KSWO-TV
ABC and Telemundo television station serving Lawton, Oklahoma, and the western Texoma region.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KSWO-TV is a broadcast television station licensed to Lawton, Oklahoma, and serving the Wichita Falls–Lawton television market across southwestern Oklahoma and northwestern Texas. The station broadcasts on VHF channel 7 and is primarily affiliated with ABC, while also carrying Telemundo programming. Its local identity is closely associated with Lawton, the broader Texoma region, weather coverage, and the long-running 7 News brand. The station was established by Oklahoma Quality Broadcasting Co., a locally based company organized by Ransom H. Drewry and several Lawton-area investors. The Federal Communications Commission granted the group a construction permit for channel 7 in December 1952, and KSWO-TV began broadcasting on March 8, 1953. Its call letters were derived from KSWO radio, a Lawton station founded by Drewry in 1941. From its launch, the television station carried ABC programming, reflecting the radio station's relationship with the ABC Radio Network. It also briefly maintained a secondary affiliation with the DuMont Television Network, becoming a full-time ABC affiliate after DuMont ceased operations in 1956. KSWO-TV's early technical development shaped its regional role. Its initial low-power transmitter provided limited coverage around Lawton, but a major expansion followed construction of a tall, high-power transmission tower near Grandfield, Oklahoma. The facility became operational in February 1960 and substantially improved reception across southwestern Oklahoma and northwestern Texas. The station later developed a reputation for severe-weather reporting and forecasting. It introduced an early on-site weather radar in the late 1950s or early 1960s, launched a color radar system branded Accu-scan 7 in 1976, and installed the market's first Doppler weather radar in 1984. For much of its history, KSWO-TV was part of the Drewry family's regional broadcasting interests. The family expanded into television markets elsewhere in Texas, while KSWO remained the group's Oklahoma anchor. The related KSWO radio properties were sold in 1997, allowing the company to concentrate on television. An attempted sale of Drewry's television holdings to London Broadcasting was announced in 2008 but was abandoned during the economic uncertainty of the Great Recession. KSWO-TV entered a series of shared-operation arrangements involving Wichita Falls CBS affiliate KAUZ-TV. Beginning in 2009, an agreement allowed KSWO to provide advertising and promotional services for KAUZ while the latter's then-owner retained control of programming and several technical functions. After Raycom Media acquired KSWO in 2015 and American Spirit Media acquired KAUZ's license and assets, the arrangement was restructured as a shared services agreement. Under the later structure, KSWO supplied news production, administrative support, production resources, equipment, and building space, while KAUZ retained a Wichita Falls base and a distinct local identity. Raycom Media ownership ended when Gray Television merged with Raycom in 2019. KSWO-TV consequently became part of Gray's national portfolio of local television stations and is now operated under Gray Media. The station continues to provide ABC network programming, local news, weather, sports, syndicated programming, and community information. Its newsroom emphasizes Lawton and southwestern Oklahoma while also covering major stories in the Texas portion of the market. The station's local news output has historically been among the largest in the Wichita Falls–Lawton market, and its weather operation remains a central part of its positioning.
History
KSWO-TV traces its origins to a May 1952 application by Oklahoma Quality Broadcasting Co., a locally organized company associated with Lawton businessman Ransom H. Drewry. The group sought permission to build a VHF television station on channel 7 in the Wichita Falls–Lawton market. The FCC approved the application in December 1952, and the station adopted the KSWO-TV call sign from Drewry's Lawton radio station. KSWO-TV went on the air on March 8, 1953, shortly after the market's first television station. It launched as an ABC affiliate and also carried DuMont programming on a secondary basis. Early facilities were located east of Lawton, and the station initially operated with a comparatively limited signal. A studio fire in December 1957 caused extensive damage to the 60th Street facility. The station left DuMont when that network shut down in 1956 and thereafter operated as a full-time ABC affiliate. A major technical turning point came with the construction of a 1,059-foot tower near Grandfield. Activated in February 1960, the high-power facility broadened KSWO-TV's dependable service area across southwestern Oklahoma and northwestern Texas. This expansion helped establish the station as an important ABC outlet for communities that had previously received weak or inconsistent network coverage. The Drewry family gradually built a regional television group, acquiring or developing stations in several Texas markets while retaining KSWO-TV as a key Oklahoma property. In 1997, the family sold the associated KSWO radio operation and related Duncan radio assets, allowing greater concentration on television. A proposed 2008 sale of the television group to London Broadcasting received regulatory approval but was not completed after London withdrew during the financial uncertainty of the Great Recession. KSWO-TV's relationship with Wichita Falls station KAUZ-TV became a defining feature of its later corporate history. In 2009, Drewry and Hoak Media established a joint-sales and shared-services arrangement. KSWO handled advertising and promotional functions for KAUZ, while Hoak retained control over programming and several technical operations. When Raycom Media acquired KSWO in 2015 and American Spirit Media acquired KAUZ's license and assets, the prior joint-sales structure was replaced with a shared-services agreement. KSWO subsequently provided news production, administrative and production support, equipment, and facility space, although KAUZ continued to operate from Wichita Falls. Gray Television's 2019 merger with Raycom Media placed KSWO-TV within Gray's station portfolio. The station remains an ABC affiliate with additional Telemundo service and continues to operate from Lawton. Its local journalism is oriented primarily toward Lawton and southwestern Oklahoma, with coverage of the Texas side of the market as a secondary responsibility. News and weather have been central to KSWO-TV's identity. The station developed early local radar capabilities, introduced color radar in 1976, and adopted Doppler radar in 1984. Its local news output expanded through programs such as Good Morning Texoma, which began in 1989 and later grew into a longer weekday and weekend broadcast. In 1996, the station replaced the Action 7 News identity with the 7 News brand. Long-serving staff members, including meteorologist Tom Charles, anchor Jan Stratton, anchor David Bradley, and general manager Larry Patton, contributed to the station's durable local profile.
- 2019
Gray ownership begins
[1]The completed Gray–Raycom merger placed KSWO-TV under Gray's ownership.
- 2009
KAUZ shared-services relationship begins
[1]KSWO-TV began providing selected sales and operational services to KAUZ-TV.
- 1996
7 News branding adopted
[1]The station replaced its Action 7 News identity with the 7 News brand.
- 1989
Good Morning Texoma launches
[1]KSWO-TV introduced a locally produced morning newscast that later expanded in length and weekend availability.
- 1984
Doppler radar introduced
[1]The station installed the first Doppler weather radar in its market.
- 1976
Accu-scan 7 color radar introduced
[1]KSWO-TV introduced the market's first color weather radar system.
- 1960
Grandfield transmitter activated
[1]The station placed a high-power transmitter and tower near Grandfield into service, improving regional coverage.
- 1957
Studio fire
[1]A fire caused extensive damage to the station's 60th Street studio facility.
- 1956
Full-time ABC affiliation
[1]The station ended its secondary DuMont relationship after the network ceased operations.
- 1953
Station launch
[1]KSWO-TV began broadcasting on March 8 as an ABC affiliate.
Products and positioning
A locally focused, weather-oriented broadcast station serving Lawton and southwestern Oklahoma within the wider Wichita Falls–Lawton Texoma market. Its brand emphasizes regional news, severe-weather information, ABC network content, and community relevance.
Local television news · 1996
7 News
KSWO-TV's principal local news identity, covering Lawton, southwestern Oklahoma, and selected stories from the wider Wichita Falls–Lawton market. The operation includes weekday and weekend broadcasts and places substantial emphasis on breaking news, weather, public safety, local government, and regional sports.
Local morning newscast · 1989
Good Morning Texoma
A locally produced morning program launched in 1989. It expanded from an initial short weekday broadcast into a longer morning service with weekend editions, combining local news, weather, traffic, interviews, and community features for viewers in the Texoma region.
Weather broadcasting · 1950
KSWO weather service
The station's weather operation is a longstanding part of its local brand. KSWO-TV developed early radar capabilities, introduced a color radar system under the Accu-scan 7 name in 1976, and added Doppler radar in 1984, supporting severe-weather coverage across a large Oklahoma–Texas viewing area.
Network television · 1953
ABC network service
KSWO-TV has carried ABC programming since its 1953 launch. Network programs complement the station's locally produced news, weather, public affairs, and sports content and remain the core of its broadcast affiliation.
Multilingual network television
Telemundo programming
In addition to its primary ABC affiliation, KSWO-TV carries Telemundo programming, extending the station's broadcast offering to Spanish-language network content in the regional market.
Brand decisions
2019
Gray Television merger with Raycom MediaM&ABackground
Gray Television pursued a combination with Raycom Media to create a larger local television group.
Action taken
Gray completed the merger and assumed ownership of Raycom's stations, including KSWO-TV.
Aftermath
KSWO-TV continued operating as a Gray-owned ABC station serving Lawton and the Texoma market.
Announced merger value. $3.6 billion (2018 announcement; completed January 2, 2019)
2015
Acquisition by Raycom MediaM&ABackground
Drewry decided to sell its television group after decades of family ownership.
Action taken
Raycom Media acquired KSWO-TV and the other stations in the Drewry television portfolio.
Aftermath
KSWO became part of Raycom, and the station's operating relationship with KAUZ-TV was restructured.
Acquisition value. $160 million (2015 acquisition announcement and completion)
2009
Joint-sales and shared-services agreement with KAUZ-TVStrategyBackground
KSWO-TV and Wichita Falls CBS affiliate KAUZ-TV operated in the same regional market while remaining separately licensed.
Action taken
KSWO assumed selected advertising and promotional responsibilities, while the arrangement also provided for shared operational and technical services.
Aftermath
The structure was later replaced by a shared-services agreement after Raycom acquired KSWO and FCC rules changed the treatment of joint-sales arrangements.
2008
Proposed sale to London BroadcastingM&ABackground
Drewry sought to sell its television holdings, including KSWO-TV, to London Broadcasting as part of a broader regional-station transaction.
Action taken
The proposed transaction was announced and received FCC approval, but London Broadcasting later filed a notice that the deal would not be consummated.
Aftermath
KSWO-TV remained under Drewry ownership until its later acquisition by Raycom Media.
Proposed transaction value. $115 million announced purchase price (2008 announcement; abandoned in 2009)
Recent events
- 2019
Gray Television completes merger with Raycom Media[1]
M&A
KSWO-TV became part of Gray Television's station group after Gray completed its merger with Raycom Media.
- 2015
Raycom Media acquires KSWO-TV[1]
M&A · Regulation
Raycom Media completed its acquisition of Drewry's television stations. The KAUZ relationship was restructured because of changes to FCC ownership and joint-sales rules.
- 2012
KSWO-TV upgrades shared master control to support high-definition syndicated programming[1]
Product generation
The station and KAUZ upgraded their shared master-control infrastructure, enabling syndicated programming to be carried in high definition.
- 2009
KSWO-TV enters shared services arrangement with KAUZ-TV[1]
Other
The station began providing selected advertising, production, and operational support for Wichita Falls CBS affiliate KAUZ-TV.
- 2008
Drewry announces proposed sale to London Broadcasting[1]
M&A
Drewry announced an agreement to sell its television stations, including KSWO-TV, but the buyer later terminated the transaction during the recession.
- 1960
KSWO-TV expands regional coverage with Grandfield transmitter[1]
Other
A high-power transmitter near Grandfield significantly increased the station's reach across southwestern Oklahoma and northwestern Texas.
- 1956
KSWO-TV becomes a full-time ABC affiliate[1]
Other
After the DuMont network ended operations, the station discontinued its secondary DuMont affiliation and concentrated on ABC programming.
- 1953
KSWO-TV begins broadcasting[1]
Other
The station signed on as a Lawton-based channel 7 broadcaster and ABC affiliate.
Sources2 sources
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