WKFT began operations on Monday, June 1, 1981 as an independent television station and the first independent station in eastern North Carolina. WKFT was owned by Fayetteville Television Inc. and we used the former First Union Bank building on the corner of Donaldson and Russell Streets as the base of operations for the company. Our first owner was Central Carolina Television Inc.
We started with 7 cameras, a 40 by 45 foot studio, a mobile van, video tape and production equipment needed to produce commercials. Our station had some of the latest computerized equipment available, including the newest editing equipment at that time. Our original 700 foot television tower was located off Cliffdale Road in Fayetteville. Our first aired program was a special that introduced the station, showed some of the equipment and previewed the programming that we could offer.
