WTTV

WTTV is a television station licensed to Bloomington, Indiana, and serving Central Indiana, including Indianapolis. It operates on virtual channel 4 and is paired with WTTK, channel 29, a Kokomo-licensed full-time satellite that extends WTTV's programming into northern portions of the market. The stations are currently owned by Nexstar Media Group and are operated alongside Fox affiliate WXIN. WTTV and WXIN share facilities on Network Place in northwestern Indianapolis, while WTTV's main transmitter is located near Trafalgar in Johnson County. WTTK's transmitter is in the northern Indianapolis area, and despite its Kokomo city of license, the satellite has not historically maintained a separate Kokomo newsroom or staffed office. WTTV began broadcasting on November 11, 1949, making it the second television station to sign on in Indiana. It was established by Bloomington-based broadcaster and radio-equipment manufacturer Sarkes Tarzian. The station originally transmitted on VHF channel 10 and carried NBC programming as its primary affiliation, with secondary programming from ABC and the DuMont Television Network and occasional CBS programs. A nationwide channel reallocation following the Federal Communications Commission's Sixth Report and Order moved WTTV to channel 4 in February 1954. The change was accompanied by a transmitter relocation and a major increase in effective power. During the 1950s, WTTV's network relationships changed repeatedly as new stations entered the Indianapolis market. It lost ABC programming after WISH-TV signed on in 1954, lost NBC to WFBM-TV in 1956, and later returned to ABC before becoming an independent station in October 1957 after WLWI, now WTHR, secured the ABC affiliation. As an independent, WTTV developed a schedule built around movies, syndicated series, cartoons, locally produced children's programs, and other locally originated material. It later expanded its broadcast day and became known for a broad cable footprint. During the 1970s and 1980s, WTTV was distributed as a regional superstation across much of Indiana and portions of neighboring states, although syndication exclusivity restrictions later reduced its out-of-market carriage. WTTV changed ownership several times. Sarkes Tarzian sold the station to Teleco in 1978, and it subsequently passed to Tel-Am, Capitol Broadcasting Company, River City Broadcasting, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Tribune Broadcasting, and ultimately Nexstar Media Group through industry consolidation. In 1988, WTTK signed on as a full-time satellite, improving reception in northern areas that had difficulty receiving WTTV's transmitter from southern Indiana. WTTV declined an opportunity to become a charter Fox affiliate in 1986; WXIN instead took that role and later became WTTV's principal sister station. The station's network identity changed several times. WTTV became a charter UPN affiliate in 1995, then joined The WB in 1998 after a short period as an independent. When The WB and UPN were replaced by The CW, WTTV became the Indianapolis area's CW affiliate at the network's launch in September 2006. It used several locally oriented brands during this period, including 'CW 4' and 'Indiana's 4.' Tribune's acquisition of WTTV in 2002 created an Indianapolis television duopoly with WXIN, and the stations consolidated operations in 2004. CBS and Tribune announced in 2014 that WTTV would become the Indianapolis market's CBS affiliate beginning January 1, 2015. The change gave WTTV a major broadcast-network role and moved CBS programming from WISH-TV. In its current form, WTTV combines CBS network programming with local news, weather, sports, syndicated content, and other station services. Its brand is closely integrated with the broader CBS4 Indy and WXIN newsroom operation rather than functioning as a fully separate media company.

WTTV signed on November 11, 1949, from Bloomington, Indiana, as the state's second television station. Its founder, Sarkes Tarzian, was a Bloomington-based radio manufacturer and broadcaster. The station initially used VHF channel 10 and operated primarily as an NBC affiliate, while also carrying selected ABC, DuMont, and CBS programming. Its early technical operation reflected Tarzian's engineering background: station personnel designed and constructed equipment internally, and the company developed a microwave relay system to bring network programming from Cincinnati when a conventional coaxial connection was impractical. The FCC's postwar channel reallocation changed WTTV's technical identity. On February 21, 1954, it moved to VHF channel 4, the position it continues to use, while its transmitter was relocated and its power increased. The station's principal tower was later established near Trafalgar. Because federal rules tied transmitter locations to a station's city of license, WTTV's transmitter remained south of Indianapolis, producing weaker over-the-air reception in parts of the northern market. Cable television eventually helped compensate for that limitation. WTTV's affiliations shifted as the Indianapolis television market developed. It lost ABC programming after WISH-TV began broadcasting in 1954, lost NBC to WFBM-TV in 1956, and returned to ABC for a period. On October 30, 1957, it became an independent station after WLWI obtained ABC. Its independent schedule emphasized films, syndicated programs, cartoons, off-network sitcoms, and locally produced children's and entertainment shows. By the 1970s, it had become an important regional cable station, reaching systems throughout Indiana and parts of Ohio and Kentucky. Syndication exclusivity rules later curtailed much of that broader carriage. Ownership changed repeatedly. Tarzian sold WTTV to Teleco in 1978, and the station was subsequently acquired by Tel-Am. After Tel-Am entered bankruptcy proceedings, Capitol Broadcasting Company purchased WTTV and WTTK in 1988. River City Broadcasting acquired the stations in 1991, and River City later merged with Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair made WTTV a charter UPN affiliate when that network launched in January 1995. After Sinclair declined to renew the UPN affiliation, WTTV briefly operated independently and then became the local WB affiliate in April 1998. WTTK began broadcasting on May 1, 1988, as a full-time satellite of WTTV. The service was designed to address reception problems in places such as Kokomo, Muncie, and Lafayette. It has remained a satellite rather than a separately programmed local station, and its Kokomo license has not resulted in a permanent staffed newsroom or office there. Tribune Broadcasting purchased WTTV and WTTK from Sinclair in 2002. The transaction established a duopoly with WXIN, the Indianapolis Fox affiliate. Although WTTV had a longer history, Tribune retained Fox on WXIN, in part because WTTV's analog signal was less effective in northern parts of the market. WTTV and WXIN consolidated their operations in 2004 when WXIN moved into shared facilities on Network Place in Indianapolis. In 2006, WTTV became an affiliate of The CW, the network formed through the combination of The WB and UPN. It used 'CW 4' branding at launch and later adopted 'Indiana's 4' as Tribune sought to emphasize local identity. On August 11, 2014, CBS and Tribune announced that WTTV would replace WISH-TV as Indianapolis's CBS affiliate. The affiliation change took effect January 1, 2015, transforming WTTV from a CW station into a major-network CBS outlet. Nexstar Media Group acquired Tribune Media in 2019, bringing WTTV, WTTK, and WXIN into the Nexstar portfolio. The stations continue to serve Central Indiana through the WTTV channel 4 signal, the WTTK satellite, the shared Indianapolis facilities, and integrated broadcast and digital operations.

1. 2019Nexstar acquires Tribune Media

   WTTV becomes part of Nexstar Media Group through Nexstar's acquisition of Tribune Media.

   Source
2. 2015CBS affiliation begins

   WTTV starts carrying CBS programming on January 1.

   Source
3. 2006Joins The CW

   WTTV becomes the Indianapolis CW affiliate when the network launches.

   Source
4. 2002Tribune creates a duopoly with WXIN

   Tribune acquires WTTV and WTTK from Sinclair.

   Source
5. 1998Becomes the local WB affiliate

   WTTV replaces WNDY as the Indianapolis area's WB affiliate in April.

   Source
6. 1995Joins UPN

   WTTV becomes a charter affiliate of UPN when the network launches.

   Source
7. 1988WTTK launches

   WTTK begins operation as WTTV's full-time satellite.

   Source
8. 1978First major ownership transfer

   Sarkes Tarzian sells WTTV to Teleco.

   Source
9. 1957Becomes an independent station

   WTTV loses ABC and begins a long period as an independent broadcaster.

   Source
10. 1954Move to VHF channel 4

    The station changes from channel 10 to channel 4 following a federal channel reallocation.

    Source
11. 1949WTTV begins broadcasting

    WTTV signs on from Bloomington on November 11 as Indiana's second television station.

    Source

A local broadcast television brand combining CBS network programming with Central Indiana news, weather, sports, syndicated entertainment, and community coverage. The station also benefits from its operational relationship with WXIN and its satellite WTTK.

• WTTV channel 4Broadcast television station1949

  The primary WTTV service, licensed to Bloomington and serving Central Indiana. It carries CBS network programming together with local news, weather, sports, syndicated programming, entertainment, and station-produced digital content. Its transmitter near Trafalgar provides the principal over-the-air signal.

• WTTK channel 29Full-time satellite television station1988

  A Kokomo-licensed full-time satellite of WTTV. WTTK was created to improve reception in northern portions of the Central Indiana market and carries WTTV's programming rather than maintaining an independent editorial or programming operation.

• CBS4 Indy local contentLocal news and digital media2015

  WTTV's current local-media offering includes Central Indiana news, weather, sports, traffic, community reporting, and related web and video material produced through its integrated operation with WXIN.

• 2014Secures the CBS affiliationStrategy

  CBS and Tribune announced a broader affiliation arrangement affecting several Tribune stations, including the Indianapolis market.

  What changed. WTTV was designated to replace WISH-TV as the Indianapolis CBS affiliate beginning January 1, 2015.

  Aftermath. WTTV became a major-network station and adopted the CBS4 Indy identity, while its prior CW affiliation ended.

  Source
• 2006Transitions from The WB to The CWStrategy

  The WB and UPN were dissolved and their programming was combined into the new CW network.

  What changed. WTTV became the Indianapolis CW affiliate at the network's September 2006 launch.

  Aftermath. The station used 'CW 4' and later 'Indiana's 4' branding until its subsequent move to CBS.

  Source
• 1998Moves from UPN to The WBStrategy

  Sinclair chose not to renew WTTV's UPN affiliation while the company pursued broader relationships with The WB.

  What changed. After a short independent period, WTTV became the Indianapolis WB affiliate in April 1998.

  Aftermath. WNDY carried UPN programming, while WTTV adopted the 'WB 4 Indiana' identity.

  Source
• 1986Declines a Fox affiliationStrategy

  WTTV was one of the strongest independent stations in the region, but its extensive cable distribution and the presence of stations in neighboring markets reduced the appeal of becoming a multistate Fox affiliate.

  What changed. WTTV declined to join Fox at the network's launch, while Indianapolis channel 59 WXIN became a charter Fox affiliate.

  Aftermath. WXIN retained the Fox relationship and later became WTTV's sister station under Tribune and then Nexstar ownership.

  Source

• 2015WTTV becomes an Indianapolis CBS affiliate

  WTTV begins carrying CBS programming in Indianapolis under an affiliation agreement announced by CBS and Tribune in 2014.

  Other
  Source
• 2002Tribune acquires WTTV and WTTK

  Tribune Broadcasting purchases the stations from Sinclair, creating an Indianapolis television duopoly with WXIN.

  M&A
  Source
• 1988WTTK signs on as WTTV's satellite

  Channel 29 begins operation from Kokomo as a full-time satellite intended to improve WTTV reception in northern Central Indiana.

  Product launch
  Source
• 1954WTTV moves to channel 4

  A federal channel reallocation moves WTTV from channel 10 to channel 4 and is accompanied by a transmitter relocation and higher power.

  Other
  Source
• 1949WTTV launches as Indiana's second television station

  WTTV begins broadcasting from Bloomington on VHF channel 10 under the ownership of Sarkes Tarzian.

  Other
  Source

1. WTTV