WYTV

WYTV is a television station licensed to Youngstown, Ohio, and identified with UHF channel 33. Its primary service is an ABC affiliation, while its second digital subchannel carries MyNetworkTV programming under the MyYTV brand. The station serves the Youngstown television market and reaches viewers in the Mahoning Valley and parts of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania through over-the-air broadcasting, cable, satellite, and digital distribution. The station traces its origins to WKST-TV, which began broadcasting on April 4, 1953, on analog channel 45. It was licensed to New Castle, Pennsylvania, but also functioned as the principal ABC outlet for the Youngstown area. At the time, the station helped give the small regional market full-time access to the major national television networks. In 1959, the station moved to channel 33, improving its coverage. In September 1963, it shifted its city of license and most of its operations to Youngstown and adopted the WYTV call letters. Ownership changed repeatedly during the station's history. Local investors initially controlled the operation, followed by ownership associated with Adam Young Inc. Aurovideo, linked to the Adams-Russell Company, acquired the station in 1970. Benedek Broadcasting later became a major owner, first purchasing a partial interest in 1983 and the remainder in 1985. Benedek's bankruptcy in 2002 led to another ownership transition, after which Chelsey Television owned the license and Barrington Broadcasting managed the station. WYTV also played a temporary role in the market's response to the arrival of the Fox network's National Football League programming in the 1990s. In 1994, it agreed to carry Fox NFL coverage because other local stations were unable or unwilling to accept a primary Fox affiliation. The arrangement did not extend to Fox's full prime-time schedule. When a dedicated Fox outlet, WYFX-LP, was launched for the 1998 season, WYTV lost the football programming and associated revenue, contributing to staff reductions and the temporary cancellation of its morning newscast. In the 2000s, WYTV became closely integrated with WKBN-TV and WYFX through shared-services and joint-sales arrangements. A 2007 transaction placed the station's operations under an agreement involving New Vision Television, which owned WKBN at the time. WYTV moved from its former Shady Run Road facility to WKBN and WYFX's operations center in Boardman Township. In 2012, LIN TV acquired New Vision's station group and assumed operational control of WYTV. Media General subsequently acquired LIN Media in 2014, and Nexstar Media Group acquired Media General in 2017. Although Vaughan Media owns the WYTV license, Nexstar's Youngstown operation continues to provide substantial services under the established agreements. The station's programming identity includes local news, weather, sports, syndicated material, ABC network programming, and community features. Its MyYTV subchannel launched in 2006 as a MyNetworkTV outlet and has carried locally relevant sports and other programming, including high-school games and selected events involving Youngstown State University and local baseball. WYTV has also maintained a longstanding connection with children's and educational programming, including the former 33 Powwww program and the YSU Academic Challenge quiz show. WYTV's news operation is substantially integrated with WKBN-TV. The news departments physically merged in December 2007, resulting in major staff reductions and the consolidation of production facilities. The stations continue to use separate on-air identities and, at times, distinct principal anchors, while sharing many reporters, video resources, weather capabilities, and production infrastructure. The combined operation upgraded its broadcasts to high definition in 2010. In 2013, the stations introduced a mobile live-reporting vehicle branded 33 Live Drive Action Cam. As of December 2024, WYTV was reported to broadcast m…

WYTV began as WKST-TV on April 4, 1953. The station was licensed to New Castle, Pennsylvania, on analog channel 45 and operated as the ABC affiliate serving both New Castle and the nearby Youngstown market. Its launch gave the relatively small region full-time access to the major networks at a time when ABC affiliations were often secondary in smaller markets. The station also reached portions of western Pennsylvania, although its signal competed with other Pittsburgh-area services. After a period off the air, the station moved to channel 33 in 1959. The change strengthened its technical coverage and separated its later identity from the channel 45 facility, which subsequently became associated with other broadcasting plans. In September 1963, WKST-TV moved its city of license and most operations to Youngstown and changed its call letters to WYTV. This established the station's enduring connection with the city and the Mahoning Valley. The ownership structure evolved through several local and regional transactions. A consortium of local investors controlled the early operation before a group led by Adam Young Inc. acquired it in 1965. Aurovideo, Inc., associated with the Adams-Russell Company, purchased the station in 1970. Benedek Broadcasting acquired half of the station in 1983 in partnership with investor Robert L. Dudley and later bought the remaining interest in 1985. Benedek remained associated with WYTV until its bankruptcy in 2002. The license then passed to Chelsey Television, while Barrington Broadcasting provided management services. The station's programming role changed during the 1990s as Fox sought local outlets for its National Football League package. Youngstown had no obvious primary Fox affiliate, and local stations faced network and programming constraints. WYTV agreed in April 1994 to carry Fox NFL coverage, but it did not add Fox's full prime-time schedule. The arrangement ended when WYFX-LP launched as the market's dedicated Fox outlet for the 1998 football season. The loss of the NFL package reduced WYTV's revenue and was followed by layoffs and the temporary suspension of its morning newscast. A major structural change occurred in the 2000s. In 2007, the Federal Communications Commission approved a shared-services arrangement involving WYTV and the owner of WKBN-TV and WYFX. WYTV was moved from its former Shady Run Road studios to the WKBN/WYFX facility in the Boardman Township area. The arrangement drew criticism and regulatory scrutiny because the Youngstown market had a limited number of full-power stations, raising questions about the practical effect of the relationship under broadcast ownership rules. The FCC nevertheless approved the agreement. In December 2007, WYTV's news department was physically merged with WKBN's. More than 40 WYTV employees and six WKBN employees were laid off in the consolidation. The stations thereafter shared much of their reporting, footage, weather resources, and production infrastructure while retaining separate channel identities and some separate anchor roles. Their visual presentation increasingly became similar, and their websites were at times integrated. The combined operation introduced high-definition newscasts in May 2010. In November 2013, it launched 33 Live Drive Action Cam, a mobile reporting vehicle intended for severe weather, traffic, road conditions, and breaking-news coverage. WYTV introduced MyYTV, a MyNetworkTV service, on its second digital subchannel in September 2006. The service carried local sports and community programming alongside network content. Its schedule has included recorded high-school football and basketball, delayed Youngstown State University games, selected local baseball, and, during an earlier period, a 10 p.m. newscast. The subchannel later carried repeats of WYTV's morning news programming and was also distributed through a simulcast on WYFX-LD2. Corporate control changed again in 2012 when LIN TV acquired New Vision Television's stations and assumed the relevant operating agreements. Media General acquired LIN Media in 2014, subject to conditions concerning the joint-sales relationship. Nexstar acquired Media General in 2017, and the Nexstar-related Youngstown operation continued to provide services for WYTV. Vaughan Media became the license owner through the transaction structure, while Nexstar retained operational involvement. WYTV was also affected by the FCC's broadcast-spectrum repacking program. WKBN-TV sold spectrum in 2017 and subsequently moved its transmission to WYTV's former frequency in April 2018. Other digital services were rearranged to accommodate the change. As of December 2024, WYTV continued to operate as an ABC affiliate with MyNetworkTV on its digital subchannel and reported more than 26 hours of locally produced news each week.

• 2018

  WKBN moves transmission to WYTV frequency

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  Following the spectrum-reallocation process, WKBN-TV moved its broadcast transmission to WYTV's former frequency.

• 2017

  Nexstar acquires Media General

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar acquired Media General, continuing its operational relationship with the Youngstown stations.

• 2014

  Media General acquires LIN Media

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  Media General completed its acquisition of LIN Media and related Youngstown station agreements.

• 2012

  LIN assumes operational control

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  LIN's acquisition of New Vision's station group transferred operational control arrangements involving WYTV.

• 2010

  High-definition news launch

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  The combined news operation began broadcasting in high definition.

• 2007

  Shared-services agreement approved

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC approved a shared-services arrangement involving WYTV and the WKBN/WYFX operation.

• 2007

  News operations consolidate

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  WYTV and WKBN physically merged their news departments.

• 2006

  MyYTV launches

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  WYTV launched its MyNetworkTV-affiliated second digital channel.

• 2002

  Benedek bankruptcy and ownership transition

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  Benedek's bankruptcy led to the transfer of the station to Chelsey Television, with Barrington Broadcasting managing it.

• 1994

  WYTV carries Fox NFL programming

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  WYTV agreed to carry Fox's NFL package while remaining primarily affiliated with ABC.

• 1985

  Benedek acquires the remaining interest

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  Benedek purchased the rest of the station's ownership interest.

• 1983

  Benedek purchases a partial interest

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  Benedek Broadcasting acquired a 50 percent interest in the station with investor Robert L. Dudley.

• 1970

  Aurovideo acquisition

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  Aurovideo, associated with Adams-Russell, acquired the station.

• 1963

  Youngstown relocation and WYTV call sign

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved its city of license and most operations to Youngstown and adopted the WYTV identity.

• 1959

  Move to channel 33

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved to the stronger channel 33 assignment to improve signal coverage.

• 1953

  WKST-TV signs on

  [1]WYTVen.wikipedia.org

  The station began broadcasting on analog channel 45 as WKST-TV, licensed to New Castle, Pennsylvania.

A locally oriented broadcast station combining ABC network entertainment and news with Youngstown-focused journalism, weather, sports, and community programming.

• Broadcast television · 1953

  WYTV ABC service

  WYTV's primary service carries ABC network programming together with locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs, and community content for the Youngstown market. The station's schedule also includes syndicated television programming and commercial announcements targeted to viewers in the Mahoning Valley and surrounding areas.

• Digital television subchannel · 2006

  MyYTV

  MyYTV is WYTV's MyNetworkTV-branded digital subchannel, launched in 2006. In addition to network programming, it has carried locally relevant sports and community material, including recorded high-school games, selected Youngstown State University events, and local baseball. It has also aired repeats of WYTV morning news programming and has been simulcast through WYFX-LD2.

• Local news service

  WYTV local news

  WYTV provides locally focused news, weather, sports, and breaking-news coverage. Production is integrated with WKBN-TV, with shared reporters, footage, technical resources, and facilities while WYTV retains its own station identity and selected separate on-air roles.

• Mobile news-gathering service · 2013

  33 Live Drive Action Cam

  Introduced in 2013, 33 Live Drive Action Cam is a mobile reporting vehicle used by the Youngstown operation for storm coverage, road-condition reports, traffic information, and live coverage of breaking events.

• 201333 Live Drive Action Cam

  Youngstown, Ohio · Mahoning Valley

  WYTV and WKBN introduced a branded mobile reporting vehicle to support severe-weather coverage, road reports, and breaking-news broadcasts.

  Outcome. The vehicle became part of the stations' combined local-news and field-reporting resources.

  Source

• 2017

  Participate in broadcast-spectrum reallocationStrategy

  Background

  The FCC's spectrum-reallocation program prompted participating broadcasters to sell spectrum and reorganize transmission facilities.

  Action taken

  WKBN-TV sold spectrum and later moved its transmission to WYTV's frequency, requiring associated digital-subchannel changes.

  Aftermath

  The Youngstown stations rearranged their transmission and subchannel configuration, with the WKBN move taking effect in April 2018.

  Spectrum-sale proceeds reported for WKBN-TV. 34000000 (2017)

  Source

• 2010

  Upgrade local news to high definitionOther

  Background

  WYTV's news production had been integrated with WKBN's shared operation.

  Action taken

  The combined operation introduced high-definition newscasts and refreshed graphics on WYTV.

  Aftermath

  The upgrade modernized the station's local-news presentation while preserving the shared production model.

  Source

• 2007

  Consolidate operations with WKBN and WYFXStrategy

  Background

  The station entered a shared-services structure with the WKBN-TV and WYFX operation after a period of ownership and management changes.

  Action taken

  WYTV moved its operations to the WKBN/WYFX facility, and its news department was physically merged with WKBN's.

  Aftermath

  The consolidation reduced duplication but resulted in extensive layoffs and long-term sharing of facilities, staff resources, and news production.

  Source

• 2006

  Launch MyYTV digital subchannelProduct launch

  Background

  The station sought to add a MyNetworkTV service and expand its digital-channel offering in the Youngstown market.

  Action taken

  WYTV launched MyYTV on its second digital subchannel in September 2006.

  Aftermath

  MyYTV carried MyNetworkTV programming, local sports, community content, and, for a period, a locally produced prime-time newscast.

  Source

• 1994

  Carry Fox NFL programmingStrategy

  Background

  Fox acquired rights to National Football League programming, but Youngstown lacked a clear primary Fox affiliate and other local stations declined or could not accept the package.

  Action taken

  WYTV agreed to air Fox's NFL coverage as a secondary affiliation while continuing as an ABC station.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement ended when WYFX-LP launched as the market's primary Fox outlet for the 1998 season. The loss of the package contributed to layoffs and a temporary cancellation of WYTV's morning newscast.

  Source

1. 1WYTVen.wikipedia.org