KSCW-DT: An Overview
KSCW-DT, operating on channel 33, is a television station based in Wichita, Kansas. Affiliated with The CW network, KSCW is owned by Gray Media, which also owns the CBS affiliate KWCH-DT. The two stations share studio facilities located on 37th Street in northeast Wichita, while KSCW-DT’s transmitter is situated in rural northeastern Reno County, east of Hutchinson. Additionally, KSCW-DT operates a digital replacement translator on UHF channel 33 from a transmitter in North Wichita.
History of KSCW-DT
The history of KSCW-DT can be traced back to its initial licensing on June 8, 1988. At that time, the station was under the call letters KWCV and was licensed through LIN TV after filing an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The station received a temporary license as DKWCV on November 5, 1998, but reverted to KWCV on February 11, 1999. KSCW-DT officially began broadcasting on August 5, 1999, originally operating as a WB affiliate and branding itself as “Kansas’ WB.” Before KSCW’s launch, viewers in the Wichita market could only access The WB’s programming through cable superstation WGN or Denver’s KWGN-TV.
On January 24, 2006, Time Warner’s Warner Bros. and CBS Corporation announced a merger of their networks—The WB and UPN—creating a new network called The CW. Following this decision, KSCW-DT was approved by the FCC to change its call letters from KWCV to KSCW to reflect its new affiliation. The transition to becoming the market’s CW affiliate occurred on September 18, 2006.
Ownership Changes
In March 2007, Banks Broadcasting announced its intent to sell KSCW-DT to Schurz Communications, which owned KWCH. The sale was approved by the FCC despite the challenges posed by the limited number of full-power television stations in the Wichita area. In September 2015, Schurz Communications decided to exit broadcasting entirely and sold its television and radio stations to Gray Television for $442.5 million. Although Gray already owned KAKE in Wichita, it opted to retain ownership of KSCW and KWCH following the sale.
Programming at KSCW-DT
KSCW-DT offers a diverse range of programming content that appeals to viewers across different demographics. In recent developments for the year 2024, Gray Television announced an agreement to broadcast eight Oklahoma City Thunder games on KSCW-DT, further diversifying its sports programming.
Local Newscasts
A significant aspect of KSCW-DT’s programming is its local news coverage produced by sister station KWCH. Currently, KWCH produces over twenty hours of locally generated newscasts weekly for KSCW. This includes three and a half hours of news broadcasts on weekdays as well as additional segments on weekends. One notable program aired on KSCW is AG AM in Kansas, an agricultural news show that airs at 6 a.m. on weekdays.
In October 2008, KWCH launched a two-hour extension of its weekday morning newscast titled Eyewitness News This Morning on KSCW. This program was designed to compete with national morning news shows from major networks. Notably, KWCH became the first station in the Wichita market to broadcast local newscasts in high definition starting in October 2008; this upgrade included KSCW’s broadcasts as well.
Expansion of Newscast Offerings
In September 2011, KWCH expanded its newscast offerings for KSCW by introducing half-hour broadcasts at 4 p.m. during weekdays and at 9 p.m. every night. The introduction of these newscasts led to temporary competition with another nightly newscast produced for Fox affiliate KSAS-TV by KWCH until an agreement between them expired. Following this change, KWCH also started producing additional weekend newscasts for KSCW.
Technical Information
KSCW-DT operates multiple subchannels that enhance its broadcasting capabilities and offer viewers more varied content options. As part of its technical setup, KSCW provides four subchannels that are available in ATSC 1.0 format across various multiplexes aligned with ATSC 3.0 arrangements.
Subchannel Developments
On May 25, 2015, KSCW-DT introduced a second subchannel featuring Decades—a classic television network focused on sitcoms—which was rebranded as Catchy Comedy in 2023. Additionally, starting January 16, 2017, KSCW began carrying Antenna TV on a newly created third subchannel.
Digital Transition
KSCW transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts following federal mandates set out by the FCC regarding digital television allotment plans established in April 1997. The station ceased broadcasting its analog signal over UHF channel 33 on February 17 of that year when it turned on its digital signal as part of the nationwide transition process.
Conclusion
KSCW-DT has established itself as an important player in the Wichita television landscape since it first began operations in 1999. Through its affiliation with The CW network and commitment to local news coverage and diverse programming offerings, it has continued to adapt and grow within an ever-changing media environment. With ongoing investments in technology and programming—such as high-definition broadcasts and partnerships for sports events—KSCW is poised to remain a vital source of entertainment and information for viewers in Kansas for years to come.
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