WIYE-LD

WIYE-LD is a low-power commercial television station licensed to Parkersburg, West Virginia, and serving viewers in the Mid-Ohio Valley. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 26 and is affiliated with CBS. Its ownership and operations are integrated with those of WTAP-TV, the market's NBC affiliate, and WOVA-CD, a low-power Class A Fox station. The three outlets are owned by Gray Media and share studio facilities at One Television Plaza on Market Street in downtown Parkersburg, while their transmitter facilities are located in Warren Township, Ohio. The station began under the callsign WWVX-LP and was originally licensed to Marietta, Ohio. In April 2012, Wood Investments LLC announced an agreement to sell WWVX-LP and WVEX-LP, the station that later became WOVA-CD, to Gray Television for $66,000. After the transaction, Gray changed WWVX-LP's callsign to WIYE-LP in June 2012 and moved its city of license from Marietta to Parkersburg. The ownership change enabled Gray to develop a separate full-time CBS service for the local market rather than relying on distant or out-of-market stations. In July 2012, Gray announced an affiliation agreement with CBS covering WIYE-LP and two other low-power stations owned by the company. WIYE became the CBS affiliate for the Mid-Ohio Valley on September 3, 2012, and adopted the WIYE-LD callsign on October 1 of that year. The launch expanded the area's full-time commercial network choices. Before WIYE's CBS affiliation, viewers in the West Virginia portion of the market commonly received CBS programming from WOWK-TV in Huntington, while viewers on the Ohio side could receive WBNS-TV from Columbus; the Parkersburg DirecTV feed also carried WBNS-TV. WIYE is closely associated with WTAP's news operation, but it has not generally maintained a separate local-news production schedule. Current station descriptions indicate that WIYE does not carry local newscasts produced exclusively for the station and does not simply simulcast WTAP's NBC newscasts as a regular service. Its role is primarily that of a network-affiliated broadcast outlet, with local market access supported by the broader WTAP and Gray Media operation. The station also operates WIYE-LD2, a digital subchannel carried in high definition on channel 26.2. The service is associated with MeTV and MyNetworkTV and has been marketed on local cable systems, including Suddenlink and CAS Cable, as My 5. The subchannel's programming history includes a weather-radar feed used during portions of WTAP weather coverage and MeTV programming, with MyNetworkTV content scheduled during overnight hours. The MyNetworkTV service originally began as a WTAP digital subchannel in 2006, initially following the transition of WTAP-DT3 from UPN to MyNetworkTV after UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW. In September 2012, that programming moved to WIYE's second digital subchannel. WIYE-LD therefore functions as part of a consolidated local television group rather than as a standalone news brand. Its principal consumer proposition is access to CBS network programming for Parkersburg and the Mid-Ohio Valley, supplemented by classic television and MyNetworkTV offerings through WIYE-LD2.

WIYE-LD traces its history to WWVX-LP, a low-power station originally licensed to Marietta, Ohio. In April 2012, Wood Investments LLC announced that it would sell WWVX-LP and WVEX-LP to Gray Television. The announced consideration for the two-station transaction was $66,000. Gray subsequently changed WWVX-LP's callsign to WIYE-LP on June 19, 2012, and moved its city of license to Parkersburg, West Virginia. The acquisition was followed by a network-affiliation strategy intended to give Gray's Parkersburg operation a dedicated CBS outlet. On July 17, 2012, Gray announced a CBS affiliation agreement covering WIYE-LP and two other low-power stations, WECP-LD in Panama City, Florida, and WSVF-LD in Harrisonburg, Virginia. WIYE began serving as the CBS affiliate for the Mid-Ohio Valley on September 3, 2012. The station's arrival added another full-time commercial over-the-air network affiliate to a market that had historically been dominated by WTAP-TV, which signed on in 1953 and had operated as the area's principal commercial station. Before WIYE's CBS launch, CBS viewers in the market relied on different out-of-market sources depending on location. WOWK-TV in Huntington served much of the West Virginia side, while WBNS-TV in Columbus served the Ohio side and was also carried on the Parkersburg DirecTV feed. WIYE's affiliation created a locally licensed CBS service for the area. On October 1, 2012, the station changed its callsign from WIYE-LP to WIYE-LD. The station is operated alongside WTAP-TV and WOVA-CD under Gray Media ownership. The three stations share studios at One Television Plaza on Market Street in downtown Parkersburg and use transmitter facilities in Warren Township, Ohio. Although WIYE is associated with WTAP's news department, it has not had a distinct local-news operation of its own and does not currently present a regular simulcast of WTAP's NBC newscasts. This arrangement reflects its role as a network programming outlet within a consolidated station group rather than a separately staffed local-news newsroom. WIYE's digital expansion also incorporates a second subchannel, WIYE-LD2, carried in 720p high definition on channel 26.2. The subchannel has been associated with MeTV and MyNetworkTV and is available through local cable carriage under the My 5 branding. Its programming history includes a live Doppler weather-radar feed used during parts of WTAP weather forecasting, followed by MeTV programming that became the dominant schedule outside the overnight MyNetworkTV block. The secondary service originated at WTAP. On April 10, 2006, WTAP launched a third digital subchannel as the area's first locally based UPN affiliate. WTAP invested in digital control, production, and master-control facilities to support the service. When UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW in September 2006, WTAP-DT3 transitioned to Fox's new sister network, MyNetworkTV. In September 2012, the MyNetworkTV service moved to WIYE's second digital subchannel. The move connected the service to the station's newly established CBS identity while allowing the group's digital channels to be reorganized. WIYE-LD remains a low-power television station focused on network affiliation, digital multicast distribution, and access to the Parkersburg television market. Its primary service is CBS on channel 26, while WIYE-LD2 extends the station's offering through MeTV and MyNetworkTV programming. Both services are part of Gray Media's broader local broadcast portfolio.

1. 2015MeTV programming became part of WIYE-LD2

   WIYE-LD2 began carrying MeTV programming, which later occupied most of the subchannel's schedule outside the overnight MyNetworkTV period.

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2. 2012Gray Television agreed to acquire the predecessor station

   Wood Investments announced the sale of WWVX-LP and WVEX-LP to Gray Television for $66,000.

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3. 2012WWVX-LP became WIYE-LP

   Gray changed the predecessor station's callsign and relocated its city of license from Marietta to Parkersburg.

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4. 2012CBS affiliation began

   WIYE began broadcasting CBS programming for the Mid-Ohio Valley on September 3.

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5. 2012The WIYE-LD callsign was adopted

   The station changed from WIYE-LP to WIYE-LD on October 1.

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6. 2012MyNetworkTV moved to WIYE-LD2

   The former WTAP digital MyNetworkTV service was transferred to WIYE's second digital subchannel.

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7. 2006WTAP launched an initial UPN digital subchannel

   WTAP launched a third digital subchannel as a locally based UPN affiliate, establishing the service that later became associated with MyNetworkTV and ultimately moved to WIYE-LD2.

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8. 2006The WTAP subchannel transitioned to MyNetworkTV

   Following the replacement of UPN and The WB by The CW, WTAP-DT3 became a MyNetworkTV affiliate.

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A locally available CBS broadcast outlet for the Mid-Ohio Valley, supported by Gray Media's shared Parkersburg television operation and complemented by a classic-television and MyNetworkTV digital subchannel.

• WIYE-LDBroadcast television station2012

  The station's primary service broadcasts CBS network programming on virtual channel 26 to Parkersburg and the Mid-Ohio Valley. It operates as part of Gray Media's shared Parkersburg station group with WTAP-TV and WOVA-CD. WIYE is associated with WTAP's news resources but does not currently maintain a separate local-news production schedule.

• WIYE-LD2Digital multicast television service2012

  The second digital subchannel broadcasts in 720p high definition on channel 26.2. It is associated with MeTV and MyNetworkTV, and has been carried by local cable systems under the My 5 branding. MeTV occupies most of the schedule, while MyNetworkTV programming is placed in an overnight block.

• 2012Acquisition of the predecessor stationM&A

  Gray Television sought to expand its Parkersburg-area portfolio and develop additional full-time network services alongside WTAP-TV.

  What changed. Gray agreed to acquire WWVX-LP and WVEX-LP from Wood Investments LLC in a transaction announced at a price of $66,000.

  Aftermath. WWVX-LP became WIYE-LP, its city of license changed to Parkersburg, and the station subsequently launched as a CBS affiliate.

  announced transaction price. $66,000 (2012 announcement)

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• 2012Creation of a dedicated Mid-Ohio Valley CBS outletStrategy

  CBS programming had previously reached parts of the market through out-of-market stations, including WOWK-TV and WBNS-TV.

  What changed. Gray signed a CBS affiliation agreement for WIYE and began CBS service on September 3, 2012.

  Aftermath. The Mid-Ohio Valley gained a locally licensed full-time CBS affiliate, increasing the number of local commercial network outlets.

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• 2012Reallocation of MyNetworkTV programmingStrategy

  MyNetworkTV programming had previously been carried on WTAP's third digital subchannel.

  What changed. The service was moved to WIYE-LD2, where it was combined with the station group's digital multicast strategy.

  Aftermath. WIYE-LD2 became the home of the group's MeTV and MyNetworkTV offerings and was promoted through the My 5 cable brand.

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• 2012Wood Investments announced sale of WWVX-LP to Gray Television

  Wood Investments LLC announced an agreement to sell WWVX-LP, the station that later became WIYE-LD, and WVEX-LP to Gray Television for $66,000.

  M&A
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• 2012Gray changed the station's callsign and city of license

  After acquiring the station, Gray changed WWVX-LP to WIYE-LP and moved its city of license from Marietta, Ohio, to Parkersburg, West Virginia.

  Other
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• 2012WIYE launched as the Mid-Ohio Valley CBS affiliate

  WIYE began carrying CBS programming on September 3, creating a full-time local CBS outlet for the Mid-Ohio Valley.

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• 2012The station adopted the WIYE-LD callsign

  The station changed its callsign from WIYE-LP to WIYE-LD on October 1.

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• 2012MyNetworkTV programming moved from WTAP to WIYE-LD2

  The MyNetworkTV service that had originated on a WTAP digital subchannel moved to WIYE's second digital subchannel as part of the station group's channel reorganization.

  Product generation
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1. WIYE-LD
2. The News Center WIYE station page