WLOX

WLOX is a commercial television station licensed to Biloxi, Mississippi, and serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Its primary broadcast service is affiliated with ABC, while WLOX-DT2 carries CBS programming. The station is owned by Gray Media and operates alongside low-power MeTV and Telemundo affiliate WTBL-LD. WLOX's main facilities are located on DeBuys Road in Biloxi, and its transmitter is in southern Stone County near McHenry. The station began broadcasting on October 15, 1962, as the first television station on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It was established by the Love family through WLOX Broadcasting Company, which also owned WLOX radio. The station's early ABC affiliation was strategically important because the Gulf Coast had limited local VHF television capacity and sat between the New Orleans, Hattiesburg-Laurel, and Mobile-Pensacola markets. WLOX became the principal local television outlet for Biloxi, Gulfport, and surrounding communities, while also providing ABC coverage to areas that were difficult for neighboring stations to serve. For much of the analog era, WLOX was the region's only commercial television station based in Biloxi and one of the area's principal sources of local news, weather, emergency information, and network programming. Its local reach extended beyond the immediate Gulf Coast through cable carriage and signal coverage. The station also served as an important source of ABC programming for portions of the Mobile-Pensacola and Hattiesburg-Laurel areas before those markets developed or expanded their own network services. WLOX's history has been closely connected to severe weather and coastal disasters. Hurricane Camille destroyed the station's original studios in the Buena Vista Hotel in 1969. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the station remained on the air despite extensive damage to its facilities and continued broadcasting around the clock for more than twelve days during the storm and recovery period. The coverage earned the station a Peabody Award, a national Edward R. Murrow Award for continuing coverage, and a Southern Regional Emmy Humanitarian Award. WLOX also produced a documentary DVD about the disaster, Katrina: South Mississippi's Story. Ownership changed in 1995, when the Love family sold the station to the Liberty Corporation. WLOX initially operated through Liberty's Cosmos Broadcasting division and later came directly under Liberty. Liberty merged with Raycom Media in 2006, bringing WLOX into the Raycom station group. Gray Television acquired Raycom through a merger completed in January 2019, making Gray the station's owner. Gray later rebranded as Gray Media. WLOX expanded its programming portfolio in 2012 by launching CBS on WLOX-DT2, replacing a local weather channel. The second digital service also carries selected simulcasts and locally produced programming. The station upgraded its local newscasts to high definition in 2011 and operates weather resources branded on air as Mississippi Power Doppler. During the COVID-19 pandemic, WLOX-DT3 carried classroom lessons produced by the Gulfport School District. In sports programming, WLOX began carrying selected New Orleans Pelicans games in the 2023-24 season and became part of Gray's Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network for the 2024-25 season. The station's core positioning is that of a locally rooted, multiplatform news and information provider. Its programming includes ABC and CBS network content, local newscasts, weather coverage, public-affairs and community reporting, syndicated or multicast programming, and selected regional sports. WLOX remains an active broadcast brand and a major local media institution on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

WLOX began operations on October 15, 1962, as the first television station on Mississippi's Gulf Coast. The station was founded by the Love family through WLOX Broadcasting Company, which also operated WLOX radio. It received the region's only available commercial VHF television allocation in Biloxi, a strategically valuable position between the New Orleans, Hattiesburg-Laurel, and Mobile-Pensacola markets. From its launch, WLOX was affiliated with ABC, despite ABC's comparatively weaker national position in the early 1960s. Because surrounding markets did not adequately cover every Gulf Coast community, WLOX quickly became an important source of network and local programming for Biloxi, Gulfport, and nearby areas. Its signal and later cable distribution also reached parts of western Alabama, the Mobile-Pensacola region, the Hattiesburg-Laurel area, and the New Orleans market. For decades, the station was the only commercial television outlet based in Biloxi and the principal local broadcast source for much of the region. Natural disasters became a defining part of WLOX's institutional history. Hurricane Camille destroyed the station's original studios in the Buena Vista Hotel in 1969. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the station's facilities, but WLOX continued broadcasting during the storm and for more than twelve days afterward. The station's continuous coverage, emergency information, and recovery reporting received a Peabody Award, a national Edward R. Murrow Award for continuing coverage, and a Southern Regional Emmy Humanitarian Award. WLOX later issued a two-disc documentary about the disaster titled Katrina: South Mississippi's Story. The station's call sign included the '-TV' suffix from May 18, 1979, until July 3, 2003. In 1995, the Love family sold WLOX to the Liberty Corporation. It initially operated within Liberty's Cosmos Broadcasting division and later became a direct Liberty property after the company left the insurance business. Liberty merged with Raycom Media in 2006, placing WLOX under Raycom ownership. WLOX expanded its digital services during the 2010s. Its local newscasts moved to high definition on May 25, 2011, with a new studio set and updated Raycom graphics. In 2012, WLOX introduced CBS programming on WLOX-DT2, replacing a local weather channel. The CBS service went live on April 8 with coverage of the Masters Tournament. The subchannel was later upgraded to high definition, while selected local news programs were simulcast or scheduled across the main and secondary services. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, WLOX-DT3 carried weekday educational lessons produced by the Gulfport School District. Gray Television announced its agreement to merge with Raycom in June 2018. The transaction was approved in December and closed on January 2, 2019, making WLOX part of Gray's national television group. The ownership change also created a relationship with other Gray stations in Mississippi, including WTOK-TV and WDAM-TV. WLOX continues to share certain resources with WDAM and maintains a Jackson County bureau in Pascagoula. In sports, WLOX carried selected New Orleans Pelicans games during the 2023-24 season. A broader Gray-Pelicans agreement announced in 2024 created the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, through which WLOX-DT5 carries most Pelicans games during the 2024-25 season. Today, WLOX combines ABC network programming, CBS programming on its digital subchannel, local news and weather, multicast services, digital publishing, emergency coverage, and regional sports. Its enduring identity is tied to local service, coastal community coverage, and disaster reporting.

1. 2024Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network announced

   Gray and the New Orleans Pelicans announce a regional sports network arrangement involving WLOX-DT5.

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2. 2019WLOX joins Gray Television

   Gray completes its merger with Raycom Media, acquiring WLOX and integrating it into the Gray station group.

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3. 2012CBS launches on WLOX-DT2

   WLOX adds CBS programming to its second digital channel, broadening its network portfolio.

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4. 2011Local newscasts transition to high definition

   WLOX upgrades its local news production to high definition and introduces a new studio presentation.

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5. 2005Katrina continuous-coverage operation

   WLOX remains on the air through Hurricane Katrina and provides continuous coverage during the storm and recovery period.

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6. 1995Love family sells WLOX to Liberty

   The station changes ownership when the Love family sells it to the Liberty Corporation.

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7. 1969Hurricane Camille destroys the original studios

   Storm surge from Hurricane Camille severely damages and effectively destroys WLOX's original facilities in the Buena Vista Hotel.

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8. 1962WLOX begins broadcasting

   WLOX signs on as the first television station on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and begins its long-term ABC affiliation.

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Locally rooted ABC/CBS television affiliate and news provider for the Mississippi Gulf Coast

• WLOX ABC serviceBroadcast television network affiliate1962

  WLOX's primary channel carries ABC network programming together with local news, weather, public-service content, syndicated programming, and emergency information for Biloxi, Gulfport, and the wider Mississippi Gulf Coast.

• WLOX-DT2 CBS serviceDigital broadcast television network affiliate2012

  The second digital service carries CBS network programming and selected WLOX local news content. It launched in 2012 after replacing a 24-hour local weather channel and later received a high-definition upgrade.

• Local news and weatherTelevision news service1962

  WLOX produces local newscasts, including Good Morning Mississippi and evening broadcasts, alongside severe-weather information and forecasts supported by the station's Mississippi Power Doppler radar branding. The station also maintains a Jackson County bureau in Pascagoula.

• Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment NetworkRegional sports television2024

  Through Gray's regional agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans, WLOX-DT5 carries most Pelicans games during the 2024-25 season as part of the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network.

• 2019Transfer to Gray Television through Raycom mergerM&A

  Gray Television agreed to combine with Raycom Media, WLOX's owner at the time.

  What changed. The merger closed on January 2, 2019, placing WLOX under Gray's ownership.

  Aftermath. WLOX became part of a larger national station group and gained additional relationships with Gray-owned stations in Mississippi and neighboring markets.

  Announced transaction value. $3.6 billion (2018 announced merger)

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• 2012Launch of CBS on WLOX-DT2Product launch

  WLOX sought to add a second major network service in a market already receiving some out-of-market CBS signals by cable.

  What changed. The station replaced its local weather channel on WLOX-DT2 with CBS programming beginning April 8, 2012.

  Aftermath. WLOX became a combined ABC and CBS outlet, with selected local newscasts also appearing on the secondary service.

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• 2004WLOX declines ABC airing of Saving Private RyanOther

  The station chose not to air ABC's Veterans Day broadcast of the film amid heightened concern about potential broadcast fines following the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime-show controversy.

  What changed. WLOX substituted other programming for the scheduled film.

  Aftermath. The decision was part of a wider pattern of broadcast affiliates exercising caution over potentially controversial network content.

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• 1993WLOX declines to air NYPD BlueOther

  WLOX and other Mississippi ABC affiliates objected to the program's content and decency issues during its early run.

  What changed. The station did not broadcast NYPD Blue and substituted syndicated programming, including Home Improvement reruns.

  Aftermath. The program was carried by rival WXXV beginning in 1994. Later ownership and affiliate-policy changes reduced WLOX's practice of removing network programming for content reasons.

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• 2024Gray and the Pelicans expand regional sports partnership

  Gray and the New Orleans Pelicans announced the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, with WLOX-DT5 among the Gray stations carrying most Pelicans games during the 2024-25 season.

  Product launch
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• 2023WLOX adds New Orleans Pelicans games

  Gray Media announced that WLOX would air ten New Orleans Pelicans games during the 2023-24 season.

  Product launchOther
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• 2018Gray Television agrees to acquire Raycom Media

  Gray Television announced an agreement to combine with Raycom Media, WLOX's then-owner. The transaction was completed on January 2, 2019, transferring WLOX to Gray's station portfolio.

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• 2012WLOX launches CBS service on a digital subchannel

  WLOX announced a CBS affiliation for WLOX-DT2, replacing its round-the-clock local weather service. CBS programming began on April 8, 2012, expanding the station's network offering in the Gulf Coast market.

  Product launch
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1. WLOX
2. WLOX official website