KWYB
Encyclopedia
KWYB is a full-service television station
in Butte, Montana
, broadcasting locally in digital
on UHF channel 19 as an affiliate of ABC
. The station's signal is rebroadcast on KWYB-LD UHF channel 28 in Bozeman
. Founded January 9, 1992, the station is owned by Max Media of Montana, under the license name of MMM License LLC.
(FCC) granted an original construction permit to Continental Television Network (CTN) for a full-service station on channel 18 to serve Butte. The station, at first known by its application identification number, 910225KE, soon took the call letters KWYB. The station signed on September 27, 1996.
In February 2001, CTN sold KWYB, along with KWYB-LP in Bozeman, KTMF
in Missoula
, KTMF-LP in Kalispell
and KTGF
in Great Falls
, to Max Media of Montana. They were the first television station acquisitions in Montana for Max Media.
CTN aired no news on its stations, but soon after Max Media acquired the stations, they began to make plans for a regional newscast for KWYB and its other stations, to debut in early 2002. They launched the newscast, produced by Independent News Network of Davenport, Iowa
and branded Big Sky News, in October 2002, http://www.maxmontana.com but the newscast generated controversy, in part because it tried to simultaneously serve the needs of five communities over 200 miles (over 300 km) apart, and in part because the newscast did not actually originate in Montana, but rather, in a city approximately 1,050 miles (1700 km) away, with only one reporter actually assigned to and located in Butte.
Max Media launched another attempt at a regional newscast for KWYB and its other stations in February 2005, this time branded Montana News Network, produced in Great Falls at KFBB.
In February 2001, CTN sold the station to Max Media of Montana as part of the same transaction as KWYB and participated in the same newscasts as KWYB.
On August 11, 2006, the FCC granted "flash-cut" authorization to KWYB-LD, and on August 11, 2009, analog station KWYB-LP shut down and digital station KWYB-LD commenced broadcasting on channel 28.
As of July 13, 2009, a KWYB subchannel is now a Fox television affiliate. Fox is broadcast on digital channel 18-2, and, like 18-1, is available in 720p high definition. Formerly, Fox was available on KBTZ
analog channel 24. Max Media obtained broadcast rights when Equity Media Holdings filed for bankruptcy.
, two hours behind the East Coast.) KWYB airs Nightline one-half hour after the 10 PM local evening news ends and fills the overnight schedule with World News Now
and ABC World News This Morning
.
KWYB broadcasts very little local news. The Montana News Network regional newscast no longer airs on KWYB, so there is no early evening local newscast. The late local news, called 10@10, is a 10-minute newscast summarizing weather and sports.
KWYB functions very much like a satellite of KTMF, as both stations air nearly identical schedules, save for a few differences on Sunday mornings. KTMF and KWYB air the same 10@10 sportscasts but different weather segments.
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, broadcasting locally in digital
ATSC
ATSC standards are a set of standards developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee for digital television transmission over terrestrial, cable, and satellite networks....
on UHF channel 19 as an affiliate of ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. The station's signal is rebroadcast on KWYB-LD UHF channel 28 in Bozeman
Bozeman, Montana
Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists...
. Founded January 9, 1992, the station is owned by Max Media of Montana, under the license name of MMM License LLC.
History
On January 9, 1992, the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) granted an original construction permit to Continental Television Network (CTN) for a full-service station on channel 18 to serve Butte. The station, at first known by its application identification number, 910225KE, soon took the call letters KWYB. The station signed on September 27, 1996.
In February 2001, CTN sold KWYB, along with KWYB-LP in Bozeman, KTMF
KTMF
KTMF is a full-service television station in Missoula, Montana, broadcasting locally in digital on UHF channel 23 as an affiliate of ABC. Founded April 12, 1989, the station is owned by Max Media of Montana...
in Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
, KTMF-LP in Kalispell
Kalispell, Montana
Kalispell is a city in and the county seat of Flathead County, Montana, United States. The 2010 census put Kalispell's population at 19,927 up 5,704 over 2000. At 40.1% this is the largest percentage of growth of any incorporated city in Montana. Kalispell is the largest city and commercial center...
and KTGF
KTGF
KTGF, digital channel 45, was a television station in Great Falls, Montana. The station was owned by Destiny Communications, and was last affiliated with JCTV.-History:...
in Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
, to Max Media of Montana. They were the first television station acquisitions in Montana for Max Media.
CTN aired no news on its stations, but soon after Max Media acquired the stations, they began to make plans for a regional newscast for KWYB and its other stations, to debut in early 2002. They launched the newscast, produced by Independent News Network of Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
and branded Big Sky News, in October 2002, http://www.maxmontana.com but the newscast generated controversy, in part because it tried to simultaneously serve the needs of five communities over 200 miles (over 300 km) apart, and in part because the newscast did not actually originate in Montana, but rather, in a city approximately 1,050 miles (1700 km) away, with only one reporter actually assigned to and located in Butte.
Max Media launched another attempt at a regional newscast for KWYB and its other stations in February 2005, this time branded Montana News Network, produced in Great Falls at KFBB.
KWYB-LP history
On May 30, 1996, the FCC granted an original construction permit to Louise K. Corbin for a low-power station on channel 28 to serve Bozeman. The station was given callsign K28FB and was quickly built. K28FB was licensed on January 14, 1997. In May 1997, Continental Television Network purchased the station and six months later, changed its calls to KWYB-LP.In February 2001, CTN sold the station to Max Media of Montana as part of the same transaction as KWYB and participated in the same newscasts as KWYB.
Digital television
On June 14, 2002, the FCC granted a construction permit to build KWYB-DT on UHF channel 19. The station received Special Temporary Authority (STA) on April 22, 2003 to broadcast at reduced power. As of August 2006, the station has not completed its final digital facilities and continues to broadcast per the STA. KWYB has elected to move to channel 19 once the transition to digital television is completed.On August 11, 2006, the FCC granted "flash-cut" authorization to KWYB-LD, and on August 11, 2009, analog station KWYB-LP shut down and digital station KWYB-LD commenced broadcasting on channel 28.
As of July 13, 2009, a KWYB subchannel is now a Fox television affiliate. Fox is broadcast on digital channel 18-2, and, like 18-1, is available in 720p high definition. Formerly, Fox was available on KBTZ
KBTZ
KBTZ was a full-service television station serving Butte, Montana as a Fox affiliate, broadcasting in analog on UHF channel 24, with no digital allocation. The station was owned by Equity Media Holdings of Little Rock, Arkansas...
analog channel 24. Max Media obtained broadcast rights when Equity Media Holdings filed for bankruptcy.
Programming
As an ABC affiliate, KWYB airs most of the network schedule. ABC's 6:30 PM network newscast, World News with Diane Sawyer, airs at 4:30 PM on KWYB (Montana is in the Mountain Time ZoneMountain Time Zone
The Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time, during the shortest days of autumn and winter , and by subtracting six hours during daylight saving time in the spring, summer, and early autumn...
, two hours behind the East Coast.) KWYB airs Nightline one-half hour after the 10 PM local evening news ends and fills the overnight schedule with World News Now
World News Now
World News Now is an American overnight news program broadcast on American Broadcasting Company's television network. Its tone is often lighthearted, irreverent and humorous...
and ABC World News This Morning
ABC World News This Morning
America This Morning is a half-hour early morning newscast airing on the ABC television network, produced by ABC News and offered to ABC stations...
.
KWYB broadcasts very little local news. The Montana News Network regional newscast no longer airs on KWYB, so there is no early evening local newscast. The late local news, called 10@10, is a 10-minute newscast summarizing weather and sports.
KWYB functions very much like a satellite of KTMF, as both stations air nearly identical schedules, save for a few differences on Sunday mornings. KTMF and KWYB air the same 10@10 sportscasts but different weather segments.