KIMA-TV

KIMA-TV, virtual channel 29 (UHF digital channel 33), is a dual CBS/CW+-affiliated television station licensed to Yakima, Washington, United States. Owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, it is a sister station to low-powered, Class A Univision affiliate KUNW-CD (channel 2). The two stations share studios on Terrace Heights Boulevard (east of I-82) in Yakima; KIMA-TV's transmitter is located on Ahtanum Ridge.

KIMA-TV
Yakima, Washington
United States
BrandingKIMA (general)
KIMA Action News (newscasts)
CW 9 Yakima/Tri-Cities (on DT2)
SloganTaking Action for You
ChannelsDigital: 33 (UHF)
Virtual: 29 (PSIP)
Affiliations29.1: CBS
29.2: CW+
29.3: Stadium (O&O)
OwnerSinclair Broadcast Group
LicenseeSinclair Yakima Licensee, LLC
First air dateJuly 19, 1953 (1953-07-19)
Call sign meaningYaKIMA
Sister station(s)KEPR-TV, KLEW-TV, KUNW-CD
Former channel number(s)Analog:
29 (UHF, 1953–2009)
Former affiliationsDuMont (1953–1955)
NBC (1953–1965)
ABC (1953–1959, 1965–1970)
all secondary
Transmitter power100 kW
Height292 m (958 ft)
Facility ID56033
Transmitter coordinates46°31′57″N 120°30′37″W
Licensing authorityFCC
Public license informationProfile
CDBS
Websitekimatv.com

KIMA operates two semi-satellites–KEPR-TV (channel 19) in Pasco (serving the Tri-Cities) and KLEW-TV (channel 3) in Lewiston, Idaho. They 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. 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 KIMA-TV and KEPR-TV.

History

KIMA signed on July 19, 1953 as the 200th television station in the United States and the first in central Washington. The station was originally owned by Cascade Broadcasting Company along with KIMA radio (AM 1460, now KUTI). It carried programming from all four networks–CBS, NBC, ABC and DuMont–but has always been a primary CBS affiliate.

It lost DuMont when that network shut down in 1955, then lost ABC when KNDO signed on in 1959 as a primary ABC affiliate. When KNDO switched affiliations to NBC in 1965, the two stations shared ABC until 1970, when KAPP signed on and took over ABC, leaving KIMA to become a full-time CBS affiliate.

Just before KIMA signed on, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) collapsed all of central Washington–including the Tri-Cities–into one giant television market. It soon became apparent that channel 29 was not nearly strong enough to cover this vast and mountainous area by itself. With this in mind, in 1954 Cascade signed on KEPR-TV as the first satellite station in the United States. It was originally intended to be a full repeater of KIMA-TV, but due to popular demand it became more of a local station.

At one point, KIMA also had a satellite station in Ephrata, Washington. KBAS-TV signed on the air February 15, 1957 on channel 43; it moved to channel 16 in 1958. KBAS was owned by Basin TV Company, a subsidiary of Cascade Broadcasting, and this was reflected in its call letters. KBAS shut down on November 30, 1961.

Filmways agreed to purchase Cascade Broadcasting for $3 million in 1968;[1] the sale was approved the following year.[2] Cascade's previous owners retained the company's radio stations, which by this point also included the construction permit for KIMA-FM (107.3 FM, now KFFM), under the name Yakima Valley Communications.[1][2] Filmways sold KIMA-TV, KEPR-TV, and KLEW-TV to NWG Broadcasting for $1 million in 1972.[3] Retlaw Enterprises acquired the NWG stations for $17 million in 1986;[4] the stations were operated as part of the Retlaw Broadcasting division.[5] Fisher Communications purchased the Retlaw owned stations in 1999.[6]

On March 29, 2009, KIMA launched a digital subchannel affiliated with The CW to fill the void left by KCWK (channel 9) going dark at the end of May 2008 due to the Pappas Telecasting bankruptcy.[7] The new channel took KCWK's former Channel 9 position on local cable systems and carries the CW Plus schedule.

On April 11, 2013, Fisher announced that it would sell its properties, including KIMA-TV, to the Sinclair Broadcast Group.[8] The deal was completed on August 8, 2013.[9]

Digital channels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP short name Programming [10]
29.11080i16:9KIMA-HDMain KIMA-TV programming / CBS
29.2720pKIMA-CWCW 9
29.3480iStadiumStadium

Programming

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

News operation

KIMA offers the only local Yakima-focused newscast with a fully operational newsroom in Yakima weekdays on KIMA Action News at 5 and 6 p.m. KIMA's morning, 10 p.m. (on CW), 11 p.m. and weekend newscasts are shared with KEPR. Branded as KIMA/KEPR Action News, they cover both the Yakima Valley and the Columbia Basin. Weather segments for KIMA's evening newscasts are pre-taped at KEPR.

Translator

KIMA-TV is rebroadcast on K50KK-D Channel 23 in Ellensburg, Washington, which is owned and operated by the Kittitas County TV Improvement District.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Filmways gets Cascade TV's for $3 million" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 30, 1968. p. 57. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  2. "Filmways spreads wings in TV" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 28, 1969. p. 32. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  3. "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 3, 1972. pp. 22–3. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  4. "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 27, 1986. p. 116. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  5. 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.
  6. "8-K For 7/1/99". Fisher Communications Inc. filings. secinfo.com. Retrieved October 20, 2007.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2009-02-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. Malone, Michael (April 11, 2013). "Sinclair to Acquire Fisher Stations for $373 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  9. "Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes On Fisher Communications Acquisition". All Access. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  10. http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KIMA#station
  11. http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=K50KK-D#station
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