KIMA-TV

KIMA-TV is the CBS affiliated television station serving the Yakima, Washington region. The station is owned by Fisher Communications.

The station operates two semi-satellites--KEPR-TV in the Tri-Cities and KLEW-TV in Lewiston, Idaho. However, programming for all three stations is now run from Fisher Plaza in Seattle along with sister Univision station KUNW-CA.

KIMA's 11 o'clock, morning and weekend newscasts are shared with KEPR. Branded as KIMA KEPR Action News, they cover both theYakima Valley and the Columbia Basin.

On satellite, KIMA-TV is carried on both Dish Network and DirecTV, the latter of which also carries KEPR-TV.

History
KIMA logo prior to 2007KIMA signed on July 19, 1953 as the 200th television station in the United States and the first in central Washington. The station was originally owned by Cascade Broadcasting Company along with KIMA radio (AM 1460, now KUTI). It carried programming from all three networks until KNDO signed on in 1959 as anABC affiliate, but KNDO switched affiliations to NBC in 1965. KIMA then shared ABC programming with KNDO until 1970, when KAPP signed on and took over ABC.

In 1954, Cascade signed on KEPR-TV as the first satellite station in the United States. It was originally intended to be a full repeater of KIMA-TV, but due to popular demand it became a more local station.

At one point, KIMA also had a satellite station in Ephrata, Washington. KBAS-TV signed on the air February 15, 1957 on channel 43; it moved to channel 16 in 1958. KBAS was owned by Basin TV Company, a subsidiary of Cascade Broadcasting, and this was reflected in its call letters. KBAS shut down on November 30, 1961.

KIMA-TV has been digital-only since June 12, 2009.

On March 29, 2009, KIMA launched a digital subchannel with an affiliation with The CW to fill the void left by KCWK (Channel 9) going dark at the end of May 2008 due to the Pappas Telecasting bankruptcy [1]. The new channel took KCWK's former Channel 9 position on local cable systems and carries the CW Plus schedule.

On November 29, 2010, KIMA became the first station in Yakima to begin broadcasting local newscasts in 16:9 widescreen standard definition.

Current on-air staff
Anchors


 * Tara Brown - weekday mornings from 5 a.m to 7 a.m.
 * David Klugh - weeknights at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
 * Terry Chick - weeknights at 11 p.m.
 * Whitney Ward - weeknights at 11 p.m.
 * Lena Vargas - weekends at 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. (also reporter)

Reporters


 * Haley Guenthner - general assignment reporter
 * Ryan Simms - general assignment reporter
 * Jennifer Wilson - morning reporter

Weather Team


 * Mike McCabe - Chief Weather Anchor; weeknights at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
 * Troy Barrett - Meteorologist; weekday mornings
 * Jennifer Wilson - Weather Anchor; weekends at 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Sports Team


 * Alan Sillence - Sports Director; weeknights at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
 * John Collett - Sports Anchor; weekends at 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Former on-air staff

 * Jerry Burling, Former KIMA-TV on air announcer, Winner, National Emmy Award (1977). [1]
 * T.J. Close News Director/Anchor. Was ND for 30 years; currently retired.
 * Tom Ewing Host of "Bar 29 Ranch" Western program.
 * Valerie Hurst Weekend Anchor/Main Anchor. Currently Morning Reporter at KATU-TV in Portland, OR.
 * Aaron Kellogg Anchor/General Assignment Reporter. Currently Reporter at WMUR-TV in Manchester, NH.
 * John Knievel KIMA-TV's First News Director.
 * Tim Lewis Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter. Currently Sports Director at KREM-TV in Spokane. Son of longtime KOMO-TV news anchor Dan Lewis[2].
 * Maria Medina General Assignment Reporter. Currently Reporter at KRQE-TV in Albuquerque, NM.
 * Bill Moody Host of KIMA-TV movies and on air commercial talent.
 * John and Maxine Moore Hosts of "Dance Time."
 * Stu Seibel Weather Anchor/Program Director.
 * Chris Severy Anchor. Currently Reporter at KTEN-TV in Sherman, TX.
 * Jimmy Nolan Host of "Uncle Jimmy's Clubhouse" and weathercaster.
 * Melissa Wagner Anchor.
 * Bert Wells Host of "Buckaroo Time."

Newscast titles

 * Northwest Newsbeat (?-?)
 * KIMA NewsBeat (1980s-?)
 * KIMA News (?-2004)
 * KIMA NewsWatch (2004–2007)
 * KIMA Action News (2007–present)

Station slogans

 * We've Got the Touch, You and KIMA (1983–1984; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * You and KIMA, We've Got the Touch (1984–1985; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * We've Got the Touch on KIMA (1985–1986; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Share the Spirit on KIMA (1986–1987; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * KIMA Spirit, Oh Yes (1987–1988; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * You Can Feel It on KIMA (1988–1989; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Get Ready for KIMA (1989–1991; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * The One to Watch (Previous)
 * Taking Action for You (2007–present)