History of WIBW-TV in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 23, 2025

WIBW-TV is a CBS and MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station located in Topeka, Kansas. It is owned by Gray Media and operates from studios in Topeka and a transmitter in Maple Hill. The station provides local and national programming to the Topeka area.

1925: WIBW Radio Begins

In 1925, WIBW radio began in Logansport, Indiana.

1926: WIBW Radio Becomes Portable

For much of 1926, WIBW radio was a portable station.

1927: WIBW Radio Moves to Topeka

In 1927, WIBW radio moved to Topeka under Capper's sponsorship, who later bought the station.

June 1953: KCTY Signs On

In June 1953, KCTY in Kansas City, which operated a transmitter in Overland Park, signed on as the first television station in Kansas.

November 15, 1953: WIBW-TV Signs On

On November 15, 1953, WIBW-TV was the first television station to begin broadcasting in the Topeka market, and the third in Kansas.

February 1954: KCTY Ceases Operations

In February 1954, KCTY ceased operations, making KWCH the oldest surviving television station in Kansas.

September 1954: Transmitter Relocation

In September 1954, WIBW-TV relocated its transmitter facilities to a new 950-foot broadcast tower.

August 1956: DuMont Affiliation Ends

In August 1956, WIBW-TV lost its affiliation with the DuMont network when the network ceased operations.

1957: Capper Publications and Stauffer Publications Merge

In 1957, Capper Publications, owner of WIBW, merged with Stauffer Publications, owner of the Topeka State Journal.

1961: WIBW-FM Joins WIBW-AM-TV

In 1961, WIBW-FM (94.5 FM) joined WIBW-AM-TV as a second radio sister.

1963: Topeka Becomes a Separate Market

In 1963, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated Topeka as a separate market from Kansas City.

October 1965: KTWU Signs On

In October 1965, KTWU, a non-commercial station, began broadcasting, utilizing channel 11 in Topeka.

June 8, 1966: Topeka Tornado Coverage

On June 8, 1966, WIBW-TV provided 24 hours of coverage of a destructive F5 tornado that hit Topeka. Bill Kurtis famously urged viewers to "take cover!".

1966: WIBW-TV First to Broadcast in Color

In 1966, WIBW-TV became the first television station in Topeka to broadcast in color.

December 1967: WIBW-TV Loses NBC Affiliation

In December 1967, WIBW-TV lost its NBC affiliation when KTSB (channel 27, now KSNT) signed on.

1967: KSNT Signs On

In 1967, KSNT signed on as KTSB, increasing competition in the Topeka market.

1968: "One to a Market" Rule Implementation

In 1968, the FCC's "one to a market" rule went into effect, protecting existing newspaper and broadcasting combinations like the Daily Capital, State Journal, and WIBW-AM-FM-TV through a grandfather clause.

1972: WIBW-TV Acquires Live Weather Radar

In 1972, WIBW-TV acquired the first live weather radar in the Topeka market for broadcasting use.

1981: Daily Capital and State Journal Merge

In 1981, The Daily Capital and State Journal merged to become the Topeka Capital-Journal.

1982: WIBW-TV Uses Microwave LNC Live Trucks

In 1982, WIBW-TV was the first television station to use microwave LNC live trucks.

June 1983: KLDH Signs On

In June 1983, KLDH (channel 49, now KTKA) signed on as the market's third television outlet.

1983: KTKA-TV Signs On

In 1983, KTKA-TV signed on as KLDH.

1989: WIBW-TV Acquires Live Truck

In 1989, WIBW-TV acquired a live truck for electronic news-gathering, becoming the only Topeka station with such a vehicle.

1995: Stauffer Merges with Morris Communications

In 1995, Stauffer Communications merged with Morris Communications, based in Augusta, Georgia.

1995: UPN Affiliation with KTMJ-CA

In 1995, UPN was affiliated with Fox affiliate KTMJ-CA (channel 43) from the network's launch.

1996: Sale to Benedek Broadcasting

In 1996, most of Stauffer's television stations, including WIBW-TV, were sold to Benedek Broadcasting.

November 11, 1998: Announcement to Cancel Midday in Kansas

On November 11, 1998, WIBW announced plans to cancel its noon newscast, Midday in Kansas, but reversed the decision after viewer protests.

2001: WIBW-TV Relocates Studios

In 2001, WIBW-TV relocated from its original studios on Southwest 6th Avenue to a new facility on Commerce Place in southwest Topeka. WIBW radio subsequently relocated to studio facilities located on Executive Drive in southwest Topeka's Huntoon Hill neighborhood.

2002: KTKA-TV News Department Absence

From 2002 to 2006, KTKA-TV did not have a news department.

2002: Benedek Files for Bankruptcy, Sells Stations

In 2002, Benedek Broadcasting filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and sold most of its stations, including WIBW-TV, to Gray Television.

2002: WIBW-TV signed on its digital signal

In 2002, WIBW-TV signed on its digital signal on UHF channel 44.

2003: UPN Programming Ends on KTMJ-CA

In 2003, UPN programming ended on KTMJ-CA (channel 43).

February 22, 2006: MyNetworkTV Launch Announced

On February 22, 2006, News Corporation announced the launch of MyNetworkTV, designed to compete against The CW.

March 13, 2006: WIBW Named MyNetworkTV Affiliate

On March 13, 2006, WIBW was named as MyNetworkTV's Topeka affiliate through a 13-station affiliation agreement with owner Gray Television.

April 10, 2006: KSNT Announced as The CW Affiliate

On April 10, 2006, Montecito Broadcast Group announced that NBC affiliate KSNT (channel 27) would serve as The CW's Topeka affiliate.

September 5, 2006: WIBW-DT2 Signs On

On September 5, 2006, WIBW-TV first signed its second digital subchannel on the air as a primary affiliate of MyNetworkTV and a secondary affiliate of Colours TV.

2006: KTKA-TV News Department Returns

In 2006, KTKA-TV regained a news department.

September 2007: WIBW-DT2 Launches Local Newscasts

In September 2007, WIBW began producing local newscasts for its second digital subchannel, WIBW-DT2. This included an extension of the weekday morning newscast 13 News This Morning and a prime time newscast.

January 2, 2009: Kansas Now 22 Ceases Operations

On January 2, 2009, Kansas Now 22, a cable channel co-operated by WIBW and KAKE-TV, ceased operations. The channel featured pre-recorded news and weather segments from both stations.

February 16, 2009: WIBW-TV Shut Down Analog Signal

On February 16, 2009, WIBW-TV shut down its analog signal on VHF channel 13, one day before the original deadline for the transition to digital broadcasts.

June 12, 2009: Full-power television stations transition from analog to digital broadcasts

On June 12, 2009, full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts.

September 2009: Expansion of Morning Newscast on WIBW-DT2

In September 2009, WIBW expanded its weekday morning newscast on WIBW-DT2 to a full two-hour broadcast.

September 2009: WIBW-DT2 Becomes This TV Affiliate

In September 2009, WIBW-DT2 became a secondary affiliate of This TV, carrying syndicated programming and feature films.

December 7, 2009: FCC Grants WIBW Construction Permit

On December 7, 2009, the FCC granted WIBW a construction permit to build transmitter facilities for a fill-in digital translator on UHF channel 44.

September 2011: WIBW-TV Experiencing Signal Issues

In September 2011, after KSQA signed on, WIBW-TV began experiencing signal issues on Cox Communications channel 12 due to electromagnetic interference from KSQA's over-the-air signal.

January 5, 2012: Fire Damages Former WIBW-TV Facility

On January 5, 2012, the former WIBW-TV studio facility on 6th Street and Wanamaker Road, which had been abandoned, was severely damaged by fire.

February 23, 2012: WIBW-TV Broadcasts Newscasts in High Definition

On February 23, 2012, WIBW-TV became the first television station in the Topeka market to broadcast its local newscasts in high definition, beginning with the 6 p.m. newscast.

May 23, 2012: Attack at WIBW Studio

On May 23, 2012, a man attacked WIBW studio employees, stabbing two and biting another. The attacker, Ray Miles, was upset about a situation involving the Department of Veterans Affairs.

June 13, 2012: KSQA Files Complaint with the FCC

On June 13, 2012, KSQA, LLC filed a complaint with the FCC to invoke a must-carry request for Cox to carry it on channel 12, potentially displacing WIBW.

September 10, 2012: WIBW-DT2 Switches to MeTV

On September 10, 2012, WIBW-DT2 disaffiliated from This TV and switched its secondary affiliation to MeTV. Both networks were owned at the time by Weigel Broadcasting.

March 14, 2013: WIBW-TV Moved to Channel 13 on Cox Communications

On March 14, 2013, Cox Communications moved WIBW-TV to channel 13 after the FCC granted a waiver by KSQA to move its virtual channel to 12. KSQA was then placed on WIBW's former cable slot on channel 12.

July 2013: 21st Century Fox Spin-Off

In July 2013, News Corporation spun off its American television properties into 21st Century Fox.

September 2014: WIBW-DT2 Drops Most Syndicated Programming

By September 2014, WIBW-DT2 had dropped most of its syndicated programming, clearing most of the MeTV schedule outside of the first two hours of prime time on weeknights.

September 2014: Cancellation of Morning and Prime Time Newscasts on WIBW-DT2

In September 2014, WIBW-DT2 cancelled the morning and 9 p.m. newscasts, replacing them with classic television series provided by the MeTV affiliation.