User:DirtyKeys/sandbox/KAJW-TV

Fiction

KAJW-TV, UHF analog channel 23, was an independent television station licensed to Rapid City, South Dakota. The station is known as the shortest-lived television station in the United States, broadcasting for only two weeks.

History
On April 17, 1973, Crystal Broadcasting, owner of 2 local radio stations, began to plan their first television endeavor. The new station, KAJW, would only consist of local programming, a first for the market.

The station had a limited budget, most of which was spent on broadcasting equipment including cameras, and the transmitter. KAJW made it to air on September 9.

Crystal's initial statement turned out to be true: no syndicated programming was present. Programming was recorded on videotape in and around Rapid City.

Despite Crystal's ambitions, viewership was weak. Approximately 670 viewers tuned into the station's launch, compared to network affiliates which were scoring thousands. Viewership was steadily declining, by the end of the station's first week 220 viewers was KAJW's average.

Midway through the second week of operation, KAJW had announced Crystal Broadcasting had stopped financing the station and it could no longer continue to operate.

On September 23, the station ceased operations and was written off as a loss for Crystal Broadcasting. Crystal would not venture into television again until 1977 with the launch of KANX.