WDKA

WDKA is a full-power television station licensed to Paducah, Kentucky, and serving the Purchase region of western Kentucky, southern Illinois, southeastern Missouri, and northwest Tennessee. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 49 and is primarily programmed as an independent outlet while retaining a secondary affiliation with MyNetworkTV. Its programming mix has included syndicated entertainment, movies, network-supplied programming, sports, and locally relevant television content. WDKA began broadcasting on June 5, 1997, as a UPN affiliate using an analog UHF signal on channel 49. In September 1998, it began carrying WB programming outside the network's primary schedule, and on April 1, 2000, it formally switched affiliations with low-power station WQTV-LP to become the area's WB affiliate. That arrangement lasted until the 2006 combination of The WB and UPN into The CW. Because WQTV-LP was selected to become the local CW outlet, WDKA joined MyNetworkTV when that service launched on September 5, 2006. The station later broadened its sports role. Beginning August 30, 2014, WDKA became a charter affiliate of Sinclair's American Sports Network, carrying selected Ohio Valley Conference basketball and Conference USA football and basketball games. This sports programming replaced Southeastern Conference coverage previously supplied through the ESPN Plus-oriented SEC TV package, which ended after the launch of the subscription-based SEC Network. WDKA has undergone several ownership and operating changes. WDKA Acquisition Corporation, associated with Paul T. Lucci, agreed in 2016 to sell the station to a Sinclair Broadcast Group subsidiary for $1.9 million; the transaction closed on September 1, 2017. Sinclair later sold WDKA and related station KBSI to Community News Media in a transaction completed in 2021. Subsequent transactions described in the station's reference material returned certain non-license assets to Sinclair in 2025 and placed the stations in an announced sale to Rincon Broadcasting Group, subject to regulatory approval at the time of announcement. The reference material states that the Rincon transaction closed on February 27, 2026. WDKA shares studio facilities on Enterprise Street in Cape Girardeau with KBSI, the Fox affiliate licensed to Cape Girardeau. Sinclair has operated the stations under a shared-services arrangement. WDKA's transmitter is located near Vienna, Illinois, and the station is also carried in standard definition on KBSI's second digital subchannel, 23.2. The station ended analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, retaining virtual channel 49 on its digital service. Following the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum incentive auction and associated repacking process, WDKA moved its digital transmission from UHF channel 50 to UHF channel 25 in October 2019.

WDKA signed on June 5, 1997, as a UPN affiliate serving Paducah, Kentucky, and nearby markets. The station operated on analog UHF channel 49 and was created to provide a full-power commercial service to a region that also included portions of southern Illinois, southeastern Missouri, and northwest Tennessee. The station began carrying WB programming outside its main affiliation schedule in September 1998. On April 1, 2000, WDKA formally became the area's WB affiliate after exchanging affiliations with WQTV-LP, a low-power station licensed to Murray, Kentucky. This affiliation continued until the 2006 restructuring of American broadcast networks. The WB and UPN were replaced by The CW, while MyNetworkTV launched as a separate programming service. Because WQTV-LP was selected for the Paducah CW affiliation, WDKA joined MyNetworkTV on September 5, 2006. In later years, its programming became primarily independent, with MyNetworkTV remaining a secondary affiliation. WDKA expanded its sports offering in 2014 when it became a charter affiliate of the American Sports Network, a Sinclair-linked syndicated sports service. The station carried selected Ohio Valley Conference basketball and Conference USA football and basketball. This replaced Southeastern Conference programming formerly delivered through SEC TV, whose role ended when the pay television SEC Network launched. The station's ownership changed several times. In March 2016, WDKA Acquisition Corporation filed to transfer the station to WDKA Licensee, LLC, a Sinclair Broadcast Group subsidiary. The transaction was valued at $1.9 million and closed on September 1, 2017. Sinclair subsequently sold WDKA and Cape Girardeau-licensed Fox affiliate KBSI to Community News Media in a transaction completed in 2021. The station's later corporate history involved a 2025 Sinclair announcement concerning the repurchase of non-license assets and an option to reacquire the licenses. In September 2025, Rincon Broadcasting Group was announced as the buyer of WDKA, KBSI, and other Standard Media stations. The supplied reference material reports that this transaction closed on February 27, 2026. Operationally, WDKA and KBSI share studios on Enterprise Street in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and have been operated through a shared-services arrangement associated with Sinclair. WDKA's transmitter is located near Vienna, Illinois. The station's signal is also simulcast in standard definition on KBSI's second digital subchannel, 23.2, allowing the service to reach viewers through a related station's multiplex. WDKA completed the transition from analog to digital broadcasting on February 17, 2009, using virtual channel 49 for its digital service. In October 2019, its digital signal moved from UHF channel 50 to UHF channel 25 as part of the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum incentive auction and repacking process. The station remains an active regional television broadcaster.

• 2026

  Rincon transaction reported complete

  [1]WDKAen.wikipedia.org

  The supplied reference material reports completion of the Rincon Broadcasting Group acquisition on February 27.

• 2025

  Rincon transaction announced

  [1]WDKAen.wikipedia.org

  Rincon Broadcasting Group is announced as the prospective buyer of WDKA and KBSI in a transaction requiring FCC approval.

• 2021

  Sale to Community News Media

  [1]WDKAen.wikipedia.org

  Community News Media completes the acquisition of WDKA and KBSI from Sinclair.

• 2019

  Digital channel reassignment

  [1]WDKAen.wikipedia.org

  WDKA moves its digital transmission to UHF channel 25 following spectrum reallocation.

• 2017

  Sinclair acquisition closes

  [1]WDKAen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair completes its purchase of WDKA on September 1 following a filing made in 2016.

• 2014

  American Sports Network affiliation

  [1]WDKAen.wikipedia.org

  WDKA becomes a charter affiliate of the American Sports Network and carries selected collegiate sports.

• 2009

  Analog shutdown

  [1]WDKAen.wikipedia.org

  WDKA ends analog broadcasting and continues as a digital station using virtual channel 49.

• 2006

  MyNetworkTV affiliation

  [1]WDKAen.wikipedia.org

  WDKA becomes a MyNetworkTV affiliate when The WB and UPN are replaced by the new network structure.

• 2000

  WB affiliation

  [1]WDKAen.wikipedia.org

  WDKA switches affiliations with WQTV-LP and becomes the local WB affiliate on April 1.

• 1997

  Launch

  [1]WDKAen.wikipedia.org

  WDKA begins broadcasting on June 5 as a UPN affiliate on analog UHF channel 49.

A regional broadcast television outlet serving the Paducah market and surrounding areas, positioned as an independent station with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation and access to shared operational resources with KBSI.

• Television broadcasting · 1997

  WDKA broadcast service

  WDKA's primary full-power television service is licensed to Paducah, Kentucky, and serves a multi-state viewing area. It operates on virtual channel 49 and combines independent programming with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation. The service can also be received through a standard-definition simulcast on KBSI's 23.2 digital subchannel.

• Sports television · 2014

  American Sports Network programming

  From 2014, WDKA carried selected collegiate sports supplied by the American Sports Network. The package included Ohio Valley Conference basketball and Conference USA football and basketball, supplementing the station's entertainment and network programming.

• 2025

  Rincon Broadcasting Group acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Rincon Broadcasting Group was announced as the prospective buyer of WDKA, KBSI, and other Standard Media stations.

  Action taken

  The announced transaction was submitted for regulatory review, with the supplied reference material reporting a February 27, 2026 completion date.

  Aftermath

  Rincon Broadcasting Group is identified as WDKA's current owner in the supplied material.

  Reported portfolio transaction value. 50000000 USD (Announced September 22, 2025)

  Source

• 2021

  Sale to Community News MediaM&A

  Background

  Sinclair elected to sell WDKA and KBSI after operating the paired stations.

  Action taken

  Community News Media acquired both stations in a transaction reported as closing in 2021.

  Aftermath

  The stations left Sinclair ownership, although subsequent reference material describes a later Sinclair repurchase of non-license assets.

  Source

• 2016

  Sinclair acquisition agreementM&A

  Background

  WDKA Acquisition Corporation filed to sell the station to Sinclair's WDKA Licensee, LLC.

  Action taken

  The parties pursued a $1.9 million station acquisition, which closed on September 1, 2017.

  Aftermath

  WDKA operated alongside KBSI under Sinclair ownership and shared-services arrangements until the stations were later sold.

  Reported purchase price. 1900000 USD (2016 agreement; transaction closed September 1, 2017)

  Source

• 2006

  Switch to MyNetworkTVStrategy

  Background

  The WB and UPN were being replaced by The CW, and WQTV-LP was selected as the Paducah area's CW affiliate.

  Action taken

  WDKA adopted a MyNetworkTV affiliation when the service launched on September 5, 2006, later operating primarily as an independent station.

  Aftermath

  The change established WDKA's long-term network identity after its earlier UPN and WB affiliations ended.

  Source

1. 1WDKAen.wikipedia.org