June 22, 1953 – KVOS/Bellingham goes on the air, for one to two hours each evening. The schedule slowly expanded over the following months. By January 1954, KVOS was broadcasting six hours of programming most days.
The first formal presentation on KVOS was a BBC kinescope of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The British government aranged for the RCAF to fly a copy to Vancouver. The RCMP brought the films to the Peace Arch crossing. From there, the WSP took charge of the films, bringing them to KVOS for airing.
CBUT 2/CBC Vancouver did not sign on until DECEMBER 1953.
KVOS channel 12
Steve • March 6, 2026
I grew up in Vancouver watching channel 12. The signal was very strong, even with “rabbit ears.” The transmitter location on Mount Constitution contributed to this. You could even receive a strong signal 60 miles east in Chilliwack, BC.
Late '50s Early '60s
Steven Smith • March 3, 2026
When I was a kid in Bellingham, in the era of Sea Hunt and the Rifleman, with an antenna on the roof our best signals were channels 2 and 6 from BC and 12 from Bellingham. BC channel 8 was sorta OK. With yet another antenna we got 4 and 5 from Seattle, but never had a decent signal from channel 7.
Tacoma antenna reception
Jason Remington • March 3, 2026
From central Tacoma with one rooftop antenna, we received a fuzzy pic from channels 2 and 6, clear pics from 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and educational uhf channels 56 and 62. We couldn’t get anything on 12. I want to say I got 8 once or twice but it was extremely scrambled and fuzzy, not really tolerable. Dad had installed one great antenna. He enjoyed his tv after a hard day at work.
TV reception in Bellevue in the mid 60s
Steve C • March 3, 2026
in the mid-60s in Bellevue, we could receive 4,5,7,9,11 by pointing outdoor antenna one direction, and 13 if we pointed it another way. On a good night, by redirecting the antenna we could receive 2 and 12. Every once in awhile we could pick up Ch. 3 from Salem, OR, I recall.