CBS has announced it is switching affiliates — from WISH to WTTV — in the Indianapolis market. WTTV, currently the CW affiliate in Indianapolis, will be the CBS affiliate beginning January 1, 2015.
WTTV is the sister station to WXIN, the market’s Fox affiliate. Tribune has owned WTTV since 2002. It has been a CW affiliate since 2006; prior to that, it was an affiliate of The WB and, earlier, UPN. WTTV was the second station to go on the air in the market, in 1949, and was an NBC and ABC affiliate throughout the 1950s.
As part of the shift, Tribune will move the CW to digital channel 4.2, leaving WISH as an independent station as of January 1. WISH had been the CBS station in Indianapolis since 1956. Tribune already has plans to produce local newscasts for the new CBS affiliate. WXIN resources will likely be tapped to get the new WTTV newscasts on the air. Right now, WXIN produces 10.5 hours of news every day.
Tribune also announced it has renewed existing agreements with its other CBS affiliates: WREG in Memphis, WHNT in Huntsville, Ala., KFSM in Fort Smith, Ark., and WTVR in Richmond. CBS has also renewed its affiliation agreement with WTKR in Norfolk, which it operates under a shared service agreement.
“This comprehensive agreement further expands our strong partnership with CBS and allows us to provide an array of outstanding programming, including leading live sports, news and entertainment,” Tribune Broadcasting president Larry Wert said in a statement. “Through WTTV’s new affiliation, we look forward to significantly enhancing our sports offerings, local news coverage and commitment to the community.”