KSCW-DT

KSCW-DT is a full-power television station serving Wichita, Hutchinson, and surrounding communities in Kansas. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 33 and is affiliated with The CW. It is owned by Gray Media and operated alongside KWCH-DT, the Wichita market's CBS affiliate. The two stations share facilities on East 37th Street in northeast Wichita, while KSCW-DT's primary transmitter is located in rural northeastern Reno County, east of Hutchinson. The station also maintains a digital replacement translator in north Wichita. The station originated with an application filed by LIN TV with the Federal Communications Commission in the late 1980s. It received its first license on June 8, 1988, using the call sign KWCV. After a temporary digital-era call-sign change to DKWCV in 1998, the station returned to KWCV in February 1999. It began broadcasting on August 5, 1999, under the ownership structure of Banks Broadcasting, a company in which LIN TV held a 50 percent interest. Initially, it was affiliated with The WB and branded as Kansas' WB. Its launch gave Wichita viewers a locally available over-the-air outlet for WB programming; before that, much of the network's programming reached the market through distant cable or satellite stations such as WGN or KWGN. A major repositioning occurred in 2006, when The WB and UPN were discontinued and their programming was consolidated into the newly created CW network. KWCV was selected as Wichita's CW affiliate and received FCC approval to adopt the call sign KSCW, reflecting the new affiliation. On September 18, 2006, the station began operating as KSCW and adopted the Kansas CW branding. Former UPN affiliate KMTW became the market's MyNetworkTV outlet. In 2007, Banks Broadcasting agreed to sell KSCW to Schurz Communications, which already owned KWCH. The transaction closed on July 20, 2007, after the FCC granted Schurz a failing-station waiver. The waiver was necessary because the Wichita market had too few independently owned full-power stations to satisfy the usual ownership rules for a duopoly. During the Schurz period, KSCW's digital and online operations were integrated more closely with KWCH. The station moved its transmitter facilities in 2009 to KWCH's tower east of Hutchinson and underwent several website-platform changes as Schurz moved its television properties among outside digital providers. KSCW's local identity is closely connected to KWCH's news operation. KWCH produces extensive local newscasts for KSCW, including a weekday morning extension, afternoon news, evening news, weekend programming, and agricultural coverage. The station's news schedule has expanded over time, making it one of the more substantial local-news outlets among CW affiliates. KSCW also carries syndicated and classic television programming through digital subchannels, including Catchy Comedy, formerly known as Decades, and Antenna TV. Schurz announced in 2015 that it would exit broadcasting and sell its television and radio assets. Gray Television agreed to acquire KSCW, KWCH, and related interests as part of a transaction valued at $442.5 million for the Schurz broadcasting portfolio. Because Gray already owned KAKE in Wichita, the regulatory transaction was structured so that Gray would divest KAKE while retaining KSCW and KWCH. The FCC approved the deal in February 2016, and the sale closed on February 16, 2016. Gray Television later adopted the Gray Media name. KSCW completed its transition from analog to digital broadcasting through a flash-cut on February 17, 2009, using digital channel 33 and retaining channel 33 as its virtual channel. In 2024, the station added selected Oklahoma City Thunder basketball broadcasts under an agreement reached by its parent company. Today, KSCW-DT functions as a CW-affiliated local television brand with network entertainment, syndicated programming, locally produced news, weather, agricultural information, sports, and digital multicast services.

KSCW-DT traces its origins to a television construction and licensing process initiated by LIN TV. The station received its first license from the FCC on June 8, 1988, under the call sign KWCV. It briefly used the digital-era designation DKWCV in November 1998 before returning to KWCV in February 1999. The station signed on August 5, 1999, with Banks Broadcasting as its operating owner and LIN TV holding a 50 percent interest in that ownership structure. At launch, the station was affiliated with The WB and marketed as Kansas' WB. Its arrival provided Wichita with a local source for WB programming. Before KWCV began broadcasting, viewers in the market generally received The WB through distant cable or satellite signals, including WGN's national cable distribution of network programming and Denver's KWGN-TV. The station's original transmitter was located near Colwich. The station's most important early identity change followed the 2006 decision by Warner Bros. parent Time Warner and CBS Corporation to close The WB and UPN and combine selected programming on a new network, The CW. KWCV was chosen as the Wichita CW affiliate. In March 2006, the FCC approved a call-sign change to KSCW. The new identity became official on September 18, 2006, when The CW launched and the station adopted the Kansas CW brand. KMTW, Wichita's former UPN outlet, instead became the market's MyNetworkTV affiliate. Banks Broadcasting announced the sale of KSCW to Schurz Communications in March 2007. Schurz already owned KWCH-DT, the local CBS affiliate. The transaction closed on July 20, 2007, after the FCC granted a failing-station waiver. The waiver reflected the unusual structure of the Wichita market, where several full-power stations outside the immediate city area operated as satellites of larger network affiliates and therefore did not count as separate unique stations for ownership purposes. Banks had reportedly been unable to find a buyer that could acquire KSCW without relying on the waiver. Under Schurz, KSCW became operationally integrated with KWCH. The station's website moved among third-party publishing platforms as Schurz changed its digital arrangements. In 2009, KSCW exchanged transmitter facilities and moved to KWCH's tower east of Hutchinson in Reno County. Its local-news relationship with KWCH also expanded. KWCH began producing a two-hour weekday morning extension for KSCW in 2008, and both stations were included when KWCH local news moved to high definition later that year. Weather segments followed the HD transition in 2009. KSCW added a Sunday evening newscast in 2010. In September 2011, KWCH launched a weekday 4 p.m. newscast and a nightly 9 p.m. newscast for KSCW. The 9 p.m. program temporarily overlapped with a separate KWCH-produced newscast for Fox affiliate KSAS-TV. KSAS challenged the arrangement in court, alleging that KWCH had taped its KSAS newscast in advance while producing KSCW's broadcast live. The court ordered KWCH to restore a live KSAS newscast while the litigation proceeded. After the KWCH–KSAS agreement ended, KSNW took over production of KSAS's newscasts. KSCW later added a Sunday morning news program in 2013. The station expanded its multicast offering during the 2010s. In 2015, it began carrying the classic television network Decades on a second digital subchannel; that service was renamed Catchy Comedy in 2023. Antenna TV was added to a third subchannel in 2017 through an agreement involving Tribune Media and Gray. KSCW also distributes some subchannels through the ATSC 1.0 facilities of stations participating in an ATSC 3.0 arrangement. Schurz announced in September 2015 that it would leave the broadcasting business. Gray Television agreed to acquire Schurz's television and radio properties, including KSCW, KWCH, and a joint sales agreement involving KDCU-DT. Because Gray already owned KAKE in Wichita, the transaction required a restructuring. Gray planned to sell KAKE while keeping KSCW and KWCH. The FCC approved the transaction on February 12, 2016, and the sale closed on February 16. KSCW completed its analog-to-digital transition through a flash-cut on February 17, 2009. It had not received a separate digital companion channel because its original construction permit was issued after the FCC finalized the digital allotment plan. The station shut down its analog UHF channel 33 and began digital operation using channel 33, which remained its virtual channel. In 2024, Gray Media reached an agreement to broadcast eight Oklahoma City Thunder games on the station, adding selected professional sports coverage to its local and syndicated programming mix.

• 2024

  Oklahoma City Thunder broadcasts added

  [1]KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Gray Media arranged for KSCW to carry eight Oklahoma City Thunder games.

• 2017

  Antenna TV subchannel launches

  [1]KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Antenna TV began airing on KSCW's third digital subchannel on March 1.

• 2016

  Acquired by Gray Television

  [1]KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Gray completed its acquisition of KSCW and KWCH on February 16 after FCC approval.

• 2015

  Catchy Comedy predecessor launches

  [1]KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org

  KSCW added Decades on a new second digital subchannel; the network later became Catchy Comedy.

• 2011

  Expanded afternoon and evening news

  [1]KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org

  KWCH began producing 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. newscasts for KSCW.

• 2009

  Transmitter relocation and digital transition

  [1]KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved its transmitter facilities to KWCH's tower east of Hutchinson and completed its analog-to-digital flash-cut.

• 2007

  Acquired by Schurz Communications

  [1]KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Schurz completed its acquisition of KSCW on July 20 after receiving an FCC failing-station waiver.

• 2006

  Transition to The CW

  [1]KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org

  KWCV became KSCW and launched as the Wichita market's CW affiliate on September 18.

• 1999

  Station signs on as a WB affiliate

  [1]KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org

  KWCV began broadcasting on August 5, 1999, as Wichita's local WB affiliate, branded as Kansas' WB.

• 1988

  First license issued

  [1]KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC issued the station's first license on June 8, 1988, under the KWCV call sign.

A locally focused CW affiliate serving the Wichita–Hutchinson market, combining national network entertainment with substantial local news, weather, agricultural information, syndicated programming, and digital multicast services.

• Network television · 2006

  The CW affiliation

  KSCW-DT's principal programming product is its local CW affiliation on virtual channel 33. The station carries The CW's entertainment schedule while presenting local branding, station promotions, news, weather, and community information tailored to the Wichita–Hutchinson market.

• Broadcast news · 2008

  Local news programming

  KWCH produces a substantial slate of local programming for KSCW, including a weekday morning extension, a weekday afternoon newscast, a nightly 9 p.m. newscast, weekend news, and other local coverage. The arrangement gives the CW station a stronger news presence than a basic network-only affiliate.

• Agricultural news

  AG AM in Kansas

  AG AM in Kansas is an agricultural news and information program carried on weekdays. It serves the station's broad Kansas coverage area with reporting relevant to farming, ranching, markets, and rural communities.

• Digital multicast television · 2015

  Catchy Comedy

  KSCW's second digital subchannel carries Catchy Comedy, a classic television network formerly known as Decades. The service extends the station's programming portfolio beyond the main CW feed with sitcom-oriented and other archival entertainment.

• Digital multicast television · 2017

  Antenna TV

  Antenna TV occupies KSCW's third digital subchannel. It provides a schedule of classic television programming and complements the station's main network and local-news services.

• Sports broadcasting · 2024

  Oklahoma City Thunder broadcasts

  Under a 2024 agreement reached by Gray Media, KSCW carries eight Oklahoma City Thunder games. The broadcasts add selected professional basketball coverage to the station's entertainment, news, and syndicated programming.

• 2024

  Add Oklahoma City Thunder game broadcastsProduct launch

  Background

  Gray Media arranged additional sports programming for selected stations.

  Action taken

  KSCW agreed to broadcast eight Oklahoma City Thunder games.

  Aftermath

  The station expanded its sports programming portfolio with selected professional basketball coverage.

  Source

• 2015

  Add Decades digital subchannelProduct launch

  Background

  KSCW expanded its over-the-air programming capacity through a second digital subchannel.

  Action taken

  The station began carrying Decades, a classic television network later renamed Catchy Comedy.

  Aftermath

  The subchannel broadened KSCW's offering with classic television programming.

  Source

• 2015

  Agree to Gray Television acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Schurz Communications announced its exit from broadcasting and sought to sell its television and radio portfolio.

  Action taken

  Gray Television agreed to acquire KSCW, KWCH, and related interests as part of a $442.5 million transaction for Schurz's broadcasting assets.

  Aftermath

  Gray divested KAKE to address ownership concerns and retained KSCW and KWCH after regulatory approval.

  Transaction value for Schurz broadcasting assets. $442.5 million announced transaction value (2015 announcement)

  Source

• 2011

  Launch expanded KSCW local newscastsProduct launch

  Background

  The station sought to strengthen its local identity and compete for viewers outside the CW network schedule.

  Action taken

  KWCH began producing a weekday 4 p.m. newscast and a nightly 9 p.m. newscast for KSCW.

  Aftermath

  The newscasts increased KSCW's local programming hours but created a temporary scheduling and contract dispute with Fox affiliate KSAS, whose news was also produced by KWCH.

  • KSAS-TV — KSAS filed a lawsuit alleging that KWCH had taped its newscast in advance while producing KSCW's 9 p.m. newscast live.

  Source

• 2007

  Sell KSCW to Schurz CommunicationsM&A

  Background

  Banks Broadcasting sought a buyer for KSCW, while Schurz already owned KWCH in the same market.

  Action taken

  Schurz acquired KSCW after securing an FCC failing-station waiver permitting the ownership combination.

  Aftermath

  KSCW and KWCH became operationally linked, including shared facilities and KWCH-produced local news.

  Source

• 2006

  Adopt The CW affiliation and KSCW identityStrategy

  Background

  The WB and UPN were being replaced by The CW, and KWCV was selected as Wichita's outlet for the new network.

  Action taken

  The station changed its call sign to KSCW and launched the Kansas CW branding on September 18, 2006.

  Aftermath

  KSCW became the market's CW affiliate, while former UPN station KMTW moved to MyNetworkTV.

  Source

1. 1KSCW-DTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KSCW-DT official station websitekansascw.com