View source for KONG (TV)

{{Short description|Television station in Everett, Washington}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox television station
| atsc3 = yes
| callsign = KONG
| city = Everett, Washington
| logo = KONG (TV) Everett-Seattle (2024).svg
| logo_alt = A large K with a crown element in the upper left, same as in the KING-TV logo, plus the smaller letters O N G in a squared-off sans serif typeface
| logo_upright = .9
| branding = KONG
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 16 (UHF, 1997–2009)}}
| digital = 31 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 16
| translators = 
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''16.1:''' [[Independent station|Independent]]|''for others, see {{section link||Technical information and subchannels}}''}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1997|7|7|p=y|br=yes}}
| location = [[Everett, Washington|Everett]]–[[Seattle]]–[[Tacoma, Washington]]
| country = United States
| callsign_meaning = Counterpart of [[KING-TV|KING]], as in [[King Kong]]; call sign chosen in 1984, years before KING programmed the station
| owner = {{ubl|[[Tegna Inc.]]|''(sale to [[Nexstar Media Group]] pending<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark K. |date=August 19, 2025 |title=Nexstar Buying Tegna For $6.2 Billion |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/ |access-date=August 19, 2025 |website=TV News Check |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819205146/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/ |archive-date= August 19, 2025}}</ref>)''}}
| licensee = KONG-TV, Inc.
| sister_stations = KING-TV
| erp = 715 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|232|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 35396
| coordinates = {{coord|47|37|54|N|122|21|3|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.king5.com/}}
}}

'''KONG''' (channel 16) is an [[independent television station]] licensed to [[Everett, Washington]], United States, serving the [[Seattle]] area. It is owned by [[Tegna Inc.]] alongside [[NBC]] affiliate [[KING-TV]] (channel 5). The two stations share studios at the Home Plate Center in the [[SoDo]] district of Seattle; KONG's transmitter is located in the city's [[Queen Anne, Seattle|Queen Anne neighborhood]].

Plans for KONG dated as far back as the early 1980s, when a San Francisco–based investor group obtained the [[construction permit]] for a new station in Everett. The group secured the call sign KONG—over threats by KING-TV to sue—and set up a studio, but the station never launched. A dispute over the tower site on [[Cougar Mountain]] and difficulty securing financing scuttled the project. The permit was sold to Zeus Corporation of Washington and lay dormant until KING-TV agreed to program the new station in 1996. KONG went on the air in 1997, relying heavily on classic TV series for its programming. It has become a secondary conduit for local news and sports programming from KING-TV; the first newscast on KONG debuted in 1999, and over the years, teams including the [[Seattle SuperSonics]], [[Seattle Storm]], and [[Seattle Sounders FC]] aired their games on KONG. Presently, the station is the broadcast home for [[Seattle Reign FC]] and the [[Seattle Kraken]]. It is one of two [[ATSC 3.0]] stations in the Seattle market.

==History==
===Early permit history===
In 1981, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) designated four applications for [[comparative hearing]], all seeking the channel 16 allocation at Everett, submitted by [[Oak Industries|Oak Television]] of Everett; Unity Broadcasting Company of Washington State; Greater Everett Telecasters; and Channel 16, Inc.<ref name="Dail810806">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-legal-notice/146049370/|date=August 6, 1981|page=15D|title=Legal Notice|newspaper=[[The Everett Herald|The Herald]]|location=Everett, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426080316/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-legal-notice/146049370/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The designation followed a year of applications. At one point, FNI Communications—a subsidiary of First Northwest Industries, owner of the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] basketball team—applied.<ref name="Dail800925">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-permit-asked-for-everet/146049190/|date=September 25, 1980|page=1F|title=Permit asked for Everett TV station|newspaper=Everett Herald|location=Everett, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426080232/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-permit-asked-for-everet/146049190/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Channel 16, Inc., was part-owned by Jon Marple, owner of Everett radio station [[KRKO]].<ref name="Dail800830">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-everetts-station-that/146049177/|date=August 30, 1980|page=23F|first=Allen|last=Weiner|title=Everett's station: That is the growth of KRKO radio|newspaper=Everett Herald|location=Everett, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426090353/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-everetts-station-that/146049177/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --><ref name="Dail801201">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-competitors-for-ch-16/146050715/|date=December 1, 1980|page=7B|first=Debby|last=Olheiser|title=Competitors for Ch. 16 may unite|newspaper=Everett Herald|location=Everett, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Unity, a group led by San Francisco oil marketer Carl Washington<ref name="Dail840202">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-heeeeres-everett-chan/178209494/|first=Allen|last=Weiner|date=February 2, 1984|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tv-station-in-everett-p/178209505/ 14A]|title=Heeeere's Everett: Channel 16 to put city on TV dial|newspaper=The Herald|location=Everett, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --> and featuring almost entirely minority stockholders, was selected by [[administrative law judge]] Joseph Chachkin in November 1982 on account of its lack of other broadcast ownership and strongest integration of ownership and management.<ref name="Dail821109">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-unity-picked-to-build-e/146049406/|date=November 9, 1982|page=10A|title=Unity picked to build Everett UHF station|newspaper=The Herald|location=Everett, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426080232/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-unity-picked-to-build-e/146049406/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> As part of a settlement, [[Sam Schulman]], by this time the former owner of the SuperSonics, owned shares in Unity.{{r|Dail840202}}

Unity selected KONG as its proposed call sign. This triggered opposition from Seattle's [[KING-TV]] and its owner, [[King Broadcasting]], which believed that the two stations could cause confusion; KONG hoped that the original 1933 film ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'' could be its first program<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/distinguishing-king-kong/replblhlpquyvpahjsuncgmbhgcjmjob_ip-10-166-46-150_1714073108288|title=Distinguishing KING from KONG|page=A8|first=Don|last=Hannula|work=The Seattle Times|date=March 9, 1984|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426080549/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/distinguishing-king-kong/replblhlpquyvpahjsuncgmbhgcjmjob_ip-10-166-46-150_1714073108288|url-status=live}}</ref> and planned to operate as an [[independent station]] with sports, movies, and reruns, from a main studio near [[Paine Field]]. Instead, KONG found itself delayed by a tower siting controversy. It applied to the FCC to build a {{convert|300|ft|m|adj=on}} tower on [[Cougar Mountain]], near [[Issaquah, Washington|Issaquah]]. The mast would be used by [[KSER|KRAB]], which owned the land, and two other FM radio stations. Residents near the mountain protested, fearing that [[electromagnetic radiation and health|electromagnetic radiation could affect their health]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/residents-protest-another-tv-transmitter/gtbjqmhfknijgalafgvquqzhgrajmbdb_ip-10-166-46-155_1714073141119|title=Residents protest another TV transmitter|first=Louis T.|last=Corsaletti|work=The Seattle Times|page=G1|date=June 27, 1984|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426080532/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/residents-protest-another-tv-transmitter/gtbjqmhfknijgalafgvquqzhgrajmbdb_ip-10-166-46-155_1714073141119|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/tower-war-cougar-mountain-group-awaits-ruling-antenna/uttcyspyflemefgpxfnnffgnsomrvpjz_ip-10-166-46-186_1714073181629|page=F1|first=Michael|last=Gilbert|date=August 1, 1984|title=Tower war: Cougar Mountain group awaits ruling on antenna|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426080711/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/tower-war-cougar-mountain-group-awaits-ruling-antenna/uttcyspyflemefgpxfnnffgnsomrvpjz_ip-10-166-46-186_1714073181629|url-status=live}}</ref> [[King County, Washington|King County]] initially required a more in-depth environmental review<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/cougar-mountain-residents-block-new-antenna/lvwhqeefdrnzpdkfbzygduuizchiokoy_ip-10-166-46-146_1714073219387|date=September 5, 1984|title=Cougar Mountain residents block new antenna|first=Joni|last=Balter|page=G1|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426080533/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/cougar-mountain-residents-block-new-antenna/lvwhqeefdrnzpdkfbzygduuizchiokoy_ip-10-166-46-146_1714073219387|url-status=live}}</ref> before the new tower received approval in April 1985.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/residents-fight-kong-tower-decision/aqknrjfeqyojitpgvgqygdwktuthormz_ip-10-166-46-142_1714073343020|title=Residents to fight KONG-tower decision|work=The Seattle Times|page=B2|date=April 9, 1985|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426080631/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/residents-fight-kong-tower-decision/aqknrjfeqyojitpgvgqygdwktuthormz_ip-10-166-46-142_1714073343020|url-status=live}}</ref> KONG had intended to be on the air by September 1984 and purchased $8&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|8000000|1984}}}} in {{inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) in programming to meet that date, but the tower siting decision left the station indebted to program distributors, paying rent on a studio and storing a transmitter—all assets that it could not immediately use.<ref name="Dail841019">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-delays-blur-picture-for/178209594/|date=October 19, 1984|page=6C|first=Allen|last=Weiner|title=Delays blur picture for proposed station|newspaper=The Herald|location=Everett, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref><!-- Fri --> For years, KONG promised it would be on the air, but continued appeals of the tower siting decision and delays in securing financing held the station back.<ref name="Dail861108">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-kong-tv-tower-problems/178209630/|date=November 8, 1986|page=1C|first=Mike|last=Henderson|title=KONG-TV tower problems better than soap opera: Radiation problem from forest of antennas worries|newspaper=The Herald|location=Everett, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --><ref name="News870213">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-upstart-kong-wont-be-a/146050996/|date=February 13, 1987|page=C-11|first=Andee|last=Beck|title=Upstart KONG won't be aping its TV competitors|newspaper=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426080603/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-upstart-kong-wont-be-a/146050996/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> During this time, the [[Home Shopping Network]] looked at buying the unbuilt KONG.<ref name="News870412">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-home-shopping-tvs-bil/146051069/|date=April 12, 1987|page=Video Week 15|first=Andee|last=Beck|title=Home shopping: TV's bill of goods|newspaper=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426080739/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-home-shopping-tvs-bil/146051069/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

The originally planned KONG never materialized. Mike Henderson, a columnist for ''[[The Everett Herald|The Herald]]'' in Everett, attempted to reach the station in August 1988 and found its Seattle telephone number had been disconnected and its principals had vanished.<ref name="Dail880815">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-station-kong-but-not-f/178209699/|date=August 15, 1988|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-kong/178209711/ 2C]|title=Station KONG, but not forgotten|newspaper=The Daily Herald|location=Everett, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Carl Gipson, who had been involved with Unity, noted that the company had simply been overwhelmed by the cost of endless problems and court actions over the tower siting dispute; ''The Herald''{{'s}} Allan May declared KONG "pretty well dead".<ref name="Dail881102">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-off-road-enthusiasts-be/178209773/|date=November 2, 1988|pages=Communities N5 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-may/178209767/ 2]|first=Allan|last=May|title=Off-road enthusiasts beat path to meeting of parks commission|newspaper=The Herald|location=Everett, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref><!-- Wed --> In 1989, a public auction was held for station equipment and supplies, which included a satellite dish and receiving equipment.<ref name="News890711">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-public-auction/146051149/|date=July 11, 1989|page=C4|title=Public Auction|newspaper=The Morning News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426081537/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-public-auction/146051149/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The permit was sold to Zeus Corporation of Washington, owned by Walter Ulloa and Paul Zevnik, for $300,000 (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|300000|1989}}}} in {{inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}).<ref>{{cite news|title=For the Record|page=61|work=Broadcasting|date=June 26, 1989|id={{ProQuest|1016925931}} }}</ref>

===Absorption by KING-TV===
In August 1996, KING reached an agreement to program KONG under a [[local marketing agreement]], with an option to buy if the FCC permitted [[duopoly (broadcasting)|duopoly]] ownership.<ref>{{Cite news|page=B6|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/kiros-russian-connection-plugs-good-journalism-ratings-driven-era/zyjdqqdzgxyxdgyrprcxdnirlwrqkbwy_ip-10-166-46-183_1714073471895|first=John|last=Levesque|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|title=KIRO's 'Russian Connection' plugs into good journalism in a ratings-driven era|date=August 19, 1996|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426081537/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/kiros-russian-connection-plugs-good-journalism-ratings-driven-era/zyjdqqdzgxyxdgyrprcxdnirlwrqkbwy_ip-10-166-46-183_1714073471895|url-status=live}}</ref> It began broadcasting on July 7, 1997.<ref name="News970707">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-kong-coming-to-local-tv/146051642/|date=July 7, 1997|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-kong/146051667/ B2]|first=Kathleen|last=Merryman|title=KONG coming to local TV: New station will feature favorite reruns for those not connected to cable|newspaper=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426081645/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-kong-coming-to-local-tv/146051642/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> KONG's programming relied heavily on classic TV series of the 1950s through 1980s with a "campy", irreverent approach to presentation and imaging; a large KONG Gong was taken around the area as a promotional device, and people were encouraged to ring it on camera. Also present on the original schedule were programs from two cable services owned, like KING-TV, by the [[Belo Corporation]]: [[Northwest Cable News]] and [[Food Network]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/new-station-kong-hopes-viewing-old-shows-will-prove-hip-campy/scogcpburlajhkexkpzxvcgznaeevggg_ip-10-166-46-138_1714115483486|pages=E1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/new-tv-station-turn-camera-community/uuwnsvekljjlgzjrpvebulgltcxsxuox_ip-10-166-46-155_1714073551188 E2]|title=New station KONG hopes viewing old shows will prove hip, campy|first=Chuck|last=Taylor|date=July 2, 1997|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426081612/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/new-station-kong-hopes-viewing-old-shows-will-prove-hip-campy/scogcpburlajhkexkpzxvcgznaeevggg_ip-10-166-46-138_1714115483486|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Nancy Guppy]], a cast member on KING-TV's comedy show ''[[Almost Live!]]'', doubled as a host appearing between shows.<ref name="News980816">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-nancy-guppy-is-a-king/146063616/|date=August 16, 1998|page=VW-4|first=Cheryl|last=Reid|title=Nancy Guppy is a KING, KONG television host, performer|newspaper=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426081540/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-nancy-guppy-is-a-king/146063616/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> When the FCC permitted duopolies in November 1999, Belo bought KONG from Zeus.<ref>{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|225323867}}|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1999/BC-1999-11-22.pdf|date=November 22, 1999|work=Broadcasting & Cable|page=7|title=Who's doing duopolies|access-date=March 25, 2023|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131024355/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1999/BC-1999-11-22.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

KONG launched a digital signal on channel 31 on February 1, 2002,<ref>{{cite book|chapter=KONG-DT|title=Television and Cable Factbook|date=2006|page=A-2420}}</ref> and shut down its analog signal on June 12, 2009.<ref name="News090610">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-digital-transition-sche/146120518/|date=June 10, 2009|page=A15|title=Digital transition schedule|newspaper=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> KONG was one of two [[ATSC-M/H]] Mobile DTV model stations in Seattle alongside [[KOMO-TV]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dickson |first=Glen |date=April 20, 2009 |title=NAB 2009: Broadcasters Set Mobile DTV Test Markets |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/nab-2009-broadcasters-set-mobile-dtv-test-markets-46763 |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en}}</ref>

Belo, including KING-TV and KONG, was acquired by the [[Gannett Company]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/72893/gannett-completes-its-acquisition-of-belo|title=Gannett Completes Its Acquisition of Belo|work=TVNewsCheck|access-date=December 23, 2013|archive-date=July 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726162142/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/72893/gannett-completes-its-acquisition-of-belo|url-status=live}}</ref> Gannett split its print and broadcast operations into separate companies, the latter named [[Tegna Inc.|Tegna]], in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Separation of Gannett into two public companies completed |date = June 29, 2015|url = http://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/|publisher = Tegna|access-date = June 29, 2015|archive-date = July 2, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150702005302/http://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/|url-status = live}}</ref> KING and KONG moved their operations from the longtime KING studios on Dexter Avenue to Home Plate Center in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 15, 2016 |title=KING 5 begins new era at Home Plate Center |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/king-5-begins-new-era-at-home-plate-center/281-65533124 |access-date=April 26, 2024 |website=KING-TV |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Local programming ==

===Newscasts===
{{main|KING-TV#News operation}}
KONG began airing local newscasts on February 1, 1999, with the debut of the half-hour ''KING 5 News at 10'', originally anchored by [[Lori Matsukawa]]. The newscast, postponed from a late 1998 start when the news director resigned, brought Seattle back to having competing newscasts in the time period (opposite [[KCPQ]]) after [[KSTW]] folded its news department months prior.<ref name="News990126">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-king-kong-connection-br/146084510/|date=January 26, 1999|page=SL-11|first=Stephanie|last=Simons|title=KING-KONG connection brings 10 p.m. news program|newspaper=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426081541/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-king-kong-connection-br/146084510/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Originally a weeknight-only newscast, it expanded to seven nights a week in January 2001; a 7 p.m. newscast was dropped because of sports preemptions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Newscast to expand to weekends|date=November 6, 2000|page=E8|work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

In 2004, KONG launched a morning show, originally named ''Seattle Live'', to compete with KCPQ.<ref>{{Cite news|page=J1|first=Pamela|last=Sitt|work=The Seattle Times|date=December 3, 2014|title=Early-bird specials: soupy fog, toast with traffic jam - Sweeps on KCPQ and KONG, competing in the local TV morning-news scene, were all about weather, traffic and perky personalities}}</ref> On September 9, 2013, KONG added a weeknight 9 p.m. newscast from KING.<ref>{{Cite web|website=KING-TV|url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/king-5-news-expanding-at-630-and-9-pm/281-307872575|date=September 9, 2013|title=KING 5 News expanding at 6:30 and 9 p.m.}}</ref>

===Sports===
[[Seattle SuperSonics]] basketball games began airing in 1999,<ref name="News990131">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-all-sonics-games-to-be/138014447/|date=January 31, 1999|page=D10|title=All Sonics games to be on TV|newspaper=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426082043/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-all-sonics-games-to-be/138014447/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> and KONG became the primary local television broadcaster for the team over the next two seasons, with 36 games in the [[1999–2000 Seattle SuperSonics season|1999–2000 season]]<ref>{{cite news|page=C6|title=N'Western's Matt Hartl dead at 23|work=The Seattle Times|date=August 31, 1999}}</ref> and the entire 56-game local TV slate starting in the [[2000–01 Seattle SuperSonics season|2000–01 season]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Angelo|last=Bruscas|title=KONG deal a mixed bag: One-stop watching gets poor reception outside Seattle|page=C6|date=November 1, 2000|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> In 2000, the expansion [[Seattle Storm]] of the WNBA began airing a package of local telecasts on KONG. The SuperSonics and Storm departed for [[FSN Northwest]] in 2004, when the NBA team opted to move all its games to cable and get out of the production business.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sonics moving to FSN - Cable network will show at least 70 games beginning next season|date=January 23, 2004|first=Danny|last=O'Neil|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|page=C4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|work=The Seattle Times|page=D2|title=FSN will broadcast four Storm games; camp opens tomorrow|date=April 24, 2004|first=Jayda|last=Evans}}</ref> After the SuperSonics were [[Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City|relocated to Oklahoma City]], KONG and one of KING-TV's subchannels aired a package of [[Portland Trail Blazers]] basketball games during the [[2009–10 NBA season|2009–10 season]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 23, 2009|title=KING-TV bringing Blazers broadcasts to Seattle|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

KING and KONG were the first broadcast partner for [[Seattle Sounders FC]] when the club debuted in [[Major League Soccer]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Calabro to call Sounders FC action - Belo contract puts all matches on television|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|page=D1|first=Matthew|last=Gaschk|date=July 22, 2008}}</ref> The stations lost the rights to KCPQ and [[KZJO]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite press release |date=December 10, 2013 |title=Sounders FC to Partner with Q13 FOX and JOEtv for 2014 MLS Season |url=https://www.soundersfc.com/news/sounders-fc-partner-q13-fox-and-joetv-2014-mls-season |publisher=[[Seattle Sounders FC]] |accessdate=September 23, 2021 |archive-date=August 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829203829/https://www.soundersfc.com/news/sounders-fc-partner-q13-fox-and-joetv-2014-mls-season |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2017, after [[KIRO-TV]] discontinued its 31-year-old tradition of full-day coverage of the [[H1 Unlimited]] [[Seafair Cup]], full-day coverage of the races moved to KONG the next year as part of a partnership with [[SWX Right Now]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/seafair-hydroplane-races-return-to-familiar-schedule-and-to-tv/ |title=Seafair hydroplane races return to familiar schedule and to TV |last=Joyce |first=Nathan |publisher=The Seattle Times |date=July 12, 2018 |access-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811095222/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/seafair-hydroplane-races-return-to-familiar-schedule-and-to-tv/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

KONG returned to major league sports broadcasts by way of two deals announced in April 2024. One deal made KONG the home of [[Seattle Reign FC]] women's soccer, with a local TV schedule of 11 matches.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Mark |date=April 15, 2024 |title=Seattle Reign FC And KING Media Set Broadcast Partnership |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/seattle-reign-fc-and-king-media-set-broadcast-partnership/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=TVNewsCheck |language=en |archive-date=April 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415173702/https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/seattle-reign-fc-and-king-media-set-broadcast-partnership/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The second made KONG the flagship of the [[Kraken Hockey Network]], airing all non-nationally televised [[Seattle Kraken]] hockey games starting in the [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25 season]], replacing [[Root Sports Northwest]]. The games are syndicated to other stations across the team's media market and stream on [[Amazon Prime Video|Prime Video]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Kraken leaving ROOT Sports for new TV and streaming deals |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/kraken-leaving-root-sports-for-new-tv-and-streaming-deals/ |access-date=April 25, 2024 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US |archive-date=April 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425163043/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/kraken-leaving-root-sports-for-new-tv-and-streaming-deals/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2024 |title=New, More Ways to Watch the Kraken |url=https://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/new-more-ways-to-watch-the-kraken |access-date=April 25, 2024 |website=NHL.com |language=en-US |archive-date=April 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425145605/https://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/new-more-ways-to-watch-the-kraken |url-status=live }}</ref>

KONG airs weekly magazine shows for the [[Seattle Seahawks]] (''Seahawks Central'', aired on KONG since 2022)<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 10, 2022 |title=Closing Bell: Seahawks jump to NBC affil as local TV partner |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2022/05/10.aspx |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}</ref> and Kraken (''Kraken Home Ice'').<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2024 |title=KING 5, KONG to air live broadcasts of 72 regular season Seattle Kraken games |url=https://www.king5.com/article/sports/nhl/kraken/watch-seattle-kraken-games-king-kong-nhl-2024-2025-season/281-85cdbc67-3416-4190-9734-6767ad46aee2 |access-date=March 20, 2025 |website=king5.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Technical information and subchannels==
KONG is broadcast from a transmitter in the [[Queen Anne, Seattle|Queen Anne]] neighborhood of Seattle.{{r|FCC-LMS-35396}} It is one of two [[ATSC 3.0]] (NextGen TV) stations in the Seattle area, having switched to 3.0 transmission on December 15, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 15, 2024 |title=Next Gen TV Host Exhibit |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f918e51bfdb018e56c210ff0406|website=Licensing and Management System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref> The station's ATSC 1.0 channels are carried on the [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]] signals of other Seattle television stations:
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels provided by KONG (ATSC 1.0)<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite web |website=[[RabbitEars]] |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KING#station |title=RabbitEars TV Query for KING |access-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116052607/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KING#station |url-status=live }}|{{Cite web |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KZJO#station |website=[[RabbitEars]] |title=RabbitEars TV Query for KZJO |access-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116052610/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KZJO#station |url-status=live }}|{{Cite web |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KCPQ#station |website=[[RabbitEars]] |title=RabbitEars TV Query for KCPQ |access-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116052603/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KCPQ#station |url-status=live }} }}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
! scope = "col" | ATSC 1.0 host
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.1
| [[720p]] || rowspan=3|[[16:9]] || KONG-HD || [[Independent station|Independent]] || [[KING-TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.2
| rowspan=2|[[480i]] || TCN || [[True Crime Network]] || [[KZJO]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.3
| Confess || Confess || [[KCPQ]]
|}

In return, KONG's ATSC 3.0 signal broadcasts KING as well as KCPQ and KZJO:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of KONG (ATSC 3.0)<ref>{{Cite web |title=RabbitEars TV Query for KONG (ATSC 3.0) |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KONG |website=[[RabbitEars]] |access-date=May 18, 2020 |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421052103/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KONG |url-status=live }}</ref>
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | Short name
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 5.1
| [[1080p]] || rowspan="4"|[[16:9]] || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|KING || style="background-color:#ffe8d0"|[[NBC]] ([[KING-TV]]) [[File:Action lock 2 - orange.svg|14px|alt=DRM|link=]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 13.1
| [[720p]] || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|KCPQ || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] ([[KCPQ]]) [[File:Action lock 2 - orange.svg|14px|alt=DRM|link=]]
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.1
| 1080p || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|KONG || style="background-color:#ffe8d0"|Independent (KONG) [[File:Action lock 2 - orange.svg|14px|alt=DRM|link=]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 22.1
| 720p || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|KZJO || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|[[MyNetworkTV]] ([[KZJO]]) [[File:Action lock 2 - orange.svg|14px|alt=DRM|link=]]
|-
|}
{{legend|#ffe8d0|Subchannel broadcast with [[digital rights management]]}}

==See also==
*[[Channel 6 branded TV stations in the United States]]
*[[Channel 16 virtual TV stations in the United States]]
*[[Channel 31 digital TV stations in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Seattle TV}}
{{Other Washington Stations}}
{{Tegna}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kong}}
[[Category:1997 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:ATSC 3.0 television stations]]
[[Category:Everett, Washington]]
[[Category:Independent television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Tegna Inc.]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1997]]
[[Category:Television stations in Seattle|ONG (TV)]]
[[Category:True Crime Network affiliates]]