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KZJO (channel 22), branded as Fox 13+, is a television station in Seattle, Washington, United States, broadcasting the MyNetworkTV programming service. It is owned and operated by Fox Television Stations alongside Tacoma-licensed Fox outlet KCPQ (channel 13). The two stations share studios on Westlake Avenue in Seattle's Westlake neighborhood; KZJO's transmitter is located near the Capitol Hill section of Seattle.

Key Information

Channel 22 began broadcasting as KTZZ-TV in 1985. It was the third independent station in the Seattle market and the first commercial ultra high frequency (UHF) station. It struggled to gain ratings attention competing against Seattle's established independents, KSTW and KCPQ. USTV, a company owned by the Dudley family, acquired the station in two parts between 1987 and 1990; debts incurred under its original ownership prompted a bankruptcy in the early 1990s. In its early years, the station offered a range of local programs, including newscasts and sports telecasts produced by KIRO-TV; the eclectic talk show The Spud Goodman Show; and classic reruns and children's shows.

KTZZ-TV became Seattle's affiliate of The WB in 1995. When the Dudleys sought to exit broadcasting, they entered into a three-way deal that saw the stations transferred to Tribune Broadcasting. Shortly after, Tribune acquired KCPQ and had to place channel 22 in a divestiture trust before being able to form a duopoly in 1999. During that time, the station improved its technical facilities and relaunched as KTWB-TV. When The WB and UPN merged in 2006, the station was passed over for affiliation with The CW and signed up with MyNetworkTV, being renamed KMYQ. It debuted a 9 p.m. newscast from KCPQ in 2008. In 2010, the station changed its call sign to KZJO and rebranded as JoeTV, a name it used until 2022. Tribune was purchased by Nexstar Media Group in 2019; Nexstar then traded KCPQ and KZJO to Fox as part of an exchange of Fox affiliates in three cities. The station was the primary local broadcast home of Seattle Storm women's basketball from 2016 through 2024.

History

[edit]

In 1966, King's Garden, operator of religious AM and FM radio stations in Edmonds, applied for ultra high frequency (UHF) channel 22.[2] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted the construction permit,[3] but King's Garden never built the station. By 1973, Maharishi International University applied for channel 22 and six other UHF stations across the United States, proposing educational and commercial programming.[4][5]

Construction and early years

[edit]

In 1981, the FCC designated three applications for channel 22 for comparative hearing, from Trinity Broadcasting of Seattle; Seattle STV; and Tavitac Corporation.[6] The Tavitac application had been made in 1977.[7] Trinity Broadcasting dropped out, and the other two applicants merged their bids into Seattle Broadcasting Corporation and won the construction permit in 1982.[8] By late 1984, work was beginning on the station, which had taken the call sign KTZZ-TV. Dean Woodring, a general manager of TV stations in Spokane and Portland, Oregon, was named to the post for KTZZ and a station under construction in Portland.[9]

KTZZ-TV began broadcasting on June 22, 1985. Broadcasting from studios at 945 Dexter Avenue North and a tower on Capitol Hill, it was Seattle's first commercial UHF television station; at the time, the only such stations in the area were Christian station KTBW-TV on channel 20 and public station KTPS-TV (channel 28), both in Tacoma.[10][11] Its programming largely consisted of classic TV shows and children's programming, in contrast to existing independents KSTW and KCPQ, which emphasized movies.[12] The station was bypassed in favor of KCPQ by the new Fox when it started later that year.[13] The lineup was bolstered in 1986 when KIRO-TV (channel 7) struck a deal with the Seattle SuperSonics basketball team; KIRO produced 30 games, of which 15 aired on KTZZ.[14] This was followed by a similar deal for Seattle Mariners baseball games in 1987.[15] In both deals, KIRO sold most of the advertising with KTZZ getting selected advertising slots.[16] KIRO dropped its Mariners agreement after 1988 due to the team's poor ratings performance.[17]

Financially, channel 22's early history was rough. As the first major UHF station in town, many viewers thought they could not receive it even when it was available to them on cable. The station was the third-rated of Seattle's three independents in the first year after it signed on; though it came much closer to KSTW in the ratings for its children's programming, its first foray into local program production, the dance show Seattle Bandstand, lost its sponsors due to low ratings and left the air.[18] In September 1986, several employees were laid off to control costs.[19] In 1987, 40 percent of the station was sold to US-TV Network, a New York City firm run by ad sales representative Robert Dudley and financially backed by Australian broadcaster and businessman Kevin Parry.[20] Despite the infusion of cash, the station continued to pare its payroll with more firings in late 1987 and early 1988.[21] The Dudleys acquired the remainder of KTZZ in 1990 from Alden Television; it was their second television property after WXMI in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[22]

On September 23, 1991, KTZZ began airing a 10 p.m. local newscast produced by KIRO-TV. The program was originally hosted by KIRO's evening news team of Aaron Brown, Harry Wappler, and Wayne Cody and provided competition for KSTW's 10 p.m. news.[23][24] Later, KIRO anchors Gary Justice and Susan Hutchison became anchors at 10 on top of their existing assignments. This caused strife at KIRO and led to KIRO's union, AFTRA, suing the station in June 1992 for unfair labor practices; an administrative law judge sided with Justice and Hutchison, stating that the additional newscast took away from preparation for the 5 and 11 p.m. reports and that there was no full-time producer dedicated to the KTZZ broadcast, further increasing the workload of existing KIRO employees.[25] By that time, officials at both stations were discussing ending the newscast.[25] Among all programs airing at 10 p.m. locally, the KTZZ news placed seventh.[26] In spite of this, KIRO expanded its presence on channel 22 in April 1993 when the station began simulcasting two hours of KIRO radio's morning newscast.[27] The partnership ended shortly thereafter, and on September 17, 1993, the 10 p.m. newscast for KTZZ was ended.[28]

KTZZ gained a reputation as a home for prime-time tabloid talk shows[29] as well as some eclectic local programming. In 1992, The Spud Goodman Show debuted on channel 22.[30] Spud Goodman formed part of a block of local shows aired between midnight and 2 a.m., including three music programs: Music Inner City, Rock Northwest, and Bohemia After Dark. All four programs were to be removed from the channel 22 schedule in September 1994,[31] but Spud Goodman lasted on the lineup into 1995.[32] During this time, KTZZ spent two years in bankruptcy reorganization. Three creditors—television program distributors MCA Television, MTM Distribution, and DLT Entertainment—forced the station into involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-1992. The debts were inherited by the Dudleys from the original ownership and had been accrued during the 1980s, when prices for syndicated programs were more expensive.[33]

WB affiliation

[edit]

On January 11, 1995, KTZZ affiliated with the newly-formed WB Television Network, signing an agreement just a week before the new network launched.[34] The WB had initially signed KSTW in 1993 as its Seattle affiliate;[35] that station's owner, Gaylord Broadcasting, backed out of the deal a year later to affiliate with CBS, while UPN signed up KIRO, which had been the CBS affiliate.[36]

The Dudleys put their two television stations on the market in 1996, citing industry consolidation.[37] KTZZ and WXMI were sold to Emmis Communications in 1998; the two stations were then promptly dealt to Tribune Broadcasting in exchange for WQCD, an FM radio station in New York City.[38] Eleven weeks after the sale to Tribune closed, the company agreed to purchase KCPQ, the market's Fox affiliate. At the time, one company could only own one TV station in a market.[39] As a result, KTZZ went on the market, and in December, Tribune applied to the FCC to place the station into a disposition trust headed by John Dudley.[40]

Nonetheless, channel 22 forged ahead with plans formulated by Tribune to relaunch the station with new call letters and as a higher-profile WB affiliate in 1999.[39] On April 26, 1999,[41] KTZZ-TV became KTWB-TV, broadcasting from a new transmitter and antenna. The original facility had signal deficiencies in some areas, including in parts of Seattle.[29]

A three-story building with KCPQ and KZJO logos on a sign outside
The KCPQ and KZJO studios in Seattle

Tribune originally needed to find a buyer for KTWB by September 1, 1999.[42] The search became a moot point in August, when the FCC voted to legalize television duopolies.[43] Deals creating duopolies were permitted beginning in November, at which time Tribune filed to purchase KTWB outright and own it alongside KCPQ.[44] Its operations moved in with KCPQ; Tribune created 50 positions to match the 50 jobs that channel 22 had as an independent business, but not all of them matched the skill set of KTWB's employees, some of whom Tribune offered to transfer elsewhere in the company.[45] The station began airing newscasts from KCPQ preempted by Fox network sports programming and sharing some of KCPQ's syndicated program inventory.[46] In 2005, the KCPQ–KTWB facility began handling master control operations for KWBP-TV in Portland, which Tribune acquired from ACME Communications; the general manager of the Seattle stations also assumed responsibility for KWBP.[47]

MyNetworkTV and Joe TV

[edit]
Logo as "myQ²", used from 2006 to 2010.

On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and the Warner Bros. unit of Time Warner announced that the two companies would respectively shut down UPN and The WB and combine the networks' respective programming to create a new "fifth" network called The CW; the day of the announcement, it was revealed that 13 of Tribune's 16 WB affiliates would become CW stations.[48][49] The merger of networks left out Tribune-owned WB stations in three markets, including KTWB in Seattle, where The CW affiliated with a CBS-owned station. These three stations—WPHL-TV in Philadelphia, WATL in Atlanta, and KTWB—signed affiliation agreements in May with MyNetworkTV, set up by Fox Television Stations to serve its own ex-UPN outlets and other displaced stations.[50][51] The station changed its call sign to KMYQ and branded as "MyQ²", a brand extension of KCPQ.[52]

At a time when the company was relaunching several of its secondary stations with new branding, Tribune rebranded KMYQ as "JoeTV" on September 13, 2010, and changed its call sign to KZJO. The station was positioned to be grittier and appeal to a younger male audience with its mix of syndicated shows.[53] MyNetworkTV programming was deemphasized; for several years, the station website's 'about us' copy erroneously said that the MyNetworkTV affiliation ended with the JoeTV relaunch.[54]

Sinclair sale attempt; acquisition by Nexstar and Fox

[edit]
Further information: Attempted acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcast Group

Tribune Media agreed to be sold to Sinclair Broadcast Group on May 8, 2017, for $3.9 billion and the assumption of $2.9 billion in debt held by Tribune.[55][56] As Sinclair already owned KOMO-TV and KUNS-TV,[57] KCPQ was among 23 stations identified for divestment in order to meet regulatory compliance for the merger.[58] Sinclair agreed to purchase KZJO and sell KCPQ to Fox Television Stations as part of a $910 million deal;[59] Howard Stirk Holdings additionally agreed to purchase KUNS-TV.[60] Lead FCC commissioner Ajit Pai publicly rejected the deal in July 2018 after details of Sinclair's proposed divestitures came to light;[61] weeks later, Tribune terminated the merger agreement with Sinclair, nullifying both transactions.[62]

Tribune Media agreed to be acquired by Nexstar Media Group for $6.9 billion in cash and debt on December 3, 2018.[63] Following the merger's completion on September 19, 2019,[64] Fox Television Stations purchased KCPQ and KZJO as part of a $350 million deal, with Fox citing KCPQ's status as the broadcaster of most Seahawks home games as the impetus for the transaction.[65][66] The sale was completed on March 2, 2020.[67] After its acquisition by Fox, KZJO dropped the Joe TV moniker and rebranded to "Fox 13+" on September 26, 2021, conforming with the branding of other Fox-owned stations.[68]

Local programming

[edit]

Newscasts

[edit]
Further information: KCPQ § Newscasts

On March 31, 2008, KMYQ began airing a KCPQ-produced 9 p.m. newscast airing Monday through Sunday.[69] The station also exclusively airs KCPQ's weekend editions of Good Day Seattle, its morning newscast.[70]

Sports programming

[edit]

In 2014, the station began to air Major League Soccer matches featuring Seattle Sounders FC alongside KCPQ.[71] The station also aired pre-match and post-match coverage for the team through the end of the 2022 season.[72][a]

In 2016, KCPQ and KZJO began broadcasting locally televised games of the Seattle Storm of the WNBA; initially starting with 15 home games on channel 22 in 2016,[74] KZJO was slated to carry 29 games in the 2023 season with six more on KCPQ.[75] In 2024, it was scheduled to air 23 games with KCPQ airing another seven.[76] KOMO-TV and KUNS became the rightsholders for the 2025 season.[77]

Other local sports are aired in limited quantities on KZJO. It is the Seattle affiliate for Gonzaga men's basketball games and The Mark Few Show, produced by KHQ-TV in Spokane.[78] In the 2022 and 2023 season, the station aired telecasts of OL Reign women's soccer;[79] it was supplanted in this role by KONG (channel 16) for 2024.[80] In 2023, the station agreed to air ten Seattle Thunderbirds junior hockey games.[81] As of 2025, KZJO also airs games from the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby.[82]

Technical information

[edit]

Subchannels

[edit]

KZJO's transmitter is located near the Capitol Hill section of Seattle.[1] The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KZJO[83]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
22.1 720p 16:9 FOX13+ MyNetworkTV
22.2 FOX13 Fox (KCPQ)
22.3 480i AntTV Antenna TV
22.5 NOSEY Nosey
  Simulcast of subchannels of another station

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

KMYQ shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 22, on June 12, 2009, as part of the mandatory federally mandated transition from analog to digital television. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 25, using virtual channel 22.[84] KZJO relocated its signal from channel 25 to channel 36 on January 17, 2020, as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction.[85]

Translators

[edit]

The station is broadcast on two translators:[86]

Map
  • Grade A signal contours for KZJO and associated translators.
    •   KZJO
    •   Low-power translators

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

KZJO

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
KZJO, virtual channel 22, is a owned-and-operated licensed to , Washington, . It is owned by , a subsidiary of , as part of a duopoly with co-owned affiliate (channel 13); the stations share studios on the west shore of in 's Westlake neighborhood. Branded as Fox 13+, KZJO functions as a programming extension of KCPQ, airing syndicated content, local lifestyle programming, and network shows targeted at the Seattle–Tacoma market. The station was acquired by in March 2020 from previous owner , marking Fox's expansion into the market alongside its flagship affiliation.

History

Construction and early years

KTZZ-TV, channel 22, was granted a construction permit by the (FCC) following an initial application filed on September 12, 1977, marking the start of a protracted licensing process amid competition for UHF frequencies in the Seattle-Tacoma market. Owned by Alden Television, Inc., of , the station overcame regulatory hurdles to commence construction of its facilities, including studios at 945 Dexter Avenue North and a transmitter tower on . The station signed on as an independent broadcaster on June 22, 1985, becoming the third such outlet in the market and the first full-power commercial UHF station, operating without network affiliation to fill its schedule with syndicated programming, classic movies, cartoons, and local commercial inserts. KTZZ aimed to capture viewers through a mix of off-network reruns and feature films, positioning itself as "Flight 22" to emphasize its airborne signal reach, though UHF challenges in a VHF-dominated market limited initial viewership. Early operations faced significant financial hurdles, including struggles to build audience share against established competitors like and KTSP, compounded by the higher costs of UHF transmission and advertising acquisition in a saturated market. Despite initial profitability under Alden ownership, these pressures contributed to eventual proceedings by the early 1990s, highlighting the viability risks for new UHF independents in major markets.

WB affiliation and independent operations

In January 1995, KTZZ-TV (channel 22) signed an affiliation agreement with Television Network, becoming Seattle's charter affiliate just one week before the network's launch on January 11, 1995; this followed the collapse of an earlier deal with KSTW-TV, whose owner Gaylord Broadcasting withdrew in 1994. As a WB affiliate, KTZZ aired the network's prime-time lineup, which targeted a youth demographic with programs such as , , and 7th Heaven, typically from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. weeknights, while filling remaining daytime, weekend, and early fringe slots with syndicated fare including off-network sitcoms like and movies to maintain an flavor amid competition from UPN affiliate KBCB-TV (channel 24). On April 26, 1999, acquired KTZZ from the Dudley family's United Television (via a complex asset swap involving ), promptly changing the call sign to KTWB-TV on May 3, 1999, to align with its affiliation and integrating operations with co-owned affiliate (channel 13) into a duopoly based at KCPQ's facilities, though KTWB retained its programming mix with added syndicated content for non-network hours.

Transition to MyNetworkTV and Joe TV branding

In response to the merger of and into Television Network, announced on January 24, 2006, KTWB-TV was not awarded a CW affiliation in the Seattle–Tacoma market, where the new network instead partnered with another outlet. , the station's owner, aligned with , a stripped-down primetime service launched by (now part of ) on February 22, 2006, specifically to serve stations orphaned by the network consolidation, offering two hours of original soap opera-style dramas nightly from Monday to Saturday starting September 5, 2006. confirmed the affiliation for channel 22 on May 15, 2006, positioning it as a quick pivot to fill the resulting programming void. The station relaunched under the banner on July 14, 2006, adopting the call sign KMYQ and branding as "myQ²" to evoke the service's name, with programming centered on the network's core telenovela-style series Desire and during early primetime, supplemented by syndicated fare and movies in other slots. This shift marked KMYQ as one of the early adopters in the , enabling to retain audience share in a market overshadowed by entrenched Big Four affiliates (ABC, , , ) without competing directly for CW's youth-oriented block. By 2010, to sharpen its identity amid stagnant ratings and intense local competition, KMYQ underwent a further rebrand to "JOEtv" on September 13, 2010, coinciding with a change to KZJO and relocation of content to an 11:00 p.m. slot, freeing primetime for independent programming. The "Joe" moniker targeted a male-skewing demographic with "gritty" fare, including off-network sitcom reruns such as , classic action movies like the series, and retro content emphasizing humor, adventure, and escapism to differentiate from network schedules and appeal to underserved adult male viewers in the area. This strategy leveraged syndicated acquisitions for cost efficiency, prioritizing viewer retention through familiar, low-risk programming over high-cost originals.

Ownership transitions: Tribune era, Nexstar interim, and Fox acquisition

In 1999, Broadcasting established a duopoly in the –Tacoma market by acquiring and integrating operations with KZJO (then KTWB), which it had purchased earlier and temporarily placed in a divestiture trust to comply with FCC regulations prohibiting of two stations in the same market. This structure provided operational efficiencies, including shared facilities and programming resources, and remained stable under Tribune's ownership for two decades, supporting local news production and syndicated content distribution without major disruptions. Tribune Media's acquisition by , completed on September 19, 2019, for $6.4 billion including debt, temporarily transferred control of the –KZJO duopoly to Nexstar. However, the merger exceeded FCC ownership limits in several markets, including , where Nexstar's expanded portfolio violated duopoly and audience reach caps, necessitating rapid divestitures to maintain . On November 5, 2019, Nexstar announced the sale of and KZJO—along with Milwaukee's WITI—to as part of a broader , with Nexstar acquiring Fox's stations in Charlotte; the transaction valued the Seattle duopoly in excess of $300 million, enabling Nexstar to deleverage post-merger debt. The deal closed on March 2, 2020, integrating and KZJO into Fox's owned-and-operated portfolio, which emphasized synergies with regional sports rights such as games and enhanced local news capabilities. Fox's strategy focused on bolstering its presence in mid-sized markets with strong sports viewership, avoiding affiliation risks while leveraging the duopoly's established infrastructure for cross-promotion and content distribution.

Programming and content

Network affiliations and syndicated programming

KZJO maintains a primary affiliation with , which it joined on September 18, 2006, following the merger of and into . The network's programming consists of a limited primetime block airing Monday through Friday, typically featuring one hour of original scripted series per night, thereby enabling KZJO to dedicate the majority of its schedule to syndicated content. The station's syndicated lineup has historically emphasized off-network sitcoms, classic movies, and talk shows targeted at a male-skewing, irreverent demographic under the former Joe TV branding introduced in 2010. Examples include reruns of , , , and , which filled daytime, early fringe, and late-night slots alongside feature films. This strategy complemented the duopoly partnership with Fox affiliate by providing complementary entertainment options distinct from network primetime fare. Following Corporation's acquisition of KZJO from on March 2, 2020, the station rebranded from Joe TV to on September 26, 2021, aligning with standardized branding. This shift facilitated greater cross-promotion with KCPQ's programming, integrating syndicated offerings to broaden viewer access to ecosystem content while retaining in primetime and flexible syndication in other dayparts.

Local original programming

During its early independent era as KTZZ-TV, which signed on June 22, 1985, KZJO produced and aired local including The Spud Goodman Show, an eclectic late-night talk-variety program hosted by Spud Goodman that debuted in February 1985 and featured live music performances by Northwest bands, eccentric guests, and improvised sketches. The show aired weekly, often in a midnight-to-2 a.m. block alongside other local music-focused segments like Rock Northwest, emphasizing regional talent and unconventional entertainment until the mid-1990s. Under Tribune Broadcasting's ownership from , when it adopted the Joe TV brand alongside affiliation, KZJO shifted toward a schedule dominated by classic films, B-movies, and syndicated reruns, incorporating occasional local inserts such as paid programming blocks and market-specific promotions rather than sustained original productions. These inserts typically filled off-peak slots with community event highlights or lifestyle-oriented infomercials tailored to Seattle-area audiences, reflecting the station's reliance on low-cost, high-volume content over in-house development. Following Corporation's acquisition of (along with duopoly partner ) from , completed on March 2, 2020, and the subsequent rebranding to Fox 13+ on September 26, 2021, local has remained constrained, with synergies enabling occasional shared community segments from 's facilities but no expansion into dedicated lifestyle or entertainment series. Current schedules prioritize primetime, syndicated talk shows, and paid blocks like infomercials, underscoring a model geared toward cost efficiency and national feed integration over bespoke local content creation.

Newscasts and news expansion

During its time as an and later under the Joe TV branding owned by , KZJO offered limited local newscasts, primarily consisting of a single 9 p.m. program produced by duopoly partner . This arrangement provided the only in the Seattle-Tacoma market at that hour but lacked broader daily coverage, focusing instead on syndicated to align with the station's general-audience programming . Following Corporation's acquisition of Tribune's television stations in , KZJO integrated more deeply into shared news operations with , rebranding as Fox 13+ and expanding late-evening newscasts under the "Seattle News Tonight" banner, which includes 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. editions across both stations. This shift emphasized collaborative production from shared studios, enhancing resource efficiency while maintaining a focus on investigative reporting, traffic updates, and weather for the -Tacoma region. In June 2025, announced a significant expansion of programming effective June 16, adding weekday newscasts on KZJO and extending KCPQ's "Good Day Seattle" morning show to six full hours. The changes introduced additional slots for hyper-local coverage, including real-time segments tailored to commuter patterns in the area, alongside strengthened on regional issues. Complementing broadcast expansions, Local Seattle streaming platform added 31 hours of weekly live content, enabling on-demand access to extended reporting not feasible in linear TV formats. These enhancements under ownership have positioned the duopoly as a for empirical, community-driven in the market, prioritizing verifiable local data over national aggregates.

Sports broadcasting

KZJO, as part of the Fox-owned duopoly with in , has expanded its sports broadcasting to include local professional and college games, utilizing clearance time for overflow and dedicated slots beyond KCPQ's primary network obligations. This arrangement allows the stations to air additional regional content, such as WNBA and minor league games, complementing national events on KCPQ. Since Fox's acquisition of the duopoly in March 2020, KZJO has served as the official local broadcast home for WNBA games, including an extended partnership announced for the season that covers home and select away contests. The station also airs select games and OL Reign matches, enhancing coverage of women's and junior sports in the market. In , KZJO broadcasts up to 14 regular-season men's games, produced by SWX Sports, targeting audiences within the DMA. These rights acquisitions post-Fox ownership have strengthened the duopoly's sports portfolio, providing overflow capacity for events like or MLB exhibitions when prioritizes prime-time programming, though primary Seahawks and Mariners regular-season games remain on regional sports networks.

Ownership and operations

Corporate structure and duopoly with KCPQ

KZJO operates as part of a duopoly with Fox owned-and-operated station under , a division of . The two stations share corporate ownership following 's acquisition of the Seattle duopoly from , Inc., completed on March 2, 2020, for approximately $350 million as part of a broader transaction involving multiple stations. This structure positions KZJO and within ' portfolio of 29 full-power broadcast stations across the , facilitating centralized management and operational oversight from 's headquarters. The duopoly enables integrated operations, with KZJO and co-locating their studios at facilities on Westlake Avenue in Seattle's Westlake neighborhood, adjacent to . This shared infrastructure supports resource consolidation, including unified technical and administrative functions, which leverages to optimize costs and streamline content distribution in the Seattle-Tacoma designated market area (DMA), ranked as the 14th largest in the U.S. by Nielsen. The arrangement complies with (FCC) local television ownership rules, which permit common ownership of two stations in markets of sufficient size without signal overlap issues, as Seattle's competitive landscape—with over 20 full-power commercial stations—meets the numerical thresholds for standard duopoly approval without requiring a specific waiver. Fox Corporation's ownership model emphasizes synergies from duopoly pairings, such as coordinated advertising sales and promotional efforts, to enhance and revenue efficiency amid declining linear TV viewership. In the case of and KZJO, this has supported ' expansion strategy, integrating the stations into a network that delivers complementary programming schedules while adhering to FCC limits on top-four station ownership prohibitions, given KZJO's secondary network affiliation does not rank among the market's leading outlets.

Studio and facility details

KZJO shares studio facilities with its in a three-story building located at 1813 Westlake Avenue North in Seattle's Westlake neighborhood, situated on the west shore of . This shared duopoly setup, established prior to Fox Corporation's acquisition in March 2020, enables integrated operations including news production, programming, and technical support across both stations. Post-acquisition, has maintained these facilities without major relocation, focusing instead on operational synergies such as consolidated staffing and equipment sharing to achieve cost efficiencies. In late 2019, preceding the ownership transition, the studios received upgrades to LED video walls with UHD 1.87 mm pixel pitch panels from Neoti, enhancing on-air visual production . As of August 2025, the duopoly including KZJO operates under the oversight of , elevated to senior vice president and regional with responsibility for and KZJO alongside other markets. This leadership structure supports digital integration efforts, with facilities equipped for multi-platform content creation aligned with ' broader emphasis on streaming and efficiency.

Digital and streaming initiatives

In 2023, following Fox Corporation's acquisition of the - duopoly, introduced the Fox Local Seattle streaming app, enabling free over-the-top access to live , , and local programming feeds from ( 13) and ( 13+). The platform aggregates content from the stations' linear broadcasts, including syndicated shows and original segments, with initial support for devices like , Fire TV, and smart TVs. By June 2025, enhancements to the app increased hours by 31 per week, incorporating additional anchored updates from KZJO's expanded midday and evening slots, alongside on-demand clips for alerts and breaking stories. These updates improved mobile accessibility through dedicated and Android apps, featuring push notifications for real-time traffic and regional coverage tailored to viewers. The initiatives reflect 's strategy to address , with the app's free model and device-agnostic distribution expanding reach beyond traditional cable subscribers in the Seattle-Tacoma market, where linear TV viewership has declined amid rising streaming adoption. No public metrics on subscriber growth have been disclosed, though the expansions coincide with broader efforts to integrate local stations into digital ecosystems for sustained audience retention.

Technical specifications

Subchannels and multicast services

KZJO operates multiple digital subchannels via ATSC 1.0 multicast on its UHF digital signal, providing a range of programming beyond its primary MyNetworkTV affiliation. The main subchannel, 22.1, broadcasts MyNetworkTV content in 720p high definition under the branding Fox 13+, including syndicated series, movies, and limited original programming. Subchannel 22.2 simulcasts the Fox network feed from duopoly partner KCPQ (channel 13.1) in 720p, extending primary network coverage to viewers tuned to KZJO's frequency. Lower-bandwidth subchannels offer additional niche services in standard definition. Subchannel 22.3 carries , featuring classic television series from the 1950s through 1990s, such as sitcoms and dramas. Subchannel 22.5 airs Nosey, a network dedicated to reality , true crime documentaries, and interpersonal programming. A virtual subchannel at 16.2 provides content, focusing on crime-related series and films, though it operates as an extension rather than a core KZJO service.
Virtual ChannelResolutionAspect RatioProgramming Network
22.116:9 (Fox 13+)
22.216:9 ( )
22.34:3/16:9
22.516:9Nosey
These subchannels leverage KZJO's digital capacity to deliver specialized content, with HD allocation prioritized for primary affiliations and SD for secondary networks to optimize bandwidth efficiency. Following Corporation's acquisition of the station in March 2020, the multicast lineup stabilized around these offerings, emphasizing network extensions and evergreen programming to complement over-the-air antenna reception in the Seattle-Tacoma market.

Analog-to-digital transition

KZJO, operating under the KMYQ callsign at the time, terminated its analog broadcast on UHF channel 22 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on June 12, 2009, aligning with the federally mandated transition for full-power television stations to digital-only operations. This date followed a congressional delay from the original February 17 target, prompted by concerns over unprepared households, with the FCC enforcing compliance through spectrum reallocation rules established under the and subsequent orders. The station's digital signal, initially on physical UHF channel 25, retained virtual 22 via PSIP mapping, preserving channel numbering familiarity for over-the-air viewers equipped with ATSC tuners or converter boxes. Transition preparations included transmitter upgrades to digital equipment, funded partly by broadcasters' proceeds from returned analog , as required by FCC permits issued years prior. Broadcasters like KZJO participated in FCC-mandated viewer education initiatives, including on-air announcements and coordination with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's coupon program for set-top boxes, which distributed over 64 million subsidies nationwide by mid-2009. In the Seattle-Tacoma market, the switch experienced minimal outages, contrasting with initial test conversions elsewhere that highlighted equipment and signal propagation issues, enabling rapid stabilization of service.

Signal coverage and translators

KZJO transmits its primary digital signal from a tower on in , Washington, at coordinates 47°36′56.3″N 122°18′30.4″W, operating on RF channel 36 as a UHF station within the Seattle-Tacoma designated market area (DMA). This setup delivers coverage across Western Washington, including urban centers like and Tacoma, with an (ERP) of 1,000 kW horizontally and 176.5 kW vertically, reaching a 58.9-mile contour that spans approximately 10,897 square miles and serves an estimated 4.12 million people. The station extends its over-the-air footprint to fringe reception areas through two low-power digital translators owned by : K29ED-D on UHF channel 29, licensed to Everett and aiding signal delivery to northern suburbs and areas potentially obstructed by north of , and K15MI-D on UHF channel 15, serving Centralia/Chehalis to bolster coverage in southern rural zones of the . These address UHF challenges in Washington's varied , including hills and water bodies that can weaken direct line-of-sight signals from the main transmitter. Technical data indicates no major reported interference issues post-digital transition and spectrum repack, with the main signal's high supporting reliable reception for most households within the primary contour absent significant multipath or shadowing effects.

Market impact and reception

Achievements in local market dominance

Following ' acquisition of and KZJO in November 2019, the duopoly enabled resource sharing that facilitated expansions in production and distribution. This integration supported the launch of a 6 p.m. newscast in January 2022, airing seven days a week across both stations, enhancing evening news availability in the Seattle-Tacoma market. In June 2025, the stations further expanded weekday by 2.5 hours, incorporating new time slots and an extended morning show, while boosting streaming options for on-demand access. These changes added substantial live-streamed content, including anchored updates, to meet viewer demand for flexible local coverage. The duopoly's combined operations allowed efficient scaling of these initiatives, increasing total hours and reach via broadcast and digital platforms. KZJO, as Fox 13+, has leveraged the partnership for carriage, such as airing encore matches weekly during the MLS season starting July 2025, extending audience access beyond prime broadcasts on . This programming strategy has strengthened the duopoly's position in delivering regional sports content, contributing to higher engagement in key demographics.

Criticisms and operational challenges

In the context of Nexstar Media Group's 2019 acquisition of , which included and its duopoly partner KZJO, the imposed divestiture requirements to ensure compliance with local television ownership rules limiting market reach to no more than 39% of U.S. households. Nexstar subsequently sold both stations to for approximately $350 million in November 2019, a transaction completed in March 2020 following regulatory approval. This divestiture, while necessary to avoid exceeding FCC duopoly and national caps, has been cited by media analysts as an instance of regulatory hurdles that compel sales in consolidated markets, potentially disrupting operational synergies despite the stations' established integration. KZJO's programming strategy, centered on syndication including off-network sitcoms, reality shows, and feature films under the Fox 13+ branding, has faced criticism for its heavy reliance on acquired content at the expense of original local productions. This format limits opportunities for -specific news or community-focused segments beyond shared resources with , leading to viewer complaints about insufficient hyper-local relevance in a competitive market dominated by network affiliates. The station's niche appeal, historically tied to "Joe TV"-style eclectic and gritty programming from its era, caters primarily to older demographics seeking nostalgic or low-cost entertainment, but struggles with broader audience engagement amid trends and streaming alternatives. Perceptions of programming bias have emerged under ownership, with some local observers alleging a right-leaning tilt in shared news extensions to KZJO, contrasting with competitors (NBC affiliate) and KOMO (ABC affiliate), which face their own critiques for left-leaning coverage in 's progressive media landscape. However, independent assessments rate KCPQ's editorial approach as minimally biased, relying on wire services like the for national stories without overt opinion infusion. Viewer forums reflect sporadic dissatisfaction with perceived shifts toward branding emphasis post-2021, including content prioritization that amplifies national conservative narratives over neutral local reporting. Operational challenges include signal adjustments during the 2017-2020 broadcast spectrum , where KZJO relocated from RF channel 25 to 36 with temporary power reductions, briefly impacting over-the-air reception in fringe areas of the Seattle-Tacoma market. Market competition from entrenched players like Sinclair-owned KOMO and Tegna's exacerbates ratings pressures, as KZJO's secondary status yields lower viewership shares for syndicated compared to prime-time network slots, contributing to advertiser hesitancy in a fragmented .

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