In the 1980s, following the Ministry of Post's (currently Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) policy of making four well-known private TV stations accessible nationwide, Kumamoto Prefecture was allocated the fourth private TV broadcaster in 1984, and attracted 482 applicants (215 of which belonged to the Asahi Shimbun Group) to apply.

[1]: 41  In July 1989, KAB moved into the Technology Plaza Building in Hanabata-cho, Kumamoto City, and started testing TV broadcasts on August 15.

[1]: 43  On its second year, it started broadcasting the Kumamoto Prefecture qualifiers of the Japan High School Baseball Championship.

[1]: 44  In 1991, when Kumamoto Prefecture was hit by Typhoon Mireille, some of its relay stations were damaged forcing to go off air.

[1]: 45 KAB's Kumamoto main station commenced their digital terrestrial television broadcasting service on December 1, 2006.