KZJO

KZJO (channel 22), branded as Fox 13+, is a television station in Seattle, Washington, United States, broadcasting the MyNetworkTV programming service. It is owned and operated by Fox Television Stations alongside Tacoma-licensed Fox outlet KCPQ (channel 13). Both stations share studios on Westlake Avenue in Seattle's Westlake neighborhood, while KZJO's transmitter is located near the Capitol Hill section of Seattle.

KZJO
CitySeattle, Washington
Channels
BrandingFox 13+
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerFox Television Stations, LLC
KCPQ
History
FoundedFebruary 28, 1983
First air date
June 22, 1985 (1985-06-22)
Former call signs
  • KTZZ-TV (1985–1999)
  • KTWB-TV (1999–2006)
  • KMYQ (2006–2010)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 22 (UHF, 1985–2009)
  • Digital: 25 (UHF, until 2019)
Call sign meaning
Former branding of Joe TV; "Z" represents its former KTZZ calls (themselves look-alikes for its channel number of 22)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID69571
ERP1,000 kW
HAAT287 m (942 ft)
Transmitter coordinates47°36′56.3″N 122°18′30.4″W
Translator(s)see § Translators
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.fox13seattle.com

The station operates two UHF translators, and KZJO rebroadcasts KCPQ's programming on its second digital subchannel in high definition to provide that station to areas in the eastern portion of the Seattle market that receive weak signal coverage from KCPQ's Bremerton transmitter.

History

The station began broadcasting as KTZZ-TV on June 22, 1985, owned by Alden Television, Inc. The call letters stood for "Television 22", the "Z"s closely resembling numeral "2"s. At the time the station signed on, it was the first new TV station to sign on in the Seattle area since KIRO-TV went on the air in 1958, and there was a hole in the Seattle market for cartoons and sitcoms. While KSTW (channel 11) was running such programming, KCPQ counter-programmed with more adult fare like dramas, game shows, and movies. As such, KTZZ signed on with a lineup of classic off-network sitcoms, westerns, cartoons, movies, and dramas. Originally, to keep people from changing channels, the station broadcast only its station identification—no commercials—between the closing credits of one show and the opening credits of the next show. One Christmas season, as snow fell in the Puget Sound area, viewers were treated to a gag in which someone pretending to be a janitor (Rob Thielke) takes control of the station for a few moments to deliver "the news" which was mostly a fake weather forecast which began "The weather outside is frightful. But inside it's quite delightful. As long as I've got no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

KTZZ began with a very promising start, airing fairly strong syndicated shows, and was initially profitable under Alden ownership. However, in 1989, the station was sold to Dudley Broadcasting. By that time, KCPQ and KSTW had strong lineups, including much of the children's programming available, but KTZZ was losing ground and unable to acquire strong off-network syndicated shows. With KCPQ now in the kids business, the best cartoons were now airing on KSTW and KCPQ, leaving KTZZ with leftovers (which still was about five hours worth of cartoons a day). KTZZ was also the home, for several years, of the eclectic Seattle talk show The Spud Goodman Show. Producing the weekly interview/music/feature show was an ambitious undertaking for a small station, and the program relied heavily on a large staff of volunteers. The programming costs became too high for KTZZ. As a result, KTZZ began airing CBS shows preempted by KIRO-TV (channel 7), along with paid programming and brokered shows. It still ran some conventional syndicated products, but they were essentially programs that no other stations in the market wanted.

On January 11, 1995, KTZZ affiliated with the newly-formed WB Television Network.[2] The WB had initially signed KSTW in 1993 as its Seattle affiliate;[3] however, that station's owner, Gaylord Broadcasting, backed out of the deal a year later to affiliate with CBS, only to become a UPN-owned station in 1997.[4] KTZZ picked up syndicated cartoons formerly on KSTW in 1995, added more off-network sitcoms and moved away from the brokered show format. As it began airing programming from The WB, KTZZ was helped in part by the fact that KCPQ was moving towards news and more first-run syndicated talk, courtroom, and drama shows.

Dudley Communications sold KTZZ, along with sister station WXMI in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Emmis Communications in 1998; the two stations were then promptly dealt to Tribune Broadcasting in exchange for WQCD in New York City.[5] Tribune changed the station's call letters to KTWB-TV (The Warner Brothers Network) on April 26, 1999. After Tribune acquired KCPQ in early 1999, KTWB's license was transferred to a trustee in the short-term until the FCC's approval of television duopolies later that year, though Tribune managed and operated the station during this period via a local marketing agreement. In 2004, KTWB revised its on-air brand from WB 22 to Seattle's WB as part of a groupwide branding effort.

MyNetworkTV affiliation
Logo as "myQ²", used from 2006 to 2010.

On January 24, 2006, Time Warner announced that the company would merge the operations of The WB with CBS Corporation's UPN (which CBS acquired one month earlier in December 2005 following its split from Viacom), to form a joint venture called The CW Television Network.[6][7] The network signed a ten-year affiliation agreement with Tribune Broadcasting for 13 of the 16 WB affiliates that the company owned at the time.[8] KTWB was one of the three Tribune stations passed over for an affiliation as CBS-owned UPN affiliate KSTW (which was included in 11 of 14 CBS-owned UPN affiliates) was chosen as The CW's Seattle-Tacoma charter station. KTWB was slated to revert to an independent station, but on May 15, 2006, Tribune announced that it would affiliate channel 22 (and two other WB affiliates that were not included in the CW affiliation deal) with MyNetworkTV, a competing network created by News Corporation that is run by the company's Fox Television Stations and Twentieth Television units.[9][10]

On July 14, 2006, channel 22's call letters were officially changed to KMYQ to reflect its new affiliation, and the station's brand name was changed to myQ² (alluding to its parent station, KCPQ, which brands as Q13 Fox) on August 7, 2006. On March 31, 2008, KMYQ became just the second MyNetworkTV affiliate in the Pacific Time Zone to utilize an early prime time schedule from 7 to 9 p.m. (the first was KQCA/Sacramento, which has since moved MyNetworkTV programming back to its recommended 8–10 p.m. timeslot). By 2009, MyNetworkTV converted from a full-fledged network to a programming service.

On September 13, 2010, the station moved its MyNetworkTV programming to 11 pm.[11] KMYQ changed its call letters to KZJO and as part of a company-wide branding effort during the era Tribune was owned by Sam Zell to play down network affiliations, unconventionally rebranded as JOEtv that same day, casting the station in its branding as a neighborhood dive bar carrying 'blue collar' programming. This included its website template changing to one titled "Joe's Wall", designed to look like a 'bar bathroom', with appropriate graffiti on its virtual stalls advertising the station's offerings. The branding was soon toned down as it cast the station to viewers as an unpopular 'down-market' operation, and after the last of the Zell group departed Tribune Media, the station took on a more traditional brand image, though the logo remained relatively unchanged (with the 'graffiti drips' removed) until the station came under Fox control in 2021.

On September 19, 2011, the station moved MyNetworkTV programming yet again, this time, back one hour to 12 a.m. As of 2020, it airs even later, from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. and is rarely promoted on air, if at all. The station's later websites under Tribune would not mention the station's network affiliation, and for several years, the site's 'about us' copy erroneously said it ended the affiliation in 2011.[12]

Sinclair sale attempt; acquisition by Nexstar and Fox
Further information: Attempted acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcast Group

Tribune Media agreed to be sold to Sinclair Broadcast Group on May 8, 2017, for $3.9 billion and the assumption of $2.9 billion in debt held by Tribune.[13][14] As Sinclair already owned KOMO-TV and KUNS-TV,[15] KCPQ was among 23 stations identified for divestment in order to meet regulatory compliance for the merger.[16] Sinclair agreed to purchase KZJO and sell KCPQ to Fox Television Stations as part of a $910 million deal;[17] Howard Stirk Holdings additionally agreed to purchase KUNS-TV.[18] Lead FCC commissioner Ajit Pai publicly rejected the deal in July 2018 after details of Sinclair's proposed divestitures came to light;[19] weeks later, Tribune terminated the merger agreement with Sinclair, nullifying both transactions.[20]

Tribune Media agreed to be acquired by Nexstar Media Group for $6.9 billion in cash and debt on December 3, 2018.[21] Following the merger's completion on September 19, 2019,[22] Fox Television Stations purchased KCPQ and KZJO as part of a $350 million deal, with Fox citing KCPQ's status as the broadcaster of most Seahawks home games as the impetus for the transaction.[23][24] The sale was completed on March 2, 2020.[25] After its acquisition by Fox, KCPQ dropped the Joe TV moniker and rebranded to "Fox 13+" on September 26, 2021, conforming with the branding of other Fox-owned stations.[26]

Programming

Sports programming

KMYQ/KZJO aired Monday Night Football games featuring the Seattle Seahawks from 2006 (following MNF's move from ABC to ESPN) to 2012, when Belo outbid Tribune for rights to MNF and NFL Network's Thursday Night Football Seahawks games and placed them on KONG.

In 2014, the station began to air Major League Soccer matches featuring Seattle Sounders FC alongside KCPQ.[27] The station also aired pre-match and post-match coverage for the team through the end of the 2022 season.[28]

Newscasts
Further information: KCPQ § Newscasts

On September 16, 1991, KTZZ-TV launched a 10 p.m. newscast produced by KIRO-TV.[29] The newscast was joined on April 19, 1993, by a simulcast of the 5–7 a.m. portion of KIRO-AM-FM's morning show.[30] Both programs were dropped later that year. On March 31, 2008, KMYQ began airing a KCPQ-produced 9 p.m. newscast (Q13 Fox News @ Nine on myQ², now Fox 13 News at 8:00/9:00) Monday through Sunday.[31]

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KZJO[32]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
22.1 720p16:9KZJOMyNetworkTV
22.2 FOX13Fox (KCPQ)
22.3 480iAntTVAntenna TV
22.5 LiveNOWFox LiveNOW
  Simulcast of subchannels of another station

Analog-to-digital conversion

KZJO (as KMYQ) shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 22, on June 12, 2009, as part of the mandatory federally mandated transition from analog to digital television.[33] The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 25, using virtual channel 22.

Translators

References
  1. "Facility Technical Data for KZJO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. Taylor, Chuck (January 4, 1995). "KTZZ To Join New WB Television Network". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  3. "KSTW-TV Will Join New WB Network". The Seattle Times. November 4, 1993. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  4. Taylor, Chuck (September 13, 1994). "CBS Dropping KIRO-TV, May Pick Up KSTW – Industrywide Shake-Up Finally Hits Seattle Area". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  5. Kim, Nancy J (January 11, 1998). "Nordstrom eyes first national brand campaign". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  6. 'Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September, CNNMoney.com, January 24, 2006.
  7. UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network, The New York Times, January 24, 2006.
  8. Tribune TV Stations to Lead Affiliate Group of New Network Archived December 16, 2012, at archive.today, Tribune Company corporate website, January 24, 2006.
  9. News Corp. Unveils My Network TV, Broadcasting & Cable, February 22, 2006.
  10. KTWB to air MyNetworkTV, Puget Sound Business Journal, May 15, 2006.
  11. "KZJO TV Listings, TV Shows and Schedule - Zap2it". tvlistings.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  12. "Archive of KZJO's website". February 1, 2016. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  13. Frankel, Todd (May 8, 2017). "Sinclair Broadcast to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion, giving it control over 215 local TV stations". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings, LLC. Archived from the original on May 22, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  14. Frankel, Todd C. (May 8, 2017). "Sinclair Broadcast to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion, giving it control over 215 local TV stations". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings, LLC. Archived from the original on May 22, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  15. Gates, Dominic (May 9, 2017). "Current FCC rules bar Sinclair from owning both KOMO and KCPQ — but that could change". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  16. Jessell, Harry A. (February 21, 2018). "Sinclair Unveils Tribune Merger Spin-Off Plan". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  17. Cohen, Stephen (December 15, 2017). "Report: Q13 to be sold once Sinclair, Tribune merger finalized". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on December 17, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  18. Harry A. Jessell (April 24, 2018). "Sinclair Spins Off 23 TVs To Grease Trib Deal". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  19. Feder, Robert (July 16, 2018). "FCC throws Sinclair/Tribune deal in doubt". RobertFeder.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  20. Lafayette, Jon (August 9, 2018). "Tribune Ends Deal with Sinclair, Files Breach of Contract Suit". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  21. Lafayette, Jon (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar Announces Deal to Buy Tribune for $6.4B". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  22. Lafayette, Jon (September 19, 2019). "Nexstar Completes Acquisition of Tribune Station Group". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  23. Lafayette, Jon (November 5, 2019). "Fox Buys Affiliates in Seattle, Milwaukee From Nexstar". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  24. Weprin, Alex (November 5, 2019). "Fox to Buy Three Local TV Stations for $350 Million". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  25. "Fox Corporation completes acquisition of Q13 FOX and JOEtv". Q13Fox.com. Fox Television Stations. March 2, 2020. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  26. Lafayette, Jon (September 29, 2021). "Fox-Owned Stations in Seattle Rebrand as Fox13 and Fox13 Plus". Broadcasting & Cable. Future US. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  27. "Sounders FC to Partner with Q13 FOX and JOEtv for 2014 MLS Season" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. December 10, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  28. "Sounders FC announces complete regional broadcast lineup for 2020 season" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. February 26, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  29. Boss, Kit (August 28, 1991). "KIRO's Late-Night News Team Will Get An Early Jump . . . On KTZZ". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  30. Yoo, Paula (April 16, 1993). "KTZZ-TV To Feature Radio News". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  31. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. RabbitEars TV Query for KZJO
  33. List of Digital Full-Power Stations
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