WLBT

WLBT
Channels
BrandingWLBT 3; WLBT News
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WDBD, WLOO
History
First air date
  • December 19, 1953; 70 years ago (1953-12-19)
  • (current license dates from June 1971)
Former call signs
WJBT (1953–1954)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 3 (VHF, 1953–2009)
  • Digital: 9 (VHF, 2005–2009), 7 (VHF, 2009–2010)
  • Both secondary:
  • ABC (1953–1970)
  • NTA (1956–1961)
Call sign meaning
Lamar Broadcast Television (former owner)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID68542
ERP535 kW
HAAT624 m (2,047 ft)
Transmitter coordinates32°12′49.9″N 90°22′56.5″W / 32.213861°N 90.382361°W / 32.213861; -90.382361
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.wlbt.com

WLBT (channel 3) is a television station in Jackson, Mississippi, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Gray Television, which also operates American Spirit Media–owned Fox affiliate WDBD (channel 40) and Vicksburg-licensed MyNetworkTV outlet WLOO (channel 35) under shared services agreements (SSAs). WLOO's license is owned by Tougaloo College, with American Spirit actually operating the station through a separate joint sales agreement (JSA); in turn, Gray provides WLOO with limited engineering support. The stations share studios on South Jefferson Street in downtown Jackson, while WLBT's transmitter is located on Thigpen Road southeast of Raymond, Mississippi.

Originally a pro-segregationist station, in 1969, it became the first station stripped of its right to broadcast for failing to serve the public interest. It was then relaunched under different ownership, becoming a pioneer in racial equality among Southern broadcasters.[2]

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WLBT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Thomas, William G. III (2004). "Television News and the Civil Rights Struggle: The Views in Virginia and Mississippi". Southern Spaces.