KAET-8 Recordings and Other Materials

In February of 1953, a citizens committee composed of educators and radio and television executives authorized the President of Arizona State College at Tempe, Dr. H. D. Richardson, to work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reserve an educational television channel allotted to the Phoenix area. Although they were not ready to begin broadcasting, they were concerned that if they did not reserve the channel, a commercial group would acquire it when the FCC's deadline for educational channel reservations expired in June. The College was assigned Channel 8 (KAET) and signed on the air as the nation's 56th public television station on January 30, 1961. The station initially broadcast from ASU's Engineering Center from 4pm to 9pm, Monday to Friday. Programming was divided into three parts: ASU telecourses offering academic credits to viewers, programs of general cultural value broadcast from the University studio, and previously recorded educational and cultural films.

KAET's power was increased from 28.5 kilowatts to 115 kilowatts and a new transmitter was erected on South Mountain in 1965. The increase in power improved KAET's picture quality to levels equivalent to Phoenix's four commercial stations and the new transmitter allowed the station to broadcast throughout Maricopa County. Weekend programming was added in 1966 and color was introduced in 1968. Educational programming expanded in 1969 with the addition of TV High School (designed to help those aged 19 and over complete the GED) and Sesame Street.

KAET moved to Stauffer Hall B-Wing and began releasing a program guide, Undercover (later renamed KAET Magazine), in 1973. Translators in Prescott, Mingus Mountain, and Flagstaff came online in the early 1980s and KAET's primary transmitter was replaced in 1977 and upgraded 1984. Horizon, a news show dedicated to covering issues of concern to Arizonans, premiered on October 19, 1981 and KAET began working with the Arizona School Television Project (later Arizona School Services Through Technology) in 1983. KAET helped to create the state's first rolling-track political poll in collaboration with KTAR, Tribute, and Behavior Research in 1986 and carried coverage of such significant events as Sandra Day O'Connor's Senate Confirmation (1981), Pope John Paul II's visit to Phoenix (1987), and Governor Evan Mecham's impeachment (1987-1988). Cable broadcasting was introduced in 1983 and digital signal commenced in 2001. Horizonte, a program based on Horizon and intended to provide a forum for Hispanic perspectives on local and national issues, premiered on September 18, 2003. KAET re-branded itself as Eight in 2006.