WKTV

WKTV is a television station serving Utica, Rome, and surrounding communities in central New York. The station operates from studios on Smith Hill Road in Deerfield, while its transmitter is located in the Eatonville section of Fairfield. Its primary service is associated with NBC, making WKTV one of the network's long-established affiliates, and its digital operation also provides CBS programming through WKTV-DT2. Additional digital services have included CW and MeTV programming, while the station has maintained a substantial local news operation under the WKTV NewsChannel 2 identity. WKTV began broadcasting on December 1, 1949, as Utica's first television station. It initially operated on VHF channel 13 and was owned by Copper City Broadcasting Corporation, a company controlled by Myron Kallet and associated with radio station WKAL. Because Utica initially had only one local television station, WKTV carried programming from all four major networks then operating in the United States: NBC, DuMont, ABC, and CBS. NBC was its principal affiliation from the beginning. The station lost DuMont after that network ceased operations in 1956 and soon afterward ended its CBS relationship following a dispute with the network. A major turning point came on January 1, 1959, when the station moved from channel 13 to channel 2 as part of a broader frequency realignment. The change improved the station's coverage and helped it reach a broad area extending across central and eastern New York and into parts of western Massachusetts and southern Ontario. WKTV remained the only television station based in Utica until WUTR signed on in 1970. Once WUTR began operating as an ABC affiliate, WKTV became primarily an NBC station. The station's ownership history has included Copper City Broadcasting, a group led by Paul Harron and Gordon Gray, Harron Communications, Smith Broadcasting, Smith Media, and Heartland Media. Regulatory restrictions concerning common ownership of broadcasting, cable, and print assets in the same market contributed to the 1992 sale of controlling interest to Smith Broadcasting. Smith Media later sold WKTV to Heartland Media; that transaction was announced in 2013 and completed in March 2014. WKTV converted its transmission operation to digital broadcasting during the 2000s. It began digital broadcasts on UHF channel 29 in 2006, introduced high-definition programming in connection with the 2008 Summer Olympics, and ended analog broadcasting in February 2009. To help reach viewers who had difficulty receiving its digital signal, the station temporarily or periodically extended selected newscasts through area radio stations, including WUTQ and WADR. Its digital subchannel strategy has changed several times. WKTV-DT2 originated as a cable-oriented WB service in 1998, later became the area's CW outlet, and was converted to CBS in November 2015. The change restored a full-time CBS affiliate to the Utica market after a long period in which stations from Syracuse and Binghamton served viewers through cable or over-the-air reception. WKTV-DT3 launched in 2014 as a MeTV outlet, became the CW service in 2015, and in September 2024 became a news-oriented independent service after CW programming moved to WFXV-DT2. WKTV-DT4 has also carried MeTV programming following the 2015 subchannel reorganization. Local news remains central to the station's identity. WKTV has historically been a ratings leader in the Mohawk Valley, benefiting from its early market monopoly and from periods when competing stations did not produce local newscasts. The station has also supplied news programming to other local outlets, including a 10 p.m. newscast on Fox affiliate WFXV during a news-sharing arrangement that began in 2001. Today, WKTV combines network programming, local news, weather, digital multicast services, and online distribution for its regional audience.

WKTV signed on December 1, 1949, as Utica's first television station. It was established by Copper City Broadcasting Corporation, controlled by Myron Kallet, which also operated WKAL radio. The station initially transmitted on VHF channel 13 and, because it had no local television competitor, carried programming from NBC, DuMont, ABC, and CBS. NBC served as its primary network from launch. DuMont disappeared from the station's schedule after the network shut down in 1956, while CBS was lost soon afterward following a dispute. For many years, viewers in the Utica area relied on stations from other markets for CBS programming. The station's early VHF allocation was particularly valuable because VHF signals generally traveled farther and many early television receivers were not equipped for UHF reception. Utica was surrounded by larger television markets whose existing allocations limited the number of local VHF assignments available. WKTV therefore benefited from being the only local VHF station in the market. On January 1, 1959, it moved from channel 13 to channel 2 as part of a regional dial realignment. The new assignment improved coverage across central and eastern New York and extended the station's reach toward the Catskills, western Massachusetts, and southern Ontario. In 1958, Kallet sold WKTV and WKAL to a group associated with Paul Harron and Gordon Gray. The owners later developed Harron Communications and retained WKTV after selling WKAL in 1961. Their wider interests included other television properties and cable systems in the Northeast. WKTV's local monopoly ended on February 28, 1970, when WUTR began broadcasting as an ABC affiliate. WKTV then settled into its long-term role as a primarily NBC-affiliated station. Ownership was affected by federal restrictions on common ownership of television, cable, and print assets in a single market. Harron had initially benefited from grandfathered ownership arrangements, but the later acquisition of another nearby cable system caused regulators to require a divestiture. In 1992, Harron sold controlling interest in WKTV to Smith Broadcasting. Boston Ventures acquired Smith Broadcasting's stations in 2004 and formed Smith Media after the death of Smith Broadcasting founder Bob Smith. WKTV built its digital service during the 2000s. It began transmitting a digital signal on UHF channel 29 in May 2006 and introduced high-definition programming during coverage associated with the 2008 Summer Olympics. The station shut down its analog signal on February 18, 2009. Because some households had difficulty receiving the new UHF digital signal, WKTV arranged for selected weekday newscasts to be simulcast on local radio stations. These arrangements included noon and 5 p.m. broadcasts and portions of the weekday morning program. The station's multicast history reflects the changing economics of local television and the availability of new network services. WKTV-DT2 began in 1998 as a cable-oriented WB affiliate using the fictional WBU identity. After The WB and UPN announced their merger into The CW, WKTV placed CW programming on a digital subchannel that launched with the network in September 2006. In 2015, WKTV shifted CBS to DT2, giving the Utica market its first full-time locally operated CBS service since the 1950s. The former CW service moved to DT3, while MeTV programming was placed on a newly created fourth subchannel. DT2 later upgraded to 720p high definition. WKTV-DT3 originally launched in November 2014 as a MeTV affiliate. It became the CW outlet in November 2015 and continued in that role until September 2024. When CW programming moved to WFXV-DT2, WKTV-DT3 was converted into a news-oriented independent channel branded around WKTV content, including recent newscast repeats and weather presentations. Local news has remained one of WKTV's principal activities. The station has generally maintained a strong position in Mohawk Valley ratings, helped by its long history and by periods when competitors lacked local news operations. From 2001 to 2004, WKTV also produced a 10 p.m. newscast for WFXV under the NewsChannel 2 on Fox name. The station's news operation has consequently served both its main broadcast identity and selected partner outlets. Smith Media announced the sale of WKTV to Heartland Media in October 2013, and the transaction closed on March 20, 2014. Heartland Media remains the station's owner in the available reference material.

1. 2024Repositions DT3 as a news service

   After CW programming moves to WFXV-DT2, WKTV-DT3 begins operating as a news-oriented independent channel.

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2. 2015Restores local CBS service

   WKTV-DT2 becomes CBS Utica, while CW programming moves to DT3 and MeTV moves to a new fourth subchannel.

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3. 2014Heartland Media takes ownership

   Heartland Media completes its acquisition of WKTV from Smith Media on March 20.

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4. 2009Ends analog broadcasting

   WKTV becomes an exclusively digital television station on February 18.

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5. 2006Begins digital television transmission

   WKTV starts digital broadcasting on UHF channel 29 and later adds a digital subchannel for CW programming.

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6. 1998Launches WB cable service

   WKTV partners with The WB 100+ and introduces the cable-oriented WBU service for the Mohawk Valley.

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7. 1992Control passes to Smith Broadcasting

   Harron sells controlling interest in WKTV in response to media cross-ownership requirements.

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8. 1970Local competition begins

   WUTR signs on as an ABC affiliate, ending WKTV's monopoly as Utica's only locally based television station.

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9. 1959Moves to channel 2

   The station changes from VHF channel 13 to VHF channel 2 during a regional frequency realignment.

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10. 1956Ends DuMont affiliation

    WKTV drops DuMont programming after the network ceases operations.

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11. 1949Launches as Utica's first television station

    WKTV begins broadcasting on December 1 from channel 13 and initially carries NBC, DuMont, ABC, and CBS programming.

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A long-established, locally focused broadcast television station serving the Utica–Rome and Mohawk Valley region, with NBC as its primary network relationship and additional digital multicast services.

• WKTV primary channelBroadcast television station1949

  The station's principal broadcast service, historically associated with NBC and focused on network programming, local news, weather, public-affairs content, and regional information for viewers in the Utica–Rome market.

• WKTV-DT2 / CBS UticaDigital multicast channel1998

  WKTV's second digital subchannel carries CBS programming for the Utica market. It developed from earlier WB and CW services and became the area's locally operated full-time CBS outlet in November 2015. The service later broadcast in 720p high definition.

• WKTV-DT3 / WKTV PlusDigital multicast channel2014

  The third digital subchannel launched with MeTV programming, later became the local CW outlet, and was converted into a news-oriented independent service in September 2024. Its current programming is built around recent WKTV newscasts, weather presentations, and exclusive local news content.

• WKTV-DT4 / MeTV serviceDigital multicast channel2015

  A fourth digital subchannel was created during the 2015 multicast reorganization to carry MeTV programming after the former MeTV service on DT3 was reassigned to The CW.

• WKTV NewsChannel 2Local news operation

  WKTV's local news brand supplies regularly scheduled newscasts and weather coverage for the Mohawk Valley. The station has also used the brand in externally distributed programming, including a former 10 p.m. newscast produced for WFXV.

• 2009Digital transition viewer-support simulcasts

  Utica–Rome · Mohawk Valley

  Following the analog shutdown, WKTV extended selected weekday newscasts through area radio stations to help maintain access for viewers who had difficulty receiving the station's new UHF digital signal.

  Outcome. The radio simulcasts provided an alternate route for selected news and morning programming; the arrangement later changed as participating radio stations changed ownership and programming.

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• 2024Repositions WKTV-DT3 after CW departureStrategy

  The CW moved to WFXV-DT2 in September 2024 because of Nexstar Media Group's relationship with and ownership position in The CW.

  What changed. WKTV converted DT3 from a CW affiliate into a news-oriented independent station carrying recent WKTV newscasts, weather presentations, and exclusive news programming.

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• 2015Moves CBS to WKTV-DT2 and shifts CW to DT3Strategy

  The Utica market had lacked a full-time locally operated CBS affiliate since WKTV's earlier secondary CBS relationship ended, with viewers relying on stations from Syracuse or Binghamton.

  What changed. WKTV changed DT2 from The CW to CBS and moved CW programming to DT3, while MeTV programming moved to a newly created fourth subchannel.

  Aftermath. The change restored a local CBS service, and WKTV-DT2 was subsequently distributed through cable and satellite systems in the market.

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• 2013Agrees to sale to Heartland MediaM&A

  WKTV was part of Smith Media's station portfolio after Boston Ventures had acquired the Smith Broadcasting stations.

  What changed. Smith Media agreed to sell WKTV to Heartland Media, a newly formed company associated with former Gray Television executive Bob Prather.

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• 2024WKTV moves CW programming to WFXV-DT2

  The CW left WKTV-DT3 and moved to WFXV-DT2; WKTV-DT3 was repositioned as a news-oriented independent service carrying recent newscasts and weather programming.

  Leadership change
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• 2015WKTV-DT2 changes from The CW to CBS

  WKTV moved CBS programming to its second digital subchannel, restoring a full-time CBS affiliate to the Utica market.

  Product launch
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• 2014Heartland Media completes acquisition of WKTV

  Heartland Media completed its purchase of WKTV from Smith Media on March 20, following the transaction announced in 2013.

  M&A
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• 2009WKTV converts to all-digital broadcasting

  The station ended its analog transmission on February 18 and continued as a digital broadcaster.

  Product generation
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• 1959WKTV changes channel position from 13 to 2

  A frequency realignment moved WKTV to VHF channel 2, improving its regional coverage and strengthening its position in the Utica market.

  Other
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• 1949WKTV begins broadcasting as Utica's first television station

  WKTV signed on December 1 as the first television station serving Utica and initially carried programming from NBC, DuMont, ABC, and CBS.

  Product launch
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1. WKTV
2. WKTV official website