View source for KUNP

{{Short description|Television station in La Grande, Oregon}}
{{Update|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| location = [[La Grande, Oregon|La Grande]]–[[Portland, Oregon]]
| city = La Grande, Oregon
| country = US
| callsign = KUNP
| logo = KUNP 2025.svg
| logo_size = 220px
| branding = KUNP Portland
| digital = 16 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 16
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''16.1:''' [[Independent station|Independent]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| translators = {{ubl|KUNP-LD 47 Portland|[[KATU]] 2.2 Portland}}
| owner = [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
| licensee = Sinclair LaGrande Licensee, [[LLC]]
| founded = {{start date|1999|8|6}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|2001|12|03|p=y}}
| callsign_meaning = "Univision Portland" (former affiliation)
| sister_stations = [[KATU]]
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|KBPD (2001–2002)|KPOU (2002–2006)}}
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 16 (UHF, 2001–2009)
| former_affiliations = [[Univision]] (2001–2024)
| erp = 18.95 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|760|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 81447
| coordinates = {{coord|45|18|32.4|N|117|43|57.7|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://kunptv.com/}}
}}
'''KUNP''' (channel 16) is an [[independent television station]] licensed to [[La Grande, Oregon]], United States. It is owned by [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] alongside [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]-based [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[KATU]] (channel 2). The two stations share studios on Northeast Sandy Boulevard in Portland; KUNP's transmitter is located east of [[Cove, Oregon|Cove]] atop Mount Fanny, within [[eastern Oregon]]'s [[Wallowa–Whitman National Forest]].

Because of the location of its transmitter facilities {{convert|240|mi|km}} from [[downtown Portland]], KUNP's [[terrestrial television|over-the-air]] signal is unable to reach Portland proper. To overcome this, its signal is relayed on a [[low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power]] [[Broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translator station]], '''KUNP-LD''' (channel 47), which serves the immediate Portland area from a transmitter on Willamette Stone Park Road (near Skyline Boulevard) in the [[Sylvan-Highlands]] section of Portland, along with [[cable television|cable]] and [[satellite television|satellite]] coverage folded into KATU's [[retransmission consent]] agreements to cover the [[media market|market]], along with some outlying areas. Additionally, KUNP is [[simulcast]] in full [[high-definition television|high definition]] on KATU's second [[digital subchannel]].

==History==
[[File:KUNP WEB 2007.png|thumb|200px|KUNP's online logo as of 2007]]
[[Image:KUNP 2007.jpg|thumb|200px|KUNP's logo prior to January 1, 2013]]
[[File:Univision Portland 2019.png|thumb|200px|KUNP's logo prior to January 1, 2025]]
The station was founded on August 6, 1999, and formally signed on the air on December 3, 2001, as KBPD; it changed its call letters to KPOU on May 14, 2002. From the start, the station was an affiliate of the Spanish-language [[Univision]] network.<ref name="100kw-kpouunivision">{{cite web |title=Oregon TV Directory |url=http://100kwatts.tmi.net:80/tv/OR.html |website=100000 Watts |access-date=February 7, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020616091154/http://100kwatts.tmi.net:80/tv/OR.html |archive-date=June 16, 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

As KBPD and KPOU, the station was owned by [[Equity Broadcasting Corporation]]; it was acquired by [[Fisher Communications]] on November 3, 2006, for $19.3 million. Fisher would associate KPOU with KATU, the ABC affiliate it owned in Portland.<ref name="st-saletofisher">{{cite news |title=Fisher Communications acquires 2 Oregon stations |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/fisher-communications-acquires-2-oregon-stations/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=November 4, 2006}}</ref> Fisher changed the call letters to the current KUNP on December 5, 2006.

On August 21, 2012, Fisher Communications signed an affiliation agreement with [[MundoFox]], a Spanish-language competitor to Univision that was owned as a joint venture between [[Fox International Channels]] and Colombian broadcaster [[RCN TV]], for KUNP and Seattle sister station [[KUNS-TV]] to be carried on both stations as [[digital subchannel]]s starting in late September.<ref>[http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/61669/fisher-adds-mundofox-in-seattle-portland Fisher Adds MundoFox In Seattle, Portland], ''TVNewsCheck'', August 21, 2012.</ref> MundoFox would eventually rebrand as MundoMax in 2015 before ending all operations on December 1, 2016.

On April 10, 2013, KUNP, KATU, and Fisher Communications's other holdings were acquired by the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair acquiring Fisher Communications|url=http://www.katu.com/news/local/Sinclair-acquiring-Fisher-Communications-202532881.html|work=katu.com|date=April 11, 2013|access-date=April 11, 2013|archive-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221025/http://www.katu.com/news/local/Sinclair-acquiring-Fisher-Communications-202532881.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Colman|first=Price|title=Sinclair poised to buy Fisher stations|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/66787/sinclair-poised-to-buy-fisher-stations|work=TVNewsCheck|date=April 10, 2013|access-date=April 11, 2013|archive-date=October 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014173941/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/sinclair-poised-to-buy-fisher-stations/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Federal Communications Commission]] granted its approval of the deal on August 7,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1562915.pdf |title=Consent to Transfer |access-date=August 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227084350/http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1562915.pdf |archive-date=December 27, 2016 }}</ref> and the sale was completed the following day.<ref name=aa-fishersinclaircomplete>{{cite news|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes On Fisher Communications Acquisition|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/121117/sinclair-broadcast-group-closes-on-fisher-communic|access-date=August 8, 2013|newspaper=All Access|date=August 8, 2013}}</ref>

On May 8, 2017, Sinclair Broadcast Group [[Attempted acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcast Group|entered into an agreement]] to acquire [[Tribune Media]]—owner of [[The CW|CW]] affiliate [[KRCW-TV]] (channel 32)—for $3.9&nbsp;billion, plus the assumption of $2.7&nbsp;billion in debt held by Tribune. Sinclair would have been required to sell one of KUNP or KRCW-TV if the deal were to be approved.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jessell|first1=Harry A.|last2=Miller|first2=Mark K.|title=The New Sinclair: 72% Coverage + WGNA|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/103905/its-official-sinclair-is-buying-tribune|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=August 19, 2018|archive-date=August 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802041339/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/103905/its-official-sinclair-is-buying-tribune|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in 2018, the FCC designated the deal for hearing by an [[administrative law judge]];<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite web|title=FCC throws Sinclair/Tribune deal in doubt|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2018/07/16/fcc-throws-sinclairtribune-deal-doubt/|first=Robert|last=Feder|author-link=Robert Feder|website=RobertFeder.com|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=July 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717012938/https://www.robertfeder.com/2018/07/16/fcc-throws-sinclairtribune-deal-doubt/|url-status=live}}|{{cite news|last=Mirabella |first=Lorraine |date=July 18, 2018 |title=FCC orders hearing even as Sinclair changes plans to sell TV stations to address concerns about Tribune deal |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |location=Baltimore, Maryland |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-tribune-revised-divestitures-20180718-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811004751/http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-tribune-revised-divestitures-20180718-story.html |archive-date=August 11, 2018 |access-date=August 9, 2018}}}}</ref> the deal was then terminated by Tribune.<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite magazine|last=Lafayette |first=Jon |date=August 9, 2018 |title=Tribune Ends Deal with Sinclair, Files Breach of Contract Suit |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/tribune-ends-deal-with-sinclair-files-breach-of-contract-suit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809182004/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/tribune-ends-deal-with-sinclair-files-breach-of-contract-suit |archive-date=August 9, 2018 |access-date=August 19, 2018 |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable}}|{{cite news|first1=Brian|last1=Fung|first2=Tony|last2=Romm|title=Tribune withdraws from Sinclair merger, saying it will sue for 'breach of contract'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/08/09/tribune-withdraws-sinclair-merger-saying-it-will-sue-breach-contract/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location=Washington, D.C.|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=August 19, 2018|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428203302/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/08/09/tribune-withdraws-sinclair-merger-saying-it-will-sue-breach-contract/|url-status=live}}}}</ref>

On September 23, 2024, the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] announced a new television deal with Sinclair to create the Rip City Television Network. Under the deal, KUNP would begin airing Blazers games in January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Portland Trail Blazers Announce Future of Trail Blazers Broadcasting |url=https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/portland-trail-blazers-announce-future-of-trail-blazers-broadcasting |access-date=September 24, 2024 |publisher=[[Portland Trail Blazers]] |language=en}}</ref> On September 26, Sinclair announced that KUNP would drop its Univision affiliation in 2025 to pivot the station to English-language programming.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 26, 2024 |title=Portland's KUNP-TV will drop Univision affiliation, Spanish-language programming |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2024/09/portlands-kunp-tv-will-drop-univision-affiliation-spanish-language-programming-in-2025.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926150503/https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2024/09/portlands-kunp-tv-will-drop-univision-affiliation-spanish-language-programming-in-2025.html |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |access-date=September 26, 2024 |work=[[The Oregonian]]}}</ref>

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
The station's signal is [[Multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of KUNP<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KUNP#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KUNP|website=[[RabbitEars.info]]|accessdate=September 24, 2024}}</ref> and KUNP-LD<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KUNP-LD#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KUNP-LD|website=[[RabbitEars.info]]|accessdate=September 24, 2024}}</ref>
! scope = "col" colspan="2"|[[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" rowspan="2"|[[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" rowspan="2"|[[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" rowspan="2"|Short name
! scope = "col" rowspan="2"|Programming
|-
! scope = "col" | {{small|KUNP}}||{{small|KUNP-LD}}
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.1 || 47.1
| [[1080i]] || rowspan="4" |[[16:9]] || KUNP || Main KUNP programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.2 || 47.2
| rowspan="3" |[[480i]] || TheNest || [[The Nest (TV network)|The Nest]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.3 || 47.3
| Charge || [[Charge! (TV network)|Charge!]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.4 || 47.4
| ROAR || [[Roar (TV network)|Roar]]
|}

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
Since KUNP did not sign on-the-air before the April 21, 1997, deadline for the FCC's digital television allotment plan, the station was not granted a companion digital signal. Therefore, on or before June 12, 2009, the station was required to turn off its analog signal and turn on a new digital signal (a method known as a "[[flash cut]]") on UHF channel 16. KUNP-LP, as a low-power station, continued to broadcast in analog until April 13, 2012, when it made its flash-cut to digital transmission on UHF channel 47 and changing its callsign suffix from "-LP" to "-LD".

===Translator===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! City of license
! Callsign
! Channel
! [[effective radiated power|ERP]]
! [[HAAT]]
! [[Facility ID]]
! Transmitter coordinates
|-
|| [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] ||'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|34882|3=KUNP-LD}}'''|| 34 || 15&nbsp;kW || {{convert|455|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 34882 || {{coord|45|31|13|N|122|44|41|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=KUNP-LD}}
|}

====Former translators====
KUNP also previously relayed its signal via [[analog television|analog]] translator KABH-LP (channel 15) in [[Bend, Oregon|Bend]]. KABH was owned by WatchTV, Inc., alongside its crosstown Portland [[HSN]] affiliate [[KORK-CA]], but was operated by Sinclair under a [[local marketing agreement]] (LMA). KABH-LP was founded on June 1, 1992, as K15DO, but did not take to the air until November 3, 1993. KABH's license was canceled by the FCC on March 19, 2015, for failure to file a license renewal application.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

At one point, KUNP also had [[KKEI-CA]] as another translator prior to the Fisher acquisition. That station is now a [[Telemundo]] affiliate owned by WatchTV, Inc., which owned the now-defunct KABH-LP.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{officialwebsite|https://kunptv.com/}}

{{Portland TV}}
{{Bend TV}}
{{Other Oregon Stations}}
{{SBGI}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kunp}}
[[Category:2001 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Charge! (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Independent television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:La Grande, Oregon]]
[[Category:The Nest (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
[[Category:Roar (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2001]]
[[Category:Television stations in Oregon|UNP]]