WLEX-TV

WLEX-TV is a full-power television station serving Lexington, Kentucky, and surrounding Central Kentucky communities. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 18 and is affiliated with NBC. It operates under the LEX 18 brand and is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company, which also owns ABC/MyNetworkTV affiliate WTVQ-DT in the Lexington market. WLEX and WTVQ share studio facilities on Russell Cave Road in Lexington, while WLEX's transmitter is located in Fayette County near the Hamburg Pavilion area. The station traces its origins to the early development of television in Lexington after the Federal Communications Commission ended its postwar freeze on new television applications in 1952 and opened the UHF band to additional broadcasters. Several local radio interests sought television licenses, and channel 18 was ultimately made available to Lexington after a series of allocation changes and application withdrawals. WLEX-TV's construction permit was granted to Central Kentucky Broadcasting Company on April 13, 1954. The company was associated with the Gay and Bell families, who retained control of the station for roughly four and a half decades. WLEX-TV began broadcasting on March 15, 1955, becoming Lexington's first television station. At launch it carried programming from NBC, ABC, and DuMont, although NBC became its enduring primary affiliation. The station developed local news, public affairs, entertainment, and sports programming while also carrying network schedules. Its early years were financially difficult, reflecting the broader challenges faced by UHF stations before the technology became widely established. In 1958, the owners divested the related WLEX radio operation to raise capital and concentrate on the television station. A major early setback occurred on January 21, 1959, when the station's 654-foot transmission tower collapsed during a windstorm. The structure fell onto the station building, killing receptionist Suzanne Grasley, injuring two other people, and causing substantial damage. WLEX-TV was off the air for more than a month and returned on reduced power on February 24, 1959. Despite the disruption, the station continued to expand its programming. It carried selected CBS programs during periods when Lexington's affiliation arrangements were changing and became an early UHF broadcaster of network and local color programming. The Gay–Bell ownership remained in place through the deaths of founding family figures and long-serving station executives. An attempted 1964 sale to Crosley Broadcasting was abandoned after FCC ownership rules created a conflict involving signal overlap with Crosley's WLWT in Cincinnati. The station instead remained locally controlled until 1999, when it was sold to the Evening Post Publishing Company through its Cordillera Communications subsidiary. The sale ended one of the longest periods of local ownership in the Lexington television market. WLEX has operated a significant local news department throughout its history. It led Lexington news ratings in its early years, then generally ranked behind WKYT-TV from the 1970s onward. After rebuilding its newsroom in the early 2000s, WLEX overtook WKYT in 2004 in at least some market measurements and became part of a sustained two-station competition. Its news performance has often been stronger in Fayette County, while WKYT has historically been particularly competitive in rural portions of the market. The station's local output includes daily newscasts, weather, investigative reporting, community coverage, and sports. In the digital era, WLEX experimented with specialized local programming. In 2009 it added the Kentucky-focused Wazoo Sports Network to a digital multicast channel branded WZLEX. Wazoo Sports entered bankruptcy in 2011, and WLEX discontinued the service, later replacing it with MeTV. WLEX completed the United States' federally mandated analog television shutdown on June 12, 2009. Its digital signal initially operat…

WLEX-TV emerged from the expansion of American television into the UHF band during the early 1950s. When the Federal Communications Commission reopened television applications in April 1952, Lexington received new UHF allocations. Local radio interests WLEX and WVLK initially pursued television permits, while the proposed channel assignments were revised several times. Channel 18 was added to Lexington after a petition by WVLK, and both local applicants adjusted their proposals to seek the new allocation. In February 1954, WVLK withdrew its channel 18 application, citing the difficult economics faced by early UHF stations. That withdrawal left the opportunity with the Central Kentucky Broadcasting Company, the organization associated with the Gay and Bell families. The FCC granted the construction permit on April 13, 1954, and construction began later that year. WLEX obtained relationships with NBC, ABC, and DuMont and began broadcasting on March 15, 1955. It was Lexington's first television station and made NBC its principal network affiliation, a relationship that has continued throughout the station's history. The station faced the financial and technical challenges common to early UHF operations. The owners separated the WLEX radio business in 1958 and sold it to Roy White, who renamed it WBLG, while retaining the television station. The transaction helped provide capital for the television operation. On January 21, 1959, a severe windstorm caused WLEX's 654-foot tower to collapse. The tower fell onto the station building, killing receptionist Suzanne Grasley, injuring two others, and causing extensive damage. WLEX remained off the air for more than a month before returning on February 24 at reduced power. During the 1960s, Lexington's network affiliations shifted as new stations entered the market. WLEX carried selected CBS programs after WKYT-TV's affiliation changes, while ABC programming eventually moved to WBLG-TV in 1968. In 1964, Gay–Bell agreed in principle to sell WLEX-TV to Crosley Broadcasting for $2 million. Crosley was interested in WLEX's status as an early UHF station carrying network and local color broadcasts. The sale was abandoned after FCC rules restricting ownership of stations with overlapping coverage areas created a problem involving Crosley's WLWT in Cincinnati. Gay–Bell remained the owner and instead expanded elsewhere by acquiring radio and television properties in Montgomery, Alabama. Gay–Bell ownership continued for decades. The station's original family principals, H. Guthrie Bell and J. Douglas Gay, died in 1969 and 1988 respectively. Harry Barfield, who had joined WLEX as a salesman and later became general manager and chairman, remained an important figure until his death in 1991. By the late 1990s, the station was the final locally owned television outlet in the Lexington market, although the Gay–Bell heirs were no longer directly involved in day-to-day operations. The impending transition to digital television and strong national demand for television properties contributed to the decision to sell. After interest from more than 30 potential buyers, the Evening Post Publishing Company acquired WLEX in 1999 through Cordillera Communications. WLEX's programming history has included network, syndicated, local, and sports content. In earlier decades it produced programs such as Call the Doctor, In the Know, and Winner's Circle, carried local and nationally syndicated sports, and used reruns and other locally scheduled programming to fill portions of the schedule. Unlike many NBC affiliates, it did not always carry the complete NBC weekend-morning lineup. The station's local news performance has varied over time. WLEX led Lexington news ratings in its early period, but WKYT-TV became the dominant local-news station during much of the 1970s and afterward. WLEX was generally second, with WTVQ occasionally moving ahead of it during the 1990s. A newsroom rebuilding program in the early 2000s improved the station's position, and WLEX overtook WKYT in 2004 in reported ratings. The market subsequently developed into a sustained contest between WLEX and WKYT, with WLEX often stronger in Fayette County and WKYT retaining particular strength in rural areas. In 2009, WLEX added the Wazoo Sports Network to a digital subchannel under the WZLEX identity. The service focused on Kentucky sports but was removed after Wazoo Sports filed for bankruptcy in December 2011. WLEX later used the subchannel for MeTV. The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide digital transition. Its post-transition digital operation initially used UHF channel 39 and virtual channel 18; a later spectrum repack moved the physical digital channel to 28 in 2020. Cordillera announced in October 2018 that it would sell WLEX and most of its television stations to the E. W. Scripps Company. The transaction closed on May 1, 2019. WLEX currently operates as an NBC affiliate under the LEX 18 brand, providing local news, weather, sports, community reporting, digital content, and network programming to Lexington and Central Kentucky.

1. 2020Digital channel repack

   WLEX's physical digital channel was repacked from its earlier post-transition assignment to UHF channel 28.

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2. 2019Scripps ownership begins

   The E. W. Scripps Company completed its acquisition of WLEX on May 1.

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3. 2011Wazoo Sports service discontinued

   The station removed its WZLEX carriage of Wazoo Sports after the network entered bankruptcy and later replaced it with MeTV.

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4. 2009Analog broadcasting ends

   WLEX shut down its analog channel on June 12 and continued digitally using virtual channel 18.

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5. 2004Newsroom rebuild improves ratings position

   Following a multi-year newsroom reconstruction, WLEX passed WKYT in reported Lexington news ratings.

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6. 1999Cordillera Communications acquisition

   The station left Gay–Bell family ownership and became part of the Evening Post Publishing Company's Cordillera television group.

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7. 1959Tower collapse causes major interruption

   A windstorm brought down the station's main tower, causing a fatality, injuries, building damage, and more than a month off the air.

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8. 1955Station launches

   WLEX-TV began broadcasting on March 15 as Lexington's first television station.

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9. 1954Construction permit granted

   The FCC granted the channel 18 construction permit to Central Kentucky Broadcasting Company on April 13.

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10. 1952UHF television allocations open new opportunities in Lexington

    After the FCC lifted its application freeze and expanded UHF television use, Lexington received new channel allocations that eventually included channel 18.

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A leading Lexington television station positioned around NBC network programming, local news, weather, sports, and Central Kentucky community coverage.

• LEX 18 Local NewsLocal television news1955

  WLEX's local-news operation produces regularly scheduled broadcasts covering Lexington, Fayette County, and the wider Central Kentucky region. Its output includes breaking news, government and community reporting, investigative coverage, traffic, consumer stories, and regional developments. The newsroom has been a central part of the station's competitive identity and has periodically challenged WKYT for leadership in the Lexington market.

• LEX 18 WeatherWeather service

  The station's weather offering provides forecasts and severe-weather information for Lexington and surrounding Kentucky communities through broadcast, digital, and mobile-facing channels. Weather coverage is an important part of the station's local-service proposition, particularly during winter storms, flooding, tornado threats, and other events affecting Central Kentucky.

• NBC programmingNetwork television affiliation1955

  WLEX carries NBC network programming on virtual channel 18. The station has maintained NBC as its principal affiliation since launching in 1955, supplemented over time by local productions, syndicated programs, sports, and other scheduled content.

• WZLEX digital multicast serviceDigital multicast television2009

  WLEX used a digital subchannel branded WZLEX to carry the Wazoo Sports Network, a service focused on Kentucky sports. The arrangement ended after Wazoo Sports filed for bankruptcy in 2011, after which the subchannel was used for MeTV.

• 2020Post-transition digital channel repackGeneration change

  Federal spectrum repacking required many television stations to change their physical digital channel assignments.

  What changed. WLEX moved its physical digital transmission assignment to channel 28 while continuing to identify over the air as virtual channel 18.

  Aftermath. The station continued normal digital broadcasting under the LEX 18 identity.

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• 2018Scripps acquisition agreementM&A

  Cordillera Communications decided to sell most of its television stations, including WLEX-TV.

  What changed. Cordillera announced an agreement to sell WLEX to the E. W. Scripps Company.

  Aftermath. The transaction closed on May 1, 2019, placing WLEX in the Scripps television portfolio.

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• 2009Launch of WZLEX/Wazoo Sports digital serviceProduct launch

  Digital television created additional multicast capacity for local and specialized programming.

  What changed. WLEX added the Kentucky-focused Wazoo Sports Network to a digital subchannel under the WZLEX brand.

  Aftermath. The service was withdrawn in 2011 after Wazoo Sports filed for bankruptcy and was later replaced by MeTV.

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• 1964Abandoned sale to Crosley BroadcastingM&A

  Crosley sought WLEX-TV because of its early UHF history and network and local color programming.

  What changed. Gay–Bell agreed to a proposed sale, but the transaction was abandoned after FCC rules concerning overlapping station coverage affected Crosley's ownership position with WLWT in Cincinnati.

  Aftermath. WLEX-TV remained under Gay–Bell control and was not sold until 1999.

  Proposed purchase price. (1964)

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• 1958Divestment of the WLEX radio operationStrategy

  The television station faced the capital demands and financial pressures associated with early UHF broadcasting.

  What changed. The Gay–Bell interests sold the related WLEX radio operation to Roy White, who renamed it WBLG, while retaining WLEX-TV.

  Aftermath. The owners concentrated on the television station and used the transaction to help support its operations.

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• 2019Scripps completes acquisition of WLEX-TV

  The sale of WLEX-TV to Scripps closed on May 1, making the station part of the Scripps television portfolio.

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• 2018Scripps agrees to acquire WLEX-TV

  Cordillera announced an agreement to sell WLEX and most of its television stations to the E. W. Scripps Company.

  M&A
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• 2011WLEX ends Wazoo Sports carriage after the network's bankruptcy

  WLEX discontinued Wazoo Sports after the network filed for bankruptcy and subsequently replaced the service with MeTV.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2009WLEX adds Wazoo Sports Network to a digital subchannel

  The station introduced Kentucky-focused sports programming through a digital multicast service branded WZLEX.

  Product launch
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• 2004WLEX rebuilds its newsroom and overtakes WKYT in 2004

  Following a multi-year newsroom rebuilding effort, WLEX passed WKYT in reported local news ratings and strengthened its competitive position in Lexington.

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• 1999WLEX-TV is sold to Cordillera Communications

  After approximately 44 years of Gay–Bell family ownership, WLEX-TV was sold to the Evening Post Publishing Company through Cordillera Communications.

  M&A
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• 1964Attempted Crosley Broadcasting acquisition is abandoned

  Crosley sought to acquire WLEX-TV, but the transaction was called off after FCC ownership rules created concerns about overlapping coverage with WLWT in Cincinnati.

  M&ARegulation
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• 1959Transmission tower collapse takes WLEX-TV off the air

  A windstorm caused the station's 654-foot tower to collapse onto the building. One employee died, two people were injured, and the station resumed operations after more than a month.

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• 1955WLEX-TV begins broadcasting as Lexington's first television station

  WLEX-TV launched on March 15, becoming the first television station in Lexington and beginning its long-running relationship with NBC.

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1. WLEX-TV
2. WLEX-TV official website