WDAM-TV

WDAM-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Laurel, Mississippi, and serving the Hattiesburg–Laurel market and the wider Pine Belt region. The station broadcasts its primary service as an NBC affiliate and carries ABC programming on a digital subchannel. It is owned by Gray Media and operates alongside low-power Telemundo affiliate WLHA-LD. WDAM's studios and transmitter are located along U.S. Highway 11 in the Moselle area of southern Jones County. The station began broadcasting on June 8, 1956, under the WDAM call sign, which was derived from the initials of original owner David A. Matison. It initially operated on VHF channel 9 and was the first television station to serve southern Mississippi. At launch, WDAM carried programming from both NBC and ABC, with network material relayed from New Orleans station WDSU-TV by microwave. The station also briefly carried programs from the NTA Film Network during the late 1950s. A major early turning point came when federal regulators approved the relocation of the station's allocation. WDAM moved from channel 9 in Hattiesburg to VHF channel 7 in Laurel on September 3, 1959. The change left the Pine Belt with one commercial VHF station and established the channel identity that remains central to the brand. In 1962, WDAM ended its secondary ABC relationship and became a full-time NBC affiliate. ABC programming did not return to the local market through WDAM until 2012, when the station placed ABC on its second digital subchannel. Ownership changed several times. The station was associated with WDSU-TV and related broadcasting interests in its early years, was later operated by Service Broadcasters and Beam Broadcasters, and passed to Federal Broadcasting in 1990 after Beam entered bankruptcy proceedings. Raycom Media acquired WDAM in 1997. Gray Television, now Gray Media, acquired it through the 2019 combination of Gray and Raycom. That transaction expanded WDAM's sister-station relationships across Mississippi and neighboring states. WDAM has historically emphasized local news, weather, sports, severe-weather coverage, and community reporting. It has long held a strong position in local newscasts, partly because it has offered a broad schedule of news programming for the market. The station moved its newscasts to high definition in 2012, including a redesigned set, weather center, and graphics package. Its digital operation expanded through mobile websites, smartphone and tablet applications, video and photo submission tools, and community-focused web projects. The station's digital services include its main broadcast feed and an ABC-affiliated second channel. In 2021, Gray launched WLHA-LD as a low-power companion station, and in 2023 WLHA announced a Telemundo affiliation for the Pine Belt. WDAM has also added regional sports programming, including New Orleans Pelicans games under agreements involving Gray's Gulf South stations. Its present brand therefore combines a long-established local-news identity with network television, digital distribution, multicast programming, and regional sports coverage.

WDAM-TV began broadcasting on June 8, 1956, as southern Mississippi's first television station. It was originally licensed to Hattiesburg and operated on VHF channel 9. The WDAM call sign reflected the initials of original owner David A. Matison. The station initially carried both NBC and ABC programming, receiving network programs from WDSU-TV in New Orleans through a microwave relay. It also briefly broadcast programs from the NTA Film Network during the late 1950s. The station's early history was shaped by a complicated frequency-allocation dispute. A Laurel group had secured authorization for channel 7, while other broadcasters sought to move that allocation to different communities. WDAM's owners proposed transferring channel 9 to Baton Rouge for use by another station and moving WDAM to Laurel's channel 7 allocation. The Federal Communications Commission eventually approved the change, and WDAM moved to channel 7 on September 3, 1959. The move made Laurel the station's community of license and gave the station the channel number that continues to define its identity. In 1962, WDAM discontinued its secondary ABC affiliation and became a sole NBC affiliate. ABC programming was subsequently available in the market through other stations, including WLOX in Biloxi, but returned to WDAM's own operation in 2012. On May 30 of that year, WDAM and ABC announced a long-term agreement under which WDAM-DT2 replaced This TV with ABC programming. The change restored a local ABC outlet for the Hattiesburg–Laurel market after a lengthy gap. Ownership evolved through a series of broadcasting transactions. The Lion Television Corporation, WDAM's original licensee, became majority-owned by WDSU-TV interests in 1956. WDAM later became connected with Service Broadcasters, Inc., which also acquired WCFT-TV in Alabama. Beam Broadcasters purchased the stations in 1978, but severe debt problems led to bankruptcy proceedings and the emergence of Beacon Communications Corporation. Federal Broadcasting acquired WDAM in 1990, followed by Raycom Media in 1997. Because Raycom already owned WHLT in the same market, WHLT was sold to Media General to comply with FCC ownership rules. The station invested heavily in digital distribution during the 2000s and 2010s. It launched a digital signal in 2001, ended analog broadcasting during the nationwide digital transition on June 12, 2009, and later moved its digital transmission from UHF channel 28 back to VHF channel 7 in January 2010. The transition produced additional multicast services on digital channels 7.2 and 7.3. WDAM expanded its web operation with a web manager position, a mobile-oriented service called WDAM to Go, smartphone news and weather applications, and the Send It to Seven photo and video submission service. WDAM Neighborhoods, a collection of community websites, launched in 2011 and was retired in early 2014. Tablet applications followed in 2012. Local news has remained the station's central business and editorial offering. WDAM has traditionally carried one of the market's most extensive local-news schedules and has built a strong reputation for weather coverage and community reporting. Its broadcasts moved to high definition on September 10, 2012, accompanied by a new set, weather center, and updated graphics. Long-serving personnel have also contributed to the station's institutional identity, including weathercaster Jim Gibbon, sports director Mitchell Williams, staff member Bobby Smith, and news director and anchor Randy Swan. Former WDAM sports anchor Robin Roberts later became a nationally recognized broadcaster, while Sally-Ann Roberts also worked at the station early in her career. Gray Television announced its agreement to combine with Raycom Media on June 25, 2018. The transaction was approved in December and completed on January 2, 2019, making WDAM part of Gray's expanded national station group. Gray later launched low-power WLHA-LD in the Pine Belt, with a WDAM relay among its digital services and a Telemundo affiliation announced in 2023. WDAM has also broadened its programming beyond traditional network schedules by carrying New Orleans Pelicans games through Gray's regional sports arrangements. The station remains an active NBC/ABC broadcaster and a major local media outlet for southern Mississippi.

1. 2023WLHA-LD gains Telemundo affiliation

   Gray announces Telemundo programming for its low-power Pine Belt companion station.

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2. 2019Gray completes Raycom combination

   The Gray–Raycom transaction closes on January 2, placing WDAM under Gray Television ownership.

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3. 2012ABC returns through WDAM-DT2

   The second digital channel replaces This TV with ABC programming.

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4. 2012Local newscasts move to high definition

   WDAM introduces HD news production together with a new studio set, weather center, and graphics.

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5. 2009Analog broadcasting ends

   WDAM shuts down its analog signal on June 12 and continues as a digital station.

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6. 2001Digital transmission begins

   WDAM signs on its digital signal on UHF channel 28.

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7. 1997Raycom Media acquires WDAM

   WDAM becomes part of Raycom Media after earlier ownership by Federal Broadcasting.

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8. 1962WDAM becomes an exclusive NBC affiliate

   The station ends its secondary ABC affiliation and carries NBC as its sole primary network affiliation.

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9. 1959Station moves to channel 7 in Laurel

   WDAM relocates from channel 9 in Hattiesburg to VHF channel 7 in Laurel, establishing its enduring channel identity.

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10. 1956WDAM-TV begins broadcasting

    The station signs on June 8 as southern Mississippi's first television station, originally operating on VHF channel 9 from Hattiesburg.

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A dominant local broadcast-news and information brand for the Hattiesburg–Laurel and Pine Belt communities, supported by NBC and ABC network programming and Gray Media's regional television resources.

• WDAM NBC serviceBroadcast television1956

  WDAM's primary broadcast service carries NBC network programming alongside the station's local news, weather, sports, public-affairs, and community programming. The service is identified with channel 7 and is distributed over the air and through local television providers in the Hattiesburg–Laurel market.

• WDAM-DT2 ABC serviceMulticast television2012

  WDAM-DT2 is the station's ABC-affiliated digital service. It launched in 2012 when ABC replaced This TV on the second digital channel. The subchannel also carries selected simulcasts and locally produced newscasts from the main WDAM service, subject to network scheduling.

• Local news and weatherTelevision news1956

  Local news, weather, severe-weather information, and sports are WDAM's core editorial products. The station has historically operated an extensive schedule of newscasts and has used its local presence to cover the Pine Belt communities, regional events, and emergency conditions.

• Digital news servicesDigital media2008

  WDAM has extended its broadcast operation through a station website, mobile-oriented web services, smartphone and tablet applications, and audience-submission tools. These products support news, weather, video, photographs, alerts, and community interaction beyond the linear television schedule.

• Regional Pelicans broadcastsSports broadcasting2023

  WDAM participates in Gray's regional distribution of New Orleans Pelicans games. The station carried selected games during the 2023–24 season and was included in the broader Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network arrangement for the 2024–25 season.

• 2019Transition to Gray ownershipM&A

  Gray Television agreed to combine with Raycom Media in a transaction involving their respective television-station portfolios.

  What changed. The transaction closed on January 2, 2019, transferring WDAM into Gray's station group.

  Aftermath. WDAM gained additional sister-station relationships and access to Gray's wider regional programming and operational resources.

  Announced transaction value. $3.6 billion (2018 announcement)

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• 2012ABC affiliation added to WDAM-DT2Product launch

  ABC had not been carried locally by WDAM since the station ended its secondary ABC affiliation in 1962.

  What changed. WDAM replaced This TV on its second digital subchannel with ABC programming.

  Aftermath. The move restored a local ABC service for the Hattiesburg–Laurel market and expanded WDAM's network offering.

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• 1959Relocation from channel 9 to channel 7Strategy

  The station's owners argued that the Pine Belt could support only one commercial television station and sought a frequency arrangement involving the Laurel channel 7 allocation.

  What changed. WDAM moved from VHF channel 9 in Hattiesburg to VHF channel 7 in Laurel on September 3, 1959.

  Aftermath. The move made Laurel the station's community of license and established channel 7 as the station's long-term identity.

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• 2024Gray expands Pelicans distribution through Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network

  Gray and the Pelicans announced a broader regional arrangement covering nearly all 2024–25 Pelicans games on participating Gray stations, including WDAM-TV.

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• 2023WDAM launches a Telemundo companion service through WLHA-LD

  Gray announced that low-power companion station WLHA-LD had secured the Telemundo affiliation for the Pine Belt area.

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• 2023WDAM adds New Orleans Pelicans games

  Gray announced an agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans to air ten games during the 2023–24 season on WDAM and other Gray stations.

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• 2018Gray Television agrees to acquire Raycom Media

  Gray Television announced a merger with Raycom Media that placed WDAM-TV under Gray's ownership after regulatory approval and completion in January 2019.

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• 2012WDAM returns ABC programming to the Hattiesburg–Laurel market

  WDAM and ABC announced a long-term affiliation agreement. WDAM-DT2 replaced This TV with ABC programming, restoring a local ABC service after a five-decade absence from the station's lineup.

  Product launch
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1. WDAM-TV
2. WDAM-TV official website