KCWK
Encyclopedia
KCWK was a television station which broadcast on analog channel 9 in Walla Walla, Washington
and low-powered analog channel 27 (KCWK-LP) in Yakima, Washington
. It was affiliated with The CW, and was owned by Pappas Telecasting. The station went off the air on May 25, 2008.
network. It targeted the large Hispanic community in central Washington.
On April 24, 2006, it was announced that KAZW would launch a CW affiliate on digital subchannel 9.2, with programming being provided by The CW Plus
. However, the station (which did not have a digital signal) subsequently changed its plans and chose to completely replace Azteca America with The CW, citing better marketing potential. Mike Angelos, vice president of corporate communications for Pappas Telecasting, stated that while the Hispanic population composes 40 percent of the Yakima Valley, the numbers weren't high enough to reach the level needed for Azteca America. The call letters were changed in August to KCWK to reflect the new affiliation.
On May 10, 2008, some Pappas stations, including KCWK, filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy
. On May 25, 2008, the KCWK signal left the air permanently; four days later, it was observed that the station's offices had been emptied, indicating that KCWK had ceased operations.
On July 18, 2008, KCWK reported to the FCC that digital television
equipment needed in time for the upcoming 2009 digital transition
had not yet been obtained as this could not be done without prior approval of the bankruptcy court. The station had applied to extend the digital construction permit
as is necessary to retain the broadcast license, but expected its currently-silent analogue signal will not return due both to equipment failure and financial hardship.
KCWK was one of two Pappas stations required to both end analogue broadcasting and install new equipment to begin digital transmission (a flash-cut
) on the 2009 DTV deadline
. As full-service stations established after digital companion channels were assigned to existing full service
broadcasters, KCWK and Pappas-owned WWAZ-TV
had no existing digital transmitter facilities. Both are now silent. All other full-service Pappas television stations had been simulcasting in both analogue and digital formats long before the company entered chapter 11 bankruptcy and therefore had sufficient equipment on hand to continue to broadcast their signals digitally in 2009.
On January 16, 2009, it was announced that several Pappas stations, including the license for KCWK, would be sold to New World TV Group, after the sale received United States bankruptcy court
approval. In the interim, Fisher Communications
announced that their CBS
affiliates KIMA-TV
/KEPR-TV
would each launch CW subchannels on March 31, 2009 to fill KCWK's void. It was unknown what Central Washington viewers received in the interim -- viewers of Dish Network
received Los Angeles
' KTLA
as a temporary replacement.
The KCWK license was canceled by the FCC on June 2, 2009. The KCWK-LP license was later deleted as well. As a result, the new CW Plus
digital subchannels of KIMA and KEPR became long-term.
Interestingly, despite having ceased broadcasting on May 25, 2008, KCWK's website remained operational for two years afterward.
after the FCC
finalized the DTV
allotment plan on April 21, 1997 http://www.transmitter.com/FCC97115/chanplan.html, the station did not receive a companion channel for a digital television station
. Instead, on or before the 2009 end of the digital TV conversion period for full-service stations, KCWK would have been required to turn off its analog signal
and turn on its digital signal
(called a "flash-cut
"). As KCWK did not acquire its digital transmitter and antenna, it was unable to complete the mandatory digital transition and never resumed broadcasting.
Low-powered satellite KCWK-LP had voluntarily filed for a digital "-LD" license on channel 36. That application has since been deleted from the FCC database.
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
and low-powered analog channel 27 (KCWK-LP) in Yakima, Washington
Yakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
. It was affiliated with The CW, and was owned by Pappas Telecasting. The station went off the air on May 25, 2008.
History
The station signed on for the first time on March 23, 2001 as KBKI. In 2003, it changed its callsign to KAZW-TV and affiliated with the Spanish-language Azteca AmericaAzteca América
Azteca América is a broadcast television network marketed toward Spanish-speaking families residing in the United States. As a rapidly-growing Spanish language network, Azteca América now reaches 89% of the Hispanic households in the U.S., operating in sixty-two markets nationwide. Wholly owned by...
network. It targeted the large Hispanic community in central Washington.
On April 24, 2006, it was announced that KAZW would launch a CW affiliate on digital subchannel 9.2, with programming being provided by The CW Plus
The CW Plus
The CW Plus is a group of primarily digital sub-channels, analog, and non-broadcast cable television outlets for the CW Television Network, for markets below the top 99 television media markets in the United States....
. However, the station (which did not have a digital signal) subsequently changed its plans and chose to completely replace Azteca America with The CW, citing better marketing potential. Mike Angelos, vice president of corporate communications for Pappas Telecasting, stated that while the Hispanic population composes 40 percent of the Yakima Valley, the numbers weren't high enough to reach the level needed for Azteca America. The call letters were changed in August to KCWK to reflect the new affiliation.
On May 10, 2008, some Pappas stations, including KCWK, filed for Chapter 11
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. On May 25, 2008, the KCWK signal left the air permanently; four days later, it was observed that the station's offices had been emptied, indicating that KCWK had ceased operations.
On July 18, 2008, KCWK reported to the FCC that digital television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
equipment needed in time for the upcoming 2009 digital transition
DTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
had not yet been obtained as this could not be done without prior approval of the bankruptcy court. The station had applied to extend the digital construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
as is necessary to retain the broadcast license, but expected its currently-silent analogue signal will not return due both to equipment failure and financial hardship.
KCWK was one of two Pappas stations required to both end analogue broadcasting and install new equipment to begin digital transmission (a flash-cut
Flash-cut
A flash-cut, also called flash-cutover, is an immediate change in a complex system, with no phase-in period.Some telephone area codes were split immediately, rather than being phased in with a permissive dialing period. An example is telephone area code 213, which was split into 213 and 714 all at...
) on the 2009 DTV deadline
DTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
. As full-service stations established after digital companion channels were assigned to existing full service
Full service
Full service is a term that has many different uses. In general the term implies that the customer will receive as much service as is reasonably possible.-Gas station:...
broadcasters, KCWK and Pappas-owned WWAZ-TV
WWAZ-TV
WWAZ-TV is a television station in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, broadcasting locally on channel 68 as an affiliate of FamilyNet. Founded October 2, 1989, the station is owned by Pappas Telecasting, and shares transmitter facilities with WWRS which are located north of Iron Ridge in Dodge County...
had no existing digital transmitter facilities. Both are now silent. All other full-service Pappas television stations had been simulcasting in both analogue and digital formats long before the company entered chapter 11 bankruptcy and therefore had sufficient equipment on hand to continue to broadcast their signals digitally in 2009.
On January 16, 2009, it was announced that several Pappas stations, including the license for KCWK, would be sold to New World TV Group, after the sale received United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy courts are courts created under Article I of the United States Constitution. They function as units of the district courts and have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal district courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising...
approval. In the interim, Fisher Communications
Fisher Communications
Fisher Communications is a media company in the United States. Based in Seattle, Washington, the company owns a number of radio and television stations in the Western United States.- Radio Stations :- Television Stations :...
announced that their CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliates KIMA-TV
KIMA-TV
KIMA-TV is the CBS affiliated television station serving the Yakima, Washington region. The station is owned by Fisher Communications.The station operates two semi-satellites--KEPR-TV in the Tri-Cities and KLEW-TV in Lewiston, Idaho...
/KEPR-TV
KEPR-TV
KEPR-TV , virtual channel 19, is the CBS affiliated television station for the Tri-Cities area of Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick, Washington. It is licensed to Pasco. It is sister station to KIMA-TV in Yakima, Washington and KLEW-TV in Lewiston, Idaho...
would each launch CW subchannels on March 31, 2009 to fill KCWK's void. It was unknown what Central Washington viewers received in the interim -- viewers of Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
received Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
' KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
as a temporary replacement.
The KCWK license was canceled by the FCC on June 2, 2009. The KCWK-LP license was later deleted as well. As a result, the new CW Plus
The CW Plus
The CW Plus is a group of primarily digital sub-channels, analog, and non-broadcast cable television outlets for the CW Television Network, for markets below the top 99 television media markets in the United States....
digital subchannels of KIMA and KEPR became long-term.
Interestingly, despite having ceased broadcasting on May 25, 2008, KCWK's website remained operational for two years afterward.
Digital television
Because it was granted an original construction permitConstruction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
after the FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
finalized the DTV
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
allotment plan on April 21, 1997 http://www.transmitter.com/FCC97115/chanplan.html, the station did not receive a companion channel for a digital television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
. Instead, on or before the 2009 end of the digital TV conversion period for full-service stations, KCWK would have been required to turn off its analog signal
Analog signal
An analog or analogue signal is any continuous signal for which the time varying feature of the signal is a representation of some other time varying quantity, i.e., analogous to another time varying signal. It differs from a digital signal in terms of small fluctuations in the signal which are...
and turn on its digital signal
Digital signal
A digital signal is a physical signal that is a representation of a sequence of discrete values , for example of an arbitrary bit stream, or of a digitized analog signal...
(called a "flash-cut
Flash-cut
A flash-cut, also called flash-cutover, is an immediate change in a complex system, with no phase-in period.Some telephone area codes were split immediately, rather than being phased in with a permissive dialing period. An example is telephone area code 213, which was split into 213 and 714 all at...
"). As KCWK did not acquire its digital transmitter and antenna, it was unable to complete the mandatory digital transition and never resumed broadcasting.
Low-powered satellite KCWK-LP had voluntarily filed for a digital "-LD" license on channel 36. That application has since been deleted from the FCC database.