WBKO

WBKO is a commercial television station serving Bowling Green and much of south-central Kentucky from studios on Russellville Road. Its principal channel is affiliated with ABC, while the station also operates Fox and The CW Plus services through digital subchannels. WBKO is owned by Gray Media and is operated alongside Telemundo affiliate WBGS-CD, which also provides a digital translation service for WBKO's main signal. The station originated in a long-running Federal Communications Commission licensing contest for channel 13, the only VHF television assignment serving southern Kentucky. Applications were filed in 1956 by Sarkes Tarzian and by George A. Brown Jr., a Kentucky representative of General Shoe Corporation. Although Tarzian initially received the hearing examiner's recommendation, Brown ultimately secured the construction permit after an appeal, and Argus Broadcasting Corporation was formed by Brown, his wife Nellie, and former RCA engineer Joe Walters. Construction began in 1961 near Hadley, north of Bowling Green. The station signed on June 3, 1962, under the call sign WLTV. For its first several years it operated independently, combining older films with locally produced live programming, including news, wrestling, musical shows, and children's entertainment. WLTV adopted ABC programming in 1967 after nearly five years without a network affiliation. The station moved its studios to a former National Guard armory in downtown Bowling Green in 1968, using a microwave arrangement to receive network programming from Nashville. WLTV suffered a major act of sabotage in September 1969 when explosives were used at the base of its transmission tower. The blast severely damaged the mast and interrupted service, but temporary facilities allowed the station to resume broadcasts within weeks. The incident occurred after the station had broadcast editorials about crime in the Bowling Green area, although an investigation and grand-jury proceeding did not produce charges. The event led to a technical rebuilding and ultimately preceded a change in ownership. In 1970, Argus sold the station to Professional Telecasting Systems, a subsidiary of Lincoln International Corporation. The new owner rebuilt the transmission operation at a site near Richardsville, south of Bowling Green, where many local antennas were oriented toward Nashville stations. The call sign became WBKO in January 1971, and the rebuilt facility entered service the following month. Subsequent owners included Bluegrass Media and Benedek Broadcasting. WBKO moved into its current Russellville Road studios in 1985 and later began receiving ABC programming by satellite. WBKO helped define Bowling Green as a distinct television market. Arbitron recognized the area as a separate dominant influence area in 1977, and Nielsen established a Bowling Green designated market area in 1985. The station remained the market's primary commercial television news source for much of its history, even after competition arrived. In 1998, WBKO supported the launch of a local cable service carrying programming from The WB 100+ Station Group, later associated with the station's CW service. Benedek's financial difficulties led to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2002. Gray Communications Systems, now Gray Media, acquired most of Benedek's stations, including WBKO. Under Gray ownership, WBKO added Fox programming to a digital subchannel in 2006 and converted the former WB-related cable service into a CW subchannel later that year. The station continues to produce local news, weather, sports, public-affairs, advertising, and digital content for Bowling Green and surrounding communities. Its signal and cable carriage have historically extended beyond the formal market into areas associated with Nashville, Evansville, Louisville, and Lexington, and regulatory and carriage changes have required providers to use local-program substitution arrangements in some out-of-market communities.

WBKO traces its origins to the allocation of television channel 13 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 1956, Sarkes Tarzian and George A. Brown Jr. each sought authorization to build the station. The FCC eventually awarded the permit to Brown after an appeals process, and Brown, his wife Nellie, and Joe Walters incorporated Argus Broadcasting Corporation. The company began constructing studios and a transmitter facility in 1961 near Hadley. The station began broadcasting on June 3, 1962, as WLTV. Its initial years were spent as an independent station, with a schedule built around films and locally produced live shows. Local programming included news, wrestling, music, and children's entertainment. WLTV's branding emphasized its live, locally oriented character. The station joined ABC in 1967, with the first network programs airing in March of that year. Its downtown studio relocation in 1968 was accompanied by a microwave link used to bring ABC programming from Nashville. On September 26, 1969, an explosive attack damaged the base of WLTV's tall transmission tower. The mast bent and had to be brought down, disrupting the station's normal service. The incident followed a period in which WLTV had broadcast editorials about local crime, including a car-theft ring, but investigators did not establish a prosecutable case. Engineers used temporary equipment and an improvised antenna to restore limited programming, and a temporary tower was erected while a permanent solution was arranged. Argus sold WLTV in 1970 to Professional Telecasting Systems, a Lincoln International subsidiary. The new owner committed to rebuilding the station and adding full-color capability. It selected a new transmitter location near Richardsville, south of Bowling Green, partly because local receiving antennas commonly pointed in that direction toward Nashville stations. The station changed its call letters to WBKO on January 3, 1971, and activated the rebuilt facility the following month. Ownership changed again in 1976, when Lincoln International sold WBKO to Bluegrass Media, a group associated with general manager Clyde Payne and other local investors. Bluegrass planned new studios, although the proposed project was not completed. Benedek Broadcasting acquired WBKO in 1983, with Payne continuing as general manager. The station moved to its Russellville Road facility in 1985 and began receiving ABC programming by satellite. During this period, Bowling Green developed into an independently measured television market, first through Arbitron's 1977 designation and later through Nielsen's 1985 market classification. Payne became a prominent advocate for ABC affiliates and was involved with the National Association of Broadcasters and the ABC affiliates board. His programming decisions occasionally attracted national attention. WBKO declined to air NYPD Blue when the series premiered in 1993, citing concerns about its content, and later preempted She TV after an objectionable element in its first episode. The station began carrying Blue in 1997 after content ratings had become more established. Payne left the general-manager position that year to work for Benedek's corporate organization. WBKO broadened its local media role in 1998 by helping create a cable service associated with The WB 100+ Station Group. The service, later identified with the station's CW operation, gave Bowling Green a local outlet for a network that was not initially delivered through a conventional full-power local station. Benedek's financial difficulties during the early 2000s, including pressure from debt and declining advertising conditions, culminated in a Chapter 11 filing in 2002. Gray Communications Systems purchased WBKO as part of its acquisition of most Benedek stations. Gray expanded WBKO's network portfolio in 2006. Fox programming was added to a digital subchannel, and the station's WB-related service became affiliated with The CW. WBKO subsequently continued as a multi-network operation centered on ABC, with local news and commercial services supporting the broader group of channels. The station ended analog broadcasting in December 2008 while replacing transitional digital transmission equipment. WBKO's over-the-air signal and long-standing cable carriage reach communities beyond the six counties generally associated with the Bowling Green market. Its programming has been viewed in places otherwise assigned to Nashville, Evansville, Louisville, or Lexington media markets. Changes to ABC affiliation and syndication rules in 2014 led some providers to use switching equipment that combined WBKO local programming with network or syndicated programming supplied by an in-market station. The FCC later modified the station's market eligibility for several communities, allowing fuller carriage under applicable exclusivity rules. Today, WBKO operates from Russellville Road in Bowling Green, with its transmitter on Kentucky Route 185 in northern Warren County. It remains an ABC affiliate with Fox and CW Plus services and continues to produce local news, weather, sports, and public-affairs content for south-central Kentucky. Gray Media owns WBKO alongside Telemundo affiliate WBGS-CD, which also assists viewers who have difficulty receiving the station's VHF signal.

• 2014

  Market carriage rules adjusted

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC modified WBKO's market eligibility for certain communities following petitions from cable providers.

• 2008

  Analog transmission ended

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  WBKO shut down its analog transmitter during preparations to replace its transitional digital facility.

• 2006

  Fox and CW services added

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  Fox launched on a WBKO digital subchannel, while the former WB service became a CW outlet.

• 2002

  Gray acquires WBKO

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  WBKO changed ownership from Benedek to Gray Communications Systems following Benedek's bankruptcy proceedings.

• 1998

  WB cable service launched

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  WBKO helped introduce a local cable feed associated with The WB 100+ Station Group.

• 1985

  Current studio facility opened

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  WBKO moved to its current Russellville Road studios and Bowling Green became a Nielsen-designated television market.

• 1977

  Bowling Green recognized as a separate Arbitron area

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  Arbitron classified Bowling Green separately from Nashville, with WBKO as the area's only commercial station.

• 1971

  WBKO name adopted

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  The station changed from WLTV to WBKO and activated rebuilt transmission facilities near Richardsville.

• 1970

  Station sold to Professional Telecasting Systems

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  Argus agreed to sell WLTV to a Lincoln International subsidiary, a transaction approved by the FCC.

• 1969

  Transmission tower destroyed after bombing

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  An explosive attack damaged the tower, forcing temporary transmission arrangements and a subsequent rebuild.

• 1967

  ABC affiliation begins

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  WLTV began airing ABC network programming in March after operating independently for nearly five years.

• 1962

  WLTV begins broadcasting

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  The station signed on as an independent broadcaster on June 3.

• 1959

  Construction permit awarded to Brown's group

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  After an appeal of the initial hearing recommendation, the FCC granted the permit to George A. Brown Jr.

• 1956

  Competing applications filed for channel 13

  [1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  Sarkes Tarzian and George A. Brown Jr. separately sought FCC authorization to build Bowling Green's channel 13 television station.

A locally focused, multi-network broadcast station positioned as a leading source of news, weather, sports, public information, and advertising services for Bowling Green and south-central Kentucky.

• Broadcast television · 1962

  WBKO Channel 13

  WBKO's primary broadcast service is an ABC-affiliated television channel serving Bowling Green and surrounding portions of south-central Kentucky. It combines ABC network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs material, syndicated content, and commercial advertising. The service is transmitted from northern Warren County and is supplemented in the Bowling Green area by WBGS-CD's digital translation capability.

• Digital television subchannel · 2006

  WBKO Fox

  WBKO's Fox service is carried on a digital subchannel introduced in September 2006. It restored a locally available Fox outlet after an earlier local Fox affiliation had ended on another Bowling Green station. The service extends WBKO's programming portfolio beyond ABC and gives the station additional network programming, sports, entertainment, promotional, and advertising inventory.

• Digital television subchannel · 2006

  WBKO CW Plus

  The CW Plus service developed from the local cable operation that WBKO helped establish for The WB 100+ Station Group in 1998. In 2006, the service became associated with The CW and moved onto a WBKO digital subchannel. It provides CW network programming and gives the station an additional outlet for local promotion and commercial sales.

• Local news operation

  WBKO News

  WBKO News is the station's local journalism operation, covering Bowling Green and communities throughout south-central Kentucky. Its output includes newscasts, weather reporting, severe-weather information, local government and public-affairs coverage, sports, and digital news updates. The operation has historically been central to WBKO's identity as a market-leading local broadcaster.

• 1969

  Dynamiting of the WLTV transmission tower

  In September 1969, explosives were used at the base of WLTV's transmission mast, causing major structural damage and interrupting normal service. The station's recent editorials about local crime were examined as a possible motive, but the investigation and grand-jury process did not result in charges.

  Source

Read more

• 2014

  Adapt out-of-market cable distributionStrategy

  Background

  An ABC affiliation agreement restricted some cable providers from retransmitting WBKO's complete signal in communities outside the formal Bowling Green market.

  Action taken

  Affected providers installed switching equipment to combine WBKO local programming with network and syndicated programming from an in-market ABC station, while petitioning the FCC for market changes.

  Aftermath

  The FCC modified WBKO's market eligibility for certain communities, supporting fuller carriage subject to applicable exclusivity requirements.

  Source

• 2006

  Expand into Fox and CW digital servicesProduct launch

  Background

  Digital television created additional capacity, while Bowling Green viewers had previously received Fox and WB programming through changing local or out-of-market arrangements.

  Action taken

  WBKO added Fox to one digital subchannel and moved the WB-related service to a CW affiliation on another.

  Aftermath

  WBKO became a multi-network broadcaster with ABC, Fox, and CW services.

  Source

• 1998

  Launch local WB cable serviceProduct launch

  Background

  Bowling Green lacked a conventional full-power local outlet for The WB's programming.

  Action taken

  WBKO and local cable providers created a local feed associated with The WB 100+ Station Group, with WBKO contributing sales and promotional support.

  Aftermath

  The service later transitioned into WBKO's CW-related digital subchannel operation.

  Source

• 1994

  Preempt She TVOther

  Background

  The station objected to nudity in the first episode of the ABC sketch-comedy program.

  Action taken

  WBKO declined to carry the program, which ran for only a short period.

  Aftermath

  The decision reflected the station's willingness at the time to exercise local control over network entertainment content.

  Source

• 1993

  Preempt NYPD Blue at launchOther

  Background

  The ABC drama was considered controversial by some affiliates because of its language, nudity, and adult themes.

  Action taken

  General manager Clyde Payne declined to air the series initially, making WBKO one of several ABC affiliates that preempted it.

  Aftermath

  Payne became a prominent public representative of the affiliate objections; WBKO later carried the program after the introduction of television content ratings.

  Source

• 1971

  Rebuild transmitter and change call signStrategy

  Background

  The 1969 tower attack had left the station dependent on temporary transmission arrangements, and its new owner planned a broader technical overhaul.

  Action taken

  Professional Telecasting rebuilt the transmission facility near Richardsville and changed the call letters from WLTV to WBKO.

  Aftermath

  The station returned to full-power service with a new identity and improved transmission position for Bowling Green viewers.

  Source

• 1967

  Join ABC after independent launch periodStrategy

  Background

  WLTV had operated without a network affiliation since signing on in 1962, relying heavily on films and local live programming.

  Action taken

  The station accepted an ABC affiliation, with its first ABC programs airing in March 1967.

  Aftermath

  The affiliation became the foundation of the station's long-term primary network identity.

  Source

• 2014

  FCC expanded cable-market eligibility for WBKO service[1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The FCC modified WBKO's television market after cable providers argued that communities outside the formal market had longstanding carriage, viewership, and regional-information ties to the station.

• 2008

  WBKO completed analog television shutdown[1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Other

  The station ended analog transmission ahead of the planned digital transition schedule so engineers could replace its transitional digital transmission system.

• 2006

  Fox and CW services added to WBKO digital lineup[1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  WBKO added Fox programming to one digital subchannel and moved its existing WB-related service into a CW affiliation on another subchannel.

• 2002

  WBKO acquired by Gray through Benedek station transaction[1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · M&A

  Benedek Broadcasting's bankruptcy led to the sale of WBKO and most of the company's stations to Gray Communications Systems, now known as Gray Media.

• 1971

  WBKO call sign adopted after transmission rebuild[1]WBKOen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product generation

  Following a change in ownership and construction of a replacement transmission facility, WLTV adopted the WBKO call sign and resumed full-power operations from a new site.

1. 1WBKOen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WBKO official websitewbko.com