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WFYI (TV)

October 17, 2023

This article is about the television station. For the FM radio station, see WFYI-FM.

WFYI (channel 20) is a PBS member television station in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is owned by Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media, Inc. alongside NPR member WFYI-FM (90.1). The two stations share studios between Pierson and Illinois Streets (using a North Meridian Street address) north of downtown Indianapolis, within the city's Television Row section. The TV station's transmitter is located on West 79th Street and Township Line Road on the city's northwest side (near Meridian Hills).

WFYI
Channels
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerMetropolitan Indianapolis Public Media, Inc.
WFYI-FM
History
First air date
October 4, 1970 (53 years ago) (1970-10-04)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 20 (UHF, 1970–2009)
Call sign meaning
"For Your Information"[1]
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID41397
ERP225 kW
HAAT251 m (823 ft)
Transmitter coordinates39°53′56.9″N 86°12′02.4″W / 39.899139°N 86.200667°W / 39.899139; -86.200667 (WFYI)
Links
Public license information
  • Public file
  • LMS
Websitewww.wfyi.org

After a years-long fight to start public television, much delayed by competing tower site plans proposed by commercial stations, WFYI debuted on October 4, 1970. Its foundation was supported by a women-led fundraising drive to raise the first year's operating expenses. In addition to airing PBS and other public television programs, WFYI also produces programs of local and regional interest.

History Edit

Prologue Edit

Channel 20 was allocated for non-commercial educational use in Indianapolis by the Federal Communications Commission in 1952;[2] however, in 1958, I. Lynd Esch, the president of Indiana Central College, now the University of Indianapolis, asked the FCC to allocate channel 13, then in a disputed application process, for educational use. Esch believed channel 20 would never be used because it was in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band and not all homes could receive it.[3] A booster group, the Indianapolis Committee for Educational Television, was formed in 1960, with the idea of bringing in educational programming from Indiana University for broadcast or possibly supporting a station to be built by Butler University or Indiana Central College.[4] Butler applied for channel 20 in September 1962, though it admitted at the time that its plans were incomplete.[5][6]

At the end of 1965, the Metropolitan Indianapolis Television Association, a new group headed by Esch, applied for channel 20. At the same time, WTTV in Bloomington sought permission to move its transmitter to a site in Indianapolis, which it would share with the new educational station alongside other donations by WTTV founder and owner Sarkes Tarzian; studios would be on the Indiana Central campus.[7][8] The idea of sharing the tower with WTTV and a second proposed commercial independent station for Indianapolis was part of a leverage strategy to try and convince the FCC to let WTTV move its facility from Bloomington, where it had been at a disadvantage to the Indianapolis network affiliates.[9]

Two of the Indianapolis network affiliates—WISH-TV and WLWI—then made a counter-offer to the television association in 1967 to permit the use of one of their towers and provide $350,000 in equipment, noting that the WTTV tower move condition was a hindrance to approving channel 20.[10] WTTV responded by sweetening its proposal, stating that it would offer the use of the existing WTTV mast at Trafalgar to Indiana University, which was in the process of building WTIU (channel 30).[11] The effect was to mire the establishment of channel 20 in a dispute between commercial stations.[12]

In June 1967, the FCC rejected WTTV's proposed relocation.[12] The application sat in limbo, but progress was reported by October, even though the channel 20 proposals had to be amended to specify a new tower site.[13] Plans firmed up in early 1968 with the appointment of a general manager; the selection of WISH-TV's tower for the channel 20 antenna; and proposals to use studios of the Christian Theological Seminary as well as equipment donated by WISH, WLWI, and WFBM-TV.[14] In July, the amended application was mailed to the FCC,[15] but another problem bogged down approval. The new WISH tower was objected to by WLFI in Lafayette, Indiana. Like WISH, WLFI was a CBS affiliate, and WLFI feared that WISH would encroach on its territory to its detriment.[16] During this time, WTIU began broadcasting in March 1969, but Indianapolis was still the largest city in the nation without an educational station.[17] Richard K. Shull, television columnist of The Indianapolis News, criticized local residents that had not moved to Indianapolis from elsewhere for not understanding the benefits of such a station and demonstrating "monumental apathy and rampaging lassitude".[18] Mayor Richard Lugar formed a group to raise funds to sustain operations and receive a matching grant.[19]

Construction and launch Edit

After meeting its fundraising deadline and modifying its application to specify a tower owned by WFBM-TV, thereby bypassing the WISH tower dispute,[20] the impasse finally broke at the end of June 1969. The FCC granted the construction permit on June 26, and a federal facility grant was approved days later.[21] By October, there were call letters—WFYI—and facilities, but no fund drive had yet been slated to raise $350,000 needed to finance the first year of operational expenses, raising the prospect that nothing would come of all the effort.[1] When Sesame Street debuted nationally that fall, WLWI aired the series until WFYI could begin broadcasting.[22]

We're here because men couldn't get the job done. The men have been batting this thing around since 1951 and it's about time for them to give up.

Ardath Burkhart[23]

Early 1970 was spent raising funds to put WFYI into service. A major effort was mounted starting on March 1, involving more than 9,000 women selling charter memberships door-to-door;[24] churches announcing the fund drive from their pulpits; and the organization of a fundraising auction.[25] That day, WLWI aired a 30-minute sampler of educational programs.[26] Response to the door-to-door effort was reported to be greater than anticipated,[27] but a lack of knowledge of educational TV programming and bad weather worked against it.[28] Within a month, the group, led by Ardath Burkhart and dubbed "Ardath's Army", had raised more than $250,000, which was enough to assure that WFYI would sign on the air and resulted in a congratulatory telegram from first lady Pat Nixon.[29][30]

The launch was originally set for September 1970, but equipment issues resulted in a month's delay.[31] The transmitter was activated on September 16,[32] and WFYI began programming on the evening of October 4, becoming the first new television station in Indianapolis since 1957. The next day, PBS began operations in replacement of National Educational Television.[33] Offices were maintained at Oldfields until WFYI moved into the former WISH-TV studios at 1440 Meridian Street in August 1971,[34] enabling it to start producing its first local programming on January 2, 1972.[35]

Growth in the 1970s and 1980s Edit

When Frank Meek became WFYI's general manager in 1972, the station was struggling to make payroll, and the only cameras it owned filmed in black-and-white.[36] In 1973, after WISH ultimately opted not to build its proposed tower, WFYI began construction of its own mast.[37] The relocation came with a decrease in effective radiated power but raised the height above average terrain by 600 feet (180 m), improving reception.[38] The Women's Council for Channel 20 became Friends of Channel 20, the station's fundraising support arm, in 1975;[39] Ardath Burkhart served on the WFYI board and the PBS national board of directors before dying in 1983 at the age of 78.[40]

WFYI left the former WISH-TV studios but remained on Meridian Street when it moved into studios being vacated by WTHR at 1401 Meridian in 1982;[41] new UHF startup WPDS-TV (channel 59) then occupied the 1440 Meridian facility.[42] In 1986, Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting acquired WIAN (90.1 FM), a public radio station owned by Indianapolis Public Schools.[43] The station became known as WFYI-FM in March 1988.[44]

From 1985 to 1989, WFYI programming was seen in Fort Wayne, Indiana, until public television station WFWA-TV there began originating its own programming.[45][46]

1990s to today Edit

Meek retired at the end of 1988;[36] he was replaced by Lloyd Wright, who began a 30-year tenure as general manager (a title changed to president and CEO).[47] Under Wright, WFYI began its first-ever capital fundraising effort in 1995, as part of its 25th anniversary; this was undertaken to replace outdated equipment, which included the oldest UHF transmitter in use in the state of Indiana.[48] In 1999, WFYI and Butler, which had built WTBU (channel 69) in 1991, entered into a joint operating agreement whereby the two stations would collaborate on programming and facilities.[49] This continued until Butler sold WTBU in 2004 to the Daystar Television Network.[50]

What was then known as the "WFYI Teleplex" announced in 2007 that it would move to 1630 N. Meridian Street, a building previously used by Indiana Energy. The $20 million relocation included the $8.5 million purchase of the building and $11.6 million in new equipment. The larger facility offered more room for community events, more parking, and space that WFYI could sublease to other companies.[51] WFYI television was the last component of the public media company to move into the building in 2008.[52] During this time, in 2007, the station began offering subchannels on its digital signal.[53]

The state of Indiana eliminated funding for WFYI in 2009 due to a major revenue shortfall from the Great Recession. As a result, production ceased on new episodes of Across Indiana, a popular state travel series on the air since 1988.[54]

Funding Edit

In fiscal year 2021, WFYI TV had total revenue of $8.67 million. Its 17,789 contributors donated more than $1.9 million. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting contributed $1.3 million, most of it in the form of a Community Service Grant.[55]

Programming Edit

Historically, WFYI has rarely been a large producer of network programming. This was because there were fewer underwriters for expensive productions, as fewer major companies were headquartered in Indianapolis.[56] However, it has produced a significant amount of local and regional programming. In 1974, the station began airing state public affairs program The Lawmakers, later retitled Indiana Lawmakers, which covers the activities of the Indiana General Assembly.[57]

Technical information Edit

Subchannels Edit

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WFYI[58]
Channel Video Aspect Short name Programming
20.1 1080i 16:9 WFYI 1 Main WFYI programming / PBS
20.2 WFYI 2 PBS Kids
20.3 480i WFYI 3 Create

All three subchannels are also broadcast on WFYI-LD (channel 29), an ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) transmitter that began service in 2022.[59]

Analog-to-digital conversion Edit

WFYI shut down its analog signal on UHF channel 20 on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate; the station's digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre-transition UHF channel 21, using virtual channel 20.[60]

References Edit

  1. ^ a b Inman, Julia (October 29, 1969). "TV Scene: Channel 20 Gets Call Letters And Goes Into A Bad Stall". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 20. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "FCC Lifts Freeze On TV Stations". The Indianapolis Star. April 14, 1952. pp. 1, 13. Retrieved August 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Channel 13 Asked For Education". The Indianapolis Star. December 25, 1958. p. 7. Retrieved August 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Drive Launched For Educational TV System". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. May 13, 1962. p. 3:18. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Butler Seeks TV Station OK". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. September 7, 1962. p. 41. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Butler applies for TV channel". The Butler Collegian. September 21, 1962. p. 4. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  7. ^ "Educational TV Asked". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. January 3, 1966. p. 21. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Esch Heads Group Seeking TV Permit". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. January 5, 1966. p. 10. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Inman, Julia (April 30, 1966). "TV Scene: WTTV Uses Strategy On FCC". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 22. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "WISH, WLW Offer Plan For Educational Station". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. January 28, 1967. p. 13. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Shull, Richard K. (February 8, 1967). "Oh, The North Country Is A Wild Country..." The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 15. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b Shull, Richard K. (July 18, 1967). "Educational TV Here? Well, Maybe, Someday". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 13. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Inman, Julia (October 28, 1967). "TV Scene: Community ETV Outlet Prospects Are Brighter". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 21. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Inman, Julia (March 29, 1968). "Educational TV Outlet Closer In New Moves". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 21. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Shull, Richard K. (July 20, 1968). "At Least It's A Step; ETV Application Mailed". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. TV 1. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Inman, Julia (November 28, 1968). "TV Scene: Inside Hassle Shadows Hope For Educational Channel 20". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 40. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Shull, Richard K. (February 6, 1969). "Drama On The Retarded, And New Retard Comedy". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 15. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Shull, Richard K. (February 14, 1969). "So What's To Be Done About ETV Here? Talk". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 13. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Shull, Richard K. (February 28, 1969). "IU's Station Will Have ETV Outside Our Gates". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 19. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "TV Scene: Channel 20 Task Force Meets Deadline For Federal Funds". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. March 17, 1969. p. 18. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "ETV May Arrive By Thanksgiving". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. June 30, 1969. p. 2. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Shull, Richard K. (November 8, 1969). "'Sesame' Will Open, But Took Some Doing". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. TV 1. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Shull, Richard K. (February 11, 1970). "Her Troops Are Readied To Assault ETV Apathy". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 17. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "ETV Drive To Begin Tomorrow". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. February 28, 1970. p. 1. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ DuBois, Robbie (January 16, 1970). "6,000 Women Map Educational TV Drive". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 8. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Inman, Julia (February 24, 1970). "TV Scene: NET Sampler To Aid Drive To Put 'Think TV' On Air Here". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 17. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Educational TV Wins Public's Cash Support". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. March 2, 1970. p. 18. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Shull, Richard K. (March 6, 1970). "Big Issue On Local ETV: Who'll Be Programming?". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 15. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "ETV $88,000 Short Of Complete Victory". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. March 24, 1970. p. Blue Streak 1. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ DuBois, Robbie (March 25, 1970). "ETV 'Troops' Fooled The Experts". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 8. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Shull, Richard K. (August 21, 1970). "There'll Be A Delay In City's ETV Station". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 15. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ Inman, Julia (September 18, 1970). "TV Scene: Channel 20 Now On Air, Begins Tests". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 22. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Inman, Julia (October 5, 1970). "TV Scene: New Station, WFYI, Debuts On Schedule". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 16. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Shull, Richard K. (August 3, 1971). "TV Camera Made It Look Almost Too Easy". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 11. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Inman, Julia (December 31, 1971). "TV Scene: Picture For PTV Channel 20 Gets In Much Stronger Focus". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 10. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ a b Hall, Steve (July 19, 1988). "Longtime manager of WFYI-TV resigns". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. B-11. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "TV Scene: WFYI To Improve Signal With New Tower". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. March 2, 1973. p. 35. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "FCC History Cards for WFYI". Federal Communications Commission.
  39. ^ Taylor, Karla (February 27, 1980). "20's First 'Friends': Victory Of 'Ardath's Army' In WFYI Drive Recalled". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 14. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Deaths And Funerals: Ardath Burkhart Was Civic Leader". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. December 8, 1983. p. 49. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Shull, Richard K. (February 27, 1982). "Moving daze at channel 13". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. Free Time 1, 16. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ Inman, Julia (July 12, 1983). "TV Scene: Channel 59 gets green light". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 11. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ Inman, Julia (October 22, 1986). "FCC has approved the transfer of WIAN-FM to Channel 20". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 11. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ Hall, Steve (March 11, 1988). "Bacall remembers Bogie's very best". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. D-11. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ Zaenger, Thomas D.N. (February 14, 1985). "Channel 39 gets OK for local TV broadcasts". The News-Sentinel.
  46. ^ Kilbane, Kevin (September 28, 1989). "Independent 39 repackaging PBS favorites". The News-Sentinel.
  47. ^ Lindquist, David (September 13, 2018). "WFYI president and CEO Lloyd Wright announces plans to retire from public broadcasting". The Indianapolis Star. from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  48. ^ Shaffer, David J. (October 21, 1995). "Lilly chief will lead fund drive for WFYI". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. C-2. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Once-wary stations take their vows in Indianapolis". Current. August 30, 1999. from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  50. ^ Guyett, Susan (June 9, 2004). "Christian network will buy Butler's public TV station". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. B4. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ Whitson, Jennifer (February 19, 2007). "WFYI Teleplex to make $20 million move: Federal tax credit will help pay for purchase of former Indiana Energy building, renovations, equipment". Indianapolis Business Journal. p. 11. from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  52. ^ Swiatek, Jeff (June 12, 2008). "WFYI moves with the times: To pay for its $20M new home, public broadcaster taps naming rights and calls on its fundraising prowess". The Indianapolis Star. ProQuest 240948148.
  53. ^ Schoettle, Anthony (December 3, 2007). "WFYI adds digital channels". Indianapolis Business Journal. p. 3. ProQuest 220631633.
  54. ^ Higgins, Will (January 25, 2009). "State could cancel WFYI's cash". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. B1, B6. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ "Annual Financial Report, 2021 (TV)" (PDF). WFYI. (PDF) from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  56. ^ Hall, Steve (May 12, 1988). "Lack of production is matter of bucks". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. D-12. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "'Lawmakers' begins Monday". The Times-Mail. Bedford, Indiana. UPI. January 3, 1982. p. A-6. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WFYI". RabbitEars. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  59. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WFYI-LD". RabbitEars. from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  60. ^ (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. May 23, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2021.

External links Edit

  • Official website
  • Facility details for Facility ID 187439 (WFYI-LD) in the FCC Licensing and Management System

October 17, 2023
wfyi, this, article, about, television, station, radio, station, wfyi, wfyi, channel, member, television, station, indianapolis, indiana, united, states, owned, metropolitan, indianapolis, public, media, alongside, member, wfyi, stations, share, studios, betwe. This article is about the television station For the FM radio station see WFYI FM WFYI channel 20 is a PBS member television station in Indianapolis Indiana United States It is owned by Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media Inc alongside NPR member WFYI FM 90 1 The two stations share studios between Pierson and Illinois Streets using a North Meridian Street address north of downtown Indianapolis within the city s Television Row section The TV station s transmitter is located on West 79th Street and Township Line Road on the city s northwest side near Meridian Hills WFYIIndianapolis IndianaUnited StatesChannelsDigital 21 UHF Virtual 20ProgrammingAffiliations20 1 PBS20 2 PBS Kids20 3 CreateOwnershipOwnerMetropolitan Indianapolis Public Media Inc Sister stationsWFYI FMHistoryFirst air dateOctober 4 1970 53 years ago 1970 10 04 Former channel number s Analog 20 UHF 1970 2009 Call sign meaning For Your Information 1 Technical informationLicensing authorityFCCFacility ID41397ERP225 kWHAAT251 m 823 ft Transmitter coordinates39 53 56 9 N 86 12 02 4 W 39 899139 N 86 200667 W 39 899139 86 200667 WFYI LinksPublic license informationPublic fileLMSWebsitewww wbr wfyi wbr orgAfter a years long fight to start public television much delayed by competing tower site plans proposed by commercial stations WFYI debuted on October 4 1970 Its foundation was supported by a women led fundraising drive to raise the first year s operating expenses In addition to airing PBS and other public television programs WFYI also produces programs of local and regional interest Contents 1 History 1 1 Prologue 1 2 Construction and launch 1 3 Growth in the 1970s and 1980s 1 4 1990s to today 2 Funding 3 Programming 4 Technical information 4 1 Subchannels 4 2 Analog to digital conversion 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditPrologue Edit Channel 20 was allocated for non commercial educational use in Indianapolis by the Federal Communications Commission in 1952 2 however in 1958 I Lynd Esch the president of Indiana Central College now the University of Indianapolis asked the FCC to allocate channel 13 then in a disputed application process for educational use Esch believed channel 20 would never be used because it was in the ultra high frequency UHF band and not all homes could receive it 3 A booster group the Indianapolis Committee for Educational Television was formed in 1960 with the idea of bringing in educational programming from Indiana University for broadcast or possibly supporting a station to be built by Butler University or Indiana Central College 4 Butler applied for channel 20 in September 1962 though it admitted at the time that its plans were incomplete 5 6 At the end of 1965 the Metropolitan Indianapolis Television Association a new group headed by Esch applied for channel 20 At the same time WTTV in Bloomington sought permission to move its transmitter to a site in Indianapolis which it would share with the new educational station alongside other donations by WTTV founder and owner Sarkes Tarzian studios would be on the Indiana Central campus 7 8 The idea of sharing the tower with WTTV and a second proposed commercial independent station for Indianapolis was part of a leverage strategy to try and convince the FCC to let WTTV move its facility from Bloomington where it had been at a disadvantage to the Indianapolis network affiliates 9 Two of the Indianapolis network affiliates WISH TV and WLWI then made a counter offer to the television association in 1967 to permit the use of one of their towers and provide 350 000 in equipment noting that the WTTV tower move condition was a hindrance to approving channel 20 10 WTTV responded by sweetening its proposal stating that it would offer the use of the existing WTTV mast at Trafalgar to Indiana University which was in the process of building WTIU channel 30 11 The effect was to mire the establishment of channel 20 in a dispute between commercial stations 12 In June 1967 the FCC rejected WTTV s proposed relocation 12 The application sat in limbo but progress was reported by October even though the channel 20 proposals had to be amended to specify a new tower site 13 Plans firmed up in early 1968 with the appointment of a general manager the selection of WISH TV s tower for the channel 20 antenna and proposals to use studios of the Christian Theological Seminary as well as equipment donated by WISH WLWI and WFBM TV 14 In July the amended application was mailed to the FCC 15 but another problem bogged down approval The new WISH tower was objected to by WLFI in Lafayette Indiana Like WISH WLFI was a CBS affiliate and WLFI feared that WISH would encroach on its territory to its detriment 16 During this time WTIU began broadcasting in March 1969 but Indianapolis was still the largest city in the nation without an educational station 17 Richard K Shull television columnist of The Indianapolis News criticized local residents that had not moved to Indianapolis from elsewhere for not understanding the benefits of such a station and demonstrating monumental apathy and rampaging lassitude 18 Mayor Richard Lugar formed a group to raise funds to sustain operations and receive a matching grant 19 Construction and launch Edit After meeting its fundraising deadline and modifying its application to specify a tower owned by WFBM TV thereby bypassing the WISH tower dispute 20 the impasse finally broke at the end of June 1969 The FCC granted the construction permit on June 26 and a federal facility grant was approved days later 21 By October there were call letters WFYI and facilities but no fund drive had yet been slated to raise 350 000 needed to finance the first year of operational expenses raising the prospect that nothing would come of all the effort 1 When Sesame Street debuted nationally that fall WLWI aired the series until WFYI could begin broadcasting 22 We re here because men couldn t get the job done The men have been batting this thing around since 1951 and it s about time for them to give up Ardath Burkhart 23 Early 1970 was spent raising funds to put WFYI into service A major effort was mounted starting on March 1 involving more than 9 000 women selling charter memberships door to door 24 churches announcing the fund drive from their pulpits and the organization of a fundraising auction 25 That day WLWI aired a 30 minute sampler of educational programs 26 Response to the door to door effort was reported to be greater than anticipated 27 but a lack of knowledge of educational TV programming and bad weather worked against it 28 Within a month the group led by Ardath Burkhart and dubbed Ardath s Army had raised more than 250 000 which was enough to assure that WFYI would sign on the air and resulted in a congratulatory telegram from first lady Pat Nixon 29 30 The launch was originally set for September 1970 but equipment issues resulted in a month s delay 31 The transmitter was activated on September 16 32 and WFYI began programming on the evening of October 4 becoming the first new television station in Indianapolis since 1957 The next day PBS began operations in replacement of National Educational Television 33 Offices were maintained at Oldfields until WFYI moved into the former WISH TV studios at 1440 Meridian Street in August 1971 34 enabling it to start producing its first local programming on January 2 1972 35 Growth in the 1970s and 1980s Edit When Frank Meek became WFYI s general manager in 1972 the station was struggling to make payroll and the only cameras it owned filmed in black and white 36 In 1973 after WISH ultimately opted not to build its proposed tower WFYI began construction of its own mast 37 The relocation came with a decrease in effective radiated power but raised the height above average terrain by 600 feet 180 m improving reception 38 The Women s Council for Channel 20 became Friends of Channel 20 the station s fundraising support arm in 1975 39 Ardath Burkhart served on the WFYI board and the PBS national board of directors before dying in 1983 at the age of 78 40 WFYI left the former WISH TV studios but remained on Meridian Street when it moved into studios being vacated by WTHR at 1401 Meridian in 1982 41 new UHF startup WPDS TV channel 59 then occupied the 1440 Meridian facility 42 In 1986 Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting acquired WIAN 90 1 FM a public radio station owned by Indianapolis Public Schools 43 The station became known as WFYI FM in March 1988 44 From 1985 to 1989 WFYI programming was seen in Fort Wayne Indiana until public television station WFWA TV there began originating its own programming 45 46 1990s to today Edit Meek retired at the end of 1988 36 he was replaced by Lloyd Wright who began a 30 year tenure as general manager a title changed to president and CEO 47 Under Wright WFYI began its first ever capital fundraising effort in 1995 as part of its 25th anniversary this was undertaken to replace outdated equipment which included the oldest UHF transmitter in use in the state of Indiana 48 In 1999 WFYI and Butler which had built WTBU channel 69 in 1991 entered into a joint operating agreement whereby the two stations would collaborate on programming and facilities 49 This continued until Butler sold WTBU in 2004 to the Daystar Television Network 50 What was then known as the WFYI Teleplex announced in 2007 that it would move to 1630 N Meridian Street a building previously used by Indiana Energy The 20 million relocation included the 8 5 million purchase of the building and 11 6 million in new equipment The larger facility offered more room for community events more parking and space that WFYI could sublease to other companies 51 WFYI television was the last component of the public media company to move into the building in 2008 52 During this time in 2007 the station began offering subchannels on its digital signal 53 The state of Indiana eliminated funding for WFYI in 2009 due to a major revenue shortfall from the Great Recession As a result production ceased on new episodes of Across Indiana a popular state travel series on the air since 1988 54 Funding EditIn fiscal year 2021 WFYI TV had total revenue of 8 67 million Its 17 789 contributors donated more than 1 9 million The Corporation for Public Broadcasting contributed 1 3 million most of it in the form of a Community Service Grant 55 Programming EditHistorically WFYI has rarely been a large producer of network programming This was because there were fewer underwriters for expensive productions as fewer major companies were headquartered in Indianapolis 56 However it has produced a significant amount of local and regional programming In 1974 the station began airing state public affairs program The Lawmakers later retitled Indiana Lawmakers which covers the activities of the Indiana General Assembly 57 Technical information EditSubchannels Edit The station s signal is multiplexed Subchannels of WFYI 58 Channel Video Aspect Short name Programming20 1 1080i 16 9 WFYI 1 Main WFYI programming PBS20 2 WFYI 2 PBS Kids20 3 480i WFYI 3 CreateAll three subchannels are also broadcast on WFYI LD channel 29 an ATSC 3 0 NextGen TV transmitter that began service in 2022 59 Analog to digital conversion Edit WFYI shut down its analog signal on UHF channel 20 on June 12 2009 the official date on which full power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate the station s digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre transition UHF channel 21 using virtual channel 20 60 References Edit a b Inman Julia October 29 1969 TV Scene Channel 20 Gets Call Letters And Goes Into A Bad Stall The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 20 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com FCC Lifts Freeze On TV Stations The Indianapolis Star April 14 1952 pp 1 13 Retrieved August 31 2023 via Newspapers com Channel 13 Asked For Education The Indianapolis Star December 25 1958 p 7 Retrieved August 31 2023 via Newspapers com Drive Launched For Educational TV System The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana May 13 1962 p 3 18 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Butler Seeks TV Station OK The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana September 7 1962 p 41 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Butler applies for TV channel The Butler Collegian September 21 1962 p 4 Retrieved August 30 2023 Educational TV Asked The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana January 3 1966 p 21 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Esch Heads Group Seeking TV Permit The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana January 5 1966 p 10 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Inman Julia April 30 1966 TV Scene WTTV Uses Strategy On FCC The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 22 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com WISH WLW Offer Plan For Educational Station The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana January 28 1967 p 13 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K February 8 1967 Oh The North Country Is A Wild Country The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p 15 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com a b Shull Richard K July 18 1967 Educational TV Here Well Maybe Someday The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p 13 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Inman Julia October 28 1967 TV Scene Community ETV Outlet Prospects Are Brighter The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 21 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Inman Julia March 29 1968 Educational TV Outlet Closer In New Moves The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 21 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K July 20 1968 At Least It s A Step ETV Application Mailed The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p TV 1 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Inman Julia November 28 1968 TV Scene Inside Hassle Shadows Hope For Educational Channel 20 The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 40 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K February 6 1969 Drama On The Retarded And New Retard Comedy The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p 15 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K February 14 1969 So What s To Be Done About ETV Here Talk The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p 13 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K February 28 1969 IU s Station Will Have ETV Outside Our Gates The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p 19 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com TV Scene Channel 20 Task Force Meets Deadline For Federal Funds The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana March 17 1969 p 18 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com ETV May Arrive By Thanksgiving The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana June 30 1969 p 2 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K November 8 1969 Sesame Will Open But Took Some Doing The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p TV 1 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K February 11 1970 Her Troops Are Readied To Assault ETV Apathy The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p 17 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com ETV Drive To Begin Tomorrow The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana February 28 1970 p 1 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com DuBois Robbie January 16 1970 6 000 Women Map Educational TV Drive The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 8 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Inman Julia February 24 1970 TV Scene NET Sampler To Aid Drive To Put Think TV On Air Here The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 17 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Educational TV Wins Public s Cash Support The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana March 2 1970 p 18 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K March 6 1970 Big Issue On Local ETV Who ll Be Programming The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p 15 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com ETV 88 000 Short Of Complete Victory The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana March 24 1970 p Blue Streak 1 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com DuBois Robbie March 25 1970 ETV Troops Fooled The Experts The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 8 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K August 21 1970 There ll Be A Delay In City s ETV Station The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p 15 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Inman Julia September 18 1970 TV Scene Channel 20 Now On Air Begins Tests The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 22 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Inman Julia October 5 1970 TV Scene New Station WFYI Debuts On Schedule The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 16 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K August 3 1971 TV Camera Made It Look Almost Too Easy The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p 11 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Inman Julia December 31 1971 TV Scene Picture For PTV Channel 20 Gets In Much Stronger Focus The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 10 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com a b Hall Steve July 19 1988 Longtime manager of WFYI TV resigns The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p B 11 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com TV Scene WFYI To Improve Signal With New Tower The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana March 2 1973 p 35 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com FCC History Cards for WFYI Federal Communications Commission Taylor Karla February 27 1980 20 s First Friends Victory Of Ardath s Army In WFYI Drive Recalled The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 14 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Deaths And Funerals Ardath Burkhart Was Civic Leader The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana December 8 1983 p 49 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Shull Richard K February 27 1982 Moving daze at channel 13 The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p Free Time 1 16 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Inman Julia July 12 1983 TV Scene Channel 59 gets green light The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 11 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Inman Julia October 22 1986 FCC has approved the transfer of WIAN FM to Channel 20 The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p 11 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Hall Steve March 11 1988 Bacall remembers Bogie s very best The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p D 11 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Zaenger Thomas D N February 14 1985 Channel 39 gets OK for local TV broadcasts The News Sentinel Kilbane Kevin September 28 1989 Independent 39 repackaging PBS favorites The News Sentinel Lindquist David September 13 2018 WFYI president and CEO Lloyd Wright announces plans to retire from public broadcasting The Indianapolis Star Archived from the original on January 17 2023 Retrieved October 12 2022 Shaffer David J October 21 1995 Lilly chief will lead fund drive for WFYI The Indianapolis News Indianapolis Indiana p C 2 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Once wary stations take their vows in Indianapolis Current August 30 1999 Archived from the original on December 6 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 Guyett Susan June 9 2004 Christian network will buy Butler s public TV station The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p B4 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Whitson Jennifer February 19 2007 WFYI Teleplex to make 20 million move Federal tax credit will help pay for purchase of former Indiana Energy building renovations equipment Indianapolis Business Journal p 11 Archived from the original on October 15 2022 Retrieved October 15 2022 Swiatek Jeff June 12 2008 WFYI moves with the times To pay for its 20M new home public broadcaster taps naming rights and calls on its fundraising prowess The Indianapolis Star ProQuest 240948148 Schoettle Anthony December 3 2007 WFYI adds digital channels Indianapolis Business Journal p 3 ProQuest 220631633 Higgins Will January 25 2009 State could cancel WFYI s cash The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p B1 B6 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Annual Financial Report 2021 TV PDF WFYI Archived PDF from the original on May 10 2023 Retrieved August 27 2023 Hall Steve May 12 1988 Lack of production is matter of bucks The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Indiana p D 12 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com Lawmakers begins Monday The Times Mail Bedford Indiana UPI January 3 1982 p A 6 Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 via Newspapers com RabbitEars TV Query for WFYI RabbitEars Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 RabbitEars TV Query for WFYI LD RabbitEars Archived from the original on October 12 2022 Retrieved October 12 2022 DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds PDF Federal Communications Commission May 23 2006 Archived from the original PDF on August 29 2013 Retrieved August 29 2021 External links EditOfficial website Facility details for Facility ID 187439 WFYI LD in the FCC Licensing and Management System Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title WFYI TV amp oldid 1174050416, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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