The station signed on the air September 25, 1961, as KTPS-TV, owned by the Tacoma Public Schools (licensed under the district's official name, "Tacoma School District No. 10"; the callsign reflected their management). KTPS initially operated on channel 62 and was aligned with National Educational Television, and became a member station of its successor network, PBS, in 1970. KTPS-TV moved to channel 28 in fall 1982, and shortly after the channel change, KCKA signed on the air on October 2. Bates took over both KTPS-TV and KCKA in 1992 and changed KTPS-TV's call sign to KBTC on October 12 of that year.