KIDK

KIDK is a full-power television station licensed to Idaho Falls, Idaho, and serving the wider Idaho Falls–Pocatello television market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 3 and is associated with the KIDK call sign, which dates from the station's change from KID-TV in 1984. It operates within a complex local television structure: VistaWest Media, LLC owns the station, while the News-Press & Gazette Company provides significant operational services through a shared services agreement. NPG also owns KIFI-TV, the Idaho Falls ABC, CBS, CW+, and Telemundo affiliate, and the two stations share facilities and aspects of their news and technical operations. KIDK began broadcasting on December 20, 1953, as KID-TV. It was established in association with KID radio and entered the market as a primary CBS affiliate. During its early years, it also carried selected programming from the DuMont, NBC, and ABC networks. Those secondary relationships changed as competing stations launched or changed affiliations. The station became KIDK in December 1984 after KID radio properties were sold and Federal Communications Commission rules prevented separately owned radio and television stations in the same market from retaining identical call letters. The station's programming role evolved during the 1990s. It remained closely connected to CBS while adding selected Fox programming in 1994, partly to preserve access to National Football League broadcasts after the league's television rights moved to Fox. KIDK later carried UPN programming in addition to its other network commitments. Fox programming was subsequently associated with a digital subchannel and later with the Pocatello low-power station KXPI-LD, while KIDK's digital services continued to change as network and multicast arrangements developed. A major organizational turning point occurred in 2010 and 2011, when Fisher Communications entered a shared services agreement with NPG-owned KIFI-TV. KIDK's operations moved to KIFI's facility, and its news department was consolidated with KIFI's operation. The arrangement reduced duplicated production resources but preserved separate KIDK and KIFI identities, including different graphics, music packages, schedules, and principal on-air personalities. KIFI produces KIDK's local newscasts, including the station's evening and late-night programming and the prime-time newscast carried on its Fox-related service. Fisher announced the sale of its stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group in 2013. Before that transaction was completed, KIDK and KXPI were sold to VistaWest Media, a company based in St. Joseph, Missouri, while NPG continued operating the stations under a shared services agreement. The KIDK and KXPI sale closed in November 2013. In December 2020, NPG acquired KIDK's non-license assets from VistaWest. The KIDK programming identity was then moved to KIFI's second digital channel, while Dabl programming occupied KIDK's main digital channel; the arrangement left the station's day-to-day operations largely integrated with KIFI. KIDK's service area extends beyond its primary transmitter through low-power translators and other relay facilities in Idaho and western Wyoming. Its main transmitter is located on East Butte in northern Bingham County near the Idaho National Laboratory area. KXPI-LD relays programming into Pocatello from Howard Mountain, and additional translators serve communities including Challis, Dingle, Driggs, Fish Creek, Holbrook, Malad City, Mink Creek, Montpelier, Preston, Soda Springs, and Thayne, Wyoming. KIDK completed the federally mandated transition from analog to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 3 while transmitting digitally on UHF channel 36. As a local television brand, KIDK's principal offerings are network and multicast programming, regional distribution, and local news. Its identity remains tied to CBS heritage, Idaho Falls–Pocatello coverage, and a shared but separately branded…

KIDK began service on December 20, 1953, as KID-TV, a station licensed to Idaho Falls and associated with the KID radio operation. CBS was its principal affiliation from launch. The station also carried programming from DuMont until that network ended operations in 1955, NBC until 1961, and ABC until 1974. These secondary affiliations reflected the limited network availability and station lineup in the eastern Idaho market during the early decades of television broadcasting. On December 18, 1984, KID-TV changed its call letters to KIDK. The change followed the sale of KID AM and KID-FM and was connected to FCC rules that prevented separately owned radio and television stations in a single market from using the same call letters. KIDK retained its CBS relationship while continuing to adapt its schedule to changing network arrangements. In September 1994, KIDK began carrying selected Fox programming in addition to CBS. The arrangement helped provide access to NFL games after the league's broadcast rights shifted to Fox. In 1996, the station also agreed to carry UPN programming. The market's UPN and Fox distribution arrangements later changed, including the launch of a separate low-power service, KPID-LP, which became KXPI-LD and eventually carried Fox programming. KIDK continued selected UPN programming until 2003. Fisher Communications announced in December 2010 that KIDK would enter a shared services arrangement with KIFI-TV, an NPG-owned ABC affiliate. The agreement became effective January 1, 2011. KIDK's operations moved into KIFI's Idaho Falls facility, and 27 KIDK employees were laid off as the stations consolidated functions. KIFI began producing KIDK's local newscasts. The stations retained separate brands and presentation systems, including distinct graphics, music, schedules, and principal weekday personalities. The ownership structure changed again in 2013. Fisher announced a sale of its stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group, but KIDK and KXPI were sold separately to VistaWest Media. The transaction closed on November 29, 2013. NPG continued operating the stations under a shared services agreement, preserving the close relationship between KIDK and KIFI. In December 2020, NPG acquired KIDK's non-license assets from VistaWest. Following the transaction, the KIDK intellectual unit moved to KIFI's second digital channel, while Dabl programming occupied KIDK's primary digital channel. Although the digital distribution and programming configuration changed, KIDK's operational relationship with KIFI remained substantially intact. KIDK's news schedule has been shaped by the shared services arrangement. The station discontinued its weekday morning local newscast, used CBS Morning News repeats in that period, and adjusted its evening schedule to limit direct competition with KIFI. KIDK has maintained local evening and late-night news, including a 5:30 p.m. newscast and a late broadcast at 10 p.m. It also carries a prime-time newscast on its Fox-related service under the Channel 3 Eyewitness News branding. Weekend and late-night programming may be shared or coordinated with KIFI depending on network obligations. The station's main transmitter operates from East Butte in northern Bingham County. Its coverage is extended through KXPI-LD in Pocatello and other translators in Idaho and western Wyoming. KIDK shut down its analog VHF signal on June 12, 2009, as part of the United States digital television transition. Its digital signal retained virtual channel 3 while operating on UHF channel 36.

1. 2020NPG acquires non-license assets

   NPG acquired KIDK's non-license assets and moved the KIDK intellectual unit to a KIFI digital channel.

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2. 2013VistaWest ownership begins

   KIDK and KXPI were sold to VistaWest Media while NPG continued to operate the stations.

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3. 2011Shared services with KIFI begin

   KIDK operations moved to KIFI-TV's facility under a shared services agreement, including consolidation of local news production.

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4. 2009Analog broadcasting ends

   KIDK ended analog transmission on June 12 as part of the United States nationwide digital television transition.

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5. 1994Fox programming is added

   KIDK began carrying selected Fox programming while remaining primarily associated with CBS.

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6. 1984Call sign changes to KIDK

   KID-TV adopted the KIDK call letters after the related radio stations changed ownership.

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7. 1953KID-TV launches

   The station began broadcasting on December 20 as KID-TV in Idaho Falls, with CBS as its primary network affiliation.

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A local Idaho Falls television station combining network, multicast, regional news, and over-the-air coverage, with operations integrated with KIFI-TV but retaining a distinct KIDK identity.

• KIDK Channel 3Broadcast television station1953

  KIDK's primary television identity is associated with virtual channel 3 and an Idaho Falls license. The service distributes network, syndicated, multicast, advertising, and local programming across the Idaho Falls–Pocatello market. Its over-the-air reach is supplemented by translators in Idaho and western Wyoming.

• KIDK local newsLocal news programming

  KIDK's local news programming is produced by KIFI-TV under the shared services arrangement. The operation preserves a distinct KIDK presentation through separate graphics, music, schedules, and selected on-air personalities, while using facilities and production resources shared with KIFI.

• Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 9Prime-time television news

  This prime-time local newscast airs on the station's Fox-related digital service. The program is produced by KIFI's news operation and has historically aired for approximately 35 minutes on weeknights and 30 minutes on weekends.

• KXPI-LD relay serviceLow-power translator

  KXPI-LD extends KIDK-related programming into Pocatello from a transmitter on Howard Mountain. It is owned outright by NPG alongside KIFI-TV and forms part of the stations' regional distribution structure.

• 2020Reconfiguration of digital channel distributionStrategy

  NPG acquired KIDK's non-license assets from VistaWest and reorganized the stations' digital programming distribution.

  What changed. The KIDK intellectual unit moved to KIFI's second digital channel, while Dabl programming took over KIDK's main channel.

  Aftermath. The operational relationship between KIDK and KIFI continued, and viewers were asked to rescan over-the-air television sets to continue receiving CBS programming.

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• 2013Sale to VistaWest MediaM&A

  Fisher Communications agreed to sell its station portfolio to Sinclair Broadcast Group, but KIDK and KXPI were arranged for a separate transaction.

  What changed. VistaWest Media acquired KIDK and KXPI, while NPG continued providing operating services under a shared services agreement.

  Aftermath. KIDK remained closely integrated with NPG-owned KIFI despite the separate license ownership.

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• 2010Consolidation under a shared services agreementStrategy

  Fisher Communications and News-Press & Gazette Company sought to combine selected operating functions between KIDK and KIFI-TV.

  What changed. KIDK moved its operations to KIFI's facility, KIFI assumed production of KIDK's newscasts, and the stations reduced duplicated staffing and facilities.

  Aftermath. The stations retained separate brands and schedules, but KIDK's news operation became integrated with KIFI's production structure.

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• 2020NPG acquires KIDK non-license assets

  NPG acquired KIDK's non-license assets. The KIDK programming identity moved to KIFI's second digital channel, while Dabl programming took over KIDK's main channel.

  M&AProduct generation
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• 2013KIDK and KXPI are sold to VistaWest Media

  During Fisher Communications' sale to Sinclair, KIDK and KXPI were instead transferred to VistaWest Media, with NPG continuing to operate them through a shared services structure.

  M&A
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• 2010KIDK enters shared services arrangement with KIFI-TV

  Fisher Communications announced an agreement under which NPG-owned KIFI-TV would provide operating services for KIDK. The arrangement took effect on January 1, 2011, and included consolidation of the news operation.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 1994KIDK adds secondary Fox programming

  KIDK began carrying selected Fox programs, including programming connected to the network's acquisition of NFL rights during the 1994 broadcast realignment.

  Product launch
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• 1984KID-TV adopts the KIDK call sign

  The station changed its call sign to KIDK after the related radio properties were sold and FCC rules restricted shared call letters among separately owned radio and television stations.

  Other
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• 1953KID-TV begins broadcasting

  The station launched on December 20 as KID-TV, serving Idaho Falls and operating as a primary CBS affiliate with additional early network programming.

  Other
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1. KIDK
2. KIDK station website