WBON-LD
WBON-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Richmond, Kentucky, serving viewers in the Lexington area.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WBON-LD is a low-power digital television station serving Richmond and the wider Lexington, Kentucky, television market. The station is owned by Wallingford Broadcasting, Inc., a broadcaster with interests in both television and radio. Its studio facility is located on Big Hill Avenue in Richmond, while its transmitter is positioned near Waco, Kentucky, on a tower shared with co-owned radio stations WCYO and WLFX. The station began as a small southeastern Kentucky outlet rather than as a Richmond station. It received its original license for East Bernstadt in 1991 under the call sign W09BZ and commenced broadcasting on November 29, 1993. Its initial schedule combined America One affiliation with secondary programming from the Trinity Broadcasting Network. For more than two decades, ownership remained with Andrea and Joey Kesler. Joey Kesler had previously worked as a weather presenter and sportscaster at WKYH-TV in Hazard during the 1980s. The station changed its call sign to WOBZ-LP in 2000. In 2001, it joined Urban America Television, remaining affiliated with that network until Urban America Television ceased operations in 2006. It subsequently affiliated with the Retro Television Network. During the following years, the station expanded its digital and multicast programming, adding Frost Great Outdoors on a second subchannel and, during the early 2010s, Tuff TV on a third subchannel. Jewelry Television was also carried during overnight periods. The transition from analog low-power operation to digital broadcasting took place in 2010, when the station adopted the WOBZ-LD designation. A major technical interruption occurred on January 29, 2008, when a storm caused the tower used by WOBZ-LP and radio station WJJA-LP to collapse. The station remained available through cable service in London and online while management worked toward construction of a replacement tower. A new tower was expected to be completed in the spring of 2008 and was subsequently built. In 2016, the station's primary digital channel became an affiliate of Buzzr, a network built around classic game shows from the FremantleMedia library. In 2018, ownership transferred to Wallingford Broadcasting. The new owner pursued a relocation of the station's studio and transmission facilities from the East Bernstadt area to Richmond. The Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit in February 2019, including authority to relocate the facilities and increase effective signal power to 3,000 watts. The call sign changed from WOBZ-LD to WBON-LD on July 11, 2019, and the relocation was completed in April 2020. WBON-LD's programming combines network and syndicated content with locally produced material. Its local schedule has included Live at Five, a daily local newscast, as well as seasonal programming and Kentucky High School Athletic Association-sanctioned high school football and basketball coverage. Some syndicated programming is selected or scheduled to satisfy applicable Federal Communications Commission children's television requirements. Before its Richmond relocation, the station also served as a southeastern Kentucky outlet for Ohio Valley Wrestling programming originating from Louisville station WBKI-TV. Although the station has changed call signs, ownership, facilities, and programming affiliations over time, its operating identity remains that of a locally oriented, low-power television broadcaster serving communities in east-central Kentucky.
History
WBON-LD traces its history to a low-power television authorization issued for East Bernstadt, Kentucky, in 1991. The station initially used the call sign W09BZ and began broadcasting on November 29, 1993. Its first affiliation was with America One, supplemented by programming from the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Andrea and Joey Kesler owned the station during its first two decades of operation. Joey Kesler brought prior broadcast experience from WKYH-TV in Hazard, where he had worked as a weather presenter and sportscaster during the 1980s. The station became WOBZ-LP in 2000 and joined Urban America Television in 2001. That affiliation continued until the network closed in 2006. The station then moved to the Retro Television Network. As digital multicasting developed, it added additional services, including Frost Great Outdoors and later Tuff TV. Jewelry Television was carried overnight on one of the station's digital channels. In 2010, the station converted to digital transmission and changed the low-power suffix in its call sign from LP to LD, becoming WOBZ-LD. On January 29, 2008, severe weather caused the collapse of the tower shared by WOBZ-LP and radio station WJJA-LP. The television station remained available through cable service in London and over the internet while a replacement structure was arranged. Management anticipated a replacement tower in the spring of that year, and the station returned to terrestrial operation after the new facility was built. The station's primary digital channel became a Buzzr affiliate in 2016. Buzzr's programming is centered on classic game shows drawn from the FremantleMedia catalog. In 2018, Wallingford Broadcasting acquired the station. After the acquisition, the company sought to reposition the outlet geographically by moving its studio and transmission facilities to Richmond, a community more closely associated with the Lexington television market. The Federal Communications Commission approved a construction permit in February 2019 for the relocation and for an increase in signal power to 3,000 watts. The call sign changed to WBON-LD on July 11, 2019. The physical move was completed in April 2020, and the station thereafter operated under a full license covering Richmond. The legacy WOBZ YouTube channel, launched in March 2012, remained accessible despite the station's later call-sign and facility changes. Today, WBON-LD presents a mixture of local and syndicated programming. Its locally oriented output has included the Live at Five newscast, KHSAA-sanctioned high school football and basketball games, and other seasonal or community programming. The station has also carried syndicated programs selected in part for compliance with FCC children's television requirements. Earlier in its history, while operating as WOBZ-LP or WOBZ-LD, it served southeastern Kentucky with Ohio Valley Wrestling programming originating from WBKI-TV in Louisville.
- 2020
Richmond move completed
[1]The relocation of the station's facilities to Richmond was completed in April.
- 2019
Richmond relocation approved
[1]The FCC authorized relocation to Richmond and a signal-power increase to 3,000 watts.
- 2019
WBON-LD name adopted
[1]The station changed its call sign to WBON-LD on July 11.
- 2018
Acquisition by Wallingford Broadcasting
[1]Wallingford Broadcasting became the station's owner.
- 2016
Buzzr affiliation begins
[1]The main digital subchannel became affiliated with Buzzr.
- 2010
Digital conversion
[1]The station converted to digital operation and changed its call sign suffix from LP to LD.
- 2008
Broadcast tower collapses
[1]A storm destroyed the tower shared by the television station and WJJA-LP, prompting construction of a replacement facility.
- 2006
Move to Retro Television Network
[1]After Urban America Television ceased operations, the station affiliated with the Retro Television Network.
- 2001
Urban America Television affiliation
[1]The station became an Urban America Television affiliate.
- 2000
Call sign changes to WOBZ-LP
[1]The station adopted the WOBZ-LP call sign.
Products and positioning
Local low-power television broadcaster combining community news, regional high school sports, syndicated entertainment, and multicast network programming for the Lexington and east-central Kentucky audience.
Local television news
Live at Five
A locally produced daily newscast associated with WBON-LD's Richmond-area programming. It represents the station's role as a community broadcaster rather than only a carrier of syndicated or network content.
Sports broadcasting
Local high school sports coverage
WBON-LD has carried Kentucky High School Athletic Association-sanctioned football and basketball games, providing regional sports coverage as part of its locally oriented schedule.
Digital television network affiliation · 2016
Buzzr programming
Beginning in 2016, the station's primary digital subchannel carried Buzzr programming, including classic game shows from the FremantleMedia library.
Digital television · 2010
Multicast programming
Over time, the station's digital multicast capacity has been used for services including Frost Great Outdoors, Tuff TV, and overnight Jewelry Television programming.
Brand decisions
2019
Relocation from East Bernstadt to RichmondStrategyBackground
Following the ownership change, the station sought to serve Richmond and the Lexington area from a new studio and transmission location.
Action taken
The FCC granted a construction permit for relocation of the facilities and an increase in signal power to 3,000 watts.
Aftermath
The call sign changed to WBON-LD in July 2019, and the physical relocation was completed in April 2020.
2018
Acquisition by Wallingford BroadcastingM&ABackground
The station changed ownership after more than two decades associated with Andrea and Joey Kesler.
Action taken
Wallingford Broadcasting, Inc. acquired the station.
Aftermath
The new ownership pursued a relocation of the station's facilities to Richmond and a related signal-power upgrade.
Recent events
- 2020
Richmond relocation is completed[1]
Other
The station completed the move of its facilities to Richmond and began operating under its current call sign from the new location.
- 2019
FCC approves Richmond relocation and power upgrade[1]
Regulation
The station received a construction permit to move its studio and transmission facilities to Richmond and raise its signal power to 3,000 watts.
- 2019
Station adopts WBON-LD call sign[1]
Other
The station changed its call sign from WOBZ-LD to WBON-LD on July 11, 2019, during the broader transition to Richmond-based operation.
- 2018
Wallingford Broadcasting acquires the station[1]
M&A
Ownership of the station transferred to Wallingford Broadcasting, Inc., which later pursued a relocation of the station's facilities to Richmond.
- 2016
Primary digital channel joins Buzzr[1]
Other · Product launch
The station's main digital subchannel became an affiliate of Buzzr, a network carrying classic game shows from the FremantleMedia library.
- 2008
Storm collapses the station's shared broadcast tower[1]
Other
A storm caused the tower used by WOBZ-LP and radio station WJJA-LP to collapse. The television station continued to reach viewers through cable service in London and online while a replacement tower was planned and constructed.
Sources1 sources
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