Checking the Seattle television schedule tonight used to be a matter of flipping to the back of the newspaper or waiting for that agonizingly slow blue-and-yellow scroll on the Prevue Channel. Now? It’s a mess of "Live TV" tabs, streaming overlays, and local affiliates that seem to change their primetime lineup whenever a Kraken game runs long or a breaking news alert hits from the Sound.
You’re probably just trying to figure out if Jeopardy! is on at its usual time on KOMO 4 or if some infomercial has hijacked your evening routine. Local broadcasting in the Pacific Northwest is weirdly specific. We have a heavy emphasis on local news—seriously, Seattle loves its 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM news blocks—and that often pushes the "good stuff" into strange slots.
If you're sitting on your couch in Queen Anne or West Seattle right now, remote in hand, here is the actual reality of what’s hitting the airwaves tonight and how to navigate the chaos of Emerald City broadcasting.
What’s actually on the Seattle television schedule tonight?
The "Big Four" in Seattle—KOMO (ABC), KING (NBC), KIRO (CBS), and KCPQ (FOX)—don't just follow the national feed blindly. We are in the Pacific Time Zone, which means we get that "Prime Time" sweet spot from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM, but the lead-ins are where things get hairy.
The Local Heavyweights
KOMO News Channel 4 (ABC) usually sticks to the script, but they are heavy on the Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! power hour starting at 7:00 PM. If there's a major storm or a fire on I-5, expect that 6:00 PM news to bleed over. Honestly, KOMO is the most "traditional" of the bunch. Tonight’s lineup features the standard ABC sitcom block or a high-stakes drama like Grey's Anatomy (which, let's be real, we only watch to see if they get the Seattle geography right—they usually don't).
KING 5 (NBC) is "The Home Team." They pride themselves on localism. If you’re looking at the Seattle television schedule tonight for NBC, you’re likely seeing Evening at 7:30 PM. It's a Seattle staple. After that, it's usually the Law & Order trifecta or whatever competition show is currently mid-season. KING 5 is also the most likely to bump a show for a local special or a town hall, so keep an eye on that ticker at the bottom of the screen.
KIRO 7 (CBS) is the place for the procedural junkies. NCIS, FBI, you know the drill. Their 7:00 PM slot is often filled with Entertainment Tonight, giving you that celebrity fix before the gritty dramas start. KIRO has a very loyal viewership in the suburbs—think Bellevue and Edmonds—so their ad breaks are a fascinating look at local window replacement companies and personal injury lawyers.
👉 See also: Album Hopes and Fears: Why We Obsess Over Music That Doesn't Exist Yet
The Fox 13 Factor
KCPQ, or FOX 13, is the wild card. Because FOX doesn't have a national news program at 6:30 PM like the others, they just keep the local news rolling. They have more hours of local news than almost anyone else in the market. If you want to know what happened in Tacoma today, this is your station. Tonight, they’ll likely transition from local news straight into FOX’s primetime offerings, which usually lean into animation or reality-competition shows.
Why your digital guide might be lying to you
Ever noticed that your YouTube TV or Comcast guide says one thing, but the screen shows another? It happens way too often in the Seattle-Tacoma market.
Sports is the primary culprit.
When the Seattle Kraken are playing, or if the Mariners are in a late-inning stretch on a Friday night, local schedules get tossed out the window. While many games are on ROOT SPORTS (a whole other headache regarding carriage disputes), some key matchups end up on KONG (Channel 16) or even KING 5.
KONG is the "sister station" to KING 5. It’s basically the overflow valve. If you can’t find a show that’s supposed to be on NBC, check KONG. It’s where the 10:00 PM news lives for people who want to go to bed early, and it’s a goldmine for syndicated reruns of The Big Bang Theory or Modern Family.
Then there's the "News Preemption." Seattle is a news-heavy city. If there's a Boeing update, a protest downtown, or a significant mountain pass closure, the local stations will stay with the news and "slide" the primetime schedule. This means your DVR might start recording Survivor ten minutes late, leaving you with a cliffhanger you'll never resolve.
✨ Don't miss: The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads: Why This Live Album Still Beats the Studio Records
Navigating the Subchannels (The "Point Twos")
If you have a digital antenna—which, by the way, works surprisingly well in Seattle if you have a clear line of sight to Queen Anne—you have access to a dozen "mini-channels." These are the lifeblood of the Seattle television schedule tonight for anyone who misses the 90s.
- MeTV (usually 12.1 or similar): Non-stop classics. MASH*, The Andy Griffith Show, and Perry Mason. It’s comforting. It’s simple.
- Antenna TV: Similar vibe, but more sitcom-heavy. Think Alice or Barney Miller.
- MOVIES!: Exactly what it sounds like. Usually mid-tier action movies from 1994.
For many cord-cutters in the PNW, these subchannels are the primary reason to keep an antenna plugged in. They don't require a subscription, and they never go down when your CenturyLink fiber optics decide to take a nap.
How to get the most accurate Seattle TV info
Stop relying on the generic "TV Guide" websites that cover the whole country. They don't account for the local nuances of the 206 and 253 area codes.
- Station Websites: If you really need to know if a specific show is airing, go to
king5.comorkiro7.comdirectly. They have "Live" tabs that show the actual, real-time broadcast schedule, including any delays. - The TitanTV App: This is an old-school tool that pros use. You can input your exact zip code and whether you’re using an antenna, cable, or satellite. It’s way more accurate than the built-in guide on a Smart TV.
- Local Twitter (X) Feeds: Follow the local news anchors. If The Bachelorette is being delayed by a Seahawk press conference, they’ll be the first to tweet about it so people stop yelling at them in their DMs.
What to watch for tonight: A quick breakdown
If you're looking for a recommendation for the Seattle television schedule tonight, here’s the "vibe" check for the major players:
- For the "I want to be informed" crowd: KING 5 at 6:30 PM. Their local reporting is consistently top-tier, especially regarding environmental issues in the Sound.
- For the "I need to turn my brain off" crowd: KCPQ (FOX 13) primetime. Their reality shows are high-energy and don't require a lot of deep thought after a long commute on the 405.
- For the "I miss old Seattle" crowd: Check out KCTS 9 (PBS). They often run specials on local history, the 1962 World’s Fair, or the evolution of the Pike Place Market. It’s the highest quality programming you’ll find, period.
PBS (KCTS 9) is actually a gem in our market. They have a huge membership base, and their schedule is less prone to being interrupted by commercials for trucks or pharmaceuticals. Tonight, they likely have Frontline or Antiques Roadshow, which is the perfect low-stakes viewing.
Actionable steps for your evening viewing
Don't just aimlessly flip channels. The Seattle television schedule tonight is actually quite robust if you know where to look.
🔗 Read more: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
First, rescan your digital antenna. If you haven't done this in a few months, you’re likely missing out on three or four new subchannels that have popped up. Broadcasters are constantly shifting frequencies.
Second, check the "Start from Beginning" feature if you use a service like YouTube TV or Fubo. Because Seattle stations often have slight delays, this feature is a lifesaver. You can jump back to the start of the program even if the local news ran five minutes long.
Third, look at the KONG schedule. People forget Channel 16 exists, but it often carries the exact same high-def local news as KING 5 but at different times, giving you more flexibility.
Finally, if all else fails and the schedule is a mess due to a sports blowout or a political event, head over to the KCTS 9 website. They stream most of their local documentaries for free. Watching a 30-minute deep dive on the building of the Rainier Tower is arguably more "Seattle" than watching whatever sitcom is trending nationally anyway.
The television landscape here is as layered as a piece of Frango mint cake. It takes a second to figure out, but once you know which stations prioritize what, you’ll never be stuck watching a weather loop when you were expecting a drama. Stay tuned, keep the remote close, and maybe keep a backup streaming app open just in case the Seahawks decide to trade their entire roster during the 7:00 PM break.