WWMT

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WWMT
city =
station_
station_slogan = Live, Local, Breaking News
station_branding = CBS 3 (general)
NewsChannel 3 (newscasts)
analog = 3 (VHF)
digital = 2, moving to 8 (VHF) in 2009
digital_temporary = 8 (VHF)
subchannels = 3.1 CBS
3.2 The CW
network =
founded =
airdate = June 1, 1950
location = Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids/Muskegon, Michigan
callsign_meaning = We're
West
Michigan
Television
former_callsigns = WKZO-TV (1950-1985)
former_channel_numbers = 4 (1950-1956)
owner = Freedom Communications, Inc.
licensee = Freedom Broadcasting of Michigan Licensee, LLC
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = All secondary:
DuMont (1950-1955)
NBC (1950-1960)
ABC (1950-1962)
erp_temporary = 100 kW (analog)
6.9 kW (digital)
effective_radiated_power = 20 kW (digital
HAAT = 305 m
class =
facility_id = 74195
coordinates = coord|42|37|55.4|N|85|32|15.9|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.wwmt.com/ www.wwmt.com]

WWMT ("CBS 3") is the CBS television affiliate for the West Michigan television market. Licensed to Kalamazoo, where its studios are located, the station is owned by Freedom Communications. The station broadcasts an analog signal on VHF channel 3 and a digital signal on VHF channel 2 from a transmitter located southwest of Middleville. WWMT's studios are also the location of master control and operations for its sister station in Lansing, ABC affiliate WLAJ channel 53. WWMT operates a CW affiliate on its DT2 digital subchannel, "CW 7" (carried on cable channel 7)

History

WWMT debuted on June 1, 1950, as WKZO-TV (W Kalamazoo). It is West Michigan's second-oldest television station, and was owned by broadcasting pioneer John Fetzer along with WKZO-AM 590, which he had launched in 1931.

WKZO initially had reception problems due to the presence of WTMJ-TV across Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, also on channel 3. In 1953, WTMJ moved to channel 4 (which, in turn, forced WBKB in Chicago to move from channel 4 to channel 2, as a condition of its purchase by CBS.) In 1956, WKZO-AM-FM-TV moved to an old car dealership on West Maple Avenue in Kalamazoo, which has been the station's home ever since. It was the primary CBS affiliate by default in the South Bend / Elkhart area in Northern Indiana, a significant part of its advertising area, before Northern Indiana got the UHF channels that dominate that market and WKZO's signal was moved to a more northerly location.

Channel 3 has been a primary CBS station from the very beginning, but initially had secondary affiliations with NBC and ABC). However, in 1960, Fetzer built a new 1100 foot (335 m) transmitter near Gun Lake. The new tower added Grand Rapids to its city-grade coverage and turned West Michigan into a single television market. WKZO then shared ABC with WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids until WZZM signed on in 1962.

When John Fetzer owned the Detroit Tigers baseball team, WKZO frequently pre-empted primetime CBS broadcasting for Tigers baseball games, including preseason exhibition.

Until it was dethroned by WZZM in the late 1970s (who was in turn dethroned by WOOD-TV in the mid 1980's), WKZO was West Michigan's top television station. In 1985, Fetzer retired and sold off his vast broadcasting empire. WKZO was sold to Busse Broadcasting, who changed the call letters to the current WWMT-TV (We're West Michigan Television). For a time in the mid 1990s, even though most of its fellow CBS affiliates were in third place or worse, WWMT was number one. Freedom Communications purchased WWMT in 1998 from Granite Broadcasting along with sister station WLAJ.

WWMT and WLNS in Lansing are the longest-serving CBS affiliates in the state of Michigan, primarily due to WJBK in Detroit joining the FOX network. Although not owned by CBS Corporation, WWMT has used elements of the CBS Mandate since the mid-1990s. For example, the station's logos have used the CBS logo and blue and gold as its colors since the mid-1990s, and since 2006 WWMT has branded itself as "CBS 3".

In September 2006, WWMT created a second digital channel to began airing programming from The CW, which was created as a result of the UPN and WB networks merging. From the September 18, 2006 launch through early December, the CW affiliate was known as West Michigan's CW.

The new half hour news program airs seven days a week. Tom Van Howe anchors on weekdays, Diane Daniels anchors on weekends.

Digital television

After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion, scheduled to take place on February 17, 2009 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf] , WWMT will move its digital broadcasts to channel 8. [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101234508&formid=387&fac_num=74195 CDBS Print ] ] However, through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers will display WWMT's virtual channel as 3.

Newscasts

WWMT DT2, offers "The Daily Buzz" weekdays from 6 to 9 AM. The station's weather radar is called "LIVE DOPPLER RADAR" as part of Severe Weather Center 3. The opening sequence refers to the newscast title as "NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 6" (for the morning and evening 6:00 broadcasts). ' when the news is preempted on the main channel.

Partners

*Legal Line
*West Michigan Pros
*Bloomberg Television
*CBS Marketwatch
*Miller Auditorium
*WKFR
*Battle Creek Enquirer
*WNWN
*WTRV
*WCSY

Former Partner

CBS affiliate WWTV / WWUP, Cadillac / Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan

logans

*"Live Local Breaking News" (current)
*"Where News Comes First" (until 2006)
*"Channel 3 & You" (1987-1994)
*"We're West Michigan Television," "Hello West Michigan" (1985)
*"We're the ones to see." (1970s)
*"Kalamazoo Direct to You" (1960s)

ports

"Hi-Lite Nite" is the weekly Friday night high school football program.

Major personalities

"NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 5am" (2 hours)
* Weekdays:
** Jeff Varner - Anchor.
** Holly Doyle - Anchor.
** Ron Boyd - Weather.

"NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at Noon"
* Weekdays:
** Jeff Varner - Anchor.
** Holly Doyle - Anchor.
** Ron Boyd - Weather.

"NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 5"
* Weekdays:
** Judy Markee- Anchor.
** Tom Van Howe - Anchor.
** Keith Thompson - Chief Meteorologist.

"NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 5:30"
* Weekdays:
** Tom Van Howe - Anchor.
** Judy Markee - Anchor.
** Keith Thompson - Chief Meteorologist.

"NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 6"
* Weekdays:
** Judy Markee - Anchor.
** Tom Van Howe - Anchor
**Keith Thompson - Chief Meteorologist.
** Ed Kengerski - Sports Director.
* Weekends:
** Diane Daniels - Anchor.
** Wes Callison - Meteorologist
** Andy Pepper - Sports.

"NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 11"
* Weekdays:
** Judy Markee - Anchor.
** Tom Van Howe - Anchor.
** Keith Thompson - Chief Meteorologist.
** Ed Kengerski - Sports Director.
* Weekends:
** Diane Daniels - Anchor.
** Wes Callison - Meteorologist.
** Andy Pepper - Sports.
* On Active Military Duty
** Jeff McAtee - Anchor, weekday evenings.

Tom Van Howe is filling in for Jeff McAtee from July 28, 2008 to November 2008. McAtee is on active duty as a commander with the United States Navy Reserve. Van Howe worked at WOOD-TV from 1986 to 2005, when he retired. WWMT marketing director Mark Bishop told the Grand Rapids Press that McAtee will be active in the Navy Reserve for a year or two. [http://www.wwmt.com/news/newschannel_1351469___article.html/well_howe.html] [http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/07/longtime_tv_anchor_coming_out.html] .

Former Personalities

*Jamie Boll (now 5:30 Anchor,WBTV in Charlotte.)
*Gordon Boyd (now Anchor-Reporter, WVLT-TV in Knoxville)
*Lee Cowan (now reporter, NBC News)
*Cindy Dole
*Barry Shanley
*Meredith Swanson
*Amy Sweezey (now midday meteorologist at WESH in Orlando.)
*John Wendell

Ownership

Founded by John Fetzer in 1950.
* Sold in 1985 to Busse Broadcasting.
* Sold in 1995 to Granite Broadcasting.
* Sold in 1998 to Freedom Communications (Current Owner).

Old WWMT Logos

References

* [http://www.michiguide.com/dials/tv/wwmt.html WWMT TV Channel 3 (June 13 2005). "Michigan's Radio and TV Broadcast Guide"] .

External links

* [http://www.wwmt.com/ WWMT Website]
* [http://www.westmichigancw.com/ West Michigan CW 7 Website]
*TVQ|WWMT
*BIA|WWMT|TV|TV