KOBR channel 8 began operations in 1953 as KSWS-TV and was the first television station in southeastern New Mexico. KSWS began broadcasting with a tower and studios on Comanche Peak east of Roswell. The station's effective radiated visual power was 107 kW, and its height above average terrain was . The station, owned by oil investor and petroleum engineer John A. Barnett, was affiliated with all four networks at the time: NBC, CBS, ABC and DuMont. The station moved to 1717 West 2nd Street in Roswell, which was purpose-built. A bigger tower was erected near Caprock, east of Roswell, in 1956. At that time, it was the world's tallest structure; the world's tallest tower of that type 50 years later (North Dakota's KVLY-TV mast) was in height. With the new transmitter, the effective radiated power was ramped up to 316 kW, the highest for a full-power VHF analog station; the antenna was above average terrain. The tower fell due to an ice storm in 1960, and a new tower was constructed. New facilities at Caprock and Comanche Peak were built. A newer tower was built by 1962. (See KOBR-TV Tower.)