This was likely because it was sandwiched between KBCI-TV in Boise (now KBOI-TV), KTWO-TV in Casper, KTVQ in Billings, Montana, and KUTV in Salt Lake City; the channel 2 analog signal traveled a very long distance under normal conditions.
Four of the full-powered MTN stations, KTVQ, KXLF, KRTV, and KPAX, also carry programming from The CW on their digital subchannels.