WMDN
Encyclopedia
WMDN is the CBS
-affiliated television station
for Meridian, Mississippi
. It broadcasts a high definition
digital signal on UHF channel 24 from a transmitter at its studios on Crestview Circle south of downtown. The station can also be seen on Comcast
channel 5 and in high definition on digital channel 433. Owned by Waypoint Media, WMDN is sister to NBC
/Fox affiliate WGBC
and the two share studios. Syndicated
programming on this station includes: Inside Edition
, The Dr. Oz Show
, Entertainment Tonight
, and Ellen
.
.
in a secondary manner that longtime CBS affiliate WTOK-TV
presumably turned down. Unfortunately, like many UHF start-ups in a previously VHF market
, this channel could not gain a significant foothold in ratings or local advertising and had to go dark on October 13, 1970.
On March 23, 1972, Frank K. Spain bought WHTV and made it a full-time satellite of WTWV (now WTVA
) in Tupelo
which was affiliated with NBC
with some ABC programs such as college football
carried at other times. Television guides during this time instructed viewers to consult WTWV's listings for WHTV's program schedule. This changed in 1980 when WHTV became the primary CBS affiliate for Meridian after WTOK became a primary ABC affiliate. In 1982, NBC returned to the market on WLBM (now WGBC) as semi-satellite of WLBT
in Jackson
. In 1986, WHTV changed call letters to WTZH.
The station went bankrupt in 1991 leaving Eastern Mississippi
and portions of Western Alabama
without a CBS affiliate. During the gap, Hattiesburg
's WHLT
and occasionally Selma, Alabama
's WAKA
were carried by Comcast to provide CBS programming to cable subscribers. Finally, the Spain family returned this channel to the air as WMDN on February 2, 1994. From that year until 1997, the station aired National Football League
games from Fox
(which had actually acquired these games from CBS).
That was shared with WTOK which also aired some additional programming from the network in late night time slots as a secondary affiliate. In 1995, WMDN entered into a local marketing agreement
(LMA) with WGBC. The Spains owned WMDN until January 2008 when Meridian businessman Michael Reed purchased the station along with WGBC, making them full sisters. Reed had to get a "failed station" waiver to buy WGBC because the Meridian market has only four full-power stations--not enough to legally permit a duopoly under normal circumstances.
With the introduction of a news department, WMDN simulcasted all of its shows on WGBC as a result of the LMA. Therefore, the newscasts were branded as 24/30 News. The title changed to WMDN News when the shows were dropped from WGBC's lineup. WMDN also aired an hour-long weekday morning show at 6 for a short time. All newscasts ended on June 30, 2005 as a result of being unable to gain consistent ratings and viewership. A few years later, WMDN and WGBC began airing local weather cut-ins during the national weekday morning shows.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
-affiliated television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
for Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
. It broadcasts a high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
digital signal on UHF channel 24 from a transmitter at its studios on Crestview Circle south of downtown. The station can also be seen on Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
channel 5 and in high definition on digital channel 433. Owned by Waypoint Media, WMDN is sister to NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
/Fox affiliate WGBC
WGBC
WGBC is the Fox-affiliated television station for Meridian, Mississippi. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 31 from a transmitter at studios on Crestview Drive south of downtown. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 7 and in high definition on digital channel 432...
and the two share studios. Syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
programming on this station includes: Inside Edition
Inside Edition
Inside Edition is a thirty-minute American television syndicated news program, first aired on CBS on October 9, 1988. It was originally similar to the programs Hard Copy and A Current Affair, but now more closely resembles a condensed version of breakfast television, exclusively with pre-recorded...
, The Dr. Oz Show
The Dr. Oz Show
The Dr. Oz Show is an American syndicated television talk show, hosted by Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and teaching professor at Columbia University who became famous for his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show from 2004 until 2009....
, Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
, and Ellen
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
.
Digital programming
On WMDN-DT2 and Comcast digital channel 247 is The Local AccuWeather ChannelThe Local AccuWeather Channel
The Local AccuWeather Channel is a 24-hour, weather-oriented, commercially sponsored broadcast and cable television network in the United States owned and operated by AccuWeather, Inc., which is headquartered in State College, Pennsylvania....
.
| Subchannel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 24.1 | main WMDN programming/CBS HD |
| 24.2 | WMDN-DT2 "CBS 24 Local Weather Channel" |
History
The station first signed-on June 10, 1968 under the call sign WHTV. It was originally owned by local businessmen Weyman Walker and James Britton. WHTV aired programs from CBS and ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in a secondary manner that longtime CBS affiliate WTOK-TV
WTOK-TV
WTOK-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Meridian, Mississippi. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter south of the city along MS 145 . The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 6 and in high definition on digital channel 431. Owned by...
presumably turned down. Unfortunately, like many UHF start-ups in a previously VHF market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
, this channel could not gain a significant foothold in ratings or local advertising and had to go dark on October 13, 1970.
On March 23, 1972, Frank K. Spain bought WHTV and made it a full-time satellite of WTWV (now WTVA
WTVA
WTVA is the NBC-affiliated television station for Northern Mississippi and Northwestern Alabama licensed to Tupelo, Mississippi. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 8 from a transmitter on County Road 70 in Woodland, Mississippi. The station can also be seen on Cable One...
) in Tupelo
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
which was affiliated with NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
with some ABC programs such as college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
carried at other times. Television guides during this time instructed viewers to consult WTWV's listings for WHTV's program schedule. This changed in 1980 when WHTV became the primary CBS affiliate for Meridian after WTOK became a primary ABC affiliate. In 1982, NBC returned to the market on WLBM (now WGBC) as semi-satellite of WLBT
WLBT
WLBT, virtual channel 3 , is the NBC-affiliated television station in Jackson, Mississippi, and it is owned by Raycom Media. WLBT transmits its signal from an antenna, 624 meters in height, located near Raymond.-History:...
in Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
. In 1986, WHTV changed call letters to WTZH.
The station went bankrupt in 1991 leaving Eastern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and portions of Western Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
without a CBS affiliate. During the gap, Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County...
's WHLT
WHLT
WHLT is the CBS-affiliated television station for Southeastern Mississippi's Pine Belt. Licensed to Hattiesburg, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 22 from a transmitter in unincorporated Northeastern Forrest County. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 10 and...
and occasionally Selma, Alabama
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
's WAKA
WAKA
WAKA is the CBS-affiliated television station for Central Alabama's Black Belt region licensed to Selma. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 42 from a transmitter in Gordonville. The station can also be seen on Knology and Charter channel 8...
were carried by Comcast to provide CBS programming to cable subscribers. Finally, the Spain family returned this channel to the air as WMDN on February 2, 1994. From that year until 1997, the station aired National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
games from Fox
NFL on FOX
NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports...
(which had actually acquired these games from CBS).
That was shared with WTOK which also aired some additional programming from the network in late night time slots as a secondary affiliate. In 1995, WMDN entered into a local marketing agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
(LMA) with WGBC. The Spains owned WMDN until January 2008 when Meridian businessman Michael Reed purchased the station along with WGBC, making them full sisters. Reed had to get a "failed station" waiver to buy WGBC because the Meridian market has only four full-power stations--not enough to legally permit a duopoly under normal circumstances.
News operation
With WMDN's third launch in 1994, local newscasts on weeknights at 6 and 10 were added to the schedule. This was the second attempt to take on longtime dominant WTOK in the ratings. From 1991 until 1994, WGBC aired news during the week that was known as WGBC News 30. Those broadcasts ended after local businessman, Alex Shields, bought majority control of the station. WTOK's continual status as the most watched station in Eastern Mississippi has been a result of being the only VHF station in the area.With the introduction of a news department, WMDN simulcasted all of its shows on WGBC as a result of the LMA. Therefore, the newscasts were branded as 24/30 News. The title changed to WMDN News when the shows were dropped from WGBC's lineup. WMDN also aired an hour-long weekday morning show at 6 for a short time. All newscasts ended on June 30, 2005 as a result of being unable to gain consistent ratings and viewership. A few years later, WMDN and WGBC began airing local weather cut-ins during the national weekday morning shows.
Station slogans
- "East Mississippi and West Alabama's Most Local News Coverage" (1990s-2002)
- "Where Local News Comes First" (2002–2005)