Oklahoma's First Television Station Channel 4 - Oklahoma City, OK - Oklahoma Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

An Oklahoma Historical Marker was installed at the entrance to KFOR news station this month. It is located on the south side of Britton, east of Broadway. On the wall of the building there are other 75 anniversary images such as original anchors and a camera.

Text on marker:

Oklahoma's First Television Station Channel 4

Engineering pioneers launched the first television broadcast in Oklahoma on June 6. 1949. Prior to the premiere of WKY-TV (Channel 4) on this date, citizens were limited to newspapers and radio to stay informed. Sporadic entertainment programming and news updates filled the early broadcast days on WKY-TV. Images were black-and-white until 1954, when Channel 4 became the first locally owned television station in the nation to transmit its own programs in color. At one time. the station broadcast more hours of color programming than all national networks combined. Channel 4 became known for innovation. In 1950, the station was the first in the nation to use a mobile unit to produce live broadcasts from the field. In 1952. the weather department issued what is now considered the first live on-air tornado warning. The station continued to break new ground in 1999 by transmitting Oklahoma's first digital television signal. Channel 4 has operated under the call signs WKY-TV, KTVY, and KFOR. Since its inception, the station has been recognized nationally and honored for excellence in broadcasting.

County: Oklahoma Record Address:: 444 E. Britton Rd. Kfor Oklahoma City, OK USA 73114 Web site if available: [Web Link] Rate the Site: Date Erected: June 6, 2025 Sponsor (Who put it there): Oklahoma Historical Society

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