KCYU-LD
A low-power television station serving Yakima, Washington, with programming affiliations that include Roar and Telemundo.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KCYU-LD is a low-power television station serving Yakima, Washington, and the surrounding portion of the Tri-Cities–Yakima television market. The station broadcasts from channel 41 and is associated with Roar and Telemundo programming. Its studios are located on West Lincoln Avenue in Yakima, while its transmitter is positioned on Ahtanum Ridge. The station operates alongside KIMA-TV, a CBS/CW+ affiliate, and KUNW-CD, a Univision affiliate, and has historically been connected operationally and programmatically with other stations serving eastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. The station traces its roots to October 1, 1989, when Fox programming reached Yakima through K53CY, commonly promoted as KCY. The service initially functioned as a semi-satellite of Spokane-based KAYU-TV, carrying most of KAYU's schedule while inserting local advertising and omitting programs for which KAYU lacked Yakima-market rights. A separate low-power facility, K68EB, received a construction permit in 1993 and began broadcasting later that year. Although its formal call sign differed, the station continued to use the KCY identity in ordinary promotion and branding. Ownership changed in 1995 when Salmon River Communications sold K68EB and related stations, including KAYU-TV, to Northwest Broadcasting. The call sign became KCYU-LP in November 1995. In January 1999, the station's semi-satellite relationship shifted from KAYU-TV to the newly launched KFFX-TV in the Tri-Cities. KCYU-LP moved from channel 68 to channel 41 in 2003. It ended analog transmission and began broadcasting a high-definition digital signal on December 15, 2008; the call letters were changed to KCYU-LD in July 2009 to reflect its digital low-power status. KCYU-LD's relationship with KFFX-TV has remained important to its operating model. The station has been treated as a separate licensed facility but has functioned as a semi-satellite, receiving a common master schedule and Roar programming from KFFX-TV. KCYU-LD covers the western portion of the broader market, while KFFX-TV serves the eastern Tri-Cities area. Master control and some internal operations have been based at KFFX-TV's Clearwater Avenue facilities in Kennewick. Satellite distribution has also differed by provider: Dish Network carries KCYU-LD, while DirecTV carries KFFX-TV. The station passed through several ownership groups during the late 2010s and 2020s. Apollo Global Management's broadcasting strategy led to the acquisition of Northwest Broadcasting and its integration into Cox Media Group. Cox Media Group later sold KCYU-LD and KFFX-TV to Imagicomm Communications in 2022 for a reported group transaction value of $488 million. Imagicomm subsequently agreed to sell the stations to Rincon Broadcasting Group, with the transaction completed in July 2025. In February 2026, Rincon was reported to have agreed to take over operations of several Sinclair stations in the same regional market, potentially further integrating KCYU-LD's local television operations. KCYU-LD has carried local news through Fox First at Ten, a nightly newscast that was formerly produced by KNDU under a partnership involving Cowles Company. Production moved to KIMA-TV in March 2026. The station also carries KAYU's KHQ-produced Good Day weekday morning program. On April 1, 2026, the station's Fox intellectual unit—including the Fox affiliation, branding, and syndicated programming—moved to KIMA-TV's third digital subchannel. Roar programming then moved to KCYU-LD's principal subchannel, changing the station's primary programming identity while preserving its role in the local broadcast group.
History
KCYU-LD began serving Yakima viewers on October 1, 1989, when K53CY launched as a semi-satellite of Spokane's KAYU-TV. The service brought Fox programming to the market while adding local commercial inserts and excluding programs that KAYU could not clear for Yakima. In 1993, a construction permit was issued for a new low-power facility on channel 68 under the call sign K68EB. That facility signed on approximately one month later and continued to be promoted informally as KCY despite its different legal call sign. Salmon River Communications sold K68EB and several related stations to Northwest Broadcasting in 1995. The call letters changed to KCYU-LP on November 20 of that year. The station continued as a KAYU semi-satellite until January 1999, when its principal relationship shifted to KFFX-TV, a newly established station serving the Tri-Cities area. KCYU-LP moved from channel 68 to channel 41 in 2003. On December 15, 2008, it discontinued analog broadcasting and adopted a high-definition digital signal. The call sign changed to KCYU-LD on July 8, 2009. For much of its subsequent history, KCYU-LD operated as a semi-satellite of KFFX-TV. Although separately licensed, it received a common schedule and network programming from the parent station, with station-identification differences distinguishing the two facilities. KCYU-LD served the western part of the Tri-Cities–Yakima market, while KFFX-TV served the eastern portion. Master control and some internal functions were located at KFFX-TV's Clearwater Avenue studios in Kennewick. Distribution also varied by satellite provider: Dish Network carried KCYU-LD, whereas DirecTV carried KFFX-TV. The station's ownership changed as media consolidation reshaped the regional television business. Apollo Global Management pursued the acquisition of Northwest Broadcasting in 2019, and the resulting station group operated as Cox Media Group. On March 29, 2022, Cox announced the sale of KCYU-LD, KFFX-TV, and 16 other stations to Imagicomm Communications, an affiliate associated with the parent company of the INSP cable network. The transaction closed on August 1, 2022. Imagicomm announced another sale in April 2025, transferring KCYU-LD, KFFX-TV, and five other stations to Rincon Broadcasting Group; the transaction closed on July 18, 2025. KCYU-LD's news identity has included the nightly program Fox First at Ten. KNDU formerly produced the program through a partnership involving Cowles Company. In March 2026, production moved to KIMA-TV. The station also carried KAYU's weekday-morning Good Day program, produced by KHQ. A significant programming realignment occurred on April 1, 2026. KCYU's Fox intellectual unit—comprising the Fox affiliation, associated branding, and syndicated programming—moved to the third subchannel of KIMA-TV. Roar programming moved onto KCYU-LD's main subchannel. This change altered the station's primary brand and schedule while retaining KCYU-LD as a distinct low-power broadcast facility. The station's studios remain in Yakima, and its transmitter is located on Ahtanum Ridge. An associated digital translator, K26NF-D, serves Ellensburg and is owned by the Kittitas County TV Improvement District.
- 2026
Fox programming moves to KIMA-TV
[1]The Fox affiliation, branding, and syndicated programming move to KIMA-TV's third subchannel on April 1, while Roar moves to KCYU-LD's main subchannel.
- 2025
Sale to Rincon Broadcasting Group
[1]Rincon Broadcasting Group completes its acquisition of KCYU-LD and KFFX-TV on July 18.
- 2022
Sale to Imagicomm Communications
[1]Cox Media Group sells KCYU-LD and related stations to Imagicomm Communications; the transaction closes August 1.
- 2019
Northwest Broadcasting enters Cox Media Group structure
[1]Apollo-related transactions place Northwest Broadcasting within the Cox Media Group operating structure.
- 2009
Call sign changes to KCYU-LD
[1]The station adopts its current digital low-power call sign on July 8.
- 2008
Digital high-definition conversion
[1]KCYU-LP ends analog broadcasting and begins transmitting a high-definition digital signal on December 15.
- 2003
Move to channel 41
[1]The station moves from channel 68 to channel 41.
- 1999
Semi-satellite relationship shifts to KFFX-TV
[1]KCYU-LP becomes a semi-satellite of the newly launched KFFX-TV rather than KAYU-TV.
- 1995
Northwest Broadcasting acquisition
[1]Salmon River Communications sells K68EB and related stations to Northwest Broadcasting.
- 1995
Call sign changes to KCYU-LP
[1]The station adopts the KCYU-LP call sign on November 20.
Products and positioning
A low-power local broadcast outlet serving Yakima and the western part of the Tri-Cities–Yakima market, with programming and operational ties to a regional station group.
Television station · 1989
Local broadcast television service
KCYU-LD provides a low-power over-the-air television signal to Yakima and nearby communities. Its programming is distributed through a multiplexed digital signal and is supplemented by satellite carriage on Dish Network. The station operates as part of a regional group of broadcast facilities and has historically shared programming, master control, and other operations with KFFX-TV.
Local news
Fox First at Ten
Fox First at Ten is a nightly local newscast associated with KCYU's Fox service. It was formerly produced by KNDU through a partnership involving Cowles Company. Beginning in March 2026, production was transferred to KIMA-TV as part of the station group's local-news realignment.
Morning news and information
Good Day
Good Day is a weekday-morning program produced by KHQ and carried in the regional Fox programming arrangement associated with KAYU. It has been part of KCYU's morning schedule.
Television programming service
Roar
Roar is the primary programming service carried on KCYU-LD's main subchannel after the April 2026 realignment. KCYU-LD simulcasts the schedule supplied through its parent station, with station identifications serving as the principal local distinction.
Brand decisions
2026
Fox affiliation and branding realignmentStrategyBackground
Rincon reorganized the distribution of major programming services within the Yakima-area station group.
Action taken
Fox programming, branding, and syndicated programming moved to KIMA-TV's third subchannel, while Roar moved to KCYU-LD's main subchannel.
Aftermath
KCYU-LD remained a separate low-power facility but changed its primary programming identity.
2025
Sale to Rincon Broadcasting GroupM&ABackground
Imagicomm Communications announced a broader station divestiture.
Action taken
Imagicomm agreed to sell KCYU-LD, KFFX-TV, and five other stations to Rincon Broadcasting Group.
Aftermath
The transaction was consummated on July 18, 2025, making Rincon the station's owner.
2022
Sale from Cox Media Group to Imagicomm CommunicationsM&ABackground
Cox Media Group reorganized and divested a group of television stations.
Action taken
Cox announced the sale of KCYU-LD, KFFX-TV, and 16 other stations to Imagicomm Communications.
Aftermath
The transaction closed on August 1, 2022, placing KCYU-LD under Imagicomm ownership.
Reported transaction value for 18 stations. $488 million (Announced March 29, 2022; completed August 1, 2022)
2008
Conversion from analog to digital broadcastingStrategyBackground
The station's low-power service was transitioning to digital television technology.
Action taken
KCYU-LP ended analog transmission on December 15 and began broadcasting a high-definition digital signal.
Aftermath
The station later adopted the KCYU-LD call sign in July 2009.
Sources2 sources
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