KCEB (Tulsa)
Encyclopedia
KCEB, channel 23, was the second television station to sign on in Tulsa, Oklahoma
. It first broadcast in 1954.
Tulsa's existing station (KOTV 6) retained the CBS
and ABC
affiliations initially, with the new station signing on March of 1954 as an affiliate of NBC
and DuMont
.
Founded by Tulsan oilman Elfred Beck, KCEB began construction of facilities atop Lookout Mountain on August 21, 1953. At one point, an estimated 100,000 UHF converters
had been sold to viewers and the station was outfitted with the latest equipment.
Soon after KCEB signed on in 1954, the Federal Communications Commission
issued construction permit
s to KVOO radio
owner Central Plains Enterprises (who signed on Channel 2) and OETA
(who signed on educational Channel 11). NBC cancelled its affiliation agreement with KCEB and moved its programming to Channel 2. KCEB took an ABC affiliation, but that affiliation too would be short-lived.
Like NBC before it, ABC was allowing local VHF station KOTV to cherry-pick much of the network's programming, leaving less programming available to KCEB. Muskogee, Oklahoma
was also soon to get its own new television station. Tulsa Broadcasting Company's KTVX
Channel 8 signed on as the new ABC affiliate on September 18, 1954.
DuMont's days as a network operation were numbered, with most network programming gone by April 1, 1955; the network would be defunct by 1956. KCEB cut back its operation to a limited program schedule in October 1954 and signed off for the last time on December 10. On April 6, 1955, Beck sold KCEB 23's studios and the forty acres of ground atop Lookout Mountain to Tulsa Broadcasting Company, owners of KTVX 8 Muskogee.
Channel 8 initially used the site as an auxiliary studio, obtaining FCC approval to move Channel 8 to Tulsa in November 1955 under new call letters matching KTUL
radio.
KCEB kept its original construction permit for Channel 23. The Federal Communications Commission
eventually ordered the station to return to the air by April 11, 1966 or lose the construction permit. Outside investment was sought and the station briefly returned with Ernest Moody (a Tulsa jeweler) holding 65% and Claude Hill (owner of KOCW-FM) a 25% interest; Beck retained the last 10%. Programming was primarily movies and syndicated programming, the traditional fare of small independent stations.
In 1980, a new station was established in Tulsa on Channel 23; KOKI 23 would ultimately affiliate with Fox
, a fourth network which was founded in 1986 using many of the original DuMont Television Network
stations.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. It first broadcast in 1954.
Tulsa's existing station (KOTV 6) retained the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliations initially, with the new station signing on March of 1954 as an affiliate of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and DuMont
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
.
Founded by Tulsan oilman Elfred Beck, KCEB began construction of facilities atop Lookout Mountain on August 21, 1953. At one point, an estimated 100,000 UHF converters
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
had been sold to viewers and the station was outfitted with the latest equipment.
Soon after KCEB signed on in 1954, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
issued construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
s to KVOO radio
KJRH
KJRH-TV, virtual channel 2, is the NBC-affiliated television station in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company. KJRH broadcasts from its studios in the Brookside district in midtown Tulsa on South Peoria Avenue and its transmitter is located in Oneta, Oklahoma.The station...
owner Central Plains Enterprises (who signed on Channel 2) and OETA
Oklahoma Educational Television Authority
OETA , is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service member Non-commercial educational Public television stations covering the entire state of Oklahoma....
(who signed on educational Channel 11). NBC cancelled its affiliation agreement with KCEB and moved its programming to Channel 2. KCEB took an ABC affiliation, but that affiliation too would be short-lived.
Like NBC before it, ABC was allowing local VHF station KOTV to cherry-pick much of the network's programming, leaving less programming available to KCEB. Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
was also soon to get its own new television station. Tulsa Broadcasting Company's KTVX
KTUL
KTUL, virtual channel 8, is the ABC-affiliated television station in Tulsa, Oklahoma, owned by Allbritton Communications Company. KTUL broadcasts from its studios on Lookout Mountain in west Tulsa...
Channel 8 signed on as the new ABC affiliate on September 18, 1954.
DuMont's days as a network operation were numbered, with most network programming gone by April 1, 1955; the network would be defunct by 1956. KCEB cut back its operation to a limited program schedule in October 1954 and signed off for the last time on December 10. On April 6, 1955, Beck sold KCEB 23's studios and the forty acres of ground atop Lookout Mountain to Tulsa Broadcasting Company, owners of KTVX 8 Muskogee.
Channel 8 initially used the site as an auxiliary studio, obtaining FCC approval to move Channel 8 to Tulsa in November 1955 under new call letters matching KTUL
KTUL
KTUL, virtual channel 8, is the ABC-affiliated television station in Tulsa, Oklahoma, owned by Allbritton Communications Company. KTUL broadcasts from its studios on Lookout Mountain in west Tulsa...
radio.
KCEB kept its original construction permit for Channel 23. The Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
eventually ordered the station to return to the air by April 11, 1966 or lose the construction permit. Outside investment was sought and the station briefly returned with Ernest Moody (a Tulsa jeweler) holding 65% and Claude Hill (owner of KOCW-FM) a 25% interest; Beck retained the last 10%. Programming was primarily movies and syndicated programming, the traditional fare of small independent stations.
In 1980, a new station was established in Tulsa on Channel 23; KOKI 23 would ultimately affiliate with Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
, a fourth network which was founded in 1986 using many of the original DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
stations.