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KMCC (channel 34), branded The Spot Vegas 34, is an independent television station licensed to Laughlin, Nevada, United States, serving the Las Vegas area. It is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company alongside ABC affiliate KTNV-TV (channel 13). The two stations share studios on South Valley View Boulevard in the nearby unincorporated community of Paradise (though with a Las Vegas mailing address). KMCC uses a distributed transmission system, with the main transmitter located near Dolan Springs, Arizona, and a secondary transmitter at the KTNV studios.
Key Information
Channel 34 was originally intended to be built at Lake Havasu City, Arizona. However, the original permittee, Meridian Communications Company, had the channel reallocated to Laughlin in order to allow it to broadcast NBC programming, increase its service area, and overcome various technical restrictions. The station began broadcasting in August 2003 and was soon after sold to Cranston II LLC, which used it to broadcast Spanish-language programming from a series of services: TeleFórmula, Multimedios Televisión, Mega TV, VasalloVision, and MundoFox/MundoMax. Entravision Communications acquired KMCC in 2017 and switched its programming source to Azteca América.
Ion Media acquired KMCC in early 2020 and was in turn acquired by the E. W. Scripps Company. In 2023, Ion programming moved to a subchannel, and the station became a new English-language independent station under the name Vegas 34. This coincided with Scripps obtaining the broadcast rights to Vegas Golden Knights hockey, which aired on KMCC beginning in the 2023–24 season.
History
[edit]On May 14, 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a construction permit to Meridian Communications Company (later Mojave Broadcasting Company) for a full power television station on UHF channel 34 to serve Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Its original call letters were to be KAUE, adopted in February 1997, but changed to KMCC a month later.
In July 1996, while preparing to build the station, Mojave Broadcasting determined that the proposed transmitter location was inadequate for a full-power television operation and that the alternate site near Oatman, Arizona, could not provide city-grade service to Lake Havasu City due to terrain. In early 1999, the company requested to move the station and both the analog and digital allotments to Laughlin, Nevada, with the transmitter at the Oatman site. It later modified its proposal to specify a transmitter in Laughlin, allowing it to secure an affiliation with NBC, since the new location would not interfere with Las Vegas NBC station KVBC (channel 3, now KSNV); the children of James Rogers, chairman of KVBC owner Sunbelt Communications Company, owned Mojave Broadcasting, and Sunbelt had signed a time brokerage agreement with KMCC.
The FCC formally granted the request in June 2000,[2] and Mojave Broadcasting began building the station in Laughlin. The FCC granted a construction permit for a digital companion channel, UHF 32, on January 15, 2002, and granted special temporary authority (STA) on April 6, 2004, to broadcast in digital at reduced power from the analog transmitter location.
The analog station signed on August 21, 2003, as a satellite of KVBC, and was granted a license on May 28, 2004. The arrangement was temporary, as before the station was licensed, Cranston II LLC had agreed to buy KMCC from Mojave Broadcasting. The sale was approved by the FCC in October 2004 and consummated in July 2005. Upon taking ownership, Cranston changed the station to Spanish-language programming from TeleFórmula, the cable news arm of Grupo Fórmula. In March 2006, equipment failure forced the station to reduce power significantly; in November, it switched to Multimedios Television.
KMCC had a construction permit to broadcast on UHF channel 32 from a transmitter location approximately 40 kilometers (25 mi) NNE of the analog transmitter location. The site, located near Dolan Springs, Arizona, is over 1,200 meters (3,937 ft) higher in elevation than the analog site, so while the analog station served the Mohave Valley from Bullhead City, Arizona, and Laughlin down to Needles, California, the digital station, when fully built and operational, would not only serve Laughlin and the Colorado River Valley, but most of central Mohave County, Arizona, and would reach beyond Las Vegas.[3] As of October 2017[update], however, the station was broadcasting on STA from the analog site at 15 kW with coverage approximately that of the analog signal. Cranston filed a request to extend the STA until January 1, 2007.

On January 26, 2009, KMCC switched to Mega TV, an independent television network based in Florida. The station again changed affiliations on January 1, 2010, affiliating with VasalloVision.[4] KMCC then became an affiliate of MundoFox (later MundoMax) when it launched on August 13, 2012.[5] In 2015, KMCC aired a music video format 24/7 called TheCoolTV on digital channels 32.2, 32.3 with some local programming. On December 1, 2016, with the demise of MundoMax, KMCC switched to Luken Communications' The Action Channel and Heartland networks.[6]
Entravision Communications agreed to purchase KMCC for $2.75 million on March 1, 2017; the sale created a duopoly with Univision affiliate KINC.[7] The sale was completed on January 17, 2018.[8] In April 2018, KMCC became an Azteca América affiliate.[9]
On January 27, 2020, it was announced that Ion Media would purchase KMCC from Entravision for an undisclosed price.[10] The sale was completed on April 3.[11] Because of this, sometime in February 2020, Ion Plus replaced Azteca as the station's main affiliate. On September 24, 2020, the Cincinnati-based E. W. Scripps Company (owners of ABC affiliate KTNV-TV, channel 13) announced that it would purchase Ion Media for $2.65 billion, with financing from Berkshire Hathaway.[12][13][14] After the sale was finalize, it was announced that Ion Plus, Qubo, and Shop Ion would cease operations in February 2021 and the station switched to an Ion Television affiliate.

On May 4, 2023, the Vegas Golden Knights announced that KMCC, through the E. W. Scripps Company's Scripps Sports arm, would become the team's new television partner, replacing AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain after the latter's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, announced its intentions to exit the RSN business. Along with broadcasting all Golden Knights non-exclusive games over the air in partnership with a network of stations across the Golden Knights' broadcast territory, KMCC rebranded as Vegas 34 and became independent on August 14, 2023,[15] with Ion programming moving to the station's second subchannel.[16]
On March 13, 2025, Scripps Sports announced a deal with the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA which would move their games from KVVU to KMCC.[17]
Local programming
[edit]The station carries all regional Vegas Golden Knights games beginning in the 2023–24 NHL season and airs ancillary programming such as Knight Life.[15] KMCC also simulcasts select programming from Scripps News and airs games from the Henderson Silver Knights, a minor league affiliate of the Golden Knights.[18] It also carries ABC programming in lieu of KTNV when required for local breaking news and sports preemptions. Starting in the 2025 WNBA season, the station will also air regional Las Vegas Aces games along with a weekly program titled "In the Paint".
Newscasts
[edit]KMCC airs four hours of local news each weekday, simulcasting programming from sister station KTNV-TV.
Subchannels
[edit]| Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34.1 | 720p | 16:9 | Vegas34 | Independent |
| 34.2 | 480i | ION | Ion Television | |
| 34.3 | CourtTV | Court TV | ||
| 34.4 | BUSTED | Busted | ||
| 34.5 | IONPlus | Ion Plus[20] | ||
| 34.6 | Bounce | Bounce TV | ||
| 34.7 | GameSho | Game Show Central | ||
| 34.8 | HSN | HSN |
References
[edit]- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KMCC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Report and Order" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. June 21, 2000.
- ^ https://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT995554.html[permanent dead link]
- ^ "'VasalloVision Network' in Las Vegas, Nevada" (Press release). VasalloVision Television Network. January 14, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
- ^ Sieroty, Chris (August 14, 2012). "MundoFox joins battle for Spanish viewers". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
- ^ "The Notes: Feb. 19-25". Las Vegas Sun. February 20, 2017.
- ^ "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
- ^ Miller, Mark K. (January 17, 2018). "Entravision Closes on Purchase of KMCC". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ^ Villafañe, Veronica (April 27, 2018). "Entravision's KMCC becomes Azteca América affiliate in Las Vegas". Media Moves. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
- ^ Miller, Mark K. (January 27, 2020). "Ion Media Buys Entravision's KMCC Las Vegas". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheckMedia. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- ^ "CDBS Print". licensing.fcc.gov.
- ^ "Breaking News – Scripps Creates National Television Networks Business with Acquisition of ION Media". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ Cimilluca, Dana. "E.W. Scripps Agrees to Buy ION Media for $2.65 billion in Berkshire-Backed Deal". Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ "E.W. Scripps scales up with $2.65 billion Berkshire-backed deal for ION Media". Reuters. September 24, 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
- ^ a b "Vegas 34 Launches with Cup Final Replays". NHL.com. August 30, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ "VGK and Scripps Partner on Multi-Year Agreement to Air NHL Team's Games". Vegas Golden Knights. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "The Las Vegas Aces Partner with Scripps Sports to Broadcast Regular Season Games on Vegas 34". WNBA.com. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Vegas 34 launches as the official broadcast partner of the Vegas Golden Knights". KTNV-TV. August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KMCC". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ Keys, Matthew (June 28, 2024). "Scripps replacing Defy TV with Ion Plus on broadcast TV". TheDesk.net. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
External links
[edit]History
Launch and early operations
In 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a construction permit to Meridian Communications Company for a full-power UHF television station on channel 34 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. However, to better serve the underserved community of Laughlin, Nevada, the company petitioned to reallocate the channel, demonstrating that the move would provide the area's first local television service to approximately 98,000 people across 10,873 square kilometers along the Colorado River. The FCC approved the reallotment effective August 14, 2000, shifting channel 34 (and its companion digital channel 32) to Laughlin as the new community of license.[5] Construction proceeded under Mojave Broadcasting Company, the successor to Meridian Communications, with the station launching as KMCC on August 21, 2003. Initially operating as an analog station on UHF channel 34 with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 416 kW from a transmitter near Dolan Springs, Arizona, KMCC served as a temporary satellite of Las Vegas NBC affiliate KVBC (now KSNV), rebroadcasting its programming to extend network coverage. The setup included local insertions tailored to the Tri-State area encompassing Laughlin, Nevada; Bullhead City, Arizona; and Needles, California, addressing the unique needs of these Colorado River communities previously reliant on distant signals. The FCC issued a license to cover for the analog facility on May 28, 2004, marking the completion of initial construction requirements.[6] By mid-2005, following the activation of its digital signal on UHF channel 32 with a 1,000 kW ERP and a height above average terrain of approximately 607 meters, KMCC transitioned to independent status, discontinuing the full-time satellite role with KVBC. This shift allowed the station to prioritize regional content, including community-focused programming such as local news briefs, event coverage, and features highlighting the economic and cultural ties of the Tri-State region, while filling airtime with syndicated fare. Key early milestones included the digital sign-on on June 1, 2005, which expanded coverage to the broader Las Vegas market, and initial tests demonstrating reliable signal propagation across the rugged terrain bordering Arizona and California. Throughout its first decade, KMCC maintained a focus on bridging programming gaps for rural viewers, operating without major network affiliation to emphasize hyper-local relevance.[6][7]Ownership changes and rebranding
In July 2005, following Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval in October 2004, Cranston II LLC acquired KMCC from Mojave Broadcasting Co. for $4 million, marking the station's first major ownership transition after its launch. This change prompted a strategic pivot in programming toward Spanish-language content to serve the growing Hispanic population in the Las Vegas area, with affiliations including TeleFórmula initially and a shift to Multimedios Televisión beginning in November 2006.[8][9] On March 1, 2017, Entravision Communications Corporation agreed to purchase KMCC from Cranston Acquisition LLC (a successor entity) for $2.75 million, a deal consummated on January 17, 2018. The acquisition strengthened Entravision's presence in the Las Vegas designated market area (DMA), forming a duopoly with its Univision affiliate KINC and further emphasizing Hispanic-targeted programming, including telenovelas, news, and cultural content tailored to the local demographic, with an Azteca América affiliation starting in April 2018.[10][11] Ion Media Partners announced its acquisition of KMCC from Entravision on January 27, 2020, for an undisclosed sum, with the transaction completed on April 3, 2020, following FCC consent. As part of a broader expansion strategy to cover the 39th-largest U.S. TV market, Ion integrated the station into its national Ion Television network, replacing much of the prior Spanish-language focus with syndicated entertainment and drama series to reach a wider over-the-air audience in Las Vegas.[12][13] In September 2020, the E. W. Scripps Company agreed to acquire Ion Media—including KMCC—for $2.65 billion in a deal finalized on January 7, 2021, after regulatory approvals, including FCC review. This transaction positioned KMCC within Scripps' growing portfolio of local and national broadcast assets, maintaining Ion Television affiliation on the main channel while enabling future programming flexibility.[14][15] To capitalize on Las Vegas market growth and secure over-the-air rights to Vegas Golden Knights NHL games starting in the 2023-24 season, Scripps rebranded KMCC as an independent station in 2023 for $15 million in associated investments and operational shifts, with FCC approvals facilitating the affiliation changes. The rebranding to "The Spot - Vegas 34" launched on August 30, 2023, relocating Ion programming to a digital subchannel and introducing a mix of local news, syndicated shows, and sports to attract a diverse English-language audience beyond prior niche focuses.[16][17][18] In March 2025, Scripps Sports announced a multiyear agreement with the Las Vegas Aces to broadcast the team's WNBA regular-season games on KMCC (Vegas 34) starting in the 2025 season, further expanding the station's local sports coverage.[19]Facilities and technical information
Ownership and studios
KMCC is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company, which acquired the station as part of its purchase of Ion Media in January 2021.[20] The acquisition integrated KMCC into Scripps' broader portfolio of over 60 local television stations across more than 40 markets, focusing on news, sports, and entertainment content.[21] In Nevada, Scripps' holdings include KMCC and its duopoly partner, ABC affiliate KTNV-TV (channel 13), enabling shared operational efficiencies in the Las Vegas market.[22] The station operates from shared studios with KTNV-TV at 3355 South Valley View Boulevard in Paradise, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas.[23] This facility supports production for local news, sports broadcasts, and other programming, with integrated resources such as newsrooms and technical operations that allow KMCC to leverage KTNV's established infrastructure for content creation and distribution.[24] Management of KMCC falls under the oversight of John Cook, who serves as vice president and general manager for both KMCC and KTNV-TV, guiding strategic decisions on programming and local media initiatives.[25]Transmitter and signal coverage
The secondary transmitter for KMCC is located in Clark County, Nevada, at coordinates 36°07′44.8″N 115°11′28.4″W.[6] This site supports the station's distributed transmission system (DTS) and provides the primary over-the-air signal for the Las Vegas Valley. The licensed effective radiated power (ERP) at this location is 200 kW for digital broadcasting, with a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 300 feet (91 meters).[6] The signal from the secondary transmitter delivers robust coverage across the Las Vegas Valley, reaching an estimated core area of over 2 million viewer households.[6] It extends eastward to Laughlin, Nevada, and Bullhead City, Arizona, while also serving portions of Mohave County, Arizona, ensuring reliable reception in urban and suburban areas of the region. Signal strength maps indicate strong city-grade coverage (≥50 dBμ) throughout Clark County, Nevada, with fringe reception up to approximately 60 miles from the tower.[26] In March 2023, the FCC granted KMCC a license to cover modifications to its secondary transmitter, relocating it from Black Mountain to a new site in Clark County, Nevada, to enhance signal reliability and expand coverage in the Las Vegas metropolitan area following the station's relaunch as an independent outlet.[27] This approval addressed prior limitations in urban penetration and aligned with post-digital transition requirements under FCC rules for DTS operations. No further major FCC modifications have been recorded since the 2023 grant.[28]Digital subchannels
KMCC operates eight digital subchannels, broadcast over virtual channel 34 via its physical UHF channel 32 from a transmitter near Dolan Springs, Arizona. The main subchannel, 34.1, airs in 720p high definition as the independent station branded "The Spot Vegas 34," while the remaining subchannels transmit in standard definition 480i. All subchannels maintain a 16:9 aspect ratio and utilize Dolby Digital 2.0 audio.[6] The following table outlines the current digital subchannel lineup, including video bitrates measured as of June 2024:| Virtual Channel | Resolution | Network/Affiliate | Nickname | Video Bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34.1 | 720p | Independent | The Spot Vegas 34 | 3.95 Mbps |
| 34.2 | 480i | Ion Television | 5.7 Mbps | |
| 34.3 | 480i | Court TV | 1.2 Mbps | |
| 34.4 | 480i | Busted! | 0.95 Mbps | |
| 34.5 | 480i | Defy TV | (formerly Ion Plus) | 1.3 Mbps |
| 34.6 | 480i | Bounce TV | 1.45 Mbps | |
| 34.7 | 480i | Ion Mystery | 1.15 Mbps | |
| 34.8 | 480i | HSN | 1.05 Mbps |