KWES-TV

Two groups competed for channel 9, which in west Texas was initially allocated to the community of Monahans, Texas, southwest of Odessa. In 1957, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received two applications, which were placed in comparative hearing. The next year, the KMPS Broadcasting Company, associated with KMID-TV in Midland, withdrew its application, clearing the way for Tri-Cities Broadcasting Company to receive the construction permit. Tri-Cities Broadcasting consisted of John B. Walton and his wife Helen, as well as Ross Rucker, the general manager of Monahans radio station KVKM (1340 AM; now KCKM 1330).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113459268/new-monahans-station-nearer/|date=June 28, 1957|page=3|title=New Monahans Station Nearer|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122054240/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113459268/new-monahans-station-nearer/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=85517|title=FCC History Cards for KWES-TV|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} While it was initially proposed to build the tower at Pyote, a site {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} north of Monahans was ultimately selected to house the transmitter facility for KVKM-TV.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113459374/at-monahans-revised-plans-filed-on-new/|date=January 30, 1958|page=27|title=At Monahans---Revised Plans Filed On New TV Station|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110050641/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113459374/at-monahans-revised-plans-filed-on/|url-status=live}} By the time a contract had been awarded to construct the station in September, KVKM-TV had signed for an affiliation with ABC.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113459447/monahans-tv-contract-let/|date=September 15, 1958|page=2|title=Monahans' TV Contract Let|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122054242/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113459447/monahans-tv-contract-let/|url-status=live}}

KVKM-TV began broadcasting on December 1, 1958.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113459502/new-tv-station-to-open-monday/|date=November 28, 1958|page=2|title=New TV Station To Open Monday|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122054239/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113459502/new-tv-station-to-open-monday/|url-status=live}} In addition to broadcasting to such cities as Midland, Fort Stockton, and Eunice, New Mexico, cable systems carried the new station's signal as far as Hobbs, New Mexico, and Alpine, Texas. Among the station's first local programs was a Friday night dance party show.{{cite news|pages=1, [https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-dec-01-1958-3573945/ 7]|work=The Monahans News|title=KVKM-TV Set To Telecast This Afternoon At 4:30|date=December 1, 1958|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-dec-01-1958-3573943/|access-date=November 26, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122055746/https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-dec-01-1958-3573943/|url-status=live}} From 1961 to 1963, KVLF-TV (channel 12) in Alpine operated as an ABC affiliate; reckoned by national advertising publications as a satellite station of KVKM-TV,{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-Television-Factbook-IDX/IDX/60s/TV-Factbook-1963-OCR-Page-0701.pdf|accessdate=March 22, 2020|page=609|date=1962–1963|work=Television Factbook|title=KVKM-TV|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110050636/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-Television-Factbook-IDX/IDX/60s/TV-Factbook-1963-OCR-Page-0701.pdf|url-status=live}} it did not air all of the Monahans station's programming.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-dec-05-1963-1598318/|work=Alpine Avalanche|title=KVLF-TV Program Schedule|page=8|date=December 5, 1963|accessdate=March 22, 2020|archive-date=March 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323065143/https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-dec-05-1963-1598318/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|work=Monahans News|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-dec-05-1963-1602659/|accessdate=March 22, 2020|date=December 5, 1963|title=KVKM-TV Channel 9 Television Program Schedule|page=5|archive-date=March 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323065142/https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-dec-05-1963-1602659/|url-status=live}}

In 1962, KVKM-TV applied for and was granted permission to move its transmitter to a new site {{convert|17|mi|km}} northeast of Kermit, Texas, atop the Caprock, which would be the highest transmitter site in the state east of El Paso. This site, activated the next year, improved the station's signal in the comparatively populous Odessa–Midland area.{{r|hc}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113459959/monahans-tv-tower-ready/|date=January 10, 1963|page=2|title=Monahans TV Tower Ready|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122054241/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113459959/monahans-tv-tower-ready/|url-status=live}}

Walton acquired KAVE-TV, a television station in Carlsbad, New Mexico, in 1966. At the same time, Rucker, who was no longer a part-owner of KVKM-TV but continued to manage KVKM radio,{{r|hc}} purchased the associated KAVE radio station in Carlsbad.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112675147/for-118000-carlsbad-tv-station-sold/|date=September 8, 1966|page=1|title=For $118,000: Carlsbad TV Station Sold|newspaper=Carlsbad Current-Argus|location=Carlsbad, New Mexico|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 12, 2022|archive-date=November 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107063632/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112675147/for-118000-carlsbad-tv-station-sold/|url-status=live}} By November, local programming had disappeared from KAVE-TV, which began to rebroadcast KVKM-TV.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112727331/election-tv-program-due/|date=November 3, 1966|page=1|title=Election TV Program Due|newspaper=Carlsbad Current-Argus|location=Carlsbad, New Mexico|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 12, 2022|archive-date=November 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112023654/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112727331/election-tv-program-due/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112675135/sale-to-grayson-gets-fcc-okay/|date=February 13, 1969|page=10-A|title=Sale To Grayson Gets FCC Okay|newspaper=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|location=Lubbock, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 7, 2022|archive-date=November 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107063634/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112675135/sale-to-grayson-gets-fcc-okay/|url-status=live}}

John B. Walton Jr. took over the family's broadcasting properties before his father's death in 1967.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113460500/services-set-today-for-pioneer-oilman/|date=July 8, 1967|page=2-A|title=Services Set Today For Pioneer Oilman|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122054244/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113460500/services-set-today-for-pioneer-oilman/|url-status=live}} KVKM radio was sold to Rucker, while a television station construction permit in Lubbock was also sold off.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113460334/monahans-radio-station-is-sold/|date=December 8, 1967|page=1-B|title=Monahans Radio Station Is Sold|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122054242/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113460334/monahans-radio-station-is-sold/|url-status=live}}

In 1968, Walton announced the sale of KVKM-TV to Grayson Enterprises, which already owned KWAB, a CBS affiliate in Big Spring, east of Odessa and Midland. The call letters were changed to KMOM-TV (Monahans–Odessa–Midland{{cite news|page=1|first=Lucille|last=Rogers|work=The Monahans News|title=TV-Chain Headquartered Here: Half Million Spent On Improvements at KMOM|date=May 7, 1970|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-may-07-1970-3573966/|access-date=November 26, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122065522/https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-may-07-1970-3573966/|url-status=live}}) on March 15, 1969,{{r|hc}} and Grayson began an 11-year ownership tenure beset with problems. (Walton retained KAVE-TV, which switched to rebroadcasting another Walton-owned ABC affiliate, KELP-TV in El Paso.{{r|Lubb690213}}) In December 1969, citing economic issues, Grayson converted KWAB to rebroadcasting KMOM-TV; while this brought color advertising and an improved network signal to the Big Spring area, the move was unpopular with Big Spring business interests and violated commitments Grayson had made to the FCC at the time of the purchase.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-jan-03-1971-3573960/|page=1-D|work=Big Spring Daily Herald|first=Howard|last=Simms|title=Chamber Directors Asked To Review Local TV Coverage|date=January 3, 1971|access-date=November 26, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122065521/https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-jan-03-1971-3573960/|url-status=live}} Grayson also sought to leave Monahans. In 1970, remodeling plans were made for an Odessa building that would house KMOM-TV's operations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461024/remodeling-set-for-dunlap-building/|date=August 30, 1970|page=7-A|title=Remodeling Set For Dunlap Building|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122065526/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461024/remodeling-set-for-dunlap-building/|url-status=live}} However, when the station filed to move its main studio in 1972, KOSA-TV objected, and the station had the proposal dismissed after nearly a year.{{r|hc}}

More serious problems were on the horizon. In 1974, KMOM-TV filed for the renewal of its broadcast license. Midland Telecasting Company, which operated the short-lived KDCD-TV (channel 18) in Midland, filed a petition to deny the renewal with the FCC. Midland Telecasting had sued Grayson, the owners of KMID-TV and KOSA-TV, cable systems in Midland and Odessa, and other parties for what it alleged was a conspiracy to shut the company out of the broadcasting industry.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35537493/television-station-files-600000-suit/|date=May 3, 1974|page=1B|title=Television Station Files $600,000 Suit|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122065523/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35537493/television-station-files-600000-suit/|url-status=live}} It also charged that Grayson had falsified program logs and engaged in "clipping", a practice whereby local commercials covered up national advertisements or were added on top of national network programs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461387/hearing-deferred-on-challenge-to-cable-t/|date=November 1, 1978|page=5D|title=Hearing deferred on challenge to cable television|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110050637/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461387/hearing-deferred-on-challenge-to-cable/|url-status=live}} In June 1977, the FCC designated the license renewals of all four Grayson television properties—KMOM-TV and KWAB, KTXS-TV in Sweetwater, and KLBK-TV in Lubbock—for hearing, with the primary issues being KMOM-TV's program logs and a possible unapproved move of the KTXS-TV studios from Sweetwater to Abilene.{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-06-13.pdf|date=June 13, 1977|work=Broadcasting|page=33|title=In Brief|access-date=November 26, 2022|archive-date=June 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629070143/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-06-13.pdf|url-status=live}}

A then-new FCC policy known as the "distress sale" came into play. In a distress sale, stations facing license renewal challenges could be sold to minority-controlled groups at a reduced price. In October 1978, the administrative law judge in the Grayson hearings stayed proceedings and allowed the company to begin seeking a qualified buyer.{{r|Odes781101}} Grayson announced the sale of KMOM-TV and KWAB, along with the Sweetwater and Lubbock stations, to Silver Star Communications, a Black-owned company, in April 1979.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35537556/area-television-stations-are-sold/|date=April 12, 1979|page=2D|title=Area television stations are sold|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122065521/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35537556/area-television-stations-are-sold/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461672/3-of-ktxs-owners-in-town-to-discuss-idea/|date=May 2, 1979|page=8-A|first=William|last=Whitaker|title=3 of KTXS Owners In Town to Discuss Ideas|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110050640/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461672/3-of-ktxs-owners-in-town-to-discuss/|url-status=live}} However, Silver Star—which changed its name to Prima, Inc., to resolve a conflict with another company—decided instead to look for another minority buyer for the Monahans and Big Spring stations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461644/ktxs-may-be-in-prima-hands/|date=July 11, 1979|page=10-A|first=William|last=Whitaker|title=KTXS May Be in Prima Hands|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122065522/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461644/ktxs-may-be-in-prima-hands/|url-status=live}}

The distress sale was complicated by another minority group that was trying to buy KMOM-TV, KWAB, and KTXS-TV. Austin-based Manchaca Enterprises, headed by former U.S. representative Barbara Jordan, intervened in the case in part because guidance around the new distress sale policy had not been fully formulated. It believed that Prima, in presenting a $15 million bid for the stations, had offered too much money, something not permitted for a distress sale; Manchaca had consulted with Joe Allbritton, a television station owner in Washington, D.C., who had suggested that they lower their original bid, and one of its members, Stanley McClellan, specifically cited the need for significant equipment investments in Monahans and Big Spring.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461711/austin-group-trying-to-halt-ktxs-sale/|date=July 13, 1979|page=9-D|first=Michael|last=DuPont|title=Austin Group Trying to Halt KTXS Sale|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122065524/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461711/austin-group-trying-to-halt-ktxs-sale/|url-status=live}} Midland Telecasting also objected to the high sale price.{{r|Abil800227}} The sale application was still pending at the FCC by February 1980, when Grayson pleaded to the commission to approve its bids to sell KTXS-TV and KLBK-TV to Prima and KMOM-TV and KWAB to Permian Basin Television Corporation, a consortium of Mexican American businessmen from Albuquerque, New Mexico. New urgency was given to the sale of the television stations when Mercantile National Bank of Dallas, a major creditor of Grayson Enterprises, informed the FCC that it would foreclose on the stations by April 1 if they were not sold.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461784/ktxs-other-stations-may-face-foreclosur/|date=February 27, 1980|page=1-A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461842/barbara-jordan-asks-fcc-not-to-approve/ 14-A]|title=KTXS, Other Stations May Face Foreclosure|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110050644/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461784/ktxs-other-stations-may-face/|url-status=live}}

The FCC approved the Permian Basin Television Corporation purchase of KMOM-TV and KWAB on March 28, 1980; when combined with another distress sale approved that same day, the number of Hispanic-owned TV stations in the United States went from one to four.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461856/monahans-tv-station-included-in-distress/|date=March 29, 1980|page=3C|agency=Associated Press|title=Monahans TV station included in distress sale of 12 others|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110050641/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113461856/monahans-tv-station-included-in/|url-status=live}} After the sale took effect on July 1, the new ownership set out to improve stations in dire need of aid.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113462012/tv-stations-sale-approved/|date=July 17, 1980|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113462003/stations/ 4D]|title=TV stations' sale approved|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122065524/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113462012/tv-stations-sale-approved/|url-status=live}} The call letters on KMOM-TV changed on October 20, 1980,{{r|hc}} to KTPX, representing "Television for the Petroplex".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52437041/call-letters-are-changed-on-channel-9/|access-date=May 30, 2020|date=November 2, 1980|work=Odessa American|title=Call letters are changed on Channel 9|page=10B|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122045822/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52437041/call-letters-are-changed-on-channel-9/|url-status=live}} Further, Permian Basin Television successfully applied to move KTPX from Monahans to Odessa,{{r|hc}} relocating to studios near the airport. These improvements, however, were not enough to lift the station out of third place in market television ratings. In 1982, ABC moved its affiliation to KMID-TV, with KTPX assuming the NBC affiliation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52436866/local-television-stations-to-switch/|date=April 24, 1982|page=1C|first=Rex|last=Henderson|title=Local television stations to switch affiliates|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=Odessa, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122070354/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52436866/local-television-stations-to-switch/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1982/BC-1982-09-13.pdf|page=90|date=September 13, 1982|work=Broadcasting|title=Station news|access-date=May 30, 2020|archive-date=January 10, 2023|id={{ProQuest|962733821}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110050713/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1982/BC-1982-09-13.pdf|url-status=live}} During this time, Brian Wilson, later of Fox News, was a reporter for the station.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113644149/odessas-own-finds-success-with-fox-news/|date=July 15, 2001|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113644165/fox/ 2B]|first=Ruth|last=Friedberg|title=Odessa's own finds success with Fox News|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=Odessa, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 26, 2022|archive-date=November 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126024537/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113644149/odessas-own-finds-success-with-fox-news/|url-status=live}}

Permian Basin Television sold the station to MSP Television in a transaction that took effect in January 1986. MSP was named for its owners, all officers in San Francisco-based Chronicle Broadcasting: Francis A. Martin III, James H. Smith, and Glen E. Pickell.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113483797/station-changes-owners/|date=January 26, 1986|page=6E|title=Station changes owners|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122194639/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113483797/station-changes-owners/|url-status=live}} However, the company was unable to satisfy its lenders. In November 1987, KTPX was placed into receivership by Toronto-Dominion Bank, with sliding advertising revenues due to a poor economy and a lingering poor reputation from the KMOM-TV years cited as causes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52437045/channel-9-looks-for-new-owner/|date=November 24, 1987|page=11A|first=Chris|last=Van Wagenen|title=Channel 9 looks for new owner|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=Odessa, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122194640/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52437045/channel-9-looks-for-new-owner/|url-status=live}}

In 1991, four years of receivership finally ended when Drewry Communications made a winning $4.8 million bid for KTPX. For Drewry, it was a return to the Permian Basin market, as he had been the majority owner of KMID-TV until 1985.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113484131/drewery-awaits-approval-on-ktpx-tv-chann/|date=August 8, 1991|page=3B|title=Drewery [sic] awaits approval on KTPX-TV Channel 9 sale|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110050652/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113484131/drewery-awaits-approval-on-ktpx-tv/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113484970/basin-tv-stations-change-ownership/|date=November 2, 1991|page=3B|first=Martin|last=Hobratschk|title=Basin TV stations change ownership|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122200621/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113484970/basin-tv-stations-change-ownership/|url-status=live}}

Drewry drew on its connections at KMID as it started to rebuild the station. It lured general manager John Foster, a KMID employee of 32 years, to KTPX by offering him an equity position.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113484999/general-manager-changes-channels/|date=October 9, 1991|page=8B|title=General manager changes channels|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122200621/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113484999/general-manager-changes-channels/|url-status=live}} Over the next two years, the new ownership invested $1.35 million in capital improvements, including a satellite newsgathering truck and a new news set, and the title of the stations' newscasts was changed to NewsWest 9 in July 1992.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52475203/the-business-of-news-basin-news-changes/|date=May 9, 1993|page=1E|first=Rhonda|last=Duey|title=The Business of News: Basin news changes to keep pace with viewers|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110050644/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52475203/the-business-of-news-basin-news/|url-status=live}} The call sign was changed to KWES-TV on August 16, 1993; by the time that Drewry Communications founder Ransom H. Drewry died in January 1994, station personnel credited his ownership with revitalizing channel 9.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52475388/west-texas-television-pioneer-dies-at-86/|date=January 7, 1994|page=2B|title=West Texas television pioneer dies at 86|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122202307/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52475388/west-texas-television-pioneer-dies-at-86/|url-status=live}}

Drewry's expansion in the Permian Basin market grew to include Hispanic media. Telemundo had been broadcast to the Odessa area by translator K60EE since February 1991.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113485832/media-take-advantage-of-growing-market/|date=May 3, 1992|page=4H|first=Judy|last=Paine|title=Media take advantage of growing market|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122202310/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113485832/media-take-advantage-of-growing-market/|url-status=live}} Drewry assumed operations of the Telemundo station (now KTLE-LD) in 2000, and in March 2001, it debuted the first full-length Spanish-language local newscast in the market.{{cite news|title=Univision, Telemundo try to extend local reach|first=Luis|last=Garcia|work=Midland Reporter-Telegram|date=April 2, 2001}} The next year, the company acquired KTXC (104.7 FM), a station in Lamesa airing a Regional Mexican format, to add to its Hispanic media portfolio.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113486025/tv-station-to-expand-its-market/|date=August 21, 2002|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113486066/station 2B]|first=Julie|last=Breaux|title=TV station to expand its market|newspaper=The Odessa American|location=Odessa, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2022|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122202307/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113486025/tv-station-to-expand-its-market/|url-status=live}}

Drewry had planned to sell its stations to London Broadcasting in 2008;{{cite news|url=http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?s=8585909|title=London Broadcasting Acquires KWES-TV|work=KWES NewsWest 9|access-date=October 22, 2009|archive-date=February 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202115737/http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?s=8585909|url-status=live}} however, by January 2009, the deal fell through.{{cite news|url=http://www.rbr.com/tv-cable/tv_deals/12348.html|title=London adds a market, leaves a crater|date=January 16, 2009|work=Television Business Report|access-date=October 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621022235/http://www.rbr.com/tv-cable/tv_deals/12348.html|archive-date=June 21, 2009|url-status=dead}} It was another six years before the company sold its broadcasting portfolio to Raycom Media for $160 million in 2015.{{cite news|last1=Jessell|first1=Harry A.|title=Raycom Buying Drewry For $160 Million|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/87548/raycom-buying-drewry-for-160-million|access-date=August 10, 2015|work=TVNewsCheck|date=August 10, 2015|archive-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911043251/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/87548/raycom-buying-drewry-for-160-million|url-status=live}} The sale was completed on December 1.{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/raycom-media-completes-160-million-acquisition-drewry-communications/146111|title=Raycom Media Completes $160 Million Acquisition of Drewry Communications|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=December 1, 2015|access-date=December 1, 2015|archive-date=December 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204055039/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/raycom-media-completes-160-million-acquisition-drewry-communications/146111|url-status=live}}

Raycom announced a $3.6 billion merger{{cite web |author=Hayes |first=Dade |date=June 25, 2018 |title=Gray Acquiring Raycom For $3.65B, Forming No. 3 Local TV Group |url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/grey-acquiring-raycom-for-3-65-billion-forming-no-3-local-tv-group-1202416667/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-date=August 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826073827/https://deadline.com/2018/06/grey-acquiring-raycom-for-3-65-billion-forming-no-3-local-tv-group-1202416667/ |url-status=live }} into Atlanta-based Gray Television, owner of KOSA-TV, on June 25, 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/114556/gray-to-buy-raycom-for-36-billion|title=Gray To Buy Raycom For $3.6 Billion|last=Miller|first=Mark K.|work=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheckMedia|date=June 25, 2018|access-date=June 25, 2018}}{{cite web |author=Eggerton |first=John |date=June 25, 2018 |title=Gray Buying Raycom for $3.6B |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/gray-buying-raycom-for-3-6b |publisher=NewBay Media |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable |access-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810183153/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/gray-buying-raycom-for-3-6b |url-status=live }} Gray opted to retain KOSA-TV as well as KWAB, KTLE, and The CW affiliation (which had aired on a subchannel of KWES since 2014){{cite press release|title=GRAY AND RAYCOM TO COMBINE IN A $3.6 BILLION TRANSACTION|url=https://www.raycommedia.com/gray-and-raycom-to-combine-in-a-3-6-billion-transaction/#amnewsers|website=Raycom Media|date=June 25, 2018|access-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161249/https://www.raycommedia.com/gray-and-raycom-to-combine-in-a-3-6-billion-transaction/#amnewsers|archive-date=June 25, 2018|url-status=dead}} and sold KWES-TV, along with WTOL in Toledo, Ohio, to Tegna Inc. for $105 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.tegna.com/tegna-to-acquire-the-leading-television-stations-wtol-in-toledo-oh-and-kwes-in-odessa-midland-tx/|title=TEGNA to Acquire the Leading Television Stations WTOL in Toledo, OH, and KWES in Odessa-Midland, TX|publisher=Tegna Inc.|date=August 20, 2018|access-date=August 20, 2018|archive-date=August 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821062618/http://www.tegna.com/tegna-to-acquire-the-leading-television-stations-wtol-in-toledo-oh-and-kwes-in-odessa-midland-tx/|url-status=live}} KWAB was subsequently converted to KCWO-TV, carrying CW+ programming with a simulcast on KOSA-TV's second digital subchannel.{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=42008|title=Call Sign History (KCWO-TV)|website=Consolidated Database System|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=February 15, 2019|archive-date=February 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216044255/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=42008|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbs7.com/content/news/RESCAN-New-channels-coming-to-CBS7-lineup-503716521.html|title=RESCAN: New channels coming to CBS7 lineup|work=CBS7.com|publisher=Gray Television|date=December 31, 2018|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-date=December 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231204628/https://www.cbs7.com/content/news/RESCAN-New-channels-coming-to-CBS7-lineup-503716521.html|url-status=live}} The sale was completed on January 2, 2019.{{Cite press release|url=https://gray.tv/uploads/documents/pressreleases/Press%20Release%20re%20Completion%20of%20Raycom%20Acquisition.pdf|title=Gray Completes Acquisition of Raycom Media and Related Transactions|website=Gray Television|date=January 2, 2019|access-date=January 2, 2019|archive-date=January 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103110124/https://gray.tv/uploads/documents/pressreleases/Press%20Release%20re%20Completion%20of%20Raycom%20Acquisition.pdf|url-status=live}}

The station's signal is multiplexed:

KWES-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 9, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition VHF channel 13 to channel 9 for post-transition operations.{{cite web|url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds |access-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|https://www.newswest9.com/}}

{{Midland-Odessa TV}}

{{NBC Texas}}

{{Tegna}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwes-Tv}}

Category:1958 establishments in Texas

Category:Bounce TV affiliates

Category:NBC affiliates

Category:Quest (American TV network) affiliates

Category:Tegna Inc.

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1958

WES-TV

Category:True Crime Network affiliates