WMDN

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WMDN
city =
station_
station_slogan =
station_branding = CBS 24
analog = 24 (UHF)
digital = 26 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = CBS
network =
founded =
airdate = June 10, 1968
location = Meridian, Mississippi
callsign_meaning = MeriDiaN
former_callsigns = WHTV (1968-1986)
WTZH (1986-1994)
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Meridian Media, LLC
licensee =
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = NBC/ABC (1968-1980, as satellite of WTVA)
silent (1991?-1994)
Fox (1994-1997, NFL only)
effective_radiated_power = 724 kW (analog)
836 kW (digital)
HAAT = 186 m (analog)
165.3 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 73255
coordinates = coord|32|19|40|N|88|41|31.3|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.wmdntv.com/ www.wmdntv.com]

WMDN is the CBS television affiliate for Meridian, Mississippi. WMDN, Inc., the owner of the station, is controlled by the Spain family, owners of WTVA in Tupelo, in the state's northeastern quadrant. The station originally signed on the air in 1968 under the callsign WHTV. From 1968 until 1975, WHTV was essentially a translator for WTWV (the current WTVA), which was affiliated primarily with NBC, with some ABC programs (such as college football) carried at other times. ("TV Guides" from this era instructed viewers to consult WTWV's listings for WHTV's program schedule.)

This changed by 1980, when WHTV became the primary CBS affiliate for Meridian after longtime CBS affiliate WTOK became a primary ABC affiliate. In 1986, WHTV changed call letters to WTZH. WTZH went bankrupt in the early 1990s, 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. CBS finally returned to broadcasting over the air in the region when WMDN started on February 2, 1994. Its transmitter is located in Meridian.

"Historical note": The callsign WMDN was originally used for Midland, Michigan's first radio station, owned by the city's newspaper, the "Midland Daily News." That station began broadcasting in 1948 at 1490 kHz and continued to use that callsign until July 1971.

Newscasts

WMDN originally aired news programs Monday-Friday at 6 and 10 p.m. Originally the broadcast was called "24/30 News," since the broadcast was simulcast on NBC affiliate WGBC as part of a local marketing agreement. The title changed to "WMDN News" when the broadcast was dropped from WGBC's lineup. WMDN also aired a morning newscast from 6-7 a.m. weekdays for a short time. All news broadcasts ended on June 30, 2005.

Programming

In addition to CBS network programming, WMDN airs a variety of syndicated programming including "Dr. Phil," "Ellen," "Entertainment Tonight," and "Judge Mathis." Weekend syndicated programming includes "Everybody Hates Chris" (actually from The CW), "It's Showtime at the Apollo," and reruns of "Alias."

External links

* [http://www.wmdntv.com/ WMDN Website]
*TVQ|WMDN
*BIA|WMDN|TV|TV