WAPT

WAPT
Channels
Branding
  • 16 WAPT
  • MeTV Jackson (on DT2)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
October 3, 1970 (54 years ago) (1970-10-03)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 16 (UHF, 1970–2009)
Call sign meaning
"American Public Television"; station was founded by American Public Life Insurance Company
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID49712
ERP1,000 kW
HAAT332 m (1,089 ft)
Transmitter coordinates32°16′41″N 90°17′40″W / 32.27806°N 90.29444°W / 32.27806; -90.29444 (WAPT)
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.wapt.com

WAPT (channel 16) is a television station in Jackson, Mississippi, United States, affiliated with ABC. The station is owned by Hearst Television and maintains studios and transmitter facilities on Channel 16 Way (off MS 18) in southwest Jackson.

WAPT was the third commercial station in Jackson. It signed on in October 1970 and was owned by Jackson-based insurer American Public Life Insurance Company. Under several owners, it had generally been the third-rated station for local news in the market, a historic position attributable to its late entrance and smaller coverage area in the 1970s and 1980s. Argyle Television acquired WAPT in 1995, then proceeded to merge with Hearst in 1997. The station has become more competitive in local news under Hearst ownership.

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WAPT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.