KEPR-TV
KEPR-TV is a Pasco, Washington television station serving the Tri-Cities as a CBS affiliate with additional CW Plus and Fox programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KEPR-TV is a television station licensed to Pasco, Washington, serving the Tri-Cities region and the wider Columbia Basin. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 19 and is primarily affiliated with CBS. Its programming portfolio also includes The CW Plus and, according to the referenced station history, Fox programming carried on a digital subchannel. KEPR operates in a market that includes Pasco, Kennewick, Richland, and surrounding communities in southeastern Washington. The station began broadcasting on December 30, 1954. It was established as a satellite of KIMA-TV in Yakima, making it notable as the first television station in the United States to operate in that form. The arrangement reflected the geography and economics of central Washington: the region was a large, mountainous television market located between the major broadcast centers of Seattle, Spokane, and Portland, and a single full-power UHF station could not provide adequate coverage across the entire territory. Although originally intended to function largely as a repeater, KEPR soon developed a separate local news operation in response to demand from Tri-Cities viewers. KEPR's network history has evolved with the development of other stations in the market. It began as a primary CBS affiliate while also carrying programming from multiple networks. The station lost and later regained ABC affiliation during market changes in the 1960s, before ABC programming ultimately moved to other local outlets. KEPR and KIMA were co-branded as Cascade TV during the 1970s, reinforcing their shared operational identity. Ownership changed several times. Cascade Broadcasting was acquired by Filmways in the late 1960s, after which KEPR-TV was sold with related stations to NWG Broadcasting. Retlaw Enterprises acquired the group in 1986, and Fisher Communications purchased the Retlaw-owned stations, including KEPR-TV, in 1999. Fisher announced the sale of its broadcast properties to Sinclair Broadcast Group in 2013, and the transaction closed that August. In the referenced later arrangements, Rincon Broadcasting Group provided sales, programming, and other services to KEPR and KIMA under joint sales, management, and shared-services agreements. The station's news identity combines regional and local coverage. Morning, weekend, and late-night newscasts are shared with KIMA-TV under the KIMA/KEPR Action News brand, while KEPR produces separate weekday early-evening newscasts at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. The station does not carry a noon newscast. Its transmitter is located on Johnson Butte near Kennewick, while studios are located on West Lewis Street, along U.S. 395, in Pasco. Master control and some internal functions for the associated stations are based in Seattle. KEPR was the first Tri-Cities station to transmit a digital signal, beginning with a low-power standard-definition service in 2000. The digital operation was upgraded to full power and high definition in 2007 and continued on digital channel 18 after the 2009 analog shutdown, while retaining virtual channel 19. A CW-affiliated digital subchannel launched in 2009 after the collapse of KCWK left the market without a CW outlet. The station later added additional digital programming, including a subchannel outlet for the Rip City Television Network and, in the referenced 2026 material, Fox programming transferred from KFFX-TV.
History
KEPR-TV began broadcasting on December 30, 1954, as a satellite of KIMA-TV in Yakima. Its launch was a response to the unusual geography of central Washington, where a large and mountainous television market lay between Seattle, Spokane, and Portland. The Federal Communications Commission had treated central Washington as one broad market, but the area was effectively a UHF island. A single full-power UHF station could not adequately cover the region, encouraging the use of a satellite arrangement. KEPR is recognized in the station's historical account as the first U.S. television station to operate as a satellite of another station. The original concept was for KEPR to retransmit KIMA's programming with limited local identification. That approach changed quickly as Tri-Cities residents sought more direct local coverage. Monte Strohl, previously a radio salesperson at KIMA, became KEPR's first manager-salesman, and the station created a separate news department. KEPR initially carried programming from CBS, ABC, and NBC while maintaining CBS as its primary affiliation. Market realignments followed the launches and affiliation changes of competing stations. KEPR lost ABC in 1961, regained it in 1965 after other local stations became full-time NBC affiliates, and lost ABC again around 1970 when new ABC outlets entered the market. During the 1970s, KEPR and KIMA used the shared Cascade TV identity. Ownership also moved through several broadcasting groups. Filmways agreed to acquire Cascade Broadcasting in 1968, with regulatory approval following in 1969. The previous owners retained the radio properties, which changed their call letters from KEPR to KONA and KONA-FM. Filmways later sold KEPR-TV, KIMA-TV, and KLEW-TV to NWG Broadcasting in 1972. Retlaw Enterprises bought those stations in 1986 and operated them through its Retlaw Broadcasting division. Fisher Communications acquired the Retlaw-owned stations in 1999. The station entered the digital era in 2000, becoming the first Tri-Cities station to transmit a digital signal. The initial service used a low-power standard-definition signal on digital channel 18. It was upgraded to full-power high-definition transmission in 2007. After analog broadcasting ended in 2009, KEPR retained digital channel 18 while using virtual channel 19 for viewers. On March 30, 2009, KEPR added a digital subchannel affiliated with The CW. The launch filled the local gap created when KCWK ceased broadcasting after the financial failure of Pappas Telecasting. The CW service primarily used the network's CW Plus feed and included a local 10 p.m. newscast. The subchannel subsequently occupied the former KCWK channel position on local cable systems. Fisher announced in April 2013 that it would sell KEPR-TV and its other stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group. The transaction was completed on August 8, 2013. Under Sinclair ownership, KEPR remained closely connected to KIMA-TV, a relationship reflected in shared programming, news production, and technical operations. KEPR is described as a semi-satellite of KIMA: the stations share network and syndicated content but retain separate commercial inserts, legal identifications, websites, and certain local newscasts. Master control and selected internal operations for the related stations are based in Seattle, while KEPR's studios remain in Pasco and its transmitter is near Kennewick. KEPR's current news structure combines regional and local output. Morning, weekend, and late-night broadcasts are shared with KIMA under the KIMA/KEPR Action News brand and cover both the Yakima Valley and Columbia Basin. KEPR separately produces weekday 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts. A 10 p.m. newscast airs on the CW service, while the station does not offer a noon newscast. The station's digital portfolio continued to develop. In September 2024, Sinclair announced the Rip City Television Network, which distributes Portland Trail Blazers games over the air; the referenced history identifies a KEPR third subchannel as the Pasco outlet. It also states that in April 2026 the Fox intellectual property and programming associated with KFFX-TV moved to KEPR's third subchannel, while the KFFX main channel received the Roar service. A further referenced development says that Sinclair and Rincon Broadcasting Group entered joint sales, management, and shared-services agreements in February 2026, with a later filing concerning the transfer of Rincon to Community News Media, an affiliate of Standard General.
- 2026
Rincon service agreements
[1]The referenced history reports new joint sales, management, and shared-services agreements involving Sinclair and Rincon Broadcasting Group.
- 2024
Rip City Television Network announced
[1]Sinclair announced a broadcast distribution network for Portland Trail Blazers games, with KEPR identified as the Pasco outlet.
- 2013
Sinclair purchase completed
[1]Sinclair Broadcast Group completed its acquisition of Fisher Communications, including KEPR-TV, on August 8.
- 2009
CW Plus subchannel launches
[1]KEPR launched a CW-affiliated digital subchannel after KCWK left the market.
- 2007
Digital signal upgraded
[1]The station's digital service was upgraded to full-power high-definition transmission.
- 2000
Digital broadcasting begins
[1]KEPR became the first Tri-Cities station to broadcast a digital signal, initially at low power and in standard definition.
- 1999
Fisher Communications acquisition
[1]Fisher Communications purchased KEPR-TV and the other stations formerly owned by Retlaw.
- 1986
Retlaw acquisition
[1]Retlaw Enterprises acquired the NWG stations and operated them through its broadcasting division.
- 1972
Stations sold to NWG Broadcasting
[1]Filmways sold KEPR-TV and related KIMA-TV and KLEW-TV to NWG Broadcasting.
- 1968
Filmways agrees to acquire Cascade Broadcasting
[1]Filmways agreed to purchase Cascade Broadcasting in a transaction approved the following year.
Products and positioning
A locally oriented Tri-Cities broadcast station combining CBS network service, regional news coverage shared with KIMA-TV, separate Pasco-area early-evening newscasts, and a growing digital-subchannel portfolio.
Network television affiliate · 1954
KEPR-TV CBS service
KEPR's primary broadcast service carries CBS network programming for viewers in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas. The service is distributed over the station's main virtual channel 19 and is supplemented by local commercial inserts, station identifications, and locally produced news.
Digital multicast network · 2009
KEPR CW Plus
The CW Plus service operates on a KEPR digital subchannel. It was launched in 2009 to replace the local CW availability lost when KCWK ceased operations, and it carries network-supplied programming together with a local 10 p.m. newscast.
Regional television news
KIMA/KEPR Action News
This shared news operation serves the Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley. It supplies morning, weekend, and late-night broadcasts for KIMA and KEPR, while KEPR retains separate weekday 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts focused on the Tri-Cities.
Sports television · 2024
Rip City Television Network
The Rip City Television Network distributes Portland Trail Blazers games over the air through participating Sinclair stations. The referenced KEPR history identifies a third digital subchannel as the network's Pasco outlet.
Network television affiliate · 2026
Fox digital subchannel service
The referenced station history states that Fox affiliation assets, branding, and syndicated programming associated with KFFX-TV moved to a KEPR third digital subchannel in April 2026.
Brand decisions
2026
Service agreements with Rincon Broadcasting GroupStrategyBackground
The referenced history describes an operating arrangement involving Sinclair and Rincon stations in the same regional market.
Action taken
Rincon entered joint sales, management, and shared-services agreements allowing it to provide sales, programming, and other services to KEPR and KIMA.
Aftermath
The arrangement increased operational coordination among the stations; the referenced material also reports a later filing concerning Rincon's proposed transfer to Community News Media, an affiliate of Standard General.
2026
Fox programming transferred to KEPR subchannelGeneration changeBackground
The referenced history describes a change involving KFFX-TV's Fox affiliation and related programming assets.
Action taken
Fox affiliation, branding, and syndicated programming moved to KEPR's third digital subchannel, while the Roar service moved to KFFX's main channel.
Aftermath
KEPR's multicast portfolio expanded to include Fox programming for the Pasco market.
2024
Distribution of Rip City Television NetworkProduct launchBackground
Sinclair announced a new over-the-air distribution network for Portland Trail Blazers games.
Action taken
KEPR was designated to carry Rip City Television Network games on a digital subchannel in Pasco.
Aftermath
The arrangement expanded KEPR's digital multicast offering into live regional sports programming.
2013
Sale from Fisher Communications to SinclairM&ABackground
Fisher Communications decided to sell its portfolio of broadcast properties.
Action taken
Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to acquire KEPR-TV and completed the transaction on August 8, 2013.
Aftermath
KEPR became part of Sinclair's television station group while retaining its relationship with KIMA-TV and associated regional operations.
2009
Launch of CW Plus digital subchannelProduct launchBackground
KCWK's shutdown left the Tri-Cities without its previous CW outlet.
Action taken
KEPR launched a CW-affiliated digital subchannel using the CW Plus feed and added a local late-evening newscast.
Aftermath
The service restored CW programming to the market and later occupied KCWK's former local cable channel position.
Sources2 sources
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