We are about to take you on a remarkable journey back in time as KPHO-TV (CBS 5) commemorates 75 years as Phoenix's first broadcast television station. Longtime Valley industry insiders are here to guide us through the fascinating comparison of the "then" and "now" in reporting news, both behind the scenes and on-air for our viewers at home.

Unveiling the Evolution of Phoenix's Television

Early Days of KPHO

In 1949, on December 4th, KPHO became Arizona's first-ever TV station. At that time, there were very few TV sets in the city, and only one TV station. But within just five years, the number of TV stations exploded to five. Now, due to digital and streaming technologies, Phoenix has over 100 possible off-the-air channels. We have a vast array of television programs covering every topic, available whenever and wherever we want.People used to plan their evenings around must-see TV programming. It was appointment TV, with a whole lineup of shows that viewers would look forward to.

Women in News Anchoring

In 1976, Mary Jo West became the first female news anchor in Phoenix. She recalls receiving interesting calls, like one from a lady in Sun City who said, "Tell that blonde-headed tomato to go straight home and cook supper for her husband." This shows how the role of female news anchors has evolved over the years.One significant difference now is seeing how technology has replaced many people behind the scenes in production. Floor directors, camera operators, and audio and graphic specialists have been replaced by automated systems.

Behind-the-Scenes Changes

Editing stories used to take several hours, involving developing film, cutting, and gluing. But now, everything is digital, with fancy dissolves and special effects. It's much easier and more efficient.For example, decades ago, a three-quarter recording deck had to be tethered to multiple units. Now, our crews can go live with a cell phone and a backpack, using wireless microphones and small field cameras.In the 80s, we started using helicopters, and now, we also deploy drones daily. The industry's shift from analog to digital in 2009 has greatly improved quality and efficiency.

The Future of Television

Rapid innovation has catapulted us into the future. From the first artificial news anchor in 1985 to the emerging AI news gaining ground in other countries, the future of television is constantly evolving.John's students are now tasked with teaching the next generation of journalists and newsrooms to dream even bigger. They need to anticipate the demands for new content, access, and mediums that don't yet exist.The House of Broadcasting is working on setting up a new display at the Chandler Museum next year to give visitors a firsthand look at the history of television news.See more of Arizona's Family history by checking out our Video Vault series. If you spot a spelling or grammatical error in our story, please click here to report it. If you have a photo or video of a breaking news story, send it to us here with a brief description.Copyright 2024 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.