History of WKYT-TV in Timeline

WKYT-TV is a CBS and The CW-affiliated television station located in Lexington, Kentucky. It is owned by Gray Media and operates from studios and transmitter facilities on Winchester Road. In addition to WKYT-TV, Gray Media also owns WYMT-TV, another CBS affiliate in Hazard, Kentucky, which serves eastern Kentucky with unique programming and local news. WKYT-TV serves the central Kentucky area with CBS programming and local news coverage.

June 1952: Application for new television station on channel 27

In June 1952, the American Broadcasting Corporation applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a new television station on UHF channel 27 in Lexington.

June 1953: West-Bingham Television Company to sell motel

In June 1953, West–Bingham Television Company announced that they were selling the Ranch Motel to a Florida couple.

1953: Authorization to build channel 27 given

In 1953, authorization was given to WLAP radio station to build channel 27 in Lexington, but construction was delayed due to economic reasons.

February 19, 1954: WLAP halts television construction efforts

On February 19, 1954, WLAP announced it had put a halt to its television construction efforts, citing the difficulties of UHF television operations.

1956: Sale of WLAP and construction permit

In 1956, WLAP was sold, and with it, the construction permit for channel 27 was transferred to the new owners.

1957: WKXP-TV signs on

In 1957, the new owners of the construction permit signed the station on as WKXP-TV. It was originally an independent station heavily reliant on films for programming.

February 8, 1958: Sale of Community Broadcasting Company explored

On February 8, 1958, it was reported that a deal to sell the station to WVLK for $275,000 and rename it WVLK-TV was imminent.

May 14, 1958: FCC authorizes sale to Taft group

On May 14, 1958, the FCC authorized the sale to the Taft group.

1958: Garvice Kincaid Attempts to Purchase WKXP-TV

In 1958, Kentucky Central CEO Garvice Kincaid was part of the WVLK group that had attempted to purchase WKXP-TV.

1958: WKXP-TV Affiliates with CBS

In 1958, WKXP-TV affiliated with CBS.

1959: Taft broadcasting properties consolidated

In 1959, the various Taft broadcasting properties were consolidated under a new company, Taft Broadcasting.

1961: Taft switches stations to ABC affiliation

In 1961, Taft Broadcasting switched all of its stations, including WKYT-TV, to ABC affiliation.

1961: WKYT-TV switches network affiliation to ABC

In 1961, WKYT-TV switched network affiliations from CBS to ABC as part of a group affiliation agreement. Nick Clooney hosted a Saturday dance show and did weekend news anchoring.

1967: Kentucky Central acquires WKYT-TV

In 1967, Kentucky Central Television reached an agreement to acquire WKYT-TV for $2.5 million.

1967: Taft sells WKYT-TV

In 1967, Taft Broadcasting sold WKYT-TV to Kentucky Central Life Insurance Company, and the station returned to CBS.

1968: WKYT returns to CBS and plans new studio

In 1968, WKYT returned to CBS and made plans for its current studio on Winchester Road. WKYT was approved to build a new 1,000-foot tower adjacent to the new studio.

October 1969: New building occupied

In October 1969, the new studio building was occupied.

1970: Ralph Gabbard named sales manager

In 1970, Ralph Gabbard was named sales manager of WKYT-TV.

1974: Ralph Gabbard becomes general manager

In 1974, Ralph Gabbard was named general manager of WKYT-TV.

1985: Kentucky Central expands CBS service

In 1985, Kentucky Central expanded its CBS service in the Lexington market by purchasing WKYH-TV in Hazard and relaunching it as WYMT-TV.

1985: WYMT-TV built as complement to WKYT-TV

In 1985, WYMT-TV was built as a complement to WKYT-TV, expanding its service area.

February 1993: Kentucky Central Seized by state insurance commissioner

In February 1993, the Kentucky state insurance commissioner seized Kentucky Central Life Insurance Company, and its broadcast portfolio was put on the market.

July 28, 1993: Bids received for WKYT and WYMT

By July 28, 1993, 13 bids were received for WKYT and WYMT, with Gray Communications Systems narrowly winning.

1993: Kentucky Central taken over by the state

In 1993, financial troubles at Kentucky Central led to its takeover by the state of Kentucky, and its broadcasting properties were put on the market.

September 1994: Sale of WKYT and WYMT consummated

In September 1994, the $38 million sale of WKYT and WYMT to Gray Communications Systems was consummated.

1995: WKYT begins production commitment with WDKY-TV

In 1995, WKYT began a production commitment with WDKY-TV, the city's Fox affiliate, to produce a 10 p.m. newscast.

1996: Ralph Gabbard dies

In 1996, Ralph Gabbard, president of Gray's television division, died on a business trip.

2003: WKYT produces Scholastic Ball Report

Since 2003, WKYT has produced the weekly Scholastic Ball Report program during the Kentucky high school basketball season.

2004: WKYT assumes UPN affiliation

In 2004, WKYT assumed the UPN affiliation from WBLU-LP, placing it on its second digital subchannel.

2004: WLEX passes WKYT in news ratings

In 2004, WLEX passed WKYT in news ratings after a multi-year rebuild of its news department.

2006: UPN merges with The WB to form The CW

In 2006, the UPN subchannel became Lexington's affiliate of The CW upon the merger of UPN with The WB.

March 12, 2007: WDKY begins airing morning news produced by WKYT

On March 12, 2007, WDKY began airing an hour of news on weekday mornings at 7 a.m., produced by WKYT.

2007: WKYT begins broadcasting its CW subchannel in HD

In 2007, WKYT began broadcasting its CW subchannel in high-definition.

2008: 40 subchannels in Gray group

By 2008, there were 40 such subchannels in the Gray group.

April 16, 2009: WKYT-TV shuts down analog signal

On April 16, 2009, WKYT-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 27.

August 22, 2009: WKYT-DT files petition of rulemaking with the FCC

On August 22, 2009, WKYT-DT filed a petition of rulemaking with the FCC to move to digital UHF channel 36.

2012: Weekend morning newscasts added

In 2012, WKYT added weekend morning newscasts.

2013: New 4 p.m. news hour added

In 2013, WKYT added a new 4 p.m. news hour.

2014: WLEX wins in immediate Lexington area

By 2014, WLEX was winning again in the immediate Lexington area, though WKYT still had an advantage in the rural areas surrounding Lexington.

2019: WKYT-TV Repacked

In 2019, WKYT-TV was repacked from channel 36 to channel 21.

January 2022: WKYT and WDKY relationship ends

In January 2022, WKYT and WDKY relationship ended after WDKY new owner Nexstar Media Group opted to staff its own newsroom.

2024: WKYT's CW subchannel becomes an affiliate of the Indiana Fever television network

Starting in 2024, WKYT's CW subchannel became an affiliate of the Indiana Fever television network, carrying 17 games in that season.

2025: Some games are seen on WKYT 27.4

Some 2025 games have also been seen on WKYT 27.4.

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