KAPP
KAPP is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Yakima, Washington, as part of a jointly operated KAPP–KVEW station unit owned by Morgan Murphy Media.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KAPP is an ABC-affiliated broadcast television station serving Yakima, Washington, and the western portion of the Yakima–Tri-Cities market. It operates on channel 35 and is owned by Morgan Murphy Media. The station is closely linked to KVEW, channel 42 in Kennewick, which functions as a semi-satellite serving the Tri-Cities area. KVEW carries the network and syndicated programming supplied by KAPP and simulcasts the stations’ local newscasts, while retaining separate commercial inserts and legal identifications. For audience measurement, the two stations are generally treated as a single operating unit. KAPP began broadcasting on September 21, 1970. Its launch consolidated ABC programming in the Yakima area, which had previously been shared as a secondary affiliation by other local stations. The first day included the inaugural Monday Night Football broadcast, featuring the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. KVEW followed shortly afterward, signing on October 29, 1970, after ABC programming in the Tri-Cities region had likewise been divided among existing stations. The stations provide a combination of ABC network programming, syndicated programming, local news, weather, community information, and advertising. KAPP’s principal coverage area is the western side of the market, while KVEW extends the service into the eastern Tri-Cities region. The operation also has a technical and operational relationship with KXLY-TV in Spokane, another Morgan Murphy Media station and ABC affiliate. Master control and certain internal functions have been based at KXLY-TV’s Spokane facilities, although KAPP maintains its own Yakima presence and KVEW operates studios in Kennewick. KAPP’s main studios moved from a former location on South 24th Avenue to the Liberty Building in downtown Yakima after the earlier facility was sold. The station’s transmitter is located on Ahtanum Ridge. KVEW has separate studios on North Edison Street in Kennewick and transmits from Jump Off Joe Butte. The combined operation also uses translators in Ellensburg and Walla Walla to extend over-the-air coverage. Like many local broadcasters, KAPP has adjusted its schedule and newsroom structure in response to changing economics and audience habits. In December 2008, the station and KVEW discontinued their six o’clock and weekend newscasts, reduced the late broadcast to a short bulletin, and eliminated 17 positions across the two stations. Local weather production was handled for several years through Spokane, but locally presented weather returned by 2016. The stations restored a six o’clock local newscast in September 2017 after changes to their syndicated evening schedule. KAPP and KVEW transitioned to digital-only broadcasting on February 17, 2009. Their digital operations have also included a MeTV service on a subchannel since September 2006, although programming arrangements can change over time. KAPP is distributed by DirecTV satellite service, while Dish Network carries KVEW instead. The brand remains primarily a regional broadcast and local-news identity rather than a national consumer brand.
History
KAPP emerged from a long period in which ABC programming in central and eastern Washington was carried only as a secondary service by established stations. In Yakima, KIMA-TV had carried ABC programming on a secondary basis before KNDO signed on in 1959. KNDO then became the market’s principal ABC outlet, but changed its primary affiliation to NBC in 1965. After that change, KIMA-TV and KNDO shared ABC programs until KAPP launched. KAPP began transmitting on September 21, 1970, as a dedicated ABC affiliate on channel 35. Its launch gave Yakima a station specifically aligned with ABC and ended the earlier shared-programming arrangement. Among the notable programs available on its first day was the first Monday Night Football game, between the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. A related transition occurred in the Tri-Cities. Before KVEW, KEPR-TV had carried ABC secondarily, while KNDU became the area’s primary ABC outlet after signing on in 1961 and later changing its primary affiliation in 1965. A short-lived ABC operation in nearby Walla Walla also formed part of the region’s broadcast history. KVEW signed on October 29, 1970, approximately one month after KAPP, and became the eastern-market partner of the new ABC service. KVEW operates as a semi-satellite of KAPP. It generally carries the same ABC and syndicated programming and simulcasts local newscasts, but it inserts its own commercials and legal station identifications. KAPP concentrates on the western part of the broader market around Yakima, while KVEW serves the Tri-Cities. The Federal Communications Commission and ratings organizations treat the two operations as a combined station unit for relevant purposes. The stations’ technical and corporate arrangements reflect their place within Morgan Murphy Media’s regional broadcast portfolio. KAPP’s studios are in the Liberty Building on North 3rd Street in downtown Yakima, and its transmitter is located on Ahtanum Ridge. KVEW maintains studios on North Edison Street in Kennewick and transmits from Jump Off Joe Butte. Master control and selected internal functions have been handled from the facilities of sister station KXLY-TV in Spokane. The operation also uses K20JL-D in Ellensburg as a KAPP translator and K14HT-D in Walla Walla as a KVEW translator. In September 2006, KAPP and KVEW added Spokane MeTV affiliate KXMN-LD to a digital subchannel. Both stations were historically among those that signed off overnight, but that practice ended in 2012 when World News Now was added to the schedule. The stations completed the United States digital television transition on February 17, 2009. The operation underwent a significant newsroom and facilities restructuring in December 2008. It discontinued the six p.m. and weekend newscasts, reduced the 11 p.m. broadcast to a five-minute segment before Nightline, and eliminated 17 positions across KAPP and KVEW. KAPP’s former South 24th Avenue studio was sold, with operations moving to the downtown Yakima location. Weather production was supplied from KXLY-TV in Spokane for several years, but local weather segments had returned by 2016. The stations also restored a six p.m. local newscast on September 11, 2017, after the cancellation of The Insider and the relocation of Extra in the evening lineup. KAPP continues to function as a regional ABC television brand, combining network distribution with local news, weather, advertising, syndicated entertainment, digital subchannels, and over-the-air service. Its satellite distribution is asymmetric: DirecTV carries KAPP, while Dish Network carries KVEW.
- 2017
Six o'clock local news returns
[1]KAPP and KVEW restored local news at 6 p.m. on September 11.
- 2016
Local weather coverage returns
[1]Locally presented weather reports returned after a period of weather production from Spokane.
- 2012
Overnight sign-offs end
[1]The stations stopped signing off every night after adding World News Now to the overnight schedule.
- 2009
Digital-only broadcasting
[1]KAPP and KVEW ended analog broadcasting and became digital-only stations on February 17.
- 2008
News and facilities restructuring
[1]The stations reduced local-news output, eliminated 17 positions, sold KAPP's former studio, and moved operations downtown.
- 2006
MeTV digital-subchannel service begins
[1]KAPP and KVEW began carrying Spokane's MeTV affiliate KXMN-LD on a digital subchannel.
- 1970
KAPP begins broadcasting
[1]KAPP signed on September 21 as a dedicated ABC affiliate serving Yakima on channel 35.
- 1970
KVEW begins broadcasting
[1]KVEW signed on October 29 to serve the Tri-Cities as KAPP's semi-satellite.
- 1965
ABC programming returns to shared secondary distribution
[1]After KNDO moved its primary affiliation to NBC, ABC programming was shared by KNDO and KIMA-TV until KAPP launched.
- 1959
KNDO becomes the area's primary ABC outlet
[1]KNDO's sign-on changed the way ABC programming was distributed in the Yakima area, before the station later switched its primary affiliation to NBC.
Products and positioning
A regional ABC broadcast and local-news service for Yakima and the western Yakima–Tri-Cities market, paired with semi-satellite station KVEW for coverage of the eastern portion.
Broadcast television · 1970
KAPP ABC television service
KAPP’s core offering is its over-the-air ABC affiliate service on channel 35. It distributes ABC network programming to Yakima and the western portion of the Yakima–Tri-Cities market, supplemented by syndicated and locally produced programming.
Local news · 1970
KAPP/KVEW local news
KAPP and its semi-satellite KVEW provide local newscasts for the combined market. Most local news is simulcast, allowing one newsroom operation to cover Yakima and the Tri-Cities while KVEW retains separate local commercial inserts and legal identifications.
Weather broadcasting · 2016
Local weather coverage
Weather reporting is part of the stations’ local-information offering. Although weather production was supplied from Spokane for a period, locally presented weather reports had returned to the KAPP/KVEW schedule by 2016.
Digital television · 2006
Digital subchannel programming
The stations have used digital subchannels for additional television programming, including a MeTV service associated with Spokane station KXMN-LD beginning in 2006.
Brand decisions
2017
Restoration of the six o'clock newscastStrategyBackground
Changes to the evening syndicated-program lineup created room for a return of an early-evening local newscast.
Action taken
KAPP and KVEW resumed local news at 6 p.m. on September 11, 2017.
Aftermath
The move restored an important local-news time slot that had been absent for almost a decade.
2009
Conversion to digital-only broadcastingOtherBackground
The stations participated in the United States transition from analog to digital television.
Action taken
KAPP and KVEW ended analog transmission and operated as digital-only stations from February 17, 2009.
Aftermath
The change enabled continued network, local, and subchannel distribution through digital transmission.
2008
Local-news and facility restructuringStrategyBackground
KAPP and KVEW adjusted their local-news schedules and operating footprint in December 2008.
Action taken
The stations discontinued their six p.m. and weekend newscasts, shortened the late broadcast, eliminated 17 positions, sold KAPP's former studio, and relocated operations to downtown Yakima.
Aftermath
Weather production was subsequently handled from Spokane for several years, while local weather and a six p.m. newscast later returned.
Recent events
- 2017
KAPP and KVEW restore a six o'clock local newscast[1]
Product launch
Following changes to the evening syndicated-program schedule, the paired stations resumed local news at 6 p.m. on September 11, 2017.
- 2016
Local weather presentation returns to KAPP and KVEW[1]
Other
After several years in which weather information was supplied from Spokane, the stations restored locally presented weather reports.
- 2009
KAPP and KVEW complete digital-only transition[1]
Other · Regulation
The two stations became digital-only broadcasters on February 17, 2009, as part of the United States television transition.
- 2008
KAPP and KVEW restructure local news operations[1]
Leadership change
The stations dropped their six o’clock and weekend newscasts, shortened the late broadcast, eliminated 17 positions, and relocated KAPP operations after selling its former South 24th Avenue studio.
- 1970
KAPP signs on as Yakima's ABC affiliate[1]
Other
KAPP began broadcasting on September 21, 1970, moving ABC programming in the Yakima area from shared secondary affiliations to a dedicated primary affiliate.
- 1970
KVEW launches as KAPP's Tri-Cities semi-satellite[1]
Other
KVEW began operations on October 29, 1970, extending the related ABC service into the Tri-Cities region and creating the paired station structure used by the operation.
Sources2 sources
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