WFYI (TV)
WFYI, virtual channel 20, is a Public Broadcasting Service member television station licensed to Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Owned by Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media, Inc., it is a sister station to National Public Radio member WFYI-FM. The two stations share studios between Pierson and Illinois Streets 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.
On cable, WFYI is available on Comcast Xfinity channel 3 and on Charter Spectrum and AT&T U-verse channel 20.
Background
Local community leader Ardath Y. Burkhart formed a small grassroots campaign to launch a non-commercial educational television station to serve Indianapolis. Burkhart quickly gained support in the community by stating her case to residents in Indianapolis and surrounding counties. The volunteers raised enough funds over the course of a few weeks to cover a year's worth of operating expenses.The station first signed on the air on October 4, 1970; for its first two days on the air, it served as a member station of National Educational Television, before becoming a member of the Public Broadcasting Service when it launched on October 6, 1970. WFYI's transmitter originally operated at low power, providing a signal reach not far outside of downtown Indianapolis. It started with a small staff of nine employees from its Meridian Street studio facilities, which formerly housed the headquarters of utility company Indiana Gas. Despite the fact that color television had become commonplace at the time, the station could afford to purchase only three cameras that were capable of recording locally produced programming in black-and-white, not color. The station eventually increased its transmitter power to allow its signal to cover a radius from the tower, expanding to cover a larger portion of Central Indiana.
In the early 1980s, WFYI's programming was relayed on translator station W39AA in Fort Wayne. That translator was a stopgap to provide educational programming to Fort Wayne, as UHF channel 39 was allocated for educational use. Channel 39 became a separate, full-powered PBS member outlet, WFWA, in December 1986.
The station's current president and CEO, Lloyd Wright, also serves on PBS' national board of directors.
Digital television
Digital channels
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming |
| 20.1 | 1080i | WFYI 1 | Main WFYI programming / PBS | |
| 20.2 | 1080i | WFYI 2 | PBS Kids | |
| 20.3 | 480i | WFYI 3 | Create / Indiana Channel / Classic Arts Showcase |
On digital subchannel 20.2, the station carries children's programming from PBS Kids during the 24/7 hours. Digital subchannel 20.3 airs a mix of programming from Create during the daytime hours, programming from the Indiana Channel during the late afternoon and evening hours and Classic Arts Showcase during the overnight hours.