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You are at the section Retro Cable Lineups San Diego

1980 San Diego County Cable

Before the days when smaller cable companies were sold and merged into bigger cable companies, San Diego county once had a multitude of cable systems serving small areas, as well as some that served larger areas such as Cox and Southwestern.

Before there was such as thing as 1000-channel systems in the 2000s, 80-channel systems in the 1990s, and 36-channel systems in 1985, most of the smaller systems had just 12 VHF channels from 2-13, and if they were lucky, they had a few cable-only channels for cable programming or more broadcast channels.

These are taken from americanradiohistory.com under the Broadcasting Yearbook sections and is public domain information that is not copyrighted. These lineups are for historical and educational purposes.

Where possible, I'll include some cable systems outside of San Diego county that carried at least one San Diego-county based broadcast channel so you can see how far some of them went into another county.

I can't find earlier cable channel lineups of the San Diego cable systems, but I can assume that with systems with 12-channel capacity throughout the 1960s and 1970s, very little has changed.

In the 1960s, there were no cable origination channels such as KCOX Cable 2, Public Access, Educational Access, Government Access and text-generated channels. Many cable systems filled up their lineups with local channels and if they were lucky they added in a few extra channels from out of the area. Most of the cable systems in San Diego county picked the Los Angeles VHF stations if they picked from out of the area.

The 1970's came and the local origination channels began to appear on cable systems that built out their capacities beyond the 12-channel limit, usually in the so-called A-W cable channel slots, or 14-36 for numbers. Pay channels began to be placed in some systems, with many of them placed in the cable channels in the G-H or 20-21 range for example, thus, requiring the rental of a cable converter box to be able to watch the pay channel. Some systems scrambled the pay channel, and some did not (expecially if they were placed outside of the 2-13 channel range).

As you can see below, there were still many independently-run smaller cable companies scattered all over San Diego county that still had a 12-channel capacity, but they would soon expand their capacities or be sold off to be part of a larger cable company.

The biggest cable system in San Diego county started off as Mission Cable TV, which became Cox Communications after Cox bought the system. They were among the first in the nation to add a few local origination channels such as Mission Cable 2 (later KCOX) in 1970, expand beyond 12-channels beginning around 1973 when they added an in-house pay TV channel (Channel 100), and added more locally origination channels, some of which shared time with channels 4 and 7, home of the Los Angeles NBC and ABC stations, which were replaced with the local cable channels whenever the cable system was required to black them out due to duplication with the local network affiliates. By 1979, the system was 25 channels, and it was among the first cable systems to add C-SPAN and ESPN from satellite when they were launched that year. As the satellite TV era began to take off, cable systems would be very busy adding capacities to carry as much as they could.

But getting back to the time era of the year 1980, many cable systems had their own home-grown pay channels before replacing them with the satellite-delivered pay channels like HBO, Showtime, The Movie Channel, and others later on.

Channels Covered

Borrego Springs: TeleCable Service Corp.

Ownership: A. A. Burnand Ill. Served Borrego Springs. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 650; homes passed: 750; total homes in franchised area: 800. Started April 1973. Length 50 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 5. TV chs 4; available unused 1.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  4. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  5. (could this have been used for channel 9 in El Centro, or was it technically unavailable?)
  6. KYEL Yuma, Arizona (13, NBC)
Microwave: American TV Relay. Channel position unknown.

Brawley: Imperial Valley Cable Co.

Ownership: UA-Columbia Cablevision. Based in El Centro, served Brawley and Westmorland. Imperial county.

Subscribers: 4,182; homes passed: 5,121; total homes in franchised area: 5,473. Started 1961. Length 46.75 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 12 (2 shared); pay cable 1 shared; automated 1 shared. Allband FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS), automated time/weather with KLOS-FM Los Angeles audio
  3. XHBC Mexicali, Mexico (3, Spanish)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. XHAQ Mexicali (5, Spanish)
  6. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  9. KECC-TV El Centro (9, CBS)
  10. KHJ Los Angeles (9, Ind), Home Box Office (PAY)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
  13. KYEL-TV Yuma, Ariz. (13, NBC)
Microwave: American Television Relay.

Calexico: Imperial Valley Cable

Ownership: UA-Columbia Cablevision Inc. Based in El Centro, served Calexico. Imperial county.

Subscribers: 2,464; homes passed: 3,065; total homes in franchised area: 3,759. Started 1961. Length 22.85 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 12 (2 shared); pay cable 1 shared; automated 1 shared.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS), automated time/weather with KLOS-FM Los Angeles audio
  3. XHBC Mexicali, Mexico (3, Spanish)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. XHAQ Mexicali (5, Spanish)
  6. (was this used for KTLA?)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  9. KECC-TV El Centro (9, CBS)
  10. KHJ Los Angeles (9, Ind), Home Box Office (PAY)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
  13. KYEL-TV Yuma, Ariz. (13, NBC)
Microwave: American Television Relay.

Carlsbad: Carlsbad Cable TV Inc.

Ownership: Tom Shea. Based in San Diego 92104, served Carlsbad.

No subscribers yet. Cable system was under construction.

Total homes in franchised area: 1,650.

Carlsbad: La Costa Community Antenna System

Ownership: Rancho La Costa Inc. in Las Vegas. Served Carlsbad, Rancho La Costa. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 1,300; homes passed: 1,700; total pop in franchised area: 2,200. Started June 1965. Length 40 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 12; automated 1 (shared). Allband FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. KCST San Diego (39, NBC), KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. KCET Los Angeles (28, PBS)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KBSC-TV Corona (52, Ind)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
Not carried:

According to a Broadcasting Yearbook page, this is an unusual practice of a San Diego-county based cable system partially pre-empting a local county station to carry a Los Angeles-based channel part-time. I guess KWHY was carried on cable 3 weekdays from 6am-2pm, then KCST the other times.

Coronado: Televents of Coronado Inc.

Ownership: Carl M. Williams. Based in Coronado, served Coronado.

Subscribers: 3,347; homes passed: 6,265; total homes in franchised area: 6,265. Started October 1973. Length 35 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 36; TV chs 14; pay cable 1; automated 4; other origination programing 1; technically unavailable 4 (8A, 8B, 10A and 10B); available unused 12. Total radio stations: 20.

Channel Lineup (most positions were not listed though carried):

Origination-automated: time/weather, news ticker, stock ticker, sports ticker, studio channel.

Not carried: Channels Covered

Crestline: Lakeview TV Cable

Ownership: Frank W. Stoddard. Served Crestline. San Berardino county.

Subscribers: 3,100; homes passed: 4,500; total pop in franchised area: 5,000. Started June 1956. Length 80 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 13; TV chs 12; pay cable 1 (shared); automated 1 (shared). 12+ ch converter. Allband FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. Automated: ad wheel, news, full time
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind), KBAK-TV Bakersfield (29, ABC)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS), KERO-TV Bakersfield (23, NBC)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
Channel H: Bestvision Home Cinema, movies (PAY)

Other origination: one studio channel.

Eagle Mountain: American Pacific Co.

Ownership: Mrs. Onie D. Jones. Based in Eagle Mountain, served Eagle Mountain, Lake Tamarisk. Riverside county.

Subscribers: 850; homes passed: 850; total homes in franchised area: 900. Started December 1964. Length 60 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 8; automated 1; available unused 3. Allband FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  4. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  5. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  6. KNIX-TV Phoenix (8, PBS), automated weather
  7. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  8. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  9. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  10. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)

El Centro: Imperial Valley Cable Co.

Ownership: UA-Columbia Cablevision Inc. Served El Centro, Imperial, Holtville, Heber. Imperial county.

Subscribers: 9,690; homes passed: 12,199; total homes in franchised area: 13,906. Started March 1960. Length 140 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 12 (2 shared); pay cable 1 shared; automated 1 shared. Allband FM. Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS), automated time/weather with KLOS-FM Los Angeles audio
  3. XHBC Mexicali, Mexico (3, Spanish)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. XHAQ Mexicali (5, Spanish)
  6. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  9. KECC-TV El Centro (9, CBS)
  10. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind), Home Box Office (PAY)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
  13. KYEL-TV Yuma, Ariz. (13, NBC)
Microwave: Americal Television Relay.

Encinitas: North County Cable

Ownership: North County Cable. Based in Solana Beach, served Encinitas, Solana Beach, Vista Village Park, San Diego County

Subscribers: 1,922; homes passed: 3,500; total population in franchised area: 9,500. Started 1972. Length 18.7 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 20; TV chs 12; available unused 8. Allband FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  3. KCST San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. XEWT-TV Tijuana, Mexico (12, Spanish)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
Not carried:

Encinitas: Times Mirror Co.

Ownership: Times Mirror Co. Based in Escondido, served Encinitas, Solana Beach, Cardiff By The Sea, Leucadia, San Diego County

Subscribers: 3,200; homes passed: 8,300; total homes in franchised area: 8,300. Started 1/74. Length 79 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 11; pay cable 1.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. Showtime (PAY)
  3. KCST San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC), XEWT-TV Tijuana, Mexico (12, Spanish)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS) (duplicated)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC) (duplicated)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
Not carried:

Escondido: Escondido Cablevision

Ownership: Times Mirror Co. Based in Escondido, served Escondido, Ramona and other parts of San Diego county.

Subscribers: 19,100; homes passed: 26,100; total homes in franchised area: 31,320. Started July 1969. Length 265 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 13; TV chs 12; pay cable 1; automated 1 shared; other origination programing 1 shared. 12+ ch converter.

Channel Lineup:

  1. Showtime (PAY)
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS), Automated Time/Weather, KCOX "Mission Cable 2" El Cajon (2C, Ind)
  3. KCST San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC), XEWT-TV Tijuana, Mexico (12, Spanish)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
Not carried:

Channels Covered

Falibrook: Pala Mesa Cablevision Inc.

Ownership: Daniels Properties. Served Fallbrook. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 2,840; homes passed: 4,149; total homes in franchised area: 6,945; Started January 1966. Length 55 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 12. Allband FM.

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. KCST San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
Not carried:

Lake San Marcos: Daniels & Assocs.

Ownership: Daniels & Assocs. Based in San Marcos, served Lake San Marcos. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 946; homes passed: 960; total homes in franchised area: 1,800. Started January 19/63. Length 23 mi.

Channel lineup for 1980 unknown.

Lomas Santa Fe: North County Cable

Ownership: Daniels Properties Inc. Based in Solana Beach, served Lomas Santa Fe. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 541; homes passed: 800; total pop in franchised area: 2,400. Started 1972. Length 11.9 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 20; TV chs 12; available unused 8. Total radio stations: 2 FM. Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  3. KCST San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. XEWT-TV Tijuana, Mexico (12, Spanish)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
Not carried:

Newport Beach: Community Cablevision Co.

Ownership: The Irvine Co. Served Newport Beach, Irvine, Tustin. Orange county.

Subscribers: 15,000; homes passed: 20,000; total homes in franchised area: 20,000. Started February 1966. Length 350 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 11 (1 shared); pay cable 1 shared; automated 1 shared; access 1 shared; other origination programing 1 shared. Total radio stations: 10 FM. Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. automated message wheel, KOCM-FM Newport Beach audio, public access part-time, studio channel part-time
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. KCET Los Angeles (28, PBS), unknown movie channel (PAY)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind), KMEX-TV Los Angeles (34, Spanish)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)

This is puzzling. Why did this cable system chuck PBS part of the time for a pay movie channel? Could they have carried it on one of the two channels they used for San Diego TV?

Newport Beach: Teleprompter of Newport Beach

Ownership: Teleprompter Corp. Served Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar. Orange county.

Subscribers: 3,801; homes passed: 11,953; total homes in franchised area: 11,953. Started Dec 1968. Length 99 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 24; TV chs 15; pay cable 1; automated 2; access 1; available unused 5. 12+ ch converter. Total radio stations: 7 FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. public access
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. KCET Los Angeles (28, PBS)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. automated time/weather
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
  14. Channel A - Z Channel (PAY)
  15. not used
  16. not used
  17. Channel D - KHOF-TV San Bernardino (30, Ind)
  18. not used
  19. Channel F - KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind)
  20. Channel G - KMEX-TV Los Angeles (34, Spanish)
  21. Channel H - KTBN-TV Fontana (40, Ind)
  22. Channel I - KBSC-TV Corona (52, Ind)
  23. not used
  24. Channel K - automated AP News with KOCM-FM Newport Beach on audio full time
  25. Channel L - KOCE-TV Huntington Beach (50, PBS)

Oceanside: TV Power of North County Inc.

Ownership: Tele-Communications Inc. Served Oceanside, Camp Pendleton. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 9,769; homes passed: 22,000; total pop in franchised area: 54,200. Started June 1970. Length 165 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 24; TV chs 17; automated 3; origination programing 1; available unused 3.

Channel Lineup:

Origination-automated: one (time/weather, full time); one (message wheel, full time); one (news ticker, full time), one ch (studio, film, videotape, CAN net 48 hrs).

Not carried

Palos Verdes: Palos Verdes Peninsula Cable Communications Co.

Ownership: Times Mirror Co. Based in Long Beach, served Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro. Los Angeles county.

Subscribers: 8,590; homes passed: 11,900; total homes in franchised area: 20,900. Started June 1957. Length 145 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 13; N chs 12 (1 shared); pay cable 1; automated 1 (shared). 12+ ch converter. Allband FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind), automated message wheel
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. KCET Los Angeles (28, PBS)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KBSC-TV Corona (52, Ind)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
Pay cable: Showtime, unknown cable slot.

Poway: Signal Master Inc.

Ownership: Jonathan Lippitt. Based in San Diego, served Poway (Green Valley area). San Diego county.

Subscribers: 900; homes sites passed: 1,200; total homes in franchised area: 1,500. Started September 1973. Length 12 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 30; TV chs 12; access 3; available unused 15.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. KCST-TV San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
Not carried:

Rancho Bernardo: Southwestern Cable TV

Ownership: American Television & Communications Corp. Based in San Diego, served Rancho Bernardo. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 6,100; homes passed: 6,750; total homes in franchised area: 6,750. Started 1965. Length 85 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 13; TV chs 12; pay cable 1. Allband FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  3. KCST-TV San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  8. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)

Pay cable: unknown named channel

Due to the strong signal prescences of three VHF channels on 8, 10, and 12, this cable system carried all of the channels as the one in Poway above it, but it flip-flopped three pairs of channels so that the San Diego-based channels were shown on cable channels 2, 4, and 7, while the three Los Angeles network stations were carried on 8, 10 and 12.

Not carried:

Rancho San Diego: Rancho Transmission Co.

Ownership: Rancho Transmission Co. Based in Spring Valley, it served Rancho San Diego. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 885; homes passed: 923; total pop in franchised area: 2,300. Started 1971.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 11; available unused 1. Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. KCST-TV San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. unused
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
Not carried: Not carried:

San Clemente: Orange County Cable Communications Co.

Ownership: Times Mirror Co. Based in San Clemente, it served San Clemente, Capo Beach, Camp Pendleton, and nearby Orange county.

Subscribers: 10,125; homes passed: 16,700; total homes in franchised area: 20,050. Started 1966. Length 115 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 14 (2 shared); other origination programing 1 (shared).

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. KCST-TV San Diego (39, NBC), KOCE-TV Huntington Beach (50, PBS), local origination channel
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. KCET Los Angeles (28, PBS)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind), KMEX-TV Los Angeles (34, Spanish)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)

Pay cable: one channel.

San Diego Country Estates: Country Cable

Based in Ramona, served San Diego Country Estates. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 300; homes passed: 500; total homes in franchised area: 250. Started February 1976. Length 12 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 24; TV chs 10. Allband FM.

Channel lineup unknown.

San Diego: Mission Cable TV Inc. (Cox Cable)

Ownership: Cox Cable Communications Inc. Served San Diego, Bonita, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Imperial Beach, Lakeside, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Poway, Santee and Spring Valley. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 170,000; homes passed: 270,000; total homes in franchised area: 300,000. Started 1962. Length 2,200 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 36; TV chs 15 (2 shared); pay cable 1; automated 5 (2 shared); access 3 (2 shared); other origination programing 2 shared; available unused 12. Total radio stations: 23 FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS), KCOX "Mission Cable 2" El Cajon (2C, Ind)
  3. KCST-TV San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC), Christian Communications Network (4C or 26C, Ind)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC), KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
  14. KMEX-TV Los Angeles (34, Spanish)
  15. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS) (duplicated here for the benefit of subscribers who live where XEWT 12 bleeds ghosts into cable 12)
  16. KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind), XEWT-TV Tijuana, Mexico (12, Spanish)
  17. AP financial news
  18. ESPN, program guude
  19. weather, information
  20. Home Box Office (PAY)
  21. future home of CNN (June 1980)
  22. not used
  23. educational access
  24. consumer shopper's guide, public access
  25. AP sports and news, government access, C-SPAN
  26. Christian Communications Network (4C or 26C, Ind)
Not carried:

San Diego: Southwestern Cable TV.

Ownership: American Television & Communications Corp. Served San Diego (Pacific Beach area), Clairemont, Del Mar, La Jolla, Mira Mesa, Rancho de Los Penasquitos, Scripps Ranch, South Bay Terraces and University City. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 31,400; homes passed: 71,855; total homes in franchised area: 113,000. Started 1964. Length 498 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 30; TV chs 13; pay cable 1; automated 4; access 2; technically unavailable 2; available unused 8. Total radio stations: 17 FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  3. KCST-TV San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  8. (technically unavailable as the local VHF station would cause ghosts to appear on cable)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. (technically unavailable as the local VHF station would cause ghosts to appear on cable)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)
  14. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  15. shopping guide
  16. color tuning
  17. public access
  18. educational access
  19. Home Box Office (PAY)
  20. XEWT-TV Tijuana, Mexico (12, Spanish)
  21. KMEX-TV Los Angeles (34, Spanish)
  22. news ticker
  23. stock market

Not carried:

San Juan Capistrano: Orange County Cable Communications Co.

Ownership: Times Mirror Co. Based in San Clemente, served San Juan Capistrano. Orange county.

Subscribers: 800; homes passed: 887; total homes in franchised area: 1,260. Started December 1972. Length 16.8 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 14 (2 shared).

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind), KMEX-TV Los Angeles (34, Spanish)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. KCET Los Angeles (28, PBS)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KOCE-TV Huntington Beach (50, PBS), KBSC-TV Corona (52, Ind)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)

San Marcos: San Marcos Cablevision.

Ownership: Times Mirror Co. Based in Escondido, served San Marcos and other parts of San Diego county.

Subscribers: 4,000; homes passed: 5,400; total homes in franchised area: 5,800. Started March 1972. Length 62 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 13; TV chs 12 (1 shared); pay cable 1; automated 1 shared; other origination programing 1 shared.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS), automated time/weather, local origination channel (KCOX?)
  3. KCST-TV San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC), XEWT Tijuana, Mexico (12, Spanish)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)

Pay cable: one ch (Showtime).

Not carried:

Sierra Madre. Teleprompter of Sierra Madre.

Ownership : Teleprompter Corp. Served Sierra Madre, Arcadia. Los Angeles county.

Subscribers: 4,518; homes passed: 6,535; total homes in franchised area: 6,535. Started May 1964. Length 44 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 17; N chs 10 (2 shared); pay cable 1; automated 1; available unused 2. Allband FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. message wheel with KBIG-FM Los Angeles for audio.
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. KCET Los Angeles (28, PBS)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC), KBSC-TV Corona (52, Ind)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind), KMEX-TV Los Angeles (34, Spanish)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)

Sun City. Liberty TV Cable Inc.

Ownership: Liberty Communications Inc. Served Sun City. Riverside county.

Subscribers: 2,220; homes passed: 3,223; total homes in franchised area: 2,000. Started August 1964. Length 28 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; N chs 11; available unused 1. Allband FM.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. KCET Los Angeles (28, PBS)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC), KBSC-TV Corona (52, Ind)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. not used
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)

Vista: Vista Cablevision Inc.

Ownership: Times Mirror Co. (see MSO). Based in Escondido, served Vista. San Diego county.

Subscribers: 5,200; homes passed: 9,500; total homes in franchised area: 11,400. Started December 1971. Length 85 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 12; TV chs 11 (1 shared); pay cable 1; automated 1 (shared); other origination programing 1 (shared).

Channel Lineup:

  1. Showtime (PAY)
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS), automated time/weather, studio (KCOX?)
  3. KCST-TV San Diego (39, NBC)
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC), XEWT Tijuana, Mexico (12, Spanish)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. XETV Tijuana, Mexico (6, Ind)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KFMB-TV San Diego (8, CBS)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KGTV San Diego (10, ABC)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KPBS-TV San Diego (15, PBS)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind)

Not carried:

Los Angeles. Theta Cable Television

Ownership: Theta Cable of California. Served Los Angeles, Alta Loma, Bell Canyon, Beverly Hills, Cucamonga, El Segundo, Marina Del Rey, Montclair, Ontario, Santa Monica, Upland and West Hollywood. Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

Subscribers: 90,000; homes passed: 255,631; total homes in franchised area: 587,691. Started August 1967. Length 2,000 mi.

Channel usage: total ch capacity 29; TV chs 15 (2 shared); pay cable 1; automated 11 (1 shared); access 2 (1 shared); other origination programing 1; available unused 1.

Channel Lineup:

  1. not used
  2. KNXT Los Angeles (2, CBS)
  3. not used
  4. KNBC Los Angeles (4, NBC), KVCR-TV San Bernardino (24, PBS)
  5. KTLA Los Angeles (5, Ind)
  6. KCET Los Angeles (28, PBS)
  7. KABC-TV Los Angeles (7, ABC)
  8. KMEX-TV Los Angeles (34, Spanish)
  9. KHJ-TV Los Angeles (9, Ind)
  10. KWHY-TV Los Angeles (22, Ind), KSCI San Bernardino (18, Ind)
  11. KTTV Los Angeles (11, Ind)
  12. KBSC-TV Corona (52, Ind)
  13. KCOP Los Angeles (13, Ind), public access
  14. Channel A - N Guide
  15. Channel B - news
  16. Channel C - food shopping guide
  17. Channel D - time /weather, NOAA weather radio
  18. Channel E - educational access
  19. Channel F - movie guide
  20. Channel G - KHOF-TV San Bernardino (30, Ind)
  21. Channel H - Channel Z (PAY) (correct channel position?)
  22. Channel I - KTBN-TV Fontana (40, Ind)
  23. Channel J - studio
  24. Channel K - sports news
  25. Channel L - KLCS Los Angeles (58, PBS)
  26. Channel M - KSCI San Bernardino (18, Ind), California news
  27. Channel N - New York Stock Exchange
  28. Channel O - recreational weather
  29. Channel P - sports scoreboard, full time

Pay cable: ch Z (Hollywood Home Theatre, movies)

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