ST. LOUIS, Mo. – A local television pioneer has died. Edward J. “Ted” Koplar passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family April 4, 2021. Koplar grew St. Louis-based KPLR-TV into one of the most successful independent television stations in the country. In a career filled with accomplishments, Koplar also launched Voltron, an animated TV sensation that swept the nation, and pioneered a revolutionary technology that made television interactive. Ted Koplar was 77. In 1982, WEP formed its own sanctioning body, KICK, and produced kickboxing events with shows emanating nationally, from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden in New York. Branching into animation, in 1984 WEP introduced the mega-hit series Voltron: Defender of the Universe, which became an overnight sensation and aired in more than 80 countries worldwide. Leaving an indelible mark on children’s animation and pop culture, Voltron spawned several follow-on series including Voltron: The Third Dimension in 1998, Voltron Force in 2011, and, in partnership with DreamWorks Animation, Voltron Legendary Defender in 2016, and is currently being developed as a live action feature film