WBKI
A Salem, Indiana-licensed television station serving the Louisville, Kentucky market as an affiliate of The CW and MyNetworkTV.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WBKI is a full-power commercial television station licensed to Salem, Indiana, and serving viewers in the Louisville, Kentucky television market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 58 and is affiliated with both The CW and MyNetworkTV through separate programming services. It is part of the Louisville station group operated by Gray Media and shares facilities in downtown Louisville with WDRB, the market's Fox affiliate. Its transmitter is located northeast of Floyds Knobs in northeastern Floyd County, Indiana. The station began broadcasting on March 15, 1994, under the call sign WFTE. Its origins were tied to Salem farmer Tom Ledford, who pursued a television allocation after learning in the late 1980s that one was available in the area. Ledford received a construction permit in 1990 and worked with consultant Bob Gordon to develop the station. Before and during its launch, WFTE operated under a local marketing agreement with WDRB owner Block Communications. The arrangement supplied programming, technical facilities, and access to WDRB's transmission infrastructure. WFTE initially operated as an independent station. Its programming included material that WDRB could not fit into its schedule after taking on additional Fox network commitments, including selected Cincinnati Reds baseball and Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball programming. WFTE also carried NYPD Blue in the Louisville area after WHAS-TV declined to air the ABC drama. When the United Paramount Network launched in January 1995, WFTE became a UPN affiliate. Block Communications acquired the station outright in 2001, producing the Louisville market's first television duopoly under circumstances accepted by the Federal Communications Commission. The station's identity changed during the 2006 restructuring of American broadcast networks. UPN and The WB were combined to create The CW, but the Louisville market's established WB affiliate, WBKI-TV on channel 34, was selected for the new network. WFTE instead joined MyNetworkTV, a service created by Fox Television Stations for outlets that had not obtained CW affiliations. It adopted the call sign WMYO on July 7, 2006. In 2012, Block Communications entered an operating partnership involving WBKI-TV after that station was acquired by Lynn Martin. WBKI-TV later sold its spectrum in the 2017 broadcast incentive auction. Its CW programming and WBKI identity were transferred to WMYO in stages, while the station continued to use channel 34 as a major channel designation in local branding. On February 12, 2018, WMYO formally became WBKI and The CW moved to channel 58.1. The change also restored the station's CW service to DirecTV. WBKI has a substantial local-programming role despite being primarily a network affiliate. It carries Louisville City FC soccer matches when those games are not selected by WDRB or reserved for a national television partner. The station also participates in the Indianapolis Colts preseason television network and airs Bengals Weekly, a Cincinnati Bengals program. WBKI provides overflow capacity for WDRB local newscasts; in 2019, it carried WDRB news programming on 103 occasions across 70 days. Technically, the station began digital operations on channel 51 in 2002, ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, and moved its digital signal to channel 16 on October 18, 2019, as part of the United States wireless-spectrum repacking process. WBKI also serves as Louisville's ATSC 3.0, or NextGen TV, host station, while its own and participating stations' ATSC 1.0 services are distributed through partner transmitters. Gray Media announced an agreement to acquire Block Communications' television stations, including WBKI and WDRB, in 2025. The transaction received FCC approval and was completed on May 6, 2026, placing WBKI alongside WAVE, Louisville's NBC affiliate, under common operation.
History
WBKI's history began with a television allocation serving the Salem, Indiana area. In 1987, local farmer Tom Ledford learned from a newspaper that an allocation was available and decided to pursue it. He received a construction permit in September 1990. With assistance from consultant Bob Gordon, Ledford developed the project and arranged a local marketing agreement with Block Communications, the owner of Louisville Fox affiliate WDRB. The agreement allowed the proposed station to use WDRB's facilities and infrastructure while Block supplied programming and operational support. The station launched as WFTE on March 15, 1994. It initially operated as an independent outlet, using programming that complemented WDRB's schedule. WDRB had acquired additional Fox network obligations and therefore had limited room for programs such as Cincinnati Reds baseball and Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball. WFTE also became the Louisville-market outlet for NYPD Blue after WHAS-TV declined to broadcast the ABC series. When UPN launched in January 1995, WFTE joined the network. Block Communications purchased WFTE outright in 2001. The transaction created the first television duopoly in the Louisville market. The FCC permitted the ownership structure even though the market had fewer than eight independent commercial station owners, in part because the station had originally been established through the local marketing arrangement with WDRB. The U.S. network realignment of 2006 changed the station's role. UPN and The WB were consolidated into The CW. The Louisville market's WB outlet, WBKI-TV on channel 34, was chosen as the CW affiliate. WFTE consequently aligned with MyNetworkTV, a new Fox Television Stations-backed network intended for stations that did not receive CW affiliations. The station changed its call sign to WMYO on July 7, 2006. In 2012, Block Communications entered an operating partnership involving WBKI-TV after Lynn Martin acquired that station. WBKI-TV subsequently participated in the 2017 broadcast incentive auction and sold its spectrum. Its programming was transferred to a subchannel of WMYO, although the WBKI identity and channel 34 branding were retained during the transition. On February 12, 2018, WMYO officially became WBKI and The CW began broadcasting on channel 58.1. The change restored the CW service to DirecTV subscribers in the market. WBKI expanded its local relevance through sports and shared news resources. Beginning in 2017, it became one of the local television outlets for Louisville City FC soccer, carrying matches not selected by WDRB or a national television partner. The station also airs Indianapolis Colts preseason programming and Bengals Weekly, while providing overflow distribution for WDRB newscasts. In 2019, WBKI carried WDRB local news 103 times over 70 days. The station's technical history reflects the transition to digital broadcasting. It began transmitting a digital signal on channel 51 on October 1, 2002. Its analog signal on channel 58 ended on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated digital transition. After the 2016 wireless-spectrum auction, WBKI moved its digital transmission to channel 16 on October 18, 2019. It later became Louisville's ATSC 3.0 host station, distributing NextGen TV services for itself and other participating local stations while its ATSC 1.0 services were carried on partner facilities. On August 1, 2025, Gray Media announced an agreement to purchase Block Communications' television stations, including WBKI and WDRB, for $80 million. The FCC approved the transaction on May 6, 2026, authorizing Gray to own three television station licenses in the Louisville market. The transaction closed the same day, placing WBKI under Gray's ownership alongside WAVE and WDRB.
- 2026
Acquisition completed
[1]The FCC approved and Gray Media completed the acquisition on May 6, bringing WBKI into common operation with WAVE and WDRB.
- 2025
Gray Media acquisition announced
[1]Gray Media announced its planned purchase of Block Communications' television stations, including WBKI.
- 2019
Digital channel relocation
[1]WBKI moved its digital transmission to channel 16 as part of spectrum repacking.
- 2018
WMYO becomes WBKI
[1]On February 12, WMYO adopted the WBKI identity and The CW moved to channel 58.1.
- 2017
Louisville City FC partnership
[1]The station began airing Louisville City FC matches in a shared local broadcast arrangement.
- 2006
MyNetworkTV affiliation and WMYO call sign
[1]The station joined MyNetworkTV and adopted the WMYO call sign after The CW selected the former channel 34 WBKI.
- 2001
Block Communications purchase
[1]Block Communications acquired WFTE outright after previously operating it through a marketing agreement.
- 1995
UPN affiliation begins
[1]WFTE joined UPN after operating independently during its first year.
- 1994
WFTE launches
[1]The station began broadcasting on March 15 as WFTE under a Block Communications local marketing agreement.
- 1990
Construction permit issued
[1]Tom Ledford received a construction permit for a Salem-area television station.
Products and positioning
A locally focused Louisville-market broadcast outlet combining national network entertainment with sports, syndicated programming, and technical distribution services for the region.
Network television affiliation · 2018
The CW
WBKI carries The CW's national entertainment schedule on its primary service. The affiliation moved to channel 58.1 in February 2018 after the former channel 34 WBKI station sold its spectrum and transferred its programming identity to the Salem-licensed facility.
Network television affiliation · 2006
MyNetworkTV
The MyNetworkTV service provides an additional programming stream associated with WBKI. The station originally adopted the affiliation in 2006, when it was known as WMYO and had not been selected as the Louisville market's CW outlet.
Sports broadcasting · 2017
Local sports programming
WBKI carries selected Louisville City FC soccer matches and other sports-related programming. It also participates in the Indianapolis Colts preseason television network and airs Bengals Weekly, extending the station's role beyond entertainment-network programming.
NextGen TV transmission
ATSC 3.0 service
WBKI serves as the Louisville market's ATSC 3.0 host station. Its NextGen TV facility carries WBKI and five other local station services in ATSC 3.0 format, while participating stations' ATSC 1.0 services remain available through partner transmitters.
Brand decisions
2025
Acquisition by Gray MediaM&ABackground
Gray Media announced an agreement to purchase Block Communications' television stations, including WBKI and WDRB.
Action taken
Gray agreed to acquire the stations in an $80 million transaction and sought FCC approval for common ownership in the Louisville market.
Aftermath
The FCC approved the transaction and the acquisition closed on May 6, 2026, placing WBKI under common operation with WAVE and WDRB.
Transaction value. $80 million announced purchase price (Announced August 1, 2025)
2019
Digital transmission relocationOtherBackground
The national wireless-spectrum repacking process required many television stations to change their physical RF channels.
Action taken
WBKI moved its digital signal from channel 51 to channel 16 while retaining virtual channel 58.
Aftermath
The station continued serving the Louisville market and later operated as the market's ATSC 3.0 host.
2017
Transfer of WBKI programming after spectrum saleStrategyBackground
The former channel 34 WBKI-TV sold its broadcast spectrum in the federal incentive auction.
Action taken
Its programming moved to a WMYO subchannel, which continued using the WBKI identity and channel 34 branding during the transition.
Aftermath
On February 12, 2018, WMYO became WBKI and The CW moved to channel 58.1.
2006
Switch from UPN to MyNetworkTVStrategyBackground
The creation of The CW left WFTE without that affiliation because the Louisville market's established WB station was selected instead.
Action taken
The station signed with MyNetworkTV and changed its call sign to WMYO.
Aftermath
WMYO remained the market's MyNetworkTV outlet until the WBKI identity and CW programming were transferred to channel 58 in 2018.
Recent events
- 2026
Gray Media completes acquisition of WBKI[1]
M&A · Regulation
The FCC approved the transaction on May 6, 2026, and Gray Media completed the acquisition the same day, bringing WBKI under common operation with WAVE and WDRB.
- 2025
Gray Media announces acquisition of Block television stations[1]
M&A
Gray Media announced an $80 million transaction to acquire Block Communications' television stations, including WBKI and WDRB.
- 2019
WBKI relocates its digital transmission to channel 16[1]
Regulation · Other
The station moved its digital signal from channel 51 to channel 16 during the nationwide post-auction spectrum repacking process.
- 2018
WBKI identity and CW service move to channel 58[1]
Product generation
WMYO became WBKI, and The CW moved to channel 58.1 following the spectrum sale and transition of programming from the former channel 34 WBKI-TV.
- 2017
Louisville City FC broadcasts begin on WMYO[1]
Product launch · Campaign
WMYO began carrying Louisville City FC matches as part of a three-station local television arrangement.
- 2006
WFTE changes call sign to WMYO[1]
Leadership change
The station adopted WMYO after joining MyNetworkTV instead of The CW during the UPN-WB network transition.
- 2001
Block Communications acquires WFTE[1]
M&A
Block Communications, which had previously supplied programming and facilities through a local marketing agreement, purchased the station outright.
- 1995
WFTE becomes a UPN affiliate[1]
Other
After initially operating independently, the station joined UPN when that network launched.
- 1994
WFTE begins broadcasting in the Louisville market[1]
Other
The Salem-licensed station began operations as WFTE under a local marketing agreement with WDRB owner Block Communications.
Sources1 sources
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