KONG (TV)
Updated: 12/21/2025, 11:42:55 AM Wikipedia source
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 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.
Infobox
City
Everett, Washington
Channels
Digital: 31 (UHF)Virtual: 16
Branding
KONG
Affiliations
16.1: Independentfor others, see § Technical information and subchannels
Owner
Tegna Inc.(sale to Nexstar Media Group pending)(KONG-TV, Inc.)
Sister stations
KING-TV
First air date
July 7, 1997 (1997-07-07)
Former channel number
Analog: 16 (UHF, 1997–2009)
Call sign meaning
Counterpart of KING, as in King Kong; call sign chosen in 1984, years before KING programmed the station
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID
35396
ERP
715 kW
HAAT
232 m (761 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
mw- 47°37′54″N 122°21′3″W / 47.63167°N 122.35083°W / 47.63167; -122.35083
Public license information
Public fileLMS
Website
www.king5.com
Tables
Subchannels provided by KONG (ATSC 1.0)[56] · Technical information and subchannels
KONG-HD
KONG-HD
Channel
16.1
Res.
720p
Aspect
16:9
Short name
KONG-HD
Programming
Independent
ATSC 1.0 host
KING-TV
True Crime Network
True Crime Network
Channel
16.2
Res.
480i
Aspect
TCN
Short name
True Crime Network
Programming
KZJO
KCPQ
KCPQ
Channel
16.3
Res.
Confess
Aspect
Confess
Short name
KCPQ
| Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming | ATSC 1.0 host |
| 16.1 | 720p | 16:9 | KONG-HD | Independent | KING-TV |
| 16.2 | 480i | TCN | True Crime Network | KZJO | |
| 16.3 | Confess | Confess | KCPQ |
Subchannels of KONG (ATSC 3.0)[57] · Technical information and subchannels
KING
KING
Channel
5.1
Res.
1080p
Aspect
16:9
Short name
KING
Programming
NBC (KING-TV)
Fox (KCPQ)
Fox (KCPQ)
Channel
13.1
Res.
720p
Aspect
KCPQ
Short name
Fox (KCPQ)
Independent (KONG)
Independent (KONG)
Channel
16.1
Res.
1080p
Aspect
KONG
Short name
Independent (KONG)
MyNetworkTV (KZJO)
MyNetworkTV (KZJO)
Channel
22.1
Res.
720p
Aspect
KZJO
Short name
MyNetworkTV (KZJO)
| Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
| 5.1 | 1080p | 16:9 | KING | NBC (KING-TV) |
| 13.1 | 720p | KCPQ | Fox (KCPQ) | |
| 16.1 | 1080p | KONG | Independent (KONG) | |
| 22.1 | 720p | KZJO | MyNetworkTV (KZJO) |
References
- TV News Checkhttps://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/
- Licensing and Management Systemhttps://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityTechDetails.html?facilityId=35396
- The Heraldhttps://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-legal-notice/146049370/
- Everett Heraldhttps://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-permit-asked-for-everet/146049190/
- Everett Heraldhttps://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-everetts-station-that/146049177/
- Everett Heraldhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-competitors-for-ch-16/146050715/
- The Heraldhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-heeeeres-everett-chan/178209494/
- The Heraldhttps://newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-unity-picked-to-build-e/146049406/
- The Seattle Timeshttps://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/distinguishing-king-kong/replblhlpquyvpahjsuncgmbhgcjmjob_ip-10-166-46-150_1714073108288
- The Seattle Timeshttps://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/residents-protest-another-tv-transmitter/gtbjqmhfknijgalafgvquqzhgrajmbdb_ip-10-166-46-155_1714073141119
- The Seattle Timeshttps://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/tower-war-cougar-mountain-group-awaits-ruling-antenna/uttcyspyflemefgpxfnnffgnsomrvpjz_ip-10-166-46-186_1714073181629
- The Seattle Timeshttps://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/cougar-mountain-residents-block-new-antenna/lvwhqeefdrnzpdkfbzygduuizchiokoy_ip-10-166-46-146_1714073219387
- The Seattle Timeshttps://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/residents-fight-kong-tower-decision/aqknrjfeqyojitpgvgqygdwktuthormz_ip-10-166-46-142_1714073343020
- MeasuringWorthhttp://www.measuringworth.com/datasets/usgdp/
- The Heraldhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-delays-blur-picture-for/178209594/
- The Heraldhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-kong-tv-tower-problems/178209630/
- The News Tribunehttps://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-upstart-kong-wont-be-a/146050996/
- The News Tribunehttps://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-home-shopping-tvs-bil/146051069/
- The Daily Heraldhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-station-kong-but-not-f/178209699/
- The Heraldhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-off-road-enthusiasts-be/178209773/
- The Morning News Tribunehttps://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-public-auction/146051149/
- Broadcastinghttps://www.proquest.com/docview/1016925931
- Seattle Post-Intelligencerhttps://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/kiros-russian-connection-plugs-good-journalism-ratings-driven-era/zyjdqqdzgxyxdgyrprcxdnirlwrqkbwy_ip-10-166-46-183_1714073471895
- The News Tribunehttps://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-kong-coming-to-local-tv/146051642/
- The Seattle Timeshttps://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/new-station-kong-hopes-viewing-old-shows-will-prove-hip-campy/scogcpburlajhkexkpzxvcgznaeevggg_ip-10-166-46-138_1714115483486
- The News Tribunehttps://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-nancy-guppy-is-a-king/146063616/
- Broadcasting & Cablehttps://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1999/BC-1999-11-22.pdf
- Television and Cable Factbook
- The News Tribunehttps://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-digital-transition-sche/146120518/
- "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds"https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf
- Broadcasting & Cablehttps://www.nexttv.com/news/nab-2009-broadcasters-set-mobile-dtv-test-markets-46763
- TVNewsCheckhttp://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/72893/gannett-completes-its-acquisition-of-belo
- "Separation of Gannett into two public companies completed"http://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/
- KING-TVhttps://www.king5.com/article/news/king-5-begins-new-era-at-home-plate-center/281-65533124
- The News Tribunehttps://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-king-kong-connection-br/146084510/
- The Seattle Times
- The Seattle Times
- KING-TVhttps://www.king5.com/article/news/local/king-5-news-expanding-at-630-and-9-pm/281-307872575
- The News Tribunehttps://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-all-sonics-games-to-be/138014447/
- The Seattle Times
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- The Seattle Times
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- "Sounders FC to Partner with Q13 FOX and JOEtv for 2014 MLS Season"https://www.soundersfc.com/news/sounders-fc-partner-q13-fox-and-joetv-2014-mls-season
- "Seafair hydroplane races return to familiar schedule and to TV"https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/seafair-hydroplane-races-return-to-familiar-schedule-and-to-tv/
- The Seattle Timeshttps://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/events/where-to-see-seattle-area-fourth-of-july-2025-fireworks-parades-and-more/
- TVNewsCheckhttps://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/seattle-reign-fc-and-king-media-set-broadcast-partnership/
- The Seattle Timeshttps://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/kraken-leaving-root-sports-for-new-tv-and-streaming-deals/
- NHL.comhttps://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/new-more-ways-to-watch-the-kraken
- Seattle Sportshttps://sports.mynorthwest.com/seattle-sports-pit/pwhl-team-seattle-torrent-air-games-free-tv/1829526
- Sports Business Journalhttps://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2022/05/10.aspx
- king5.comhttps://www.king5.com/article/sports/nhl/kraken/watch-seattle-kraken-games-king-kong-nhl-2024-2025-season/281-85cdbc67-3416-4190-9734-6767ad46aee2
- Licensing and Management Systemhttps://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f918e51bfdb018e56c210ff0406
- RabbitEarshttps://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KING#station
- RabbitEarshttps://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KONG