KWYF-LD explained

Callsign:KWYF-LD
Above:Translator of KFNB, Casper, Wyoming[1]
Location:Casper, Wyoming
Country:United States
Digital:27 (UHF)
Virtual:20
Subchannels:see KFNB
Owner:Coastal Television[2]
Licensee:FRTV License LLC
Founded:June 15, 1995
Callsign Meaning:Wyoming's Fox (former affiliation; station has long branded as "KWYF")
Sister Stations:KFNB, KGWC-TV, KTWO-TV
Erp:3.3 kW
Former Channel Numbers:Analog: 26 (UHF, 1997–2014)
Facility Id:190191
Coordinates:42.7406°N -106.3594°W
Licensing Authority:FCC

KWYF-LD (channel 20) is a low-power television station in Casper, Wyoming, United States. It is a translator of dual Fox and MeTV/MyNetworkTV affiliate KFNB (channel 20), which is owned by Coastal Television. KWYF-LD's transmitter is located atop Casper Mountain.

History

A construction permit to construct a low-power television station on UHF channel 26 in Casper was granted on June 15, 1995,[3] and issued the call sign K26ES.[4] Original owner Charles W. Swaner sold K26ES to Wyomedia Corporation on September 15, 1997;[5] the new owners applied for a license to cover on October 29, 1997, and was granted it on January 28, 1998.[6] Initially, K26ES served as a translator of KLWY in Cheyenne; this brought Fox programming to Casper, along with a secondary affiliation with UPN. The station, by then referring to itself as "KWYF," began producing a 9 p.m. newscast on November 3, 2003.[7] On March 8, 2004, K26ES became a full-time UPN affiliate after Fox programming was moved to KFNB; for a time after this change, the station also carried some programming from Pax.[8] Wyomedia also transferred K26ES' newscast to KFNB.[8] When UPN and The WB closed to form The CW in 2006, K26ES became the new network's Casper affiliate.[9]

On March 27, 2012, Wyomedia was granted a construction permit[10] for a digital companion channel for K26ES to operate on channel 27;[11] this facility was issued the call sign K27LZ-D.[12] K27LZ-D filed for its license to cover on June 15, 2012[13] and was granted it on July 16;[14] on June 13, 2013, the call letters were changed to KWYF-LD.[12] The analog K26ES license remained active until September 12, 2014, when it was canceled by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).[15]

On January 26, 2015, KWYF became a MeTV affiliate.[16] In addition to airing programing from MeTV, it also airs programing from MyNetworkTV from 7pm-9pm weeknights.[17]

Wyomedia Corporation agreed to sell its stations, including KWYF-LD, to Legacy Broadcasting on February 8, 2018.[18] The sale was canceled on October 2, 2018.[19]

On October 8, 2019, Wyomedia announced that it would sell its stations to Front Range Television, a subsidiary of Coastal Television Broadcasting Company (run by Bill Fielder). This sale was concurrent with Coastal's purchase of KFNB, the sale of KTWO-TV to Vision Alaska, LLC, and the sale of KGWC-TV to Big Horn Television.[20] The sale was completed on June 1, 2020.[21]

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

ChannelVideoAspectShort nameProgramming[22]
KFNB Simulcast of KFNB / Fox[23]
20.2 KWYF MyNetworkTV / MeTV

Notes and References

  1. Web site: KWYF-LD CASPER, WY. www.rabbitears.info.
  2. Web site: Fielder, Brissette Buy Network Affils. Jessell. Harry A.. TVNewsCheck. NewsCheckMedia. October 8, 2019. October 8, 2019. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20230131092913/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/fielder-brissette-buy-network-affils/. January 31, 2023.
  3. Web site: Application Search Details (K26ES, 1). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 16, 2014.
  4. Web site: Call Sign History (K26ES). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 16, 2014.
  5. Web site: Application Search Details (K26ES, 2). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 17, 2014.
  6. Web site: Application Search Details (K26ES, 3). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 17, 2014.
  7. News: Van Dusen. Matthew. Local Fox news starts Monday. September 17, 2014. Casper Star-Tribune. October 29, 2003.
  8. News: Burke. Brendan. Programming to change March 8. September 17, 2014. Casper Star-Tribune. February 24, 2004.
  9. News: 13 more markets on the CW bandwagon. September 17, 2014. TVNewsCheck. April 10, 2006.
  10. Web site: DIGITAL LOW POWER TELEVISION/TELEVISION TRANSLATOR BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT. PDF. CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 17, 2014. March 27, 2012.
  11. Web site: APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT OR MAKE CHANGES IN A LOW POWER TV, TV TRANSLATOR OR TV BOOSTER STATION. CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 17, 2014. February 2, 2012.
  12. Web site: Call Sign History (KWYF-LD). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 17, 2014.
  13. Web site: APPLICATION FOR A LOW POWER TV, TV TRANSLATOR OR TV BOOSTER STATION LICENSE. CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 17, 2014. June 7, 2012.
  14. Web site: DIGITAL LOW POWER TELEVISION/TELEVISION TRANSLATOR BROADCAST STATION LICENSE. PDF. CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 17, 2014. July 16, 2012.
  15. Web site: Station Search Details (K26ES). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 17, 2014.
  16. Web site: Where do I watch MeTV in Casper?.
  17. Web site: MyNetworkTV Affiliate List. MyNetworkTV.com.
  18. Web site: APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE. CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. February 13, 2018. February 12, 2018.
  19. Web site: Liberman . Howard . Buckman . Sally . Request For Withdrawal or Dismissal of Assignment Applications . CDBS Public Access . . October 23, 2018 . PDF . October 2, 2018.
  20. Web site: Learned . Nick. October 9, 2019 . 21 Wyoming TV Stations to be Sold in 3 Transactions . July 18, 2023 . K2 Radio . en.
  21. Web site: Application View ... Redirecting . July 18, 2023 . licensing.fcc.gov.
  22. Web site: RabbitEars.Info.
  23. Web site: RabbitEars.Info.