View source for KPEC-TV

{{Short description|TV station in Lakewood, Washington, United States (1960–1976)}}
{{Infobox television station
| name = KPEC-TV
| location = [[Lakewood, Washington|Lakewood Center, Washington]]
| airdate = {{Start date|1960|4|28}}
| coordinates = {{coord|47|10|31|N|122|29|37|W}}
| owner = [[Clover Park School District]]
| analog = 56 ([[Ultra high frequency|UHF]])
| erp = 21.4 [[watt|kW]]<ref name="fact">{{Cite news |date=1972 |title=KPEC-TV |page=943-b |work=Television Factbook |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1972-73-TV-Factbook/Television-Factbook-1972-73.pdf#page=944 |via=World Radio History |access-date=August 25, 2021}}</ref>
| haat = {{cvt|210|ft|m}}
| affiliations = {{ubl|[[National Educational Television|NET]] (1960–1970)|[[PBS]] (1970–1976)}}
| country = United States
| last_airdate = {{end date|1976|1}} <!--No exact end date is available-->
}}
'''KPEC-TV''' was an [[non-commercial educational station|educational]] [[television station]] on [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) channel 56 in [[Lakewood, Washington|Lakewood Center, Washington]], United States. Owned by the [[Clover Park School District]] and operated in association with other nearby school systems, it was one of two educational television stations in [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]] alongside [[KBTC-TV|KTPS-TV]] (channel 62). KPEC-TV operated from 1960 to 1976 and was replaced when the Clover Park School District acquired a [[Bankruptcy|bankrupt]] [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] television station, KTVW (channel 13), and paired its own studio facilities with the channel 13 transmitter plant to launch [[KCPQ]] in January 1976. Clover Park continued to operate that station until February 1980, when it was sold to private commercial interests.
==History==
The [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) allocated channel 56 for use as an educational station in Tacoma in 1952. Discussions of the use of this educational channel first took place in 1954.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 26, 1954 |title=Use Of TV In Education |page=B-2 |work=[[The News Tribune|Tacoma News Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84096905/use-of-tv-in-education/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> After applying that February,{{r|ford}} in October 1958, the school district received a construction permit to build a station on the channel, to be operated by the district's vocational-technical school, which already ran [[KVTI|KCPS]] (90.9 FM).<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 23, 1958 |title=Clover Park Gets TV Outlet |page=B-7 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84096993/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> Construction continued through the course of 1959<ref name="project">{{Cite news |title=Clover Park School Installs TV Station as Vocational Project |page=A-6 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84098224/clover-park-school-install-tv-station-as/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> as nine local school districts joined the consortium that would utilize the educational programs to be broadcast on channel 56.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 21, 1959 |title=Nine Schools Will Use TV |page=A-3 |work=Tacoma News-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84098326/nine-schools-will-use-tv-kpec/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref>
In January 1960, KCPS moved into its new quarters in the purpose-built Radio-Television Center on Steilacoom Boulevard,<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 24, 1960 |title=Clover Park Radio Returns To Air Monday |page=B-6 |work=Tacoma News-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84098382/clover-park-radio-returns-to-air-monday/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> which had been built on surplus [[United States Navy|Navy]] land.{{r|ford}} On the afternoon of April 28, county schools and homes with UHF converters saw the first program from KPEC-TV, Washington's second educational TV station, a kickoff followed by demonstrations in elementary school science and music;<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 28, 1960 |title=Clover Park TV To Start |page=A-10 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84098415/clover-park-tv-to-start-kpec-tv/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> experimental programming for elementary schools continued until the end of the school year.<ref name="ford">{{Cite news |date=July 20, 1960 |title=Clover Park TV Elated Over $96,000 Ford Grant |page=C-4 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84098492/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> When KPEC-TV began broadcasting again in the fall, it added high school courses, supported by a [[Ford Foundation]] grant, as well as evening programs from [[National Educational Television]].{{r|ford}} Occasionally, programs produced by channel 56 were aired on [[KSTW|KTNT-TV]] (channel 11), one of Tacoma's two commercial stations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 9, 1961 |title=Tranquilizers Science Fair Topic on KTNT |page=C-16 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84098637/tranquilizers-science-fair-topic-on-ktnt/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref>
The progress made by the young educational station was almost wiped out. On August 6, 1963, an electrical short in lighting equipment caused a fire that raced through the studio, destroying the channel 56 transmitter, cameras, and six classrooms in the same building and causing paint to blister on the adjacent tower; four firefighters were injured battling the blaze.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cardwell |first=Rod |date=August 6, 1963 |title=School TV Station Burns: Heavy Loss To Clover Park Setup |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84099126/loss-heavy-in-blaze-at-clover-park/ 8] |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84099070/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> The fire caused $300,000 in damage,<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 7, 1963 |title=CP Studies Fire Damage |page=C-12 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84099149/cp-studies-fire-damage/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> but with 20 school systems depending on programs from the educational station, rebuilding arrangements proceeded quickly. Within a week, a transmitter was on order, and arrangements were being made to use the FM radio studio, protected by a firewall from significant damage, to resume program production;<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 13, 1963 |title=Clover Park Begins Television Rebuilding |page=A-7 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83946674/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> KPEC-TV beat a self-imposed October 1 deadline to get back on the air with the aid of [[RCA]] and equipment loaned by other Tacoma and [[Seattle]] stations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cardwell |first=Rod |date=October 1, 1963 |title=Clover Park's Educational TV Station Back on Air After Fire |page=D-16 |work=Tacoma News-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84099214/clover-park-schools-educational-tv-stat/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref>
Channel 56's growth also included the connection of additional school districts to the station by the setup of translator stations in areas south and west of Lakewood. In 1962, school districts in [[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]] joined the KPEC-TV educational consortium and constructed a booster to bring the signal further south.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 1, 1961 |title=Olympia Plans TV Link To Clover Park |page=1 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84098679/olympia-plans-tv-link-to-clover-park/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> By 1964, 17 districts were participating in KPEC-TV's operations; it employed 30 staff, including nine teachers, and cost about $150,000 a year to operate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Lee |date=September 1, 1964 |title=Educational TV Helpful In Classroom |page=8 |work=The Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35538202/educational-tv-helpful-in-classroom/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref> Further federal grants helped set up additional translators that, by 1967, had extended KPEC-TV programming as far south as [[Vancouver, Washington|Vancouver]], serving some 150,000 students in more than 175 schools.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 23, 1967 |title=Clover Park School Awarded $32,034 Grant |page=4 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84098823/clover-park-school-awarded-32034-grant/ |accessdate=August 24, 2021}}</ref>
Throughout the station's history, KPEC-TV had upgraded its facilities by being savvy with equipment no longer needed elsewhere. When channel 56 was built, some of the equipment had been purchased from the failed [[KTRX (TV)|KTRX]] at [[Kennewick, Washington|Kennewick]].{{r|project}}<ref name="looking">{{Cite news |last=Kratz |first=Eleanor |date=June 22, 1975 |title=KPEC-TV looking ahead to greater audience potential |pages=8, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83946003/greater-audience-potential-kpec-tv/ 9] |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83945980/kpec-tv-looking-ahead-to/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> Channel 56 conducted its first live broadcast in 1970, of a forum on the construction of a new highway;<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 5, 1970 |title=Televiews |page=C-13 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84132254/televiews/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> the station's remote production truck, formerly a delivery van, was rebuilt three times using equipment discarded by Seattle's [[KIRO-TV]] and [[KOMO-TV]]. In one case, another station had ordered a videotape machine that fell off a forklift at the airport; when the station director, J. Albert Brevik, learned that it was to be written off, he acquired it and had it repaired.{{r|looking}} Some of that videotape equipment was of benefit to viewers far beyond Washington: by the early 1970s, [[PBS]] network programming was being recorded at Lakewood so that the tapes could be transported to [[KUAC-TV]] in [[Fairbanks, Alaska]], that state's first public television station.{{r|looking}}
KPEC-TV also built itself into a station that punched above its weight in production. A series called ''Washington Alternatives'', which was aired by all of the state's public television stations, was taped at [[KWSU-TV]] in [[Pullman, Washington|Pullman]] but edited at channel 56. One KPEC-TV production, coverage of the [[Washington State Legislature]] during its sessions, also was distributed statewide. Two programs—''Ducks or Docks'', on the future of the [[Nisqually Delta]], and ''What Happens to Me?'', concerning the environmental impacts of the Tacoma smelter—were aired nationally; the latter was nominated for a national [[Emmy Award]].{{r|looking}}
===From 56 to 13===
{{see|KCPQ}}
For all of KPEC-TV's accomplishments, by the mid-1970s, channel 56 was approaching a crossroads. It needed to replace some of the 1963-vintage transmitter equipment. Further, because only KPEC-TV and KTPS were on the UHF band in Western Washington, Seattle-based KCTS still reached more homes than either of them.{{r|looking}} An unexpected solution, however, came in the form of trouble at another South Sound TV station.
In 1972, the Blaidon Mutual Insurance Corporation had acquired [[KCPQ|KTVW]] channel 13, one of the region's two commercial independent stations, from the estate of [[J. Elroy McCaw]]. Blaidon promptly found itself in financial trouble. In December 1973, it filed to sell the station to the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]]; while that sale awaited FCC action, employees walked out in January until they received their paychecks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Webster |first=Kerry |date=January 30, 1974 |title=Strapped tv outlet urges FCC action |page=D-5 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83971128/strapped-tv-outlet-urges-fcc-action/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> Even though the FCC approved the deal, CBN balked at the high purchase price of the station and asked for more time to consummate the transaction.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 2, 1974 |title=TV Channel 13 sale may be in jeopardy |page=B-12 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83971050/tv-channel-13-sale-may-be-in-jeopardy/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> KTVW was placed into receivership in July at the request of creditor [[Universal Television#MCA Television|MCA Television]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 25, 1974 |title=KTVW thrown into receivership |page=D-2 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83971210/ktvw-thrown-into-receivership/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> Though bankruptcy court approved a sale to the Suburban Broadcasting Corporation of [[Patchogue, New York]], in November,<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 12, 1974 |title=Way clear for sale of KTVW |page=A-4 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83971182/way-clear-for-sale-of-ktvw/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> the transaction broke down at the last minute due to the $1 million in liabilities that the buyer would have to assume,<ref name="offers">{{Cite news |last=Webster |first=Kerry |date=January 31, 1975 |title=Channel 13 has purchase offers |page=A-14 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83971303/channel-13-has-purchase-offers/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> and the bankruptcy court ordered KTVW off the air on December 12, 1974.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bailey |first=John |date=December 13, 1974 |title=Channel 13 ordered off the air |page=1 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83971089/channel-13-ordered-off-the-air/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref>
{{Quote box
| quote = They're getting the whole station for essentially what I'd have to pay for a couple of color cameras.
| author = Eric Bremner
| source = general manager, [[KING-TV]]{{r|insiders}}
| align = left
| width = 250px
| salign = left
}}
The bankruptcy court received two offers for the station,{{r|offers}} and Clover Park was the surprise high bidder for the channel 13 broadcast facility (excluding studios).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Webster |first=Kerry |date=February 11, 1975 |title=CP leads bidding for Channel 13 |page=1 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83946276/cp-leads-bidding-for-channel-13/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> The final cost was a bargain: $212,000 (revised later to $378,000{{r|tucson}}), with the $1 million of debt dissolved as part of settlements with creditors, some of whom bought back equipment in the KTVW studios at a sheriff's sale.<ref name="insiders">{{Cite news |last=Webster |first=Kerry |date=February 13, 1975 |title=Channel 13 a big bargain for CP, say TV insiders |page=A-3 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83946886/channel-13-a-big-bargain-for-cp-say-tv/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> That sum was similar to the cost of replacing the channel 56 transmitter,{{r|insiders}} but it gave a much wider coverage area and strong regional VHF signal that the existing facility could not provide.{{r|looking}}
Transmitter testing took place in November 1975, with channel 13 repeating the KPEC-TV signal;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Webster |first=Kerry |date=November 15, 1975 |title=Channel 13 test set for next week |page=C-4 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83957425/channel-13-test-set-for-next-week/}}</ref> eventually, a new microwave link would be used to feed the transmitter near [[Ruston, Washington|Ruston]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Webster |first=Kerry |date=December 14, 1975 |title=Whole new life for Channel 13 |pages=TV Spotlight 2, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83957539/whole-new-life-kpec-ktvw-kcpq/ 15] |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83957467/whole-new-life-for-channel-13/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> The newly-rechristened KCPQ became a noncommercial TV station, and the third PBS member station for the Seattle-Tacoma market, alongside [[KBTC-TV|KTPS]] and primary station [[KCTS-TV|KCTS]]. When KCPQ went on the air January 4, 1976, the microwave link was not ready, so KPEC-TV remained in service until it was; after that, KPEC-TV ceased operations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seago |first=David |date=January 5, 1976 |title=Channel 13 return 'just beautiful' |page=1 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83957571/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> As channel 13, KTPS contributed some programming to the VHF station.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 4, 1976 |title=Jeff Smith--Tacoma's own Julia Child |page=A-5 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83957609/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref>
Clover Park continued to operate KCPQ, but two events in the late 1970s prompted it to reconsider owning a public television station. In 1978, Washington state approved plans to fully fund basic education at the state level, which would change channel 13 into a financial drain on the school system; meanwhile, portions of [[Clover Park High School]] were condemned, but voters rejected four separate bond initiatives that would have funded the reconstruction of the high school.<ref name="prevent">{{Cite news |last=Erickson |first=Jim |date=May 11, 1979 |title=Petition filed to prevent Channel 13 license move |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84141640/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> Because KCPQ was operating noncommercially on an unreserved frequency, it could be converted back to commercial use. In December 1978, Gene Adelstein and Edward Berger, owners of [[KMSB|KZAZ-TV]] in [[Tucson, Arizona]], made a $6 million offer for channel 13.<ref name="tucson">{{Cite news |last=Gillie |first=John |date=December 12, 1978 |title=$6 million offered for Channel 13 |page=1 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83963093/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> Another buyer showed up at the last minute with a bid that was $250,000 higher: Kelly Broadcasting of [[Sacramento, California]], to whom the school board approved a sale at the start of 1979.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gillie |first=John |date=January 3, 1979 |title=Clover Park will sell Channel 13 |page=1 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84142559/clover-park-will-sell-channel-13/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> The sale was met with stiff protests and a petition to deny led by members of the station's advisory board as "Save our Station 13".{{r|prevent}} After the approval of a settlement between this group and Kelly that included a $450,000 gift from the buyer for public television and the donation of the Ruston tower to KTPS,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Webster |first=Kerry |date=February 14, 1980 |title=Trust fund accepted for halting Channel 13 appeal |page=A-2 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83963230/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> KCPQ ceased educational broadcasting on February 29, 1980,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pyle |first=Jack |date=March 1, 1980 |title=Channel 13 crew goes quietly into last goodnight |page=A-2 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84141984/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref> and Kelly moved the transmitter site to [[Bremerton, Washington|Bremerton]]'s Gold Mountain before returning KCPQ to commercial operation as an independent station on November 4; it is now a Fox owned-and-operated station.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 5, 1980 |title=KCPQ-TV (finally) beams on |page=C-8 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84148768/kcpq-tv-finally-beams-on/ |accessdate=August 25, 2021}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Seattle TV}}
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1960]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 1976]]
[[Category:1960 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1976 disestablishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Defunct television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct mass media in Washington (state)|PEC-TV]]