WBND-LD

WBND-LD is a low-power television station licensed to South Bend, Indiana, and affiliated with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). The station is owned by Weigel Broadcasting and operates alongside sister stations WCWW-LD, a CW affiliate, and WMYS-LD. The three stations share studio facilities on Generations Drive in northeastern South Bend, while WBND-LD's transmitter is located near the St. Joseph Valley Parkway on the city's south side. The station began broadcasting on October 18, 1995, as W58BT on UHF channel 58. Its launch was driven by a major affiliation realignment in the South Bend market. Longtime ABC affiliate WSJV moved to Fox after Fox obtained National Football League rights and reached an affiliation agreement with WSJV's owner, Quincy Newspapers. ABC needed a replacement affiliate, but the established commercial stations in the market were already committed to NBC or CBS. Weigel's new low-power outlet therefore became ABC's South Bend-area affiliate under a rapidly arranged agreement. Although the station's legal call sign was initially W58BT, it used the WBND identity in its public branding and later adopted the WBND-LP call sign. The launch was technically difficult. Weigel had planned a later start after installing a transmitter that would improve coverage, but ABC required the affiliation change to occur on the same day WSJV joined Fox. A failure affecting the station's low-power transmitter on launch morning substantially reduced its signal. Weigel temporarily used W69BT, which operated as a satellite, to keep ABC programming available while repairs were completed. The station later moved from channel 58 to channel 57 in 2002 after WSJV received approval to use channel 58 for its digital service. Because WBND-LD remains a low-power station, its over-the-air coverage is concentrated around South Bend rather than extending across the entire market. Weigel has consequently depended on cable and other pay-television carriage to distribute WBND-LD, WCWW-LD, and WMYS-LD more broadly in Michiana. The station's programming combines ABC network content, local news, weather, community coverage, syndicated or other scheduled programming, and selected sports broadcasts. It has also carried Notre Dame football road games shown through ABC's college-football package and, in 2024, carried Notre Dame's home playoff game against Indiana as part of the inaugural expanded College Football Playoff. WBND-LD's news operation developed from an externally produced service into a locally based newsroom. From 2007 until April 2011, its late-night news was produced by Weigel's Milwaukee station WDJT-TV. South Bend photographers gathered local footage, which was transmitted to Milwaukee for editing and presentation. On April 4, 2011, WBND launched an in-house news department with locally produced morning, evening, and late-night newscasts. Subsequent expansions added earlier morning programming, a 5 p.m. newscast, weekend morning broadcasts, and additional output for sister station WCWW-LD. The station is unusual in operating a local news department despite its low-power classification. WBND-LD has also developed a digital multicast lineup. It began broadcasting MeTV on a second digital subchannel in 2011 and added Movies! on a third subchannel in 2013. Its digital transmission evolved through several Federal Communications Commission authorizations and a frequency reassignment in 2012. In 2008, Weigel agreed to sell its three South Bend stations to Schurz Communications, but the proposed transaction was not approved within the relevant period and the parties abandoned it in 2009. WBND-LD therefore remained under Weigel ownership.

WBND-LD was created during the major United States television-affiliation changes of the mid-1990s. Before 1995, WSJV carried ABC programming in the South Bend market. Fox's acquisition of rights to National Football League games helped drive WSJV's decision to affiliate with Fox, leaving ABC without an established local outlet. ABC explored the possibility of affiliating with other market stations, but WNDU-TV and WSBT-TV were already committed to NBC and CBS, respectively. WHME-TV, a religious station, was not available as a prospective commercial affiliate. With few alternatives, ABC reached an agreement with Weigel Broadcasting's new low-power station. The station signed on October 18, 1995, as W58BT on UHF channel 58. Weigel publicly branded it as WBND even though the legal call sign initially remained W58BT. The launch occurred under considerable time pressure because ABC required the affiliation to change on the same date WSJV joined Fox. A 2,000-watt transmitter experienced a partial failure on launch morning, making the signal difficult to receive. Weigel used W69BT as a temporary satellite source for ABC programming and repaired the transmitter within several days. By the end of 1995, the station had adopted the WBND-LP call letters. During the late 1990s, WBND carried UPN programming outside ABC's network schedule as a secondary affiliation. That arrangement ended in 2003 when UPN moved to WSBT-TV's second digital channel. In 2002, WBND moved from channel 58 to channel 57 after WSJV received authorization to use channel 58 for its digital transmission. Weigel and Schurz Communications announced a proposed sale of Weigel's three South Bend stations in 2008. The plan would have moved the stations' operations to Schurz's facility in Mishawaka and might have changed how WBND's news was produced. The transaction did not receive FCC approval within a year, and the companies ended the agreement in August 2009. Weigel retained ownership. The station's news model changed substantially in 2011. Before April of that year, WBND's short late-night newscast was produced by WDJT-TV in Milwaukee. South Bend-based photographers supplied footage, while WDJT staff edited and presented the program remotely. Weigel began recruiting locally based reporters, anchors, and web staff in late 2010. On April 4, 2011, WBND inaugurated its own South Bend news department and began producing local morning, evening, and late-night broadcasts. Later in 2011, it expanded its weekday morning schedule and added evening and weekend programs. A 5 p.m. newscast followed in 2012, and further morning and weekend expansions occurred in 2014. The newsroom also produces programming for sister station WCWW-LD. WBND entered digital multicast programming in June 2011 with MeTV on 57.2 and added Movies! on 57.3 in December 2013. The station received a construction permit for digital broadcasting in 2007 and began its high-definition digital signal that September. It subsequently received authorization for a digital-frequency change and exchanged proposed digital assignments with WMYS-LD in 2012. Today, WBND-LD is a Weigel-owned ABC affiliate serving South Bend and the nearby portion of Michiana. Its low-power status limits direct over-the-air reach, so cable and subscription-television carriage remain important for wider market distribution. Its core identity is built around ABC programming, local news and weather, community reporting, multicast entertainment services, and selected sports coverage, including Notre Dame football carried through ABC and ESPN arrangements.

• 2024

  Notre Dame home playoff game airs on WBND

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WBND carries Notre Dame's home game against Indiana in the first round of the expanded College Football Playoff.

• 2016

  Fox affiliation shifts from WSJV

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WSBT's second channel assumes the market's Fox affiliation, while WSJV later adopts a Heroes & Icons format.

• 2013

  Movies! launches on digital subchannel

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Movies! is added to WBND's 57.3 digital subchannel.

• 2012

  Digital frequency reassignment

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WBND changes its digital transmission assignment following FCC authorization and a frequency exchange involving WMYS-LD.

• 2011

  In-house newsroom launches

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WBND begins producing its own South Bend-based local newscasts.

• 2011

  MeTV launches on digital subchannel

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  MeTV begins broadcasting on WBND's 57.2 digital subchannel.

• 2009

  Proposed station sale ends

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Weigel and Schurz abandon the transaction after it fails to receive FCC approval within a year.

• 2008

  Proposed sale to Schurz Communications

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Weigel agrees to sell its three South Bend stations to Schurz Communications, subject to regulatory approval.

• 2007

  Digital construction permit granted

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC grants WBND authorization to build a companion digital facility.

• 2007

  Remote late-night news service begins

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WBND starts an abbreviated late-night newscast produced by WDJT-TV in Milwaukee.

• 2003

  UPN secondary affiliation ends

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  UPN programming leaves WBND when the network moves to WSBT-TV's second digital channel.

• 2002

  Move to channel 57

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WBND relocates from channel 58 to channel 57 after WSJV receives authorization to use channel 58 for digital broadcasting.

• 1995

  Station signs on as W58BT

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The new low-power station begins broadcasting on UHF channel 58 and becomes the South Bend area's ABC affiliate after WSJV moves to Fox.

• 1995

  WBND branding and call-sign transition

  [1]WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station uses WBND as its public identity and later changes its legal call sign to WBND-LP.

Local broadcast television station combining ABC network programming with South Bend-focused news, weather, sports, and community coverage.

• Local television news · 2011

  ABC 57 local news

  WBND's locally produced news operation provides South Bend and nearby communities with scheduled morning, evening, late-night, and weekend newscasts. The newsroom also supplies news programming for sister CW station WCWW-LD. Its service includes local reporting, weather, traffic, public-interest coverage, and breaking-news updates.

• Network television affiliation · 1995

  ABC network service

  WBND serves as an ABC affiliate for the South Bend area, carrying the network's scheduled entertainment, news, daytime, sports, and special-event programming. The affiliation began with the station's 1995 launch after the market's previous ABC station moved to Fox.

• Digital multicast television · 2011

  MeTV on 57.2

  The station's second digital subchannel carries MeTV, a multicast network centered on classic television programming. WBND added the service in June 2011 as part of its expansion beyond the primary ABC signal.

• Digital multicast television · 2013

  Movies! on 57.3

  Movies! occupies WBND's third digital subchannel and provides a movie-focused multicast service. It was added in December 2013.

• Sports broadcasting

  Notre Dame football coverage

  WBND carries Notre Dame football road games that are distributed through the ABC and ESPN college-football package. In 2024, it also aired Notre Dame's home playoff game against Indiana as part of the expanded College Football Playoff coverage.

• 2011

  Build a standalone local newsroomStrategy

  Background

  WBND's late-night news had previously been produced remotely by WDJT-TV in Milwaukee using South Bend footage.

  Action taken

  Weigel recruited locally based newsroom staff and launched an in-house operation with morning, evening, and late-night broadcasts.

  Aftermath

  The station expanded its news schedule over the following years and began producing additional newscasts for WCWW-LD.

  Source

• 2011

  Launch digital multicast servicesProduct launch

  Background

  Digital transmission created additional capacity beyond WBND's primary ABC service.

  Action taken

  WBND introduced MeTV on 57.2 and later added Movies! on 57.3.

  Aftermath

  The station broadened its programming portfolio with dedicated classic-television and movie services.

  Source

• 2008

  Pursue sale to Schurz CommunicationsM&A

  Background

  Weigel agreed to sell WBND-LD and its two South Bend sister stations to Schurz Communications, the owner of WSBT-TV.

  Action taken

  The companies submitted the proposed transaction for FCC review, with plans that included moving operations to Schurz's Mishawaka facility.

  Aftermath

  The FCC did not approve the transaction within a year, and the parties terminated the agreement in August 2009. Weigel retained the stations.

  Source

• 1995

  Accept ABC affiliation during the South Bend network realignmentStrategy

  Background

  ABC risked losing a local affiliate after WSJV elected to join Fox. Established stations in the market were already committed to other networks, leaving Weigel's new low-power station as the practical local option.

  Action taken

  Weigel launched W58BT and arranged for it to become the area's ABC affiliate on the same day WSJV switched to Fox.

  Aftermath

  WBND became a continuing ABC outlet in Michiana despite its limited low-power over-the-air coverage.

  Source

1. 1WBND-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2ABC 57 official websiteabc57.com