KNMD-TV explained

Callsign:KNMD-TV
Atsc3:yes
City:Santa Fe, New Mexico
Digital:8 (VHF)
Virtual:5
Affiliations:see KNME-TV infobox
Country:United States
Location:Santa FeAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Callsign Meaning:New Mexico Digital
Owner:University of New Mexico
Licensee:The Regents of the University of New Mexico
Sister Stations:KNME-TV
Erp:16.6 kW
Haat:12740NaN0
Facility Id:84215
Coordinates:35.2123°N -106.4497°W
Licensing Authority:FCC

KNMD-TV (channel 5) is an ATSC 3.0 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television station serving Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States that is licensed to the capital city of Santa Fe. Owned by the University of New Mexico, it is a sister station to Albuquerque-licensed KNME-TV (channel 5). The two stations share studios on UNM's North Campus on University Boulevard Northeast in Albuquerque; KNMD-TV's transmitter is located atop Sandia Crest.

History

KNMD began broadcasting in late 2004 at 200 watts on VHF channel 9. It was launched as an exclusively digital television station and is the first and only station in the Albuquerque market to have never broadcast in analog.

Signal issues

Broadcasting at only 200 watts, KNMD's signal was sometimes hard to pick up in many areas without pixelation and choppy sound. KNMD was not licensed as a low-power TV station but originally used low power because of interference issues with KCHF which broadcasts its digital signal on channel 10 from a site near Los Alamos, New Mexico. KNMD filed an application with the FCC in 2009 to move transmission frequency to channel 8 and increase power to 5.14 kW in order to improve its signal quality and range.[1] They were granted a permit to make the changes in October 2009. In late August 2010, the upgrades were completed, greatly improving the station's signal.

ATSC 3.0 conversion

KNMD-TV converted to ATSC 3.0 (Next Gen TV) on June 30, 2021. In preparation for this change, on February 15, World Channel began airing on KNME-TV channel 5.4, and Create debuted on 5.5. KNMD-TV simulcasts the entire KNME multiplex in ATSC 3.0 format.[2] Prior to the conversion, KNMD received a construction permit to increase power from 5.14 kW to 16.6 kW.[3]

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Channel! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col"
VideoAspectShort nameProgramming
5.1KNME HDATSC 3.0 simulcast of KNME-TV / PBS
5.2480pKids HDATSC 3.0 simulcast of KNME-DT2 / PBS Kids
5.3FNX HDATSC 3.0 simulcast of KNME-DT3 / FNX
5.41080pKNMD HDATSC 3.0 simulcast of KNME-DT4 / World Channel
5.5480pCreateATSC 3.0 simulcast of KNME-DT5 / Create

In the new ATSC 3.0 signal, KNMD's main HD channel is on 5.4 and runs programming from the "World" public television network which airs mostly news and documentaries. Some hours are programmed locally with re-airings of recent PBS prime time shows. Locally produced programs such as New Mexico In Focus are also shown on KNMD.

KNMD had previously aired the PBS Satellite Service on channel 9.1 but on January 28, 2009, had moved PBS World from 9.2 to 9.1 and launched the how-to programming channel Create on 9.2.

Notes and References

  1. News: FCC Continues Working On DTV-Related Reception Issues . Eggerton . John . August 17, 2009 . . August 21, 2009.
  2. Web site: LMS #137830 Modification of a License for DTV Application, KNMD-TV. Federal Communications Commission. March 4, 2021. March 15, 2021.
  3. Web site: CDBS Print.