WJKT
WJKT is a Fox-affiliated television station serving Jackson, Tennessee, and surrounding areas in West Tennessee.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
WJKT is a television station broadcasting on channel 16 in Jackson, Tennessee. The station serves Jackson and nearby communities in West Tennessee and is affiliated with the Fox network. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group, while its advertising office is located in Jackson and its transmitter is located near Alamo, Tennessee. WJKT is part of a regional operating arrangement that connects the station with Nexstar's Memphis television properties, particularly WREG-TV. The station began broadcasting on April 18, 1985, under the call sign WJWT. It was established as Jackson's first independent television station after a long regulatory and construction process. Its early programming consisted primarily of syndicated reruns, movies, sports programming, and locally produced material. The station also carried St. Louis Cardinals baseball and later developed local talk shows and weekday newscasts. Early distribution was complicated by a dispute with the local cable system, which delayed or limited carriage while the system considered how to accommodate the new station alongside existing cable services. WJWT joined Fox in 1986, shortly after the network's launch. Ownership and operating control changed during the station's first several years. Financial problems affecting Golden Circle Broadcasting led to efforts to transfer the station, and the license and operating assets were ultimately acquired in late 1989 by entities associated with Memphis station WLMT. The call sign changed to WMTU in January 1990. WMTU largely retransmitted WLMT programming, although it initially retained limited local departures and continued to provide Fox programming to the Jackson market after Fox moved its Memphis affiliation from WLMT to WPTY-TV in 1990. In 1992, the station's Jackson operation was reduced to a full-time satellite service, ending local commercial insertion and eliminating several local positions. WMTU and WLMT subsequently moved through a series of ownership, leasing, and management arrangements. In 1995, the stations became affiliates of the newly launched UPN network. A renewed effort to establish a distinct Jackson identity began in 2001, when the station adopted the WJKT call sign. The station worked with TotalReach Television on advertising sales and local programming, and it later began simulcasting WLMT's Memphis 9 p.m. newscast. The 2006 merger of UPN and The WB into The CW created a major programming realignment. WLMT became a CW affiliate, while WJKT returned to Fox in August 2006. This restored the station's Fox affiliation in Jackson after an absence of more than a decade. The station also became more directly associated with regional news production, although its local news service remained linked to programming produced for related Memphis stations rather than developing a fully independent Jackson newsroom. Clear Channel's television divestiture created Newport Television in 2007. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired WJKT and the related Memphis stations WPTY-TV and WLMT from Newport in 2012. WPTY was renamed WATN-TV in 2013, and the Memphis operation moved to facilities that also supported WJKT. In 2019, Nexstar acquired Tribune Media. To comply with ownership requirements in the Memphis market, Nexstar retained WREG-TV and divested WATN-TV and WLMT to Tegna, while retaining WJKT. Following that transaction, WJKT was operated using resources associated with WREG-TV, including shared management and simulcasts of WREG's 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts. Today, WJKT's primary brand function is that of a local Fox affiliate. Its offering combines Fox network programming, syndicated and locally relevant content, regional advertising, and news simulcasts or other programming supplied through Nexstar's broader West Tennessee and Memphis infrastructure. The station's identity has therefore shifted over time from an independent Jackson outlet, to a satellite and network relay operation, and then to a Fox affiliate with a locally targeted commercial presence and shared regional news resources.
History
WJKT traces its origins to a construction application filed in 1980 by Golden Circle Broadcasting for a new television station on channel 16 in Jackson, Tennessee. The Federal Communications Commission issued a construction permit in November 1981, but substantial progress did not occur until late 1983. Construction was announced for early 1984, and the proposed station initially carried the WUAA call sign before changing to WJWT. The call letters were intended to evoke Jackson and West Tennessee. WJWT launched on April 18, 1985, as Jackson's first independent television station. Its schedule featured classic syndicated programs, movies, sports, and other general-entertainment material. The station obtained programming that included St. Louis Cardinals baseball and eventually developed local talk shows and weekday newscasts. Its launch was accompanied by a carriage dispute with the local cable system, which was concerned about the equipment and channel capacity needed to add the new station without disrupting existing services. WJWT joined Fox in 1986, giving the new network a local outlet in the Jackson area. By 1988, the station was associated with Lloyd Communications of Rockford, Illinois, while Golden Circle Broadcasting was experiencing financial difficulties. Jackson Investment Corporation, a group connected with Memphis independent station WMKW-TV, filed to acquire the station in February 1989. The proposed transaction drew opposition from WPTY-TV, the principal competing Memphis station, which argued that the arrangement could create an unfair competitive advantage. Before the transaction was completed through the ordinary process, First American National Bank foreclosed on the station. MT Communications, the new owner of Memphis station WLMT, acquired the license from Golden Circle and the station's assets from the bank in December 1989. The station began rebroadcasting most WLMT programming and changed its call sign to WMTU in January 1990. Fox moved its Memphis affiliation from WLMT to WPTY-TV on July 1 of that year, but WMTU continued to carry Fox programming for Jackson by breaking away from WLMT when network programs aired. This arrangement ended in March 1992, when the Jackson operation was closed and WMTU became a full-time satellite. Local commercial insertion ended and five positions were eliminated. The station and WLMT then passed through additional ownership and management arrangements, including a period involving former Virginia lieutenant governor Dick Davis and management by Max Media. In 1993, the stations were leased to Clear Channel Communications, which also owned WPTY-TV. WMTU joined UPN when the network launched in January 1995. A more independent local identity returned in 2001. On September 17 of that year, the station adopted the WJKT call sign as Clear Channel sought to distinguish it from WLMT after years of near-total program integration. WJKT worked with TotalReach Television on local advertising sales and programming. In 2003, it began carrying WLMT's 9 p.m. Memphis newscast, maintaining a regional news connection while targeting some commercial activity to Jackson. The creation of The CW in 2006, through the combination of UPN and The WB, prompted another major affiliation change. WLMT became a CW station, while WJKT returned to Fox in August 2006. The change restored WJKT's original network relationship and made channel 16 the Fox outlet for Jackson. Clear Channel had indicated that it intended to develop a local Jackson newscast, but the station continued to rely substantially on programming and resources shared with related Memphis operations. In 2007, Clear Channel separated its television division into Newport Television. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired WJKT, WPTY-TV, and WLMT in 2012. WPTY was renamed WATN-TV the following year, and the Memphis operation moved to facilities that also supported WJKT. Nexstar's acquisition of Tribune Media in 2019 created an ownership overlap in Memphis. To satisfy regulatory requirements, Nexstar chose to retain WREG-TV, the Tribune station, and divested WATN-TV and WLMT to Tegna. WJKT remained with Nexstar because it served the distinct Jackson market. After the transaction, WJKT began sharing management with WREG-TV and simulcasting WREG's 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts. Its transmitter remains in Alamo, Tennessee, while its advertising office is in Jackson.
- 2019
Post-Tribune regional restructuring
[1]Nexstar retained WJKT after acquiring Tribune Media and transferred WATN-TV and WLMT to Tegna to address market ownership requirements.
- 2012
Nexstar acquisition
[1]Nexstar acquired WJKT and related Memphis stations from Newport Television.
- 2006
Fox affiliation restored
[1]WJKT returned to Fox after the formation of The CW from UPN and The WB.
- 2001
WJKT identity introduced
[1]The station adopted the WJKT call sign and resumed efforts to build a distinct Jackson-oriented commercial identity.
- 1995
UPN affiliation begins
[1]WMTU joined UPN at the network's launch.
- 1992
Local operation becomes a satellite service
[1]WMTU ended local commercial insertion and became a full-time satellite of WLMT programming.
- 1990
Call sign changes to WMTU
[1]After the station became associated with MT Communications and WLMT, it changed its call sign from WJWT to WMTU.
- 1986
First Fox affiliation
[1]WJWT affiliated with Fox during the network's initial launch period.
- 1985
WJWT launches
[1]Channel 16 began broadcasting on April 18 as Jackson's first independent television station.
- 1981
Construction permit granted
[1]The FCC granted a construction permit for the proposed Jackson station.
Products and positioning
Local Fox affiliate serving Jackson and West Tennessee, with programming and news resources supported through Nexstar's regional television operations.
Broadcast television · 1986
Fox network programming
WJKT's principal programming service is Fox network content, including the network's entertainment, sports, and news programming. The station first joined Fox in 1986 and returned to the network in August 2006 after UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW.
News broadcasting · 2003
Local and regional news
WJKT has carried locally relevant news through several shared-production arrangements. It previously simulcast WLMT's 9 p.m. Memphis newscast and, after Nexstar's 2019 restructuring, began airing WREG-TV's 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.
Broadcast advertising · 2001
Jackson-area advertising
The station sells television advertising aimed at viewers in Jackson and surrounding West Tennessee communities. After adopting the WJKT call sign in 2001, it worked with TotalReach Television to support local advertising sales and programming.
Brand decisions
2019
Retain WJKT during Nexstar's Tribune integrationM&ABackground
Nexstar's acquisition of Tribune Media created an ownership overlap involving Memphis television stations.
Action taken
Nexstar retained WJKT and WREG-TV while divesting WATN-TV and WLMT to Tegna.
Aftermath
WJKT began using WREG-TV resources, sharing a general manager and carrying WREG's 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.
2006
Return to FoxStrategyBackground
The merger of UPN and The WB into The CW required affiliates and related stations to realign their network relationships.
Action taken
WJKT became a Fox affiliate again in August 2006, while WLMT took the CW affiliation.
Aftermath
The change restored WJKT's earlier Fox role in the Jackson market and differentiated it from WLMT's Memphis network position.
2001
Re-establish a separate Jackson identityStrategyBackground
After years of operating largely as a WLMT-linked service, Clear Channel sought to distinguish the station in the Jackson market.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign from WMTU to WJKT and resumed local advertising efforts with TotalReach Television.
Aftermath
WJKT developed a clearer Jackson-facing identity while continuing to use programming links with Memphis stations.
1992
Convert WMTU to a full-time satelliteStrategyBackground
WMTU was closely integrated with WLMT and was operating in a market affected by ownership and affiliation changes.
Action taken
The operator closed the Jackson local operation, ended local commercial insertion, and made WMTU a full-time satellite service.
Aftermath
Five jobs were eliminated, and the station no longer maintained the same level of separate local operation.
Recent events
- 2019
Nexstar retains WJKT after Tribune Media transaction[1]
M&A · Regulation
Following Nexstar's acquisition of Tribune Media, regulatory ownership requirements led Nexstar to retain WJKT while divesting WATN-TV and WLMT. WJKT subsequently used resources associated with WREG-TV.
- 2012
Nexstar acquires WJKT from Newport Television[1]
M&A
Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired WJKT together with related Memphis stations as part of its purchase of twelve Newport Television stations.
- 2006
WJKT returns to Fox after the UPN-WB merger[1]
Product generation
When UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW, WJKT became a Fox affiliate again, while related station WLMT took the CW affiliation in the Memphis market.
- 2001
WMTU adopts the WJKT call sign[1]
Other
The station changed its call letters to WJKT and began rebuilding a separate Jackson identity, including renewed local advertising activity and cooperation with TotalReach Television.
- 1995
WMTU becomes a UPN affiliate[1]
Other
WMTU joined UPN alongside WLMT, following the reduction of its local operation and its integration into the Memphis-linked broadcast structure.
- 1990
Station changes call sign to WMTU after acquisition by MT Communications[1]
M&A · Other
Following the acquisition of the station's license and assets by interests associated with Memphis station WLMT, the station adopted the WMTU call sign and largely rebroadcast WLMT programming.
- 1986
WJWT joins Fox[1]
Other
The station became a Fox affiliate during the network's launch period, establishing a network affiliation that would later be restored after a period with UPN.
- 1985
WJWT begins broadcasting as Jackson's first independent television station[1]
Other
Channel 16 launched in April under the WJWT call sign, initially operating as an independent station with syndicated entertainment, movies, sports, and local programming.
Sources1 sources
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