KWTV-DT

KWTV-DT is a television station serving Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the surrounding Central Oklahoma region. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 9 and is affiliated with CBS. It is the flagship television property of Griffin Media, a privately held Oklahoma broadcasting company, and operates alongside sister station KSBI. KWTV-DT and KSBI share facilities in downtown Oklahoma City, while KWTV-DT's transmitter is situated on the city's northeast side. The station traces its origins to the early 1950s, when John Toole “J. T.” Griffin, a Muskogee-based business executive and owner of KOMA radio, became interested in television's growth in Oklahoma City. Griffin and associated investors pursued a construction permit for VHF channel 9 through the Oklahoma Television Corporation. After competing applications were consolidated, the Federal Communications Commission granted the channel authorization in July 1953. The station adopted the call letters KWTV, commonly explained as an abbreviation for “World's Tallest Video,” referring to the exceptionally tall transmission tower planned for the facility. KWTV began test transmissions in December 1953 and formally signed on December 20 of that year. It launched as a CBS affiliate, building on KOMA radio's longstanding relationship with the CBS Radio Network. The station also carried selected DuMont programming during the network's final years and briefly presented programming from the NTA Film Network. After NTA discontinued its service in 1961, KWTV became exclusively affiliated with CBS. The station has retained its channel allocation, call sign, ownership lineage and principal network affiliation for most of its history, making it an unusually stable American broadcast property. A major early technical landmark was the activation of KWTV's permanent transmission tower in September 1954. At approximately 1,572 feet, the structure was then the world's tallest free-standing broadcast tower. The tower also became a site used by Oklahoma's educational television broadcaster, and it remained an important part of the region's broadcasting infrastructure until the transition to digital transmission. KWTV later moved its transmission operations to separate digital facilities; portions of the historic tower were dismantled in 2014. KWTV has also developed a substantial local-programming tradition. Earlier locally produced programs included the children's series Miss Fran from Storyland, the Gaylon Stacy Show, Junior Auction, You Name It and the cooking feature Foods 'n Focus. The station produced or co-produced other local entertainment, including the bingo program Bingomania in the 1980s. Its news operation became increasingly central to the brand. The station used the TV-9 identity during the 1980s, changed its newscast name from Newsline 9 to News 9 in 1997, and extended the News 9 identity to broader station branding in 2001. KWTV was among the first stations in the Oklahoma City market to operate around-the-clock weekday programming and later adopted regular overnight schedules. In 2010, it became the first station in its market to carry syndicated programming and advertising inserts during local breaks in high definition. Griffin acquired KSBI in 2014, strengthening the company's local television portfolio and creating a sister-station relationship for KWTV-DT. Today, KWTV-DT combines CBS network programming with locally produced newscasts, weather coverage, sports and community reporting. Its News 9 brand is used across broadcast and digital channels. The station's identity is rooted in Oklahoma ownership, long-term CBS affiliation, local news service and Griffin Media's continued operation of the property.

KWTV-DT originated in the expansion of commercial television in Oklahoma City after the launch of the market's first station in 1949. John Toole Griffin, whose business interests included the Griffin Grocery Company and Oklahoma City radio station KOMA, saw evidence of growing demand for television service and pursued a VHF television authorization. In 1951, the Oklahoma Television Corporation submitted an application for channel 9, while KOMA Inc. later filed a competing application. The competing efforts were consolidated, and the FCC granted authorization to the Oklahoma Television Corporation in July 1953. Rather than use the KOMA call letters, the owners requested KWTV, a designation associated with the planned transmission facility and its claim to an exceptionally tall broadcasting structure. KWTV conducted initial test transmissions beginning December 8, 1953, and formally launched on December 20. The station became a CBS affiliate from its first day, reflecting KOMA radio's established CBS relationship. It also carried limited programming from DuMont until that network ended operations in 1956 and presented a restricted schedule from the NTA Film Network between 1956 and 1961. The station's permanent facility became operational in 1954. Its 1,572-foot tower was a major engineering and promotional landmark and was described at the time as the tallest free-standing broadcast tower in the world. The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority later used space at the site for its KETA-TV service. Following the conversion to digital broadcasting, KWTV and KETA moved their digital transmission operations to another tower. The historic structure was progressively dismantled, with remaining sections demolished in 2014. KWTV remained under Griffin family control through several corporate and ownership changes. The Griffin-Leake interests retained the station when KOMA radio was sold in 1956. After a minority interest connected to Video Independent Theatres and RKO General created regulatory complications, the interest was sold to other shareholders in 1962. In 1963, the Griffin-Leake interests acquired additional holdings and consolidated their Oklahoma broadcasting interests. A later corporate separation in 1969 placed KWTV under Griffin Television, while the Leake interests retained other broadcast and cable assets. Griffin Television was renamed Griffin Communications in 2000 and Griffin Media in 2022. The station expanded its local production during the following decades. Programs such as Miss Fran from Storyland, hosted by Fran Morris, served younger viewers, while the Gaylon Stacy Show combined interviews and variety entertainment. Other local productions included Junior Auction, You Name It, Foods 'n Focus and the bingo program Bingomania. These programs complemented the station's network schedule and helped establish KWTV as a locally rooted broadcaster rather than merely a CBS program outlet. KWTV's news service gradually became the core of its public identity. The station used the TV-9 name during the 1980s and introduced regular overnight programming in stages, first through CBS overnight offerings and later through a more consistent schedule. In 1997, its newscasts were renamed News 9, and the News 9 identity was expanded to the station as a whole in 2001. This branding emphasized local reporting and weather coverage, especially important in a market exposed to severe storms. The station continued to modernize its technical and commercial operations. In 2010, KWTV began carrying syndicated programming and local-break advertising inserts in high definition. Griffin's 2014 acquisition of KSBI broadened the company's Oklahoma City television holdings and created a sister-station relationship. KWTV-DT continues to operate as a CBS affiliate and Griffin Media's flagship broadcast station, combining network content with local news, weather, sports, advertising and digital services.

1. 2014Historic tower remnants demolished

   The remaining sections of the original tower were imploded after the station's digital transmission facilities had moved elsewhere.

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2. 2014KSBI joins the Griffin portfolio

   Griffin purchased KSBI, creating a sister-station relationship with KWTV-DT.

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3. 2010Local commercial insertion moves to high definition

   KWTV introduced high-definition insertion of syndicated programming and advertising during local commercial breaks.

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4. 2001News 9 becomes the general station brand

   The News 9 identity was adopted as the station's full-time generalized brand.

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5. 1997Newsline 9 becomes News 9

   The station retitled its newscasts as News 9, a brand later extended throughout the station's identity.

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6. 1982Weekday overnight programming begins

   KWTV became the first station in the Oklahoma City market to maintain a weekday overnight schedule through CBS News Nightwatch.

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7. 1969Griffin and Leake interests separate

   The broadcast assets were divided, with Griffin retaining KWTV through Griffin Television.

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8. 1961Exclusive CBS affiliation begins

   After NTA Film Network service ended, KWTV became exclusively affiliated with CBS.

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9. 1954Permanent transmission tower activated

   The station activated its 1,572-foot permanent tower, then a world-leading free-standing broadcast structure.

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10. 1953FCC grants the channel 9 authorization

    The FCC granted the license to the Oklahoma Television Corporation after competing channel 9 proposals were consolidated.

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11. 1953KWTV signs on

    KWTV began regular broadcasting on December 20 as an Oklahoma City CBS affiliate.

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12. 1951Channel 9 application filed

    The Oklahoma Television Corporation, led by John Toole Griffin and associated investors, applied for authority to build an Oklahoma City television station on VHF channel 9.

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A locally owned Oklahoma television news and entertainment station positioned around CBS programming, continuous local coverage, severe-weather expertise and the News 9 brand.

• News 9Local television news1997

  KWTV-DT's principal local-news brand, covering Oklahoma City and Central Oklahoma through scheduled newscasts, breaking-news reports, investigative journalism, sports coverage and digital publishing. The identity developed from the station's earlier Newsline 9 branding and became the station's broad public-facing brand during the early 2000s.

• CBS programmingNetwork television affiliation1953

  KWTV-DT has carried CBS programming since its launch in 1953. The schedule provides network entertainment, news, sports and special-event programming alongside KWTV's locally produced news and public-service output.

• News 9 WeatherWeather information service

  The station's weather service provides forecasts, severe-weather coverage and related reporting for Central Oklahoma. Weather is a prominent part of the station's value proposition because of the region's exposure to thunderstorms, tornadoes and other severe conditions.

• BingomaniaLocal entertainment program1985

  A half-hour bingo game show produced by KWTV in cooperation with Prijatel Productions. It developed from the station's local $20,000 Jackpot Bingo format and was briefly made available to other stations through limited syndication.

• 2014Acquire KSBIM&A

  Griffin sought to expand its Oklahoma City television portfolio beyond its flagship CBS station.

  What changed. Griffin purchased KSBI, an independent station that also carried MyNetworkTV programming.

  Aftermath. KSBI became a sister station to KWTV-DT, with the stations sharing Oklahoma City facilities.

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• 2010Introduce high-definition local commercial insertionProduct launch

  Digital television and high-definition production were changing the technical standards for local broadcast advertising and syndicated content.

  What changed. KWTV began inserting syndicated programming and advertising, including station and network promotions, in high definition during local breaks.

  Aftermath. The station was identified as the first Oklahoma City station to provide this capability.

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• 1997Rename newscasts as News 9Strategy

  The station had used the TV-9 identity and previously branded its newscasts as Newsline 9.

  What changed. KWTV changed the newscast name to News 9 and subsequently expanded the identity to general station branding.

  Aftermath. News 9 became the station's principal public-facing brand.

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• 1953Launch as a CBS-affiliated VHF stationStrategy

  The station was created to serve the expanding Oklahoma City television market and benefited from KOMA radio's established relationship with CBS.

  What changed. The owners launched channel 9 under the KWTV call sign and carried CBS programming from the station's first broadcast.

  Aftermath. CBS affiliation became one of the station's defining characteristics and has continued throughout its history.

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• 2014Griffin acquires KSBI

  Griffin acquired Oklahoma City independent station KSBI, making it a sister station to KWTV-DT.

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• 2010KWTV begins local high-definition commercial insertion

  KWTV became the first Oklahoma City station identified in the reference material as carrying syndicated programming and advertisements inserted during local breaks in high definition.

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• 1997KWTV adopts the News 9 identity

  The station changed its newscast name from Newsline 9 to News 9 and later expanded that identity to general station branding.

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• 1954KWTV activates a landmark broadcast tower

  The station activated a 1,572-foot transmission tower that was then recognized as the world's tallest free-standing broadcast tower.

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• 1953KWTV begins broadcasting

  The station officially signed on December 20, establishing channel 9 as a CBS-affiliated commercial television outlet in Oklahoma City.

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1. KWTV-DT
2. KWTV-DT official website