KAUT-TV

KAUT-TV is television station channel 43 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and serves as the market's affiliate of The CW. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group and operated alongside NBC affiliate KFOR-TV. The stations share studios in the McCourry Heights area of Oklahoma City, while KAUT-TV's transmitter is located in the northeastern part of the city. The station began broadcasting on October 15, 1980, under the KAUT call sign. Golden West Broadcasters, a company associated with entertainer and Oklahoma-born performer Gene Autry, developed the station as a hybrid outlet. Its principal evening service was VEU, a subscription-television operation that offered feature films and entertainment specials to paying customers. During the day, KAUT initially carried a locally produced news service and syndicated programming. The news operation proved difficult to sustain and was discontinued in 1981. VEU also struggled against expanding cable systems and competing subscription services; after reaching approximately 22,000 subscribers, it was closed in October 1982. KAUT then became a conventional, advertising-supported independent station. During the 1980s, KAUT built a schedule around syndicated entertainment and local and regional sports. Its sports programming included college basketball involving Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Oklahoma City 89ers minor-league baseball, and selected professional baseball and basketball games. In 1985, Rollins Communications acquired the station, and Heritage Media subsequently became its controlling corporate owner. KAUT joined the Fox network in 1986, at a time when Fox was still developing its national schedule. The affiliation improved the station's competitive position and helped it move ahead of at least one of Oklahoma City's other independent stations. A proposed consolidation of Oklahoma City's independent television market in 1988 and 1989 would have moved programming and the Fox affiliation to another station and transferred KAUT to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority. That transaction collapsed after political, financial, and regulatory opposition. Heritage later acquired KOKH-TV and completed a different arrangement in 1991: Fox programming, much of KAUT's staff, and selected programming moved to channel 25, while channel 43 was donated to OETA. Under OETA, channel 43 relaunched in August 1991 as The Literacy Channel and later used the KTLC call sign. Its mission was educational rather than commercial. The schedule featured telecourses, adult literacy instruction, GED-related programming, and rebroadcasts of PBS children's programs during evening hours. The service was developed as an educational demonstration project involving OETA, its foundation, PBS-related organizations, and educational producers. Because it received no direct state operating funding, it depended on private donations and support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Budget reductions led to schedule cuts and fundraising drives during the 1990s. OETA placed KTLC on the market in 1997 to help finance the conversion of its statewide television network to digital broadcasting. Paramount Stations Group acquired the station, returned it to commercial operation, and launched it as UPN affiliate KPSG on June 20, 1998. After Gene Autry died later that year, the station restored the KAUT call sign in his memory. The station subsequently passed to The New York Times Company, which already owned KFOR-TV, in 2005. When UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW in 2006, KAUT became an affiliate of MyNetworkTV and added locally produced programming supplied by KFOR-TV, including morning and prime-time newscasts. In 2023, KAUT replaced KOCB as Oklahoma City's CW affiliate. The change returned the station to a major network role and made channel 43 the local home of CW programming in the market. Today, KAUT-TV combines network programming with syndicated and locally produced content, with operations integrated into Nex…

KAUT-TV originated with a construction permit obtained by the Christian Broadcasting Company of Oklahoma for a commercial station on Oklahoma City's channel 43. The permit was transferred to Golden West Broadcasters, associated with Gene and Ina Autry and The Signal Companies, and the FCC approved the transaction in January 1980. Golden West selected the KAUT call letters in recognition of Gene Autry. The station was built on North Eastern Avenue and began broadcasting on October 15, 1980. Its original concept combined subscription television with local programming. VEU supplied first-run films and entertainment specials to subscribers who paid a monthly charge and installation fee. The service later added sports packages, including Dallas Mavericks basketball and Oklahoma State athletics. During daytime hours, KAUT attempted to operate an extended local news format called Newswatch 43. The news department employed approximately two dozen people at its peak, but audience response was weak and the department was dissolved in August 1981. VEU faced competition from cable expansion and another microwave-delivered movie service. Although its subscriber base reached roughly 22,000, the service did not reach the level Golden West considered necessary for profitability and ended in October 1982. KAUT converted to a conventional commercial independent station, emphasizing syndicated series, movies, and sports. The station carried college sports and local baseball, along with selected professional sports from nearby markets. Golden West sold its broadcast interests during a period of corporate restructuring, and Rollins Communications acquired KAUT in 1985. Heritage Broadcasting obtained control of Rollins Communications in 1986, creating the broader Heritage Media organization. That same year, KAUT joined Fox. The affiliation improved the station's competitive standing as Fox developed a more substantial prime-time schedule. An attempted consolidation of Oklahoma City's independent stations created uncertainty around KAUT in 1988 and 1989. Pappas Telecasting proposed acquiring several stations, consolidating programming on KOKH-TV, and transferring KAUT to OETA. The proposal encountered opposition from state officials, legislators, broadcasters, and others concerned about the cost and public financing implications of a second educational station. The transaction ultimately failed, and employee departures and weaker advertising followed temporarily. Heritage Media later pursued a different solution. In 1991 it acquired KOKH-TV and moved the Fox affiliation, selected programs, and staff from KAUT to channel 25. KAUT's facilities and transmitter were donated to OETA, which relaunched channel 43 as The Literacy Channel. The station adopted the KTLC call sign in January 1992. OETA used the service for literacy instruction, telecourses, GED preparation, and educational programming. PBS children's programs were repeated during evening hours, making the station both an adult-learning resource and a supplementary public-television service. The project was designed as a potential model for educational broadcasting, but its finances remained fragile because it did not receive state operating funds. It relied on private donations and Corporation for Public Broadcasting support, and budget reductions led to schedule reductions and on-air fundraising. OETA decided in 1997 to sell KTLC to help pay for the conversion of its statewide network to digital technology. Paramount Stations Group won the sale and returned channel 43 to commercial operation as UPN affiliate KPSG on June 20, 1998. After Gene Autry died in October of that year, the station restored the KAUT call sign. The New York Times Company acquired KAUT in 2005 as part of its ownership of KFOR-TV. Following the 2006 replacement of UPN and The WB by The CW, KAUT affiliated with MyNetworkTV and became closely integrated with KFOR's news operation, carrying locally produced morning and prime-time newscasts. Nexstar Media Group later became the station's owner. In 2023, KAUT took over the CW affiliation from KOCB. This change established the station as the Oklahoma City market's CW outlet and marked another major transition in its long history, which has included subscription television, independent broadcasting, Fox, educational public television, UPN, MyNetworkTV, and The CW.

1. 2023KAUT becomes the Oklahoma City CW affiliate

   The CW affiliation moved from KOCB to KAUT-TV.

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2. 2006KAUT becomes a MyNetworkTV affiliate

   After the UPN and WB affiliation changes, KAUT joined MyNetworkTV and began carrying KFOR-produced newscasts.

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3. 2005The New York Times Company acquires KAUT

   The owner of KFOR-TV purchased KAUT, creating a local television-station pairing.

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4. 1998Commercial operation resumes as KPSG

   Paramount Stations Group relaunched the former Literacy Channel as a commercial UPN affiliate.

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5. 1998KAUT call sign restored

   The station resumed the KAUT identity following Gene Autry's death.

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6. 1992KTLC call sign adopted

   The Literacy Channel formally used the KTLC call sign.

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7. 1991Station donated to OETA

   After Heritage acquired KOKH-TV, the Fox affiliation moved to channel 25 and channel 43 became an OETA educational station.

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8. 1986KAUT affiliates with Fox

   Channel 43 joined Fox as the network expanded its programming presence.

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9. 1985Rollins Communications acquires KAUT

   Ownership changed when Atlanta-based Rollins Communications purchased the station.

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10. 1982VEU service ends

    The subscription service was discontinued and KAUT became a full-time advertising-supported independent station.

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11. 1981Local news department closes

    KAUT ended its extended daytime news operation after limited audience acceptance.

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12. 1980KAUT-TV signs on

    The station began broadcasting on October 15 with VEU subscription television in prime time and local programming during the day.

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13. 1979Construction permit transferred to Golden West

    Golden West Broadcasters acquired the permit for a proposed channel 43 station in Oklahoma City and developed it as a commercial subscription-television outlet.

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A local over-the-air television outlet serving the Oklahoma City market, positioned through network affiliation, local news integration, syndicated entertainment, and regional programming.

• The CW affiliationNetwork television2023

  KAUT's principal current programming proposition is its local carriage of The CW, which includes the network's entertainment, scripted, unscripted, and other scheduled programming for viewers in the Oklahoma City market. The affiliation began in 2023 after moving from KOCB and restored channel 43 to a major commercial network role.

• Local news programmingBroadcast news2006

  KAUT has carried locally produced news supplied by its sister station KFOR-TV, including morning and prime-time newscasts during its post-2006 MyNetworkTV period. The arrangement reflects the shared operations of the two Nexstar-owned stations in Oklahoma City.

• The Literacy ChannelEducational television1991

  From 1991 to 1998, channel 43 operated under OETA as The Literacy Channel and later used the KTLC call sign. Its schedule focused on adult literacy, telecourses, GED preparation, and evening repeats of PBS children's programming.

• VEU subscription televisionSubscription television1980

  KAUT's initial commercial service carried Golden West's VEU subscription operation, offering first-run movies, entertainment specials, and later selected sports to paying subscribers. The service operated in Oklahoma City until October 1982.

• 2023Replace KOCB as the Oklahoma City CW affiliateStrategy

  The CW affiliation was reassigned within the Oklahoma City television market.

  What changed. KAUT began carrying The CW, replacing KOCB as the network's local affiliate.

  Aftermath. Channel 43 regained a major network affiliation and became the principal local CW outlet for the market.

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• 1997Sell KTLC to finance digital conversionM&A

  OETA needed resources for the costly conversion of its statewide public television network to digital broadcasting.

  What changed. OETA placed KTLC on the market and accepted Paramount Stations Group's winning bid.

  Aftermath. The station returned to commercial operation in 1998 as UPN affiliate KPSG.

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• 1991Move Fox programming to KOKH and donate channel 43 to OETAStrategy

  Heritage Media acquired competing independent KOKH-TV and sought to reduce duplication and competition among the market's independent stations.

  What changed. Heritage moved Fox programming, selected staff, and other programming from KAUT to KOKH and transferred channel 43 facilities and transmission assets to OETA.

  Aftermath. Channel 43 became The Literacy Channel, later using the KTLC call sign, while KOKH became the market's Fox affiliate.

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• 1982Convert from subscription television to an independent commercial formatStrategy

  VEU subscriber growth remained below the level considered necessary for profitability, while cable and competing subscription services constrained the business.

  What changed. Golden West ended VEU service in Oklahoma City and converted KAUT to a full-time advertising-supported independent station.

  Aftermath. KAUT expanded its syndicated entertainment and sports schedule and competed directly with Oklahoma City's other independent stations.

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• 2023KAUT returns as the Oklahoma City CW affiliate

  KAUT replaced KOCB as the local outlet for The CW, giving channel 43 a major network affiliation again.

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• 1998KTLC is sold and returns to commercial broadcasting as KPSG

  OETA sold the educational station to Paramount Stations Group, which relaunched channel 43 as a commercial UPN affiliate.

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• 1991Channel 43 becomes The Literacy Channel

  Following Heritage Media's acquisition of KOKH-TV, Fox programming and much of KAUT's operation moved to channel 25. Channel 43 was donated to OETA and relaunched as an educational service.

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• 1986KAUT joins the Fox network

  KAUT became Oklahoma City's Fox affiliate during the network's early expansion, strengthening its schedule with national network programming.

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• 1982KAUT ends its VEU subscription service and becomes an independent station

  After subscription growth failed to reach the level needed for profitability, KAUT discontinued VEU and adopted a full-time commercial independent format.

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• 1980KAUT-TV begins broadcasting with VEU subscription television service

  Channel 43 signed on in Oklahoma City with Golden West's VEU subscription service as its principal evening offering and locally produced news during the day.

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1. KAUT-TV
2. KAUT-TV station website category