KSNB debuted on the air as KHTL-TV on October 1, 1965, as part of the ABC-affiliated Nebraska Television Network (NTN, later renamed to NTV) alongside KHOL-TV (channel 13, now KHGI-TV) in Kearney, KHPL-TV (channel 6, now KWNB-TV) in Hayes Center, and KHQL-TV (channel 8) in Albion (later joined by K13VO, now KHGI-CD, in North Platte). NTV Enterprises purchased the NTV stations from the previous owner, Bi-States Company, for $1.9 million in 1974. On June 3, the new owners changed the call letters of channel 4 to KSNB-TV, as its signal now reached areas of Kansas as well as Nebraska.