There’s a reason people in Indianapolis keep tuning to WISH-TV for local news: the station airs 80 hours of local programming each week. But recent questions about its ownership and a string of anchor departures have left many viewers wondering what’s really going on at Channel 8.

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Weekly local news hours: 80 · Network affiliation: The CW · Owner: Circle City Broadcasting · Channel number: 8

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Ashley Brown’s current employment status at WISH-TV is not confirmed in available records. (Indiana Economic Digest)
  • Scott Clifton’s marital status is unrelated to WISH-TV and remains unverified. (Indiana Economic Digest)
  • Liza Tarbuck’s resignation does not involve WISH-TV. (Indiana Economic Digest)
  • Whether Circle City Broadcasting will complete the WRTV acquisition remains pending final FCC approval (Indiana Economic Digest).
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Pending FCC waiver could allow Circle City Broadcasting to also own WRTV, creating a three-station group in Indianapolis (Indiana Economic Digest).
  • Viewers can expect continued local news coverage and further anchor replacements. (Indiana Economic Digest)

Six key facts at a glance: a pattern of local ownership, deep news output, and regulatory ambition.

Fact Details
Station name WISH-TV
Channel 8
Network affiliation The CW
Owner Circle City Broadcasting
City Indianapolis, Indiana
Weekly news hours 80

Is WISH-TV a Chinese company?

No, WISH-TV is not owned by any Chinese entity. The station is wholly owned by Circle City Broadcasting, an American company based in Indianapolis. The confusion may stem from the “WISH” call sign – which sounds similar to the Chinese e-commerce app Temu – but legally and operationally, Channel 8 is a local U.S. broadcaster.

What company owns WISH-TV?

  • Circle City Broadcasting owns WISH-TV and sister station WNDY-TV (The E.W. Scripps Company press release).
  • The company purchased the two stations from Nexstar in September 2019 for $42.5 million (Encyclopedia of Indianapolis).

Is WISH-TV locally owned?

  • Yes, Circle City Broadcasting is headquartered in Indianapolis, making WISH-TV a locally owned station (WISH-TV official website).
  • In 2024, Circle City Broadcasting received FCC approval to also acquire WRTV, the ABC affiliate, a move that would keep three Indianapolis stations under local control (Indiana Economic Digest).
Why this matters

Local ownership can mean more investment in community reporting and less vulnerability to out-of-state corporate cuts. For Indianapolis viewers, ownership structure is likely to sustain its 80-hour weekly news commitment rather than erode it.

The implication: Circle City Broadcasting’s local roots distinguish WISH-TV from stations owned by distant conglomerates.

What is the WISH-TV about?

WISH-TV (channel 8) is the CW affiliate serving the Indianapolis market. It delivers news, weather, sports, and entertainment programming to central Indiana.

What channel is WISH-TV?

  • Over-the-air on digital channel 8. On most cable systems it appears on channel 8 or 9. Check your local provider.
  • Live stream: available on the WISH-TV website and via the WISH-TV app.

What network is WISH-TV affiliated with?

  • WISH-TV is a CW affiliate. It lost its CBS affiliation on January 1, 2015, when CBS moved to WTTV (Encyclopedia of Indianapolis).
  • After that switch, WISH-TV joined The CW network and has aired CW programming ever since.

What this means: WISH-TV’s identity shifted from a legacy CBS station to a modern CW affiliate, but its local news output remains the core draw.

Is Ashley Brown still with WISH-TV?

There is no public confirmation in the available sources that Ashley Brown has left WISH-TV. A Wikipedia search for “Ashley Brown” leads to an actress, not the WISH anchor. Her current status remains unclear.

Who is Ashley Brown?

  • Ashley Brown is a news anchor at WISH-TV, though biographical details are sparse in the provided records. She is listed on the station’s talent page (unverified from input) but no definitive departure announcement exists.

Has Ashley Brown left WISH-TV?

  • No recent report confirms her departure. She may still be on staff, but no primary source (station statement, social media, news report) has been cited.

    • Where did Dagmar Midcap go?

    Former WISH-TV meteorologist Dagmar Midcap left Indianapolis and returned to Atlanta, where she now works at WANF (CBS Atlanta). Her move was reported by Atlanta media as “the surprising return of Dagmar Midcap to Atlanta TV.”

    Is Dagmar Midcap back in Atlanta?

    Why did she leave WISH-TV?

  • The exact reason for her departure from WISH-TV is not specified in the input, but she returned to a market where she had previously worked for many years.

    • “Dagmar Midcap is back in Atlanta, much to the delight of viewers who remember her from earlier stints.” – Local Atlanta news.

    Atlanta news outlet

    What this means: Midcap’s return to Atlanta reflects the pull of larger markets and familiar audience bases.

    Timeline: Key events in WISH-TV’s recent history

    Date/Year Event
    March 21, 2014 Media General acquires WISH-TV through merger (Encyclopedia of Indianapolis).
    January 1, 2015 CBS affiliation ends; WISH-TV becomes a CW affiliate (Encyclopedia of Indianapolis).
    January 2017 Nexstar acquires Media General (Encyclopedia of Indianapolis).
    September 19, 2019 Circle City Broadcasting purchases WISH-TV and WNDY-TV for $42.5 million (Encyclopedia of Indianapolis).
    2023 (approx) Former chief meteorologist sues the broadcasting company (unrelated to current anchors).
    2024 Scott Sanders leaves Daybreak show; Dagmar Midcap returns to Atlanta.

    The pattern: ownership changes have shaped WISH-TV’s identity more than any single anchor departure.

    What we know and what remains unclear

    Confirmed facts

    • WISH-TV is not Chinese-owned; it is locally owned by Circle City Broadcasting.
    • Scott Sanders left WISH-TV.
    • Dagmar Midcap left WISH-TV and to Atlanta.
    • WISH-TV airs 80 hours of local news weekly.

    What’s unclear

    • Ashley Brown’s current employment status (no clear evidence in provided inputs).
    • Scott Clifton’s separation from his wife (unrelated to WISH-TV).
    • Liza Tarbuck’s resignation (unrelated to WISH-TV).
    • Whether Circle City Broadcasting will complete the WRTV acquisition pending final FCC approval (Indiana Economic Digest).

    For Indianapolis viewers, the story of WISH-TV is one of resilience: a station that survived network switches and corporate consolidation to remain locally owned and committed to 80 hours of news a week. The anchor turnover may feel unsettling, but the ownership suggests the local focus will continue.

    Additional sources

    en.wikipedia.org

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    Frequently asked questions

    How can I watch WISH-TV live?

    You can watch over the air channel 8, or stream live on the WISH-TV website. The station also offers a mobile app for iOS and Android.

    Who owns WISH-TV?

    WISH-TV is owned by Circle City Broadcasting, an Indianapolis-based company that also owns WNDY-TV. It is a locally owned, American station.

    Is WISH-TV a reliable news source?

    Yes, WISH-TV is a legitimate broadcast television station with a long history in Indianapolis. It is affiliated with The CW and adheres to FCC broadcasting standards.

    What is the difference between Wish and Temu?

    WISH-TV is a local television station. Wish and Temu are e-commerce shopping apps. The only similarity is in name sound; they are completely unrelated.

    What channel is WISH-TV on cable?

    Channel placement varies by cable provider, but it is commonly found on channel 8 or 9. Check your local listings.

    Does WISH-TV have a mobile app?

    Yes, the “WISH-TV Indianapolis” app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

    Who are the current WISH-TV news anchors?

    The current anchor lineup includes morning and evening teams. Notable recent departures are Scott Sanders and Dagmar Midcap. Ashley Brown’s status is unconfirmed.