KWYB
KWYB is an ABC and Fox-affiliated television station serving southwestern Montana from Butte, with KWYB-LD operating as its low-power Bozeman semi-satellite.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KWYB is a commercial television station based in Butte, Montana, serving viewers across southwestern Montana. The station operates as an ABC affiliate and also distributes Fox programming through a digital subchannel. Its companion station, KWYB-LD in Bozeman, functions as a low-power semi-satellite: it carries the network and syndicated programming supplied by KWYB while maintaining separate commercial inserts and legal station identifications. The station’s history began with the allocation of UHF channel 18 to Butte in 1983. An earlier construction permit issued to Community Christian Television in 1986 did not result in a completed station. Continental Television Network later applied for the channel and received a Federal Communications Commission construction permit on January 9, 1992. Construction was delayed by difficulties arranging the transmitter site. KWYB planned to use facilities associated with the Montana Power Company on XL Heights east of Butte, but the utility’s departure from the site occurred later than expected, postponing construction of the station’s physical plant. Initial studio and office facilities were established in a building on West Park Street. KWYB began broadcasting on September 27, 1996. At launch, it took over the ABC affiliation previously provided by two low-power stations operated by KXLF-TV and KCTZ under the name KBZ in the Butte and Bozeman areas. The station also carried Fox programming on a secondary basis, particularly Fox’s National Football League coverage. A month after KWYB’s launch, a Bozeman low-power operation, originally identified as K28FB and later converted into KWYB-LD, began broadcasting. Ownership changed in February 2001, when Continental Television Network sold KWYB and related Montana stations to Max Media of Montana. The transaction represented Max Media’s first television-station acquisitions in the state. During the Max Media period, KWYB participated in several shared programming and news arrangements. In 2002, the company introduced Big Sky News, a regional newscast produced under contract by Independent News Network in Davenport, Iowa. The program drew reports from across the markets served by Max Media’s Montana stations, although its early-evening edition was discontinued at the beginning of 2004. Later, Montana News Network replaced the earlier format, followed by a period in which KWYB carried a short late newscast branded 10@10. Fox programming became more important to KWYB after the collapse of Equity Broadcasting’s Montana operations. In 2009, Equity shut down its Butte and Bozeman Fox stations after failing to complete the required digital conversion. Fox programming subsequently moved to digital subchannels of KWYB and KWYB-LD, as well as to related stations in other Montana markets. By September 2015, KWYB carried the statewide Wake Up Montana morning program, full early-evening and late newscasts, and a prime-time newscast on its Fox subchannel. The Cowles Company acquired Max Media’s Montana television stations in a transaction announced in 2013. The reported purchase price was $18 million, and the sale closed on November 29, 2013. Under Cowles ownership, the station’s news output was rebranded NonStop Local in October 2022 as part of a broader group-wide identity change. KWYB’s current role is therefore both local broadcast outlet and regional distribution platform: it supplies ABC programming, carries Fox content through a digital subchannel, operates the Bozeman low-power semi-satellite, and participates in Cowles’ regional news operation.
History
KWYB’s channel history dates to 1983, when UHF channel 18 was allocated to Butte, Montana. A construction permit granted to Community Christian Television in 1986 did not lead to a completed station. Continental Television Network later pursued the channel and received an FCC construction permit on January 9, 1992. The station’s construction was delayed by transmitter-site negotiations. KWYB intended to place its transmitter on XL Heights east of Butte, using space formerly associated with Montana Power Company. The utility’s move-out occurred in 1996 rather than the anticipated 1994 date, delaying construction of the transmitter facilities and related physical plant. Studio offices were initially located in a building on West Park Street. KWYB went on air on September 27, 1996. It replaced the ABC service previously offered in the Butte and Bozeman areas by two low-power stations operated by KXLF-TV and KCTZ under the KBZ name. At launch, KWYB also held a secondary Fox affiliation, including Fox NFL programming. A low-power Bozeman companion, initially known as K28FB, began broadcasting about a month later. That operation eventually became KWYB-LD. In February 2001, Continental Television Network sold KWYB, KWYB’s low-power companion, and several other Montana stations to Max Media of Montana. During Max Media’s ownership, the station’s first local news service began in September 2002. Independent News Network produced Big Sky News from Davenport, Iowa, using contributions from reporters across the Montana markets served by Max Media. The early-evening edition ended in early 2004. After Max Media acquired KFBB-TV in Great Falls in 2005, Big Sky News was replaced by Montana News Network, a regional late newscast produced from Great Falls. That format was later discontinued, leaving KWYB with a short late newscast branded 10@10 for a period. Max Media also provided operational support to Equity Broadcasting’s Fox affiliates in Montana between 2003 and 2008. The arrangement ended in 2008 when Equity resumed direct programming responsibility. In 2009, Equity’s Butte and Bozeman stations were shut down after the company could not complete their digital conversion. Fox programming then moved to digital subchannels of KWYB and KWYB-LD, along with corresponding digital outlets operated by related Montana stations. The Cowles Company announced the acquisition of Max Media’s Montana television stations in September 2013. The sale, reported at $18 million, closed on November 29 of that year. By September 2015, KWYB was carrying the statewide Wake Up Montana morning broadcast, early-evening and late newscasts, and a prime-time news program on its Fox subchannel. In October 2022, its news operation was renamed NonStop Local as part of a Cowles-wide rebranding. KWYB remains an ABC and Fox-affiliated service for southwestern Montana, while KWYB-LD continues as a low-power semi-satellite serving Bozeman with shared network and syndicated programming and separate local commercial insertions and legal identifications.
- 2022
News operation becomes NonStop Local
[1]The station adopted the NonStop Local identity for its news output in October.
- 2013
Cowles Company ownership begins
[1]Cowles completed its purchase of Max Media’s Montana television stations on November 29.
- 2009
Fox affiliation shifts to digital subchannels
[1]Fox programming moved to KWYB and KWYB-LD digital subchannels after Equity’s Butte and Bozeman stations closed.
- 2002
First local news operation begins
[1]Max Media introduced the regional Big Sky News service, produced under contract by Independent News Network.
- 2001
Max Media acquires the station
[1]Max Media of Montana purchased KWYB and related Montana stations from Continental Television Network.
- 1996
KWYB launches
[1]KWYB began broadcasting on September 27 and became the ABC affiliate for the Butte and Bozeman areas.
- 1992
Continental Television Network receives FCC permit
[1]The FCC granted Continental Television Network a construction permit for channel 18 on January 9.
- 1986
Initial construction permit fails to produce a station
[1]Community Christian Television received a permit for a channel 18 station, but the proposed operation did not materialize.
- 1983
Channel 18 allocated to Butte
[1]The FCC allocation process designated UHF channel 18 for television service in Butte, Montana.
Products and positioning
A regional broadcast television outlet combining ABC network service, Fox programming, local and statewide news, syndicated content, and targeted advertising for southwestern Montana.
ABC-affiliated television station · 1996
KWYB channel 18
KWYB’s primary broadcast service is based in Butte and serves southwestern Montana. It carries ABC network programming together with syndicated programming, advertising, and regional news content produced within the Cowles television group.
Fox-affiliated digital television service · 2009
KWYB Fox digital subchannel
KWYB distributes Fox programming through a digital subchannel. The service became especially significant after former Equity Broadcasting Fox stations in Butte and Bozeman ceased operation during the digital transition in 2009.
Low-power television station · 1996
KWYB-LD
KWYB-LD is the low-power Bozeman semi-satellite of KWYB. It simulcasts the network and syndicated programming supplied by the main station while inserting separate commercials and station identifications for its local service area.
Local and regional news · 2022
NonStop Local
NonStop Local is the news identity used by KWYB after the Cowles group’s October 2022 rebranding. The station’s news history also includes regional services such as Big Sky News, Montana News Network, 10@10, and Wake Up Montana.
Brand decisions
2022
Rebrand news output as NonStop LocalStrategyBackground
Cowles undertook a broader identity change across its news operations.
Action taken
KWYB renamed its news output NonStop Local in October 2022.
Aftermath
The rebrand aligned the station’s news presentation with Cowles’ wider regional news identity.
2013
Sale to the Cowles CompanyM&ABackground
Max Media sought to sell its Montana television holdings after more than a decade of ownership.
Action taken
The Cowles Company acquired the Montana stations, with the transaction closing on November 29, 2013.
Aftermath
KWYB became part of Cowles’ regional television group and later adopted the group’s NonStop Local news branding.
Reported transaction value. $18 million (2013 acquisition)
2009
Move Fox programming to digital subchannelsStrategyBackground
Equity Broadcasting shut down its Butte and Bozeman Fox stations after failing to complete their digital conversion.
Action taken
Fox programming was transferred to digital subchannels of KWYB and KWYB-LD.
Aftermath
KWYB expanded from its ABC role to include a continuing Fox service for the market.
1996
Launch as an ABC affiliateProduct launchBackground
The new Butte station was intended to replace low-power ABC services operating in the Butte and Bozeman areas.
Action taken
KWYB began broadcasting on September 27, 1996, taking the ABC affiliation and carrying Fox programming secondarily.
Aftermath
The launch established KWYB as a full-power regional television outlet and was followed by the launch of its low-power Bozeman companion.
Recent events
- 2022
KWYB adopts NonStop Local news branding[1]
Campaign
KWYB rebranded its news output as NonStop Local in October 2022 as part of a broader Cowles Company identity change.
- 2013
Cowles Company completes acquisition of Montana stations[1]
M&A
The Cowles Company completed its acquisition of Max Media’s Montana television stations on November 29, 2013. The reported transaction value was $18 million.
- 2009
Fox programming moves to KWYB digital subchannels[1]
Product generation
After Equity Broadcasting shut down its Butte and Bozeman Fox stations during the transition to digital broadcasting, Fox programming moved to digital subchannels of KWYB and KWYB-LD.
- 2001
Max Media acquires KWYB and related Montana stations[1]
M&A
Continental Television Network sold KWYB and several other Montana stations to Max Media of Montana, marking Max Media’s initial entry into Montana television ownership.
- 1996
KWYB begins broadcasting as Butte ABC affiliate[1]
Product launch
KWYB launched on September 27, 1996, taking over the ABC affiliation previously supplied by low-power stations operating under the KBZ identity. It also carried Fox programming on a secondary basis.
- 1996
KWYB-LD predecessor begins Bozeman service[1]
Product launch
The low-power Bozeman operation that became KWYB-LD began broadcasting approximately one month after KWYB’s launch.
Sources2 sources
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