WIIH-CD

WIIH-CD is a low-power Class A television station serving Indianapolis, Indiana. Broadcasting on digital channel 17, the station has a limited over-the-air footprint concentrated in and around the city. To extend its reach across the wider Indianapolis television market, its programming is also carried on WISH-TV's third digital subchannel, 8.3. The station is locally owned by Circle City Broadcasting, which also operates WISH-TV, WNDY-TV, and WRTV. The stations share studios on North Meridian Street in Indianapolis, while WIIH-CD's transmitter is located on Walnut Drive in the Augusta area of the city's northwest side, near Meridian Hills. The station began broadcasting on January 29, 1988, as W11BV on VHF channel 11. Its first owner was White River Corporation. In 1992, the license was sold to Indiana Broadcasting Corporation, the LIN Broadcasting subsidiary associated with WISH-TV. The callsign changed to WIIH-LP in 1995. During the early 2000s, the station moved its allocation to UHF channel 17 and received Federal Communications Commission approval for Class A status, becoming WIIH-CA. WIIH-CA became an Indianapolis Univision affiliate in 2003 under the brand “Univision Indiana.” WISH-TV produced a Spanish-language local newscast, WIIH Noticias, for the station, but the program ended in 2008. WIIH's Univision affiliation ended at the close of 2008 after the owner did not renew its network agreement. Beginning January 1, 2009, the station adopted a weather-oriented format branded “LWS: Local Weather Station.” The station's role changed substantially after the digital television transition. LIN TV sought authority in 2010 to use WIIH's facilities as a fill-in translator for WISH-TV, addressing reception gaps experienced by some viewers after the transition. The FCC approved construction of new facilities, and the transmitter was moved to the WISH-TV tower site on Walnut Drive. The station's analog authorization was cancelled in January 2011 as the facility was converted to digital translator service. After a subsequent Class A upgrade, its callsign became WIIH-CD. WIIH-CD later became associated with the Confess digital multicast network. Although it maintains its own digital transmission, the station's limited coverage makes the WISH-TV 8.3 simulcast important for market-wide distribution. Its history therefore combines local-language network affiliation, weather programming, translator service, and current multicast-network operations rather than the conventional programming profile of a full-power television station.

WIIH-CD began operation on January 29, 1988, as W11BV, a low-power station on VHF channel 11. White River Corporation was the original licensee. On December 21, 1992, the station was sold to Indiana Broadcasting Corporation, the LIN Broadcasting subsidiary that also held the WISH-TV license. The station adopted the WIIH-LP callsign in 1995. In 2002, WIIH moved from VHF channel 11 to UHF channel 17. The FCC also authorized Class A status, leading to the WIIH-CA callsign. The change gave the station a more stable regulatory classification while preserving its low-power, locally focused role. In 2003, it became the Indianapolis market's Univision affiliate and used the “Univision Indiana” identity. WISH-TV produced a Spanish-language evening newscast called WIIH Noticias for the station. That newscast was cancelled in 2008. WIIH's Univision affiliation ended on December 31, 2008, when LIN did not renew its agreement with the network. From January 1, 2009, WIIH-CA carried weather-oriented programming under the LWS: Local Weather Station brand. The change occurred during a period of retransmission-consent disputes involving LIN and pay-television distributors. WIIH, WISH, and WNDY were temporarily removed from certain cable systems during the dispute, and WIIH was not restored under the later agreement that returned WISH and WNDY to carriage. The station was subsequently repurposed as a technical extension of WISH-TV. Following the 2009 digital transition, some Indianapolis viewers experienced reception problems with WISH-TV. LIN TV filed an FCC application on January 29, 2010, proposing to operate WIIH's channel 17 signal as a fill-in translator. The FCC granted a construction permit on June 16, 2010. The transmitter was relocated to the WISH-TV tower site on Walnut Drive in northwestern Indianapolis, at a height of approximately 144 metres above average terrain. The FCC cancelled the analog WIIH-CA license on January 13, 2011, as the station was converted to digital translator operation. LWS programming remained available on WISH-TV's digital services during the transition. LIN Media later sought Class A status for the digital facility, and the callsign was changed to WIIH-CD after approval. Corporate ownership around the station changed again when Media General announced its combination with LIN Media in March 2014. The transaction closed on December 19, 2014. WIIH-CD is now locally owned by Circle City Broadcasting alongside WISH-TV, WNDY-TV, and WRTV. The stations share North Meridian Street studios. WIIH-CD currently carries the Confess digital multicast network and is also distributed on WISH-TV's 8.3 subchannel, allowing the service to reach beyond the station's limited low-power broadcast contour.

• 2014

  Media General completes LIN Media combination

  [1]WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The corporate transaction involving LIN Media closed on December 19, changing the station's broader ownership structure.

• 2011

  Converts to digital translator operation

  [1]WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The analog license was cancelled and WIIH's digital facility began operating as a WISH-TV fill-in translator.

• 2011

  Calls change to WIIH-CD

  [1]WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  After the Class A upgrade process, the station adopted its current WIIH-CD callsign.

• 2010

  Receives approval for WISH-TV translator facilities

  [1]WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC approved construction of facilities intended to fill gaps in WISH-TV reception.

• 2009

  Switches to LWS weather programming

  [1]WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station dropped Univision programming and began the LWS: Local Weather Station format.

• 2003

  Launches Univision Indiana service

  [1]WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WIIH-CA became an Indianapolis Univision affiliate and introduced the local Univision Indiana branding.

• 2002

  Moves to channel 17 and receives Class A status

  [1]WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The facility moved to UHF channel 17 and was reclassified by the FCC, becoming WIIH-CA.

• 1995

  Callsign changes to WIIH-LP

  [1]WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the WIIH-LP identity.

• 1992

  License sold to Indiana Broadcasting Corporation

  [1]WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station joined the ownership structure associated with WISH-TV and LIN Broadcasting.

• 1988

  Station signs on as W11BV

  [1]WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WIIH's predecessor began broadcasting on VHF channel 11 as a low-power station owned by White River Corporation.

A locally owned Indianapolis low-power television outlet and WISH-TV translator, extending multicast and affiliated programming to viewers in the immediate city and, through WISH-TV's 8.3 simulcast, the broader market.

• Digital multicast television network

  Confess programming

  WIIH-CD's current over-the-air programming is affiliated with Confess, a digital multicast television network. The service gives the low-power Indianapolis station a network-based programming identity while its own transmission remains focused on the immediate city area. The same service is also distributed through WISH-TV's 8.3 digital subchannel, improving availability across the market.

• Television transmission · 2011

  WIIH-CD translator service

  The station's digital channel 17 facility functions as a low-power Class A television outlet and WISH-TV fill-in translator. Its transmitter arrangement was designed to help viewers in parts of Indianapolis that had difficulty receiving WISH-TV after the digital transition. Because its independent coverage is limited, the service is supplemented by the WISH-TV 8.3 simulcast.

• Spanish-language television affiliation · 2003

  Univision Indiana

  From 2003 through the end of 2008, WIIH-CA carried Univision programming under the local Univision Indiana identity. The affiliation included a Spanish-language local news program produced by WISH-TV, WIIH Noticias, which ended in 2008.

• Weather television format · 2009

  LWS: Local Weather Station

  After leaving Univision, WIIH-CA adopted a weather-focused format called LWS: Local Weather Station. The format was also associated with WISH-TV digital-subchannel distribution during the station's transition into translator service.

• 2014

  LIN Media combines with Media GeneralM&A

  Background

  WIIH was part of the LIN Media station group when Media General announced a corporate combination with LIN Media.

  Action taken

  Media General and LIN Media completed their transaction on December 19, 2014.

  Aftermath

  The transaction changed the station's corporate ownership context before WIIH ultimately became part of Circle City Broadcasting's Indianapolis station group.

  Source

• 2010

  Convert WIIH into a WISH-TV fill-in translatorStrategy

  Background

  Some viewers experienced difficulty receiving WISH-TV after the United States digital television transition.

  Action taken

  LIN TV applied to use WIIH's channel 17 facility as a digital fill-in translator and obtained FCC approval for new transmitter facilities.

  Aftermath

  The transmitter moved to the WISH-TV tower site, and the analog authorization was later cancelled as the facility transitioned to digital translator operation.

  Source

• 2009

  Replace Univision affiliation with weather programmingStrategy

  Background

  The station's Univision agreement expired at the end of 2008 and was not renewed by LIN.

  Action taken

  WIIH-CA dropped Univision programming and launched the LWS: Local Weather Station format on January 1, 2009.

  Aftermath

  The station later moved toward a translator role for WISH-TV, while Univision programming remained available in the market through other distribution arrangements.

  Source

1. 1WIIH-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WISH-TV official websitewishtv.com