The local television landscape that serves Salem’s Spanish-speaking community is set to change after KPTV FOX 12 announced an agreement to acquire three Telemundo affiliates that cover western Oregon, including the Salem market. The deal, which remains subject to regulatory approval, includes K36QX-D in Salem as well as translators in Portland and Eugene.
What the agreement covers
Under the terms publicly disclosed by KPTV, the transaction brings the Telemundo affiliates into the broadcaster’s family while integrating them with Gray Media’s Telemundo Affiliate Station Group. The stations named in the announcement are:
| Station | Market | Over-the-air channel |
|---|---|---|
| KJYY-LD | Portland | 29.1 |
| K36QX-D | Salem | 21.1 |
| KCKW-LD | Eugene | 25.1 |
Station carriage is expected to continue across the region on cable, satellite and streaming platforms. The announcement specifically listed Comcast/Xfinity, Spectrum, DirecTV Mi Español, YouTube TV, Hulu+ Live TV and Fubo as platforms where viewers can find the stations.
Local programming and bilingual news
Both KPTV and the Gray Telemundo Affiliate Station Group emphasized continuity of local Spanish-language newscasts and digital reporting. KPTV’s statement said the stations will keep delivering local news, weather and community reporting focused on Hispanic viewers in the region.
“We are thrilled to welcome Telemundo Portland and Eugene to our local broadcast family and deepen our commitment to Oregon’s vibrant and growing Hispanic community,” said Corey Hanson, regional vice president and general manager of KPTV FOX 12.
Noticias Telemundo Portland currently airs Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Pacific time, and the group noted that regional Spanish-language content is also available online through Telemundo’s digital platforms.
What Salem viewers should expect
For viewers in Salem, the announcement carries several immediate implications:
- Continued over-the-air access to Telemundo programming on channel 21.1 (K36QX-D).
- Ongoing carriage on major cable, satellite and streaming providers listed in the announcement.
- A pledge to maintain and potentially expand locally produced Spanish-language newscasts and regional digital content.
Representatives for KPTV said the acquisition will strengthen the station group’s Spanish-language offerings and enable additional resources for local reporting. Susan S. Oh, senior vice president of strategy and operations for the Gray Telemundo Affiliate Station Group, highlighted the expansion of Telemundo’s Pacific Northwest footprint as part of broader operations plans.
“Expanding our Telemundo footprint into the Pacific Northwest represents an exciting milestone for our group,” said Susan S. Oh.
Regulatory review and next steps
The deal is subject to the customary regulatory approvals. Until those approvals are finalized and any required filings are completed, ownership and operational control remain unchanged. No timeline for regulatory clearance was included in the announcement.
Local community leaders and media advocates often watch transactions of this kind for their effect on local journalism resources, language access and representation. In Salem, where Spanish speakers are a significant and growing share of the population, retention of Spanish-language newscasts and online content will be central to how residents evaluate the acquisition.
WE NEWS will continue to monitor filings with federal regulators and relay any material changes affecting Salem viewers, station operations or the availability of Telemundo programming in the region.
