KREN-TV
Encyclopedia
KREN-TV is a full-service television station
in Reno, Nevada
, broadcasting locally in digital
on UHF channel 26. It is an affiliate of Univision
. It rebroadcasts its two low-power analog sister stations—The CW Plus
affiliate KRNS-CA (Channel 46) on digital subchannel 27.2 and TeleFutura
affiliate KNVV-LP
(Channel 41) on digital subchannel 27.3. Founded March 1, 1982, the station is owned by Entravision Communications
of Santa Monica, California
. Until April 16, 2010, KREN-TV was rebroadcast in Susanville, California
on KREN-LP, UHF channel 29. Entravision fully returned the KREN-LP license to the Federal Communications Commission
in April 2011, and the KREN-LP call sign was deleted on the 27th of that month.
KREN's sister station in Reno was KAZR-CA (now KRNS-CA), which was a TuVision
Spanish language affiliate. Both stations were housed in a 8500 sq ft (789.7 m²) glass-walled facility at the Meadowood Mall
in south Reno until 2008 when Entravision bought the signals for KAZR and KREN. The remaining staff were laid off September 25, 2008.
Pappas Telecasting Companies
acquired the station at the end of 1994 and converted it to an English-language general entertainment station, taking The WB
affiliation when that network launched on January 11, 1995. When Paxson Communications
launched Pax TV in 1998, KREN took on a secondary affiliation with that network. In 2000, KREN lost the WB affiliation to the newly-launched cable
-only The WB 100+
channel known by the fictitious call letters KWBV ("WB6"). In 2002, the WB affiliation was moved back to KREN, effectively merging the two channels since KREN then took over the channel 6 position on cable. What is now ION Television currently has no affiliate in Reno. The cable channel 6 position is now used by KRNS-CA.
When The WB merged with UPN
to create The CW Television Network
in 2006, KREN became one of the charter affiliates of that network, with most of its programming provided by The CW Plus. On May 10, 2008, 13 of Pappas' stations, including KREN-TV and KAZR-CA, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
protection. Pappas cited "the extremely difficult business climate for television stations across the country" in papers filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware
. The company reported in court filings that it has more than $536 million in debt and $460 million in assets. Problems that led to bankruptcy included poor performance of The CW network, its now-former involvement with Azteca America
, and preparations for the 2009 analog shutdown. http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,99461.0.html
On September 17, 2008 bankruptcy trustee E. Roger Williams put KREN under contract to Entravision Communications
for $4 million, which doubled as a minimum bid for the station as it went up for auction in late October. http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/09/24/daily.7/ Since that time, there were no suitable bids for either KREN or KAZR-CA, and Entravision officially assumed ownership on April 1, 2009. On that day Entravision moved Univision programming from KNVV-LP back to KREN's main channel while it moved The CW to what was then KAZR-CA (now KRNS-CA), thus displacing that station's former TuVision affiliation. That station had been rebroadcast on KREN's second digital subchannel for some time before the sale to Entravision was finalized (and this arrangement continues to this day under Entravision). The affiliation switch effectively returned KREN to its Spanish-language roots. Around August 2009 KREN began to rebroadcast KNVV-LP (which became a TeleFutura affiliate after the main KREN channel took over the Univision affiliation) on a new third subchannel.
During Pappas' ownership, KREN's main digital signal was broadcast in 1080i
HDTV
with a 16:9
aspect ratio. However, when Entravision took over the primary KREN digital signal reverted to 480i
SDTV
with a 4:3 aspect ratio as all programs which aired on Univision at the time were still produced entirely in that format (and many such programs were produced in studios which still used analog video equipment rather than digital video equipment). However, as Univision transitioned to HD programming in 2010, KREN's signal remained in 4:3 SD until the spring of 2010 when the station's main signal was upgraded back to 1080i transmissions.
, which originally produced a 10PM newscast for KREN.
Weekend 10 p.m. shows were launched in late 2007.
In January 2008, all KREN newscasts were scaled back to 30 minutes, instead of the previous 1 hour. Weekend KAZR Spanish language newscasts were canceled, but the weekday KAZR news shows remained an hour long.
On March 11, 2008, KREN and KAZR cancelled all newscasts, and dismissed the entire news staff. Pappas Telecasting cited low advertising revenue as the reason for the cancellation.
After Entravision took over in April 2009, a local Spanish-language newscast was initially expected to return to KREN. However, in October 2009, KREN began carrying the 6pm and 11pm newscasts of Las Vegas sister station KINC
, with Reno-specific inserts produced by reporter Anya Archinga and videojournalist Enrique Chiabra.
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, broadcasting locally in 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 26. It is an affiliate of Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
. It rebroadcasts its two low-power analog sister stations—The CW Plus
The CW Plus
The CW Plus is a group of primarily digital sub-channels, analog, and non-broadcast cable television outlets for the CW Television Network, for markets below the top 99 television media markets in the United States....
affiliate KRNS-CA (Channel 46) on digital subchannel 27.2 and TeleFutura
TeleFutura
TeleFutura is a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision with headquarters in Miami, Florida.-Overview:TeleFutura Is America’s #2 Spanish-Language Network in prime time...
affiliate KNVV-LP
KNVV-LP
KNVV-LP, channel 41, is the affiliate of TeleFutura that serves the Reno, Nevada, U.S. area. As a low-power station, it does not currently have a digital signal of its own. However, there is a standard-definition digital signal on KREN-TV's third digital subchannel to serve as that purpose...
(Channel 41) on digital subchannel 27.3. Founded March 1, 1982, the station is owned by Entravision Communications
Entravision Communications
Entravision Communications Corporation is a media company based in Santa Monica, California. Entravision primarily caters to the Spanish-speaking Hispanic community and owns television and radio stations and outdoor media, in several of the top Hispanic markets. They are the largest affiliate...
of Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
. Until April 16, 2010, KREN-TV was rebroadcast in Susanville, California
Susanville, California
Susanville is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States. Susanville is located on the Susan River in the south-central part of the county, at an elevation of 4186 feet . The population was 17,974 at the 2010 census, up from 13,541 at the 2000 census...
on KREN-LP, UHF channel 29. Entravision fully returned the KREN-LP license to the Federal Communications Commission
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...
in April 2011, and the KREN-LP call sign was deleted on the 27th of that month.
KREN's sister station in Reno was KAZR-CA (now KRNS-CA), which was a TuVision
TuVisión
TuVisión was an American Spanish-language broadcasting network, which is owned by Pappas Telecasting. TuVisión is a portmanteau of tu and televisión . During the latter part of 2007, Pappas hired Moelis & Company to develop long-term objectives to identify which television assets it should retain...
Spanish language affiliate. Both stations were housed in a 8500 sq ft (789.7 m²) glass-walled facility at the Meadowood Mall
Meadowood Mall
Meadowood Mall is a one-level, super-regional mall in Reno, Nevada, owned and managed by Simon Property Group. Meadowood Mall contains 100 retailers and restaurants and it is anchored by Macy’s Women, Macy’s Men/Home, Sears and JCPenney.-History:...
in south Reno until 2008 when Entravision bought the signals for KAZR and KREN. The remaining staff were laid off September 25, 2008.
History
The station first signed on in October 1986 as a Univision affiliate owned by the Sainte Broadcasting Group, a company that was partially related to the present-day Sainte Partners II, L.P.Sainte Partners II, L.P.
Sainte Partners II, L.P. is a broadcast company based in Modesto, California. The company's founder was country-western performer Chester Smith and the current chief executive officer is Robert Castro. They own several television stations throughout California and southern Oregon...
Pappas Telecasting Companies
Pappas Telecasting Companies
Pappas Telecasting Companies was a diversely organized broadcasting company headquartered in Visalia, California, United States. Founded in 1971, it was one of the largest privately held broadcasting companies in the country, with its stations reaching over 15% of all U.S. households and over 32%...
acquired the station at the end of 1994 and converted it to an English-language general entertainment station, taking The WB
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
affiliation when that network launched on January 11, 1995. When Paxson Communications
ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks is an American television broadcasting company that owns and operates over 60 television stations in most major American markets. It is now a privately owned company.-History:...
launched Pax TV in 1998, KREN took on a secondary affiliation with that network. In 2000, KREN lost the WB affiliation to the newly-launched cable
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...
-only The WB 100+
The WB 100+ Station Group
The WB 100+ Station Group was a group of primarily non-broadcast local cable television outlets for The WB Television Network, for markets below the top 100 television media markets in the United States. Dayparts with no WB programming were programmed by the network...
channel known by the fictitious call letters KWBV ("WB6"). In 2002, the WB affiliation was moved back to KREN, effectively merging the two channels since KREN then took over the channel 6 position on cable. What is now ION Television currently has no affiliate in Reno. The cable channel 6 position is now used by KRNS-CA.
When The WB merged with UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
to create The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
in 2006, KREN became one of the charter affiliates of that network, with most of its programming provided by The CW Plus. On May 10, 2008, 13 of Pappas' stations, including KREN-TV and KAZR-CA, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
protection. Pappas cited "the extremely difficult business climate for television stations across the country" in papers filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. The company reported in court filings that it has more than $536 million in debt and $460 million in assets. Problems that led to bankruptcy included poor performance of The CW network, its now-former involvement with Azteca America
Azteca América
Azteca América is a broadcast television network marketed toward Spanish-speaking families residing in the United States. As a rapidly-growing Spanish language network, Azteca América now reaches 89% of the Hispanic households in the U.S., operating in sixty-two markets nationwide. Wholly owned by...
, and preparations for the 2009 analog shutdown. http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,99461.0.html
On September 17, 2008 bankruptcy trustee E. Roger Williams put KREN under contract to Entravision Communications
Entravision Communications
Entravision Communications Corporation is a media company based in Santa Monica, California. Entravision primarily caters to the Spanish-speaking Hispanic community and owns television and radio stations and outdoor media, in several of the top Hispanic markets. They are the largest affiliate...
for $4 million, which doubled as a minimum bid for the station as it went up for auction in late October. http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/09/24/daily.7/ Since that time, there were no suitable bids for either KREN or KAZR-CA, and Entravision officially assumed ownership on April 1, 2009. On that day Entravision moved Univision programming from KNVV-LP back to KREN's main channel while it moved The CW to what was then KAZR-CA (now KRNS-CA), thus displacing that station's former TuVision affiliation. That station had been rebroadcast on KREN's second digital subchannel for some time before the sale to Entravision was finalized (and this arrangement continues to this day under Entravision). The affiliation switch effectively returned KREN to its Spanish-language roots. Around August 2009 KREN began to rebroadcast KNVV-LP (which became a TeleFutura affiliate after the main KREN channel took over the Univision affiliation) on a new third subchannel.
During Pappas' ownership, KREN's main digital signal was broadcast in 1080i
1080i
1080i is the shorthand name for a high-definition television mode. The i means interlaced video; 1080i differs from 1080p, in which the p stands for progressive scan. The term 1080i assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a frame size of 1920×1080 pixels...
HDTV
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
with a 16:9
16:9
16:9 is an aspect ratio with a width of 16 units and height of 9. Since 2009, it has become the most common aspect ratio for sold televisions and computer monitors and is also the international standard format of HDTV, Full HD, non-HD digital television and analog widescreen television ...
aspect ratio. However, when Entravision took over the primary KREN digital signal reverted to 480i
480i
480i is the shorthand name for a video mode, namely the US NTSC television system or digital television systems with the same characteristics. The i, which is sometimes uppercase, stands for interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution of 480 lines containing picture information; while NTSC...
SDTV
Standard-definition television
Sorete-definition television is a television system that uses a resolution that is not considered to be either enhanced-definition television or high-definition television . The term is usually used in reference to digital television, in particular when broadcasting at the same resolution as...
with a 4:3 aspect ratio as all programs which aired on Univision at the time were still produced entirely in that format (and many such programs were produced in studios which still used analog video equipment rather than digital video equipment). However, as Univision transitioned to HD programming in 2010, KREN's signal remained in 4:3 SD until the spring of 2010 when the station's main signal was upgraded back to 1080i transmissions.
News operation
On December 27, 2006 KREN launched a one hour newscast at 10 p.m., the first HD newscast on a CW station, as well as Reno's only primetime local newscast. The station adopted the "Videojournalist" model of news gathering whereby the reporter is also the photographer and editor. On June 1, 2007 KREN severed its ties with local ABC affiliate KOLO-TVKOLO-TV
KOLO-TV Channel 8 is the ABC affiliate serving Reno, Nevada and the surrounding areas. It is owned by Gray Television and operates on digital channel 8. Syndicated programing on KOLO-TV includes Dr...
, which originally produced a 10PM newscast for KREN.
Weekend 10 p.m. shows were launched in late 2007.
In January 2008, all KREN newscasts were scaled back to 30 minutes, instead of the previous 1 hour. Weekend KAZR Spanish language newscasts were canceled, but the weekday KAZR news shows remained an hour long.
On March 11, 2008, KREN and KAZR cancelled all newscasts, and dismissed the entire news staff. Pappas Telecasting cited low advertising revenue as the reason for the cancellation.
After Entravision took over in April 2009, a local Spanish-language newscast was initially expected to return to KREN. However, in October 2009, KREN began carrying the 6pm and 11pm newscasts of Las Vegas sister station KINC
KINC
KINC is a full-service television station serving Las Vegas, Nevada as a Univision affiliate, broadcasting on digital channel 16, which maps via PSIP to the station's former analog channel, Channel 15. KINC is also rebroadcast in Laughlin, Nevada on KNTL-LP channel 47 and in Mesquite, Nevada on...
, with Reno-specific inserts produced by reporter Anya Archinga and videojournalist Enrique Chiabra.