KOPR-TV
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Defunct | 1954 |
| Fate | Ceased broadcasting, license revoked |
| Headquarters | Butte, Montana , United States |
| Products | Television broadcasting |
| Owner | Copper Broadcasting Company |
KOPR-TV was a television broadcaster operating on channel 4 in Butte, Montana, United States, from 1953 until 1954. The station was owned by Copper Broadcasting Company, which also managed KOPR (550 AM), and transmitted from facilities located in the Hotel Finlen.
History
On November 30, 1951, Copper Broadcasting submitted Montana’s inaugural application for a television station. Approval arrived in January 1953 following the FCC’s lifting of its moratorium on new station licenses. This authorization was granted alongside permissions for KFBB-TV in Great Falls and a planned but ultimately unconstructed station in Billings.
Although initially planning a spring 1954 debut, KOPR-TV advanced its launch date to August 15 to coincide with the commencement of operations by competitor KXLF-TV (channel 6) in Butte. Broadcasting commenced on August 23, 1953, from the Hotel Finlen—the longtime home of the company’s radio station since 1948—just nine days after KXLF-TV began airing. While licensed to transmit at 14,500 watts ERP, the station initially operated at a reduced power level of only 600 watts. Programming included content from CBS and ABC networks as well as locally produced shows featuring news, sports coverage, weather reports, and the music program Copper Bandstand.
The simultaneous launch of two stations within the limited Butte market placed considerable financial pressure on both entities. As a result, KOPR-TV discontinued broadcasting on September 19, 1954, redirecting efforts toward expanding its radio operations while maintaining ownership of the channel 4 license. The decision to halt television service was attributed to economic difficulties; notably, KOPR-TV was among the earliest VHF stations to cease operations. The FCC formally revoked the construction permit in April 1955. Subsequently, in 1956, KXLF-TV transitioned to channel 4 to resolve interference problems experienced with channel 6 transmissions at Pocatello, Idaho.
In 1957, Copper Broadcasting secured a construction permit for a second KOPR-TV facility on channel 6 intended to broadcast from Mount Fleecer beginning in 1958; however, this station never commenced operation. Residents of Butte were without additional television options until late 1965 when the FCC authorized translators for KGVO-TV in Missoula and KXLF-TV in Butte to extend their signals into each other’s markets. KGVO-TV’s translator was later replaced by the higher-powered KTVM in 1970.