In analog, the channel 3 allocation was initially not awarded to either San Diego or Tijuana—despite a severe need for additional VHF television channels in the area—because any high-powered signal would be short-spaced over water to KEYT-TV in Santa Barbara, California.

In 1995, Mexico notified the United States that it would be building channel 3, with a proposed 100 kW effective radiated power.

As part of the IPN's program to build repeater stations to extend the reach of its then-Once TV, XHTJB-TV signed on August 2, 1999, analog channel 3, raising its power over several days to 40 kW of effective radiated power.

[3] When XHTJB signed on in mid-1999, it immediately caused interference to those in San Diego who had their VCRs and other devices with output set to channel 3; international coordination forced the new station to ramp up power levels gradually in order to help users rectify potential interference.

The call sign was changed from XHTJB to XHCPDE as a result of the re-award of the concession following an impermissibly late renewal filing, effective January 1, 2022.