KGPX-TV explained

Callsign:KGPX-TV
City:Spokane, Washington
Branding:Ion
Digital:34 (UHF)
Virtual:34
Country:United States
Founded:April 2, 1998
Callsign Meaning:Pax TV (predecessor network to Ion)
Former Channel Numbers:Analog: 34 (UHF, 1999–2009)
Owner:Inyo Broadcast Holdings
Licensee:Inyo Broadcast Licenses LLC
Erp:104 kW
Haat:4500NaN0
Facility Id:81694
Licensing Authority:FCC

KGPX-TV (channel 34) is a television station in Spokane, Washington, United States, affiliated with Ion Television and owned by Inyo Broadcast Holdings. The station's transmitter is located on Krell Hill southeast of the city.

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), 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.

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Channel! scope = "col"
Res.AspectShort nameProgramming
34.1 ION Ion Television
34.2 Bounce
34.3 Grit
34.4 Mystery Ion Mystery
34.5 IONPlus Ion Plus[1]
34.6 SCRIPPS Scripps News
34.7 QVC2 QVC2
34.8 Jewelry Jewelry TV

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.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scripps replacing Defy TV with Ion Plus on broadcast TV. Matthew. Keys. TheDesk.net. June 28, 2024. June 28, 2024.
  2. Web site: Final DTV Channel Plan from FCC97-115.
  3. http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101045072&formid=382&fac_num=81694