NBCU Ramps Up For Its Forthcoming Telemundo/San Diego O&O

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After 27 years, the NBCUniversal-owned Spanish-language broadcast TV network Telemundo serving “America’s Finest City” on July 1 will shift from a Tijuana, Mexico-based station to an O&O right in the heart of downtown San Diego.


The Telemundo Station Group on Thursday (4/20) confirmed that what it is billing as “Telemundo 20” will feature four half-hour weekday newscasts, at 5pm, 5:30pm, 6pm and 11pm, starting Monday, July 3.

What is “Telemundo 20” is actually KNSD-39.3 in San Diego, the DT-3 channel tied to NBC O&O KNSD-39. In the market, KNSD has long been branded by its placement on Cox Cablevision systems as Channel 7. It’s taking a similar approach with “Telemundo 20,” as it readies for its debut. The nationally distributed digital network COZI TV is expected to remain on KNSD-39.2.

“Telemundo 20” will see a news team feature a pair of female anchor, Lizzet Lopez, and male anchor Guadalupe Venegas.

Since fall 1990, XHAS-33 has been the Telemundo affiliate for the San Diego DMA. As reported by RBR + TVBR, the Entravision Communications station already has a future plan: On his company’s Q4 and FY2016 earnings call with analysts, Chairman/CEO Walter Ulloa revealed that XHAS will be shifting to Azteca América programming immediately after Telemundo programming shifts to NBCU.

The disappearance of Telemundo network programming from XHAS is hardly a surprise: Entravision confirmed the cessation of its relationship with NBCUniversal in a Form 10-K reflecting its full-year 2012 financial results.