View source for WSJV

{{Short description|Television station in Elkhart, Indiana}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WSJV
| city = Elkhart, Indiana
| atsc3 = yes
| logo = 
| logo_size = 200px
| branding = WSJV 28
| digital = 30 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 28
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''28.1:''' [[Roar (TV network)|Roar]]|''for others, see {{section link||Technical information and subchannels}}''}}
| owner = [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
| licensee = WSBT Licensee, [[LLC]]
| location = [[Elkhart, Indiana|Elkhart]]–[[South Bend, Indiana]]
| country = United States
| airdate = {{start date and age|1954|3|20|p=y|br=yes}}
| callsign_meaning = [[St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)|St. Joseph River]] Valley
| sister_stations = [[WSBT-TV]]
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 52 (UHF, 1954–1958), 28 (UHF, 1958–2009)|'''Digital:''' 58 (UHF, 2002–2009), 28 (UHF, 2009–2019)}}
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (1954–1995)|[[NBC]] (1954–1955)|[[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]] (1954–1955)|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] (1995–2016)|[[Heroes & Icons]] (2016–2025)}}
| erp = 258 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|332.6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 74007
| coordinates = {{Coord|41|37|0|N|86|13|1|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = 
}}

'''WSJV''' (channel 28) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Elkhart, Indiana]], United States, serving the [[South Bend]] area as an [[owned-and-operated station]] of the digital multicast network [[Roar (TV network)|Roar]]. It is owned by [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] alongside dual [[CBS]]/[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate [[WSBT-TV]] (channel 22). The two stations share studios on East Douglas Avenue in [[Mishawaka]] and transmitter facilities on Ironwood Road in southern South Bend.

WSJV began broadcasting in 1954 as the [[NBC]] and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate for the Elkhart–South Bend area, losing NBC to [[WNDU-TV]] (channel 16) when that station started in 1955. It broadcast on channel 52 before moving to channel 28 in 1958. After Fox acquired the rights to [[NFL on Fox|National Football League games]] in 1994, it began looking for new affiliates in markets where it had none, with South Bend the largest such market. [[Quincy Newspapers]] then switched the station from ABC to Fox.

In 2016, Quincy sold the programming rights and Fox affiliation to WSBT-TV, where Fox became a subchannel. Since then, WSJV has broadcast national [[digital multicast television network]]s. [[Gray Media|Gray Television]] successfully petitioned the FCC to let it keep WSJV when it acquired Quincy in 2021 and traded it to Sinclair in 2025. WSJV serves as the market's [[ATSC 3.0]] (NextGen TV) host station, with four other commercial stations in the market each broadcasting some of WSJV's subchannels in [[ATSC 1.0]] format on its behalf.

==History==
===Truth Publishing Company ownership===
The Truth Publishing Company, publisher of ''[[The Elkhart Truth]]'' and owner of WTRC radio ([[WTRC (AM)|1340 AM]] and [[WBYT|100.7 FM]]), applied to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) for a new television station on Elkhart's [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) channel 52 in May 1953.<ref name="Sout530507">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-truth-seeks-elkha/127496019/|date=May 7, 1953|page=2:6|title=Truth Seeks Elkhart TV|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703064752/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-truth-seeks-elkha/127496019/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The FCC granted the company a [[construction permit]] on June 3, 1953, approving the second station in the South Bend–Elkhart area.<ref name="Indi530604">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-truth-publishing-f/127496081/|date=June 4, 1953|page=21|title=Truth Publishing Firm, Elkhart Gets TV Permit|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703064759/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-truth-publishing-f/127496081/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref name="hc">{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/54de5395-4668-538f-9fcd-315b4a28fff2|title=FCC History Cards for WSJV|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref> Construction began in late 1953; the station was located southwest of Elkhart.<ref name="Sout531227">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-elkhart-tv-unit-n/127496157/|date=December 27, 1953|page=2:8|title=Elkhart TV Unit Nears Completion|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703064757/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-elkhart-tv-unit-n/127496157/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> In November, the station signed to become an affiliate of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref>{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting|date=November 23, 1953|page=75|id={{ProQuest|1401208382}}|title=Seven Tv Stations Affiliate With ABC-TV}}</ref>

WSJV began broadcasting on March 20, 1954;{{r|hc}} a test pattern had gone out on March 15 and 16 before the new antenna suffered a fault that required emergency repairs and postponed the planned March 17 sign-on date.<ref name="Sout540317">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-elkhart-tv-delays/127496221/|date=March 17, 1954|page=3:6|title=Elkhart TV Delays Start|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703064753/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-elkhart-tv-delays/127496221/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Power was increased twelvefold in November when a new transmitter was installed.<ref>{{Cite news|title=WSJV (TV) Increases Power|page=99|work=Broadcasting|date=November 22, 1954|id={{ProQuest|1285726422}} }}</ref> The station originally aired programs from ABC, [[NBC]], and the [[DuMont Television Network]];<ref>{{Cite news|title=Eight New Outlets Begin Telecasting|page=86|date=March 15, 1954|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1285714168}} }}</ref> NBC affiliated with new [[WNDU-TV]] the next year,<ref name="Ande550223">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/anderson-herald-notre-dame-tv-work-start/127524137/|date=February 23, 1955|page=10|agency=Associated Press|title=Notre Dame TV Work Started|newspaper=Anderson Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703064753/https://www.newspapers.com/article/anderson-herald-notre-dame-tv-work-start/127524137/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> while DuMont wound down operations.<ref>{{Cite magazine|id={{ProQuest|1014914488}}|title=DuMont Network To Quit In Telecasting 'Spin-Off'|page=64|magazine=Broadcasting|date=August 15, 1955}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|magazine=Broadcasting|page=80|date=August 29, 1955|title=DuMont Turns Its Corporate Back On TV Network, Leaves It To Die|id={{ProQuest|1014916214}} }}</ref>

In 1957, the FCC approved the assignment of lower UHF channels to [[WSBT-TV]] (from channel 34 to 22) and WSJV (from channel 52 to 28); it had already allowed WNDU-TV to switch from channel 46 to 16. This required a relocation of UHF channel assignments among several localities in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.<ref>{{Cite news|page=66|title=South Bend, Elkhart Combined, Assigned Lower Uhf Channels|work=Broadcasting|date=October 14, 1957|id={{ProQuest|1285746181}} }}</ref> For WSJV, the change also brought a relocation of the tower site from Elkhart to a location near [[Mishawaka]].{{r|hc}}<ref name="Sout570803">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-local-tv-stations/127496343/|date=August 3, 1957|page=1|title=Local TV Stations Plan Channel Switch|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065255/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-local-tv-stations/127496343/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The channel switch took place on February 14, 1958; it was the last of the three stations to move to the lower channel it was assigned.<ref name="Sout580214">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-channel-28-on-air/127496524/|date=February 14, 1958|page=30|title=Channel 28 On Air for WSJV-TV|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065255/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-channel-28-on-air/127496524/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

After the station invested in purchasing color tape and film equipment, WSJV began broadcasting non-network programs in [[color television|color]] in 1966, five years after ABC began airing some of its programs in color in 1961. In 1968, the station bought two color television cameras and began airing all of its locally produced shows in color.{{r|Sout940327}} Local programs from the station's early years included ''Kidsville, U.S.A.'' and two shows featuring puppet DD Donovan. Truth Publishing also expanded its operation in television by buying [[WKJG|WKJG radio]] and [[WISE-TV|television]] in [[Fort Wayne]] in 1957; the Fort Wayne outlets were sold in 1971.<ref>{{Cite news|page=76|date=March 18, 1957|work=Broadcasting|title=Sales of WKJG-AM-TV, KOB-AM-TV, Pass FCC|id={{ProQuest|1401217123}} }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|1014523259}}|title=TVC acquisition finalized|work=Broadcasting|page=10|date=April 5, 1971}}</ref> The station group was promoted as the Communicana Group.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Successful Advertisers Changed the Signs (advertisement)|id={{ProQuest|1014482144}}|page=26|date=November 30, 1964|work=Broadcasting}}</ref>

===Quincy Newspapers ownership===
In 1974, Truth Publishing sold WSJV for $3.2 million to [[Quincy Newspapers Inc.]] (QNI) of [[Quincy, Illinois]]; it retained the radio stations, which continued to operate for a time from the same building.<ref name="Sout740906">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-truth-publishing/127496902/|date=September 6, 1974|page=17|title=Truth Publishing Co. Sells Channel 28|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065255/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-truth-publishing/127496902/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> At the time, Quincy's only television property was [[WGEM-TV]] in its home city.<ref>{{Cite news|page=9|title=Elkhart UHF sold for $3.2 million|date=September 9, 1974|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1016874032}} }}</ref> The sale earned Truth Publishing a tax certificate from the FCC because it broke up cross-ownership of the South Bend cable system, which was founded by the three major commercial stations in the market.<ref name="Indi791114">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-publishing-company/127496982/|date=November 14, 1979|page=59|title=Publishing Company Awarded Certificate|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065255/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-publishing-company/127496982/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> In 1976, the station debuted an 11 p.m. newscast, having previously only broadcast local news at 6 p.m.<ref name="Sout760307">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wsjv-to-add-11-p/159701161/|date=March 7, 1976|page=69|title=WSJV to Add 11 p.m. News|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|location=South Bend, Indiana|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

On April 3, 1988, the station's tower was partially toppled by a windstorm.<ref name="Sout880404">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-at-28-show-must/127497216/|date=April 4, 1988|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wsjv-tower/127497258/ A13]|first=Jeff|last=Kurowski|title=At 28, show must go on, but... Workers stay on the job yet station off air|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065255/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-at-28-show-must/127497216/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The station began broadcasting at reduced power the next day, but a replacement mast was not put into service until November.<ref name="Sout940327">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wsjv-tv-marks-its/127497369/|date=March 27, 1994|page=E9|first=Christa|last=Wright|title=WSJV-TV marks its 40th year on air|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065256/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wsjv-tv-marks-its/127497369/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

WSJV began airing weekend newscasts for the first time in its history in 1992; the station had previously only aired weeknight newscasts at 6 and 11 p.m., which news director and 20-year employee Larry Ford believed had severely hurt its local image and contributed to its status as a distant third in Michiana television news.<ref name="Sout920216">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-channel-28-plans/127497298/|date=February 16, 1992|page=F1|first=Alesia I.|last=Redding|title=Channel 28 plans to launch weekend newscasts|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065817/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-channel-28-plans/127497298/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The move came after Don Fuller, a charter station employee who had been general manager for WSJV since 1965, retired that year.{{r|Sout940327}} Under Ford's replacement, Jim Parisi, the station added a 5 p.m. newscast featuring an interactive news format soliciting feedback from viewers by telephone and email, the first such newscast in the United States; Parisi, who co-anchored, could read emails live on air from a computer placed on the news set.<ref>{{cite news|title=Viewers choose the news they want to use|first=Chad|last=Rubel|work=[[Marketing News]]|date=August 24, 1995|id={{ProQuest|216299465}} }}</ref> The station also debuted a half-hour morning local newscast and sought to increase its presence in areas of the market beyond Elkhart so as to reduce the perception it was "an Elkhart station".<ref name="TBW">{{Cite news|first=Susan E.|last=Miller|title=Working to change the way we view TV|work=Tribune Business Weekly|id={{ProQuest|220951792}}|page=4|date=October 19, 1994}}</ref>

===Affiliation switch to Fox===
{{Further|1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment}}
In December 1993, Fox gained the [[Fox NFL|broadcast rights]] to televise games from the [[NFL]]'s [[National Football Conference]],<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC Gets Final N.F.L. Contract While CBS Gets Its Sundays Off|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/21/sports/nbc-gets-final-nfl-contract-while-cbs-gets-its-sunday-off.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|access-date=June 22, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 21, 1993}}</ref> which firmly established Fox as the fourth national network. After this acquisition, it began a campaign to upgrade its affiliate base. South Bend was the largest market in the United States without a dedicated Fox affiliate; in the 1994 NFL season, CBS affiliate WSBT-TV aired Fox football and lost the rights to air ''[[60 Minutes]]'' as a result.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Redding |first=Alesia I. |date=April 7, 1994 |title=WSBT: CBS aims to set example by taking away '60 Minutes' |page=C1 |work=South Bend Tribune |location=South Bend, Indiana |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wsbt-cbs-aims-to/127522691/ |access-date=July 2, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065757/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wsbt-cbs-aims-to/127522691/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Quincy signed an agreement with Fox on April 19, 1995, to become a full-time Fox affiliate on October 18 of that year and begin carrying its NFL games sooner.<ref name="Sout950420">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wsjv-signs-agreem/127497412/|date=April 20, 1995|page=A1|first=Alesia I.|last=Redding|title=WSJV signs agreement to make switch to Fox by Oct.|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065757/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wsjv-signs-agreem/127497412/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> With the other two secular commercial television stations in the market uninterested in switching affiliations, ABC faced the prospect of having cable systems import affiliates from nearby markets.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fox takes South Bend|page=68|work=Variety|first=Joe|last=Flint|id={{ProQuest|1401390016}} }}</ref> In August, [[Weigel Broadcasting]], which had a South Bend translator for its flagship station, [[WCIU-TV]] in Chicago, obtained the rights to the ABC affiliation for South Bend<ref name="Sout950803">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wbnd-is-the-new-a/116960656/|date=August 3, 1995|page=A1|first=Alesia I.|last=Redding|title=WBND is the new ABC affiliate|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065757/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wbnd-is-the-new-a/116960656/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> and launched a low-power station, "[[WBND]]", in time for the switch to take place.<ref name="Sout951018">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-phones-jangling-o/33686490/|date=October 18, 1995|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-switch/116960958/ A2]|first=Alesia I.|last=Redding|title=Phones jangling over TV switch|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703065757/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-phones-jangling-o/33686490/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

In retaliation for Quincy's decision to spurn ABC for Fox in South Bend, the network pulled its programming from [[WREX]] in [[Rockford, Illinois]], which had recently been acquired by Quincy. ABC moved its Rockford affiliation to [[WTVO]], the previous NBC affiliate in that market; it had recently made a significant investment into WTVO's owner, [[Young Broadcasting]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flint |first=Joe |date=May 29, 1995 |title=Affils in Fine Feather at NBC Meet in Hawaii |url=https://variety.com/1995/tv/features/affils-in-fine-feather-at-nbc-meet-in-hawaii-99127220/ |access-date=April 29, 2023 |website=Variety |archive-date=April 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415050513/https://variety.com/1995/tv/features/affils-in-fine-feather-at-nbc-meet-in-hawaii-99127220/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

To coincide with the affiliation switch, WSJV relaunched and shuffled its news offerings. It moved its late news into prime time and saw growing ratings. However, the two-hour morning show, ''Wake Up'', failed to attract viewers: originally aired from 6–8 a.m., it moved to 7–9 a.m. in July 1996 to compete against the network morning shows, though it later moved back.<ref name="Sout961117">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-in-the-picture/33686751/|date=November 17, 1996|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-one-year-after-fo/33686775/ E3]|first=Alesia I.|last=Redding|title=In the picture|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703070302/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-in-the-picture/33686751/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> This trend continued into the early 2000s; in one [[Nielsen Media Research|Nielsen]] survey in 2001, WSJV's morning newscast drew a fraction of the offerings of its competitor, while 12 percent of households watching TV at the time tuned to WSJV's late newscast.<ref name="Sout010408">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-stay-tuned-for-th/127523244/|date=April 8, 2001|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-redding/127523250/ E2]|first=Alesia I.|last=Redding|title=Stay tuned for this story, after this...|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703070258/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-stay-tuned-for-th/127523244/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> This was ascribed to the fewer news resources at channel 28's command as well as its location in Elkhart.<ref name="Sout001119">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-gunning-for-no-2/127523433/|date=November 19, 2000|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-fox/127523447/ E7]|first=Alesia I.|last=Redding|title=Gunning for No. 2: Being second best is quickest way to top for WSJV-TV news|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|location=South Bend, Indiana|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> In 2003, the morning newscast was extended to air for three hours, and an early evening newscast at 5:30&nbsp;p.m. was introduced; this was the only newscast aired year-round at that time slot in the market, because program schedules changed in the market during [[Time in Indiana|daylight saving time]].<ref name="Sout030914">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wsjv-tv-to-add-ex/127523488/|date=September 14, 2003|page=E6|first=Alesia I.|last=Redding|title=WSJV-TV to add extra newscast|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703070258/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-wsjv-tv-to-add-ex/127523488/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

WSJV began broadcasting a digital signal in October 2002; having been assigned channel 58 by the FCC, its launch forced WBND-LP to move to channel 57.<ref name="Sout021010">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-tv-stations-to-sw/121782948/|date=October 10, 2002|page=D1|title=TV stations to switch channel spots soon|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703070303/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-tv-stations-to-sw/121782948/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The station shut down its analog signal on February 17, 2009, the original [[digital television transition in the United States|digital television transition]] date for full-power stations, joining WNDU-TV and WSBT-TV in doing so.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|agency=Associated Press|title=List of TV stations ending analog broadcasts|date=February 17, 2009|work=NBC News|access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-date=January 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106052115/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|url-status=live}}</ref> The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 58, which was among the high band UHF channels (52–69) that were removed from broadcasting use as a result of the transition, to channel 28 for post-transition operations.<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>

===Loss of Fox affiliation===
In June and July 2016, the station's general manager and news director stepped down and moved to other Quincy Media stations. The ''South Bend Tribune'' reported the possibility that Quincy was planning to shut down WSJV and consolidate its Fox affiliation onto another station in the market so it could sell WSJV in the FCC's then-forthcoming [[Spectrum reallocation|spectrum incentive auction]]—which would allow stations to relinquish their broadcast spectrum to the FCC in exchange for a share of the profit from its resale to wireless providers as part of a reallocation process. Spectrum was said to be particularly valuable in the South Bend market due to its proximity to several major markets such as Chicago and Indianapolis.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ted|last=Booker|title=Fox 28 execs leave station amid TV industry upheaval|url=http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/business/fox-execs-leave-station-amid-tv-industry-upheaval/article_dabd7722-5eb2-5001-9925-94f083c811a0.html|work=South Bend Tribune|access-date=July 26, 2016|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703070259/https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/business/2016/07/13/fox-28-execs-leave-station-amid-tv-industry-upheaval/46442649/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sbt-tvlandscape">{{cite news|first=Ted|last=Booker|title=South Bend TV landscape could be flipped upside down|url=http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/business/south-bend-tv-landscape-could-be-flipped-upside-down/article_5a31b33a-2594-5cfb-a9c8-b8cda6f212fc.html|work=South Bend Tribune|access-date=July 26, 2016|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703070325/https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/business/2016/05/29/south-bend-tv-landscape-could-be-flipped-upside-dow/116973506/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 25, 2016, Quincy announced the transfer of the Fox affiliation rights to [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]'s WSBT-TV in exchange for the ABC and CW affiliations in [[Peoria, Illinois]], from Sinclair-owned [[WHOI (TV)|WHOI]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/sinclair-and-quincy-make-affiliation-deal-wsjv-employees-wonder-whats-next/175045|title=Sinclair and Quincy Make Affiliation Deal, WSJV Employees Wonder What's Next|last=Eck|first=Kevin|date=July 26, 2016|work=[[AdWeek]]|access-date=August 1, 2016|archive-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729211016/http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/sinclair-and-quincy-make-affiliation-deal-wsjv-employees-wonder-whats-next/175045|url-status=live}}</ref> WSBT then announced that it would replace its two existing subchannels with ''Fox Michiana'', beginning on August 1, 2016. For a 60-day transition period until September 30, the new service was simulcast by WSJV to allow viewers and pay television providers time to transition from the former signal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elkharttruth.com/hometown/elkhart/wsbt-taking-over-elkhart-s-fox-affiliate-monday-programs-moving/article_5b33d16a-4a48-5f44-bbcb-effbca6ec7c0.html|title=WSBT taking over Elkhart's Fox affiliate Monday, programs moving to new channel|last=Hernandez|first=Sharon|date=July 27, 2016|work=[[Elkhart Truth]]|access-date=July 28, 2016|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703070802/https://www.elkharttruth.com/hometown/elkhart/wsbt-taking-over-elkhart-s-fox-affiliate-monday-programs-moving/article_5b33d16a-4a48-5f44-bbcb-effbca6ec7c0.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Along with the transfer, the WSJV newsroom closed down, as the WSBT-TV newsroom was expanded to produce morning and late evening newscasts for Fox Michiana. WSBT-TV hired some of the former WSJV news staff; others went to other Quincy stations.<ref name="sbt-foxwsbt">{{cite news|title=WSBT to take over Fox affiliate on Aug. 1|url=http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/business/wsbt-to-take-over-fox-affiliate-on-aug/article_7441491d-b5b4-5ce0-9e28-a7df79794a92.html|first=Ted|last=Booker|work=South Bend Tribune|access-date=July 25, 2016|date=July 25, 2016|archive-date=July 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715213313/http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/business/wsbt-to-take-over-fox-affiliate-on-aug/article_7441491d-b5b4-5ce0-9e28-a7df79794a92.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Sout160820">{{Cite news|first=Ted|last=Booker|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-aiming-for-younge/127497835/|date=August 20, 2016|page=A1|title=Aiming for younger viewers: WSBT's Fox newscasts put emphasis on social media|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703070804/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-aiming-for-younge/127497835/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --><ref>{{cite news|title=An emotional goodbye as Fox 28 news team signs off for the final time|url=https://www.953mnc.com/2016/07/30/emotional-goodbye-fox-28-newsteam-signs-off-final-time/|first=Jon|last=Zimney|website=[[WTRC-FM]]|publisher=Federated Media|date=July 30, 2016|access-date=September 19, 2018|archive-date=September 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919221304/https://www.953mnc.com/2016/07/30/emotional-goodbye-fox-28-newsteam-signs-off-final-time/|url-status=live}}</ref> After the transition, the station was reduced to a [[wikt:skeleton crew|skeleton crew]] and became mostly a pass-through for the [[Heroes & Icons]] network. Quincy donated the station's entire news and tape archive to the [[Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive]]; equipment from WSJV was shipped elsewhere in the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.libraries.indiana.edu/filmarch/tag/wsjv/|title=History and Context for WSJV|last=Morrison|first=Katie|date=September 18, 2018|work=Blog post|publisher=Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive|access-date=May 4, 2020|archive-date=April 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414164142/https://blogs.libraries.indiana.edu/filmarch/tag/wsjv/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Indi211205">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-new-insight-into-r/127497915/|first=Joseph|last=Dits|date=December 5, 2021|page=25A|agency=South Bend Tribune|title=New insight into Ryan White's struggles: TV tapes saved from trash reveal tension, confusion over AIDS in Indiana|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703070828/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-new-insight-into-r/127497915/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

===Gray and Sinclair ownership===
On February 1, 2021, Gray Television, owner of WNDU-TV, announced its intent to purchase Quincy Media for $925 million in a cash transaction.<ref name="quincysoldtogray">{{cite news|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|title=Gray Television Acquires Quincy Media For $925 Million In Cash|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/gray-television-quincy-media-for-925-million-in-cash-1234684531/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=February 1, 2021|accessdate=February 21, 2021|archive-date=February 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201150624/https://deadline.com/2021/02/gray-television-quincy-media-for-925-million-in-cash-1234684531/|url-status=live}}</ref> As WSJV was lower-rated than the top four stations in ratings in the South Bend market (not counting Weigel's low-power stations but including [[WHME-TV]]), Gray sought a failing station waiver to permit common ownership of both WSJV and WNDU-TV. The sale was completed on August 2.<ref name="graycomplete">{{cite press release|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/08/02/2273228/0/en/Gray-Television-Closes-Quincy-Acquisition.html|title=Gray Television Closes Quincy Acquisition|first=Hilton|last=Howell Jr.|work=[[Gray Television]]|publisher=[[Globe Newswire]]|date=August 2, 2021|access-date=August 2, 2021}}</ref>

Gray and Sinclair filed with the FCC in 2025 to trade WSJV for WHOI, which resulted in Sinclair owning both the WSJV and WSBT licenses; Sinclair is a major industry backer of the ATSC 3.0 consortium, providing an impetus for the trade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/assignmentDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff395d44be80195d98c438b028e&id=25076ff395d44be80195d98c438b028e&goBack=N|title=#268851 Assignments|date=April 1, 2025|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|website=Licensing and Management System}}</ref>

==Technical information and subchannels==
The station's subchannels are carried in [[ATSC 1.0]] format on the [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]] signals of other South Bend-area television stations:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels provided by WSJV (ATSC 1.0)<ref>{{Cite web|website=[[RabbitEars]]|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSBT#station|title=TV Query for WSBT|access-date=July 2, 2023|archive-date=July 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701022656/https://rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSBT#station|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|website=[[RabbitEars]]|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WNIT#station|title=TV Query for WNIT|access-date=July 2, 2023|archive-date=July 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701022700/https://rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WNIT#station|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|website=[[RabbitEars]]|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WHME#station|title=TV Query for WHME|access-date=July 2, 2023|archive-date=July 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701022658/https://rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WHME#station|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
! scope = "col" | ATSC 1.0 host
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.1
| rowspan="3"|[[480i]] || rowspan="7"|[[16:9]] || ROAR || [[Roar (TV network)|Roar]] || [[WSBT-TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.2
| Crime || [[True Crime Network]] || rowspan=2|[[WNIT (TV)|WNIT]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.3
| Mystery || [[Ion Mystery]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.4
| [[720p]] || CourtTV || [[Court TV]] || [[WHME-TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.5
| rowspan="3"|480i || Quest || [[Quest (American TV network)|Quest]] || WNIT
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.6
| Bounce || [[Bounce TV]] || WSBT-TV
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.7
| THENEST || [[The Nest (TV network)|The Nest]] || WHME-TV
|}

The main subchannels of [[WNDU-TV]], [[WSBT-TV]], WSJV, [[WNIT (TV)|WNIT]], and [[WHME-TV]], plus WSBT-TV's Fox subchannel, are broadcast by WSJV in 3.0 format from its transmitter on Ironwood Road in southern South Bend:{{r|FCC-LMS-74007}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of WSJV (ATSC 3.0)<ref>{{Cite web|website=[[RabbitEars]]|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSJV#station|title=TV Query for WSJV|access-date=July 2, 2023|archive-date=October 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016082722/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSJV#station|url-status=live}}</ref>
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | Short name
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | [[WNDU-TV|16.1]]
| rowspan=2|[[1080p]] || rowspan=6|[[16:9]] || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|WNDU-HD || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|[[NBC]] ([[WNDU-TV]]) [[File:Action lock 2 - orange.svg|14px|alt=DRM|link=]]
|-
! scope = "row" | [[WSBT-TV|22.1]]
| CBS || [[CBS]] ([[WSBT-TV]])
|-
! scope = "row" | [[WSBT-TV|22.2]]
| [[720p]] || FOX || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] ([[WSBT-DT2]])
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.1
| [[480p]] || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|ROAR || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|[[Roar (TV network)|Roar]] [[File:Action lock 2 - orange.svg|14px|alt=DRM|link=]]
|-
! scope = "row" | [[WNIT (TV)|34.1]]
| 1080p || PBS || [[PBS]] ([[WNIT (TV)|WNIT]])
|-
! scope = "row" | [[WHME-TV|46.1]]
| 720p || WHME-HD || [[Univision]] ([[WHME-TV]])
|}
{{legend|#ffe8d0|Subchannel broadcast with [[digital rights management]]}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.wndu.com/}}

{{South Bend TV}}
{{Grand Rapids TV}}
{{Indiana TV}}
{{Michigan TV}}
{{SBGI}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wsjv}}
[[Category:1954 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:2021 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2025 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:ATSC 3.0 television stations]]
[[Category:Bounce TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Court TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Dabl affiliates]]
[[Category:Ion Mystery affiliates]]
[[Category:The Nest (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Quest (American TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Roar (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1954]]
[[Category:Television stations in South Bend, Indiana|SJV]]
[[Category:True Crime Network affiliates]]