9. 1997Call sign changes to K65GV

   The station uses the K65GV call sign from 1997 to 1998.

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10. 1994Call sign changes to K65GC

    The station adopts the K65GC call sign after moving to UHF channel 65.

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11. 1984Initial sign-on as K58BS

    The station begins operation on April 9 as a low-power translator for the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

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A low-power Spanish-language broadcast outlet serving the Minneapolis–Saint Paul market as a Telemundo affiliate, with additional reach into the Mankato area through a translator.

• Telemundo network serviceSpanish-language television network affiliation2014

  KJNK-LD's principal service is the local broadcast of Telemundo programming in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. The affiliation supplies Spanish-language entertainment, news, sports, and other network content, giving Telemundo a local over-the-air outlet in the Twin Cities.

• KJNK-LD digital broadcast serviceLow-power television broadcasting2009

  The station's digital television operation distributes its primary Telemundo service and has supported additional multicast programming. Past secondary services included Doctor TV, Sonlife Broadcasting Network, and Hmong-language programming.

• K28OH-D translator serviceTelevision translator

  KJNK-LD programming reaches the Mankato market through K28OH-D in St. James, Minnesota. The translator operates within the Cooperative TV network and extends the station's service beyond the core Twin Cities coverage area.

• 2017Sale to HC2 HoldingsM&A

  King Forward sold its station portfolio during a period of consolidation among owners of low-power television properties.

  What changed. HC2 Holdings acquired KJNK-LD and other King Forward stations.

  Aftermath. The station later became associated with Innovate Corp., the successor organization identified as its current owner.

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• 2015Expansion of cable distributionOther

  The station sought broader household reach beyond its low-power over-the-air signal.

  What changed. Comcast added KJNK to Xfinity channel 100 and digital channel 624.

  Aftermath. The station became available to Comcast cable subscribers in addition to antenna viewers.

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• 2014Transition to a Telemundo affiliationStrategy

  After several decades as a religious and specialty-programming translator, the station was repositioned as a Spanish-language commercial network outlet.

  What changed. KJNK-LD began carrying Telemundo programming on November 23, with DTV America Corporation operating the station.

  Aftermath. The change established KJNK-LD as a local Spanish-language competitor to WUMN-LP, the area's Univision affiliate.

  • WUMN-LP — The affiliation increased direct competition with the local Univision outlet; no specific public response is identified in the reference material.
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• 2017KJNK-LD is sold to HC2 Holdings

  King Forward sells KJNK-LD and other stations to HC2 Holdings, now associated with Innovate Corp.

  M&A
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• 2015Comcast adds KJNK-LD to Xfinity lineups

  Comcast begins carrying KJNK on Xfinity channel 100 and digital channel 624, improving cable distribution in the market.

  Other
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• 2014Station adopts KJNK-LD call sign

  The station changes its call sign from K25IA-D to KJNK-LD on June 9.

  Other
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• 2014KJNK-LD becomes a Telemundo affiliate

  On November 23, KJNK-LD begins carrying Telemundo programming, establishing a Spanish-language network presence in the Minneapolis market.

  Product launch
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• 2013K25IA-D temporarily replaces TBN with Informed TV

  Following its ownership change, the station temporarily carries Informed TV lecture programming before restoring TBN services later in the year.

  Product generation
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• 2012Regal Media acquires K25IA-D from TBN

  Regal Media purchases K25IA-D as part of a transaction involving 36 TBN translators.

  M&A
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• 2009Digital counterpart K25IA-D signs on

  The station adds a digital counterpart to support its transition to digital broadcasting.

  Product launch
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• 1984KJNK-LD begins broadcasting as a Trinity Broadcasting Network translator

  The station signs on as K58BS, operating as a local translator for the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

  Other
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1. KJNK-LD