Although KDTP is licensed as a full-power station, its broadcasting radius only covers the immediate Holbrook area.
An original construction permit for KDTP was issued on January 10, 2000, to Community Television Educators for a station to broadcast on channel 39, a non-commercial allocation in Phoenix.
It replaced low-power K39BI (now KFPH-CD), which had been the local Daystar station, but had been moved to channel 35 and sold.
As compensation, NBC Telemundo would transfer KDRX-CA to Daystar, plus additional consideration, which turned out to be LPTV station KPHZ-LP (now KDTP-LP).
Nevertheless, and in spite of Univision's objection, the FCC concluded that the addition of a competitive Spanish-language service outweighs the loss of a second non-commercial allocation, and approved of the plan.