Will my TV stop working in El Paso (Las Cruces)?
El Paso (Las Cruces) · market #91 of 210
Not yet — but your market has already started the switch.
- Stations already on NextGen TV (3.0)
- 5 of 10
- since December 13, 2023
- Proposed shutoff of old (1.0) signals
- February 2030
- Wave 2 · NAB proposal, not yet adopted by the FCC
- Earliest the rules could change
- July 2027
- Current FCC rule keeps 1.0 simulcasts through July 17, 2027
What this means today: every full-power station in El Paso (Las Cruces) is still sending a signal your current antenna TV can receive. One station (KFOX-TV) has become a NextGen TV “host,” so its old-format programming now comes from a different station’s signal — rescanning your TV picks it up.
What’s coming: broadcasters have asked the FCC to let stations in the smaller markets switch off old-format signals starting February 2030. If that happens, TVs without an ATSC 3.0 tuner will need a converter box to keep receiving these channels. The FCC is expected to decide by the end of 2026.
Every station in El Paso (Las Cruces)
“On 3.0” means the station’s programming is available in NextGen TV format. “3.0 host” means the station’s transmitter carries the new format only, and its old-format programming moved to another station’s signal (rescan to find it). Source: FCC licensing records.
| Ch. | Station | Network | NextGen TV | Old (1.0) signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | KDBC-TV El Paso, TX | CBS | On 3.0 via KFOX-TV · since December 13, 2023 | Still on the air |
| 7 | KVIA-TV El Paso, TX | ABC | On 3.0 via KFOX-TV · since December 13, 2023 | Still on the air |
| 9 | KTSM-TV El Paso, TX | NBC | On 3.0 via KFOX-TV · since December 13, 2023 | Still on the air |
| 13 | KCOS El Paso, TX | PBS | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 14 | KFOX-TV El Paso, TX | FOX | 3.0 host since December 13, 2023 | Moved to another station |
| 22 | KRWG-TV Las Cruces, NM | PBS | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 26 | KINT-TV El Paso, TX | Univision | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 38 | KSCE El Paso, TX | ETV | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 48 | KTDO Las Cruces, NM | Telemundo | On 3.0 via KFOX-TV · since December 13, 2023 | Still on the air |
| 65 | KTFN El Paso, TX | Unimas | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
3 low-power stations in this market (not covered by the proposed shutoff rules)
- K27OJ-D (25)
- KCWF-LD
- K07AAL-D
What to do now
- Rescan your TV. If a channel disappeared recently, it probably moved to a host station’s signal. Settings → Channels → Auto scan.
- Find out if your TV already has a 3.0 tuner. Use the tuner check. If it does, you’re done.
- Don’t buy a converter box yet unless you want 3.0 features now. Prices are falling and the FCC hasn’t set a date. We’ll tell you when it’s time.