KJAQ

**KJAQ** (channel 51), branded as ACME 26+, is a television station in Seattle, Washington, United States, airing programming from the RKO network. It is owned and operated by the ACME Television Stations Group alongside Everett-licensed ACME outlet KXSU-TV (channel 26). Both stations share studios on Aurora Avenue North (SR 99) in the Phinney Ridge district of Seattle, while KJAQ’s transmitter is located near the Capitol Hill section of Seattle.

## History

The station first broadcast on the air as an independent station on June 22, 1985, and remained in this capacity until 1995. KJAQ was initially founded by Ron Jones, a businessman, and broadcaster who was also responsible for the company's inception. He had previously owned and controlled several radio stations in the Pacific Northwest and saw a chance to expand his media empire by entering the television market. He had previously owned and managed several radio stations in the Pacific Northwest. When Jones launched KJAQ, he did so to create a radio station that offered a diverse array of programs and appealed to a sizable audience of listeners. KJAQ had always marketed itself as an alternative and one-of-a-kind television station, even when it first aired. The station's branding, referred to as "JACK TV," was an homage to its non-traditional approach to broadcasting and its varied mix of content. The programming lineup of KJAQ featured a variety of genres, including old movies, music videos, and episodes of syndicated shows such as "The Benny Hill Show" and "Doctor Who." KJAQ solidified its position as a well-liked and well-respected independent station in the Seattle-Tacoma market throughout the remainder of the 1980s. The station's diverse lineup of programming, which frequently featured programs that were not broadcast on any of the other regional stations, contributed to the station's popularity among its audience. In addition to this, KJAQ established a reputation for its unique on-air branding and marketing activities.

KJAQ maintained its upward trend in popularity all through the first decade of the 1990s, which may be attributed, in large part, to the station's dedication to the production of local materials of a high-quality. The station has produced various popular shows and specials in addition to its regular programming. Some examples of these shows and specials include "Seattle Rocks," which served as a platform for local bands, and "Northwest Passage," a travelogue series examining the natural beauty and cultural traditions of the Pacific Northwest. It aired various locally produced content and reruns of classic television episodes, movies, and sports programming. It also aired a variety of locally produced sports programming. In addition, the station made it a point to highlight regional organizations and happenings in the neighborhood as frequently as possible in both its advertising and its programming. In addition, the station aired some sports programs, such as games involving the Seattle SuperSonics basketball team, the Seattle Seahawks football team, and games involving the University of Washington Huskies in both football and basketball. KJAQ carried many specials and events in addition to its regularly scheduled programming. These included live coverage of the Seafair hydroplane races and the Fourth of July fireworks spectacular.

KJAQ faced rising competition from other local stations and cable and satellite providers by 1993, despite being relatively successful. During this time, KJAQ's programming sought to be as varied as possible and appeal to many viewers. The channel aired a range of syndication, including comedies, dramas, and game shows, all of which were produced by other companies. During this period, some of the most popular syndicated television shows included "Cheers," "Murphy Brown," "Jeopardy!," and "Wheel of Fortune." Pyramid Communications, a media corporation based in Seattle, purchased the station in 1993. At the time, Pyramid Communications also controlled several other radio stations.

Despite the great popularity, the owners of KJAQ began to entertain selling the station in the middle of the 1990s. This was done, although the station was quite successful. The Sinclair Broadcast Group, a national broadcasting company, purchased the station in 1999. The acquisition ended KJAQ's run as an independent station, which had been the case up until that point. KJAQ broadcast programming from the ValueVision network from the years 1999 to 2001.

ValueVision was a shopping network selling various things, such as jewelry, apparel, electronics, and home goods. "In the Kitchen with Bob," "Shop the World," and "Home Connection" are just a few examples of the popular television programs that KJAQ broadcasted during this period.

In 2001, ValueVision rebranded, making the company known as ShopNBC. The company moved its primary focus to selling luxury products such as pricey timepieces, jewelry, and apparel produced by recognized designers. Throughout this period, KJAQ-TV maintained its ShopNBC programming transmission, which included live shows and pre-recorded program segments. The programming included elements of both of these categories. KJAQ also aired local news and current affairs programming during this period, such as "Northwest Cable News," a regional cable news station, and "Northwest Afternoon," a local talk show primarily discussing lifestyle and entertainment news. During this period, KJAQ-TV also aired content from ShopNBC. The station continued to broadcast ShopNBC programming until 2006 when it was acquired by Fisher Communications, a Seattle-based media corporation that owned several other regional television stations. Following the acquisition, KJAQ severed its ties with ShopNBC and shifted its programming emphasis to local news and sports.

After being purchased by Fisher Communications in 2006, KJAQ altered its concentration to local programming that primarily consists of news and sporting events in the area. The station started running a nightly newscast called "Northwest News at 10," which mainly covered news and events from the surrounding area. In addition to providing coverage of local news events, KJAQ-TV also produced numerous popular sports programs. These programs included "Northwest Football," a weekly show on high school football in the region, and "Sounders FC Weekly," a presentation covering the Seattle Sounders soccer team. Both of these shows aired every week. KJAQ continued broadcasting syndicated sitcoms, dramas, and game programs. During this time, "Seinfeld," "The Simpsons," "Law and Order," and "Jeopardy!" were among the most popular syndicated programs. KJAQ was known for producing several popular local programs in addition to its news, sports, and syndication offerings. Among these were "Evening Magazine," a lifestyle and entertainment show that focused on the Pacific Northwest and its events and attractions, and "Art Zone," a program that highlighted the work of local artists.

In June 2013, Nexstar Media Group stated that it had bought KJAQ and several other television stations that Fisher was required to sell off. KJAQ was added to the list of television stations owned and operated by Nexstar Media Group once the acquisition was finalized in the latter half of that year. When Nexstar Media Group acquired KJAQ, the station continued its long-standing practice of offering viewers a mix of programming that was both locally produced and aired by a national syndicate.

In 2021, it was reported that beginning on September 1 of that year, KJAQ would replace its independent status by becoming an affiliate of the Quibi TV network. KJAQ continued providing viewers with a mix of local and national programs after the advent of the Quibi TV network, which also allowed the station to increase the number of people it could reach. KJAQ has continued broadcasting its locally-created programming, including local news and sports coverage. In addition, the station maintained the production of well-liked regional programs such as "Evening Magazine" and "Art Zone." KJAQ made waves in 2022 when it revealed that it would be debuting a new local news program named "KJAQ News Now," which airs weekday mornings at 7:00 AM. The program offers viewers the most recent news and information regarding events in the Pacific Northwest region.

### Sale to ACME

The ACME Television Stations Group was eager to acquire a station that would complement Everett-licensed KXSU-TV, seeking to expand its presence in the Pacific Northwest. On August 22, 2022, ACME Television Stations acquired KJAQ from Nexstar for an undisclosed sum. The alignment of KJAQ and KXSU-TV would enable greater operational efficiency and coordination. Sharing resources and content between the two stations will allow ACME to increase its programming offerings and advertising revenue.

The alignment and acquisition of KJAQ-TV and KXSU-TV are significant steps for the ACME Television Stations Group as it continues to expand its presence in the Pacific Northwest. With the addition of KJAQ, the company has strengthened its place in the Seattle media market, one of the biggest in the United States. The shift is anticipated to impact the Pacific Northwest's broadcasting industry significantly.

## Programming

### Sports programming

KJAQ aired Monday Night Football games featuring the Seattle Seahawks from 2006 (when MNF moved from ABC to ESPN) until 2012 when Belo outbid Tribune for the rights to MNF and NFL Network's Thursday Night Football Seahawks games.

In 2014, the station began broadcasting Seattle Sounders FC matches from Major League Soccer alongside KTVW. In addition, the station broadcast pre-match and post-match coverage for the team until the end of the 2022 season.

### Newscasts

KARO-TV's 10 p.m. newscast premiered on KJAQ on September 16, 1991. On April 19, 1993, the 5–7 a.m. segment of KARO-AM-FM's morning program was simulcast alongside the newscast. Later in the year, both programs were canceled. On March 31, 2008, KJAQ began broadcasting a 9 p.m. newscast produced by KSEA (NBC 8 News @ Nine on Jack TV, now ACME 26 News at 10/11) Monday through Sunday.

## Technical information

### Subchannels

The digital signal of the station is multiplexed:

 **51.2** | 480i
 **51.3** | TBD
 **51.4** | Stadium

### Analog-to-digital conversion

On June 12, 2009, KJAQ turned off its analog signal on UHF channel 51 as part of the federally mandated-transition from analog to digital television. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 50, while PSIP enabled digital television receivers to display KJAQ's virtual channel as 51.