KIMA-TV

KIMA-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Yakima, Washington, and identified on air as channel 29. The station is primarily affiliated with CBS and also carries programming associated with The CW Plus and Fox through digital-subchannel arrangements. Its service area includes the Yakima Valley and other parts of central Washington, a geographically challenging market shaped by mountains and widely separated population centers. KIMA broadcasts from studios on Terrace Heights Boulevard in Yakima, east of Interstate 82, and its main transmitter is located on Ahtanum Ridge. The station began broadcasting on July 19, 1953, as the first television station in central Washington and the 200th television station in the United States. It was established by Cascade Broadcasting Company, which also owned KIMA radio. At launch, KIMA carried programs from CBS, NBC, ABC, and DuMont, although CBS was its principal network relationship. The station lost DuMont after that network ceased operations in 1955. Its ABC role changed as other Yakima stations entered the market: KNDO initially became a primary ABC outlet, later switched to NBC, and shared ABC programming with KIMA until KAPP began broadcasting in 1970. From that point, KIMA became a full-time CBS affiliate. Because the Federal Communications Commission had placed central Washington and the Tri-Cities in a large combined television market, KIMA's original signal could not adequately cover the entire region. Cascade responded by launching KEPR-TV in Pasco in 1954. KEPR was initially designed as a satellite of KIMA and is regarded as the first satellite television station in the United States, although it developed local programming of its own. KIMA also operated or was associated with KLEW-TV in Lewiston, Idaho, and briefly with KBAS-TV in Ephrata, Washington. Today, KEPR and KLEW operate as semi-satellites, sharing much of KIMA's network and syndicated programming while retaining separate commercial inserts, legal identifications, selected newscasts, and local digital presences. Ownership changed several times. Filmways agreed to acquire Cascade Broadcasting in the late 1960s, and the transaction was completed after regulatory approval. The television properties were later sold to NWG Broadcasting, acquired by Retlaw Enterprises in 1986, and purchased by Fisher Communications in 1999. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Fisher's stations in a transaction announced in 2013 and completed on August 8 of that year. KIMA is now owned by Sinclair alongside Univision affiliate KUNW-CD. The stations are operated with Rincon Broadcasting Group stations under shared arrangements described in the station's reference history. KIMA's news identity is centered on local reporting for Yakima, while some production and presentation are coordinated with KEPR. Its weekday Yakima-focused evening broadcasts include 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. editions of KIMA Action News. Morning, late-evening, and weekend programming is shared in varying ways with KEPR under the KIMA/KEPR Action News identity. The station launched a CW Plus digital subchannel in 2009 after the bankruptcy-related shutdown of KCWK left a local programming gap. More recently, its digital capacity has also been used for syndicated sports and Fox-related programming arrangements. KIMA therefore functions both as a traditional network affiliate and as a regional distribution hub for several television brands.

KIMA-TV signed on July 19, 1953, as the first television station in central Washington. Cascade Broadcasting Company established the station alongside KIMA radio, and the new outlet initially carried programming from all four major networks then available in the region: CBS, NBC, ABC, and DuMont. CBS was its principal affiliation. DuMont programming ended when the network shut down in 1955. KIMA's ABC role subsequently evolved as the local market gained additional stations. KNDO became a primary ABC affiliate in 1959, later moved to NBC in 1965, and shared ABC programming with KIMA until KAPP began service in 1970. KIMA then became a full-time CBS station. The station's early coverage problem resulted from the FCC's treatment of central Washington as one large television market that included the Tri-Cities. Channel 29 could not reliably cover the region's mountainous terrain and dispersed communities. Cascade therefore launched KEPR-TV in Pasco in 1954. It was conceived as a full repeater but developed a more independent local role and is commonly described as the first satellite television station in the United States. KIMA was also connected with KLEW-TV in Lewiston, Idaho, and with KBAS-TV in Ephrata, Washington. KBAS began broadcasting in 1957, changed channels the following year, and ceased operation in 1961. Corporate ownership shifted repeatedly. Filmways agreed to buy Cascade Broadcasting for $3 million in 1968, with the transaction approved the next year. Cascade's former owners retained the radio properties under Yakima Valley Communications. In 1972, Filmways sold KIMA-TV, KEPR-TV, and KLEW-TV to NWG Broadcasting for $1 million. Retlaw Enterprises acquired the stations for $17 million in 1986 and operated them through its Retlaw Broadcasting division. Fisher Communications purchased the Retlaw stations in 1999. KIMA expanded its digital role after the collapse of Pappas Telecasting left the market without the former KCWK service. On March 31, 2009, it launched a CW Plus digital subchannel, which also assumed the channel position formerly associated with KCWK on local cable systems. Fisher announced the sale of its broadcasting properties to Sinclair Broadcast Group on April 11, 2013, and Sinclair completed the acquisition on August 8, 2013. Under Sinclair ownership, KIMA continued as a CBS affiliate while operating alongside Univision affiliate KUNW-CD. KIMA and KEPR share substantial network, syndicated, technical, and news resources, while each retains selected local content and commercial operations. Master control and some internal functions for the station group are based in Seattle. KIMA's local news operation emphasizes Yakima reporting, with weekday 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts produced for the Yakima audience. Other broadcasts, including morning, late-evening, and weekend editions, are shared with KEPR under the KIMA/KEPR Action News brand. The station's digital capacity has continued to support additional services. In 2024, Sinclair arranged for Portland Trail Blazers games distributed by the Rip City Television Network to air in Yakima on KIMA's third subchannel. The reference history also records 2026 service agreements under which Rincon Broadcasting Group provides sales, programming, management, and related services for KIMA and KEPR, while later changes moved Fox-related programming between KIMA and KCYU-LD.

• 2024

  Rip City Television Network carriage

  [1]KIMA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KIMA's third digital subchannel begins carrying Portland Trail Blazers games distributed through the Rip City Television Network.

• 2013

  Sinclair completes Fisher acquisition

  [1]KIMA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair Broadcast Group completes its purchase of Fisher Communications' stations, including KIMA-TV.

• 2009

  CW Plus subchannel launches

  [1]KIMA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KIMA adds a CW Plus digital subchannel following the disappearance of KCWK from the market.

• 1999

  Fisher Communications acquires KIMA

  [1]KIMA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Fisher Communications purchases the former Retlaw stations.

• 1986

  Retlaw acquires the station group

  [1]KIMA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Retlaw Enterprises purchases KIMA-TV, KEPR-TV, and KLEW-TV from NWG Broadcasting.

• 1970

  KIMA becomes a full-time CBS affiliate

  [1]KIMA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The launch of KAPP takes over ABC programming, leaving KIMA with a full-time CBS schedule.

• 1955

  DuMont affiliation ends

  [1]KIMA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KIMA loses DuMont programming after the network ceases operations.

• 1954

  KEPR-TV launches as a KIMA satellite

  [1]KIMA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Cascade Broadcasting launches KEPR-TV in Pasco to extend coverage across the large central Washington market.

• 1953

  KIMA-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]KIMA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KIMA-TV signs on from Yakima as the first television station in central Washington and the 200th television station in the United States.

A regional CBS television station combining Yakima-focused reporting with shared Tri-Cities coverage and multiple digital-subchannel services.

• Network television · 1953

  CBS affiliation

  KIMA-TV's principal service is its CBS network affiliation on its main channel. The schedule combines national CBS programming with locally produced news, weather, public-service material, and syndicated content. KIMA has retained a primary CBS relationship since its 1953 launch, despite carrying multiple network services during its early years.

• Local news

  KIMA Action News

  KIMA Action News is the station's Yakima-centered local news operation. Its weekday evening editions at 5 and 6 p.m. provide the station's principal fully local Yakima newscasts. Other news programs are produced or presented through shared resources with KEPR-TV and use the broader KIMA/KEPR Action News identity.

• Digital television · 2009

  CW Plus digital subchannel

  Launched in 2009, KIMA's CW Plus service supplies CW network and syndicated programming through a digital subchannel. It helped fill the local programming gap created when KCWK ceased operations and its former cable channel position became available.

• Sports broadcasting · 2024

  Rip City Television Network carriage

  KIMA's third digital subchannel carries Portland Trail Blazers games distributed through Sinclair's Rip City Television Network arrangement. The service adds regional professional sports programming to KIMA's over-the-air offering.

• 2024

  Addition of Rip City sports programmingProduct launch

  Background

  Sinclair created a distribution arrangement for Portland Trail Blazers games through the Rip City Television Network.

  Action taken

  KIMA assigned games to its third digital subchannel for viewers in the Yakima market.

  Aftermath

  The station expanded its digital offering with over-the-air professional sports coverage.

  Source

• 2013

  Sale from Fisher Communications to SinclairM&A

  Background

  Fisher Communications announced a sale of its broadcast properties, including KIMA-TV, as part of a broader portfolio transaction.

  Action taken

  Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired the station, with completion on August 8, 2013.

  Aftermath

  KIMA became part of Sinclair's national station group and continued operating with related stations in the region.

  Source

• 2009

  Addition of CW Plus serviceProduct launch

  Background

  The local CW outlet KCWK went dark after its owner's bankruptcy, leaving a gap in CW programming distribution.

  Action taken

  KIMA launched a CW Plus-affiliated digital subchannel and obtained the former KCWK cable-channel position.

  Aftermath

  CW programming returned to a local over-the-air and cable-distributed service through KIMA's digital operation.

  Source

• 1954

  Launch of a satellite station in PascoStrategy

  Background

  KIMA's original signal could not adequately cover the geographically large and mountainous central Washington television market.

  Action taken

  Cascade Broadcasting launched KEPR-TV in Pasco as a satellite of KIMA, creating an extended regional distribution model.

  Aftermath

  KEPR developed local programming and remains closely linked with KIMA through shared programming and news operations.

  Source

1. 1KIMA-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KIMA-TV official websitekimatv.com