WPBI-CD

WPBI-CD is a low-power Class A television station serving Lafayette, Indiana, and the surrounding market. The station operates two principal network affiliations: its primary channel carries Fox programming and its second digital subchannel carries NBC. The station is owned by Coastal Television Broadcasting Company LLC and is operated alongside ABC affiliate WPBY-CD. The two stations share studio facilities on South 18th Street in Lafayette, while WPBI-CD's transmitter is located on McCarty Lane on the city's east side, with the station's signal oriented toward the northwest. The station's regulatory history began when the Federal Communications Commission issued a construction permit on February 22, 2011, under the call sign W16DB-D. During 2016, the station's call sign changed between WPBH-LD and WPBI-LD before settling on WPBI-LD on October 18. It began broadcasting on October 25, 2016. From its launch, WPBI served as Lafayette's local Fox affiliate, while NBC programming was placed on the second subchannel. This made the station's two channels the first locally based Fox and NBC affiliates in the Lafayette market. Before WPBI's arrival, Indianapolis stations WXIN and WTHR commonly served as the market's default Fox and NBC outlets through cable and satellite distribution. WPBI was initially owned by Waypoint Media, a company operated by Mike Reed. Before the station launched, Lafayette TV LLC, an entity associated with the ownership group, acquired four Lafayette-area radio stations from Artistic Media Partners Inc. Local cable providers Comcast Xfinity and Metronet began carrying WPBI in November 2016. The station's launch therefore expanded locally originated network service while also changing how Lafayette viewers received Fox and NBC programming. DirecTV indicated that it intended to carry WPBI-CD and its NBC subchannel, although the timetable for satellite carriage was not established in the referenced material. Local news and weather became important parts of the station's identity. WPBI began local weather coverage on January 1, 2017, and launched its Star City News operation on May 29 of the same year. In its initial configuration, the station produced weekday evening newscasts at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on the NBC-branded service, with a 10 p.m. newscast on Fox. The 6 p.m. program was exclusive to the NBC subchannel, while the 11 p.m. broadcast was also simulcast on sister station WPBY-CD. The initial local news schedule totaled approximately seven and a half hours per week. Chris Morisse Vizza, a former WLFI-TV journalist, served as the first news director, while Sarah Blakely was the inaugural news anchor. Production combined Lafayette-based reporting with studio and production support from a Media Gateway facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. Waypoint later acquired Media Gateway's centralized news operation in June 2019 and renamed it News Hub. In July 2021, Waypoint announced the sale of nine television stations, including WPBI-LD and WPBY-LD, to Coastal Television for $36.9 million. The transaction closed on January 4, 2022, making Coastal Television the station's owner and placing WPBI within its television group. WPBI also carries selected Purdue Boilermakers football programming through Fox College Football and, beginning in 2023, NBC's Big Ten Saturday Night. It has applied special carriage practices to the Indianapolis 500, generally using tape delay rather than live carriage to preserve long-standing attendance-related restrictions associated with Indianapolis stations' historical service to Lafayette. The station has made exceptions in particular circumstances identified in the reference material. Overall, WPBI-CD's role is that of a locally based network affiliate combining Fox and NBC programming, regional news, weather, sports, and market-specific distribution in the Lafayette area.

WPBI-CD traces its regulatory origin to an FCC construction permit issued on February 22, 2011, for a station initially identified as W16DB-D. Its call sign went through several changes during 2016, including WPBH-LD and WPBI-LD, before WPBI-LD became the settled designation on October 18, 2016. Broadcasting began on October 25, 2016. The station launched as Lafayette's first locally based Fox affiliate and placed NBC programming on its second digital subchannel. This altered a market arrangement in which Indianapolis stations, particularly WXIN and WTHR, had served as the default Fox and NBC sources for Lafayette viewers through cable and satellite systems. Comcast Xfinity and Metronet added WPBI to their lineups in November 2016. The station was initially associated with Waypoint Media, a company operated by Mike Reed. Before launch, Lafayette TV LLC acquired four radio stations in the Lafayette market from Artistic Media Partners Inc., establishing a broader local media presence around the television venture. WPBI expanded its local programming in 2017. Local weather coverage began January 1, followed by the first Star City News broadcast on May 29. The initial schedule comprised weekday evening news programs on both network services: a 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcast on the NBC service and a 10 p.m. broadcast on Fox. The 11 p.m. program was also simulcast on sister station WPBY-CD. Chris Morisse Vizza became the first news director, and Sarah Blakely served as the first news anchor. Some production activity was centralized through a Media Gateway facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, while reporting originated in Lafayette. Waypoint purchased that centralized operation in June 2019 and renamed it News Hub. In July 2021, Waypoint announced that Coastal Television would acquire nine of its television stations, including WPBI and sister station WPBY. The announced consideration was $36.9 million, and the transaction was completed on January 4, 2022. WPBI is consequently owned by Coastal Television Broadcasting Company LLC and operates alongside WPBY from shared Lafayette facilities. The station's programming portfolio includes Fox and NBC network schedules, local news and weather, and selected Purdue Boilermakers football games. Purdue broadcasts have appeared through Fox College Football and, since 2023, NBC's Big Ten Saturday Night. WPBI has also maintained a special policy concerning live coverage of the Indianapolis 500, generally using tape delay to preserve restrictions inherited from the period when Indianapolis stations served Lafayette. The reference material identifies several exceptional years in which the race aired live, including circumstances involving attendance limits, a weather delay, or sellouts.

1. 2022Coastal Television acquisition closes

   Coastal Television completed its purchase of WPBI and other Waypoint stations on January 4.

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2. 2019News operation renamed News Hub

   Waypoint acquired Media Gateway's centralized news operation and renamed it News Hub.

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3. 2017Local weather coverage begins

   WPBI began local weather programming on January 1.

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4. 2017Star City News launches

   The station aired its inaugural local newscast on May 29.

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5. 2016Call sign settled as WPBI-LD

   After changes involving WPBH-LD and WPBI-LD, the station adopted WPBI-LD on October 18.

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6. 2016Station signs on

   WPBI began broadcasting on October 25 as a Fox affiliate with NBC on its second subchannel.

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7. 2011FCC construction permit issued

   The FCC issued a construction permit on February 22 for the station then operating under the call sign W16DB-D.

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A locally based Lafayette television outlet differentiated by dual Fox and NBC network affiliations, local news and weather coverage, and regional sports programming.

• Fox 16Fox-affiliated television service2016

  WPBI's primary television service carries Fox network programming, syndicated content, local news, weather, and selected sports. It is positioned as the Lafayette market's locally based Fox outlet rather than relying on Indianapolis stations for network service.

• NBC 16NBC-affiliated digital subchannel2016

  The station's second digital subchannel carries NBC programming and local content, including the initial 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. Its launch created Lafayette's first locally based NBC affiliate.

• Star City NewsLocal television news2017

  Star City News is WPBI's local news brand. It began in May 2017 after the station introduced local weather coverage, with early production combining Lafayette reporting and centralized studio support.

• 2021Sell station group to Coastal TelevisionM&A

  Waypoint announced the divestiture of nine television stations.

  What changed. Coastal Television agreed to acquire WPBI and the other included stations for $36.9 million.

  Aftermath. The transaction closed in January 2022, transferring ownership to Coastal Television Broadcasting Company LLC.

  Announced purchase price for nine-station transaction. $36.9 million (Announced July 2021; transaction closed January 4, 2022)

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• 2017Introduce local news and weatherProduct launch

  The new station sought to add locally produced content to its network programming.

  What changed. WPBI started local weather coverage in January and launched Star City News in May.

  Aftermath. The initial schedule provided weekday evening news on the NBC and Fox services.

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• 2016Launch dual-affiliation serviceProduct launch

  Before WPBI launched, Lafayette viewers generally received Fox and NBC programming from Indianapolis stations through cable and satellite distribution.

  What changed. WPBI began broadcasting with Fox on its main service and NBC on a second digital subchannel.

  Aftermath. The station established the first locally based Fox and NBC affiliations in the Lafayette market and gained local cable carriage.

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• 2022Coastal Television completes acquisition

  The sale of WPBI and the other included stations closed on January 4, 2022.

  M&A
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• 2021Waypoint announces sale of WPBI to Coastal Television

  Waypoint announced a proposed sale of nine television stations, including WPBI, to Coastal Television for $36.9 million.

  M&A
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• 2017WPBI launches Star City News

  The station introduced its local news operation on May 29, following the start of local weather coverage earlier that year.

  Product launch
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• 2016WPBI begins broadcasting as Lafayette's local Fox and NBC outlet

  WPBI-LD began broadcasting on October 25, 2016, carrying Fox on its primary service and NBC on its second subchannel.

  Product launch
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• 2016Local cable carriage begins

  Comcast Xfinity and Metronet began carrying WPBI in November, extending the station's distribution across the Lafayette market.

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1. WPBI-CD