Originally signed on the air on September 28, 1953, less than a week before KGGM-TV (channel 13, nowKRQE). It was locally owned by Albert M. Cadwell & Walter Stiles. The local owners sold the station to Alvarado Television (the owner ofKVOA in Tucson) in 1957.
1962–present[]
Starting 1962, the "Circle 7" began to bear, more or less, a resemblance to what it is today.
1962–1982[]
SVG NEEDED
The Steinmans sold both KOAT and KVOA to the Pulitzer Publishing Company, the then-owner of KSD-TV (nowKSDK) in St. Louis, in 1969. This made KOAT Pulitzer's second television station acquisition outside of its home city of St. Louis; the KOAT acquisition was consummated a year after Pulitzer closed on its purchase of KVOA. A decade later, the other two Steinman stations were sold to Pulitzer as well, reuniting them with KOAT (KVOA was spun off in 1972).
1982–1994[]
Designer:
John Christopher Burns (1989-1994)
Typography:
ITC Avant Garde
Launched:
1982
KOAT adopted the slogan "New Mexico's News Leader" by this time, which remained until 1999.
We're With You! (1984)
Detailed 3D version (1989-1994)
Station ID used in news open (1989–1994)
"Something's Happening on Channel 7"
1994–present[]
The standard "Circle 7" logo used by other affiliate and owned-and-operated stations was introduced for this station in 1994.
1994–1999[]
Designer:
John Christopher Burns
Typography:
ITC Avant Garde Franklin Gothic Copperplate Gothic
Launched:
1994
KOAT station ID (1994–1999)
Hearst-Argyle Television acquired Pulitzer's entire broadcasting division for $1.8 billion in 1998, the sale was finalized on May 26.
1999–present[]
Around late 1999, KOAT's primary slogan became "Coverage You Can Count On", which remains to this day.