KWHB Tulsa: A History of Faith and Broadcasting
The story of KWHB, broadcasting on UHF channel 47 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a complex journey of shifting ownership, religious mission, and the challenges of balancing faith-based content with commercial television. From its contested beginnings in the late 1970s to its current status as a full-power religious station, KWHB has mirrored the evolving landscape of independent broadcasting in the American Midwest.
The Battle for Channel 47
The origins of channel 47 were marked by a legal struggle between two competing groups. In 1978, the David Livingstone Missionary Foundation, led by evangelist Billy James Hargis, applied for the non-commercial UHF allocation. Shortly after, Alden Communications Corporation filed a competing application. After a year and a half of contention, the FCC granted the license to the Livingstone Foundation on December 12, 1979.
The permit underwent several transfers before the station actually signed on. It moved from the Livingstone Foundation to the Church of Christian Crusade (CCC), and later saw a failed transaction with Oral Roberts University (ORU). After a brief period under the ownership of Television Communications Inc., the permit was finally sold to San Francisco-based Coit Drapery and Cleaners, Inc.
On June 3, 1985, the station officially signed on as KTCT. Operating as a religious independent, it initially aired content from the PTL Satellite Network and various televangelists. However, early financial struggles forced the station to reduce its broadcast schedule to just six hours a day.
The LeSEA Era and Programming Evolution
In April 1986, LeSEA Evangelistic Ministries (which later became the Family Broadcasting Corporation) purchased the station for $3.4 million. Under new ownership, the call letters were changed to KWHB, standing for "World Harvest Broadcasting."
While KWHB remained rooted in religious programming, it began diversifying its content in 1987 by adding secular, family-oriented entertainment during weekday afternoons and Saturdays. This allowed the station to attract local and national advertisers.
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, KWHB expanded its library to include:
- Classic Sitcoms: Including I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Brady Bunch.
- Animated Series: Such as The Jetsons and DuckTales.
- Local Productions: Including the public affairs show 47 Family Magazine and the music program EQ Video.
In 1993, the station's reach expanded significantly when Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) began offering KWHB on cable channel 7, utilizing mandatory carriage rules from the Cable Television Protection and Competition Act.
The WB Affiliation and Content Conflicts
On January 11, 1995, KWHB became a charter affiliate of The WB. This partnership created a unique tension between network requirements and the station's strict ministerial guidelines. While KWHB aired family-friendly hits like 7th Heaven and the Kids' WB block, it frequently preempted shows containing profanity or sexual content, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed.
These preemptions eventually strained the relationship with the network. When local cable provider TCI dropped the WGN superstation feed in 1996—which had provided an alternative way for viewers to see the preempted shows—The WB sought a more flexible partner. On September 12, 1999, the affiliation moved to KWBT (now KQCW-DT).
Operational Challenges and Transition
KWHB faced several hurdles over the decades. In 1998, the FCC fined the station $12,000 for exceeding Children's Television Act advertising limits. In May 1999, severe thunderstorms and lightning strikes knocked out transmission lines at the Coweta facility, temporarily taking the over-the-air signal offline.
By 2017, the station shifted its strategy again, repositioning itself as a family-oriented entertainment station where secular reruns made up more than half of the schedule, while religious programming was moved primarily to weekday mornings and Sundays.
Current Ownership: Christian Television Network
The most recent chapter began on October 22, 2019, when the Family Broadcasting Corporation sold KWHB to the Christian Television Corp. (CTN) for $2.1 million. The sale was finalized on February 20, 2020.
On March 1, 2020, KWHB converted into an owned-and-operated station of the Christian Television Network. This transition removed all previous secular programming, returning the station to a full-time religious format. KWHB now stands as one of three full-power religious stations serving the Tulsa market.
Key Facts
- Original Sign-on: June 3, 1985, as KTCT.
- Call Sign Meaning: KWHB stands for "World Harvest Broadcasting."
- Major Owners: Coit Drapery and Cleaners, LeSEA Evangelistic Ministries, and Christian Television Network.
- Network History: Served as a charter affiliate for The WB from 1995 to 1999.
- Current Status: Full-time owned-and-operated station of CTN.
| Period | Owner | Call Sign | Primary Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 – 1986 | Coit Drapery and Cleaners | KTCT | Religious Independent |
| 1986 – 2020 | LeSEA / Family Broadcasting Corp | KWHB | Religious & Family Entertainment |
| 2020 – Present | Christian Television Network | KWHB | Full-time Religious |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did KWHB stop affiliating with The WB?
The WB moved its affiliation to KWBT in 1999 because KWHB's strict religious guidelines led the station to preempt many prime-time shows that the network considered essential, causing friction between the network and the station's ownership.
What does the call sign KWHB stand for?
The call letters KWHB stand for "World Harvest Broadcasting," a name adopted after the station was purchased by LeSEA Evangelistic Ministries in 1986.
Did KWHB ever air non-religious programming?
Yes. For several decades under LeSEA ownership, KWHB aired a variety of secular sitcoms, westerns, animated series, and family-oriented entertainment, particularly in the afternoons and on weekends.
Who currently owns KWHB?
KWHB is currently owned and operated by the Christian Television Network (CTN), based in Clearwater, Florida, following a purchase finalized in February 2020.
What happened to the station during the 1999 storms?
Severe thunderstorms and lightning strikes destroyed transmission lines at the Coweta transmitter facility, causing the over-the-air signal to go offline from May 8 until May 19, 1999.