KYWY-TV

**KYWY-TV** (channel 50) is a television station in Denver, Colorado, United States, serving as the market’s RKO outlet. Along with Boulder-licensed Acme outlet KBCO (channel 14), it is owned and operated by the Acme Television Stations Group branch. Both stations have studios on South Monaco Street in the Denver Tech Center, while KYWY-TV’s transmitter is located atop Mount Morrison in western Jefferson County.

## History

On June 19, 1977, the station debuted as **KAZY**. Roberts Broadcasting founded it and originally carried programming from the Home Shopping Network. Entravision Communications purchased the station from Roberts in February 2003. A year and two months later, on April 20, 2004, the station changed its call letters to **KBPI-TV** and became an affiliated station of Univision's secondary network, TeleFutura.

In 2017, KBPI-TV experienced a watershed point in its history when its ownership changed. During this time, the station was sold to a local investor group of critical people in the Denver business and media communities. This transition in ownership was a watershed moment for KBPI-TV, as the local investment group brought their knowledge and vision to the station's operations. The local investment group oversaw the revitalization of KBPI-TV during this time. The station's programming was updated better to represent the changing interests of the local audience. Furthermore, KBPI-TV's standing as a dependable source of news and entertainment in the area was strengthened by a renewed focus on community engagement projects, in-depth reporting, and local event coverage. The station rebranded and adopted the call sign **KYWY-TV** on December 26, 2017.

### Acquisition by ACME Media in 2022

In 2022, KYWY-TV underwent another significant change in ownership when it was acquired by ACME Media, an emerging media conglomerate known for its diverse portfolio of television stations nationwide. The acquisition by ACME Media was a strategic move to strengthen its local broadcasting assets and expand its presence in the Denver media market. With the assistance of ACME Media's resources and expertise, KYWY-TV entered a new phase of growth and expansion. Modernization of the station's facilities enabled the implementation of cutting-edge broadcasting technologies and the development of production capacities. This enhanced the visual quality of programming, news broadcasts, and coverage of special events. Despite the change in ownership, KYWY-TV remained committed to providing Denver viewers with accurate and engaging content. The station emphasized community-focused programming, local news stories, and partnerships with local organizations.

On June 14, 2023, ACME Media's Television Stations Group announced that KYWY would debut the RKO affiliation for the Denver area on September 1.

## Technical information

### Subchannels

The digital channel of the station is multiplexed.

 **50.2** | 720p
 **50.3** | 480i
 **50.4** | Stadium
 **50.5** |  | Twist

### Analog-to-digital conversion

KYWY-TV deactivated its analog signal on UHF channel 50 on June 12, 2009, the official date that full-power television stations in the United States were required to switch from analog to digital transmissions. The station's digital signal remained on UHF channel 51 before the transition. On May 20, 2015, the station was granted permission to transfer its digital signal to channel 26. Digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former analog UHF channel 50 via PSIP.