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Wikipedia

KAUT-TV

April 14, 2024

KAUT-TV (channel 43) is a television station in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, serving as the local outlet for The CW. It is owned and operated by the network's majority owner, Nexstar Media Group, alongside NBC affiliate KFOR-TV (channel 4). The two stations share studios in Oklahoma City's McCourry Heights section; KAUT-TV's transmitter is located on the city's northeast side.

KAUT-TV
ATSC 3.0 station
Channels
BrandingCW 43 Oklahoma City
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
KFOR-TV
History
First air date
October 15, 1980
(43 years ago) (1980-10-15)[a]
Former call signs
  • KFHC-TV (CP, 1979–1980)
  • KAUT (1980–1983)
  • KAUT-TV (1983–1992)
  • KTLC (1992–1998)
  • KPSG (1998)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 43 (UHF, 1980–2009)
  • Digital: 40 (UHF, 2006–2018)
Call sign meaning
Gene Autry, partner of founding owner Golden West Broadcasters
Technical information[3]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID50182
ERP
  • 635 kW
  • 750 kW (CP)
HAAT467 m (1,532 ft)
Transmitter coordinates35°34′7″N 97°29′21″W / 35.56861°N 97.48917°W / 35.56861; -97.48917
Links
Public license information
  • Public file
  • LMS
Websitekfor.com/cw43/

KAUT went on the air on October 15, 1980. It was built by Golden West Broadcasters, a company owned by station namesake Gene Autry, and aired Golden West's VEU subscription TV service at night and news programming during the day. The news programming lasted less than a year before being discontinued, while VEU was shuttered in October 1982, leaving KAUT to become one of three independent stations in the market. Rollins Broadcasting bought the station in 1985; it became Heritage Media in 1986, the year that channel 43 affiliated with the Fox network. Fox programming improved the station's ratings, which previously had run third among the three Oklahoma City independents.

After a previous proposal in 1988 and 1989 failed, Heritage Media acquired competing independent KOKH-TV (channel 25) in 1991. It moved the Fox affiliation, programming, and staff from channel 43 to channel 25. KAUT was then donated to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA), the state's public TV broadcaster, and revamped as a secondary service known as The Literacy Channel under KTLC call letters. It aired telecourses and literacy programming during the day and reairs of PBS children's programs at night. The Literacy Channel did not receive state money; operating funds came from private donors and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The OETA put KTLC on the market in 1997 to help defray the costs of converting its statewide network to digital broadcasting. Paramount Stations Group placed the winning bid and returned channel 43 to commercial operation as UPN affiliate KPSG on June 20, 1998. The station returned UPN programming to the market after KOCB (channel 34) switched to The WB earlier that year. After Autry died that October, the station reclaimed its original KAUT call sign in his honor. The New York Times Company, then-owner of KFOR-TV, purchased KAUT in 2005; the station affiliated with MyNetworkTV when UPN and The WB merged into The CW in 2006, and KFOR introduced prime time and morning newscasts on channel 43. In 2023, KAUT replaced KOCB as the CW affiliate in Oklahoma City.

KAUT (1980–1991) edit

The STV years edit

The Christian Broadcasting Company of Oklahoma applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on March 29, 1979,[4] for a construction permit to build a new commercial television station on channel 43 in Oklahoma City. The non-profit corporation proposed a religious-oriented station, similar to KXTX-TV in Dallas.[5] At the time, applications were open on three different Oklahoma City UHF channels—14, 34, and 43—and the Trinity Broadcasting Network also sought a religious station using channel 14.[6] Christian Broadcasting Company placed an order for equipment in September 1978[7] and received the construction permit that November.[4]

In 1979, less than a year after obtaining the permit for KFHC-TV,[4] Christian Broadcasting Company sold the permit to Golden West Broadcasters, a joint venture of Gene Autry and his wife Ina and The Signal Companies. Golden West's intention for the station was to broadcast subscription television (STV) programming to paying subscribers. Golden West was branching into the STV business with microwave distribution systems in other cities;[8] it chose Oklahoma City for the venture because of an initial investment climate and Autry's ties to Oklahoma.[9] The FCC granted approval of the $60,000 transaction on January 24, 1980.[10] The station occupied a 32,500-square-foot (3,020 m2) building constructed on a 95-acre former dairy at 11901 North Eastern Avenue;[11] excess heat from the station's transmitter heated the building, the first setup of its kind in Oklahoma.[12] The call letters KAUT were chosen in honor of Autry.[13]

On October 15, 1980, KAUT began broadcasting Golden West's VEU subscription TV service, featuring first-run motion pictures and other entertainment specials. Subscribers paid $22.50 per month plus a $49.95 installation fee to be connected to the service, which began airing at 7 p.m.[14][15] In 1981, VEU added sports: a package of Dallas Mavericks basketball games and Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball and wrestling.[16]

 
A February 1981 ad for KAUT's news operations.

During the day, beginning on November 3, 1980, KAUT broadcast an all-news format from noon to 5 p.m. Jerry Birdwell, the first general manager, noted the high interest in news in the Oklahoma City market and stated the objective of the 24-person news operation was to serve as a "newspaper of the air".[17] Bob Barry Jr. was among the on-air staff for KAUT's newscasts.[18] In between, from 5 to 7 p.m., the station aired syndicated programs.[19][20] For several months in late 1980, the station broadcast Trinity Broadcasting Network programs until KTBO-TV could complete construction on channel 14.[21]

KAUT as a whole struggled to get viewers to understand its hybrid program format and avoid confusion with the all-news cable channel CNN or KGMC (channel 34), a competing independent station.[18] The news window shifted to 2–6 p.m. in early 1981 to expose the Newswatch 43 broadcasts to more viewers; by this time, the station had daytime music videos and programming from the Christian Broadcasting Network before going live with news coverage.[22] Viewer acceptance was never high with the notable exception of waiting rooms and places of business, where television ratings are not measured,[23] and the news department was disbanded in August 1981, leaving 15 employees out of a job.[24] Birdwell believed Oklahomans were not ready for "this type of live, extended, locally produced news".[23]

VEU competed with local cable television franchises, some of which were ahead of schedule in connecting neighborhoods to their service, as well as TVQ, a microwave-delivered movie service with about 15,000 subscribers.[25] By May 1982, the VEU service had 18,000 subscribers, surpassing TVQ.[26]

Independent station and Fox affiliation edit

With VEU subscriptions in Oklahoma City peaking at 22,000, short of the 35,000 necessary to turn a profit,[27] Golden West decided to terminate operations of the VEU service in Oklahoma City on October 17, 1982, and convert KAUT into a full-time commercial and ad-supported independent station with daytime programs from the Financial News Network.[28] Jerry Birdwell also cited the lack of identity, noting that viewers referred to KAUT as "that cable station". Decoders used for VEU service in the Oklahoma City area were shipped to Golden West's other broadcast STV service in Dallas.[27]

The new format, which emphasized series in prime time instead of movies to provide an alternative to independents KOKH-TV (channel 25) and KGMC,[29] led to the cancellations of two music programs aired by the station. The final edition of TMC 43, a teen dance program,[30] featured 250 guests as the host read letters from heartbroken teens and parents.[29] Also axed was Oklahoma Country Live, a country music show hosted by Wade Carter and noteworthy for featuring the first TV appearance of a young Garth Brooks.[31][32] KAUT's acquisitions of new syndicated programs were impacted by the station's relatively late entry into program acquisition, putting it behind the network affiliates and the other two local independents.[33]

During the 1980s, KAUT carried a variety of local and regional sports telecasts. In 1982, channel 43 carried college basketball games involving the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and the Oklahoma City Stars as part of a contract with local advertising agency AADCO.[34] For several years in the 1980s, the station aired packages of Oklahoma City 89ers minor league baseball games alongside syndicated telecasts of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals baseball teams and Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets basketball.[35][36]

In 1982, Golden West Broadcasters sold itself to a new firm led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts as Autry bought out The Signal Companies' interest in other Autry ventures.[37] Golden West was under a divestiture order stemming from the 1980 death of Ina Autry, and in 1985, the station was sold again for $5.55 million to Atlanta-based Rollins Communications, owned by pest control magnate O. Wayne Rollins.[38][39] Subsequently, in 1986, Des Moines, Iowa–based Heritage Broadcasting acquired a controlling interest in Rollins Communications—with the combined company forming Heritage Media—in a two-tiered tender acquisition worth $260 million.[40][41][42]

KAUT became Oklahoma City's affiliate of the new Fox network when it launched with late night programming in October 1986, even though channel 43 was the third-rated of Oklahoma City's three independent stations.[43][44]

1988 independent consolidation attempt edit

 
Logo used by KAUT-TV during the years of its Fox affiliation

In July 1988, Pappas Telecasting proposed a $30 million triple acquisition that would have resulted in major changes in independent television in Oklahoma City. It proposed to buy KOKH-TV, KGMC, and KAUT-TV; consolidate their programs onto channel 25; and then sell the latter two stations to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) and a religious organization, respectively, removing them as competitors to KOKH. As the OETA Foundation, the charitable fundraising arm of the educational authority, sought funds for the KGMC purchase in addition to a $1 million conditional grant from Pappas,[45] others did not have a favorable reaction. Oklahoma governor Henry Bellmon voiced concerns with the OETA's involvement in the transaction, suggesting that the purchase of a second Oklahoma City station would result in the authority—which had limited appropriations to adequately operate its existing state network as it stood—constantly requesting additional state funding.[46] After a minority broadcaster objected to the rule being used to justify the KGMC purchase, Pappas changed tack and announced in October that KAUT, not KGMC, would be the station sold to the OETA,[47] a plan approved by the authority's board.[48]

Opposition from Bellmon and others to the second channel plan continued after channel 43 was substituted. In a move that hamstrung its attempt to acquire KAUT, the Oklahoma Legislature incorporated stipulations into the bill appropriating OETA's funding for fiscal year 1990 that prohibited the use of state funds "for any operational or capital expense of the proposed second educational television channel in Oklahoma City" and from proposing any additional funding to finance the acquisition if it did not obtain sufficient funding from private sources.[49][50][51] In late January 1989, the management of KOKH-TV owner Busse Broadcasting denied Pappas's request to extend the completion deadline for the purchase past its scheduled January 31 deadline.[52] The entire transaction fell through on February 3, when Busse formally terminated the purchase agreement with Pappas;[53] three days earlier, the FCC had dismissed the respective transfer applications for KGMC and KAUT.[54] The proposed OETA sale created uncertainty over KAUT's future, resulting in the departures of 16 KAUT employees (all of whom sought work at other Heritage-owned television stations) and a reduction in advertising sales.[55] Even though channels 34 an 43 struggled in the wake of the decline, KAUT bounced back as the Fox network caught its stride with such hits as The Simpsons, pulling ahead of KGMC in total-day ratings and ahead of KGMC and KOKH in prime time.[33]

KTLC, The Literacy Channel edit

 
A "Study Guide" for "The Literacy Channel" KTLC in a 1992 edition of The Daily Oklahoman. Such guides reflected owner OETA's intended goal for KTLC, a PBS member from August 15, 1991, to June 20, 1998.

On April 23, 1991, Heritage Media announced that it would acquire KOKH from Busse Broadcast Holdings, move some of KAUT's programming and Fox affiliation to channel 25, and donate the channel 43 transmitter and studio facility[56] to the OETA. The move promised relief for the crowded commercial TV market. It also met with the approval of Governor Bellmon's office, unlike the 1988 Pappas plan.[49]

As KAUT's staff and programming moved over to channel 25, channel 43 relaunched as "The Literacy Channel" on August 15, 1991.[57][56] The Literacy Channel name had been associated with the project since 1989.[51] The second station allowed the OETA to more than double its offerings of telecourses in an effort to reduce illiteracy in the state,[49] with offerings of such series as Learn to Read and GED on TV.[58] At night, The Literacy Channel offered rebroadcasts of children's shows from PBS, including Sesame Street—never before aired in the evening[58]—and Reading Rainbow.[57] The new programming was a demonstration initiative devised by OETA's Board of Directors, the OETA Foundation Board of Trustees, and Heritage Media; PBS senior vice president for education services Sandy Welch and management with the Children's Television Workshop collaborated with the consortium in the development of the station's new format, which the OETA and PBS intended to use as a model for instructional and educational programming on a national level.[58] The call sign changed from KAUT to KTLC on January 17, 1992.[59][60]

As the OETA's state budget appropriation shrank, KTLC began altering its program format to save money, even though most of the channel's funding initially came from private sources. In July 1993, weekday and weekend morning schedules were axed, initially temporarily, in response to a 17.9-percent budget cut that left the Literacy Channel with no state funding source. The OETA board requested the OETA Foundation's permission to conduct two on-air fundraisers to keep the Literacy Channel on the air.[61][62] A nine-day fund drive took place in September.[63] By 1995, half of the funding for the Literacy Channel came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the remainder from private donors, with no state funding.[64] This was the case even though governor David Walters had previously recommended expanding the service, saying, "[W]e need to sell reading and writing like we would sell soap."[65]

UPN affiliation edit

In October 1997, the OETA decided to sell KTLC in order to fund costly digital television conversion mandates for the rest of its statewide network, with the sale proceeds to be placed in an endowment to cover those costs; The Literacy Channel was planned to continue as a cable service and, eventually, a digital subchannel of the OETA transmitters.[66] The authority received ten cash offers for channel 43, among them proposals from Clear Channel Communications, Shop at Home, and Sinclair Broadcast Group. The highest bid, at $23.5 million, was made by Paramount Stations Group, the owned-and-operated stations division of UPN.[67] UPN was about to lose its existing Oklahoma City affiliate: KOCB, the former KGMC. By 1997, it was under the ownership of Sinclair, which that summer signed a deal to flip six UPN affiliates including KOCB to its rival, The WB, in January 1998.[68] The move put UPN on the back foot; the network contested the validity of the action in Maryland courts, where it lost twice.[69] Without any further action, UPN would be left without an affiliate in Oklahoma City.[70]

The OETA unanimously accepted Paramount's $23.5 million bid in January 1998.[71] As part of the deal, for five years, Paramount agreed to air The Literacy Channel programs from 9 a.m. to noon on weekdays; provide the OETA with $100,000 in airtime for promotion; include the OETA in volume discounts for digital television equipment purchases; donate discarded equipment; and simulcast one fundraising drive a year. On June 20, 1998, after delays,[72] UPN returned to Oklahoma City after five months as channel 43 launched a new program schedule under the new call sign KPSG.[73] The full transaction was completed a month later.[74]

Gene Autry died at the age of 91 on October 2, 1998.[75] In his honor, the station re-took the call sign KAUT-TV on December 12, coinciding with a weekend-long special of Autry's films and an hour-long tribute special hosted by his longtime friend, Johnny Grant.[76]

Under Paramount, the station added some sports programming to its lineup. In 2004, it began airing Kansas City Chiefs preseason games as well as a package of Oklahoma Sooners men's and women's basketball games.[77]

Duopoly with KFOR-TV edit

In September 2005, the New York Times Company, owner of NBC affiliate KFOR-TV (channel 4), agreed to purchase KAUT from what was then the Viacom Television Stations Group[78] for $22 million. It was one of two stations Viacom agreed to sell in 2005, along with WUPL in the New Orleans market.[79] The deal created the first duopoly in the New York Times Company stable of TV stations.[80]

UPN and The WB merged in September 2006 to form The CW. An Oklahoma City affiliate for the network was not confirmed until Sinclair signed an agreement for eight stations to join the network on May 2.[81] On August 22, just two weeks before the network launched, KAUT confirmed it would be Oklahoma City's affiliate of MyNetworkTV,[82] which was set up to serve affiliates not chosen for the new CW network.[83] Instead of rebranding with the network as "My 43", KAUT changed its moniker to "OK 43", adopting Western-themed imaging.[82]

On January 4, 2007, The New York Times Company sold KAUT-TV and its eight sister television stations to Local TV LLC, a holding company operated by private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners, for $530 million;[84] the sale was finalized on May 7.[85] Local TV LLC shared broadcast group management with the Tribune Company, by way of The Other Company, run by Tribune executive Randy Michaels.[86]

Freedom 43 edit

In 2011, the station rebranded from OK43 to "Freedom 43" in an appeal to the large military population in the Oklahoma City area. KFOR–KAUT president Jim Boyer described the new name and approach as catering to "all Oklahomans who believe in faith, freedom and patriotism". Newscasts on channel 43 were altered to include stories and profiles of interest to conservatives and the military community.[87][88][89] KAUT discontinued MyNetworkTV in 2012, with the network's offerings moving to KSBI (channel 52).[90]

Tribune acquired the Local TV stations in 2013 for $2.75 billion.[91][92] In 2017, Sinclair Broadcast Group attempted to purchase Tribune;[93] to meet ownership limits, Sinclair would have spun out KAUT to Howard Stirk Holdings and operated it under shared services and joint sales agreements.[94] The Tribune purchase of Sinclair and related transactions were nullified on August 9, 2018, after Tribune Media terminated the merger and filed a breach of contract lawsuit;[95] this came several weeks after the FCC voted to bring the deal up for a formal review and lead commissioner Ajit Pai publicly rejected it.[96]

Nexstar ownership and CW affiliation edit

Following the collapse of the Sinclair merger, Nexstar Media Group announced it would acquire Tribune Media in a $6.4 billion all-cash deal on December 3, 2018, which also included all outstanding Tribune debt.[97][98] Approved by the FCC on September 16, 2019, the merger was completed three days later.[99]

KAUT replaced KOCB as the Oklahoma City affiliate of The CW on September 1, 2023, a year after Nexstar bought majority control of the network. The switch in affiliation coincided with Sinclair receiving the CW affiliations in Seattle and Pittsburgh.[100]

Local programming edit

Newscasts edit

Further information: KFOR-TV § Newscasts

After KAUT-TV was purchased by KFOR-TV, the KFOR news department extended to add newscasts on channel 43. A 9 p.m. newscast debuted in June 2006, originally anchored by Ernie Paulson and former KOCO-TV weekend evening anchor Cherokee Ballard.[101] The station also airs a morning news and entertainment program, Rise and Shine.[102]

Technical information edit

Subchannels edit

The station's ATSC 1.0 channels are carried on the multiplexed signals of three other Oklahoma City TV stations:

Subchannels provided by KAUT-TV (ATSC 1.0)[103]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming ATSC 1.0 host
43.1 1080i 16:9 KAUT-DT The CW KFOR-TV
43.2 480i 4:3 RewTV Rewind TV KOKH-TV
43.3 MYSTERY Ion Mystery
43.4 COZI-TV Cozi TV KOCB

Analog-to-digital conversion and spectrum repack edit

KAUT-TV launched a digital signal on UHF channel 40 on April 24, 2006.[104] The station originally planned to transmit on UHF channel 42 by the May 1, 2002, deadline for full-power television stations to sign on a digital signal; however, the assignment was also given to KTFO in Tulsa. As a result, Viacom Television Stations Group requested channel 40 for KAUT's digital signal instead.[105][106][107] KAUT discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over UHF channel 43, on February 17, 2009, the original date for the federally mandated digital television transition.[108] The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 40[109] until relocating to channel 19 on December 1, 2018, as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction.[110]

ATSC 3.0 deployment edit

KAUT-TV became the host station for ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) broadcasting on October 8, 2020. KAUT provides 3.0 signals of subchannels of itself and four other Oklahoma City-area stations: KFOR-TV, KOCO-TV, KOKH-TV, and KOCB.[111]

Subchannels of KAUT-TV (ATSC 3.0)[112]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
4.1 1080p 16:9 KFOR NBC (KFOR-TV)
5.1 KOCO ABC (KOCO-TV)
25.2 480i KOKH Charge! (KOKH-TV)
34.1 720p KOCB KOCB (Independent)
43.1 1080p KAUT The CW

Notes edit

  1. ^ KAUT signed on the air on October 15, when the station commenced offering programming from the VEU subscription television service. The Television Factbook states September 24 as KAUT's sign-on date,[1] while the Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook lists it as November 3, when daytime programming began.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "KAUT-TV". Television and Cable Factbook. 2006. p. A-1790.
  2. ^ "KAUT-TV". Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook. 2006. p. B-73.
  3. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KAUT-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ a b c "History Cards for KAUT-TV". Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^ "Group Planning UHF Station". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. April 6, 1977. p. 22. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Vahlberg, Vivian (October 30, 1977). "Plans for New City Television Stations Temporarily Grind to Slowdown". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. 6A. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "$1.2 Million UHF TV Equipment Order Placed". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. August 24, 1978. p. 23. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Shockey, Don (July 15, 1979). "Gene Autry Taking Aim at Pay-TV for City in Next Year". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. B15. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Lowe, Chan (April 6, 1980). "Pay TV on UHF". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. TV News 6. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "For the Record". Broadcasting. February 11, 1980. p. 126. ProQuest 962746469.
  11. ^ "Five TV Stations Getting New Homes". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. March 23, 1980. p. 36. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Reid, Jim (June 22, 1980). "TV Transmitter Heat Also Warms Building". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. 8B. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "New TV Station Turns to KAUT". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. September 14, 1980. p. 7B. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Over-the-Air Pay TV Broadcasts Wednesday". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. October 12, 1980. p. 6B. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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  16. ^ Harrison, Jan (January 4, 1981). "More Sports Available With Price Tag Attached". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. 3C. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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  18. ^ a b Osburn, Lyn (May 31, 1981). "43 battles an I.D. problem". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. TV News 8. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "New Oklahoma City outlet to program news and STV". Broadcasting. November 3, 1980. pp. 43, 46. ProQuest 1014694722.
  20. ^ Osburn, Lyn (November 2, 1980). "KAUT all news debuts". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. TV News 8. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Osburn, Lyn (November 23, 1980). "KAUT lends helping hand". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. TV News 8. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Osburn, Lyn (February 8, 1981). "Changes on local scene". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. pp. TV News 8, 9. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b "Oklahoma City TV 'giving up' on all-news format". Broadcasting. September 14, 1981. pp. 54, 56. ProQuest 962728210.
  24. ^ Steed, Jean (August 28, 1981). "Channel 43 Halts Test: Local News Program Ending". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. 13. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Atkins, Kay (March 24, 1981). "Best TV Program Buy Depends on Viewer". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. pp. 1, 2. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Miller, Linda (May 2, 1982). "Pay TV Market in City Slackens But Still "Viable'". The Daily Oklahoman. from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  27. ^ a b "Veu leaves Oklahoma". The Dallas Morning News. United Press International. October 5, 1982. p. 13D. from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  28. ^ "Channel 43 Ends Pay-TV". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. September 8, 1982. p. 21. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ a b Angus, Joe (September 19, 1982). "'TMC' dances into the sunset". The Daily Oklahoman. from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  30. ^ Record, Pat (September 8, 1982). "Alarmed mothers waltz to TV bandstand's rescue, sort of". The Daily Oklahoman. from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  31. ^ Darrow, Terri (May 2, 1984). "Mustang to Dance Back to '50s". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. North 5. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Local Radio Personality Honored". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. September 4, 1992. p. Weekend 2. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ a b Chavez, Tim (June 24, 1990). "TV Independents Hanging In There Amid Competition". The Daily Oklahoman. from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  34. ^ Perovich, Kathy (December 17, 1982). "Search for local announcer still under way by KAUT". The Daily Oklahoman. from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  35. ^ "KAUT to Televise Texas, 89er Games". The Daily Oklahoman. March 3, 1987. from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  36. ^ Bentley, Mac (August 6, 1989). "Goodbye, NBA? Switch May Zap Local Cable Viewers". The Daily Oklahoman. from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  37. ^ "Gene Autry Agrees To Sell TV Division". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Associated Press. October 28, 1982. p. 40. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Phillips, Glen (February 28, 1985). "Gene Autry Selling Channel 43 to Atlanta Firm". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. 25. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Changing Hands". Broadcasting. March 11, 1985. p. 74. ProQuest 1014708516.
  40. ^ "In Brief". Broadcasting. June 16, 1986. p. 88.
  41. ^ "In Brief". Broadcasting. August 4, 1986. p. 105. ProQuest 963247114.
  42. ^ "Iowa Firm Buys Station". The Daily Oklahoman. November 9, 1986. from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  43. ^ Case, Patti (July 25, 1986). . The Journal Record. ProQuest 258996654. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014.
  44. ^ "Fox network begins to take shape". Broadcasting. August 4, 1986. p. 44. ProQuest 963254490.
  45. ^ English, Paul (August 6, 1988). "OETA Foundation Seeks Funds for KGMC-TV". The Oklahoman and Times. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. pp. 1, 2. from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Bellmon Not Sold On TV Deal". The Daily Oklahoman. August 10, 1988. from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
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External links edit

  • CW 43 schedule page on kfor.com

April 14, 2024
kaut, channel, television, station, oklahoma, city, oklahoma, united, states, serving, local, outlet, owned, operated, network, majority, owner, nexstar, media, group, alongside, affiliate, kfor, channel, stations, share, studios, oklahoma, city, mccourry, hei. KAUT TV channel 43 is a television station in Oklahoma City Oklahoma United States serving as the local outlet for The CW It is owned and operated by the network s majority owner Nexstar Media Group alongside NBC affiliate KFOR TV channel 4 The two stations share studios in Oklahoma City s McCourry Heights section KAUT TV s transmitter is located on the city s northeast side KAUT TVATSC 3 0 stationOklahoma City OklahomaUnited StatesChannelsDigital 19 UHF Virtual 43BrandingCW 43 Oklahoma CityProgrammingAffiliations43 1 The CWfor others see SubchannelsOwnershipOwnerNexstar Media Group Tribune Broadcasting Company II LLC Sister stationsKFOR TVHistoryFirst air dateOctober 15 1980 43 years ago 1980 10 15 a Former call signsKFHC TV CP 1979 1980 KAUT 1980 1983 KAUT TV 1983 1992 KTLC 1992 1998 KPSG 1998 Former channel number s Analog 43 UHF 1980 2009 Digital 40 UHF 2006 2018 Former affiliationsIndependent 1980 1986 2012 2023 VEU 1980 1982 Fox 1986 1991 PBS 1991 1998 UPN 1998 2006 MyNetworkTV 2006 2012 Call sign meaningGene Autry partner of founding owner Golden West BroadcastersTechnical information 3 Licensing authorityFCCFacility ID50182ERP635 kW750 kW CP HAAT467 m 1 532 ft Transmitter coordinates35 34 7 N 97 29 21 W 35 56861 N 97 48917 W 35 56861 97 48917LinksPublic license informationPublic fileLMSWebsitekfor wbr com wbr cw43 wbr KAUT went on the air on October 15 1980 It was built by Golden West Broadcasters a company owned by station namesake Gene Autry and aired Golden West s VEU subscription TV service at night and news programming during the day The news programming lasted less than a year before being discontinued while VEU was shuttered in October 1982 leaving KAUT to become one of three independent stations in the market Rollins Broadcasting bought the station in 1985 it became Heritage Media in 1986 the year that channel 43 affiliated with the Fox network Fox programming improved the station s ratings which previously had run third among the three Oklahoma City independents After a previous proposal in 1988 and 1989 failed Heritage Media acquired competing independent KOKH TV channel 25 in 1991 It moved the Fox affiliation programming and staff from channel 43 to channel 25 KAUT was then donated to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority OETA the state s public TV broadcaster and revamped as a secondary service known as The Literacy Channel under KTLC call letters It aired telecourses and literacy programming during the day and reairs of PBS children s programs at night The Literacy Channel did not receive state money operating funds came from private donors and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting The OETA put KTLC on the market in 1997 to help defray the costs of converting its statewide network to digital broadcasting Paramount Stations Group placed the winning bid and returned channel 43 to commercial operation as UPN affiliate KPSG on June 20 1998 The station returned UPN programming to the market after KOCB channel 34 switched to The WB earlier that year After Autry died that October the station reclaimed its original KAUT call sign in his honor The New York Times Company then owner of KFOR TV purchased KAUT in 2005 the station affiliated with MyNetworkTV when UPN and The WB merged into The CW in 2006 and KFOR introduced prime time and morning newscasts on channel 43 In 2023 KAUT replaced KOCB as the CW affiliate in Oklahoma City Contents 1 KAUT 1980 1991 1 1 The STV years 1 2 Independent station and Fox affiliation 1 3 1988 independent consolidation attempt 2 KTLC The Literacy Channel 3 UPN affiliation 4 Duopoly with KFOR TV 4 1 Freedom 43 4 2 Nexstar ownership and CW affiliation 5 Local programming 5 1 Newscasts 6 Technical information 6 1 Subchannels 6 2 Analog to digital conversion and spectrum repack 6 3 ATSC 3 0 deployment 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksKAUT 1980 1991 editThe STV years edit The Christian Broadcasting Company of Oklahoma applied to the Federal Communications Commission FCC on March 29 1979 4 for a construction permit to build a new commercial television station on channel 43 in Oklahoma City The non profit corporation proposed a religious oriented station similar to KXTX TV in Dallas 5 At the time applications were open on three different Oklahoma City UHF channels 14 34 and 43 and the Trinity Broadcasting Network also sought a religious station using channel 14 6 Christian Broadcasting Company placed an order for equipment in September 1978 7 and received the construction permit that November 4 In 1979 less than a year after obtaining the permit for KFHC TV 4 Christian Broadcasting Company sold the permit to Golden West Broadcasters a joint venture of Gene Autry and his wife Ina and The Signal Companies Golden West s intention for the station was to broadcast subscription television STV programming to paying subscribers Golden West was branching into the STV business with microwave distribution systems in other cities 8 it chose Oklahoma City for the venture because of an initial investment climate and Autry s ties to Oklahoma 9 The FCC granted approval of the 60 000 transaction on January 24 1980 10 The station occupied a 32 500 square foot 3 020 m2 building constructed on a 95 acre former dairy at 11901 North Eastern Avenue 11 excess heat from the station s transmitter heated the building the first setup of its kind in Oklahoma 12 The call letters KAUT were chosen in honor of Autry 13 On October 15 1980 KAUT began broadcasting Golden West s VEU subscription TV service featuring first run motion pictures and other entertainment specials Subscribers paid 22 50 per month plus a 49 95 installation fee to be connected to the service which began airing at 7 p m 14 15 In 1981 VEU added sports a package of Dallas Mavericks basketball games and Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball and wrestling 16 nbsp A February 1981 ad for KAUT s news operations During the day beginning on November 3 1980 KAUT broadcast an all news format from noon to 5 p m Jerry Birdwell the first general manager noted the high interest in news in the Oklahoma City market and stated the objective of the 24 person news operation was to serve as a newspaper of the air 17 Bob Barry Jr was among the on air staff for KAUT s newscasts 18 In between from 5 to 7 p m the station aired syndicated programs 19 20 For several months in late 1980 the station broadcast Trinity Broadcasting Network programs until KTBO TV could complete construction on channel 14 21 KAUT as a whole struggled to get viewers to understand its hybrid program format and avoid confusion with the all news cable channel CNN or KGMC channel 34 a competing independent station 18 The news window shifted to 2 6 p m in early 1981 to expose the Newswatch 43 broadcasts to more viewers by this time the station had daytime music videos and programming from the Christian Broadcasting Network before going live with news coverage 22 Viewer acceptance was never high with the notable exception of waiting rooms and places of business where television ratings are not measured 23 and the news department was disbanded in August 1981 leaving 15 employees out of a job 24 Birdwell believed Oklahomans were not ready for this type of live extended locally produced news 23 VEU competed with local cable television franchises some of which were ahead of schedule in connecting neighborhoods to their service as well as TVQ a microwave delivered movie service with about 15 000 subscribers 25 By May 1982 the VEU service had 18 000 subscribers surpassing TVQ 26 Independent station and Fox affiliation edit With VEU subscriptions in Oklahoma City peaking at 22 000 short of the 35 000 necessary to turn a profit 27 Golden West decided to terminate operations of the VEU service in Oklahoma City on October 17 1982 and convert KAUT into a full time commercial and ad supported independent station with daytime programs from the Financial News Network 28 Jerry Birdwell also cited the lack of identity noting that viewers referred to KAUT as that cable station Decoders used for VEU service in the Oklahoma City area were shipped to Golden West s other broadcast STV service in Dallas 27 The new format which emphasized series in prime time instead of movies to provide an alternative to independents KOKH TV channel 25 and KGMC 29 led to the cancellations of two music programs aired by the station The final edition of TMC 43 a teen dance program 30 featured 250 guests as the host read letters from heartbroken teens and parents 29 Also axed was Oklahoma Country Live a country music show hosted by Wade Carter and noteworthy for featuring the first TV appearance of a young Garth Brooks 31 32 KAUT s acquisitions of new syndicated programs were impacted by the station s relatively late entry into program acquisition putting it behind the network affiliates and the other two local independents 33 During the 1980s KAUT carried a variety of local and regional sports telecasts In 1982 channel 43 carried college basketball games involving the Oklahoma Sooners the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Oklahoma City Stars as part of a contract with local advertising agency AADCO 34 For several years in the 1980s the station aired packages of Oklahoma City 89ers minor league baseball games alongside syndicated telecasts of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals baseball teams and Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets basketball 35 36 In 1982 Golden West Broadcasters sold itself to a new firm led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts as Autry bought out The Signal Companies interest in other Autry ventures 37 Golden West was under a divestiture order stemming from the 1980 death of Ina Autry and in 1985 the station was sold again for 5 55 million to Atlanta based Rollins Communications owned by pest control magnate O Wayne Rollins 38 39 Subsequently in 1986 Des Moines Iowa based Heritage Broadcasting acquired a controlling interest in Rollins Communications with the combined company forming Heritage Media in a two tiered tender acquisition worth 260 million 40 41 42 KAUT became Oklahoma City s affiliate of the new Fox network when it launched with late night programming in October 1986 even though channel 43 was the third rated of Oklahoma City s three independent stations 43 44 1988 independent consolidation attempt edit nbsp Logo used by KAUT TV during the years of its Fox affiliationIn July 1988 Pappas Telecasting proposed a 30 million triple acquisition that would have resulted in major changes in independent television in Oklahoma City It proposed to buy KOKH TV KGMC and KAUT TV consolidate their programs onto channel 25 and then sell the latter two stations to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority OETA and a religious organization respectively removing them as competitors to KOKH As the OETA Foundation the charitable fundraising arm of the educational authority sought funds for the KGMC purchase in addition to a 1 million conditional grant from Pappas 45 others did not have a favorable reaction Oklahoma governor Henry Bellmon voiced concerns with the OETA s involvement in the transaction suggesting that the purchase of a second Oklahoma City station would result in the authority which had limited appropriations to adequately operate its existing state network as it stood constantly requesting additional state funding 46 After a minority broadcaster objected to the rule being used to justify the KGMC purchase Pappas changed tack and announced in October that KAUT not KGMC would be the station sold to the OETA 47 a plan approved by the authority s board 48 Opposition from Bellmon and others to the second channel plan continued after channel 43 was substituted In a move that hamstrung its attempt to acquire KAUT the Oklahoma Legislature incorporated stipulations into the bill appropriating OETA s funding for fiscal year 1990 that prohibited the use of state funds for any operational or capital expense of the proposed second educational television channel in Oklahoma City and from proposing any additional funding to finance the acquisition if it did not obtain sufficient funding from private sources 49 50 51 In late January 1989 the management of KOKH TV owner Busse Broadcasting denied Pappas s request to extend the completion deadline for the purchase past its scheduled January 31 deadline 52 The entire transaction fell through on February 3 when Busse formally terminated the purchase agreement with Pappas 53 three days earlier the FCC had dismissed the respective transfer applications for KGMC and KAUT 54 The proposed OETA sale created uncertainty over KAUT s future resulting in the departures of 16 KAUT employees all of whom sought work at other Heritage owned television stations and a reduction in advertising sales 55 Even though channels 34 an 43 struggled in the wake of the decline KAUT bounced back as the Fox network caught its stride with such hits as The Simpsons pulling ahead of KGMC in total day ratings and ahead of KGMC and KOKH in prime time 33 KTLC The Literacy Channel edit nbsp A Study Guide for The Literacy Channel KTLC in a 1992 edition of The Daily Oklahoman Such guides reflected owner OETA s intended goal for KTLC a PBS member from August 15 1991 to June 20 1998 On April 23 1991 Heritage Media announced that it would acquire KOKH from Busse Broadcast Holdings move some of KAUT s programming and Fox affiliation to channel 25 and donate the channel 43 transmitter and studio facility 56 to the OETA The move promised relief for the crowded commercial TV market It also met with the approval of Governor Bellmon s office unlike the 1988 Pappas plan 49 As KAUT s staff and programming moved over to channel 25 channel 43 relaunched as The Literacy Channel on August 15 1991 57 56 The Literacy Channel name had been associated with the project since 1989 51 The second station allowed the OETA to more than double its offerings of telecourses in an effort to reduce illiteracy in the state 49 with offerings of such series as Learn to Read and GED on TV 58 At night The Literacy Channel offered rebroadcasts of children s shows from PBS including Sesame Street never before aired in the evening 58 and Reading Rainbow 57 The new programming was a demonstration initiative devised by OETA s Board of Directors the OETA Foundation Board of Trustees and Heritage Media PBS senior vice president for education services Sandy Welch and management with the Children s Television Workshop collaborated with the consortium in the development of the station s new format which the OETA and PBS intended to use as a model for instructional and educational programming on a national level 58 The call sign changed from KAUT to KTLC on January 17 1992 59 60 As the OETA s state budget appropriation shrank KTLC began altering its program format to save money even though most of the channel s funding initially came from private sources In July 1993 weekday and weekend morning schedules were axed initially temporarily in response to a 17 9 percent budget cut that left the Literacy Channel with no state funding source The OETA board requested the OETA Foundation s permission to conduct two on air fundraisers to keep the Literacy Channel on the air 61 62 A nine day fund drive took place in September 63 By 1995 half of the funding for the Literacy Channel came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the remainder from private donors with no state funding 64 This was the case even though governor David Walters had previously recommended expanding the service saying W e need to sell reading and writing like we would sell soap 65 UPN affiliation editIn October 1997 the OETA decided to sell KTLC in order to fund costly digital television conversion mandates for the rest of its statewide network with the sale proceeds to be placed in an endowment to cover those costs The Literacy Channel was planned to continue as a cable service and eventually a digital subchannel of the OETA transmitters 66 The authority received ten cash offers for channel 43 among them proposals from Clear Channel Communications Shop at Home and Sinclair Broadcast Group The highest bid at 23 5 million was made by Paramount Stations Group the owned and operated stations division of UPN 67 UPN was about to lose its existing Oklahoma City affiliate KOCB the former KGMC By 1997 it was under the ownership of Sinclair which that summer signed a deal to flip six UPN affiliates including KOCB to its rival The WB in January 1998 68 The move put UPN on the back foot the network contested the validity of the action in Maryland courts where it lost twice 69 Without any further action UPN would be left without an affiliate in Oklahoma City 70 The OETA unanimously accepted Paramount s 23 5 million bid in January 1998 71 As part of the deal for five years Paramount agreed to air The Literacy Channel programs from 9 a m to noon on weekdays provide the OETA with 100 000 in airtime for promotion include the OETA in volume discounts for digital television equipment purchases donate discarded equipment and simulcast one fundraising drive a year On June 20 1998 after delays 72 UPN returned to Oklahoma City after five months as channel 43 launched a new program schedule under the new call sign KPSG 73 The full transaction was completed a month later 74 Gene Autry died at the age of 91 on October 2 1998 75 In his honor the station re took the call sign KAUT TV on December 12 coinciding with a weekend long special of Autry s films and an hour long tribute special hosted by his longtime friend Johnny Grant 76 Under Paramount the station added some sports programming to its lineup In 2004 it began airing Kansas City Chiefs preseason games as well as a package of Oklahoma Sooners men s and women s basketball games 77 Duopoly with KFOR TV editIn September 2005 the New York Times Company owner of NBC affiliate KFOR TV channel 4 agreed to purchase KAUT from what was then the Viacom Television Stations Group 78 for 22 million It was one of two stations Viacom agreed to sell in 2005 along with WUPL in the New Orleans market 79 The deal created the first duopoly in the New York Times Company stable of TV stations 80 UPN and The WB merged in September 2006 to form The CW An Oklahoma City affiliate for the network was not confirmed until Sinclair signed an agreement for eight stations to join the network on May 2 81 On August 22 just two weeks before the network launched KAUT confirmed it would be Oklahoma City s affiliate of MyNetworkTV 82 which was set up to serve affiliates not chosen for the new CW network 83 Instead of rebranding with the network as My 43 KAUT changed its moniker to OK 43 adopting Western themed imaging 82 On January 4 2007 The New York Times Company sold KAUT TV and its eight sister television stations to Local TV LLC a holding company operated by private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners for 530 million 84 the sale was finalized on May 7 85 Local TV LLC shared broadcast group management with the Tribune Company by way of The Other Company run by Tribune executive Randy Michaels 86 Freedom 43 edit In 2011 the station rebranded from OK43 to Freedom 43 in an appeal to the large military population in the Oklahoma City area KFOR KAUT president Jim Boyer described the new name and approach as catering to all Oklahomans who believe in faith freedom and patriotism Newscasts on channel 43 were altered to include stories and profiles of interest to conservatives and the military community 87 88 89 KAUT discontinued MyNetworkTV in 2012 with the network s offerings moving to KSBI channel 52 90 Tribune acquired the Local TV stations in 2013 for 2 75 billion 91 92 In 2017 Sinclair Broadcast Group attempted to purchase Tribune 93 to meet ownership limits Sinclair would have spun out KAUT to Howard Stirk Holdings and operated it under shared services and joint sales agreements 94 The Tribune purchase of Sinclair and related transactions were nullified on August 9 2018 after Tribune Media terminated the merger and filed a breach of contract lawsuit 95 this came several weeks after the FCC voted to bring the deal up for a formal review and lead commissioner Ajit Pai publicly rejected it 96 Nexstar ownership and CW affiliation edit Following the collapse of the Sinclair merger Nexstar Media Group announced it would acquire Tribune Media in a 6 4 billion all cash deal on December 3 2018 which also included all outstanding Tribune debt 97 98 Approved by the FCC on September 16 2019 the merger was completed three days later 99 KAUT replaced KOCB as the Oklahoma City affiliate of The CW on September 1 2023 a year after Nexstar bought majority control of the network The switch in affiliation coincided with Sinclair receiving the CW affiliations in Seattle and Pittsburgh 100 Local programming editNewscasts edit Further information KFOR TV Newscasts After KAUT TV was purchased by KFOR TV the KFOR news department extended to add newscasts on channel 43 A 9 p m newscast debuted in June 2006 originally anchored by Ernie Paulson and former KOCO TV weekend evening anchor Cherokee Ballard 101 The station also airs a morning news and entertainment program Rise and Shine 102 Technical information editSubchannels edit The station s ATSC 1 0 channels are carried on the multiplexed signals of three other Oklahoma City TV stations Subchannels provided by KAUT TV ATSC 1 0 103 Channel Res Aspect Short name Programming ATSC 1 0 host43 1 1080i 16 9 KAUT DT The CW KFOR TV43 2 480i 4 3 RewTV Rewind TV KOKH TV43 3 MYSTERY Ion Mystery43 4 COZI TV Cozi TV KOCBAnalog to digital conversion and spectrum repack edit KAUT TV launched a digital signal on UHF channel 40 on April 24 2006 104 The station originally planned to transmit on UHF channel 42 by the May 1 2002 deadline for full power television stations to sign on a digital signal however the assignment was also given to KTFO in Tulsa As a result Viacom Television Stations Group requested channel 40 for KAUT s digital signal instead 105 106 107 KAUT discontinued regular programming on its analog signal over UHF channel 43 on February 17 2009 the original date for the federally mandated digital television transition 108 The station s digital signal remained on its pre transition UHF channel 40 109 until relocating to channel 19 on December 1 2018 as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction 110 ATSC 3 0 deployment edit KAUT TV became the host station for ATSC 3 0 NextGen TV broadcasting on October 8 2020 KAUT provides 3 0 signals of subchannels of itself and four other Oklahoma City area stations KFOR TV KOCO TV KOKH TV and KOCB 111 Subchannels of KAUT TV ATSC 3 0 112 Channel Res Aspect Short name Programming4 1 1080p 16 9 KFOR NBC KFOR TV 5 1 KOCO ABC KOCO TV 25 2 480i KOKH Charge KOKH TV 34 1 720p KOCB KOCB Independent 43 1 1080p KAUT The CWNotes edit KAUT signed on the air on October 15 when the station commenced offering programming from the VEU subscription television service The Television Factbook states September 24 as KAUT s sign on date 1 while the Broadcasting amp Cable Yearbook lists it as November 3 when daytime programming began 2 References edit KAUT TV Television and Cable Factbook 2006 p A 1790 KAUT TV Broadcasting amp Cable Yearbook 2006 p B 73 Facility Technical Data for KAUT TV Licensing and Management System Federal Communications Commission a b c History Cards for KAUT TV Federal Communications Commission Group Planning UHF Station The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma April 6 1977 p 22 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com Vahlberg Vivian October 30 1977 Plans for New City Television Stations Temporarily Grind to Slowdown The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p 6A Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com 1 2 Million UHF TV Equipment Order Placed The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma August 24 1978 p 23 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com Shockey Don July 15 1979 Gene Autry Taking Aim at Pay TV for City in Next Year The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p B15 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com Lowe Chan April 6 1980 Pay TV on UHF The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p TV News 6 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com For the Record Broadcasting February 11 1980 p 126 ProQuest 962746469 Five TV Stations Getting New Homes The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma March 23 1980 p 36 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com Reid Jim June 22 1980 TV Transmitter Heat Also Warms Building The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p 8B Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com New TV Station Turns to KAUT The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma September 14 1980 p 7B Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com Over the Air Pay TV Broadcasts Wednesday The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma October 12 1980 p 6B Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com Lowe Chan October 19 1980 New VEU to you The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p TV News 6 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com Harrison Jan January 4 1981 More Sports Available With Price Tag Attached The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p 3C Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com Lowe Chan July 20 1980 43 goes all news The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p TV News 6 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com a b Osburn Lyn May 31 1981 43 battles an I D problem The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p TV News 8 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com New Oklahoma City outlet to program news and STV Broadcasting November 3 1980 pp 43 46 ProQuest 1014694722 Osburn Lyn November 2 1980 KAUT all news debuts The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p TV News 8 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com Osburn Lyn November 23 1980 KAUT lends helping hand The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p TV News 8 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com Osburn Lyn February 8 1981 Changes on local scene The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma pp TV News 8 9 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com a b Oklahoma City TV giving up on all news format Broadcasting September 14 1981 pp 54 56 ProQuest 962728210 Steed Jean August 28 1981 Channel 43 Halts Test Local News Program Ending The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p 13 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com Atkins Kay March 24 1981 Best TV Program Buy Depends on Viewer The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma pp 1 2 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 15 2024 via Newspapers com Miller Linda May 2 1982 Pay TV Market in City Slackens But Still Viable The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on February 28 2021 Retrieved September 5 2023 a b Veu leaves Oklahoma The Dallas Morning News United Press International October 5 1982 p 13D Archived from the original on October 26 2023 Retrieved October 26 2023 Channel 43 Ends Pay TV The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma September 8 1982 p 21 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com a b Angus Joe September 19 1982 TMC dances into the sunset The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 21 2023 Record Pat September 8 1982 Alarmed mothers waltz to TV bandstand s rescue sort of The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on May 28 2022 Retrieved February 16 2024 Darrow Terri May 2 1984 Mustang to Dance Back to 50s The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p North 5 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com Local Radio Personality Honored The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma September 4 1992 p Weekend 2 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com a b Chavez Tim June 24 1990 TV Independents Hanging In There Amid Competition The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on February 25 2021 Retrieved September 5 2023 Perovich Kathy December 17 1982 Search for local announcer still under way by KAUT The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 21 2023 KAUT to Televise Texas 89er Games The Daily Oklahoman March 3 1987 Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 21 2023 Bentley Mac August 6 1989 Goodbye NBA Switch May Zap Local Cable Viewers The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 21 2023 Gene Autry Agrees To Sell TV Division The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma Associated Press October 28 1982 p 40 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com Phillips Glen February 28 1985 Gene Autry Selling Channel 43 to Atlanta Firm The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p 25 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com Changing Hands Broadcasting March 11 1985 p 74 ProQuest 1014708516 In Brief Broadcasting June 16 1986 p 88 In Brief Broadcasting August 4 1986 p 105 ProQuest 963247114 Iowa Firm Buys Station The Daily Oklahoman November 9 1986 Archived from the original on February 25 2021 Retrieved September 5 2023 Case Patti July 25 1986 KAUT Selected to Affiliate with Fox Broadcasting Co The Journal Record ProQuest 258996654 Archived from the original on January 12 2014 Fox network begins to take shape Broadcasting August 4 1986 p 44 ProQuest 963254490 English Paul August 6 1988 OETA Foundation Seeks Funds for KGMC TV The Oklahoman and Times Oklahoma City Oklahoma pp 1 2 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com Bellmon Not Sold On TV Deal The Daily Oklahoman August 10 1988 Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 5 2023 OETA Station Purchase Blasted Governor Says Funding Veto a Possibility The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma Associated Press October 21 1988 p 4 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com OETA Board OKs Second Channel Effort Tulsa World Tulsa Oklahoma Associated Press October 20 1988 p A 6 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com a b c Chavez Tim April 24 1991 KAUT Owners Agree To Buy Channel 25 The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 5 2023 Second time may be charm for new OETA outlet Tulsa World Associated Press April 24 1991 Archived from the original on April 3 2023 Retrieved June 24 2017 a b Singleterry Wayne February 13 1989 Robert Allen New Literacy Channel to Be A Godsend for Oklahoma The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on February 25 2021 Retrieved September 5 2023 Denton Jon January 18 1989 UHF Picture Expected to Change Soon The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on February 25 2021 Retrieved September 5 2023 Denton Jon February 16 1989 City Television Deal Falls Through Chain Breaks When Californian Misses Deadline to Buy Channel 25 The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 5 2023 For the Record Broadcasting February 20 1989 p 60 KAUT Starts Rebuilding Process The Journal Record May 17 1989 ProQuest 259175542 Archived from the original on January 12 2014 a b Morrow Darrell August 13 1991 KOKH KAUT to Change Operations on Thursday The Journal Record ProQuest 259340345 Archived from the original on January 12 2014 a b TV Stations To Change Thursday The Daily Oklahoman August 11 1991 Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 5 2023 a b c Literacy Channel Offers Shows For Kids to Watch With Parents The Daily Oklahoman August 18 1991 Archived from the original on September 6 2023 Retrieved September 5 2023 Cable Lineup Changes The Daily Oklahoman January 12 1992 Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 5 2023 For the Record Broadcasting February 3 1992 p 58 ProQuest 1014743672 English Paul June 17 1993 Public TV Plans Belt Tightening After Fund Cuts The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on September 6 2023 Retrieved September 5 2023 English Paul June 25 1993 Literacy Channel Morning Programs Cut to Save Cost OETA Board to Seek Funding The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on September 6 2023 Retrieved September 5 2023 Literacy Channel Launches Its First Fund Raiser Since Starting The Daily Oklahoman September 12 1993 Archived from the original on September 6 2023 Retrieved September 5 2023 Rodgers Kim February 2 1995 GOP Plans Threaten Future of OETA Station The Journal Record ProQuest 259387073 Walters Seeks to Expand Literacy Channel Reach Tulsa World Tulsa Oklahoma January 31 1994 p 10 Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com OETA looks to sell Channel 43 in digital move The Journal Record October 31 1997 ProQuest 259368726 Potts Gregory December 22 1997 UPN offers highest bid for KTLC The Journal Record ProQuest 259372269 Archived from the original on January 12 2014 McClellan Steve July 21 1997 WB woos and wins Sinclair PDF Broadcasting amp Cable pp 4 8 ProQuest 1016966796 Archived PDF from the original on January 11 2021 Retrieved June 8 2013 Siegel Andrea F January 13 1998 Appellate court allows WNUV shift to Warner The Baltimore Sun p 3C Archived from the original on April 17 2023 Retrieved April 17 2023 via Newspapers com Potts Gregory December 23 1997 A network of changes The Journal Record ProQuest 259372138 OETA to sell KTLC 43 to Paramount Stations The Journal Record January 8 1998 ProQuest 259395037 Archived from the original on December 31 2013 Cole Maxine June 21 1998 Your Page The Daily Oklahoman Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved September 6 2023 Potts Gregory June 19 1998 UPN returns on Saturday The Journal Record ProQuest 259384267 Archived from the original on June 8 2023 Retrieved September 6 2023 Channel 43 sale completed The Journal Record July 22 1998 ProQuest 259399313 Archived from the original on June 8 2023 Retrieved September 6 2023 Krebs Albin October 3 1998 Gene Autry Singing Movie Cowboy Who Rode Champion to Fame Dies at 91 The New York Times Archived from the original on October 18 2023 Retrieved February 15 2024 KPSG Memorializing Gene Autry With Movie Serial Name Change The Daily Oklahoman December 6 1998 Archived from the original on September 6 2023 Retrieved September 6 2023 Davis Hudson Eileen February 21 2005 Oklahoma City Mediaweek pp 9 11 ProQuest 213643602 Times Co Buys TV Station The New York Times September 15 2005 Archived from the original on June 8 2023 Retrieved June 30 2017 Wilonsky Robert March 16 2006 That s News to The News Dallas Observer Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 Romano Allison September 15 2005 New York Times Buying KAUT Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on March 1 2018 Retrieved June 30 2017 Romano Allison May 2 2006 Eight Sinclair Stations Sign On With CW Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on February 26 2021 Retrieved February 2 2024 a b Davis Kirby Lee August 23 2006 Network shuffle WB stations take CW UPN affiliates join MyNetworkTV The Journal Record ProQuest 259487728 Archived from the original on October 12 2019 News Corp Unveils MyNetworkTV Broadcasting amp Cable February 22 2006 Archived from the original on April 17 2009 Retrieved June 15 2013 Story Louise January 5 2007 Times Co Agrees to Sell TV Stations to Equity Firm The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on September 27 2023 Retrieved September 27 2023 The New York Times Company Reports April Revenues Press release Business Wire May 7 2007 Archived from the original The New York Times Company Financial Report on July 22 2012 Retrieved August 23 2008 Jessell Harry A Denver St Louis To Get Fox CW Duops TVNewsCheck Archived from the original on March 12 2023 Retrieved July 20 2012 Malone Michael March 24 2011 Freedom s Just Another Word For KAUT Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on March 2 2018 Patriotism Key to KAUT Rebranding TVNewsCheck March 24 2011 Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Malone Michael April 25 2011 Let Freedom Ring Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on June 9 2023 Retrieved September 8 2023 KSBI 52 joining MyNetworkTV The Oklahoman August 21 2012 Archived from the original on September 8 2023 Retrieved September 8 2023 Channick Robert July 1 2013 Acquisition to make Tribune Co largest U S TV station operator Chicago Tribune Archived from the original on July 4 2013 Retrieved July 1 2013 Company Completes Final Steps of Transaction Announced in July Tribune Company Press release December 27 2013 Archived from the original on December 28 2013 Battaglio Stephen May 8 2017 Sinclair Broadcast Group to buy Tribune Media for 3 9 billion plus debt Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on April 3 2023 Retrieved June 6 2017 Sinclair Revises TV Spinoff Plans For Tribune Deal Announces Deals For Several Stations All Access April 24 2018 Archived from the original on August 22 2023 Retrieved April 25 2018 Lafayette Jon August 9 2018 Tribune Ends Deal with Sinclair Files Breach of Contract Suit Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on August 9 2018 Retrieved August 9 2018 Neidig Harper July 16 2018 FCC chair rejects Sinclair Tribune merger The Hill Archived from the original on July 16 2018 Retrieved August 9 2018 Smith Gerry Ahmed Nabila Newcomer Eric December 3 2018 Nexstar to buy WGN owner Tribune Media for 4 1 billion Chicago Tribune Bloomberg News Archived from the original on April 5 2019 Retrieved December 3 2018 Lafayette Jon December 3 2018 Nexstar Announces Deal to Buy Tribune for 6 4B Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on April 5 2019 Retrieved December 3 2018 Miller Mark K September 19 2019 Nexstar Closes On Tribune Merger TVNewsCheck Archived from the original on September 20 2019 Retrieved September 19 2019 Lafayette Jon August 31 2023 The CW Adds Sinclair Stations as Affiliates in Seattle and Pittsburgh Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on September 20 2023 Retrieved February 16 2024 Shottenkirk Jerry June 12 2006 KAUT begins news program Ernie Paulson to join Cherokee Ballard as co anchor on 9 o clock news The Journal Record ProQuest 259456055 Archived from the original on January 12 2014 Malone Michael January 30 2023 Local News Close Up Winter in Oklahoma City Means Ice Wind and Thunder Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on April 1 2023 Retrieved February 16 2024 RabbitEars TV Query for KFOR TV RabbitEars Archived from the original on November 28 2022 Retrieved November 28 2022 RabbitEars TV Query for KOKH TV RabbitEars Archived from the original on November 28 2022 Retrieved November 28 2022 RabbitEars TV Query for KOCB RabbitEars Archived from the original on November 28 2022 Retrieved November 28 2022 KAUT DT Television amp Cable Factbook 2008 p A 1852 Report and Order Proceeding Terminated PDF Federal Communications Commission July 8 2005 Archived PDF from the original on December 12 2017 Retrieved March 1 2018 Sherrow Rita May 1 2002 Most Tulsa stations unable to get digital signals on air Tulsa World Archived from the original on October 24 2020 Retrieved March 1 2018 Soldan Penny April 25 2004 City TV stations make strides to digital signal The Oklahoman Retrieved March 1 2018 Bracht Mel February 18 2009 Digital TV switch hits a few snags For now three stations will broadcast in analog The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City Oklahoma p 10A Archived from the original on February 16 2024 Retrieved February 16 2024 via Newspapers com DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds PDF Federal Communications Commission May 23 2006 Archived from the original PDF on August 29 2013 Retrieved August 29 2021 FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table CSV Federal Communications Commission April 13 2017 Archived from the original on April 17 2017 Retrieved April 17 2017 Butts Tom October 8 2020 Oklahoma City Broadcasters Deploy ATSC 3 0 TVTechnology Future US Inc Archived from the original on May 21 2021 Retrieved May 20 2021 RabbitEars TV Query for KAUT TV RabbitEars Archived from the original on November 28 2022 Retrieved March 18 2021 External links editCW 43 schedule page on kfor com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title KAUT TV amp oldid 1210880235, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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