KAZV-CD
| KAZV-CD | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Modesto, California United States |
|
| City | Modesto, California |
| Channels |
Digital: ██ (█HF) Virtual: 14 |
| Branding | KAZV 14 Be Heard! |
| Programming | |
| Affiliations |
14.1: Independent 14.2: Bounce TV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Heard Communications, Inc. |
| History | |
| First air date | July 4, 1996; years ago |
| Former call signs | K14JP (1995–1996) |
| Former channel number(s) |
Analog: 14 (UHF, 1996–2009) Digital: ██ (UHF, until 2018) |
| Former affiliations |
America One (1996–2014) Urban America Television (2005–2006) |
| Call sign meaning | Founder Frank Azevedo |
KAZV-CD (channel 14) is a Class A, low-power independent television station located in Modesto, California, United States. Founded June 22, 1995, the station is now owned by Heard Communications, Inc.
Frank Azevedo, an almond and grape grower, had wanted to own a TV station since 1965 and got his chance with the low-power KAZV-LP. The station went on the air on July 4, 1996 and aired mostly classic TV shows and movies. By 1997, it aired about 30 hours a week of local programming, with most of the rest coming from America One. Among the local programs was a newscast, read by Azevedo and mostly consisting of content gleaned from newspapers and press releases. Its viewership was initially limited by not being on local cable systems; however, Comcast added the station as channel 26 in 2000.
In 1999, the station received hate mail—a latter denouncing the "intermixture of the races." J. Denise Fontaine, then the only Black host, read and ripped up the letter on her show, Our Part of the Valley. The incident was later investigated by the FBI.
In 2014, the struggling station was purchased by ShaQuan Heard, the former CTO for ELB Technologies in Hill Valley. Heard disaffiliated the station with America One and began producing more original programming, including the morning news program Good Morning Modesto. In 2017, KAZV began an affiliation with Bounce TV on its second digital subchannel.