KSAW-LD
Low-power ABC-affiliated television station serving Twin Falls and Idaho's Magic Valley as a semi-satellite of KIVI-TV.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KSAW-LD is a low-power television station licensed to and serving Twin Falls, Idaho. The station is affiliated with the ABC television network and operates as a semi-satellite of KIVI-TV, the ABC affiliate licensed to Nampa and serving the Boise market. Although KSAW identifies itself as a distinct station, much of its programming, technical infrastructure, and operational management are shared with KIVI. This arrangement allows the Scripps-owned station to deliver ABC network programming and selected KIVI-produced programming to viewers in the Magic Valley while inserting local advertising, station identifications, and some programming specific to Twin Falls and surrounding communities. The station's roots extend to 1985, when KIVI established a low-power translator, K27AO, to improve coverage in the Magic Valley. That facility was upgraded to K68CO in 1989. The area subsequently experienced changing relationships among ABC, Fox, NBC, and stations serving Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls. In 1996, the translator adopted the KSAW-LP call sign and began carrying commercial inserts separate from KIVI. Later frequency reallocations required the station to move from channel 68 to channel 52 and then to channel 51. Following Scripps's acquisition of Journal Communications, KSAW moved away from prominent channel 51 branding and adopted channel 6 branding aligned with KIVI, while retaining its separate call sign and local service role. KSAW carries ABC programming supplied through KIVI and simulcasts selected KIVI newscasts, including morning and weekend programming. For many years its local news presentation was essentially a relay of KIVI's Boise-originated broadcasts, with regional weather information adapted for the Magic Valley. In 2020, Scripps introduced a dedicated weekday evening newscast for KSAW. Produced and anchored from KIVI's Boise facilities, the program incorporated three reporters based in Twin Falls, giving the station a more distinct local-news identity. The 5:30 p.m. broadcast airs live on weeknights, while a later 10 p.m. presentation is tape-delayed. At the same time, KSAW and KIVI changed their branding from '6 On Your Side' to 'Idaho News 6.' KSAW's transmission facility is located on Flat Top Butte near Jerome, Idaho, while its advertising sales office is in Twin Falls's Blue Lakes Office Park. Master control and most internal operations are based at KIVI's studios in Nampa. The station's digital signal also carries several KIVI-associated multicast services, including Laff, Ion Mystery, and Court TV. In October 2023, its second digital subchannel adopted the 'Twin Falls 6' identity after Scripps obtained local broadcast rights for Vegas Golden Knights games. KSAW therefore combines the reach and resources of a larger regional television operation with market-specific advertising, reporting, and programming for Twin Falls.
History
KSAW-LD developed from a series of low-power facilities created to extend KIVI-TV's ABC service into Idaho's Magic Valley. In 1985, KIVI established K27AO, a 100-watt translator serving the area. The facility was upgraded in June 1989 to 1,000 watts and moved to channel 68 under the call sign K68CO. At roughly the same time, KKVI began operating on channel 35 as a semi-satellite of KPVI in Pocatello, creating another full-power ABC presence for Twin Falls viewers. The competing stations' positions on local cable systems changed during the early 1990s. Beginning in 1990, KKVI received syndication-exclusivity priority over KIVI on Twin Falls cable systems for ABC programs carried simultaneously. In 1991, King Videocable moved KIVI away from its former channel 6 placement and put it on a shared channel 30 service, while KKVI took channel 6. These arrangements reflected the complicated overlap among the Boise, Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls television markets. A major affiliation change in the Pocatello–Idaho Falls area in 1995 altered the competitive landscape. KIFI-TV took the ABC affiliation, while KPVI became an NBC affiliate. NBC was already available in Twin Falls through KTFT, a low-power semi-satellite of Boise NBC station KTVB. KKVI, which had also carried Fox programming, became the area's Fox affiliate in January 1996, and KIVI regained full-time carriage on Twin Falls cable systems. On August 28, 1996, K68CO adopted the KSAW-LP call sign and began inserting commercials separately from KIVI, giving the facility a more distinct commercial identity. Federal channel reallocations subsequently forced additional frequency changes. When television use of channels 60 through 69 was phased out, KSAW moved from channel 68 to channel 52 in 2000. The later withdrawal of channels 52 through 59 required another move, this time to channel 51. For years, the station's public identity emphasized channel 51 even though its programming relationship with KIVI remained central. The E. W. Scripps Company announced in 2014 that it would acquire Journal Communications in an all-stock transaction. The deal covered Journal's broadcast assets, including KSAW, while Journal's print assets were separated into Journal Media Group. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction in December 2014, shareholders approved it in March 2015, and the transaction closed on April 1, 2015. After the acquisition, Scripps chose to align KSAW more closely with KIVI's channel 6 identity. The station reduced use of the channel 51 brand and changed its virtual-channel presentation to channel 6, although KSAW remained separately licensed and continued to serve Twin Falls. KSAW's news operation initially consisted primarily of KIVI newscast simulcasts, including regional forecasts adapted for the Magic Valley. In 2020, Scripps announced and launched a dedicated KSAW weekday evening newscast. The program originated from KIVI's Boise studios but used three reporters based in Twin Falls, creating a more locally focused news service and a second television newsroom presence in the market alongside KMVT. The program airs live at 5:30 p.m. on weeknights and is replayed or time-shifted at 10 p.m. KSAW and KIVI also adopted the shared Idaho News 6 identity, while KSAW continued to simulcast KIVI's morning and weekend broadcasts. Today, KSAW is operated as a semi-satellite rather than as a fully independent newsroom and production center. Its master control and most internal functions are located at KIVI's Nampa studios. The station maintains a Twin Falls advertising-sales office and transmits from Flat Top Butte near Jerome. Its digital signal carries KIVI-associated multicast services, including Laff, Ion Mystery, and Court TV, although the cited reference notes that these services were not carried on Sparklight's Twin Falls cable system. In October 2023, KSAW's second subchannel adopted the Twin Falls 6 identity in connection with Scripps's local Vegas Golden Knights rights. The station's current model combines network programming and shared regional resources with targeted local commercials, news reporting, sports, and station branding for the Magic Valley.
- 2023
Twin Falls 6 subchannel identity introduced
[1]The second digital subchannel takes the Twin Falls 6 name in connection with local Vegas Golden Knights programming rights.
- 2020
Dedicated local evening newscast launches
[1]KSAW begins airing a weekday evening newscast with Boise-based production and Twin Falls-based reporters.
- 2015
Scripps completes Journal Communications acquisition
[1]KSAW becomes part of The E. W. Scripps Company's broadcast portfolio when the Journal Communications transaction closes.
- 2015
Channel 6 branding adopted
[1]KSAW adopts channel 6 branding and changes its virtual channel to align its public identity with KIVI-TV.
- 2000
Frequency moves to channel 52
[1]Federal reallocation of television channels 60 through 69 prompts KSAW to move from channel 68 to channel 52.
- 1996
KSAW-LP identity begins
[1]K68CO becomes KSAW-LP and begins carrying commercials separate from KIVI.
- 1989
Translator upgraded and renamed K68CO
[1]The facility is upgraded to 1,000 watts and moves to channel 68 under the K68CO call sign.
- 1985
KIVI establishes a Magic Valley translator
[1]KIVI launches K27AO, a 100-watt translator intended to extend its service into the Twin Falls area.
Frequency moves to channel 51
[1]The subsequent phaseout of channels 52 through 59 leads to another KSAW frequency move, to channel 51.
Products and positioning
A locally targeted ABC television service for Twin Falls and the Magic Valley, supported by the production, network affiliation, and technical infrastructure of KIVI-TV and The E. W. Scripps Company.
Network television affiliation
ABC network service
KSAW carries ABC network programming supplied through its relationship with KIVI-TV. The station presents the network service to viewers in Twin Falls and the Magic Valley while using channel 6 branding associated with the KIVI operation.
Local news · 2020
Idaho News 6
Idaho News 6 is the shared local-news identity used by KSAW and KIVI. KSAW's weekday evening edition includes reporting from three Twin Falls-based journalists, while production and anchoring are supported from KIVI's Boise facilities. The station also continues to carry selected KIVI morning and weekend newscasts.
Digital multicast and sports programming · 2023
Twin Falls 6
Twin Falls 6 is the identity adopted by KSAW's second digital subchannel in October 2023. The rebranding followed Scripps's acquisition of local rights to televise Vegas Golden Knights games, adding a market-oriented sports offering to the station's digital portfolio.
Multicast television
Digital multicast services
KSAW's digital signal simulcasts three KIVI-associated subchannels carrying Laff, Ion Mystery, and Court TV. The availability of these services can vary by distribution platform; the cited station history notes that they were not carried on Sparklight's Twin Falls cable system.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Idaho News 6 rebrand
Twin Falls · Boise · Magic Valley
KSAW and KIVI replaced the 6 On Your Side identity with Idaho News 6 while KSAW introduced a more distinct weekday evening newscast.
Outcome. The change gave the two stations a shared regional news identity while adding dedicated Twin Falls reporting to KSAW's schedule.
Brand decisions
2023
Launch of Twin Falls 6 subchannel identityProduct launchBackground
Scripps obtained local broadcast rights for Vegas Golden Knights games.
Action taken
KSAW renamed its second digital subchannel Twin Falls 6 in October.
Aftermath
The subchannel gained a locally oriented identity connected to sports programming and the Twin Falls market.
2020
Launch of dedicated KSAW evening newsProduct launchBackground
KSAW had historically relied heavily on simulcasts of KIVI's Boise-originated newscasts.
Action taken
Scripps launched a weekday KSAW evening newscast produced and anchored from Boise with three reporters based in Twin Falls.
Aftermath
The station gained a more distinct local-news product and an expanded reporting presence in the Magic Valley.
2015
Integration into Scripps after Journal Communications acquisitionM&ABackground
The E. W. Scripps Company agreed to acquire Journal Communications in a transaction covering the company's broadcast properties, including KSAW.
Action taken
The transaction received regulatory and shareholder approval and closed on April 1, 2015.
Aftermath
KSAW became part of Scripps's local television group and subsequently received branding and channel-presentation changes aligned with KIVI-TV.
2015
Shift from channel 51 to channel 6 brandingStrategyBackground
Although KSAW had operated with a channel 51 identity after frequency reallocations, its programming and operational relationship with KIVI remained central.
Action taken
Scripps dropped prominent use of channel 51, adopted channel 6 branding, and changed the virtual channel to match KIVI.
Aftermath
KSAW retained separate licensing and local commercial service while presenting a more unified identity with KIVI.
Recent events
- 2023
KSAW's second subchannel adopts the Twin Falls 6 identity[1]
Product launch · Other
The station's second digital subchannel was renamed Twin Falls 6 after Scripps acquired local rights to broadcast Vegas Golden Knights games.
- 2020
KSAW launches a dedicated weekday evening newscast[1]
Product launch · Leadership change
Scripps introduced a KSAW-specific evening news program produced from Boise and supported by three Twin Falls-based reporters. The broadcast airs at 5:30 p.m. on weeknights, with a later 10 p.m. presentation.
- 2020
KSAW and KIVI rebrand their local news as Idaho News 6[1]
Campaign · Other
The stations replaced the '6 On Your Side' identity with 'Idaho News 6' as part of the launch of KSAW's dedicated evening newscast.
- 2015
KSAW-LD becomes part of the Scripps broadcast portfolio through the Journal Communications transaction[1]
M&A
The E. W. Scripps Company completed its acquisition of Journal Communications, bringing KSAW and related broadcast assets into the Scripps portfolio. The transaction was approved by the FCC and Journal shareholders before closing on April 1, 2015.
- 2015
KSAW adopts channel 6 branding aligned with KIVI-TV[1]
Other
After the Journal acquisition, Scripps discontinued prominent use of KSAW's former channel 51 identity and shifted the station's branding and virtual-channel presentation to channel 6, matching KIVI-TV.
Sources2 sources
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