KTXL-TV, Sacramento, has come a long way since it first hit the airwaves on Oct. 26, 1968.

Back then, the station was distributing UHF antennas to help educate viewers that they could receive the station's signal, and $86 bought a prime-time spot.

Since then, the station has accomplished several industry firsts, including being one of the first independent UHF stations in the country to launch a seven-day newscast and have its own satellite downlink. It also was the first station in its market to have a satellite truck and to computerize its newsroom.

Now a FOX network affiliate, KTXL was known in its early days for airing first-run movies and original programming. KTXL produced at the station such top-rated shows as the children's programs "Capn's Locker" and "Romper Room," which was syndicated; a cooking show, "Cooking Around the World with Bea Beyer"; and a country-western music show, "40 Grand Country Jamboree."

The station also recorded "Big Time Wrestling" matches at the station on Thursday nights from 1969 to 1979, and syndicated the show every week to stations throughout northern California, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii.

"The matches were a big deal in the area and featured names such as Andre the Giant, Moondog Main and The Great Mafisto," says Dick Leeson, production manager and 30-year KTXL veteran. "People used to line up on Thursday nights two hours before show time to get into the studio for the matches." In fact one of the station's mens rooms still has a shower that the wrestlers used.