KSKN
KSKN is a Spokane, Washington television station and the local CW affiliate on channel 22.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KSKN is a broadcast television station serving Spokane, Washington, and the surrounding Inland Northwest. Operating on virtual channel 22, the station is affiliated with The CW and is paired operationally with CBS affiliate KREM, channel 2. KSKN and KREM share studios on South Regal Street in Spokane’s Southgate neighborhood, while KSKN’s transmitter is located on Krell Hill southeast of the city. The station’s coverage also extends into parts of northern Idaho, including service through a translator in Bonners Ferry. The station originated in the early 1980s when Broadcast Vision Television, controlled by Lee Schulman, obtained a construction permit for a second UHF station in Spokane. KSKN presented a preview broadcast on September 30, 1983, featuring a performance of Gypsy from the Spokane Civic Theatre. Full-time general-entertainment programming began on December 18, 1983, as an independent station. Its first operating period was financially unstable. Broadcast Vision Television entered bankruptcy in 1985, and the station was sold that September to the Sun Continental Group, whose principals had previously operated an independent station in Tucson, Arizona. Under Sun Continental, KSKN attempted to improve its schedule and supplemented entertainment programming with paid religious content. The death of Gene Adelstein, one of the company’s principals, in 1986 was followed by worsening finances. In 1987, the station reduced its broadcast day, entered bankruptcy again, and increasingly relied on home-shopping programming. KSKN ceased broadcasting on June 27, 1987. A bankruptcy-approved sale later transferred the station to a group led by former station manager Steve Whitehead, but plans to restore regular programming were delayed. KSKN returned to the air in late 1994 under ownership associated with Mel Querio, initially carrying predominantly Home Shopping Network programming. After Querio’s death in 1996, ownership passed to his wife, Judy Querio. In July 1996, KSKN entered a local marketing agreement with KREM, then owned by The Providence Journal Company. This arrangement brought KREM’s resources into the station’s operation and helped establish a more durable programming and news model. In 1997, KSKN became a UPN affiliate and began carrying a 10 p.m. newscast produced by KREM. It later added programming from The WB, initially in nonstandard time periods while continuing to carry UPN programming. After KSKN became an exclusive WB affiliate in 2002, Belo purchased the station for $5 million in 2001 following the legalization of television duopolies. KSKN joined The CW in September 2006 when The WB and UPN were consolidated into the new network. Corporate ownership changed again when Gannett acquired Belo in 2013. Gannett subsequently separated its publishing and broadcasting operations, with the broadcasting assets placed under Tegna in 2015. KSKN continues to operate as a CW outlet closely linked with KREM. Its current local programming includes weekday morning news from 7 to 9 a.m. and a nightly 10 p.m. newscast produced through the KREM newsroom, along with simulcasts of selected KREM newscasts. The station completed the United States digital television transition on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 22 while transmitting digitally on UHF channel 36.
History
KSKN was developed as Spokane’s second UHF television outlet after KAYU-TV. In 1982, Broadcast Vision Television, a company associated with Lee Schulman, received the construction permit and began building the station. A preview broadcast took place on September 30, 1983, featuring a Spokane Civic Theatre production. Regular programming began on December 18 as an independent general-entertainment station. The early operation was marked by financial difficulty. Broadcast Vision Television filed for bankruptcy in April 1985. Later that year, KSKN was sold to the Sun Continental Group, whose principals had operated KZAZ in Tucson. The new owners revised the schedule and added paid religious programming, but the station’s finances deteriorated. After Gene Adelstein died in March 1986, his widow Ellen assumed a leading role in the operation. KSKN reduced its broadcast hours in February 1987, filed for bankruptcy again the following month, and began carrying home-shopping programming for much of the day. It went off the air on June 27, 1987. A bankruptcy-approved transaction transferred the station to a group led by Steve Whitehead, who had previously managed KSKN. Although the group discussed a return to broadcasting and a possible affiliation with the Star Television Network, restoration took several years. In 1990, Whitehead sought approval to sell an 80 percent interest to Mel Querio. KSKN eventually returned in late 1994, primarily carrying Home Shopping Network programming. Querio died in 1996, after which his wife Judy became the station’s principal owner. KSKN’s long-term operating model changed in July 1996 when it signed a local marketing agreement with KREM. KREM was then owned by The Providence Journal Company, which was acquired by Belo in 1997. The agreement gave KREM a central role in programming and operations. In 1997, KSKN became a UPN affiliate and began broadcasting a KREM-produced 10 p.m. newscast. The station subsequently carried The WB as a secondary affiliation, initially placing WB programs outside the network’s preferred schedule. Belo acquired KSKN for $5 million in 2001 after regulatory changes permitted television duopolies. In 2002, KSKN became an exclusive WB affiliate and aired the network’s programming in pattern. When The WB and UPN were replaced by The CW in 2006, KSKN became Spokane’s CW affiliate in September of that year. The station retained its relationship with KREM, which supplies local news production. KSKN’s current news schedule includes a weekday two-hour morning program and a half-hour 10 p.m. newscast each night, in addition to simulcasts of several KREM broadcasts. The station’s corporate history continued through Belo’s acquisition by Gannett in 2013. In 2015, Gannett divided its publishing and broadcasting businesses, placing the broadcasting assets under Tegna. KSKN broadcasts from shared South Regal Street studios in Spokane and transmits from Krell Hill. Its digital signal operates on UHF channel 36 while using virtual channel 22. The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide digital transition. KSKN also has a translator serving Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
- 2015
Broadcasting assets move to Tegna
[1]Gannett separated its broadcasting business into Tegna.
- 2013
Belo acquired by Gannett
[1]Gannett acquired Belo, including KSKN.
- 2009
Digital transition
[1]KSKN ended analog broadcasting and continued digitally under virtual channel 22.
- 2006
CW affiliation
[1]KSKN became a CW affiliate after The WB and UPN were consolidated.
- 2001
Belo acquisition
[1]Belo purchased KSKN for $5 million after duopoly ownership rules changed.
- 1997
UPN affiliation and local news launch
[1]KSKN joined UPN and began airing a KREM-produced 10 p.m. newscast.
- 1996
KREM local marketing agreement
[1]KSKN entered a local marketing agreement with KREM, linking the two stations operationally.
- 1994
Return to broadcasting
[1]KSKN returned to the air with primarily Home Shopping Network programming.
- 1987
Station goes off the air
[1]After another bankruptcy filing and a period dominated by home-shopping programming, KSKN ceased broadcasting on June 27.
- 1985
First bankruptcy and ownership change
[1]Broadcast Vision Television entered bankruptcy, and KSKN was sold to the Sun Continental Group later that year.
Products and positioning
A local broadcast outlet combining CW network entertainment with Spokane-area news and programming produced in cooperation with KREM.
Network television affiliation · 2006
CW network service
KSKN carries programming from The CW for the Spokane market. The affiliation began in September 2006 after The WB and UPN were replaced by the combined network. The CW schedule forms the station’s principal national entertainment offering, supported by local news and other broadcast content.
Television news · 1997
KSKN local news
KSKN airs a weekday morning newscast from 7 to 9 a.m. and a half-hour 10 p.m. newscast seven nights a week. The programs are produced through the KREM newsroom, reflecting the stations’ shared operational structure.
Television news simulcast
KREM news simulcasts
In addition to its dedicated programs, KSKN simulcasts selected KREM newscasts, including weekday early-morning, noon, and afternoon broadcasts. These simulcasts expand the station’s local news presence without requiring a separate full newsroom.
Brand decisions
2009
Complete the digital television transitionGeneration changeBackground
Federal digital television rules required full-power television stations to end regular analog broadcasting.
Action taken
KSKN ended its analog signal on June 12 and continued digitally on UHF channel 36 using virtual channel 22.
Aftermath
The station continued digital broadcasting under its established channel 22 identity.
2006
Switch from WB and UPN-related programming to The CWGeneration changeBackground
The WB and UPN were merged into The CW, requiring affiliates in local markets to change network relationships.
Action taken
KSKN became Spokane’s CW affiliate in September 2006.
Aftermath
The station has continued to operate as a CW outlet while retaining its local news connection with KREM.
1997
Launch a KREM-produced 10 p.m. newscastProduct launchBackground
KSKN became a UPN affiliate and sought to offer local programming in a market where another station was not carrying a comparable late newscast.
Action taken
KSKN began airing a 10 p.m. newscast produced by KREM.
Aftermath
The KREM-produced news relationship continued and later expanded into morning programming and additional simulcasts.
1996
Enter a local marketing agreement with KREMStrategyBackground
KSKN had experienced prolonged financial and programming instability after returning to the air with mainly home-shopping content.
Action taken
The station entered a local marketing agreement under which KREM assumed a significant role in its operation and programming.
Aftermath
The arrangement supported the later UPN, WB, and CW affiliations and enabled KREM-produced local newscasts on KSKN.
Sources1 sources
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