Apple Valley News Now Celebrates 50 Years of Local Broadcasting

The Murphy family-owned stations KAPP and KVEW have served the Yakima and Tri-Cities regions since 1970.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:00pm

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a vintage television set, a microphone, and a stack of old film reels, conceptually representing the history and technology of local television broadcasting.A timeless collection of classic broadcasting equipment pays tribute to Apple Valley News Now's 50 years of local television service.Kennewick Today

Apple Valley News Now, the parent company of ABC affiliates KAPP in Yakima and KVEW in Kennewick, Washington, is celebrating its 50th anniversary of providing local news, entertainment, and community service to the Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick area. The stations were founded in 1970 by Apple Valley Broadcasting Inc., a subsidiary of the Wisconsin-based Morgan Murphy Media company owned by Elizabeth Murphy Burns and John Murphy.

Why it matters

As one of the longest-running independent television broadcasters in the Pacific Northwest, Apple Valley News Now has maintained a strong local presence and commitment to its communities over the past five decades, even as the media landscape has undergone dramatic changes.

The details

KAPP first signed on the air in Yakima on September 21, 1970 as an ABC affiliate, with KVEW following a month later to serve the Tri-Cities region. The stations were built by Apple Valley Broadcasting Inc., which remains the owner today as a subsidiary of Morgan Murphy Media. Morgan Murphy Media is owned by Elizabeth Murphy Burns and John Murphy, the grandchildren of the company's founder. In addition to KAPP and KVEW, the Murphy family also owns KXLY-TV in Spokane, allowing the combined resources of the three stations to provide unique television service across Eastern Washington.

  • Apple Valley News Now's KAPP station first signed on the air on September 21, 1970.
  • KVEW, the company's Tri-Cities affiliate, launched about a month later in October 1970.

The players

Apple Valley Broadcasting Inc.

The owner and operator of KAPP and KVEW, Apple Valley Broadcasting Inc. is a subsidiary of the Wisconsin-based Morgan Murphy Media company.

Morgan Murphy Media

The parent company of Apple Valley Broadcasting, Morgan Murphy Media is owned by Elizabeth Murphy Burns and John Murphy, the grandchildren of the company's founder.

KAPP

The ABC affiliate station serving the Yakima, Washington market, which first signed on the air in 1970.

KVEW

The ABC affiliate station serving the Tri-Cities region of Washington, which launched about a month after KAPP in 1970.

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What’s next

Apple Valley News Now plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary with special programming and community events throughout 2020.

The takeaway

Apple Valley News Now's five decades of local broadcasting in the Yakima and Tri-Cities regions demonstrate the enduring value of independent, community-focused television stations even as the media landscape has evolved. The company's commitment to serving its viewers and enhancing local quality of life has been a consistent hallmark over the past half-century.