WETM-TV

WETM-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Elmira, New York, and serving viewers across the Central Twin Tiers region. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 18 and is affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest U.S. television station groups, and operates from studios on East Water Street in downtown Elmira. Its transmitter is located on Hawley Hill in nearby Big Flats, a site associated with channel 18 broadcasting since the 1950s. The station's lineage begins with WECT, an earlier channel 18 operation that broadcast for less than a year in 1953 and 1954. After that license was surrendered, the channel was reassigned for a new station backed by the Newhouse organization, then owner of Syracuse NBC affiliate WSYR-TV. Broadcasting began on September 15, 1956, under the callsign WSYE-TV. Initially, much of the programming came from Syracuse, although the Elmira operation also produced some local material. The station was an NBC affiliate from its launch, establishing the network relationship that remains central to its identity. In 1980, Times Mirror acquired Newhouse's television properties and changed the station's callsign from WSYE-TV to WETM-TV. Times Mirror gradually developed the outlet as a more independent full-service station rather than simply a satellite of its Syracuse sister station. Smith Broadcasting purchased WETM-TV in 1986 and moved its studios and sales operations to a more central Elmira location in 1988. During the 1990s, the station expanded its regional role, including a cable-based Binghamton service and later arrangements involving low-power station WBGH. Ownership changed again during the 2000s. Smith Broadcasting entered a management agreement with The Ackerley Group in 2000; Clear Channel Communications inherited that arrangement after acquiring Ackerley. Clear Channel purchased WETM-TV outright in 2004. Clear Channel later sold its television group to Providence Equity Partners, which operated the stations under the Newport Television name. Newport sold WETM-TV to Nexstar Broadcasting Group in a transaction completed in December 2012. Nexstar Media Group subsequently became the station's corporate parent following its corporate evolution and consolidation of the Nexstar television portfolio. WETM-TV's core business is local television broadcasting. Its programming mix includes NBC network content, syndicated shows, local news, weather, sports, public-service material, and digital multicast programming. The station has historically maintained a substantial local news operation and has been a strong competitor in the Elmira market. Its news schedule has included morning updates, midday coverage, evening broadcasts, a late newscast, and a 10 p.m. program carried on its second channel. The station also supplies or has supplied news content to related outlets in the broader Twin Tiers region. Its second digital channel has undergone several transformations. It developed from the former W30AA translator operation associated with PBS station WSKG-TV, later becoming the low-power UPN outlet WTTX-LP. After the UPN-WB merger created The CW, the channel continued in changing local and multicast roles. It subsequently carried the WETM2 identity, local high-school sports, Elmira Jackals hockey, New York Yankees baseball, and later Antenna TV. According to the cited station history, the second channel was scheduled to become a CW Plus owned-and-operated station on September 1, 2025, while Antenna TV moved to a different subchannel. WETM-TV has also been part of the transition from analog to digital broadcasting. It began transmitting a high-definition digital signal in 2001 and ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, the federally mandated transition date for full-power U.S. television stations. Local newscasts moved to high-definition production in July 2014. The station's public-facing brand is closely associated with its NBC affiliation, its local news…

Channel 18 in Elmira was first used by WECT, a short-lived station operated by El-Cor Television, a joint venture involving local newspapers. WECT broadcast from September 30, 1953, until May 27, 1954, after which its license was surrendered. A new effort to reactivate the channel emerged in the mid-1950s. A proposal from the owners of Syracuse NBC affiliate WSYR-TV ultimately prevailed, and the Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit on April 4, 1956. Broadcasting began on September 15 of that year under the callsign WSYE-TV. The station used the Hawley Hill transmission site and initially functioned partly as a rebroadcaster of WSYR-TV, while also originating selected local programming. Its network affiliation was NBC. Newhouse sold its television division to Times Mirror in 1980. The new owner changed the callsign to WETM-TV and gradually reduced the station's operational dependence on Syracuse. Smith Broadcasting acquired WETM-TV in 1986 and relocated its studios and sales operations to a more central Elmira facility in 1988. In the 1990s, Smith expanded the station's regional reach through a cable-only Binghamton version of WETM-TV and through its acquisition of low-power station WBGH-LP, which operated for a time as a semi-satellite. WETM-TV established an internet presence in 1998. Smith entered a management agreement with The Ackerley Group in 2000. Clear Channel Communications assumed the agreement after purchasing Ackerley in 2001 and acquired WETM-TV outright in 2004. Clear Channel sold its television stations group to Providence Equity Partners in 2007, with WETM-TV subsequently operating under Newport Television. Newport announced the sale of twelve stations, including WETM-TV, to Nexstar Broadcasting Group in 2012; the transaction closed on December 3 of that year. The station's local news operation has long been an important part of its market identity. It has produced local morning inserts, midday and evening newscasts, a late broadcast, and a 10 p.m. program associated with its second channel. In 2009, financial reductions at Newport led WIVT and WBGH in Binghamton to consolidate portions of their news operations with WETM-TV. The Binghamton outlets initially simulcast WETM programming, later adding a more locally focused taped newscast with Binghamton-based reporting and production elements. WETM upgraded its local-news production to high definition in 2014. The station's multicast history includes the former WSKG translator W30AA and UPN low-power station WTTX-LP. Following the 2006 creation of The CW, changing market arrangements and the eventual shutdown of WTTX-LP resulted in programming being carried on WETM-TV's second digital subchannel. Branded WETM2, the service carried local sports and later Antenna TV. The cited station history states that WETM2 was scheduled to become a CW Plus owned-and-operated station on September 1, 2025, with Antenna TV moving to channel 18.3. WETM-TV began digital high-definition transmission in 2001. It ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009, and moved its digital signal to UHF channel 18. The station continues to operate as an NBC affiliate serving the Elmira-Corning market, with local studios in downtown Elmira and transmission facilities at Hawley Hill in Big Flats.

1. 2025CW Plus transition reported

   The second subchannel is reported as scheduled to become a CW Plus owned-and-operated station, with Antenna TV moving to channel 18.3.

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2. 2020Antenna TV programming begins

   The second digital channel begins carrying Antenna TV programming.

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3. 2014Local newscasts move to HD

   WETM-TV upgrades local-news production to high definition.

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4. 2012Nexstar acquisition closes

   Nexstar Broadcasting Group completes its purchase of WETM-TV from Newport Television on December 3.

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5. 2009Analog transmission ends

   WETM-TV shuts down its analog signal during the U.S. full-power television digital transition.

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6. 2004Clear Channel acquires station

   Clear Channel purchases WETM-TV outright after previously managing it through an inherited agreement.

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7. 2001Digital high-definition signal begins

   WETM-TV launches a digital signal and becomes the first Elmira station described as broadcasting a high-definition feed.

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8. 1998Internet presence established

   WETM-TV becomes the first outlet in the Elmira market described in the source history as having an internet presence.

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9. 1986Smith Broadcasting ownership

   Smith Broadcasting purchases WETM-TV.

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10. 1980Calls become WETM-TV

    Times Mirror acquires the station through its purchase of the Newhouse television division and changes the callsign to WETM-TV.

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11. 1956WSYE-TV launches

    A new NBC-affiliated station begins broadcasting on September 15 as WSYE-TV.

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12. 1954WECT license surrendered

    The short-lived WECT operation ends and its license is surrendered.

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13. 1953First channel 18 operation begins

    WECT begins broadcasting on channel 18 in Elmira, but operates for less than a year.

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A locally focused NBC affiliate and regional news provider for Elmira and the Central Twin Tiers, combining network programming with extensive local news, weather, sports, and community coverage.

• WETM-TV channel 18Broadcast television station1956

  The station's primary service is an NBC-affiliated broadcast channel serving Elmira, Corning, and surrounding communities in the Central Twin Tiers. It combines NBC network programming with local news, weather, sports, syndicated programs, public-service content, and advertising.

• WETM 18 NewsLocal television news

  WETM-TV's local-news operation provides reporting, weather, sports, and community coverage for the Elmira-area market. Its schedule has included morning updates, midday programming, evening broadcasts, weekend news, and a late newscast.

• WETM2Digital multicast channel2004

  WETM2 is the station's second digital service, developed from earlier translator and low-power operations. It has carried local high-school sports, Elmira Jackals hockey, Yankees baseball, syndicated programming, and Antenna TV; the cited history reports a planned CW Plus transition in 2025.

• MyTwinTiersDigital news platform1998

  MyTwinTiers is WETM-TV's web-facing news and information brand, supporting the station's regional reporting, weather, video, and community-facing coverage.

• 2025Convert second subchannel to CW Plus serviceProduct launch

  The second digital channel had carried WETM2 and Antenna TV programming after earlier UPN and translator arrangements ended.

  What changed. The channel was reported as scheduled to become a CW Plus owned-and-operated station, with Antenna TV moved to channel 18.3.

  Aftermath. The change would expand Nexstar's CW distribution in the market while preserving Antenna TV through another multicast position.

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• 2014Upgrade local news production to high definitionGeneration change

  Television production standards and competing local stations were moving toward HD workflows.

  What changed. WETM-TV converted its local newscast production to high definition on July 15, 2014.

  Aftermath. The station's local broadcasts gained a modern HD production format for viewers in the Elmira market.

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• 2009Consolidate regional news productionStrategy

  Newport Television implemented broad reductions affecting its stations, including WIVT and WBGH in Binghamton.

  What changed. Those stations initially simulcast WETM-TV newscasts while retaining local facilities and engineering staff, then added a more Binghamton-focused taped program.

  Aftermath. The arrangement shifted over time, with local news and sports elements returning to Binghamton production while WETM continued as a regional news resource.

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• 1980Develop WETM-TV as an independent local stationStrategy

  After Times Mirror acquired the station and changed its callsign, the operation was no longer treated simply as a Syracuse rebroadcaster.

  What changed. Times Mirror gradually separated WETM-TV's operations from WSYR-TV and strengthened its full-service Elmira identity.

  Aftermath. WETM-TV evolved into a standalone local NBC affiliate with its own news, sales, and programming presence.

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• 2025WETM-TV second channel scheduled for CW Plus affiliation

  The station's second digital channel was reported as becoming a CW Plus owned-and-operated station, with Antenna TV moving to another multicast position.

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• 2014WETM-TV completes high-definition local-news upgrade

  The station upgraded production of its local newscasts to high definition, following a similar move by market rival WENY-TV.

  Product generation
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• 2012WETM-TV becomes part of Nexstar's television station portfolio

  Newport Television completed the sale of WETM-TV to Nexstar Broadcasting Group in December 2012, changing the station's ownership while retaining its local Elmira operation and NBC affiliation.

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• 2012Tornado-related power outage interrupts WETM-TV service

  A tornado and widespread power failures in the Elmira area knocked the station off the air temporarily. A cable feed was restored by the following morning.

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1. WETM-TV
2. WETM-TV official website