Editing WSJV (section)

===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>