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KIRO-TV

From Alfawiki
KIRO-TV
Company typeTelevision station
IndustryBroadcasting
Founded1958
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington
,
United States
ProductsTelevision broadcasting (CBS and Telemundo affiliate)
OwnerCox Media Group

KIRO-TV (channel 7) is a television station based in Seattle, Washington, affiliated with both CBS and Telemundo. Owned by Cox Media Group, the station operates from studios located in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood and broadcasts from the Queen Anne area, close to its original facility.

Established in 1958, KIRO-TV was the final commercial VHF station to launch within the Seattle metropolitan area. Serving as the television counterpart to KIRO (710 AM), it immediately secured the CBS affiliation previously held by Tacoma-based KTNT-TV (now KSTW). Due to a legal dispute regarding this affiliation transfer, both stations shared CBS programming for a two-year period. Owned for more than 30 years by the broadcasting division of the LDS Church, KIRO-TV briefly affiliated with UPN when KSTW returned to CBS in 1995 during a national affiliation realignment but reverted to CBS in 1997 following a complex three-station exchange.

Founding period

Following the debut of KOMO-TV (channel 4) in 1953, channel 7 remained the last available commercial VHF frequency in the Puget Sound area. Several local broadcasters—including radio outlets KVI (570 AM), KXA (770 AM, now KTTH), and KIRO (710 AM)—competed for the license through FCC hearings. Ultimately, Queen City Broadcasting, owners of KIRO radio, secured the permit and commenced broadcasting on channel 7 on February 8, 1958. Queen City was headed by president Saul Haas, who had acquired KIRO radio in 1935 with investors such as U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson and CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow. The original studios were situated on Queen Anne Avenue adjacent to both the broadcast tower and KIRO radio facilities.

Having been a CBS Radio affiliate for over twenty years, KIRO radio’s television counterpart naturally launched as a CBS affiliate. The station’s acquisition of CBS programming from KTNT-TV led to an antitrust suit filed by KTNT’s owner, the Tacoma News Tribune, alleging that CBS had prearranged affiliation with KIRO prior to FCC approval. In May 1960, a settlement required KIRO-TV to share CBS content with KTNT-TV for two years until September 1962, when KIRO-TV regained sole CBS affiliation within the market.

Acquisition by LDS Church

In April 1963, Deseret News Publishing Company—the for-profit media division of the Salt Lake City–based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)—began acquiring shares in Queen City Broadcasting, initially purchasing a 10 percent stake from minority shareholders including Sen. Magnuson. Six months later, the LDS Church increased its ownership to a majority by acquiring an additional 50 percent interest in the KIRO stations. Saul Haas, having realized substantial gains from his initial investment, joined the board of Bonneville International—the LDS Church's broadcasting subsidiary renamed in 1964.

Upon receiving FCC approval, Bonneville executives Lloyd Cooney and Kenneth L. Hatch assumed leadership positions within the newly formed KIRO, Inc. division. When Cooney departed in 1980 to pursue a U.S. Senate bid, Hatch became president, CEO, and chairman until 1995. Under Hatch’s guidance, KIRO, Inc.—which expanded to include KING radio and Third Avenue Productions—became a prominent regional broadcaster. The corporate board featured notable individuals such as Mary Maxwell (mother of Bill Gates), Pay 'n Save chairman M. Lamont Bean, Washington Mutual CEO Tony Eyring, and Gordon B. Hinckley, future LDS Church president. In 1968, KIRO relocated its operations to "Broadcast House" in Seattle’s Belltown district; this remains its headquarters today.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, KIRO-TV competed with Bellingham-based KVOS-TV (channel 12), which was also affiliated with CBS at that time. Following legal proceedings and negotiations involving CBS and KIRO-TV, KVOS—then owned by Wometco Enterprises—began phasing out most CBS programming by 1980. John Lippman joined KIRO-TV as news director in 1979 at age 29 and served until 1992; during his leadership tenure, staff numbers increased from 45 to 100 employees while KIRO-TV consistently ranked among Seattle’s top-rated stations.

KVOS retained a nominal CBS affiliation until 1987 before transitioning into an independent station; it is currently affiliated with Univision. In its final years associated with CBS, KVOS aired network shows preempted by KIRO-TV.

Transition from CBS to UPN

In 1994, CBS lost its affiliation with the Dallas–Fort Worth market when KDFW-TV shifted to Fox following New World Communications' agreement with Fox. Subsequently, CBS entered negotiations with Gaylord Broadcasting to affiliate with its independent station in Fort Worth, KTVT, as well as Tacoma's KSTW, both originally slated to join The WB network. This deal was unveiled on September 15, 1994, resulting in CBS shows like The Bold and the Beautiful moving to KSTW. Certain programs, for example, The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder, were broadcast later than on other CBS outlets.

Just two days before this change, Bonneville revealed plans to sell KIRO-TV to Belo Corporation while retaining ownership of KIRO radio. Belo intended to operate KIRO-TV as an independent station focused on news; however, by December 6, 1994, the station secured an affiliation with the newly launched UPN network.

Once Belo assumed control of KIRO-TV on January 31, 1995, the station began airing UPN content starting from the network’s launch date on January 16, 1995. Until CBS fully transitioned its programming to KSTW on March 13, UPN shows were primarily scheduled on weekends. Notably, KIRO preempted some CBS programming to air the prime-time premiere of Star Trek: Voyager.

To offset UPN’s lack of national news offerings, KIRO-TV expanded its local newscasts to nearly 40 hours per week. Outside of UPN’s schedule, the station aired syndicated talk shows, reality programs, off-network dramas and sitcoms, along with movies—a lineup more characteristic of Fox affiliates than typical UPN stations. In 1996, Belo purchased the Providence Journal Company, which owned Seattle’s NBC affiliate KING-TV (channel 5). Due to FCC regulations preventing ownership of both stations in one market, Belo opted to sell KIRO-TV.

Return to CBS

There was speculation that Belo might exchange KIRO-TV for Fox Television Stations’ properties KSAZ-TV in Phoenix and KTBC-TV in Austin, Texas, but on February 20, 1997, Belo announced a deal trading channel 7 to Viacom’s Paramount Stations Group (now under CBS News and Stations) in exchange for KMOV in St. Louis. Paramount was divesting several CBS and NBC affiliates obtained through its 1994 acquisition of Paramount Pictures.

At the same time, Paramount/Viacom swapped KIRO-TV with Cox Enterprises for KSTW, shortly after Cox announced it would acquire KSTW from Gaylord Broadcasting. These transactions were completed on June 2, 1997. Both stations retained their syndicated programming but exchanged network affiliations: KSTW became a UPN owned-and-operated outlet while KIRO-TV resumed its affiliation with CBS on June 30, 1997.

In February 2019, Apollo Global Management agreed to purchase Cox Media Group along with Northwest Broadcasting’s stations, adding KIRO-TV’s regional sister stations—Spokane’s KAYU-TV, the Tri-Cities’ KFFX-TV, and Yakima’s KCYU-LD—all affiliated with Fox. Initially intended to operate under the name Terrier Media, Apollo subsequently acquired Cox’s radio and advertising divisions but maintained the Cox Media Group brand. The deal closed on December 17, 2019. Later in August 2022, these Fox affiliates were sold to Imagicomm Communications.

Past programming

The J. P. Patches Show, produced by KIRO-TV from 1958 until 1981, stood as one of the longest-running children's programs in the U.S. regional television landscape. Chris Wedes portrayed Julius Pierpont Patches, a clown and self-styled mayor of the City Dump, with Bob Newman featuring as Gertrude. Another notable local production was Nightmare Theatre, a weekly horror series hosted by "The Count" (Joe Towey) that aired between 1968 and 1975.

During the 1970s, KIRO-TV replaced the initial half-hour of Captain Kangaroo with J. P. Patches, prompting parental concerns advocating for educational content. Between 1987 and 1995, under Bonneville's ownership, the station opted not to broadcast The Bold and the Beautiful, preferring to air a noon newscast instead—a decision that generated viewer dissatisfaction and even a letter from the show's creator, William J. Bell. The soap opera later found a home on KSTW during its CBS period (1995–1997) before returning to KIRO-TV after Cox Communications' acquisition and the station’s re-affiliation with CBS. In 2014, KIRO-TV reinstated an hour of local noon news, which pushed B&B to mid-afternoon time slots; by 2018, The Bold and the Beautiful aired at 2 p.m., followed by Right This Minute at 2:30 p.m.

In 1990, as flagship broadcaster for the Seattle SuperSonics, KIRO-TV postponed the Daytona 500 by six hours to televise a Sonics game; notably, local driver Derrike Cope won that race. Prior to joining UPN in 1995, KIRO-TV aired the CBS Evening News at 6 p.m., which was later shifted to 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

Sports programming

From 1976 through 1980, KIRO-TV functioned as the flagship station for Seattle Seahawks preseason games, featuring announcers Gary Justice and Wayne Cody, who also contributed as sports anchors. The station broadcast Seattle SuperSonics games during CBS’s NBA coverage from 1973 to 1990, including their championship run in the 1979 NBA Finals.

KIRO-TV intermittently aired Seattle Mariners baseball games between 1986 and 2000, encompassing those under CBS’s Major League Baseball contract from 1990 to 1993. It also televised Tacoma Stars MISL soccer matches from 1986 to 1988.

Presently, KIRO-TV carries select Seahawks contests through NFL on CBS broadcasts, particularly when AFC teams play at Lumen Field. Since the introduction of the "cross-flex" rule in 2014, it has also aired certain NFC or out-of-market AFC games reassigned from Fox affiliate KCPQ.

The station covered Seattle’s Seafair festival activities, including live broadcasts of the Albert Lee Appliance Cup hydroplane races and Fourth of July fireworks over Lake Union. After a 31-year tradition of live race coverage ended in 2017 due to rising production expenses, a highlight show took its place. However, full live race telecasts resumed in 2018 on Tegna-owned KONG-TV through collaboration with SWX Right Now.

News operation

KIRO-TV currently produces approximately 42½ hours of locally focused newscasts each week, featuring seven hours on weekdays and three and a half hours during weekends.

In 1969, the station enhanced its news format by adopting Eyewitness News, anchored by chief correspondent Clif Kirk alongside sportscaster Ron Forsell and co-anchor Sandy Hill—who later advanced to Good Morning America. Throughout the 1970s, KIRO-TV gained recognition in Seattle for employing women as assistant anchors and weather hosts such as Sandy Hill, Ann Martin, Mikki Flowers, and Ann Busch. The station placed strong emphasis on investigative journalism and comprehensive news coverage. By the late ’70s and early ’80s, its Eyewitness News team—anchored by John Marler and Gary Justice with meteorologist Harry Wappler and Wayne Cody (later joined by Susan Hutchison)—surpassed KING-TV in local ratings.

Starting in the ’70s, editorial commentary segments were presented by Lloyd R. Cooney until his departure in 1980 to pursue a U.S. Senate campaign. Subsequently, editorials featured voices like CEO Ken Hatch, former Seattle City Council member John Miller, and ex-Seattle Post-Intelligencer editor Louis R. Guzzo. In 1986, KIRO introduced Point Counterpoint, a debate segment on The Sunday Newshour featuring conservative John Carlson and liberal Walt Crowley; their exchanges became widely recognized.

KIRO-TV was among the pioneers in expanding weekday morning newscasts to begin at 4:30 a.m. in 1990—ahead of similar nationwide trends—but reverted back to a 5:30 a.m. start by 1993. During this time frame, it produced a nightly newscast at 10 p.m. for independent KTZZ (now KZJO) and simulcast its radio morning show on KTZZ starting in 1993; however, the late newscast was discontinued in September that year.

By the early ’90s, KIRO’s "happy talk" news style waned as KING-TV overtook it in audience share. In June 1992, KIRO merged its television news department with its radio counterpart under news director Andy Ludlum. Station president Ken Hatch spearheaded an ambitious overhaul launched on February 4, 1993—branding it as "news outside of the box." Designed by Robert Bovill, this open newsroom integrated radio and TV teams into the "KIRO News Network," featuring a rotating interview stage shaped like Mount Rainier alongside a nine-screen video wall serving as a "command center." The Seattle Symphony recorded new theme music while Pacific Northwest Ballet co-artistic director Kent Stowell coached anchors on camera movement.

This innovative approach failed to resonate; viewers found moving anchors distracting and background noise intrusive. The decision to air unedited field footage live underscored editing's significance. Rival stations KOMO-TV and KING-TV exploited these weaknesses; KING-TV’s comedy show Almost Live! parodied the format. Internally there was criticism that changes were cosmetic rather than substantive. Attempts were made to improve focus through tighter camera framing.

By September 1993—with veteran anchor Susan Hutchison threatening departure—Ludlum and his supporters left or were dismissed. Bill Lord took over as news director and reinstated a traditional format under KIRO NewsChannel 7, earning praise for stabilizing anchor presentation with what colleagues described as "nailing their shoes to the floor." Upon Cox Communications' acquisition of KIRO and its return to CBS affiliation in 1997, Eyewitness News was revived with refreshed graphics inspired by sister station WHIO-TV.

During its tenure as a UPN affiliate, KIRO expanded newscasts outside UPN programming slots—including an extended morning show from 7 to 9 a.m.—and launched a nightly newscast at 10 p.m. Starting March 2003, it produced a late newscast for KSTW after that station eliminated its own news department; this arrangement ended in December but resumed mid-2004 before concluding permanently in June 2005. News programming did not return to KSTW until 2022.

On October 3, 2015, KIRO-TV unveiled updated studio sets and introduced a refreshed logo while retiring the Eyewitness News brand in favor of simply KIRO 7 News.

Distinguished former on-air personnel

Digital subchannels

KIRO-TV broadcasts multiple subchannels as follows:

KIRO-TV Subchannel Lineup
Channel Resolution Aspect Ratio Identifier Content
7.1 1080i 16:9 KIRO 7 CBS
7.2 480i COZI Cozi TV
7.3 LAFF Laff
7.4 TELEMU Telemundo
51.2 480i 16:9 TBD Roar (KUNS-TV)
51.3 TheNest The Nest (KUNS-TV)

Transition from analog to digital

On June 12, 2009, KIRO-TV discontinued its analog transmission on VHF channel 7 in accordance with the federal digital television transition mandate. The station’s digital broadcast continued on its pre-transition UHF channel 39, while maintaining virtual channel identification as channel 7.

Broadcast translators

The station extends its reach through the following translator stations:

Outside local market availability

KIRO-TV is among five Seattle-based stations distributed by Shaw Broadcast Services in Canada for time-shifted viewing, reaching eastern urban centers such as Toronto and Montreal through satellite providers like Bell Satellite TV and Shaw Direct. Within British Columbia, it is accessible via cable systems serving as a near-local CBS affiliate. Certain shows, including Let's Make a Deal and KIRO 7 News at Noon, are substituted with infomercial content on the Canadian feed. Furthermore, both KIRO-TV and KING-TV are available on cable services in The Bahamas.

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