WMYS-LD
A low-power television station serving South Bend, Indiana, carrying Heroes & Icons programming with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WMYS-LD is a low-power television station licensed to South Bend, Indiana, and owned by Weigel Broadcasting. The station operates on digital channel 28 and serves the South Bend and wider Michiana television market, although its low-power broadcast footprint is concentrated around the immediate South Bend area. To extend the reach of its programming, Weigel has depended on cable and other subscription-television carriage for broader market distribution. The station began broadcasting on December 2, 1987, as W69BT on UHF channel 69. It initially functioned as a translator for Weigel-owned WCIU-TV in Chicago. Its role changed in the mid-1990s as Weigel expanded its South Bend operations. In October 1995, Weigel's channel 58 outlet, then known as W58BT, became the area's ABC affiliate after WSJV-TV left ABC for Fox. Because the low-power ABC station did not reach the entire market, W69BT was used as a translator of the South Bend ABC service while Weigel pursued regulatory and distribution measures intended to improve coverage. In October 1999, channel 69 began operating with its own schedule as a WB affiliate. The station adopted the WMWB-LP call sign, reflecting its local WB identity. After Weigel acquired channel 25 from 3ABN in 2002, it transferred the WB programming, call sign, and affiliation to that facility, which became the market's more prominent home for the network. Channel 69 consequently reverted to a supporting role, first using the WRDY-LP call sign and later undergoing several further call-sign changes. Between 2002 and 2004 it simulcast ABC programming from WBND-LP; afterward, it operated as an independent outlet and at times carried programming from the Sportsman Channel. The station's most important later programming change occurred in 2006. Weigel reached an affiliation agreement with MyNetworkTV, a service created by Fox Television Stations and Twentieth Television. In preparation for the network's launch, channel 69 briefly used WMYT-LP before changing to WMYS-LP in April 2006. It began carrying MyNetworkTV programming when the network launched on September 5, 2006. For a period, the station also aired classic television material and retro-commercial content associated with Weigel's MeTV operations, although its MyNetworkTV affiliation meant it did not use the MeTV brand in the same way as dedicated MeTV outlets. From 2015 through 2019, it carried Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox games supplied through WGN Sports. WMYS and its sister stations began low-power digital broadcasting on September 14, 2007. The station's analog service ended on November 30, 2010, after a power-supply failure, while digital and cable availability continued. Subsequent Federal Communications Commission construction permits and channel changes moved the station through several digital assignments. It moved from channel 23 toward channel 34, exchanged proposed assignments with WBND-LD in 2012, moved to channel 33 in 2018, and then moved to channel 28 in October 2019. Today, WMYS-LD forms part of Weigel's South Bend station group alongside ABC affiliate WBND-LD and CW affiliate WCWW-LD. The three stations share studios on Generations Drive near the Indiana Toll Road in northeastern South Bend. WMYS-LD's programming identity combines Weigel's Heroes & Icons digital-network service with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation.
History
WMYS-LD signed on December 2, 1987, as W69BT, a low-power UHF station on channel 69. Its original function was to relay programming from Weigel Broadcasting's Chicago station WCIU-TV. The South Bend outlet later became part of Weigel's effort to build a cluster of local low-power television stations. A major change came in 1995, when Weigel's W58BT became the South Bend market's ABC affiliate after WSJV-TV moved from ABC to Fox. Because W58BT's low-power signal did not cover the full market, W69BT was converted into a translator for the ABC service. Weigel pursued improvements to the station's coverage and worked toward broader subscription-television distribution. These efforts allowed channel 69 to develop a more independent programming role. In October 1999, W69BT became a WB affiliate with its own schedule and adopted the call sign WMWB-LP. In 2002, after Weigel acquired channel 25 from 3ABN, the company moved the WB affiliation and associated identity to that station, later known as WCWW-LD. Channel 69 then used the WRDY-LP call sign and returned to a supporting programming role. It simulcast ABC programming from WBND-LP from 2002 to 2004 and subsequently operated independently, with some programming supplied by the Sportsman Channel. The station changed call signs again, becoming WAAT-LP in 2004 and briefly WCWW-LP in March 2006. Weigel announced a MyNetworkTV affiliation for channel 69 in March 2006. The station briefly used WMYT-LP before adopting WMYS-LP in April. It joined MyNetworkTV at the network's September 5, 2006 launch. In addition to the network schedule, WMYS carried a mixture of classic television material, retro-commercial content associated with Weigel's MeTV operations, and some newer first-run programming. From 2015 through 2019, it also aired Cubs and White Sox games through WGN Sports. Digital operations began on September 14, 2007. In November 2010, a power-supply failure ended the analog transmission, although the station continued digitally and through cable systems. The station then underwent several frequency-planning changes. The FCC authorized a move involving channel 34, and in 2012 WMYS and WBND exchanged proposed digital assignments. WMYS later moved from channel 39 to channel 33 in 2018 and from channel 33 to channel 28 in October 2019. In 2008, Weigel agreed to sell WMYS and its South Bend sister stations to Schurz Communications, owner of WSBT-TV. The proposed transaction was not completed and was abandoned in August 2009 after the FCC had not taken action. WMYS remains part of Weigel Broadcasting's South Bend group, sharing Generations Drive studios in northeastern South Bend with WBND-LD and WCWW-LD. Its low-power signal primarily serves the immediate South Bend area, while paid television carriage has been important for reaching viewers across the broader market.
- 2019
Digital signal moves to channel 28
[1]The station moves from channel 33 to channel 28, completing a further frequency reassignment.
- 2018
Digital signal moves to channel 33
[1]WMYS changes its digital transmission assignment from channel 39 to channel 33.
- 2012
FCC authorizes a digital-frequency change
[1]The FCC grants a construction permit connected with WMYS's move from its earlier digital assignment, followed by an exchange of proposed assignments with WBND-LD.
- 2010
Analog service ends
[1]A power-supply failure takes the analog channel off the air; digital and cable distribution continue.
- 2007
Digital broadcasting begins
[1]WMYS and its South Bend sister stations begin low-power digital transmissions.
- 2006
Station adopts WMYS call sign and MyNetworkTV affiliation
[1]After briefly using WMYT-LP, the station becomes WMYS-LP and joins MyNetworkTV at the network's launch.
- 2002
WB programming moves to channel 25
[1]Following Weigel's acquisition of channel 25, the WB affiliation and associated station identity move there, while channel 69 returns to a secondary role.
- 1999
Channel 69 becomes a WB affiliate
[1]The station begins operating with its own WB schedule and changes its call sign to WMWB-LP.
- 1995
W69BT becomes an ABC-service translator
[1]After Weigel's W58BT becomes the South Bend ABC affiliate, W69BT is used to extend that programming to areas not adequately reached by the primary low-power signal.
- 1987
Station signs on as W69BT
[1]The low-power UHF station begins broadcasting on channel 69 as a translator of Chicago station WCIU-TV.
Products and positioning
A low-power South Bend television outlet within Weigel Broadcasting's local station group, combining a Heroes & Icons primary service with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation.
Digital television network programming
Heroes & Icons
WMYS-LD carries programming from Weigel Broadcasting's Heroes & Icons digital network. The service is the station's principal current programming identity in the referenced description and complements the station's secondary network relationship with MyNetworkTV.
Television network affiliation · 2006
MyNetworkTV
WMYS began carrying MyNetworkTV when the network launched in September 2006. The affiliation gave the low-power South Bend station a scheduled national network service after earlier periods as a WB affiliate, translator, and independent outlet.
Broadcast television · 1987
Local and syndicated television
Across its history, WMYS has carried locally distributed, syndicated, classic, sports, and other entertainment programming. Earlier schedules included ABC simulcasts, independent programming, Sportsman Channel material, classic television associated with MeTV operations, and WGN Sports coverage of Chicago baseball.
Brand decisions
2019
Digital frequency moves to channel 28OtherBackground
WMYS had undergone multiple digital-channel changes following post-transition spectrum planning.
Action taken
On October 18, 2019, the station moved from channel 33 to channel 28.
Aftermath
Channel 28 became the station's later digital transmission assignment in the referenced station history.
2010
Analog transmission is discontinuedOtherBackground
The station's analog service was affected by a power-supply failure during the period when low-power stations had different transition obligations from full-power broadcasters.
Action taken
WMYS turned off its analog signal on channel 69 and continued using its digital service and digital cable distribution.
Aftermath
The station proceeded with additional FCC-authorized digital-frequency planning and later moved through several channel assignments.
2008
Weigel agrees to sell its South Bend stations to Schurz CommunicationsM&ABackground
Weigel Broadcasting reached an agreement to sell WMYS and its two South Bend sister stations to Schurz Communications, the longtime owner of local CBS affiliate WSBT-TV.
Action taken
The proposed transaction was submitted for the regulatory process, but the deal was not completed.
Aftermath
The sale was called off in August 2009 after the Federal Communications Commission had not taken action. WMYS remained with Weigel Broadcasting.
2006
MyNetworkTV affiliation beginsProduct launchBackground
Weigel sought a network schedule for channel 69 after the station had moved away from its former WB affiliation and had operated in translator and independent roles.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign to WMYS-LP and began carrying MyNetworkTV when the network launched on September 5, 2006.
Aftermath
WMYS continued as a MyNetworkTV outlet while also carrying other classic, first-run, and sports programming.
Sources2 sources
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