KNIN-TV

KNIN-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Caldwell, Idaho, and serving the Boise television market. It broadcasts on virtual channel 9 and is affiliated with the Fox network. The station is owned by Marquee Broadcasting, while its technical operations and much of its news production are provided under an agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned KBOI-TV in Boise. The station began broadcasting on December 28, 1992, as KHDT-TV. Its original format consisted primarily of Home Shopping Network programming. In January 1995, it became a charter affiliate of the United Paramount Network, or UPN, while continuing to carry home-shopping programming for much of the day. After a 1996 ownership change, the station adopted a broader general-entertainment schedule and began using the KNIN-TV call letters. The station's branding played on the pronunciation of its call sign, sometimes presenting it as “K9-TV,” and it used Boise radio personality Brad Rowen in a humorous mascot role. Following the 2006 merger of UPN and The WB into The CW, KNIN-TV became the Boise area's CW affiliate. Its role changed substantially in 2011 after Fox decided to move its programming from KTRV-TV to KNIN-TV following a dispute concerning affiliation fees. KNIN-TV became the Boise market's Fox station in September 2011. The change brought a stronger network schedule and led to the expansion of local news programming produced through the newsroom of KIVI-TV, the ABC affiliate then owned by Journal Communications. Ownership has changed several times. Journal acquired KNIN-TV from Banks Broadcasting in 2009 after the Federal Communications Commission initially rejected the proposed transaction and later reversed that decision on appeal. Journal's acquisition created a television duopoly with KIVI-TV. When The E. W. Scripps Company acquired Journal in 2015, the KNIN license was placed in a divestiture trust because of ownership limitations. Raycom Media purchased the station later that year, and Raycom subsequently became part of Gray Television through a 2019 merger. Gray announced a station exchange with Marquee Broadcasting in February 2023. Under the transaction, Gray transferred KNIN-TV to Marquee in exchange for WPGA-TV in the Macon, Georgia, market. The exchange closed on May 1, 2023. After the sale, Marquee evaluated creating a separate newsroom but ultimately contracted with KBOI-TV for technical services and news production. KIVI's provision of KNIN-TV newscasts ended as part of the transition. KNIN-TV's current role combines Fox network programming, locally sold advertising, retransmission-consent activity, and locally branded news output. Its transmitter is located near the summit of Bogus Basin in unincorporated Boise County, while its operational facilities are based in Boise. The station completed the United States full-power television transition from analog to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009. Its digital signal uses VHF channel 10 while continuing to appear to viewers through virtual channel 9.

KNIN-TV signed on December 28, 1992, as KHDT-TV. The station was established by William Schuyler and launched on VHF channel 9 in time to meet a year-end construction and operation deadline. Its initial programming was supplied primarily by the Home Shopping Network, giving it a limited commercial format rather than a conventional local general-entertainment schedule. The station became a charter UPN affiliate on January 16, 1995, although home-shopping programming continued during much of the day. In 1996, Schuyler sold the station to Boise Broadcasting, a division of Lambert Television. On September 2 of that year, the station reduced its home-shopping output and adopted a general-entertainment lineup. It retained its UPN affiliation and also carried programming associated with The WB. During this period, the station used the KNIN-TV call letters and developed a playful “K9-TV” identity featuring Boise disc jockey Brad Rowen as the fictional character “Rot Wyler.” Banks Broadcasting was operating the station by 2000 and acquired it in 2001. The station's network position changed again in 2006, when UPN and The WB merged their operations to form The CW. KNIN-TV became the Boise market's CW affiliate. This period ended after a dispute between Fox and KTRV-TV concerning affiliation fees. Fox announced in May 2011 that it would end its relationship with KTRV and move its programming to KNIN-TV. The transition took place in September 2011, making KNIN-TV the Fox affiliate for the Boise area. CW programming was shifted to other local outlets, including KYUU-LP and a digital subchannel of KBOI-TV. Journal Communications, owner of ABC affiliate KIVI-TV and several Boise radio stations, agreed in 2008 to purchase KNIN-TV from Banks Broadcasting. The transaction presented an ownership issue because the Boise market had a limited number of independent station owners. The FCC rejected Journal's application in November 2008, finding that Journal had not adequately demonstrated that KNIN was a failing station eligible for the proposed duopoly. Banks appealed, and the FCC reversed its decision in January 2009. The transaction closed on April 24, 2009, creating the market's first television duopoly for Journal. Some KNIN employees were laid off following the sale. Under Journal ownership, KNIN-TV began carrying a half-hour local newscast at 9 p.m. produced through KIVI-TV's newsroom. After the station became a Fox affiliate, the program expanded to a full hour and aired seven nights a week. Journal also expanded KIVI's news operation, adding staff to support the increased output. In August 2014, KNIN began carrying an additional hour of KIVI's morning program, “Good Morning Idaho.” The E. W. Scripps Company announced its acquisition of Journal Communications in 2014. Because the resulting ownership structure could not retain all of the relevant stations, KNIN-TV was placed into the Journal/Scripps Divestiture Trust, with Kiel Media Group serving as trustee, while Scripps retained KIVI-TV and the radio stations. The merger closed on April 1, 2015. Raycom Media agreed to acquire KNIN-TV in May 2015 for $14.5 million, and the sale closed on October 1, 2015. Scripps continued to provide services and local news programming under a shared-services arrangement. Raycom became part of Gray Television in January 2019. On February 15, 2023, Gray announced a proposed exchange under which KNIN-TV would go to Marquee Broadcasting and Gray would receive WPGA-TV, serving Macon, Georgia. The transaction supported Gray's broader strategy of owning a full-service station in each Georgia market while giving Marquee control of the Boise Fox affiliate. The exchange closed on May 1, 2023. Following the change in ownership, Marquee considered establishing an independent newsroom and advertised positions for possible staffing. It instead entered into an agreement with KBOI-TV for technical operations and news production. Beginning in October 2023, KBOI supplied KNIN's weekday 7 a.m. newscast and a seven-night 9 p.m. news hour, with additional early-evening weekend programming during Fox NFL doubleheader periods. Marquee retained responsibility for advertising sales, retransmission consent, and the station's web presence. KNIN-TV's transmitter is situated at the Bogus Basin ski-area summit in Boise County, while its technical and news operations are based at KBOI-TV's Boise facilities. The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide transition to digital television. Its digital transmission uses VHF channel 10 and retains virtual channel 9.

• 2023

  Transferred to Marquee Broadcasting

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Gray exchanges KNIN-TV for WPGA-TV, and the transaction closes on May 1.

• 2023

  KBOI-TV begins news and technical services

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Marquee contracts with KBOI-TV for technical operations and local news production after ending the prior KIVI-based arrangement.

• 2019

  Raycom joins Gray Television

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Raycom Media merges with Gray Television, placing KNIN-TV within Gray's station portfolio.

• 2015

  Raycom Media completes purchase

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Raycom Media acquires KNIN-TV from the Scripps-related divestiture structure.

• 2011

  Becomes Boise's Fox affiliate

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Fox programming moves from KTRV-TV to KNIN-TV, and the station expands its local news schedule.

• 2009

  Journal Communications completes acquisition

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  After an FCC reversal on appeal, Journal closes its purchase of KNIN-TV and creates a duopoly with KIVI-TV.

• 2006

  Becomes a CW affiliate

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Following the UPN–WB combination, KNIN-TV becomes the Boise market's CW station.

• 2001

  Banks Broadcasting acquires the station

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Banks Broadcasting, which had been operating the station, becomes its owner.

• 1996

  Adopts KNIN-TV identity and general-entertainment schedule

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  After an ownership change, the station reduces home-shopping content, adopts the KNIN-TV call sign, and expands into general entertainment.

• 1995

  Joins UPN

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station becomes a charter UPN affiliate while continuing to carry home-shopping programming for much of the day.

• 1992

  Station signs on as KHDT-TV

  [1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KHDT-TV begins broadcasting from Caldwell on December 28 with Home Shopping Network programming.

A Boise-area Fox affiliate serving viewers in the Treasure Valley and Southern Idaho, with network programming supplemented by locally produced news and regional advertising.

• Broadcast television · 2011

  Fox network programming

  KNIN-TV carries Fox's national schedule, including entertainment programming, network news, sports, and other programming supplied by the network. Its Fox affiliation has been the station's principal network identity since September 2011.

• News programming · 2009

  Local newscasts

  The station's local news offering includes a weekday morning broadcast and a 9 p.m. news hour. Production and technical support have been supplied by partner stations, first KIVI-TV and, following the 2023 ownership change, KBOI-TV.

• Television sales

  Local advertising and retransmission services

  KNIN-TV sells local commercial inventory to advertisers in the Boise market and manages retransmission-consent relationships with television distributors. Marquee retained these commercial responsibilities after outsourcing news and technical functions to KBOI-TV.

• 2023

  Gray exchanges KNIN-TV with Marquee BroadcastingM&A

  Background

  Gray Television announced a station swap with Marquee Broadcasting involving KNIN-TV and WPGA-TV in Georgia.

  Action taken

  The parties exchanged the stations, with Marquee receiving KNIN-TV and Gray receiving WPGA-TV. The transaction closed on May 1, 2023.

  Aftermath

  Marquee retained advertising and retransmission responsibilities and contracted with KBOI-TV for technical operations and local news production.

  Source

• 2023

  Outsources news and technical operations to KBOI-TVStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring KNIN-TV, Marquee considered building an independent newsroom and advertised related positions.

  Action taken

  Marquee instead contracted with KBOI-TV to provide news production and technical services beginning in October 2023.

  Aftermath

  KBOI continued the weekday morning and nightly news offerings, while Marquee retained control of sales, retransmission consent, and web operations.

  Source

• 2011

  Switches from The CW to FoxStrategy

  Background

  Fox and Boise affiliate KTRV-TV disputed affiliation fees, leading Fox to seek a new local outlet.

  Action taken

  Fox moved its programming to KNIN-TV in September 2011, while CW programming moved to other local outlets.

  Aftermath

  KNIN-TV became the Boise area's Fox affiliate and expanded its local news schedule to support the new network role.

  Source

• 2009

  Journal pursues a duopoly acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Journal Communications sought to acquire KNIN-TV from Banks Broadcasting while already owning KIVI-TV in the Boise market. The limited number of independent station owners created an FCC regulatory issue.

  Action taken

  After the FCC initially rejected the application, Banks appealed and the commission reversed its decision, allowing the purchase to proceed.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed in April 2009, creating Journal's television duopoly and leading to staff reductions at KNIN-TV.

  Source

• 2023

  Gray announces exchange of KNIN-TV for WPGA-TV[1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Gray Television announced that it would transfer KNIN-TV to Marquee Broadcasting in exchange for WPGA-TV in Georgia.

• 2023

  Marquee contracts with KBOI-TV for news and technical services[1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  After acquiring the station, Marquee selected KBOI-TV to provide technical operations and local news production, replacing the prior KIVI-TV arrangement.

• 2015

  Raycom agrees to buy KNIN-TV[1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Raycom Media agreed to purchase KNIN-TV from the Scripps-related divestiture structure for $14.5 million, with the transaction closing later that year.

• 2014

  Scripps and Journal announce merger[1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The planned Scripps acquisition of Journal led to the transfer of KNIN-TV's license into a divestiture trust because the combined ownership structure could not retain the station directly.

• 2011

  KNIN-TV becomes Boise's Fox affiliate[1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Fox moved its Boise affiliation from KTRV-TV to KNIN-TV after a dispute related to affiliation fees.

• 2009

  FCC reverses rejection of Journal Communications purchase[1]KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Regulation

  The FCC allowed Journal Communications to acquire KNIN-TV after initially determining that the proposed duopoly did not meet the failing-station standard.

1. 1KNIN-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2FCC Licensing and Management Systementerpriseefiling.fcc.gov