WUPX-TV

WUPX-TV is a full-power television station serving central and eastern Kentucky. The station is licensed to Richmond, Kentucky, and operates on virtual channel 67 as an affiliate of Ion Television. Its transmitter is located on High Bridge Road north of Bryantsville, Kentucky, and the station serves viewers in and around the Lexington television market while retaining an obligation to provide continued service to its former community of license, Morehead. The station's history began with a construction permit issued for WAOM on October 14, 1985. Although originally licensed to Morehead, the station did not begin broadcasting until June 1, 1998. Its launch occurred during a period of significant network realignment in American television. A low-power station, WBLU-LP, began broadcasting five months later, and the two stations initially shared programming associated with UPN and The WB, supplemented by infomercials. WAOM was sold in 2001, separating it from the later history of WBLU-LP. In 2001, Paxson Communications acquired WAOM-TV. Paxson operated the station as a Pax TV owned-and-operated outlet and changed its call sign to WUPX-TV, which remains in use. The station subsequently followed the evolution of its national network: Pax TV was rebranded as i: Independent Television in 2005 and adopted the Ion Television name in 2007. WUPX-TV has therefore served as a local distribution outlet for the Ion network's nationally scheduled programming rather than developing a large locally originated programming operation. The station's licensing and transmission arrangements changed over time. In December 2018, the Federal Communications Commission approved a petition to change the station's city of license from Morehead to Richmond. Approval was conditioned on continued service to Morehead, preserving the station's historical connection with that community. WUPX-TV completed the United States digital television transition on June 12, 2009, ending analog broadcasting on UHF channel 67 while continuing to identify itself through virtual channel 67. During the television spectrum repack, its physical digital channel moved from 21 to 25 in 2019, and its transmitter was relocated to a tower southwest of Lexington that had previously been used by WDKY-TV. Ownership changed again through the acquisition and divestiture of Ion Media. In 2020, The E. W. Scripps Company announced a planned purchase of Ion Media for $2.65 billion, financed in part by Berkshire Hathaway. Because the combined ownership structure would have raised federal ownership and local-market concerns, WUPX-TV was selected for divestiture rather than being retained as a Scripps station. Inyo Broadcast Holdings acquired the station as part of the divestiture package, with commitments to preserve its Ion Television affiliation. The transaction closed on January 7, 2021. Scripps later announced on February 26, 2026, that it intended to repurchase all of the Inyo stations, including WUPX-TV. The reference material describes this as a pending repurchase announcement. WUPX-TV remains an active broadcast outlet and continues to be identified with Ion Television, subject to the completion and regulatory status of any ownership transaction.

WUPX-TV traces its regulatory origin to a construction permit issued for WAOM on October 14, 1985. The station was initially licensed to Morehead, Kentucky, but it did not sign on until June 1, 1998. A related low-power outlet, WBLU-LP, launched later that year, and the two stations at first carried programming associated with UPN and The WB along with infomercials. WAOM was sold in 2001, while WBLU-LP later became independent and eventually carried other network affiliations before going dark in 2009 after its parent company entered bankruptcy. Paxson Communications acquired WAOM-TV in 2001. Under Paxson's ownership, the station became a Pax TV owned-and-operated outlet and adopted the WUPX-TV call sign. The national service was renamed i: Independent Television in 2005 and Ion Television in 2007, making WUPX-TV part of the Ion network's nationwide station group. The FCC approved a change in the station's city of license in December 2018, moving it from Morehead to Richmond. The approval required WUPX-TV to continue serving Morehead. The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide digital transition. Its digital signal initially used physical UHF channel 21 while retaining virtual channel 67. In 2019, the station moved its physical allocation to channel 25 during the television spectrum repack and relocated its transmitter to a tower southwest of Lexington formerly used by WDKY-TV. In 2020, The E. W. Scripps Company agreed to acquire Ion Media for $2.65 billion. To satisfy federal ownership requirements, Scripps arranged to divest several Ion stations, including WUPX-TV. Inyo Broadcast Holdings was identified as the buyer and agreed to maintain the station's Ion Television affiliation. The transaction closed on January 7, 2021, placing WUPX-TV under Inyo ownership. On February 26, 2026, Scripps announced plans to repurchase all Inyo stations. The available reference characterizes the repurchase as pending. WUPX-TV is consequently an active Ion Television-affiliated station whose recent ownership history has been shaped by broadcast consolidation, regulatory limits, and required divestitures.

• 2026

  Scripps announces planned repurchase

  [1]WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Scripps announced its intention to repurchase the Inyo stations, including WUPX-TV.

• 2021

  Inyo ownership begins

  [1]WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The divestiture sale to Inyo Broadcast Holdings closed on January 7.

• 2019

  Digital channel and transmitter change

  [1]WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved its physical digital allocation from channel 21 to channel 25 and relocated its transmitter, while retaining virtual channel 67.

• 2018

  City of license changed to Richmond

  [1]WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC granted the station's petition to change its city of license from Morehead to Richmond, with continued-service conditions for Morehead.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WUPX-TV shut down its analog signal on June 12 as part of the United States digital television transition.

• 2007

  Network rebrand to Ion Television

  [1]WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The national network adopted the Ion Television name, under which WUPX-TV continues to operate.

• 2005

  Network rebrand to i

  [1]WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Pax TV was rebranded as i: Independent Television, a change reflected in the station's network relationship.

• 2001

  Paxson acquisition and call-sign change

  [1]WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Paxson Communications acquired WAOM-TV, made it a Pax TV owned-and-operated station, and changed its call sign to WUPX-TV.

• 1998

  WUPX predecessor begins broadcasting

  [1]WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WAOM signed on the air on June 1, beginning the station's full-power broadcast history.

• 1985

  Construction permit issued

  [1]WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  A construction permit was issued for the station then identified as WAOM.

A local full-power broadcast outlet distributing Ion Television programming across the Lexington-area market, with continued service obligations to Morehead.

• Broadcast network affiliation · 2007

  Ion Television

  WUPX-TV's primary service is the local transmission of Ion Television programming. The station distributes the network over the air through its digital signal and identifies the service through virtual channel 67. Its role is principally that of a network affiliate and local broadcast outlet rather than a consumer product brand with separately marketed product lines.

• Local television broadcasting · 2009

  WUPX-TV digital broadcast service

  The station's digital broadcast service covers the Lexington-area market and surrounding communities in Kentucky. It operates on physical UHF channel 25 while continuing to use virtual channel 67. The service also reflects the station's licensing obligation to maintain coverage serving Morehead after its city of license changed to Richmond.

• 2026

  Planned repurchase by ScrippsM&A

  Background

  After the earlier divestiture of WUPX-TV to Inyo, Scripps announced a plan to reacquire all Inyo stations.

  Action taken

  Scripps announced its intention to repurchase WUPX-TV and the other Inyo stations.

  Aftermath

  The available reference identifies the repurchase as pending; its closing status and final regulatory outcome are not established here.

  Source

• 2020

  Divestiture during Scripps's Ion Media acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Scripps's proposed purchase of Ion Media raised federal local and national broadcast-ownership considerations.

  Action taken

  WUPX-TV was selected for divestiture and assigned to Inyo Broadcast Holdings, with the buyer expected to preserve the Ion Television affiliation.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed on January 7, 2021, and WUPX-TV became an Inyo-owned station.

  Ion Media acquisition price. $2.65 billion announced transaction value (September 2020 announcement)

  Source

• 2018

  Change of city of licenseStrategy

  Background

  The station sought to change its community of license from Morehead to Richmond while continuing to serve the broader Lexington-area audience.

  Action taken

  The FCC approved the change on the condition that WUPX-TV maintain continued service to Morehead.

  Aftermath

  WUPX-TV became licensed to Richmond while retaining a formal service connection to Morehead.

  Source

1. 1WUPX-TVen.wikipedia.org