KXAS, the NBC O&O in the Dallas-Ft. Worth, is celebrating its 75^th anniversary tomorrow, Sept. 27.

On Sept. 27, 1948, then known as Channel 5/WBAP-TV, KXAS/NBC 5 became the first television station to go on the air in the State of Texas and the entire Southwest.

A detailed history of the station’s 75 years can be found at NBCDFW.com.

“NBC 5 continues to empower our audience using the highest journalistic ethics and standards,” says Tony Canales, KXAS GM.  “The station remains a broadcasting leader in delivering to our viewers the very best in programming and local, national and international news coverage, highlighted by an unwavering commitment to community service.”

Every Friday this month, NBC 5 News at 4 pm has been airing stories looking back at different aspects of the station’s history, including the evolution of news, news technology, weather forecasting, investigative journalism, community impact efforts, and a conversation with the first female general talk show host in the Southwest, Bobbie Wygant. These stories can also be found on the station’s streaming platforms.

KXAS was the first facility in the nation specifically designed for television production and broadcasting. The station’s first broadcast featured a visit by President Harry Truman, who was campaigning in Fort Worth. Since that first broadcast, NBC 5 has played a significant role in the development and evolution of television and local news coverage in North Texas.

Here are select NBC 5 firsts and milestones:

• First television station to go on the air in the State of Texas and the Southwest
• First facility in the nation to be specifically designed for television production and broadcasting
• First live local news report in 1948
• First live local sports in 1948
• First local station weather center in the United States in 1949
• First color broadcast in Texas in 1954
• First color tape recorder in Texas in 1959
• First all-color news film in 1966
• First 30-minute local TV news magazine program “Texas ‘70s” in 1970
• First live intercontinental satellite report in 1977
• First Texas station to debut closed-captioning newscast for deaf and hearing-impaired viewers in 1989
• First commercial TV station to offer full online computer access in 1995
• First Southwest station to offer viewers news delivered via email in 1997
• First Texas station to air a live sporting event via high-definition television (HDTV) in 1997
• First TV station in Texas to have its own S-Band radar in 2016
• First TV station in Texas to use geographic overlay technology with the news helicopter in 2018

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