Channel 9 KCAU-TV First Television Station in Sioux City
On March 9, 1953, KVTV Channel 9 (the forerunner of KCAU-TV) went on the air, becoming the first television station in Sioux City, Iowa. KVTV was then a CBS basic station, that also took delayed programs, via kinescope, from NBC, ABC and the Dumont Network. Videotape wasn't a reality until years later, so everything was live or on film. At this time, an invitation was sent to leaders of all fields throughout the country inviting them to participate in a 21st Century Guestimate. A broad response was received from such people as: Hon. Herbert Hoover; David Sarnoff, Pres., National Broadcasting Co.; Rev. Billy Graham, Evangelist; Samuel Goldwyn, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Ralph S. Damon, Pres., Trans World Airlines, Inc., plus many, many more. All these projections of life in the future have been received in sealed envelopes and sealed within a stainless steel time capsule. That time capsule was then opened on January 1, 2000. Over 80 people responded and gave a very unique guess at what they invisioned the future to be. All of these projections are being kept at the Sioux City Museum.
In 1956, KVTV moved to it's current location of 7th and Douglas in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1965, Forward of Iowa assumed the ownership and operation of KVTV. At that time, they changed the call letters to KCAU-TV. The letters in KCAU stood for...Kares About U. In 1988, KCAU-TV's ownership changed to Citadel Communications Company, Ltd.
KCAU-TV 9 serves more than 400,000 people in the Sioux City viewing area. Sioux City is located on the scenic banks of the Missouri River at the point where Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota meet.
KCAU-TV 9 offers a strong news presence in Siouxland. It begins with Channel 9 Eyewitness News This Morning at 6am with a first look at local news and weather as you head out the door. Next is ABC's Good Morning America. Later is Channel 9 Eyewitness News Midday at 11:30am. The afternoon continues on with Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 5pm, followed by World News with Diane Sawyer at 5:30pm, followed by Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 6pm giving you a complete look at Siouxland's top breaking news stories. Following ABC primetime programming, Siouxlanders stay for Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 10.
