KCWY-DT
A Casper-area television station serving as an NBC affiliate and carrying The CW Plus in central Wyoming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KCWY-DT is a broadcast television station serving Casper and much of central Wyoming. The station operates on digital channel 13 and is affiliated with NBC, while a digital subchannel carries programming from The CW Plus. Its studios are in Mills, Wyoming, near Casper, and its transmitter is located on Casper Mountain. The station’s over-the-air service is supplemented by translators, including facilities serving Casper and Riverton. KCWY began broadcasting in February 2001 as an affiliate of Pax TV, the network later known as Ion Television. Its first major market change came on September 1, 2003, when it became Casper’s NBC affiliate after NBC ended its long-standing relationship with KTWO-TV. KCWY introduced a local news operation soon afterward, premiering News 13 First at Five on October 1, 2003. The station subsequently developed a reputation within the state broadcasting industry, receiving Television Station of the Year recognition from the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters in 2008, 2011, and 2012. Ownership changed several times during the station’s history. Intermountain West Communications Company pursued a sale to Frontier Radio Management through Yellowstone Holdings in 2013. That transaction was structured alongside a separate acquisition involving KGWN-TV in Cheyenne, creating a relationship between the two Wyoming stations. Gray Television then announced its acquisition of Yellowstone Holdings for $23 million in November 2013, and the deal closed on December 31 of that year. Gray later expanded KCWY’s network portfolio by adding The CW Plus to a digital subchannel on January 26, 2015. KCWY’s distribution also changed over time. Its programming was carried in Sheridan through arrangements involving KSWY-LP and, later, a subchannel of KSGW-TV. The Sheridan relay was removed on January 1, 2019, after KNBN, the NBC affiliate serving the Rapid City market, asserted exclusive rights to NBC programming in Sheridan and NBC supported that position. Other former relay arrangements in Cheyenne and Laramie also ended by July 2021. In 2019, Gray consolidated KCWY’s news operation with KGWN-TV under the Wyoming News Now brand. The change was announced in January and implemented by April 9. Under the arrangement, KCWY retained a Casper-focused 5 p.m. newscast, while many other local-news programs were produced or simulcast through the Cheyenne operation and presented as coverage of both markets. Four of KCWY’s 15 news employees remained in Casper, while other staff members were offered opportunities at different Gray stations. The consolidation was associated with the station’s financial losses and followed regulatory resistance to a proposed Gray transaction involving another Casper station. Gray announced in February 2024 that it would exchange KCWY-DT and KGWN-TV with Marquee Broadcasting for Marquee’s construction permit for KCBU in Salt Lake City. The transaction closed on July 1, 2024. KCWY remains an active local television outlet, combining NBC network programming, The CW Plus content, syndicated programming, local and regional news, weather, and community-oriented broadcast coverage for viewers in and around Casper.
History
KCWY-DT signed on in February 2001 in Casper, Wyoming, initially carrying Pax TV programming. Its role in the local television market changed substantially on September 1, 2003, when NBC selected KCWY as its Casper affiliate after ending its affiliation with KTWO-TV. The station began producing local news on October 1, 2003, with the launch of News 13 First at Five. The station earned recognition from the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters, which named it Television Station of the Year in 2008, 2011, and 2012. In 2013, Intermountain West Communications Company sought to sell KCWY to Frontier Radio Management through Yellowstone Holdings. The proposed transaction was connected with a separate deal involving KGWN-TV in Cheyenne. Gray Television announced that it would acquire Yellowstone Holdings for $23 million in November 2013, and the purchase was completed on December 31. Gray expanded KCWY’s programming portfolio in January 2015 by adding The CW Plus to a digital subchannel. KCWY programming was also distributed beyond Casper through low-power stations and digital subchannels. In Sheridan, it was carried first through KSWY-LP and later through KSGW-TV, but the KSGW-TV carriage ended on January 1, 2019. The change followed an assertion by KNBN, the Rapid City market’s NBC affiliate, that it held exclusive rights to NBC programming in Sheridan. KCWY programming had also been carried through facilities in Cheyenne and Laramie; those arrangements ended in July 2021. A major operational change occurred in 2019. Gray announced on January 24 that KCWY’s news operation would be combined with KGWN-TV by April 9 under the Wyoming News Now banner. The restructuring left KCWY with a Casper-specific 5 p.m. newscast, while other broadcasts were shared from the Cheyenne operation and designed to cover both Wyoming markets. Four of KCWY’s 15 news employees remained in Casper, with other employees offered positions at different Gray stations. The consolidation was linked to the station’s financial losses and followed the Department of Justice’s blocking of a proposed Gray acquisition involving the CBS affiliation of KGWC-TV, which Gray had viewed as a potential additional revenue source. On February 1, 2024, Gray announced an asset exchange with Marquee Broadcasting. Under the agreement, Marquee would receive KCWY-DT and KGWN-TV, while Gray would receive Marquee’s construction permit for KCBU in Salt Lake City. The transaction closed on July 1, 2024. KCWY continues to operate as a Casper-area NBC affiliate, with The CW Plus available through a digital subchannel and distribution supported by translators serving portions of Wyoming.
- 2024
Ownership transferred to Marquee Broadcasting
[1]Marquee Broadcasting acquires KCWY-DT and KGWN-TV from Gray Television in an exchange completed July 1.
- 2021
Former Cheyenne and Laramie relays end
[1]KCWY programming ceases to be carried on KCHY-LP in Cheyenne and KWYM-LP in Laramie on July 13.
- 2019
News consolidation announced
[1]Gray announces that KCWY and KGWN will combine news operations under Wyoming News Now.
- 2015
The CW Plus added
[1]The CW Plus launches on a KCWY digital subchannel on January 26.
- 2013
Gray announces acquisition
[1]Gray Television announces its planned purchase of Yellowstone Holdings for $23 million.
- 2008
Wyoming station-of-the-year recognition
[1]The Wyoming Association of Broadcasters names KCWY Television Station of the Year.
- 2003
NBC affiliation begins
[1]KCWY becomes the NBC affiliate for the Casper market on September 1 after NBC leaves KTWO-TV.
- 2003
First local newscast launches
[1]News 13 First at Five premieres on October 1.
- 2001
KCWY signs on
[1]KCWY begins broadcasting in February as a Pax TV affiliate in Casper, Wyoming.
Products and positioning
A regional broadcast outlet focused on NBC network service, local news, weather, and public-interest coverage for Casper and central Wyoming, with additional entertainment programming through The CW Plus.
Network television affiliation · 2003
KCWY NBC service
KCWY’s principal broadcast service is NBC programming for Casper and much of Wyoming. The affiliation began in September 2003 after NBC moved from KTWO-TV. The service combines network entertainment, news, sports, and special programming with KCWY’s local station identification, advertising, weather, and community coverage.
Digital subchannel · 2015
The CW Plus
The CW Plus is carried on a KCWY digital subchannel. It extends the station’s offering beyond NBC and provides CW-related entertainment programming alongside the station’s other broadcast services. Gray launched the service on KCWY in January 2015.
Local television news · 2019
Wyoming News Now
Wyoming News Now is the shared news identity used for KCWY and KGWN coverage after Gray consolidated their news operations in 2019. The arrangement retained a Casper-specific 5 p.m. newscast while allowing many other news broadcasts to be produced or simulcast across the Casper and Cheyenne markets.
Brand decisions
2024
Exchange of KCWY-DT to Marquee BroadcastingM&ABackground
Gray Television and Marquee Broadcasting agreed to exchange broadcast assets.
Action taken
Marquee received KCWY-DT and KGWN-TV in exchange for its construction permit for KCBU in Salt Lake City. The transaction closed on July 1, 2024.
Aftermath
KCWY became a Marquee Broadcasting station while continuing its Casper-area NBC and CW Plus services.
2019
Consolidation of KCWY and KGWN news operationsStrategyBackground
Gray cited KCWY’s financial losses in a restructuring environment, while a proposed transaction involving another Casper station had been blocked by the Department of Justice.
Action taken
Gray combined the news operations of KCWY and KGWN under Wyoming News Now, retaining a Casper-specific 5 p.m. broadcast and sharing much of the remaining schedule.
Aftermath
Four of KCWY’s 15 news employees remained in Casper, while other staff members were offered positions at other Gray stations.
2015
Addition of The CW PlusProduct launchBackground
Gray sought to expand KCWY’s digital programming lineup.
Action taken
The CW Plus was added to a KCWY digital subchannel on January 26.
Aftermath
KCWY gained a second network programming outlet alongside its NBC service.
2003
Switch to NBC affiliationOtherBackground
NBC ended its long-running affiliation with KTWO-TV in the Casper market.
Action taken
KCWY became the market’s NBC affiliate on September 1, 2003.
Aftermath
The change established KCWY as a principal network station in Casper and preceded the launch of its local news operation.
Sources2 sources
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