KEPR-TV

KEPR-TV (pronounced "keeper"), virtual channel 19 (UHF digital channel 18), is a dual CBS/CW+-affiliated television station licensed to Pasco, Washington, United States, and serving the Tri-Cities (Richland/Pasco/Kennewick) area. The station is owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group. KEPR's studios are located on West Lewis Street (US 395) in Pasco, and its transmitter is located on Johnson Butte near Kennewick.

KEPR-TV
Semi-satellite of KIMA-TV,
Yakima, Washington
Pasco/Richland/Kennewick, Washington
United States
CityPasco, Washington
ChannelsDigital: 18 (UHF)
Virtual: 19 (PSIP)
BrandingKEPR (general)
KEPR Action News (newscasts)
(pronounced "keeper")
CW 9 Yakima/Tri-Cities (on DT2)
SloganTaking Action for You
Programming
Affiliations19.1: CBS
19.2: CW+
19.3: Stadium (O&O)
Ownership
OwnerSinclair Broadcast Group
(Sinclair Yakima Licensee, LLC)
KIMA-TV, KLEW-TV,
KVVK-CA/KORX-CA
History
First air date
December 28, 1954 (1954-12-28)
Former channel number(s)
Analog:
19 (UHF, 1954–2009)
NBC (1954–1965)
ABC (1954–1970)
both secondary
Call sign meaning
KEnnewick
Pasco
Richland
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID56029
ERP83 kW
HAAT367 m (1,204 ft)
Transmitter coordinates46°5′50″N 119°11′33″W
Links
Public license information
Profile
LMS
Websitekeprtv.com

Although identifying as a station in its own right, KEPR is considered a semi-satellite of KIMA-TV (channel 29) in Yakima, which operates another semi-satellite, KLEW-TV (channel 3) in Lewiston, Idaho. KEPR and KLEW simulcast all network and syndicated programming as provided through KIMA, but air separate commercial inserts, legal identifications and early evening newscasts, and have their own websites. KEPR is also sister to low-powered Class A Univision affiliate KVVK-CD (channel 15). Master control and some internal operations for the four stations are based at KOMO Plaza (formerly Fisher Plaza) in Seattle.

On satellite, Dish Network and DirecTV carry both KEPR-TV and KIMA-TV.

History

KEPR-TV went on the air for the first time December 28, 1954, as a satellite of KIMA-TV. It was owned by Cascade Broadcasting Company, which also owned 40 percent of KWIE (610 AM) in Kennewick. Cascade bought the remaining 60 percent of KWIE in 1956[1] and changed its call letters to KEPR, matching the television station, the following year.[2]

A few years earlier, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) collapsed all of central Washington into one giant television market. However, this market was designated a "UHF island" due to being sandwiched between Seattle to the west, Spokane to the east and Portland to the south. It soon became apparent that one full-power UHF station would not nearly be enough for adequate coverage of this vast and mountainous area. KEPR-TV thus signed on as the first station in the United States to be a satellite of another.

Original plans called for it to be a straight repeater of KIMA-TV, apart from station identifications. However, it soon became apparent that Tri-Cities residents wanted a more local station. Monte Strohl, who until then had been a radio salesman at KIMA, was installed as the first manager-salesman of KEPR-TV. The station also added a separate news department.

Like its parent station, KEPR-TV carried programming from all three networks, but was a primary CBS affiliate. It lost NBC in 1965 when KNDU (channel 25) followed the lead of parent station KNDO (channel 23) and became a full-time NBC affiliate, and lost ABC when KVEW (channel 42) signed on along with parent KAPP (channel 35) in 1970. During the 1970s, the two stations co-branded as "Cascade TV."

KEPR produces Community Health Journal with Jim Hall, a former anchorman for the station who is now with Kadlec Medical Center in Richland. The program has aired for 15 years, making it one of the longest-running magazine programs in the market.

Filmways agreed to purchase Cascade Broadcasting for $3 million in 1968;[3] the sale was approved the following year.[4] Cascade's previous owners retained the company's radio stations, which by this point also included KEPR-FM (105.3 FM), under the name Yakima Valley Communications; the KEPR radio stations then changed their call letters to KONA and KONA-FM.[3][4] Filmways sold KEPR-TV, KIMA-TV, and KLEW-TV to NWG Broadcasting for $1 million in 1972.[5] Retlaw Enterprises acquired the NWG stations for $17 million in 1986;[6] the stations were operated as part of the Retlaw Broadcasting division.[7] Fisher Communications purchased KEPR-TV along with the other Retlaw owned stations in 1999.[8]

KEPR logo prior to 2007

In 2000, KEPR became the first station in the Tri-Cities to broadcast a digital signal with the activation of a low-power, standard-definition signal on channel 18; this was upgraded to a full-power, high-definition signal in 2007. The digital signal remained on channel 18 following the end of analog broadcasting in 2009, using PSIP to display its virtual channel as 19.

On March 30, 2009, KEPR launched a digital subchannel affiliated with The CW, filling the void left by KCWK (channel 9) going dark at the end of May 2008 due to the Pappas Telecasting bankruptcy.[9] The subchannel subsequently took KCWK's former channel 9 position on local cable systems. As had been the case with KCWK, programming is primarily sourced from the network's CW Plus feed, though there is a 10 p.m. newscast on weeknights.

On April 11, 2013, Fisher announced that it would sell its properties, including KEPR-TV, to the Sinclair Broadcast Group.[10] The deal was completed on August 8, 2013.[11]

Digital channels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed as follows:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP short name Programming [12]
19.11080i16:9KEPR-HDMain KEPR-TV programming / CBS
19.2720pKEPR-CWCW 9
19.3480i4:3Stadium

Programming

Current syndicated programs on KEPR include Dr. Phil, Judge Judy, The Big Bang Theory, and The Simpsons, which has aired at 7:30 p.m. for a majority of the time since it went into syndication in the fall of 1994.

News operation

KEPR's morning, 10 p.m. (on CW), 11 p.m. and weekend newscasts are shared with KIMA-TV. Branded as KIMA/KEPR Action News, they cover both the Columbia Basin and the Yakima Valley. KEPR continues to produce its own 5 and 6 p.m. weekday newscasts. There are no noon newscasts unlike most CBS affiliates.

See also

References
  1. "FCC Approves Universal's $10 Million Sale to Whitney" (PDF). Broadcasting–Telecasting. October 15, 1956. p. 84. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  2. "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting–Telecasting. February 11, 1957. p. 117. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  3. "Filmways gets Cascade TV's for $3 million" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 30, 1968. p. 57. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  4. "Filmways spreads wings in TV" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 28, 1969. p. 32. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  5. "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 3, 1972. pp. 22–3. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  6. "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 27, 1986. p. 116. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  7. Peltz, James F. (October 2, 1990). "The Wonderful World of Disney's Other Firm : Entertainment: Walt Disney created a separate company for his family. Retlaw Enterprises Inc. is now worth hundreds of millions". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  8. "8-K For 7/1/99". Fisher Communications Inc. filings. secinfo.com. Retrieved October 20, 2007.
  9. Bachman, Katy (February 9, 2009). "Fisher stations sign digital CW pacts". Mediaweek. Archived from the original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  10. Malone, Michael (April 11, 2013). "Sinclair to Acquire Fisher Stations for $373 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  11. "Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes On Fisher Communications Acquisition". All Access. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  12. "Digital TV Market Listing for KEPR". RabbitEars. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
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