Telemundo completes Phoenix swap.

Telemundo will switch its broadcast to a full-power signal over Channel 39 effective 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, July 23, 2006. The new full-power signal will greatly improve the ability for Spanish-language viewers to receive Telemundo programming over the air and will cover 100% of the Hispanic cable homes in the market. The station’s new call letters will change from KDRX to KTAZ. Ibra Morales, President, Telemundo Television Stations, made the announcement today.

“Telemundo is committed to serving its local communities, and our new full-power signal allows us to strengthen that commitment by reaching an even broader Hispanic audience in Phoenix,” said Thelma Abril, VP and General Manager, KTAZ.

“Phoenix is one of the country’s most dynamic and fastest-growing Hispanic markets, and with our new signal in place, hundreds of thousands of viewers can now choose Telemundo as their primary source of Spanish-language news, entertainment and sports programming,” added Morales.

The station, which announced FCC approval for a signal exchange in October 2005, will now be available on Channel 39 over-the-air and Channel 20 on Cox cable, moving from its old channel positions of 48 over-the-air, and 56 on Cox cable. To make the signal exchange possible, Telemundo swapped signals with the Daystar Television Network, which now operates KDTP-CA / Channel 48 and KPHZ-LP / Channel 58 in Phoenix in addition to KDTP / Channel 11 in Holbrook, Ariz.

KTAZ is the latest investment NBC Universal has made for the Telemundo Television Stations Group. In May 2005, the company purchased the full-power television station KBLR in Las Vegas, Nev., the country’s 25th largest Hispanic television market. In January 2006, it announced the purchase of the full-power television station KDEN in Denver, Col., significantly increasing Telemundo’s coverage in the country’s 16th largest Spanish-language television market.