In August 1971, Channel 3, Inc., reached terms to sell KVDO-TV to Liberty Television, Inc., owner of ABC-affiliated KEZI in Eugene, in what was announced as a merger of the two stations. Harry Godsil, KVDO-TV president, noted that "the cost of operating a secondary market television station without a network affiliation has proven to be quite substantial", incurring heavy losses in 18 months of operation. At the time, it was noted that KVDO-TV would air local shows originating in Salem as well as KEZI local productions and ABC network programming. The sale would be structured as a stock swap valued at $410,000 and would see KVDO-TV only air five and a half hours a week of separate local programming.
