WIBW-TV

WIBW-TV is a commercial television station serving Topeka, Kansas, and the surrounding northeastern Kansas region. Broadcasting on virtual channel 13, it is primarily affiliated with CBS and operates a digital subchannel branded as My Topeka TV and MeTV Topeka. The station is owned by Gray Media and maintains studios on Commerce Place in west-southwestern Topeka, near the interchange of Interstate 70, Interstate 470, U.S. Route 40, U.S. Route 75, and Kansas Highway 4. Its main transmitter is located near Maple Hill on Windy Hill Road, and a digital fill-in translator serves portions of Topeka that do not receive the principal signal adequately. WIBW-TV began broadcasting on November 15, 1953, becoming the first television station in the Topeka market and the third television station to sign on in Kansas. It initially operated from facilities shared with WIBW radio near Sixth Street and Wanamaker Road in western Topeka. The station was established by the family of Kansas senator and publisher Arthur Capper and was associated with the Topeka Daily Capital and WIBW radio properties. From its launch, WIBW-TV was a primary CBS affiliate, while also carrying programming from NBC, ABC, and the DuMont Television Network during the early period of American network television. It lost the DuMont affiliation when that network ceased operations in 1956 and later dropped NBC programming after KTSB, now KSNT, launched in 1967. It continued to share some ABC programming until a dedicated third commercial station, KLDH, now KTKA-TV, began service in 1983. For much of its early history, WIBW-TV was the only commercial television station based in Topeka. The Federal Communications Commission separated Topeka from the Kansas City television market in 1963, although Kansas City stations remained receivable in parts of the area and were distributed by cable. WIBW-TV's early market position helped it build a durable local-news audience. The station introduced color broadcasting in 1966 and acquired the market's first live weather radar for television use in 1972. It later adopted microwave live-news trucks and electronic news-gathering technology, contributing to its reputation as an operational and newsgathering leader in the market. The station became especially prominent for its coverage of the June 8, 1966, F5 tornado that struck Topeka, killing 16 people and injuring approximately 450. Reporter Bill Kurtis delivered the station's widely remembered warning urging viewers to take shelter. WIBW-TV then provided around-the-clock coverage of the disaster and its aftermath, an event that became central to the station's local identity and news heritage. Ownership remained connected to the Capper and Stauffer publishing interests for decades. Capper Publications merged with Stauffer Publications in 1957, and the station subsequently operated as part of Stauffer Communications. When Stauffer merged with Morris Communications in 1995, regulatory restrictions on common ownership of newspapers and broadcast outlets required the sale of the television properties. WIBW-TV was sold to Benedek Broadcasting in 1996. Benedek entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2002, after which Gray Television acquired most of its stations, including WIBW-TV. Gray later became Gray Media. WIBW-TV moved into its present Commerce Place facility in 2001. Its secondary digital service launched in 2006 as a MyNetworkTV outlet, later adding and changing secondary programming affiliations before adopting MeTV. The subchannel remains a platform for classic television programming, MyNetworkTV content, selected local programming, sports-related scheduling, and occasional displaced newscasts. The main station continues to provide CBS network programming and locally produced news, weather, sports, and public-affairs coverage. According to the referenced station history, it produces more than 28 hours of local newscasts per week and has historically been the leading local-news operation i…

WIBW-TV signed on November 15, 1953, as the first television station in the Topeka market and one of the earliest television stations in Kansas. The station was created by the family of Arthur Capper and was operated alongside the Topeka Daily Capital and WIBW radio. Its original facilities were located on Sixth Street and Wanamaker Road in western Topeka. From the beginning, channel 13 was primarily affiliated with CBS, but it also carried programming from NBC, ABC, and DuMont while the American television network system was still developing. DuMont programming ended in 1956 when that network shut down, and NBC programming ended after KTSB signed on in 1967. WIBW-TV continued to carry selected ABC programming until KLDH launched in 1983 as the market's third commercial station. The station remained Topeka's only commercial television outlet for approximately fourteen years. KTWU, a noncommercial station, began broadcasting in 1965, while KTSB entered the commercial market in 1967. Although Kansas City stations could be received in parts of northeastern Kansas and were available through cable, the FCC formally made Topeka a separate television market in 1963. WIBW-TV's early exclusivity gave it a strong base in local news and helped establish a ratings lead that it retained after competition arrived. The station expanded its technical capabilities over time. It moved its transmitter operation to a taller tower in 1954, began color broadcasting in 1966, and installed the first live weather radar used for television broadcasting in the Topeka market in 1972. It introduced microwave live-news trucks in 1982 and electronic news-gathering capability later in the decade. The station's most prominent historical news event was the June 8, 1966, F5 tornado that crossed Topeka. WIBW-TV broadcast continuously for roughly 24 hours beginning when the tornado struck. Reporter Bill Kurtis, then also a law student, made a forceful shelter warning to viewers. The coverage and warning became enduring parts of the station's public image. Capper Publications merged with Stauffer Publications in 1957. Stauffer's newspaper and broadcast properties remained linked for many years, eventually operating under the Stauffer Communications name. In 1981, the Topeka Daily Capital and Topeka State Journal were combined into the Topeka Capital-Journal. The long-standing newspaper-radio-television combination benefited from grandfather protection under Federal Communications Commission ownership rules. That protection ended when Stauffer merged with Morris Communications in 1995. Because Morris could not retain the newspaper and television combination under the applicable rules, WIBW-TV was sold with other Stauffer television assets to Benedek Broadcasting in 1996. Benedek later filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy after taking on substantial debt in station acquisitions. Gray Television acquired WIBW-TV in 2002, placing the station in a broadcasting group that later adopted the Gray Media name. During the ownership transition, WIBW-TV also modernized its physical presence. It moved from its original western Topeka studios into a new facility on Commerce Place in 2001. The former facility was later severely damaged by a fire in January 2012. Gray selected WIBW-TV as a Topeka MyNetworkTV affiliate in 2006. WIBW-DT2 began broadcasting that September as a MyNetworkTV service with additional multicultural programming. It later carried This TV during selected periods, then switched its secondary affiliation to MeTV in 2012. The subchannel became known as My Topeka TV for general branding and MeTV Topeka during MeTV programming. The arrangement gave the station greater flexibility for local newscasts, sports, and other programming because MeTV's shorter programs were easier to schedule around local commitments than feature-length movie programming. The station's cable placement also became the subject of a regulatory and technical dispute. After KSQA began broadcasting on over-the-air channel 12 in 2011, its signal interfered with the analog cable frequency used for WIBW-TV on Cox channel 12. KSQA sought a must-carry placement on that channel, but the Federal Communications Commission initially rejected the request on virtual-channel grounds. After a later waiver allowed KSQA to use virtual channel 12, Cox moved WIBW-TV to cable channel 13 in March 2013. WIBW-TV currently operates as a CBS affiliate with a digital fill-in translator and a secondary digital service carrying MeTV and MyNetworkTV. Its core business remains local television news, weather, sports, advertising, and community programming, supported by CBS network content. The station continues to serve Topeka and surrounding parts of Kansas from its Commerce Place studios, with a transmitter near Maple Hill.

1. 2013Cox cable channel position changes

   Cox moves WIBW-TV to cable channel 13 following an FCC-related dispute involving KSQA's channel placement.

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2. 2012MeTV becomes the secondary digital affiliation

   WIBW-DT2 drops This TV and adds MeTV as its secondary network affiliation.

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3. 2006MyNetworkTV affiliation begins

   WIBW-TV is selected as MyNetworkTV's Topeka affiliate and launches the service on its second digital subchannel.

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4. 2002Gray acquires WIBW-TV after Benedek bankruptcy

   Gray Television purchases WIBW-TV after Benedek files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

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5. 2001Move to Commerce Place studios

   The station relocates from its original studio complex to a new facility on Commerce Place in southwest Topeka.

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6. 1996Benedek Broadcasting acquires the station

   WIBW-TV is sold as part of the divestiture of Stauffer's television properties following the Stauffer-Morris merger.

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7. 1982Microwave live-news trucks introduced

   The station becomes the first Topeka television outlet to use microwave live-news trucks.

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8. 1972First live television weather radar in the market

   WIBW-TV adds the first live weather radar used for television broadcasting in Topeka.

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9. 1966Color broadcasting begins

   WIBW-TV becomes the first Topeka television station to broadcast in color.

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10. 1966Coverage of the Topeka tornado

    The station provides extended coverage of the F5 tornado that struck Topeka on June 8.

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11. 1963Topeka becomes a separate television market

    The FCC separates the Topeka market from Kansas City for television-market purposes.

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12. 1954Transmitter facilities move to a taller tower

    WIBW-TV relocates its transmitter operation to a 950-foot tower, improving regional coverage.

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13. 1953WIBW-TV begins broadcasting

    The station signs on November 15 as the first television station in the Topeka market and the third to begin operations in Kansas.

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A long-established, locally focused broadcast television station positioned around CBS programming, dominant Topeka-area news coverage, severe-weather reporting, and community service.

• WIBW-TV Channel 13Broadcast television station1953

  The station's primary broadcast service, carrying CBS network programming together with locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs, and community programming for Topeka and northeastern Kansas.

• WIBW local newsLocal television news1953

  WIBW-TV's local-news operation covers Topeka-area politics, public safety, education, business, sports, weather, and regional events. The station has historically held a leading position in local news ratings and is noted for severe-weather reporting.

• WIBW-DT2 / My Topeka TV / MeTV TopekaDigital multicast television2006

  The station's second digital subchannel launched in 2006 as a MyNetworkTV service. It later carried Colours TV and This TV during different periods before adding MeTV in 2012. The service uses My Topeka TV for general branding and carries MeTV programming outside selected periods reserved for MyNetworkTV or local programming.

• WIBW digital fill-in translatorBroadcast signal extension

  A digital translator operating on channel 33 in Topeka supplements the main transmission for viewers who cannot adequately receive WIBW-TV's primary signal.

• 2013Resolution of Cox cable channel placementOther

  The over-the-air signal of newly launched KSQA interfered with the analog cable frequency used for WIBW-TV on Cox channel 12. KSQA also sought a must-carry placement on that channel.

  What changed. After an FCC waiver allowed KSQA to use virtual channel 12, Cox moved WIBW-TV to cable channel 13 and placed KSQA on the former channel 12 slot.

  Aftermath. The change preserved cable carriage for WIBW-TV while accommodating KSQA's revised virtual-channel assignment.

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• 2012Switch from This TV to MeTVStrategy

  WIBW-TV sought greater scheduling flexibility for local newscasts and sports programming. MeTV's shorter programs were easier to arrange around local commitments than the feature-length movies carried by This TV.

  What changed. WIBW-DT2 ended its This TV affiliation and adopted MeTV as its secondary affiliation.

  Aftermath. Most syndicated programming was later reduced, while MeTV occupied much of the subchannel schedule outside time reserved for MyNetworkTV and selected local programming.

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• 2006Launch of the MyNetworkTV digital subchannelProduct launch

  The launch of MyNetworkTV created a new national programming option for stations that were not selected as affiliates of The CW. Gray Television selected WIBW-TV as the Topeka affiliate.

  What changed. WIBW-TV launched a second digital subchannel on September 5, 2006, with MyNetworkTV as its primary affiliation and additional programming at launch.

  Aftermath. The subchannel later changed secondary affiliations and ultimately developed into a mixed MeTV and MyNetworkTV service branded My Topeka TV and MeTV Topeka.

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• 2013WIBW-TV moves on Cox cable after KSQA virtual-channel dispute

  Following a dispute involving KSQA's must-carry request and virtual channel assignment, Cox Communications moved WIBW-TV to cable channel 13 and placed KSQA on the former channel 12 slot.

  RegulationOther
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• 2012WIBW-TV studio attack

  A man entered the station lobby on May 23 and attacked employees with a knife and by biting. Two employees suffered non-life-threatening injuries to their legs, and the suspect was arrested on multiple allegations.

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• 2006WIBW-TV launches MyNetworkTV digital subchannel

  The station launched its second digital subchannel as a primary MyNetworkTV affiliate, later developing the service into a mixed MyNetworkTV and MeTV outlet.

  Product launch
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• 1966WIBW-TV covers the Topeka F5 tornado

  The station provided extended coverage of the June 8 tornado. Reporter Bill Kurtis delivered an urgent on-air warning that became closely associated with the station's history.

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• 1953WIBW-TV launches as Topeka's first television station

  WIBW-TV began broadcasting on November 15, becoming the first television station in the Topeka market and an early television station in Kansas.

  Other
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1. WIBW-TV
2. WIBW-TV official website