WAWV-TV
WAWV-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Terre Haute and the surrounding Wabash Valley from Indiana.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WAWV-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Terre Haute, Indiana, and serving viewers in the Wabash Valley. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 38 and is affiliated with ABC. Mission Broadcasting owns the station, while Nexstar Media Group operates it alongside WTWO, a dual NBC/CW affiliate. The stations share studio and transmission facilities along U.S. Routes 41 and 150 in unincorporated Sullivan County, south of Farmersburg. The station began broadcasting on April 3, 1973, as WIIL-TV. It was initially assigned to UHF channel 66 but later received authorization to operate on the more practical channel 38, improving coverage and reducing transmission costs. From launch, the station carried ABC programming, giving the Terre Haute market a local outlet for a network that had previously received only partial or secondary clearance on established stations. The new operation struggled financially and in audience ratings, partly because viewers were accustomed to older VHF competitors and because ABC programming could also be received from stations in Evansville, Indianapolis, or Decatur. Alpha Broadcasting sold the station near the end of 1976 to Cy Bahakel, after which it adopted the call sign WBAK-TV. WBAK remained an ABC affiliate through the early 1990s, but its competitive position was weakened by the availability of stronger signals from neighboring markets. In 1995, the station changed its affiliation to Fox and adopted the identity Fox 38. The change gave Terre Haute its first full-time Fox affiliate and coincided with Fox's expanding prime-time schedule and newly important National Football League programming. Although the switch required the station to fill additional hours of programming, Fox ultimately revitalized channel 38 and made it a strong small-market affiliate. The change also left the market without a full-power over-the-air ABC affiliate for a period. Bahakel Communications sold the station to Mission Broadcasting in 2003. Under a joint sales and operating arrangement with Nexstar, WBAK's activities were consolidated with WTWO's facility. The call sign became WFXW in 2005, reflecting the station's Fox identity. A major transmission-line failure in April 2008 interrupted the analog signal for more than three weeks; cable and satellite distribution were used to restore access while repairs were completed. In 2011, Nexstar reached an affiliation agreement that returned channel 38 to ABC. The transition took effect on September 1, 2011, when WFXW became WAWV-TV, a call sign representing ABC for the Wabash Valley. Fox programming moved to a digital subchannel of WTHI-TV, while WAWV adopted the WAWV ABC brand. The switch restored a local primary ABC outlet to the market and changed the station's programming, news schedule, and promotional identity. WAWV's local news is produced by WTWO. Its schedule has changed repeatedly over the station's history, including an early evening newscast in the 1970s, a news-sharing arrangement with WTHI during the Fox era, and WTWO-produced prime-time news. After the 2011 ABC realignment, WAWV began carrying WTWO's Live at Five broadcast and launched a weekday noon newscast in September 2012. The station also carries ABC network programming and several multicast digital services, subject to changes in network affiliations and technical availability. Its current role is that of a local ABC service combining network entertainment, news, weather, syndicated programming, digital subchannels, and online Wabash Valley coverage.
History
WAWV-TV signed on April 3, 1973, as WIIL-TV. Alpha Broadcasting established the station as an ABC affiliate and initially pursued operation on UHF channel 66 before obtaining permission to use channel 38. The launch expanded local access to ABC, but the station entered a difficult market dominated by established competitors and by out-of-market ABC signals that reached portions of the Terre Haute area. Financial pressure was severe enough that the station nearly ceased operation in 1974. Alpha sold it to Cy Bahakel near the end of 1976, and the station adopted the WBAK-TV call sign in March 1977. The ABC affiliation did not immediately resolve the station's competitive problems. Neighboring signals, entrenched viewing habits, and the later availability of ABC programming from Indianapolis contributed to weak ratings. When Indianapolis NBC affiliate WRTV moved to ABC in 1979, its VHF signal reached much of the Indiana side of the Terre Haute market. Cable systems also commonly imported ABC programming from stations outside the market. WBAK maintained limited local programming, including news, weather, devotional, interview, and public-affairs material, but its news operation was repeatedly reduced or discontinued. Its main evening newscast ended in 1981, although a weekday morning interview program continued for a time. On January 31, 1995, WBAK switched from ABC to Fox and was branded Fox 38. The move gave the market its first full-time Fox outlet and reflected Fox's growing importance, including its acquisition of NFL rights. WBAK became responsible for a substantially larger amount of programming, but the new affiliation improved the station's commercial prospects and audience position. During this period, WTHI-TV produced a 10 p.m. newscast for WBAK under a news-sharing arrangement. Mission Broadcasting acquired WBAK from Bahakel Communications in 2003. Mission entered an operating and joint-sales relationship with Nexstar, and WBAK's operations were integrated with WTWO near Farmersburg. The station became WFXW in June 2005. WTWO later produced a prime-time newscast for the Fox station, with branding and production arrangements changing several times. In April 2008, an analog transmission-line failure took WFXW's analog signal off the air for over three weeks. The digital feed continued to reach cable headends and Dish Network during the interruption. The station returned to ABC on September 1, 2011, after Nexstar reached a broader affiliation agreement with ABC. The move followed a dispute between Nexstar and Fox concerning affiliate economics and retransmission-consent payments, which resulted in several Nexstar- or Mission-operated stations losing Fox affiliations. WFXW changed its call sign to WAWV-TV and adopted the WAWV ABC identity. Fox programming moved to WTHI-TV's second digital channel, which also carried MyNetworkTV as a secondary service. After the realignment, WAWV carried WTWO's Live at Five newscast and discontinued its Fox-era 10 p.m. broadcast because ABC occupied that hour with network programming. An online 15-minute newscast, WAWV News First at Ten, was later discontinued in December 2012. WAWV launched a weekday noon newscast in September 2012. Its local news, weather, and related production remain tied to the WTWO shared-services operation. The station has also carried digital multicast networks including Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV; technical problems temporarily affected some multicast services and required temporary transmission arrangements in 2017 and 2018. WAWV continues as an ABC affiliate serving the Terre Haute and Wabash Valley region.
- 2016
New digital-network affiliations announced
[1]Nexstar announces agreements involving Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV for stations including WAWV.
- 2012
Weekday noon news begins
[1]WAWV adds a weekday midday newscast produced through the WTWO news operation.
- 2011
Return to ABC as WAWV-TV
[1]The station leaves Fox, rejoins ABC, and changes its call sign to WAWV-TV on September 1.
- 2009
Digital television transition
[1]The station ends regular analog programming on June 12 as part of the United States full-power digital transition.
- 2008
Analog transmission outage
[1]A transmission-line failure leaves the analog signal unavailable for more than three weeks.
- 2005
Call sign changes to WFXW
[1]The Fox-era station adopts the WFXW call letters on June 1.
- 2003
Mission Broadcasting acquisition
[1]Mission Broadcasting acquires the station and begins operating it with Nexstar support.
- 1995
Station joins Fox
[1]WBAK switches from ABC to Fox on January 31 and uses the Fox 38 brand.
- 1977
Call sign changes to WBAK-TV
[1]The station adopts WBAK-TV on March 29 after the Bahakel acquisition.
- 1976
Bahakel acquires the station
[1]Cy Bahakel purchases the station from Alpha Broadcasting near the end of the year.
Products and positioning
A local ABC television service for Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley, supported by Nexstar's shared operations with WTWO and differentiated through regional news, weather, network programming, and digital distribution.
Broadcast television service · 2011
WAWV ABC
The station's primary branded service and ABC network outlet. It combines ABC entertainment, news, sports, and special programming with locally produced news and weather for viewers in the Terre Haute and Wabash Valley market.
Television news
Local news and weather
WAWV's local news programming is produced through its shared operation with WTWO. The schedule has included Live at Five and a weekday noon newscast, supported by regional weather coverage and updates distributed through broadcast and online channels.
Digital television · 2016
Digital multicast services
WAWV has carried additional digital networks, including Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV, as part of Nexstar-related multicast affiliation arrangements. Availability and technical configuration have changed over time.
Brand decisions
2011
Return from Fox to ABCStrategyBackground
Nexstar reached an ABC affiliation agreement amid a dispute with Fox over affiliate retransmission-consent economics. Several Nexstar- and Mission-operated stations lost Fox affiliations.
Action taken
WFXW returned to ABC on September 1, changed its call sign to WAWV-TV, and adopted the WAWV ABC brand. Fox programming moved to WTHI-TV's second digital channel.
Aftermath
Terre Haute regained a primary local ABC outlet, while Fox and MyNetworkTV became digital-subchannel services on a competing station.
2003
Mission Broadcasting acquisition and Nexstar operating arrangementM&ABackground
Bahakel Communications sold the station after its Fox-era operation had become established.
Action taken
Mission Broadcasting acquired the station and entered a joint-sales and shared-operations relationship with Nexstar, consolidating activities with WTWO.
Aftermath
The stations shared facilities, news resources, and operational infrastructure near Farmersburg.
1995
Switch from ABC to FoxStrategyBackground
The station faced weak ratings and competition from stronger ABC signals reaching the market from neighboring cities. Fox was expanding its prime-time schedule and had obtained NFL rights.
Action taken
WBAK-TV ended its ABC affiliation on January 31 and became the market's full-time Fox affiliate under the Fox 38 identity.
Aftermath
The affiliation helped rejuvenate the station and improved its position among small-market Fox affiliates, while local viewers temporarily lost a primary over-the-air ABC outlet.
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