WJYS is a brokered station. It has been since the 90s. They are basically paying for the airtime on the sub channels. They also lease their sub channels to HSN, QVC, and some other religious and ethnic broadcasters. It's the only way the station has been able to operate with it's limited signal although before WCIU came along with The U in 1995, it had an Independent lineup during certain hours.

It's licensed to Hammond and originally transmit in analog from Tinley Park. It had no over the air coverage in the northern part of the market until they managed to get cable carriage.

With digital, they have a transmitter on the Sears Tower but it's still lower in power than the other TV stations and has a limited signal in the northern part of the market.

The DTV subchannels for WJYS will likely not be carried on cable or satellite. This is just for the OTA part of the operation as there is no must carry for subchannels.

They will likely get carriage deals for the network itself on cable and satellite. WJYS won't be involved with that.