WTHR

WTHR is a full-power television station serving the Indianapolis, Indiana, market on virtual and VHF digital channel 13. The station is affiliated with NBC and operates from studios on North Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis, while its transmitter is located near Ditch Road and West 96th Street in Carmel. It also operates or has operated digital multicast services, including MeTV, Cozi TV, sports programming, weather programming, and other syndicated or streaming-oriented networks. The station began broadcasting on October 30, 1957, under the call sign WLWI. It was established by Crosley Broadcasting Corporation as an ABC affiliate and was part of Crosley's broader WLW Television Network, which linked stations in the Midwest through shared programming and branding. Early programming included locally produced shows, syndicated material, sports, and selected educational content. WLWI also carried the first season of Sesame Street in Indianapolis before the launch of PBS station WFYI. The station's early years were affected by a contested licensing process and by ABC's relatively weak competitive position against CBS and NBC. WLWI generally ranked behind Indianapolis's established network stations and sometimes faced competition from independent station WTTV. Crosley, later renamed Avco Broadcasting, eventually sold the station to the Wolfe family, owners of the Columbus Dispatch and WBNS stations, in 1975. The new owners changed the call sign to WTHR on January 29, 1976, accompanied by a promotional campaign built around the slogan “You're on Top with 13.” A major turning point came on May 31, 1979, when WTHR exchanged affiliations with WRTV. WTHR became Indianapolis's NBC affiliate, while WRTV took the ABC affiliation. The change gave WTHR access to NBC's stronger programming schedules and, from 1984, substantial Indianapolis Colts coverage through NBC's American Football Conference rights. Although the station did not immediately become the market leader, its entertainment, sports, and news performance improved over time. Its news operation and NBC's programming strength helped produce a significant ratings rise during the 1990s, and WTHR developed into one of NBC's stronger local affiliates. WTHR has maintained a prominent role in Indianapolis sports coverage. It carried Indianapolis Colts games during periods when NBC held relevant NFL rights, aired NBA programming involving the Indiana Pacers when NBC held national basketball rights, and provided local coverage of Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. The station later carried selected Big Ten football games, Indiana Fever women's basketball, and simulcasts of selected Pacers games. It also became the local broadcast outlet for the Indianapolis 500 when NBC assumed national rights in 2019, replacing WRTV and restoring the race to WTHR after a long absence. The station transitioned from analog to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009, returning its digital signal to VHF channel 13 after the transition. It has used multicast channels to broaden its offering beyond the main NBC service. These outlets have included Universal Sports, MeTV, Cozi TV, weather services, high-school sports, Circle, and The Nest. WTHR has also sought technical improvements because some viewers experienced reception difficulties with its VHF digital signal. In 2019, the Dispatch Broadcast Group agreed to sell WTHR and related station WALV-CD to Tegna for $535 million in cash. The transaction was approved by the FCC and completed on August 8, 2019. Later ownership developments placed Tegna within Nexstar Media Group's corporate structure. Because Nexstar already owned several Indianapolis stations, including WTTV and WXIN, regulatory remedies associated with that transaction included a commitment to divest WTHR within a specified period. WTHR nevertheless remains an active Indianapolis television brand centered on local news, NBC programming, sports, weather, community coverage, and digital dis…

WTHR began service as WLWI on October 30, 1957. Crosley Broadcasting established the station as an ABC affiliate and connected it to the WLW Television Network, a regional group whose stations shared programs, production resources, and visual identity. The station operated during a period when Indianapolis television licensing was the subject of extensive legal and regulatory dispute. Although Crosley retained the right to operate WLWI, the ownership and licensing controversy continued for several years. In its first decades, WLWI faced a difficult competitive environment. ABC was weaker than CBS and NBC for much of the period, and the station generally ranked behind more established Indianapolis outlets. Its schedule combined ABC programming with local productions, syndicated shows, sports, and educational material. It carried the first season of Sesame Street locally before PBS member station WFYI began broadcasting. Crosley changed its corporate name to Avco Broadcasting in 1968. As Avco later exited broadcasting, the Wolfe family, owners of the Columbus Dispatch and WBNS radio and television properties, purchased WLWI in August 1975. The owners changed the call sign to WTHR in January 1976 and promoted the new identity through the “You're on Top with 13” campaign. Programming and news quality improved, but the station remained behind its principal competitors for several more years. Network economics created the next decisive change. ABC's national performance improved during the 1970s, while NBC weakened, and WRTV was receptive to an ABC affiliation. On May 31, 1979, WTHR and WRTV exchanged affiliations. WTHR became an NBC station, and WRTV became an ABC station. The affiliation switch gave WTHR a stronger programming platform and eventually brought important sports benefits. When the Indianapolis Colts moved from Baltimore in 1984, NBC's AFC rights allowed WTHR to carry many of the team's regular-season games. WTHR also participated in a 1991 scheduling experiment that moved NBC prime-time programming and the late local newscast earlier, partly reflecting Indiana's complex time-zone history. During the mid-1990s, WTHR's news operation and NBC's improved prime-time schedule helped lift the station substantially in local ratings. It subsequently became one of the stronger NBC affiliates in the United States. Sports remained a central part of the brand. WTHR carried Pacers games during NBC's national NBA rights period, covered the Colts when NBC schedules permitted, and supplied local reporting around major events such as Super Bowl XLVI. It later added selected Big Ten, Indiana Fever, and Pacers programming. WTHR entered digital broadcasting as the industry transitioned away from analog transmission. Its analog signal ended on June 12, 2009, and its post-transition digital operation used VHF channel 13. The station expanded its digital presence through multicast services, including weather, high-school sports, Universal Sports, MeTV, Cozi TV, Circle, and The Nest. Some services moved among WTHR's subchannels and affiliated low-power station WALV-CD as network strategies changed. Because viewers in some parts of Central Indiana experienced reception limitations with the station's VHF digital signal, WTHR sought FCC approval for increased transmission power in 2013. In 2019, Dispatch Broadcast Group agreed to sell its broadcast assets, including WTHR and WALV-CD, to Tegna. The transaction was completed on August 8, 2019, making the stations part of Tegna's portfolio. Subsequent corporate consolidation involving Nexstar Media Group created ownership overlap in the Indianapolis market and led to a stated divestiture commitment for WTHR. The station continues to operate as a local NBC affiliate with a broad news, weather, sports, and digital-media role.

1. 2024The Nest replaces Circle on a multicast channel

   After Circle shifts away from over-the-air distribution, WTHR later returns the sixth subchannel with The Nest.

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2. 2019Tegna completes WTHR acquisition

   Tegna completes its purchase of WTHR and WALV-CD from Dispatch Broadcast Group.

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3. 2012MeTV launches on a WTHR subchannel

   The classic television network replaces Universal Sports on one of the station's digital services.

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4. 2009Digital transition

   WTHR ends analog broadcasting and continues digitally on VHF channel 13.

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5. 2007WTHR marks its fiftieth anniversary

   The station conducts an anniversary image campaign celebrating five decades on air.

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6. 1984Colts coverage expands

   The Indianapolis Colts' relocation and NBC's AFC rights increase WTHR's local sports importance.

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7. 1979WTHR switches from ABC to NBC

   A network affiliation exchange with WRTV makes WTHR the Indianapolis NBC affiliate.

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8. 1976Station adopts WTHR call letters

   The new call sign is introduced with a station-wide marketing campaign.

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9. 1975Wolfe family acquires WLWI

   The owners of the Columbus Dispatch purchase the station from Avco Broadcasting.

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10. 1957WLWI begins broadcasting

    The station signs on as WLWI, an ABC affiliate founded by Crosley Broadcasting.

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A major local broadcast-news and NBC network outlet for Indianapolis and Central Indiana, with a strong emphasis on local journalism, weather, community information, and regional sports.

• WTHR Channel 13Broadcast television1957

  The station's principal NBC-affiliated service, carrying network programming, local news, weather, syndicated content, public-service material, and selected sports broadcasts for Indianapolis and Central Indiana.

• WTHR local newsTelevision news1957

  A locally produced news operation covering Indianapolis and Central Indiana, including breaking news, investigations, weather, traffic, politics, community affairs, and sports.

• WTHR digital multicast servicesDigital television2000

  Additional over-the-air services carried through WTHR and related WALV-CD facilities. The lineup has changed over time and has included weather, classic television, high-school sports, syndicated programming, Circle, Cozi TV, MeTV, and The Nest.

• Indianapolis sports broadcastsSports broadcasting1984

  Selected local coverage of the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Big Ten football, and Indianapolis 500, depending on national rights agreements and local carriage arrangements.

• 2007Fiftieth-anniversary image campaign

  Indianapolis · Central Indiana

  WTHR used a music-led image campaign to promote its fiftieth anniversary and connect the station's history with its contemporary broadcast identity.

  Outcome. The campaign supported the station's anniversary programming and branding.

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• 1976You're on Top with 13

  Indianapolis · Central Indiana

  A station identity campaign introduced the WTHR call letters after the Wolfe family's acquisition of the former WLWI.

  Outcome. The campaign helped establish the station's new on-air identity.

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• 2024Replacement of Circle on digital subchannelOther

  Circle moved from over-the-air broadcasting to an advertising-supported streaming model.

  What changed. WTHR removed Circle from its sixth digital subchannel and later returned the channel with The Nest.

  Aftermath. The change reflected the continuing adjustment of local multicast television lineups to network distribution changes.

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• 2019Sale from Dispatch Broadcast Group to TegnaM&A

  Dispatch Broadcast Group decided to sell its television assets.

  What changed. Tegna agreed to acquire WTHR and WALV-CD, with the transaction completed on August 8, 2019.

  Aftermath. WTHR became part of Tegna's station portfolio and later became subject to ownership and divestiture considerations after Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna.

  Transaction value. $535 million cash purchase price (2019)

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• 1979Switch to NBC affiliationStrategy

  ABC had become a stronger national network while NBC was seeking improved affiliates in some markets; WRTV and WTHR therefore exchanged affiliations.

  What changed. WTHR became Indianapolis's NBC affiliate on May 31, 1979.

  Aftermath. The change strengthened WTHR's programming platform and later supported major Colts and other sports coverage.

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• 2024WTHR expands local women's basketball coverage

  WTHR and WALV-CD became local broadcast homes for selected Indiana Fever games.

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• 2019WTHR owner agrees to sell station to Tegna

  Dispatch Broadcast Group announced the sale of WTHR and WALV-CD to Tegna in a transaction valued at $535 million in cash.

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• 2019WTHR becomes local Indianapolis 500 broadcaster under NBC rights

  WTHR became the Indianapolis-market broadcast outlet for the Indianapolis 500 after NBC assumed national television rights.

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• 1979WTHR becomes Indianapolis NBC affiliate

  WTHR and WRTV exchanged network affiliations, making WTHR the NBC station and WRTV the ABC station in Indianapolis.

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• 1976WTHR changes call sign from WLWI

  The station adopted the WTHR call letters after its acquisition by the Wolfe family and launched a promotional campaign associated with the new identity.

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1. WTHR