KGPX-TV

KGPX-TV, virtual and UHF digital channel 34, is an Ion Television-affiliated station licensed to Spokane, Washington, United States and also serving Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The station is owned by Inyo Broadcast Holdings. KGPX's studios are co-located with NBC affiliate KHQ-TV (channel 6) on West Sprague Avenue in Spokane, and its transmitter is on Krell Hill southeast of Spokane.

KGPX-TV
Spokane, Washington–
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
United States
CitySpokane, Washington
ChannelsDigital: 34 (UHF)
Virtual: 34 (PSIP)
BrandingIon Television
SloganPositively Entertaining
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerInyo Broadcast Holdings
(Inyo Broadcast Licenses LLC)
History
FoundedApril 2, 1998
First air date
August 1, 1999 (1999-08-01)
Former channel number(s)
Analog:
34 (UHF, 1999–2009)
Call sign meaning
PaX TV (predecessor network to Ion Television)
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID81694
ERP104 kW
HAAT450 m (1,476 ft)
Transmitter coordinates47°35′57.2″N 117°18′1.2″W
Links
Public license information
Profile
LMS
Websiteiontelevision.com

History

On April 2, 1998, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted an original construction permit to Paxson Communications for a full-service television station serving Spokane. On May 15, 1998, the FCC issued the call letters KBEU. It was the fourth television station granted such a permit on channel 34 since 1984. The previous station, low-power K34DU, reportedly signed on in 1997 and is mistakenly thought to have been the same station as KGPX.

Two months after the original construction permit was granted, the station changed its call letters June 12, 1998 to KGPX to reflect the new Pax network (the predecessor to Ion Television), of which the station was to be a part. KGPX signed on the air August 1, 1999. KGPX's license was issued on June 30, 2000.

Digital television

Digital channels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP short name Programming[1]
34.1720p16:9IONMain KGPX-TV programming / Ion Television
34.2480i4:3quboQubo
34.3IONPlusIon Plus
34.4ShopIon Shop
34.5QVCQVC
34.6HSNHSN

Analog-to-digital conversion

KGPX-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 34, on June 12, 2009, and "flash-cut" its digital signal into operation UHF channel 34,[2] because it was granted an original construction permit after the FCC finalized the DTV allotment plan on April 21, 1997.

KGPX twice attempted to secure a companion digital allocation on channel 43 through a complex Negotiated Channel Election Arrangement with 19 other stations in Washington, Idaho and Oregon, but was denied by the FCC due to interference issues.[3]

Other channel 34 stations in Spokane

KGPX was the fourth television station to be granted an original construction permit on channel 34 in Spokane, Washington.

  • KSMW, owned by Matlock Communications, Inc., was granted an original construction permit on April 9, 1984, to expire in 18 months. Matlock Communications did not build the station in the time allotted and was denied an extension of the permit.
  • KRSK, owned by Robin C. Brandt, was granted an original construction permit on September 14, 1987, to expire December 1, 1989. Brandt also filed for an extension of the permit, but it was returned, and the original permit was allowed to expire.
  • K34DU, owned by Browne Mountain Television, was awarded an original construction permit on June 1, 1992, beating three competitors. They were unable to construct the station in the time allotted and were granted five extensions of the construction permit. They were reported to have actually gone on the air in 1997, but in June 1998, with KGPX having been granted a construction permit for a full-service station on channel 34, K34DU applied for and was granted displacement relief, to move to channel 42. The application was dismissed in October 1999 and the station was never licensed.

References
  1. RabbitEars TV Query for KGPX
  2. http://www.transmitter.com/FCC97115/chanplan.html
  3. http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101045072&formid=382&fac_num=81694
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