The station's original ownership group sold KMEG to John Fetzer in 1969. Fetzer sold off all of his broadcasting properties in the mid-1980s. KMEG was among the last to be divested, going to Gillett Holdings in 1985. The next year, Gillett sold the station to the Maine Radio and Television Company, the owner of WCSH-TV in Portland, Maine, and WLBZ-TV in Bangor, Maine. KMEG was one of only two CBS stations not to air the "Late Show with David Letterman" when it premiered. KXJB-TV in Fargo, North Dakota, also declined to alter its syndicated lineup in order to air the new program. (CBS programming is now seen in Fargo on KXJB-LD/KVLY-DT2.) This led Sioux City to become known as the "Late Show"s first home office. KMEG began airing the show in 1994.