KTEL-CD is a low-power Class A television station in Albuquerque, New Mexico, broadcasting locally in digital on UHFchannel 15 as an affiliate of Telemundo. Founded November 28, 1994, the station is owned by Ramar Communications. KTEL-TV is the full-powered satellite station based in Carlsbad, New Mexico broadcasting on digital channel 25. This station is available statewide on Dish Network and DirecTV on channel 25. Ramar also owns KRTN-LD channel 39 a low-powered digital station licensed in Albuquerque, but also owns KRTN-TV in Durango, Colorado. Both stations are affiliated with the MeTV network. In July 2016, Ramar purchased KASA-TV from Media General for $2.5 million. On January 18, 2017 Ramar moved Telemundo to channel 2.1 which gives the network a full-powered signal in Albuquerque and makes it more competitive with Univision affiliate KLUZ. While KTEL-TV will remain a satellite of KASA, it is currently to be announced what will air on KTEL-CD after this occurs, although Ramar has begun to show MeTV on channel 15.1 from the KASA signal. However, Telemundo is still airing on KTEL-CD now mapped as 15.3.
Stations
KTEL-CD is now broadcasting on channel 15.3 as a digital station. KTEL-TV broadcasts in digital.
In addition, KTEL-CD programming is broadcast on the following low-power repeater stations in New Mexico:
Las Vegas — K28IR
Taos — K30HS
History
KTEL-CD signed on in late 1997 on UHF channel 15 as an affiliate of Telemundo. Telemundo had previously aired in Albuquerque on K59DB channel 59 since about 1988. It moved to UHF channel 53 in early 1999 just before full-powered station KAPX signed on channel 14. The station transmitted on UHF channel 53 from 1999 to 2007. KTEL-LP changed frequencies and broadcasts to channel 47 since channel 53 was part of the UHF band that the FCC had auctioned off from television broadcasts following the digital TV transition. Transmission on channel 53 ceased in early December 2007. The station call letters had not changed. KTEL-LP changed its call sign to KTEL-CA on March 19, 2015, and again on May 7, 2015 to the current KTEL-CD. KTEL-TV in Carlsbad, New Mexico signed on in 2000 as a full-powered satellite for KTEL-LP. KTEL also had a full-powered satellite in Durango, Colorado from 2001 to 2011 on KTLL channel 33. That station is now KRTN-TV a satellite for KRTN-LD a MeTV affiliate and rebroadcasts KTEL on digital channel 47.1. Santa Fe was previously covered by translator K46GY on UHF channel 46 which broadcast at 150 kW from a directional antenna from atop Sandia Crest pointed towards the area. The translator was previously K52BS channel 52 from 1989 to 2003.
Digital television
Because it was granted an original construction permit after the FCC finalized the DTV allotment plan on April 21, 1997, KTEL-TV did not receive a companion channel for digital television stations. Instead, on or before June 12, 2009, which was the end of the digital TV conversion period for full-service stations, KTEL-TV was required to turn off its analog signal and turn on its digital signals. KTEL-LP continued running in analog but had a construction permit to flash-cut to digital broadcasting on channel 47. On August 11, 2014 Ramar Communications was granted construction permits to build new stations to replace KTEL-LP on UHF channel 15 and Santa Fe translator K46GY on UHF channel 16. Analog broadcasts on both stations ceased on September 3, 2014. At the end of September both stations went on the air testing their digital signals. Both stations have antenna patterns to cover both the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas. Channel 16 has changed to KUPT-LD and now adds a new station to the Albuquerque TV market as well as giving Ramar a third station to its local cluster alongside KTEL-LD and KRTN-LD. KRTN-LD has broadcast KTEL programming in digital from May 2009 until April 2017 displayed as channel 47.1.
