KNAZ-TV is a Flagstaff based commercial station which operates a fulltime satellite of Tegna Inc.-owned NBC affiliate KPNX. The transmitter of the station is installed southeast of Flagstaff in rural Coconino County. K06AE-D is the translator of the channel operating in Prescott. KPNX is the sibling of the station.
Watch KNAZ-TV Phoenix, AZ Stream Online
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Sub-Channels: 2.1 NBC
Website: www.12news.com/
History
Established by Wendell Elliott, the Phoenix-based channel started its operations on May 2, 1970 as KOAI-TV. Elliott, Sr. had the prior experience of running a Dodge City, Kansas station in 1950s and had also set up an Ensign-based television; he also remained the founder of Kansas Association of Broadcasters in 1951. Upon his death the asset was transferred to group led by his son, Wendell Elliott, Jr. Since its onset and during most its earlier times, the channel couldn’t obtain microwave feeds and syndicated programming and alternatively relied on dirty feed switching to and from the signal of the Phoenix-based KTAR-TV (later KPNX). The channel would then broadcast KTAR’s local content including news and commercials while also producing its own stuff. At that time the lineup would consist of a daily live one hour program followed by Today show and “rip and read” newscasts. A weekly program Navajo Nation was also produced for the indigenous audiences. A very little stuff is known about the early stuff of the service, though Northern Arizona University maintains an archive of KOAI from 1975 and later. Elliot, Jr. sold the station to Capitol Broadcasting Company in Jan 1981. With the news ownership came new calls: KNAZ-TV on March 23, 1981. The call letters were previously used by Prescott-based station now known as KAZT-TV. The signal strength of the transmitter was increased to 100 kW in 1981.
Between 1980s and 1990s the channel was sold and acquired multiple times. Starting with 1984, when Standard Life Insurance Company took over the ownership, then to Grand Canyon in 1988 from where it transferred to W.A. Franke in 1992. And for last time the channel was purchased by Gannett in May 1997. The owner of KPNX then made it a semi-satellite of the already-owned service. Gannett in Dec 2005 revealed his plans to release KNAZ but couldn’t find any suitable buyer in the market following which the local news production was sealed and from there it became a fulltime satellite of KPNX on Aug 15, 2008. The ownership cited lack of adverts and satellite carriage as the prime reasons for the termination of operations.
Programming
As a full satellite of KNAZ-TV, the channel clears all the programming of KPNX with the exception of 12 News Weather Plus. While the digital signal maintains the simulcast of KPNX’s programs. Prior to becoming the fulltime satellite of the KPNX, it would simulcast the weekday news-bulletins and all of weekend newscasts while also airing the syndicated programming of KPNX. However, it maintained its separate news staff and produced while also airing is own local commercials.
Today the programming aired by the station includes local, national and international news, weather updates, sports programming, traffic reports, talks shows, features and more. You can follow the station on Facebook and Twitter. Here is the website: https://www.12news.com/
