KUNW-CD

KUNW-CD is a low-power, Class A television station serving Yakima, Washington, and surrounding communities. The station broadcasts Spanish-language programming as an affiliate of the Univision network. Its local identity has changed over time as its call sign, channel designation, ownership, and network relationships evolved. The station originally operated under the call sign K52EQ and was associated with Telemundo programming. On January 4, 2001, it changed its call sign to KKFQ-LP and moved from UHF channel 52 to VHF channel 2. By 2003, the station was being used as a simulcast outlet for KPOU, the Univision affiliate based in La Grande, Oregon. The station became part of a broader group of Spanish-language and low-power television properties in the Pacific Northwest. WatchTV sold KKFQ-CA, together with KVVK-CA in Kennewick, KWWA-CA in Ellensburg, and KORX-CA in Walla Walla, to Fisher Communications in 2007. Fisher had already been programming the stations under a local marketing agreement beginning in 2006. In 2008, Fisher changed the Yakima station's call sign to KUNW-LP, aligning the call letters with its Univision affiliation and its regional service area. Fisher Communications later announced the sale of its broadcast properties, including KUNW and Yakima CBS affiliate KIMA-TV, to Sinclair Broadcast Group on April 11, 2013. The transaction closed on August 8, 2013. KUNW-CD is now owned by Sinclair alongside KIMA-TV, while the two stations are operated by Rincon Broadcasting Group as sister stations to KCYU-LD. KUNW-CD and KIMA-TV share studio facilities on Terrace Heights Boulevard in Yakima. KUNW-CD's transmitter is located on Ahtanum Ridge. In addition to its primary Yakima service, KUNW programming has been carried on additional low-power stations serving the Tri-Cities area of Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick. The station's role is principally that of a local distribution outlet for Univision's Spanish-language network programming, providing entertainment, news, sports, and other network content to Hispanic and broader Spanish-speaking audiences in central and eastern Washington. Available reference material does not establish a separate schedule of locally originated programs, a founding date, or individual station executives.

KUNW-CD is a low-power Class A television station in Yakima, Washington. Its present identity developed through several changes in call sign, channel assignment, programming affiliation, and ownership. The station's earliest listed call sign was K52EQ, and it was associated with Telemundo programming during that period. On January 4, 2001, it changed its call sign to KKFQ-LP and moved from UHF channel 52 to VHF channel 2. By 2003, the station was operating as a simulcast of KPOU, a Univision affiliate in La Grande, Oregon, indicating that its role had shifted toward distributing Univision programming in the Yakima market. In 2007, WatchTV sold KKFQ-CA, together with KVVK-CA in Kennewick, KWWA-CA in Ellensburg, and KORX-CA in Walla Walla, to Fisher Communications. Fisher had already been programming the stations through a local marketing agreement that began in 2006. In 2008, Fisher renamed the Yakima station KUNW-LP. The new call sign reflected both its Univision affiliation and its regional identity in the Pacific Northwest. The station later used the KUNW-CA and KUNW-CD designations associated with its low-power and Class A digital operation. Fisher Communications announced on April 11, 2013, that it would sell its broadcast properties, including KUNW and KIMA-TV, to Sinclair Broadcast Group. The transaction closed on August 8, 2013. Sinclair became the station's owner, with KUNW operating alongside KIMA-TV, a CBS/CW+/Fox-affiliated group of services in the Yakima area. The stations share studios on Terrace Heights Boulevard in Yakima. KUNW-CD's transmitter is situated on Ahtanum Ridge. KUNW programming has also been carried by additional stations serving the Tri-Cities region of Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick. A related outlet, KWWA-CA in Ellensburg, ceased broadcasting on April 17, 2008, after an antenna failure. Fisher chose to return that station's license to the Federal Communications Commission rather than repair the antenna, and the license was canceled on June 4, 2008. This event affected a related distribution outlet rather than KUNW-CD itself. Today, KUNW-CD functions primarily as a Spanish-language Univision affiliate for Yakima and nearby communities. Its business consists of distributing network television programming and selling local broadcast advertising, with additional reach provided by associated outlets. The available reference material does not identify a station founder, a definitive founding year, a separate corporate website history, or named current and former executives.

• 2013

  Sinclair acquisition closes

  [1]KUNW-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair Broadcast Group completed its acquisition of Fisher Communications properties, including KUNW and KIMA-TV, on August 8.

• 2008

  Renamed KUNW-LP

  [1]KUNW-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Fisher changed the station's call sign to KUNW-LP to reflect its Univision affiliation and regional location.

• 2007

  Sale to Fisher Communications

  [1]KUNW-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WatchTV sold KKFQ-CA and several related Pacific Northwest stations to Fisher Communications.

• 2006

  Fisher begins local marketing agreement programming

  [1]KUNW-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Fisher Communications began programming the station and related low-power outlets under a local marketing agreement.

• 2003

  Begins simulcasting KPOU programming

  [1]KUNW-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station was operating as a simulcast of KPOU, the Univision affiliate in La Grande, Oregon.

• 2001

  Call sign and channel change

  [1]KUNW-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station changed from K52EQ to KKFQ-LP and moved from UHF channel 52 to VHF channel 2 on January 4.

A local Spanish-language broadcast outlet serving Yakima and parts of central and eastern Washington through its Univision affiliation.

• Spanish-language broadcast television

  Univision television broadcasting

  KUNW-CD's principal offering is the distribution of Univision's Spanish-language television service in the Yakima market. The station provides network entertainment, news, sports, and other scheduled programming through its low-power Class A broadcast signal. Its role is primarily local distribution rather than the development of a separately documented national content brand.

• Television advertising

  Local broadcast advertising

  The station provides advertising inventory for businesses seeking access to Spanish-speaking and broader television audiences in Yakima and nearby communities. Specific advertising products, audience figures, pricing, and sales arrangements are not identified in the available reference material.

• 2013

  Transfer from Fisher Communications to Sinclair Broadcast GroupM&A

  Background

  Fisher Communications announced the sale of its broadcast properties, including KUNW and KIMA-TV, to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

  Action taken

  Sinclair completed the acquisition on August 8, 2013.

  Aftermath

  KUNW became part of Sinclair's ownership group while continuing to operate as a Univision affiliate and sharing Yakima facilities with KIMA-TV.

  Source

• 2008

  Adopt the KUNW-LP identityStrategy

  Background

  Fisher Communications controlled the station after its acquisition from WatchTV and was aligning its branding with the Univision network and the Pacific Northwest market.

  Action taken

  Fisher changed the call sign to KUNW-LP.

  Aftermath

  The KUNW identity became the station's continuing brand as a Univision affiliate in Yakima.

  Source

• 2001

  Move to VHF channel 2 and adopt the KKFQ-LP call signStrategy

  Background

  The station was transitioning from its earlier K52EQ identity and Telemundo-associated operation.

  Action taken

  It changed its call sign to KKFQ-LP and moved from UHF channel 52 to VHF channel 2 on January 4, 2001.

  Aftermath

  The move established the station's channel 2 identity before its later development as a Univision outlet.

  Source

1. 1KUNW-CDen.wikipedia.org