WMYO-CD

WMYO-CD is a low-power, Class A digital television station serving Louisville, Kentucky, and nearby communities in Southern Indiana. The station broadcasts on channel 24 and is owned by Aircom Media. Its studios are located on Potters Lane in Clarksville, Indiana, while its transmitter operates from the Louisville-area tower farm in Floyd County, northeast of Floyds Knobs. As a multicast television outlet rather than a conventional full-power network affiliate, WMYO-CD has changed its programming mix and branding several times during its history. The station was established by Greater Louisville Communications, Inc., a company associated with local businessmen Jerome Hutchinson Sr. and Jerome Hutchinson Jr. Its initial construction authorization used the call sign W62BM, and the station was founded on June 22, 1994. It began broadcasting on March 1, 1996, as W24BW. During the late 1990s and through 2003, the station carried music-video programming from MuchUSA, the United States counterpart of the Canadian MuchMusic service, which positioned channel 24 toward a younger, music-oriented audience. In 2003, W24BW moved to the America One network. Its programming at that stage combined network content with community-oriented and regional programming, including sports coverage. The station also developed a notable technical history. Its first chief engineer, Virgil Baldon Jr., served from 1994 to 1997 and selected an Acrodyne solid-state transmitter designed to be convertible from analog to digital operation. The equipment enabled the station to prepare for digital broadcasting well before the United States digital television transition. Baldon also supervised a change to the transmitting antenna's directional pattern to improve coverage toward Louisville. He is described in the station's history as the first African-American engineer to oversee the successful launch of a television station in Kentucky. In 2007, Cascade Broadcasting Group, then associated with WBKI-TV in Campbellsville, Kentucky, began operating the station under a local marketing agreement. Operations moved to WBKI's facility near Blankenbaker Parkway in Jeffersontown. Cascade sought to reposition channel 24 as the Louisville Network, commonly styled LouNET, with locally produced programming aimed particularly at Louisville's African-American and Hispanic communities. During this period, the station also used the unofficial branding WYCS, meaning Your Community Station, to distinguish its programming operation from automated translators that simply relayed network satellite feeds. Ownership later changed when Greater Louisville Broadcasting sold the station to New Albany Broadcasting Co., Inc. The station entered digital operation under the call sign W24BW-D on November 10, 2009. On May 20, 2010, it adopted WKYI-CD, reflecting its Class A digital status. In January 2015, the station added This TV programming to digital subchannel 24.2, replacing WAVE's carriage of the network. The change followed a broader programming arrangement in which WAVE was required to carry Grit, a male-oriented multicast network, instead. This TV was carried during selected dayparts rather than as a full-time 24-hour service. The station subsequently changed its call sign to WBKI-CD on December 27, 2017, and then to WMYO-CD on February 12, 2018. Its programming has included multicast-network services, including Laff, alongside local television content. WMYO-CD's significance is primarily regional: it provides additional digital television programming to the Louisville market through a low-power Class A facility, while its identity has evolved through changes in ownership, network affiliation, technical status, and local positioning.

WMYO-CD traces its origins to Greater Louisville Communications, Inc., which founded the station on June 22, 1994. The facility initially had a construction permit under the call sign W62BM. After completing development, it signed on March 1, 1996, as W24BW, serving the Louisville, Kentucky, television market from a low-power facility. The station's early programming was associated with MuchUSA, the U.S. music-video service related to Canada's MuchMusic. It carried that type of programming from the late 1990s until 2003, when it changed affiliation to America One. Under America One, its schedule included network material, community and regional programming, and sports events. WMYO-CD also developed an early digital-readiness story. Virgil Baldon Jr., its first chief engineer, installed a solid-state Acrodyne transmitter capable of conversion from analog to digital when the station began operating. This planning preceded the United States digital television transition by more than a decade. Baldon additionally directed a change to the transmitting antenna's main directional beam, improving the signal's orientation toward Louisville. The station's historical account identifies him as the first African-American engineer to oversee and successfully launch a television station in Kentucky. In 2007, Cascade Broadcasting Group began operating W24BW through a local marketing agreement. Cascade was then connected with WBKI-TV, a station based in Campbellsville, Kentucky, and moved W24BW's operations to the WBKI facility near Blankenbaker Parkway in Jeffersontown. Cascade attempted to establish a stronger local identity by branding channel 24 as the Louisville Network, or LouNET. The operation produced local programs directed in significant part toward Louisville's African-American and Hispanic communities. It also used the informal call-letter branding WYCS, standing for Your Community Station, to separate the outlet from automated translator operations. Greater Louisville Broadcasting later sold channel 24 to New Albany Broadcasting Co., Inc. The station entered digital service under the call sign W24BW-D on November 10, 2009. On May 20, 2010, it became WKYI-CD, a call sign reflecting Class A digital television operation. In January 2015, digital subchannel 24.2 began carrying This TV in place of WAVE's previous carriage. WAVE's change was linked to a company-wide arrangement requiring it to carry Grit, another multicast network with a male-focused programming profile. This TV was scheduled in mornings, prime time, and overnight periods rather than occupying the subchannel continuously. The station changed its call sign to WBKI-CD on December 27, 2017, and to WMYO-CD on February 12, 2018. It is owned by Aircom Media and operates from studios on Potters Lane in Clarksville, Indiana. Its transmitter is located in the Louisville tower farm in Floyd County, northeast of Floyds Knobs. In its current identity, WMYO-CD functions as a regional digital television outlet carrying multicast-network and local television programming, including Laff-affiliated content.

• 2018

  WMYO-CD call sign adopted

  [1]WMYO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the WMYO-CD call sign on February 12.

• 2017

  WBKI-CD call sign adopted

  [1]WMYO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station changed its call sign from WKYI-CD to WBKI-CD on December 27.

• 2015

  This TV added to subchannel 24.2

  [1]WMYO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  This TV replaced WAVE's carriage of the network on the station's second digital subchannel.

• 2010

  Class A digital call sign adopted

  [1]WMYO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station became WKYI-CD on May 20, reflecting its Class A digital status.

• 2009

  Digital operation begins

  [1]WMYO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the W24BW-D call sign when it began digital operation on November 10.

• 2007

  Local marketing agreement with Cascade Broadcasting Group

  [1]WMYO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Cascade Broadcasting Group began operating the station and pursued the Louisville Network, or LouNET, identity.

• 2003

  America One affiliation

  [1]WMYO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved from MuchUSA music-video programming to America One, adding community, regional, and sports content.

• 1996

  First broadcast

  [1]WMYO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station began broadcasting on March 1, 1996, as W24BW.

• 1994

  Station founded

  [1]WMYO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Greater Louisville Communications, Inc. founded the station on June 22, 1994; its construction permit used the call sign W62BM.

A Louisville-area low-power Class A television station focused on multicast-network content, local and regional programming, and community reach.

• Broadcast television station · 1996

  Channel 24 television service

  WMYO-CD is a low-power, Class A digital television service serving Louisville, Kentucky, and surrounding communities in Southern Indiana. Its distribution is based on a multiplexed digital signal and includes multicast-network programming as well as local or regional material.

• Multicast television network programming

  Laff programming

  Laff-affiliated programming is part of WMYO-CD's current positioning as a multicast television outlet. The service is oriented toward entertainment programming delivered through the station's digital broadcast capacity.

• Digital multicast subchannel · 2015

  This TV on digital subchannel 24.2

  Beginning in January 2015, WMYO-CD carried This TV on digital subchannel 24.2. The network was scheduled in selected dayparts, including mornings, prime time, and overnight periods, rather than being provided as a continuous full-day service.

• 2007Louisville Network / LouNET

  Louisville, Kentucky · Southern Indiana

  During Cascade Broadcasting Group's local marketing agreement, the station was repositioned as the Louisville Network, commonly called LouNET. The initiative included locally produced programming directed especially toward Louisville's African-American and Hispanic communities.

  Outcome. The LouNET identity was a historical branding phase; the station later operated under other call signs and network affiliations.

  Source

• 2015

  Addition of This TV to subchannel 24.2Product launch

  Background

  A wider programming arrangement required WAVE to carry Grit instead of This TV.

  Action taken

  WMYO-CD took over carriage of This TV on digital subchannel 24.2, scheduling it during selected parts of the day.

  Aftermath

  This TV became part of the station's multicast offering, although it was not carried continuously throughout the day.

  Source

• 2007

  Launch of the LouNET local positioningStrategy

  Background

  Cascade Broadcasting Group began operating the station under a local marketing agreement and sought to distinguish it in the Louisville market.

  Action taken

  The station was branded as the Louisville Network, or LouNET, and carried locally produced programming aimed particularly at African-American and Hispanic audiences.

  Aftermath

  The station subsequently changed ownership and call signs, and the LouNET branding was discontinued.

  Source

• 2003

  Move from MuchUSA to America OneStrategy

  Background

  After carrying music-video programming from MuchUSA through the late 1990s and early 2000s, the station changed its programming direction.

  Action taken

  W24BW affiliated with America One and added community, regional, and sports programming to its schedule.

  Aftermath

  The change broadened the station's programming beyond a primarily music-video format.

  Source

1. 1WMYO-CDen.wikipedia.org