WVIT signed on for the first time on February 13, 1953 as WKNB-TV, a sister station to WKNB radio (840 AM, now WRYM). The calls stood for Kensington-New Britain. It is Connecticut's second-oldest television station, and the first on the UHF band. It originally carried mostly programs from CBS, but also carried some NBC programming as well. In both instances,WNHC-TV in New Haven often got "first call" on the best NBC and CBS programs, leaving WKNB with what programs WNHC didn't want.