The public history of KPTS began in June of 1965 when the Garvey Foundation of Wichita, KS, purchased a tower and transmitter site in Hutchinson, KS, and announced the site would be made available for a non-commercial educational television station. Shortly thereafter, on July 21, 1965, the Sunflower Educational Television Corporation was chartered to activate a public television station for south central Kansas.

In 1966, the Sunflower Board of Trustees filed for a construction permit with the Federal Communications Commission to activate Channel 8. Following more than three years of organization and preparation, the new public television station went on the air Monday, January 5, 1970.

In 1978, the corporate name changed to Kansas Public Telecommunications Service, Inc., and in 1980, the station moved to its current address of 320 W. 21st Street North, Wichita, KS.

After more than 30 years of broadcasting, KPTS continues to serve south central Kansas as the only locally owned television station in the area. Since the station aired Sesame Street that first morning in 1970, it has continued to dedicate itself to offering quality, enriching, educational programming throughout the region.

KPTS began serving Kansans with digital broadcasts on May 1, 2003, simulcasting a digital version of the broadcast schedule as required and adding a standard definition channel of PBS KIDS.

KPTS is a local public television station whose mission is to educate the community, engage and challenge minds, entertain Kansans and enrich society through quality programming and civic leadership.

KPTS strives to reflect the diversity of the region's population and breadth of its interests.

KPTS satisfies programming needs that are not being met by other media services.

KPTS utilizes the potential of television to educate, inform, entertain and delight.

KPTS enriches viewers of all ages and in all walks of life by illuminating the challenges faced by society and presenting civilization's highest achievements.