KVEW

KVEW is a television station licensed to Kennewick, Washington, and serving the Tri-Cities area of southeastern Washington. It operates as an ABC affiliate and functions as a semi-satellite of KAPP, the ABC station serving Yakima. The two stations are owned by Morgan Murphy Media, share a website, and are generally treated as one operating and ratings unit within the Yakima–Tri-Cities television market. The station began broadcasting on October 29, 1970, shortly after KAPP launched in Yakima. Its arrival consolidated ABC network service for the eastern portion of the market. Before KVEW signed on, ABC programming in the Tri-Cities had been carried at different times as a secondary affiliation by KEPR-TV and KNDU. KVEW provided a dedicated local outlet for viewers in Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and surrounding communities while KAPP served the western part of the broader market. KVEW simulcasts ABC network programming and much of the syndicated schedule supplied through KAPP. It also carries the stations' shared local newscasts, while retaining separate commercial inserts and legal identifications. This arrangement allows KVEW to maintain a distinct presence in the Tri-Cities without operating a fully independent programming and newsroom structure. KVEW's studio facilities are on North Edison Street in Kennewick, and its transmitter is located on Jump Off Joe Butte. Master control and certain internal functions have been handled from the facilities of sister station KXLY-TV in Spokane. The station's programming distribution has included digital multicast services. In September 2006, KAPP and KVEW added Spokane's MeTV affiliate KXMN-LD to a digital subchannel. Both stations became digital-only on February 17, 2009, and KVEW's signal is also relayed by translator K14HT-D in Walla Walla. Satellite availability has differed between the paired stations: DirecTV has carried KAPP, while Dish Network has carried KVEW. KVEW and KAPP have adjusted their local-news schedule in response to changing economics and programming conditions. In December 2008, the stations discontinued their 6 p.m. and weekend newscasts, reduced the late broadcast to a short bulletin, and laid off 17 employees across the two operations. Local weather presentation, which had for several years been supplied from KXLY-TV in Spokane, returned in 2016. In September 2017, the stations restored a 6 p.m. local-news broadcast after the movement of syndicated programming created space in the schedule. KVEW's principal role remains that of an ABC network outlet and local news service for the Tri-Cities. Its semi-satellite structure combines market-specific transmission and advertising with shared programming, news, technical infrastructure, and corporate ownership. The station's identity is therefore closely linked to KAPP and Morgan Murphy Media rather than to a separately programmed, standalone network operation.

KVEW was established to provide ABC television service to the Tri-Cities region of Washington. Before its launch, ABC programming in the area had been carried on a secondary basis by existing stations, including KEPR-TV and KNDU. The region did not have a dedicated ABC outlet until KVEW began broadcasting on October 29, 1970, one month after the launch of its paired station, KAPP, in Yakima. KVEW became the eastern-market counterpart to KAPP. KAPP served the western portion of the Yakima–Tri-Cities market, while KVEW focused on Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and nearby communities. Although the stations operated under separate call signs and maintained distinct transmission facilities, they shared ABC and syndicated programming. KVEW also carried separate commercial inserts and station identifications, allowing the broadcaster to address its own local audience while using a shared programming model. The stations are owned by Morgan Murphy Media and have developed a semi-satellite relationship rather than functioning as fully independent outlets. KVEW maintains studios on North Edison Street in Kennewick and transmits from Jump Off Joe Butte. Some technical and operational functions, including master control, have been based at the facilities of sister ABC affiliate KXLY-TV in Spokane. Local newscasts have generally been simulcast across KAPP and KVEW, reinforcing the stations' shared operating structure. In September 2006, KAPP and KVEW expanded their digital offerings by carrying Spokane's KXMN-LD MeTV service on a digital subchannel. The stations completed the transition to digital-only broadcasting on February 17, 2009. KVEW's over-the-air service has also been extended through translator K14HT-D in Walla Walla, while KAPP has a separate translator serving Ellensburg. The late 2000s brought a significant reduction in local-news output. On December 22, 2008, KAPP and KVEW ended their 6 p.m. and weekend newscasts and reduced their 11 p.m. program to a five-minute broadcast before the late-night network schedule. Seventeen employees were laid off across the two stations. KAPP also moved from its former South 24th Avenue facility to downtown Yakima after that property was sold. These changes reflected a more centralized and cost-conscious operating model. For several years, weather coverage was supplied from KXLY-TV in Spokane. Local weather presentation returned in 2016, with reports scheduled during evening and morning programming. In September 2017, KAPP and KVEW restored a 6 p.m. local newscast after syndicated programming changes opened the time slot. KVEW remains an active ABC affiliate serving the Tri-Cities through a combination of local transmission, shared regional news, network programming, syndicated content, and centralized technical operations.

• 2017

  6 p.m. news restored

  [1]KAPP (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KAPP and KVEW resume a local 6 p.m. newscast following a syndicated-programming schedule change.

• 2016

  Local weather returns

  [1]KAPP (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  Weather reporting returns to the local KAPP/KVEW presentation after a period of coverage from Spokane.

• 2009

  Digital-only broadcasting

  [1]KAPP (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KVEW becomes a digital-only television station on February 17.

• 2008

  Local-news schedule reduction

  [1]KAPP (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The paired stations discontinue their 6 p.m. and weekend newscasts and reduce the late-night news bulletin.

• 2006

  Digital multicast expansion

  [1]KAPP (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KVEW and KAPP add KXMN-LD's MeTV programming to a digital subchannel.

• 1970

  KVEW signs on

  [1]KAPP (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KVEW begins broadcasting on October 29 as the ABC affiliate serving Kennewick and the Tri-Cities area.

A locally oriented ABC affiliate for Kennewick and the Tri-Cities, operating with the programming and infrastructure efficiencies of a semi-satellite relationship with Yakima station KAPP.

• Network television · 1970

  ABC network programming

  KVEW carries ABC network programming for viewers in the Tri-Cities area. As a semi-satellite of KAPP, it receives much of its network schedule through the shared operation while maintaining a separate station identity and local transmission facility.

• Local television news · 1970

  KVEW local news

  KVEW participates in the shared local-news operation with KAPP. Newscasts are generally simulcast across the two stations, providing coverage for both the Yakima and Tri-Cities portions of the market, with schedule changes over time reflecting the stations' operating strategy.

• Weather broadcasting · 2016

  Local weather coverage

  Weather information is part of KVEW's local broadcast service. Coverage was supplied from sister station KXLY-TV in Spokane for several years before local weather reports returned to the KAPP/KVEW presentation in 2016.

• Digital television · 2006

  Digital multicast programming

  KVEW has used digital television capacity for additional programming, including MeTV service from KXMN-LD beginning in 2006. The station's digital signal is also extended through the K14HT-D translator in Walla Walla.

• 2017

  Restore the 6 p.m. newscastOther

  Background

  A change in the placement of syndicated programming created room in the evening schedule.

  Action taken

  KAPP and KVEW resumed local news at 6 p.m., nearly a decade after ending the time slot.

  Aftermath

  The change expanded the stations' local evening-news schedule.

  Source

• 2009

  Complete the digital transitionStrategy

  Background

  KVEW and KAPP were transitioning their terrestrial television services from analog to digital broadcasting.

  Action taken

  KVEW became a digital-only station on February 17, 2009.

  Aftermath

  The station continued its broadcast service through digital transmission and later maintained additional coverage through a translator.

  Source

• 2008

  Centralize operations and reduce local-news outputStrategy

  Background

  KAPP and KVEW operated as a linked television unit with shared programming and news resources.

  Action taken

  The stations discontinued their 6 p.m. and weekend newscasts, shortened the late broadcast, and eliminated 17 positions across the two operations.

  Aftermath

  The stations operated with a reduced local-news schedule until a 6 p.m. newscast was restored in 2017.

  Source

1. 1KAPP (TV)en.wikipedia.org