KCPQ 13, Clover Park Vocational, Lakewood

Great pic from Rob Riley on Facebook. KCPQ was originally housed at Clover Park Vocational in Lakewood.

Early Years (1953 – 1969):
Launch and Initial Affiliation: KTVW signed on as KMO-TV on August 2, 1953, initially co-owned with KMO radio. It briefly served as an NBC affiliate until KOMO-TV in Seattle took over the NBC affiliation in December 1953.
Independent Status: After losing the NBC affiliation, it became an independent station under the call sign KTVW when J. Elroy McCaw bought the station in 1954. McCaw was known for running the station on a tight budget, focusing on local programming and syndicated content.
Local Programming: KTVW aired local shows like the “Penny and Her Pals” children’s program hosted by LaMoyne “Penny” Hreha in the 1960s, and “Stu Martin’s Double Date at the Movies.”

Blaidon Ownership (1971 – 1974):
New Ownership: After McCaw’s death in 1969, his estate sold KTVW to Blaidon Mutual Investors Corporation in 1971 for $1.1 million. Blaidon tried to modernize the station by introducing color broadcasting and attempting to upscale programming with shows like “The Tony Visco Show,” which aimed to be a local version of “The Tonight Show.”
Financial Struggles: Despite these efforts, KTVW continued to face financial difficulties, leading to its eventual bankruptcy and going off the air in 1974.

Educational Era (1975 – 1980):
Clover Park School District: In a surprising turn, the Clover Park School District, which operated educational station KPEC-TV on Channel 56, bought KTVW’s assets for $378,000 in 1975. The station relaunched as KCPQ, serving as an educational station with PBS programming from 1975 to 1980.

Return to Commercial Broadcasting (1980 – Present):
Kelly Broadcasting Acquisition: In 1980, Kelly Broadcasting, owners of KCRA-TV in Sacramento, purchased KCPQ from Clover Park for $6.25 million. The station transitioned back to commercial broadcasting, focusing on independent programming.
Subsequent Ownerships:
Tribune Broadcasting acquired it in the late 1990s through a series of transactions involving Meredith Corporation and Tribune’s purchase of other stations.
Nexstar Media Group bought Tribune in 2019, but KCPQ was part of a deal where Fox Television Stations acquired it in 2020 along with sister station KZJO.

Later Developments:
Programming and Branding: KCPQ became known for local sports broadcasts, particularly University of Washington and Washington State University games, and adopted the “Q13” brand. It later transitioned to “Fox 13” after being acquired by Fox Television Stations.
Current Operations: KCPQ continues to operate as a Fox affiliate, providing local news, sports, and syndicated programming to the Seattle-Tacoma area. Its studios are now in Seattle’s Westlake neighborhood, although it remains licensed to Tacoma.

Cultural Impact:
Local Identity: Throughout its history, KTVW/KCPQ has played a significant role in local broadcasting, from its early days of providing alternative entertainment to its educational phase and back to commercial broadcasting, shaping the media landscape of the Puget Sound region.