WMAZ-TV
A CBS-affiliated television station serving Macon and Central Georgia, with a CW-affiliated digital subchannel.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WMAZ-TV is a broadcast television station licensed to Macon, Georgia, and serving Central Georgia. It operates on VHF channel 13 and is affiliated primarily with CBS. Its second digital subchannel, branded Central Georgia's CW, carries The CW through the network's CW Plus service. The station is identified on air and online as 13 WMAZ News and is one of the most established and influential local media outlets in the Macon market. WMAZ-TV began broadcasting on September 27, 1953, as the second television station to launch in Macon. It was founded by Southeastern Broadcasting Company and took its call letters from the company's WMAZ radio properties. The station's launch followed the failure of an earlier UHF station, WETV, later known by other call signs, whose limited reach reflected the difficulty of attracting viewers to UHF television in the early 1950s. Because WMAZ-TV operated on a VHF allocation, its signal reached a broad area of Central Georgia and helped it become the dominant commercial station in the market. From its launch, WMAZ-TV maintained a primary CBS affiliation, supported by the long-standing relationship between its radio predecessor and the CBS Radio Network. In its early years it also carried selected programming from ABC, NBC, and the DuMont Television Network. DuMont programming ended in 1955, while selected ABC programs remained on the schedule until the arrival of a dedicated ABC affiliate in 1982. The station's VHF status and the geographic spacing of surrounding television markets gave it an unusually strong competitive position. For much of its early history, it was the only consistently viewable commercial television station across substantial portions of Central Georgia, particularly before cable television became widespread. Ownership changed several times. Southeastern Broadcasting sold the WMAZ radio and television properties to Southern Broadcasting Corporation in 1963. Southern later combined with News-Piedmont Company to create Multimedia, Inc. in 1967. In 1995, Gannett announced its acquisition of Multimedia. Although federal ownership rules initially raised questions about whether WMAZ-TV could be retained, changes to the national television ownership cap ultimately allowed Gannett to keep the station. In 2015, Gannett separated its publishing and broadcasting operations; WMAZ-TV became part of the broadcast and digital company Tegna. Nexstar Media Group subsequently acquired Tegna in a transaction announced in 2025 and completed on March 19, 2026, making WMAZ-TV part of Nexstar's station portfolio. The station has built its identity around local news, weather, sports, public-affairs coverage, and community information. Its long-running slogan, Straight from the Heart, was introduced in 1983 and connected the station's identity to Macon's central position within Georgia. WMAZ-TV has historically led local ratings by a wide margin. Its current schedule includes approximately 27 hours of locally produced news each week on the main channel, in addition to locally produced broadcasts for the CW subchannel. The station began producing its local news in high definition in November 2011 and adopted the 13 WMAZ News identity in 2018 after retiring the Eyewitness branding. WMAZ-DT2 developed from WBMN, a cable-only affiliate associated with The WB's WB 100+ Station Group. When The WB and UPN were replaced by The CW in 2006, the Macon service became part of CW Plus. Gannett later moved the service onto WMAZ-TV's second digital channel, which began testing in October 2013 and officially launched on October 14 of that year. The subchannel carries CW network programming and syndicated material supplied through CW Plus, while the station's operator manages local advertising, promotion, and local news programming. WMAZ-TV therefore combines a legacy full-power CBS service with a digital CW outlet, extending its local brand across multiple programming streams.
History
WMAZ-TV signed on September 27, 1953, as the second television station in Macon, Georgia. It was established by Southeastern Broadcasting Company, which already operated WMAZ radio stations. The television station inherited the WMAZ call letters from those radio properties and began life as a CBS affiliate, reflecting the radio operation's established relationship with CBS. WMAZ-TV was the fourth-oldest television station in Georgia and the oldest television station outside Atlanta at the time of its launch. The station entered a market in which an earlier UHF outlet had struggled. WETV, which later used the WNEX-TV and WOKA call signs, had begun broadcasting in August 1953 but ceased operations in 1955 after financial difficulties and weak UHF household penetration. WMAZ-TV's VHF channel 13 allocation gave it a substantial technical and commercial advantage. Its signal reached wide areas of Central Georgia and provided secondary coverage extending toward several neighboring television markets. The station's VHF position also reflected the unusual channel-allocation geography surrounding Macon, which limited the number of available VHF services in the area. During its initial years, WMAZ-TV carried programming from several networks. CBS was its principal affiliation, while ABC, NBC, and DuMont programs appeared on a secondary basis. DuMont programming ended in 1955 as the network declined. WMAZ-TV continued to air selected ABC programs, including General Hospital and some college football, until WGXA began operating in 1982 as a dedicated ABC outlet. NBC programming moved to the market's later entrant WCWB-TV, now WMGT-TV, when that station launched in 1968. Southeastern Broadcasting sold the WMAZ radio and television properties to Southern Broadcasting Corporation in 1963. Southern Broadcasting subsequently merged with Greenville, South Carolina-based News-Piedmont Company in 1967, creating Multimedia, Inc. In 1974, the WMAZ radio and television operations moved into a new facility on Gray Highway in northeast Macon. The station's studios remain associated with that location, while its transmitter is situated along the Golden Isles Highway near the Twiggs-Bibb county line. WMAZ-TV's market position was strengthened by the limited competition it faced during its early decades. It was effectively the only commercial television outlet serving much of the market for its first 15 years and remained the most reliably receivable station across broad portions of Central Georgia until cable television became established. The station subsequently developed a long-running local-news franchise and has generally remained the Macon market's ratings leader. In 1983, WMAZ-TV introduced the Straight from the Heart slogan and related image campaign. The phrase connected the station to Macon's location near the geographic center of Georgia and became one of its defining branding elements. The station later expanded its local production capabilities. In November 2011, it converted its local news broadcasts to high definition, becoming the first full-power station in the Macon market to do so. The station's ownership changed again through Gannett's 1995 acquisition of Multimedia. The transaction initially created regulatory questions involving WMAZ-TV and other Multimedia stations, but changes to the national ownership cap allowed Gannett to keep the Macon station. In 2015, Gannett split into separate publishing and broadcasting companies. WMAZ-TV moved to the broadcasting and digital company, Tegna. Nexstar announced an acquisition of Tegna in 2025 and completed the transaction on March 19, 2026. WMAZ-TV's digital expansion included the launch of WMAZ-DT2, branded Central Georgia's CW. The service originated as WBMN, a cable-only WB 100+ affiliate launched in 1998 and operated with Cox Communications. Following the creation of The CW in 2006, WBMN became part of CW Plus. WMAZ-TV began testing a digital version of the service in October 2013 and formally launched WMAZ-DT2 on October 14, 2013. The subchannel carries CW Plus programming in 720p high definition and produces additional local news, including weekday morning and prime-time broadcasts. In 2018, WMAZ-TV retired the Eyewitness name that had been used for its newscasts since the early 1980s. The broadcasts were rebranded as 13 WMAZ News in conjunction with Tegna's standardized graphics and music package. The station continues to operate as a local CBS affiliate with a substantial news operation and a digitally distributed CW service.
- 2026
Nexstar ownership begins
[1]Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tegna on March 19, placing WMAZ-TV in the Nexstar group.
- 2018
Newscasts are renamed 13 WMAZ News
[1]The station drops the Eyewitness title and adopts the 13 WMAZ News identity.
- 2015
Station becomes part of Tegna
[1]WMAZ-TV remains with Gannett's broadcast and digital successor after the company separates its publishing operations.
- 2013
Central Georgia's CW launches on WMAZ-DT2
[1]The former cable-based CW service moves to WMAZ-TV's second digital subchannel on October 14.
- 2011
Local news moves to high definition
[1]WMAZ-TV begins broadcasting its locally produced newscasts in high definition in November.
- 2006
WBMN transitions to The CW Plus
[1]Following the replacement of The WB and UPN by The CW, the Macon cable service joins CW Plus.
- 1998
WBMN launches as a WB 100+ outlet
[1]A cable-only WB affiliate serving the Macon market begins operation under the fictional call sign WBMN.
- 1983
Straight from the Heart campaign launches
[1]WMAZ-TV introduces the slogan and image campaign that becomes a long-term part of its identity.
- 1974
Move to Gray Highway facility
[1]The WMAZ operations move into a new studio complex on Gray Highway in Macon.
- 1967
Multimedia is formed
[1]Southern Broadcasting combines with News-Piedmont Company to create Multimedia, Inc.
Products and positioning
A dominant, community-oriented local television news brand for Macon and Central Georgia, combining a long-established CBS affiliation with a CW digital subchannel.
Local television news
13 WMAZ News
WMAZ-TV's primary local-news service, covering Central Georgia with regularly scheduled newscasts, local reporting, weather, sports, public-affairs coverage, and breaking-news updates. The service produces approximately 27 hours of locally originated programming each week on the main channel and has historically been the leading news operation in the Macon market.
Digital television subchannel · 2013
Central Georgia's CW
The CW-affiliated service carried on WMAZ-DT2. It receives network and syndicated programming through CW Plus, while WMAZ-TV provides local advertising, promotion, and locally produced programming. The service broadcasts in 720p high definition and also carries additional local news programming.
Broadcast weather information
WMAZ local weather service
Weather forecasts, severe-weather warnings, and storm coverage form a central part of the station's local-service proposition. The station's broad VHF reach has historically made it an important source of emergency information across Central Georgia.
Marketing campaigns
- 1983Straight from the Heart
Central Georgia
WMAZ-TV introduced a station image campaign built around the Straight from the Heart slogan. The concept linked the station's identity to Macon's location near the geographic center of Georgia and became a durable element of its branding.
Outcome. The slogan remained associated with WMAZ-TV for decades and helped distinguish the station as a locally rooted Central Georgia broadcaster.
Brand decisions
2018
Adopt the 13 WMAZ News identityStrategyBackground
The station had used the Eyewitness name for its newscasts since the early 1980s.
Action taken
WMAZ-TV removed Eyewitness from its newscast branding and adopted Tegna's standardized music and graphics package under the 13 WMAZ News name.
Aftermath
The station aligned its presentation more closely with Tegna's wider broadcast branding while retaining the WMAZ identity.
2013
Move the CW service to a digital subchannelProduct launchBackground
The Macon-market CW service had operated as the cable-only WBMN under the WB 100+ and later CW Plus models.
Action taken
Gannett launched Central Georgia's CW on WMAZ-TV's second digital subchannel, WMAZ-DT2, on October 14, 2013, and assumed local promotional and advertising control.
Aftermath
The CW service gained an over-the-air distribution platform while continuing to be available through cable and using CW Plus programming.
2011
Upgrade local news production to high definitionOtherBackground
Local television stations were increasingly upgrading production and transmission systems to support high-definition news.
Action taken
WMAZ-TV converted its locally produced newscasts to high definition in November 2011.
Aftermath
The station became the first full-power station in the Macon market to broadcast local news in high definition.
Recent events
- 2026
Nexstar completes acquisition of Tegna[1]
M&A
Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of Tegna on March 19, 2026, placing WMAZ-TV under Nexstar ownership.
- 2015
WMAZ-TV joins Tegna after Gannett separation[1]
Other
Gannett separated its publishing business from its broadcasting and digital operations. WMAZ-TV remained with the broadcasting company, which was renamed Tegna.
- 1995
Gannett completes acquisition of Multimedia[1]
M&A · Regulation
Gannett acquired Multimedia in a transaction valued at approximately $1.7 billion. Regulatory ownership concerns initially placed WMAZ-TV among stations considered for divestiture, but later rule changes allowed Gannett to retain it.
- 1967
WMAZ-TV becomes part of Multimedia[1]
M&A
Southern Broadcasting Corporation merged with News-Piedmont Company to form Multimedia, Inc., bringing WMAZ-TV into the new broadcasting group.
- 1953
WMAZ-TV begins broadcasting in Macon[1]
Other
The station signed on September 27, 1953, becoming the second television station in the Macon market and one of Georgia's earliest television outlets.
Sources2 sources
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