KKEY-LD

KKEY-LD is a low-power television station serving Bakersfield, California, in the United States. The station is affiliated with Telemundo, the Spanish-language television network, and operates as part of Nexstar Media Group's Bakersfield broadcasting presence. KKEY-LD shares studio facilities on L Street in downtown Bakersfield with KGET-TV, a full-power station owned by Nexstar that is affiliated with NBC and CW Plus. Its transmitter is located on Mount Adelaide. The station's programming has also been distributed through KGET-TV's digital infrastructure. KKEY-LD is simulcast in standard definition on KGET-TV's third digital subchannel, identified as channel 17.3. This arrangement has supported the station's local over-the-air reach while maintaining its identity as a Telemundo outlet in the Bakersfield market. The station's consumer-facing presentation has at times used the name “Telemundo 17.3,” reflecting its placement on KGET's digital subchannel. KKEY-LD traces its technical and call-sign history to K14IK, a low-power station that operated on UHF channel 14. In 2003, it moved to VHF channel 11, adopted the KKEY-LP call sign, and became a Telemundo affiliate. Before that affiliation, Telemundo programming in the Bakersfield area was carried through Los Angeles station KVEA on local cable systems rather than through a dedicated local Telemundo broadcast outlet. The station's ownership history is connected to several major transactions in the U.S. television industry. Clear Channel Communications agreed in 2007 to sell its television-station group to Newport Television, a holding company established by Providence Equity Partners. The transaction closed in 2008. Because Providence Equity Partners had a partial ownership interest in Univision, a competing Spanish-language network, regulatory and ownership considerations affected the disposition of stations associated with the transaction. KKEY-LP was initially included in a proposed group of stations to be transferred to High Plains Broadcasting, but its low-power status prevented it from being included in that completed transaction. Newport continued to operate KGET-TV under a shared-services arrangement. Newport Television later agreed to sell KKEY-LP and KGET-TV, together with stations including KGPE in Fresno, to Nexstar Broadcasting Group. The sale was completed in February 2013. Nexstar subsequently became the station's owner and continues to operate KKEY-LD alongside KGET-TV. KKEY-LD also experienced a staged transition from analog to digital broadcasting. Its analog signal ended on July 31, 2009, leaving the station available for a period only as a KGET subchannel. The analog signal on channel 11 returned on July 23, 2010, shortly before the station's analog authorization was scheduled for cancellation by the Federal Communications Commission. In April 2014, the analog channel 11 operation ended and a high-definition digital signal began operating on channel 13. Today, KKEY-LD's principal role is to provide Spanish-language Telemundo programming to the Bakersfield market through its own digital signal and its KGET-TV subchannel distribution.

KKEY-LD is a Bakersfield low-power television station whose history combines several call signs, transmission standards, affiliation changes, and ownership transactions. The station originally operated as K14IK on UHF channel 14. In 2003, it moved to VHF channel 11, became KKEY-LP, and adopted a Telemundo affiliation. This gave the Bakersfield market a locally based Spanish-language broadcast outlet; before then, Telemundo programming had been supplied through Los Angeles station KVEA on cable systems. The station later became involved in a complex television-station ownership transition. Clear Channel Communications agreed on April 20, 2007, to sell its television group to Newport Television, a broadcasting company created by Providence Equity Partners. That transaction closed on March 14, 2008. Providence's partial interest in Univision, a competing Spanish-language network, created ownership considerations involving the Bakersfield television market. KKEY-LP was associated with a proposed transfer of stations to High Plains Broadcasting, but its low-power status meant that it was excluded from the transaction that was completed on September 15, 2008. Newport nevertheless continued to operate KGET-TV through a shared-services arrangement. On November 5, 2012, Newport agreed to sell KKEY-LP and KGET-TV to Nexstar Broadcasting Group, along with KGPE in Fresno. Nexstar completed the acquisition on February 19, 2013. KKEY-LD has since operated within Nexstar's Bakersfield station group, sharing downtown studio facilities on L Street with KGET-TV. Its transmitter is located at Mount Adelaide. KKEY's broadcast technology also changed in stages. The analog transmission ended on July 31, 2009, after which the station was carried only as a digital subchannel of KGET-TV for approximately a year. The analog channel 11 signal returned on July 23, 2010, shortly before the FCC was scheduled to cancel the station's analog authorization. In April 2014, the analog operation ended permanently and a high-definition digital signal began operating on channel 13. KKEY-LD's programming is also distributed in standard definition on KGET-TV's third digital subchannel, 17.3, which has been branded “Telemundo 17.3.”

1. 2014Digital high-definition service launches on channel 13

   The analog channel 11 operation ended and KKEY began high-definition digital broadcasting on channel 13.

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2. 2013Nexstar acquisition completed

   Nexstar Broadcasting Group completed its purchase of KKEY-LP and KGET-TV from Newport Television.

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3. 2010Analog channel 11 signal returns

   The station restored its analog channel 11 signal shortly before its analog license was due to be canceled.

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4. 2009Analog transmission ends

   KKEY's analog signal went off the air and the station was temporarily available only through KGET-TV's digital subchannel.

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5. 2008Newport Television transaction closes

   The Clear Channel television-group sale closed, while KKEY-LP was excluded from the related High Plains Broadcasting transfer because of its low-power status.

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6. 2007Clear Channel agrees to sell its television group

   Clear Channel Communications entered an agreement to sell its television stations to Newport Television, a transaction that shaped the station's subsequent ownership path.

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7. 2003Move to channel 11 and Telemundo affiliation

   The former K14IK moved to VHF channel 11, adopted the KKEY-LP call sign, and became a Telemundo affiliate.

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A local Spanish-language broadcast outlet serving Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County market through Telemundo programming and digital terrestrial distribution.

• KKEY-LD digital television serviceDigital television station2014

  KKEY-LD's primary broadcast service is a low-power digital television signal serving Bakersfield, California. The station carries Telemundo's Spanish-language network programming and operates on digital channel 13 after its transition from analog channel 11. Its transmitter is located on Mount Adelaide.

• Telemundo 17.3Digital subchannel simulcast

  Telemundo 17.3 is the standard-definition simulcast of KKEY-LD carried on KGET-TV's third digital subchannel. The service extends the station's Telemundo programming through KGET's digital transmission facilities and has been used as a prominent viewer-facing channel identity.

• 2014Complete transition to digital high-definition broadcastingGeneration change

  KKEY had operated through an analog channel 11 signal and had also experienced a period in which it was available only through KGET-TV's digital subchannel.

  What changed. The analog channel 11 service was discontinued and a high-definition digital signal was launched on channel 13.

  Aftermath. KKEY-LD continued its Telemundo service as a digital station while remaining available through KGET-TV's channel 17.3 subchannel.

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• 2003Establish a local Telemundo affiliationStrategy

  Bakersfield previously received Telemundo programming through Los Angeles station KVEA on cable systems rather than through a dedicated local broadcast affiliate.

  What changed. After moving to channel 11 and adopting the KKEY-LP call sign, the station became affiliated with Telemundo.

  Aftermath. The change created a locally based Spanish-language broadcast outlet for the Bakersfield market.

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• 2014KKEY begins high-definition digital broadcasting on channel 13

  The analog channel 11 operation ended in April, and the station began transmitting a high-definition digital signal on channel 13.

  Product generationOther
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• 2013Nexstar completes acquisition of KKEY-LP and KGET-TV

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group completed its acquisition of KKEY-LP and KGET-TV from Newport Television on February 19, 2013.

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• 2010KKEY analog service returns shortly before scheduled license cancellation

  An analog signal on channel 11 returned on July 23, nine days before the station's analog license was scheduled to be canceled by the FCC.

  RegulationOther
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• 2009KKEY-LP analog signal goes off the air

  The station's analog transmission ended, and KKEY was temporarily available only through KGET-TV's digital subchannel, which used the Telemundo 17.3 presentation.

  Other
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• 2003KKEY-LP becomes a Telemundo affiliate after moving to VHF channel 11

  The station moved from its earlier K14IK identity and UHF channel 14 operation to VHF channel 11, adopted the KKEY-LP call sign, and began carrying Telemundo programming in the Bakersfield market.

  Product launch
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1. KKEY-LD