KIVI-TV - History

History

The station signed-on February 1, 1974 with the call sign KITC and was Boise's fourth television station. It aired an analog signal on VHF channel 6 and immediately took on an ABC affiliation. Prior to the station's launch, the network was split between CBS affiliate KBOI-TV and NBC station KTVB, with programing from ABC being carried on both outlets in a secondary arrangement. In 1975, KITC changed calls to KIVI-TV for the first time but would ultimately drop the -TV suffix in 1998. KKVI in Twin Falls was the Magic Valley's original ABC affiliate through its status as a full-powered satellite of KPVI in Pocatello. In January 1996, the parent station switched affiliations to NBC.

Since that network was already seen in Twin Falls through KTVB's low-powered semi-satellite KTFT-LP, KKVI became that area's first full-time Fox affiliate as KXTF. Fox was previously seen on that station off-hours in a secondary nature. Due to the network changes in Twin Falls, KIVI's owner purchased K68CO and turned it into a low-powered semi-satellite as KSAW-LP. On July 1, 2008 it was reported Banks Broadcasting had agreed to sell KNIN to Journal Communications (owner of KIVI) which would create Boise's first television duopoly. On November 10, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initially rejected the application.

Shortly afterward, Banks Broadcasting filed an appeal. The FCC reversed its decision to reject the deal on January 16, 2009. The purchase closed on April 24 at which point KNIN vacated its longtime studios on West Bannock Street in Downtown Boise and was integrated into KIVI's facilities in Nampa.