On a crisp December day in 1953, KOMO-TV flickered to life, becoming Seattle’s fourth-oldest television station. KOMO-TV began as an NBC affiliate. This was due to its sister station, KOMO radio’s, long-standing relationship with the NBC Radio Network. KOMO-TV’s history, however, stretches back even further. It holds a unique place in Seattle’s broadcasting history. In 1929, KOMO engineer Francis J. Brott conducted experimental television broadcasts. These broadcasts, transmitting simple shapes and letters to tiny screens, predated regular television by decades. Imagine if the Great Depression and World War II hadn’t intervened. KOMO might have been the first true television station in Seattle, perhaps even the nation.
The Fisher family, with roots in flour milling and lumber, launched KOMO radio in 1926 and later KOMO-TV. They competed for the channel 4 construction permit, eventually winning the license in June 1953. KOMO-TV’s official launch followed just five months later. In a remarkable feat in 1954, a KOMO news photographer developed a rapid color film processing technique. This allowed KOMO-TV to become the first station to broadcast in true color.
KOMO-TV switched affiliations from NBC to ABC in 1959. This transition followed a period of sharing both networks’ programming with KING-TV. KOMO-TV’s history is also marked by a near tragedy. During the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, KOMO reporter Dave Crockett had a hunch. He drove to the mountain, capturing dramatic footage of the eruption. His “journey into the dark” recording, capturing the advancing ash cloud and mudflows, became world-famous. The car he drove, remnants of the KOMO logo still visible, now resides in the Mount St. Helens Volcano Museum.
KOMO-TV also pioneered full stereo sound broadcasting in 1984. It was among the first to embrace high-definition broadcasting, airing its newscasts in HD as early as 1999. KOMO-TV has been a constant innovator in the broadcasting industry. KOMO Plaza, located near the iconic Space Needle, houses the station’s studios. From its early experimental broadcasts to its embrace of cutting-edge technology, KOMO-TV has played a vital role in shaping Seattle’s media landscape.