KVIJ-TV

KSWB began broadcasting on August 7, 1961, nearly four years after the award of its construction permit on November 20, 1957.[2] It was owned by—and named for—the Southwest Broadcasting Company;[3] its primary investor was Lonnie Preston, who owned radio station KWOE at nearby Clinton and had previously owned Elk City station KASA.[2] KSWB-TV was an independent station, with local program features including a children's hour, women's show, and a 9:00 newscast.[4]

KSWB was not a financially successful venture. In June 1965, Southwest Broadcasting sold channel 8 to the Bass Broadcasting Company, which owned KFDA-TV, the CBS affiliate in Amarillo. While the sale was pending, Bass filed to move the channel 8 license and facility from Elk City to Sayre; meanwhile, the station also suspended operations on August 11, 1965, due to financial difficulties.[3] The call letters were changed to KFDO-TV, and Bass received program test authority from the Federal Communications Commission to begin broadcasting as a satellite from Sayre on May 13, 1966.[3] Under Bass management, KFDA-TV stationed a reporter in the Sayre–Elk City area and also employed four technical personnel at the transmitter.[5]

In 1975, Marsh Media purchased KFDO-TV for $300,000, from Bass—its direct competitor in Amarillo.[6] In time for coverage of the 1976 Winter Olympics on ABC, the sale was closed and KFDO-TV became KVIJ-TV, rebroadcasting KVII-TV, on January 29, 1976.[7]