Wikipedia

Circle City Broadcasting

Circle City Broadcasting is an American media company based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Circle City Broadcasting
TypePrivate
IndustryMass media
FoundedJuly 2019; 6 years ago (2019-07)[1]
FounderDuJuan McCoy
Headquarters
Indianapolis, Indiana
,
United States
Key people
DuJuan McCoy (President/CEO)
ProductsBroadcast television
Websitecirclecitybroadcasting.com

History

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Circle City was founded in July 2019 by DuJuan McCoy (who owned Bayou City Broadcasting until he sold the stations to Allen Media Group) after he purchased WISH-TV and WNDY-TV from Nexstar Media Group for $42.5 million in April.[2][3] This came after it was announced that Nexstar would acquire Tribune Media in December 2018 (which owns both WXIN and WTTV at the time), and due to FCC ownership rules, Nexstar could not keep both duopolies. The sale was completed on September 19, 2019.[1]

In October 2025, it was announced that the E. W. Scripps Company agreed to sell WRTV to Circle City for $83 million.[4] The sale was approved on February 27, 2026,[5] and completed on March 31.[6][7] One day later on April 1, WRTV's news department was closed and the station began carrying WISH newscasts.[8]

Lawsuit

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In March 2020, Circle City filed a lawsuit against Dish Network accusing them of racial discrimination as both sides negotiate over fees that WISH was seeking to be re-transmitted on the satellite provider.[9][10] In August of the same year, Circle City filed a similar lawsuit against AT&T, also citing that the company paid and carried the stations' previous owner, but it refuses to do the same for Circle City.[11][12] Both companies denied any wrongdoing and claimed they complied business-wise.

In March 2021, the lawsuit proceeded to a federal judge of the U.S. District court.[13] In April 2023, both cases was dismissed as they said there was no "direct evidence of discrimination.”[14][15] McCoy prepared a legal team to make an appeal.[16] On April 16, the court upheld their dismissal decision and denied the appeal.[17][18]

On April 25, Circle City filed papers to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the decision.[19] In May 2024, the request was rejected as the circuit court ruled “For their part, Dish and DirecTV presented clear evidence of a race-neutral reason for their contractual negotiating decisions — Circle City’s lack of bargaining power.”[20]

Current stations

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City of license / market Station[21] Channel Owned since Network affiliation
Indianapolis, Indiana WISH-TV 82019The CW
WIIH-CD 17Confess
WNDY-TV 23MyNetworkTV
WRTV 62026ABC

References

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  1. 1 2 "Our Leadership | Circle City Broadcasting | broadcast TV | Indianapolis, IN". Circle City Broadcasting. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  2. ↑ Ryckaert, Vic (April 8, 2019). "Indianapolis native buys WISH-TV and WNDY-TV for $42.5 million". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  3. ↑ Lafayette, Jon (April 8, 2019). "Nexstar Selling Stations in Indianapolis for $42.5M". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  4. ↑ Jacobson, Adam (October 28, 2025). "A New Era Dawns For A Station 'Working for You'". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  5. ↑ Weidenbener, Lesley (March 2, 2026). "FCC clears way for WISH-TV owner to acquire ABC affiliate WRTV". The Indiana Lawyer. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Scripps Completes Sale Of WRTV Indianapolis To Circle City Broadcasting". TV News Check. March 31, 2026. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  7. ↑ Jacobson, Adam (March 31, 2026). "DuJuan McCoy Completes His WRTV Buy". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  8. ↑ Lindquist, Dave (April 1, 2026). "Layoffs at WRTV exceed 50 staff members as new owner pledges more news". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  9. ↑ Farrell, Mike (March 10, 2020). "Circle City, NABOB Sue Dish Over Retrans Impasse". Multichannel News. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  10. ↑ Schoettle, Anthony (March 11, 2020). "WISH-TV sues Dish TV over fee negotiations, claims racial discrimination". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  11. ↑ Eggerton, John (August 11, 2020). "Circle City Sues AT&T Over 'Zero' Carriage Offer". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  12. ↑ Schoettle, Anthony (August 17, 2020). "WISH-TV sues AT&T over fee negotiations, claims racial discrimination". The Indiana Lawyer. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Circle City Scores A Win In Dish Discrimination Case". Radio & Television Business Report. March 31, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  14. ↑ Lafayette, Jon (April 2, 2026). "Federal Judge Dismisses Circle City Discrimination Suits Against DirecTV, Dish". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  15. ↑ "WISH-TV owner loses discrimination suits". Inside Indiana Business. April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  16. ↑ Jacobson, Adam (April 3, 2023). "DuJuan McCoy Preparing Appeal Of DBS Decision". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  17. ↑ Carson, Daniel (April 17, 2024). "Federal appeals court rejects WISH-TV owner's racial discrimination claims". The Indiana Lawyer. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  18. ↑ Jacobson, Adam (April 18, 2024). "Seventh Circuit Upholds McCoy Discrimination Case Dismissal". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  19. ↑ Lafayette, Jon (April 25, 2023). "Circle City Appeals Decisions Dismissing Discrimination Suits Against DirecTV, Dish". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  20. ↑ Reid, Jack (May 1, 2024). "Circle City's Appeal Shot Down in Racial Discrimination Suit Against DirecTV and Dish". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Brands | Circle City Broadcasting | broadcast TV | Indianapolis, IN". Circle City Broadcasting. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
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