History of WSBT-TV in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 18, 2026

WSBT-TV is a CBS and Fox-affiliated television station located in South Bend, Indiana. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group along with WSJV. The two stations share studio facilities in Mishawaka and transmitter facilities in South Bend.

December 21, 1952: WSBT-TV Signed On

On December 21, 1952, WSBT-TV first signed on the air, owned by the South Bend Tribune. Its broadcast facility was originally in a converted radio studio.

1953: First High School Basketball Tournament Telecast

In 1953, WSBT was the first station on UHF to telecast a high school basketball tournament, originating from John Adams High School. Also in the fall of 1953, WSBT became the first television station in the country to present a closed-circuit telecast of a college football practice for Notre Dame coach Frank Leahy.

March 1954: WSBT-TV Lost Networks

In March 1954, WSBT-TV lost its secondary affiliations with NBC, ABC, and DuMont when WSJV (channel 28) signed on.

1954: WSBT-TV Broadcasts in Color

In 1954, WSBT-TV became the first station in Indiana to broadcast in color, starting in new studios designed by architect William Pereira.

1956: WSBT-TV Moved Broadcast Facility

In 1956, WSBT-TV's broadcast facilities were moved to Lafayette and Jefferson Street.

1958: WSBT-TV Moved to Channel 22

In 1958, WSBT-TV moved from UHF channel 34 to channel 22 during the analog era.

December 1994: WKBD Carried on Cable Systems

Until WJBK switched to the Fox network in December 1994, Detroit affiliate WKBD was carried on cable systems in some areas of the Michigan side of the market.

April 1995: Fox Signs Affiliation Agreement with WSJV

In April 1995, Fox signed an affiliation agreement with WSJV, with the switch taking effect on October 18 of that year. Some Fox programming had been airing on WSBT prior to the switch.

2001: WSBT-TV Broadcasts Digital Signal

In 2001, WSBT-TV became the second TV station in Michiana (behind WNDU-TV) to broadcast a digital signal.

2003: WSBT Launches UPN-Affiliated Digital Subchannel

In 2003, WSBT launched a UPN-affiliated digital subchannel (branded as "UPN Michiana") on digital channel 22.2.

September 5, 2006: WSBT-DT2 Launches 10 p.m. Newscast

On September 5, 2006, WSBT began producing a half-hour weeknight 10 p.m. newscast on its second digital subchannel (WSBT-DT2), after losing its UPN affiliation.

September 2006: WSBT-DT2 Becomes Independent Station

In September 2006, WSBT-DT2 became an independent station, when UPN shut down and its programming was merged with that of The WB to form The CW. UPN Michiana was rebranded as SBT2.

August 4, 2008: WSBT Announces Plans to Purchase Weigel Broadcasting Stations

On August 4, 2008, WSBT announced plans to purchase Weigel Broadcasting's three stations in the market: WBND-LP, WCWW-LP, and WMYS-LP. The deal would have given Schurz Communications a total of six channels in the market.

November 16, 2008: New All-Digital Facility Unveiled

On November 16, 2008, WSBT unveiled its new all-digital facility in Mishawaka, beginning with the 10 p.m. newscast. Channel 22 became the first Michiana station to broadcast local newscasts in high definition.

February 17, 2009: WSBT-TV Shuts Down Analog Signal

On February 17, 2009, WSBT-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 22. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 30 to channel 22.

June 12, 2009: Original Target Date for Transition from Analog to Digital Broadcasts

June 12, 2009 was the pushed back date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate.

August 2009: WSBT's Deal to Purchase Weigel Broadcasting Stations Called Off

In August 2009, WSBT's deal to purchase Weigel Broadcasting's three stations in the market was called off due to the absence of action by the FCC.

September 8, 2014: WSBT Adds 4 P.M. Newscast

On September 8, 2014, WSBT added the area's first-ever 4 p.m. newscast, called WSBT 22 News, First at 4:00.

September 14, 2015: Schurz Announces Exit from Broadcasting, Sells Stations to Gray Television

On September 14, 2015, Schurz announced it would exit broadcasting and sell its television and radio stations to Gray Television for $442.5 million.

September 20, 2015: WSBT Adds Sunday Morning Newscast

On September 20, 2015, WSBT added a newscast on Sunday mornings from 6:30 to 8 a.m.

October 1, 2015: Gray Television Announces Station Swap with Sinclair Broadcast Group

On October 1, 2015, Gray announced that WSBT-TV would be swapped to Sinclair Broadcast Group for WLUC-TV in Marquette, Michigan.

February 12, 2016: FCC Approves Sale of WSBT-TV to Sinclair Broadcast Group

On February 12, 2016, the FCC approved the sale of WSBT-TV to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

July 25, 2016: WSBT-DT2 to affiliate with Fox

On July 25, 2016, Sinclair announced that WSBT-DT2 would affiliate with Fox beginning on August 1, 2016, after an agreement with Quincy Media to transfer the affiliation from WSJV.

August 1, 2016: WSBT-DT2 Affiliates with Fox

On August 1, 2016, WSBT-DT2 officially affiliated with Fox. For a sixty-day period, WSBT-DT2 was simulcast on WSJV-DT1 to allow viewers to transition to the new signal.

August 15, 2016: WSBT Expands 4 P.M. Newscast

On August 15, 2016, WSBT expanded its 4 p.m. newscast to an hour, replacing a second airing of Jeopardy! in the 4:30 timeslot.

August 2016: WSBT Expands Newscasts on DT2

In August 2016, with WSBT-DT2 getting the Fox affiliation from WSJV, it added two additional hours of WSBT's morning newscast from 7 to 9 a.m. and expanded its 10 p.m. newscast on weeknights to an hour.

2017: WSBT Produced Newscasts for WNWO-TV

From 2017 to 2023, WSBT produced newscasts for Sinclair sister station WNWO-TV in Toledo, Ohio, featuring a centralized studio and footage from local reporters.

2019: Content Sharing Services Added

In early 2019, six Michigan Mid-West Family stations (WSJM-FM, WQYQ, WIRX, WCXT, WRRA-FM and WCSY-FM) added content sharing services with WSBT's news and weather content agreement.