KPIF
KPIF is a Pocatello, Idaho television station serving the Idaho Falls–Pocatello market as a Grit affiliate.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
KPIF is a full-power television station licensed to Pocatello, Idaho, and serving the broader Idaho Falls–Pocatello media market. The station broadcasts on channel 15 and is affiliated with Grit, a digital multicast network focused primarily on Western and action-oriented feature films and television programming. KPIF is owned by Ventura Broadcasting and operates alongside KVUI, an Ion Television affiliate also licensed to Pocatello. The two stations share studio facilities on West Alameda Road in Pocatello, while KPIF’s transmitter is located on Howard Mountain. The station originated with a construction permit granted by the Federal Communications Commission on March 2, 2001. The permit was awarded to Pocatello Channel 15, L.L.C., a partnership involving KM Communications of Skokie, Illinois; Kaleidoscope Foundation of Little Rock, Arkansas, a subsidiary of Equity Broadcasting Corporation; and Potelco Broadcasting of Greensboro, North Carolina. The three organizations had initially competed for the channel 15 allocation but agreed in 2000 to collaborate in order to accelerate the station’s development. Delays and disagreements later affected the partnership. In 2003, Myoung Hwa Bae of KM Communications offered to purchase the interests of the other partners, and KM Communications ultimately completed construction. KPIF began broadcasting in March 2004 under Program Test Authority. It initially carried America One programming, then added a WB affiliation in July 2004. When The WB and UPN were replaced nationally by The CW, KPIF became a CW affiliate on September 18, 2006. This affiliation ended when The CW moved to a digital subchannel of ABC affiliate KIFI-TV on September 7, 2009. KPIF then adopted Retro TV, a classic-television network also known as RTV at the time. The station has also served as a platform for multiple digital multicast networks. Its subchannel lineup has changed repeatedly as network agreements and multicast strategies evolved. In November 2021, Grit moved to the station’s primary digital subchannel, while other services on the multiplex were rearranged, including Heroes & Icons, Defy TV, TrueReal, Stadium, Bounce TV, Pursuit Channel, and Newsy. These changes reflect KPIF’s role as a locally licensed broadcast outlet whose schedule is built substantially around national digital networks rather than a large locally produced news operation. KPIF completed its transition from analog to digital broadcasting in 2009. It shut down its analog signal on UHF channel 15 on June 12, 2009, and flash-cut its digital transmission to the same channel. Because the station had received an original construction permit after the FCC’s 1997 digital television allotment plan, it was permitted to use the flash-cut process. The station later received a license for its digital facility on February 6, 2016, after a delay in filing the required license-covering application. KPIF remains an active local television outlet serving southeastern Idaho through over-the-air broadcasting and digital multicast programming.
History
KPIF’s origins date to the allocation of television channel 15 in Pocatello, Idaho. Three organizations that had competed for the channel—KM Communications, Kaleidoscope Foundation, and Potelco Broadcasting—agreed in 2000 to create a joint venture, Pocatello Channel 15, L.L.C., in an effort to move the proposed station toward construction. The FCC granted the group a construction permit on March 2, 2001. The development process was delayed by disagreements among the partners. In 2003, Myoung Hwa Bae of KM Communications proposed buying out the other members, and KM Communications eventually took responsibility for completing the facility. KPIF began operating in March 2004 under Program Test Authority. Its first network relationship was with America One, followed by a WB affiliation beginning in July 2004. KPIF became a CW affiliate on September 18, 2006, after the formation of The CW from the combination of The WB and UPN. The station’s CW period ended when the affiliation moved to a digital subchannel of KIFI-TV on September 7, 2009. KPIF then carried Retro TV, reflecting a broader shift in its role toward classic and syndicated programming rather than a major national broadcast network. The station has also been used for a succession of digital multicast services. Its lineup has included networks such as Heroes & Icons, Grit, Stadium, Bounce TV, Pursuit Channel, and Newsy, with affiliations changing over time. A significant rearrangement occurred in November 2021, when Grit moved to the primary digital subchannel. Other services were moved, replaced, or reassigned as the station adjusted its multicast lineup. KPIF’s technical history includes the nationwide analog-to-digital transition. The station discontinued its analog transmission on UHF channel 15 on June 12, 2009, and flash-cut its digital signal to the same channel. Although the digital signal continued after the analog shutdown, the station did not complete the license-covering process at that time. The FCC ultimately granted a broadcast license for the digital facility on February 6, 2016. KPIF is currently owned by Ventura Broadcasting and shares studios on West Alameda Road in Pocatello with KVUI, an Ion Television affiliate also licensed to the city. KPIF’s transmitter is situated on Howard Mountain. Its current identity is primarily that of a local broadcast outlet delivering Grit and other digital multicast programming to viewers in the Idaho Falls–Pocatello market.
- 2021
Multicast lineup reorganized
[1]Grit moved to the primary digital subchannel in November, while several other multicast affiliations were rearranged.
- 2016
Digital broadcast license granted
[1]The FCC granted KPIF a license for its digital facility on February 6, 2016.
- 2009
Analog service ends
[1]KPIF shut down its analog transmission and flash-cut its digital signal to UHF channel 15 on June 12, 2009.
- 2009
KPIF switches to Retro TV
[1]After The CW moved to KIFI-TV, KPIF adopted Retro TV programming.
- 2006
The CW affiliation begins
[1]KPIF became a CW affiliate on September 18, 2006.
- 2004
KPIF signs on
[1]KPIF began broadcasting in March 2004 under Program Test Authority, initially with America One programming.
- 2004
WB affiliation begins
[1]The station added a WB affiliation in July 2004.
- 2003
KM Communications assumes control of development
[1]Following partnership disagreements and delays, KM Communications moved to buy out the other members and completed construction of the station.
- 2001
Construction permit granted
[1]The FCC granted a construction permit on March 2, 2001, to Pocatello Channel 15, L.L.C.
- 2000
Partner group formed for channel 15 project
[1]KM Communications, Kaleidoscope Foundation, and Potelco Broadcasting agreed to collaborate on developing a television station for Pocatello’s channel 15 allocation.
Products and positioning
Local television station emphasizing national digital multicast entertainment programming for the Idaho Falls–Pocatello market.
Television broadcasting · 2004
KPIF channel 15 broadcast service
KPIF’s principal over-the-air television service is licensed to Pocatello and serves viewers across the Idaho Falls–Pocatello market. The station transmits from Howard Mountain and operates from shared studio facilities in Pocatello.
Digital multicast television
Grit
Grit is KPIF’s current primary network affiliation according to the referenced station description. The network provides nationally distributed classic Western and action-oriented film and television programming.
Digital television services
Digital multicast subchannels
KPIF has carried a changing collection of multicast services, including Heroes & Icons, Defy TV, TrueReal, Stadium, Bounce TV, Pursuit Channel, and Newsy. These services have been reassigned as the station’s network agreements and multiplex strategy changed.
Brand decisions
2021
Reorganization of digital multicast servicesStrategyBackground
KPIF adjusted the placement of several national multicast networks on its digital television multiplex.
Action taken
Grit moved to the primary subchannel, while other services including Heroes & Icons, Defy TV, TrueReal, Stadium, Bounce TV, Pursuit Channel, and Newsy were moved or replaced.
Aftermath
Grit became the station’s principal network service according to the referenced station description.
2009
Adoption of Retro TV programmingStrategyBackground
The CW affiliation moved from KPIF to a digital subchannel of KIFI-TV.
Action taken
KPIF replaced its former CW schedule with Retro TV, then known as RTV.
Aftermath
The station continued to operate as a digital multicast-oriented television outlet.
2006
Switch from WB to The CWStrategyBackground
The WB and UPN were being replaced by the newly formed CW network.
Action taken
KPIF became a CW affiliate on September 18, 2006.
Aftermath
The CW later moved to a digital subchannel of KIFI-TV, ending KPIF’s CW affiliation in 2009.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/kpif · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled