{{Short description|Television station in Bellevue, Washington}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2013}} {{Infobox television station | callsign = KUNS-TV | city = Bellevue, Washington | logo = KUNS CW Mar 2024 2.svg | logo_size = 220px | atsc3 = yes | branding = {{ubl|arc Seattle|CW Seattle (alternate)}} | former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 51 (UHF, 1999–2009)|'''Digital:''' 50 (UHF, until 2019)}} | digital = 24 (UHF) | virtual = 51 | translators = | affiliations = {{ubl|'''51.1:''' The CW|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''<ref>{{cite web|title=Digital Television|url=http://nwbroadcasters.com/digitaltv.html|website=Northwest Broadcasters|access-date=November 23, 2017}}</ref>}} | network = | founded = | airdate = {{start date|1999|8|8}} | location = Bellevue–Seattle–Tacoma, Washington | country = United States | callsign_meaning = "Univision Seattle" (former affiliation) | former_callsigns = {{ubl|KBEH (1999–2000)|KWOG (2000–2006)}} | owner = Sinclair Broadcast Group | licensee = Sinclair Seattle Licensee, LLC | sister_stations = KOMO-TV | former_affiliations = {{ubl|ValueVision/ShopNBC (1999–2006)|Univision (2006–2024)}} | erp = 625 kW | haat = {{convert|237|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | class = | facility_id = 4624 | coordinates = {{coord|47|37|55|N|122|21|14|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline, title}} | licensing_authority = FCC | website = }}
'''KUNS-TV''' (channel 51), branded '''ARC Seattle''', is a television station licensed to Bellevue, Washington, United States, serving the Seattle area as an affiliate of The CW. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside ABC affiliate KOMO-TV (channel 4). The two stations share studios within KOMO Plaza (formerly Fisher Plaza) in the Lower Queen Anne section of Seattle; KUNS-TV's transmitter is located in the city's Queen Anne neighborhood.
==History== 200px|thumb|left|KUNS's logo from January 29, 2019, through January 1, 2024 On February 10, 1988, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a construction permit for television station KBEH. However, channel 51 did not begin its broadcasting operation until August 8, 1999, transmitting programs from the ValueVision network, which became ShopNBC in 2001 after NBC (now part of Comcast) acquired a 37% ownership stake in that network. In December 2000, the station changed its call letters to KWOG.
Previously owned by African-American Broadcasting of Bellevue, KWOG was sold to Fisher Communications on September 29, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=61026&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=910653& |title=FisherCommunications - News |website=phx.corporate-ir.net |access-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221073431/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=61026&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=910653& |archive-date=February 21, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On October 31, 2006, the station changed its call letters one more time, this time to the current KUNS-TV. On January 1, 2007, it rang in the year by going from broadcasting home shopping programs to broadcasting Hispanic programming as a Univision affiliate almost instantly, providing viewers with programs such as ''Sabado Gigante'', ''Despierta América'' and ''El Gordo y La Flaca'', in addition to an assortment of telenovelas, along with many other programs. The station also started its own local newscast, ''Noticias Noroeste'' with Jaime Méndez and Roxy de la Torre. The newscast originated from a studio at KOMO Plaza (formerly Fisher Plaza) in Seattle.
On August 21, 2012, Fisher Communications signed an affiliation agreement with MundoFox, a Spanish-language competitor to Univision that is owned as a joint venture between Fox International Channels and Colombian broadcaster RCN TV, for KUNS and Portland sister station KUNP to be carried on both stations as digital subchannels 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> On April 11, 2013, Fisher announced that it would sell its properties, including KUNS-TV, to the Sinclair Broadcast Group.<ref name=b&c-saletosinclair>{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Michael|title=Sinclair to Acquire Fisher Stations for $373 Million|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/492841-Sinclair_to_Acquire_Fisher_Stations_for_373_Million.php|access-date=April 12, 2013|newspaper=Broadcasting & Cable|date=April 11, 2013}}</ref> The deal was completed on August 8, 2013.<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 entered into an agreement to acquire Tribune Media—owner of Fox affiliate KCPQ (channel 13) and MyNetworkTV affiliate KZJO (channel 22)—for $3.9 billion, plus the assumption of $2.7 billion in debt held by Tribune, pending regulatory approval by the FCC and the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division; the merger would have required divestitures in the Seattle market, as broadcasters are not currently allowed to legally own more than two full-power television stations in a single market.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion plus debt|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-tribune-sinclair-20170508-story.html|first=Stephen|last=Battaglio|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Sets $3.9 Billion Deal to Acquire Tribune Media|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/sinclair-tribune-merger-station-group-1202416416/|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|periodical=Variety|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion, giving it control over 215 local TV stations|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/05/08/sinclair-broadcast-to-buy-tribune-media-for-3-9-billion-creating-nations-largest-tv-station-group/|first=Todd|last=Frankel|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Nash Holdings, LLC|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast nears deal for Tribune Media|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-sinclair-exclusive-idUSKBN1830QH|first1=Liana|last1=Baker|first2=Jessica|last2=Toonkel|work=Reuters|date=May 7, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The New Sinclair: 72% Coverage + WGNA|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/103905/its-official-sinclair-is-buying-tribune|first1=Harry A.|last1=Jessell|first2=Mark K.|last2=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=May 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Current FCC rules bar Sinclair from owning both KOMO and KCPQ — but that could change|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/current-fcc-rules-bar-sinclair-from-owning-both-komo-and-kcpq-but-that-could-change/|first=Dominic|last=Gates|author-link=Dominic Gates|newspaper=The Seattle Times|publisher=The Seattle Times Company|date=May 9, 2017|access-date=June 7, 2017}}</ref> On April 24, 2018, Sinclair disclosed that it would buy KZJO and sell KUNS-TV to Howard Stirk Holdings, while continuing to provide services to the station; KCPQ would concurrently be sold to Fox Television Stations, which would make KCPQ a Fox owned-and-operated station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seekingalpha.com/pr/17139619-sinclair-enters-agreements-sell-tv-stations-related-closing-tribune-media-acquisition|title=Sinclair Enters Into Agreements To Sell TV Stations Related To Closing Tribune Media Acquisition}}</ref><ref name="aa-saletohsh">{{cite news|title=Sinclair Revises TV Spinoff Plans For Tribune Deal, Announces Deals For Several Stations|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/176083/sinclair-revises-tv-spinoff-plans-for-tribune-deal|access-date=April 25, 2018|work=All Access|date=April 24, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref name="foxsinclairdeal2">{{cite web|title=21st Century Fox Buys Seven Local TV Stations From Sinclair For $910 Million|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/21st-century-fox-buys-seven-local-tv-stations-from-sinclair-for-910-million-1202386066/|last=Hayes|first=Dade|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=May 9, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref>
Three weeks after the FCC's July 18 vote to have the deal reviewed by an administrative law judge amid "serious concerns" about Sinclair's forthrightness in its applications to sell certain conflict properties, on August 9, 2018, Tribune announced it would terminate the Sinclair deal, intending to seek other M&A opportunities. Tribune also filed a breach of contract lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court, alleging that Sinclair engaged in protracted negotiations with the FCC and the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division over regulatory issues, refused to sell stations in markets where it already had properties, and proposed divestitures to parties with ties to Sinclair executive chair David D. Smith that were rejected or highly subject to rejection to maintain control over stations it was required to sell. The termination of the Sinclair sale agreement places uncertainty for the future of Fox's purchases of KCPQ and the other six Tribune stations included in that deal, which were predicated on the closure of the Sinclair–Tribune merger.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair and Tribune Fall as FCC Slams TV Station Sale Plan|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-16/fcc-rejects-sinclair-plan-for-tv-station-sales-in-tribune-deal-jjof6bcs|first=Todd|last=Shields|agency=Bloomberg News|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=FCC chair rejects Sinclair-Tribune merger|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/397194-fcc-chairman-rejects-sinclair-tribune-merger/|first=Harper|last=Neidig|newspaper=The Hill|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=FCC Throws Wrench Into Sinclair Media Megadeal|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/07/fcc-throws-wrench-into-sinclair-tribune-deal.html|first=Benjamin|last=Hart|periodical=New York|publisher=New York Media, LLC|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair Tries to Appease F.C.C., but Its Tribune Bid Is Challenged|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/business/media/sinclair-tribune-fcc.html|first=Edmund|last=Lee|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FCC orders hearing even as Sinclair changes plans to sell TV stations to address concerns about Tribune deal|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-tribune-revised-divestitures-20180718-story.html|first=Lorraine|last=Mirabella|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|publisher=Tronc|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tribune Terminates $3.9 Billion Sinclair Merger, Sues Broadcast Rival|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tribune-media-terminates-merger-agreement-with-sinclair-broadcast-group-1533810907|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp.|date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tribune Kills Sinclair Merger, Files Suit|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/220320/tribune-kills-sinclair-merger/|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=September 13, 2018|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329181121/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/tribune-kills-sinclair-merger/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tribune Media pulls out of Sinclair Broadcast merger|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-tribune-sinclair-merger-ended-20180809-story.html#|first=Christopher|last=Dinsmore|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|publisher=Tronc|date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tribune Ends Deal With Sinclair, Dashing Plan for Conservative TV Behemoth|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/business/dealbook/sinclair-tribune-media.html|first1=Edmund|last1=Lee|first2=Amie|last2=Tsang|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|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|first=Jon|last=Lafayette|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|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/|first1=Brian|last1=Fung|first2=Tony|last2=Romm|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|date=August 9, 2018}}</ref>
On October 11, 2023, it was reported that KUNS-TV would become the Seattle market's new affiliate of The CW effective January 1, 2024, replacing KOMO-DT2, which reverted to a full-time affiliation with the Sinclair-owned diginet Comet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2023 |title=This Lynnwood-born star will appear on two reality dating shows at once |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/tv/katie-thurston-fboy-island-a-different-experience-than-the-bachelor/ |access-date=November 12, 2023 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The move was controversial within the local Hispanic community as it implied the discontinuation of the only local Spanish-language newscast in Western Washington; Sinclair did not confirm the discontinuation of Spanish-language content in general on KUNS until nearly a month later, having offered Univision a subchannel position that the network declined.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Nina |title=Sinclair nixes Univision affiliation, ending local Spanish broadcasts |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/sinclair-nixes-univision-affiliation-ending-local-spanish-broadcasts/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=The Seattle Times |date=November 13, 2023}}</ref> KUNS aired its last such newscast on December 31, with Bellingham-based KVOS-TV (channel 12) assuming the Univision affiliation the following day; former co-anchor Jaime Méndez started streaming his own newscast from his Lynnwood home on January 5, 2024, in response to the move.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Nina |title=WA anchor launches his own Spanish newscast to fill a new void |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/wa-anchor-launches-independent-spanish-newscast-seeking-to-fill-void/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=The Seattle Times |date=January 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Denkmann |first1=Libby |last2=Gasca |first2=Noel |title=With Univision Seattle gone, this former anchor is filling the Spanish-language news gap |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/former-anchor-filling-spanish-language-news-gap |access-date=April 20, 2024 |publisher=KUOW |date=January 11, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
When it switched to The CW, rather than any associated CW branding, Sinclair instead rebranded KUNS-TV as "arc Seattle", with "ARC" standing for "authentic, relatable, community". Alongside the rebranding, the station also launched a lifestyle-oriented morning news program also titled ''arc Seattle''.<ref>{{Cite web |author=KOMO News Staff|date=February 14, 2024 |title=Welcome to ARC Seattle: A new type of show on the CW channel |url=https://komonews.com/news/arc-seattle/welcome-to-arc-seattle-a-new-type-of-show-on-the-cw-channel-51-kuns-where-to-watch |access-date=November 9, 2024 |website=KOMO |language=en}}</ref>
In March 2025, the Seattle Storm of the WNBA announced an agreement to air 33 regional games on KUNS in the 2025 season; select games will also be simulcast by KOMO.<ref>{{cite web|title=KOMO, KUNS to broadcast 33 Seattle Storm games this season|url=https://komonews.com/sports/storm/watch-seattle-storm-wnba-tv-live-broadcast-2025-komo-abc-kunbs-cw-channel-multi-year-partnership-womens-sports-professional-expanded-coverage|website=KOMO News|date=March 31, 2025|access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref>
==Technical information== ===Subchannels=== The station's ATSC 1.0 channels are carried on the multiplexed signals of other Seattle television stations: {| class="wikitable" |+ Subchannels provided by KUNS-TV (ATSC 1.0)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KOMO|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KOMO|website=RabbitEars.info|accessdate=January 6, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KIRO|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KIRO|website=RabbitEars.info|accessdate=January 6, 2025}}</ref> ! scope = "col" | Channel ! scope = "col" | Res. ! scope = "col" | Short name ! scope = "col" | Programming ! scope = "col" | ATSC 1.0 host |- ! scope = "row" | 51.1 | 1080i || KUNS || The CW || KOMO-TV |- ! scope = "row" | 51.2 | rowspan="2"|480i || TBD || Roar/Rip City Television Network || rowspan="2"|KIRO-TV |- ! scope = "row" | 51.3 | TheNest || The Nest |}
On September 23, 2024, the Portland Trail Blazers announced an agreement with Sinclair to launch Rip City Television Network, which syndicates games over-the-air. Games in Seattle air on KUNS-TV's second subchannel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2024 |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 23, 2024|website=Portland Trail Blazers |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Analog-to-digital conversion=== KUNS-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 51, on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090207/news/302079996 | title=What digital TV delay means to North Olympic Peninsula viewers | work=Peninsula Daily News }}</ref><ref name="Analog to Digital">[http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf List of Digital Full-Power Stations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |date=August 29, 2013 }}</ref> The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 50, using virtual channel 51.
===ATSC 3.0=== {| class="wikitable" |+ Subchannels of KUNS-TV (ATSC 3.0)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KUNS|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KUNS|website=RabbitEars|accessdate=January 6, 2025}}</ref> ! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | Channel ! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | Video ! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | Short name ! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | Programming |- ! scope = "row" | 4.1 | 720p || KOMO || ABC (KOMO-TV) |- ! scope = "row" | 4.10 | rowspan=2|1080p || style="background-color:#ffffd0|T2 || style="background-color:#ffffd0|T2 |- ! scope = "row" | 4.11 | style="background-color:#ffffd0|PBTV || style="background-color:#ffffd0|Pickleballtv |- ! scope = "row" | 4.20 | || style="background-color:#ffffd0|GMLOOP || style="background-color:#ffffd0|Gameloop TV<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gameloop.tv/|title=Gameloop TV|accessdate=April 9, 2025}}</ref> |- ! scope = "row" | 4.21 | || style="background-color:#ffffd0|ROXi || style="background-color:#ffffd0|ROXi |- ! scope = "row" | 7.1 | rowspan=3|1080p || KIRO || CBS (KIRO-TV) |- ! scope = "row" | 28.11 | style="background-color:#ffffd0|KBTC-VC || style="background-color:#ffffd0|PBS (KBTC-TV) |- ! scope = "row" | 51.1 | KUNS || The CW |} {{legend|#ffffd0|Subchannel streamed via the Internet<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/static.php?name=atsc3_streaming|title=ATSC 3.0 Streams Delivered Via Internet|website=RabbitEars|accessdate=March 24, 2024}}</ref>}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/Orders/2001/da012297.txt] *[http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/Orders/2002/da020047.txt] *[http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/Orders/2002/da020048.txt] *[http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/Orders/2001/da012350.txt]
{{Seattle TV}} {{Washington (state) TV}} {{SBGI}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuns-Tv}} Category:1999 establishments in Washington (state) Category:ATSC 3.0 television stations Category:The CW affiliates Category:The Nest (TV network) affiliates Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group Category:Roar (TV network) affiliates Category:Television channels and stations established in 1999 UNS-TV