KIVI-TV

KIVI is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Treasure Valley area of Southwestern Idaho that is licensed to Nampa. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 24 from a transmitter at the top of the Bogus Basin ski area. Owned by Journal Communications, the station is sister to CW affiliate KNIN-TV and the two share studios on East Chisholm Drive in Nampa along I-84/U.S. 30/ID 55. Syndicatedprogramming on KIVI includes: Ellen, Judge Jeanine Pirro, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?. The station can also be seen in McCall on Class A analog translator K27DX channel 27 from a transmitter on Red Ridge along the Adams andValley County line.

KSAW-LD in Twin Falls operates as a semi-satellite of KIVI. This broadcasts a low-powered digital signal on UHF channel 51 from a transmitter in Jerome. KSAW has studios on Falls Avenue in Twin Falls. It airs separate syndicated programming and commercials/station identifications. The station simulcasts all newscasts from KIVI and does not provide any coverage from Twin Falls.

Digital programming
On KIVI-DT2 and Cable One digital channel 456 is Mexicanal. In November 2010 Cable One added KIVI-DT3 TheCoolTV to digital channel 457. Both channels are carried in 480p digital format and aligned with KIVI-DT on Cable One HD digital channel 455.

History
The channel has been an ABC affiliate since it signed-on February 1, 1974 as KITC-TV. The station changed its calls to KIVI-TV in 1975 and dropped the -TV suffix in 1998. All of Journal's television stations including KIVI added or regained the -TV suffix on June 19, 2009, one week after the digital transition was completed. KIVI expanded to the Twin Falls market in 1996 with KSAW-LP after KKVI (now KXTF) dropped ABC for Fox. On July 1, 2008, it was reported that Banks Broadcasting has agreed to sell KNIN to Journal Communications which would create Boise's first television duopoly. [1] [2] On November 10, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initially rejected the application. [3] Shortly afterward, Banks Broadcasting filed an appeal, and on January 16, 2009, the FCC reversed its decision to reject the deal. [4]

The deal closed on April 24 and KNIN vacated its building on West Bannock Street in Downtown Boise before being integrated at KIVI's facilities in Nampa. [5] Following the acquisition, KNIN began airing a prime time newscast weeknights at 9 produced by KIVI, a first in its history. For a long time, this station was known as "6 On Your Side". It runs a distant second in the ratings in all newscast time periods. [6] KIVI used to have an hour-long newscast at 6 along with KBOI-TV, until the 6:30 newscast was dropped in July 2010 due to low ratings.[7]

News team
Anchors


 * Natalee Morales - weekday mornings and Technology Correspondent


 * Lincoln Graves - weekday mornings and "Idaho Green Living" segment producer
 * Michelle Edmonds - weeknights
 * Don Nelson - weeknights at 5, 6, 6:30, and 10
 * Shane Johnson - weekends and reporter

Today's 6 News Precision Meteorologists


 * Scott Dorval - Chief seen weeknights
 * Kyle Gravlin (AMS Seal of Approval) - weekday mornings
 * TBD - weekends and news reporter

Reporters


 * Kirk Chaisson
 * Tina Jensen
 * Mac King
 * Kim Bartlett - fill-in anchor/reporter

Sports


 * Amanda Maynard - Sports Director seen weeknights at 6, 6:30, 9, and 10

Newscast titles

 * Channel 6 Evening News (1974-1975)
 * Newservice (1975-1977)
 * TV-6 News (1977-1980)
 * Action News (1980-1983)
 * Newswatch 6 (1983-1991)
 * Channel 6 News (1991-1997)
 * News Idaho 6 (1997-2002)
 * 6 On Your Side (2002-2005)
 * Today's 6 News (2005-present)

Station slogans

 * "TV-6`s The One You Can Turn To"
 * "We Are Idaho" (1997-2002)
 * "6 On Your Side" (2002-2005)
 * "Touch Today's Channel 6" (2005–present, general)
 * "Idaho's Most Award-Winning News." (2005-present, news)