KOAT, Hearst’s ABC affiliate in Albuquerque, is beginning a year‐long campaign to celebrate 70 years of broadcasting to the entire state of New Mexico.

At 7 p.m. on Oct. 2, 1953, KOAT first filled televisions with movies, variety shows and local news.

The last seven decades have presented constant change and evolution of the industry, ranging from 15‐minute newscasts to today’s 40‐plus hours of news each week. Since that inaugural broadcast, KOAT has soared to become a leading source for news and entertainment.

Throughout 2023, KOAT will present specials and series that look back at the big stories in the last 70 years.

On Jan. 19, the first of these specials will air. It focuses on the early beginnings of KOAT, the important moments that impacted the state, and the people at KOAT that pushed journalism forward.

KOAT Action 7 News will also run segments devoted to the “Video Vault”. Unsealing unique footage from the archives, some not seen in years, to offer insight into timely connections to the past and behind‐the‐scenes operations.

“We are excited to celebrate this incredible milestone,” says Lori Waldon, KOAT’s GM. “We have a deep connection with our viewers that’s built on trust, credibility, and a passion for high quality, meaningful journalism. Whether we are celebrating good times or uniting to face our challenges, KOAT 7 has been a strong pillar of our community to educate, inform and engage.”

KOAT 7: 70 Years Together will air on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 6:30 p.m.

The special will be available to stream starting Jan. 21 on the Very Local app. Very Local is a streaming platform available for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and an App for iOS or Android.

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