WIBW-DT2

WIBW-DT2 is the second digital subchannel of WIBW-TV, a television station serving Topeka, Kansas, and surrounding areas. The subchannel operates on virtual channel 13.2 and is associated with two distinct programming identities: it is branded generally as My Topeka TV and carries MeTV for much of its schedule, while MyNetworkTV programming occupies selected periods. The service is therefore best understood as a hybrid digital-subchannel operation rather than as a standalone broadcast station or an independent corporate brand. The subchannel was launched on September 5, 2006, following Gray Television’s decision to affiliate WIBW with MyNetworkTV. MyNetworkTV had been announced by News Corporation in February 2006 as a programming service designed partly for stations that would lose UPN or WB affiliations when those networks were replaced by The CW. WIBW management had previously considered using a digital subchannel for UPN programming, but ultimately selected MyNetworkTV after Gray entered into a multi-station affiliation agreement. In the Topeka market, KSNT’s second digital subchannel received the local CW affiliation, leaving WIBW-DT2 as the MyNetworkTV outlet. At launch, WIBW-DT2 carried MyNetworkTV as its primary affiliation and Colours TV as a secondary service. In September 2009, it added This TV as a secondary affiliation, using the network’s movie-oriented schedule to fill periods not occupied by MyNetworkTV. That arrangement ended on September 10, 2012, when the subchannel replaced This TV with MeTV. The change reflected a practical scheduling strategy: MeTV’s half-hour and hour-long classic television programs were easier to combine with local news and sports preemptions than feature-length films. By September 2014, WIBW-DT2 had largely cleared out the remaining syndicated material and carried most of MeTV’s schedule, except for the prime-time periods reserved for MyNetworkTV. The channel’s branding evolved with this programming mix. My Topeka TV is used as the principal promotional identity, including during MyNetworkTV programming, while MeTV Topeka is used during MeTV hours. As MyNetworkTV shifted from a conventional prime-time network toward a limited programming and syndication service, WIBW-DT2 increasingly functioned as a classic-television outlet. By 2021, MyNetworkTV programming was scheduled overnight, from approximately 1:00 to 3:00 a.m. Central Time, while MeTV supplied the core daytime, weekend, and overnight schedule. WIBW-DT2 also provides a secondary outlet for WIBW-TV’s local programming. When CBS sports coverage delays the main station’s Sunday 5 p.m. newscast, WIBW may place a live half-hour edition on channel 13.2. This gives the parent station additional flexibility while preserving local news access for viewers. The subchannel broadcasts in standard definition and reaches viewers through over-the-air digital television and applicable multichannel distribution arrangements. Its principal value is the combination of a recognizable local station identity, national classic-television programming, limited MyNetworkTV content, and schedule flexibility for WIBW-TV’s news and sports operations.

WIBW-DT2 emerged from the transition to digital multicast television and the reshaping of the American broadcast-network landscape in 2006. News Corporation announced MyNetworkTV on February 22 of that year after CBS Corporation and Time Warner announced the creation of The CW from the planned combination of UPN and The WB. MyNetworkTV was intended to provide an outlet for stations that would not become CW affiliates, including stations whose existing network relationships were ending. WIBW-TV management had considered creating a digital subchannel for UPN before the network realignment. After MyNetworkTV was announced, Gray Television secured a 13-station affiliation agreement, making WIBW the Topeka market’s MyNetworkTV outlet. KSNT was selected as the local CW affiliate through its second digital channel, so WIBW-DT2 occupied a distinct position as the competing network’s digital-only affiliate. The subchannel began broadcasting on September 5, 2006, with MyNetworkTV as its primary service and Colours TV as a secondary affiliation. The channel’s secondary programming changed as the multicast environment developed. In September 2009, it added This TV, a Weigel Broadcasting service that offered a mixture of movies and syndicated programming. This filled parts of the schedule outside the MyNetworkTV windows. On September 10, 2012, WIBW-DT2 dropped This TV and adopted MeTV instead. According to the station’s management, the principal operational advantage was schedule flexibility: MeTV’s shorter programs could be rearranged more readily to accommodate local newscasts and sports than feature-length films could. The MeTV arrangement gradually became the subchannel’s dominant programming identity. By September 2014, most remaining syndicated programming had been removed, and the service carried most of MeTV’s schedule except for the weekday evening periods used by MyNetworkTV. As MyNetworkTV’s role changed from a conventional nightly network schedule to a limited programming service, WIBW-DT2’s MyNetworkTV content was moved to an overnight slot. By 2021, it was generally scheduled from 1:00 to 3:00 a.m. Central Time, with MeTV occupying most other programming periods. WIBW-DT2 also functions as a flexible extension of WIBW-TV’s local operation. WIBW-TV produces more than 28 hours of local news each week, but Sunday evening newscasts can be preempted or delayed by CBS sports. On affected weeks, a live half-hour edition of the Sunday 5 p.m. newscast may be carried on WIBW-DT2 instead. This use reflects the broader role of digital subchannels: they can provide additional national programming while also protecting local news availability when a primary channel’s network schedule changes. The service is broadcast in standard definition on virtual channel 13.2. Its public-facing identities, My Topeka TV and MeTV Topeka, reflect the dual nature of its programming. WIBW-DT2 is not separately described as an independently owned station; it is a multicast service operated through WIBW-TV, whose station ownership has passed from the original Capper and Stauffer interests to Benedek Broadcasting and then Gray Television. Gray later became Gray Media, the current corporate owner identified for the WIBW operation.

• 2021

  MyNetworkTV moves to overnight hours

  [1]WIBW-TVen.wikipedia.org

  MyNetworkTV programming was being carried approximately from 1:00 to 3:00 a.m. Central Time, with MeTV providing most of the remaining schedule.

• 2014

  MeTV becomes the dominant schedule

  [1]WIBW-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The subchannel substantially reduced syndicated programming and cleared most of the MeTV schedule outside MyNetworkTV periods.

• 2012

  MeTV replaces This TV

  [1]WIBW-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The subchannel switched secondary affiliations from This TV to MeTV on September 10.

• 2009

  This TV added as secondary affiliation

  [1]WIBW-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WIBW-DT2 began carrying This TV in selected periods outside its MyNetworkTV schedule.

• 2006

  MyNetworkTV affiliation announced

  [1]WIBW-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Gray Television selected WIBW-TV as the Topeka affiliate for the newly announced MyNetworkTV service.

• 2006

  WIBW-DT2 begins broadcasting

  [1]WIBW-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The second digital subchannel launched on September 5 as a primary MyNetworkTV outlet with Colours TV as a secondary affiliation.

A secondary local broadcast service combining MeTV’s classic television schedule with limited MyNetworkTV programming and occasional WIBW-TV local news coverage.

• Local digital television brand · 2006

  My Topeka TV

  The principal on-air identity for WIBW-DT2. My Topeka TV promotes the subchannel’s MyNetworkTV programming and serves as the general brand for the digital service, including periods when the schedule is supplied by MeTV.

• Classic television programming service · 2012

  MeTV Topeka

  The alternate identity used during MeTV programming. MeTV supplies most of WIBW-DT2’s daytime, weekend, and overnight schedule, offering a library-oriented lineup of older television series and related programming.

• Network television programming · 2006

  MyNetworkTV on WIBW-DT2

  MyNetworkTV programming was the subchannel’s original primary affiliation and remains part of its schedule. As the service’s programming model changed, its content moved largely to overnight hours.

• Local news programming

  WIBW local news overflow

  WIBW-DT2 occasionally carries live WIBW-TV newscasts when network sports coverage prevents the main channel from airing a scheduled local program, including certain Sunday 5 p.m. broadcasts.

• 2021

  Overnight placement of MyNetworkTV programmingGeneration change

  Background

  MyNetworkTV had evolved toward a limited programming service rather than a full traditional prime-time network schedule.

  Action taken

  WIBW-DT2 scheduled MyNetworkTV programming overnight, approximately from 1:00 to 3:00 a.m. Central Time.

  Aftermath

  MeTV supplied the bulk of the channel’s visible schedule while the original MyNetworkTV affiliation was retained in a reduced window.

  Source

• 2014

  Greater reliance on MeTV programmingStrategy

  Background

  The subchannel’s schedule was being reorganized around its MeTV affiliation and limited MyNetworkTV periods.

  Action taken

  Most remaining syndicated programming was removed by September 2014, allowing WIBW-DT2 to clear more of the MeTV schedule.

  Aftermath

  MeTV became the service’s principal programming identity outside the MyNetworkTV blocks.

  Source

• 2012

  Switch from This TV to MeTVStrategy

  Background

  This TV’s movie-heavy schedule was less convenient to rearrange around local newscasts and sports programming.

  Action taken

  WIBW-DT2 ended its This TV affiliation and adopted MeTV as its secondary programming service on September 10.

  Aftermath

  The shorter MeTV programs provided greater scheduling flexibility, and the subchannel later carried most of MeTV’s schedule outside MyNetworkTV windows.

  Source

• 2006

  Launch of a MyNetworkTV digital subchannelProduct launch

  Background

  The creation of The CW from UPN and The WB left some stations seeking alternative network affiliations. Gray Television selected WIBW for MyNetworkTV in the Topeka market.

  Action taken

  WIBW-TV launched its second digital subchannel on September 5, carrying MyNetworkTV as its principal affiliation and Colours TV as a secondary service.

  Aftermath

  WIBW-DT2 became the Topeka outlet for MyNetworkTV while KSNT’s second channel carried The CW.

  Source

1. 1WIBW-TVen.wikipedia.org