State Telecasting decided to sell KSWS in 1983. Holsum Inc., The owners of Roswell's CBS affiliate, KBIM-TV, made the best bid for KCBD at $10.75 million, but due to KBIM itself, had to divest KSWS in order to keep KCBD. Otherwise, the ownership would break Federal Communications Commission rules because the same company would own two-thirds of Roswell's television media. The station was transferred to KCBD Associates which was headed by W. Robert McKinsey (the longtime general manager of KCBD and KSWS). A planned sale to the Hubbard interests at KOB-TV had to wait until the KSWS license was renewed. The license had been challenged.