KWTV went on the air December 20, 1953. J.T. Griffin, along with Griffin's son John and his brother-in-law, were all involved in securing a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission to start the television station. It initially broadcast from a shorter temporary tower on the studio grounds while the permanent tower was under construction. The new Channel 9 tower was at one time the tallest tower in the world, at 1572 feet (429 meters). The call sign KWTV was chosen, instead of KOMA-TV, to stand for World's Tallest Video.