KPDX

KPDX is a television station licensed to Vancouver, Washington, and serving the broader Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. Although its city of license is across the Columbia River from Portland, the station operates as part of the Portland television market and shares facilities and resources with KPTV, the market's Fox affiliate. KPDX is owned by Gray Media and is positioned primarily as a sports-oriented independent station under the Rose City SportsNet identity, while also carrying MyNetworkTV programming in a late-night schedule. The station originated in a regional media initiative led by Southwest Washington businessmen. In 1978, the group formed KLRK Broadcasting Corporation to pursue a television allocation for Vancouver, believing that the area's interests were underserved by established Portland broadcasters. The Federal Communications Commission assigned channel 49 to Vancouver in 1980 and granted a construction permit in early 1981. Financial pressures, including high interest rates and the cost of constructing a transmitter and studio operation, led the original investors to sell a majority interest to Camellia City Telecasters of Sacramento, associated with Business Men's Assurance and KTXL. Camellia City substantially expanded the proposed station's programming budget and gave the project a more regional, Portland-oriented strategy. The station adopted the KPDX call sign before launch, reflecting the Portland International Airport abbreviation, and established operations in both Vancouver and Portland. After delays involving tower approval and construction, KPDX began test transmissions in October 1983 and officially launched on October 9 as the Portland area's third independent station. Its programming, including a strong cartoon lineup, quickly made it a meaningful competitor to established independent KPTV. KPDX experienced serious financial strain during its first years. Large startup expenditures, delayed construction, programming costs, and a weak regional economy contributed to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 1987. The station nevertheless benefited from the expansion of the Fox network. After KPTV declined to continue carrying Fox's Saturday programming, Fox moved its Portland affiliation to KPDX in August 1988. The affiliation improved the station's competitive position and helped support its reorganization. During the 1990s, KPDX expanded its reach through translators serving areas including the Oregon Coast, Central Oregon, and communities south and east of Portland. It also developed local news programming, initially through a 10 p.m. newscast produced by Portland CBS affiliate KOIN. Ownership changed several times: Columbia River Television sold the station to Cannell Communications in 1992; Cannell later sold it to First Media Television; and Meredith Corporation acquired First Media's television properties in 1997. Meredith invested in a new Beaverton facility and brought news production in house in 2000. KPDX launched its own 5 p.m. newscast and expanded its late news, although the 5 p.m. program was discontinued after weak ratings. A major affiliation and ownership restructuring followed the acquisition of KPTV by Fox's parent company. In 2002, Meredith traded Florida stations to Fox in exchange for KPTV, moving Fox programming back to KPTV and ending KPDX's Fox affiliation. KPDX became Portland's UPN affiliate in September 2002, then joined MyNetworkTV in 2006 after UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW and MyNetworkTV. KPDX also became an important outlet for local sports. It carried Portland Timbers soccer for more than a decade beginning in 2011. The station was branded Fox 12 Plus from 2018, emphasizing its relationship with KPTV and its role as a secondary local outlet. Under Gray Media, KPDX has increasingly focused on regional professional women's sports. Its Rose City SportsNet identity is associated with coverage of Portland women's teams, including the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League and the WNBA's Portland Fire, whose broadcast rights were acquired for the 2026 season according to the cited reference material. KPDX's present role therefore combines independent television, MyNetworkTV carriage, local sports rights, and shared news and production infrastructure with KPTV.

KPDX was created to provide a television outlet for Vancouver and Southwest Washington. Local businessmen incorporated KLRK Broadcasting Corporation in 1978 and petitioned the FCC for a channel allocation. The agency assigned channel 49 to Vancouver in 1980 and granted a construction permit in January 1981. The original group struggled to finance the proposed station and to secure approval for a West Hills transmitter site. In 1981, it agreed to sell a majority interest to Camellia City Telecasters, a Sacramento-based broadcasting company connected with Business Men's Assurance. The new investors transformed the project into a regional independent aimed at the larger Portland market. Camellia City acquired substantial programming inventory, planned studios in both Vancouver and Portland, and changed the proposed call sign from KLRK to KPDX. Tower approval was delayed by local zoning and emissions concerns, but construction eventually proceeded. KPDX tested its signal on October 7, 1983, and formally signed on two days later. Its broad regional focus and entertainment schedule, especially its cartoon programming, enabled it to compete more effectively than earlier independent challenger KECH-TV. The station's early growth came at a high cost. Construction and programming expenditures contributed to a Chapter 11 filing in September 1987. A reorganization plan allocated operating profits to creditors and contemplated a later sale. KPDX's financial prospects improved after Fox selected it as its Portland affiliate in 1988. The station expanded its distribution during the early 1990s through translators and introduced a local 10 p.m. newscast produced by KOIN in 1991. Ownership changed from Columbia River Television to Cannell Communications in 1992 and then to First Media Television in 1994. Meredith acquired First Media's stations in 1997. Under Meredith, KPDX built a large Beaverton facility and launched an in-house news operation in October 2000. The station's local news ambitions were short-lived: after Fox's parent company acquired KPTV, Meredith and Fox exchanged stations in a transaction that returned Fox programming to KPTV. KPDX ended its local newscasts in July 2002 and became a UPN affiliate that September. When UPN and The WB were replaced by the CW and MyNetworkTV in 2006, KPDX joined MyNetworkTV. The station increasingly functioned as a complementary outlet to KPTV, with branding and programming focused on additional entertainment, news-related content, and sports. It carried Portland Timbers soccer from 2011 through 2022 and was branded Fox 12 Plus beginning in 2018. Following Gray Media's ownership of the KPTV-KPDX operation, KPDX's role developed further toward local sports. The Rose City SportsNet identity emphasizes professional women's sports in Portland, including the Portland Thorns and the Portland Fire, while KPDX continues to carry MyNetworkTV programming in a late-night slot.

• 2026

  Rose City SportsNet identity is introduced

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  The station expands its sports positioning around Portland women's professional teams.

• 2018

  Fox 12 Plus branding launches

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopts a brand tied to its relationship with KPTV.

• 2011

  Portland Timbers broadcasts begin

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  KPDX becomes a local broadcast outlet for Portland Timbers soccer.

• 2006

  MyNetworkTV affiliation begins

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  KPDX joins MyNetworkTV after the UPN-WB network realignment.

• 2002

  KPDX becomes a UPN affiliate

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  After the Fox-KPTV transaction, KPDX assumes UPN programming in Portland.

• 2000

  In-house news operation begins

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  KPDX moves into a new Beaverton facility and takes control of local news production.

• 1997

  Meredith acquires KPDX

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  Meredith Corporation purchases First Media's television stations, including KPDX.

• 1991

  First locally branded newscast launches

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  KPDX introduces a 10 p.m. news program produced by KOIN.

• 1988

  Fox affiliation begins

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  KPDX becomes the Portland area's Fox affiliate.

• 1983

  KPDX launches

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  The station begins regular broadcasting on October 9 as an independent outlet.

• 1981

  Construction permit is granted

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  Federal authorization allows the proposed station to proceed toward construction.

• 1980

  Channel 49 is allocated to Vancouver

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC assigns channel 49 to Vancouver, Washington.

• 1978

  KLRK Broadcasting Corporation is formed

  [1]KPDXen.wikipedia.org

  Southwest Washington businessmen incorporate a company to pursue a Vancouver television station.

A Portland-market independent station with a strong regional sports focus, complementary programming relationship with KPTV, and late-night MyNetworkTV affiliation.

• Broadcast television · 1983

  Local television programming

  KPDX distributes locally relevant television content for the Portland and Vancouver market. Its historical local output has included news, community features, promotional segments, and sports coverage. Since the station's news department was consolidated with KPTV in 2002, KPDX has generally operated as a complementary outlet rather than as a fully separate local-news broadcaster.

• Sports broadcasting · 2026

  Rose City SportsNet

  Rose City SportsNet is the station's sports-focused identity and programming platform. It emphasizes professional sports connected with Portland, particularly women's teams and competitions. The platform is associated with coverage of the Portland Thorns of the NWSL and the WNBA's Portland Fire, alongside related sports news, promotion, and broadcast presentation.

• Network affiliation · 2006

  MyNetworkTV programming

  KPDX carries MyNetworkTV as a late-night offering. The affiliation began in 2006 after the dissolution of UPN and The WB, giving the station a network-programming component while it developed a broader independent and sports-oriented schedule.

• Soccer broadcasting · 2011

  Portland Timbers broadcasts

  KPDX served as a local broadcast outlet for Portland Timbers soccer from 2011 through 2022. The rights strengthened the station's connection with Portland sports audiences and contributed to its later emphasis on sports programming.

• 2026Rose City SportsNet

  Portland metropolitan area

  KPDX shifted toward a sports-centered identity focused on Portland professional women's teams and regional sports coverage.

  Outcome. The identity positioned KPDX as a dedicated local sports outlet while retaining its MyNetworkTV role.

  Source
• 2018Fox 12 Plus rebrand

  Portland metropolitan area

  KPDX adopted the Fox 12 Plus identity to clarify its relationship with KPTV and present itself as an additional local programming outlet.

  Outcome. The branding reinforced the shared operation of the two stations.

  Source
• 2002KPDX street team

  Portland · Vancouver

  To establish a distinct identity after becoming a UPN affiliate, KPDX used a mobile promotional street team that traveled around the market in a branded Scion vehicle.

  Outcome. The initiative supported local brand awareness during the station's post-Fox transition.

  Source

• 2006

  MyNetworkTV affiliation decisionStrategy

  Background

  The creation of The CW left UPN affiliates needing new network arrangements.

  Action taken

  KPDX agreed to affiliate with MyNetworkTV.

  Aftermath

  MyNetworkTV programming became part of KPDX's schedule, later concentrated in late-night hours.

  Source

• 2002

  Affiliation exchange with KPTVStrategy

  Background

  Fox acquired KPTV's owner, creating pressure to return Fox programming to KPTV.

  Action taken

  Meredith and Fox exchanged stations, KPTV became the Fox affiliate, and KPDX assumed UPN programming.

  Aftermath

  KPDX ended its local newscasts and operated as a complementary station within a combined KPTV-KPDX operation.

  Source

• 1988

  Fox affiliation transferStrategy

  Background

  KPTV declined to continue carrying Fox's Saturday-night programming.

  Action taken

  Fox moved its Portland affiliation to KPDX effective August 29.

  Aftermath

  Fox's growing ratings strengthened KPDX's competitive position and improved its ability to repay creditors.

  Source

• 1987

  Chapter 11 reorganizationOther

  Background

  Startup construction and programming expenses were high, while the regional economy produced insufficient advertising revenue.

  Action taken

  KPDX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and proposed a creditor-supported restructuring.

  Aftermath

  The station continued operating and later benefited from Fox affiliation revenue.

  Source

• 1981

  Original investors sell a majority interestM&A

  Background

  The founding group faced rising interest rates and substantial costs for the proposed transmitter, studios, and programming.

  Action taken

  A majority stake in the unbuilt station was sold to Camellia City Telecasters.

  Aftermath

  The new owners expanded the programming budget and redirected the station toward the wider Portland regional market.

  Source

1. 1KPDXen.wikipedia.org