WNBD-LD
WNBD-LD is a low-power NBC-affiliated television station serving Mississippi's Delta region.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
WNBD-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Greenwood, Mississippi, and serving the Mississippi Delta. It operates on digital channel 33 and is affiliated with NBC. The station shares facilities on Washington Avenue in Greenville with WABG-TV, the market's ABC and Fox affiliate, and WXVT-LD, a low-power CBS affiliate. Its transmitter is located northeast of Inverness, Mississippi. The station was developed to give the Delta region a locally based NBC affiliate. Before WNBD-LD launched, NBC programming available to viewers in the market generally came from distant stations, including KTVE in El Dorado, Arkansas; WLBT in Jackson, Mississippi; and WMC-TV in Memphis, Tennessee. This made WNBD-LD a significant addition to the local broadcast lineup even though it operated with low-power status. Commonwealth Broadcasting Group, then the owner of WABG-TV, applied for the station in August 2009. The Federal Communications Commission granted the application on February 25, 2010, when the station began under the call sign W33CT-D. The call sign changed to WNBD-LD on May 14, 2010. After a period of preparation and an October 2010 application for a license to cover, the station signed on December 13, 2010. It subsequently became available through Suddenlink Communications, while other NBC stations remained available in their existing channel positions. WNBD-LD's low-power classification affected its carriage position. Federal must-carry rules generally do not require cable systems to carry low-power stations, but the station could be included in retransmission-consent negotiations connected with carriage of WABG-TV. This arrangement helped extend the station's reach beyond its over-the-air coverage. The station changed ownership several times. Commonwealth Broadcasting agreed in 2015 to sell WNBD-LD, WABG-TV, and WFXW-LD to Cala Broadcast Partners. The transaction closed on August 1, 2016. Cala was associated with Brian Brady and Jason Wolff. Around the same time, WXVT's former CBS programming was temporarily moved to a digital subchannel of WNBD-LD after WXVT went off the air; the CBS affiliation later moved to WXVT-LD in June 2017. WNBD-LD subsequently became part of Northwest Broadcasting's broader station portfolio. Apollo Global Management acquired that portfolio through a transaction that placed it within the reorganized Cox Media Group structure, completed in December 2019. In 2022, Cox Media Group sold WNBD-LD and related Greenville-area stations to Imagicomm Communications. That sale closed on August 1, 2022. Imagicomm announced a further sale of the Greenville stations to Deltavision Media in April 2025, and the transaction was completed on August 15, 2025. Today, WNBD-LD remains a local NBC outlet for the Delta area and operates within a cluster of stations serving the region. Its identity is centered on network programming, local market access, and distribution through both broadcast transmission and participating multichannel providers.
History
WNBD-LD originated in a 2009 application by Commonwealth Broadcasting Group, the owner of WABG-TV in the Mississippi Delta. The proposed station was intended to operate as a low-power digital television service on RF channel 33 and was initially licensed to Grenada, Mississippi. The FCC granted the application on February 25, 2010, when the station began under the call sign W33CT-D. It adopted the WNBD-LD call sign on May 14, 2010. The station was created to address a longstanding gap in local network service. Prior to its launch, Delta-area viewers generally received NBC programming from stations outside the immediate market, including KTVE in El Dorado, Arkansas, WLBT in Jackson, Mississippi, and WMC-TV in Memphis, Tennessee. WNBD-LD therefore became the first NBC affiliate based in the market. Although an initial launch was discussed for the fall of 2010, the station applied for a license to cover on October 21 and ultimately signed on December 13, 2010. Following its launch, WNBD-LD was added to Suddenlink Communications channel 9. Because it was a low-power station, it did not receive the same automatic carriage protections generally available to qualifying full-power stations under FCC must-carry rules. Its owner could nevertheless use retransmission-consent negotiations associated with WABG-TV to seek distribution for WNBD-LD. This gave the station a way to supplement its terrestrial reach with cable carriage. WNBD-LD initially operated as part of the Commonwealth Broadcasting station group alongside WABG-TV. On October 30, 2015, Commonwealth agreed to sell WNBD-LD, WABG-TV, and WFXW-LD to Cala Broadcast Partners. Cala was jointly associated with Brian Brady, who controlled several television stations, and Jason Wolff, who operated radio and television interests through Frontier Radio Management. The acquisition closed on August 1, 2016. The 2016 ownership transition coincided with changes involving WXVT. WXVT went off the air after the transaction while its owner sought new programming. Its CBS programming and intellectual-unit operations were temporarily moved to a digital subchannel of WNBD-LD and mapped to WXVT's former channel 15 position. The CBS affiliation later moved to WXVT-LD on June 26, 2017, restoring a separate low-power CBS outlet in the group. Distribution negotiations also affected the station's availability. On January 1, 2017, Cable One removed stations owned by Northwest Broadcasting after the companies failed to reach a carriage agreement. A new agreement was reached, and the stations returned to Cable One's lineup on February 1 of the same year. WNBD-LD later became part of a major consolidation of American local television assets. In 2019, Apollo Global Management pursued the acquisition of Brian Brady's television portfolio and planned to combine it with Cox Media Group and stations divested in connection with Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of Tribune Broadcasting. Apollo formed Terrier Media for the Northwest Broadcasting acquisition, but the business was subsequently organized under the Cox Media Group name after Apollo also agreed to acquire Cox's radio and advertising operations. The transaction closed on December 17, 2019. On February 2, 2022, WNBD-LD changed its city of license from Grenada to Greenwood, Mississippi. Later that year, Cox Media Group announced the sale of WNBD-LD, WXVT-LD, WABG-TV, and other stations to Imagicomm Communications, an affiliate connected with the owner of the INSP cable network. The sale closed on August 1, 2022. In April 2025, Imagicomm announced an agreement to sell the Greenville-area stations to Deltavision Media. The transaction, including WNBD-LD, was completed on August 15, 2025. The station continues to serve the Mississippi Delta as an NBC-affiliated low-power television outlet, sharing Greenville facilities with related local stations.
- 2025Deltavision Media acquisition closes
Deltavision Media completed its acquisition of WNBD-LD and the Greenville-area station group.
- 2022City of license changes to Greenwood
WNBD-LD's city of license changed to Greenwood, Mississippi.
- 2022Imagicomm acquisition closes
Imagicomm Communications completed its purchase of WNBD-LD and related Mississippi stations.
- 2019Station joins Cox Media Group portfolio
The station became part of the television portfolio assembled under Cox Media Group following Apollo Global Management's transactions.
- 2017Temporary CBS programming carriage ends
The CBS affiliation previously placed on a WNBD-LD digital subchannel moved to WXVT-LD.
- 2016Cala Broadcast Partners acquisition closes
WNBD-LD changed ownership as part of Cala's acquisition of the station group.
- 2010FCC grants application and station begins as W33CT-D
The station received FCC approval and began its regulatory life under the W33CT-D call sign.
- 2010Call sign changes to WNBD-LD
The station adopted the WNBD-LD call sign on May 14.
- 2010WNBD-LD signs on
WNBD-LD began broadcasting on December 13 as the market's first locally based NBC affiliate.
- 2009Application filed for a channel 33 low-power station
Commonwealth Broadcasting Group filed an application for a new low-power television station intended to serve the Delta region.
Products and positioning
A locally based NBC affiliate providing network programming and television service to viewers in Mississippi's Delta region.
WNBD-LD NBC serviceBroadcast television2010
WNBD-LD's core offering is its NBC-affiliated digital television service for the Mississippi Delta. The station delivers NBC network programming and provides a locally based broadcast option in a market that previously depended mainly on NBC stations located outside the region. Its over-the-air service is supplemented by carriage arrangements with multichannel distributors when available.
Local Delta television coverageLocal media2010
WNBD-LD operates within a Greenville-area station cluster and contributes to television access for communities across the Mississippi Delta. The station's local-market role includes distribution of regional news, weather, public-interest material, and commercial television inventory, although the available reference material does not specify a distinct branded news program.
Flagship businesses
- WNBD-LD NBC affiliate service
- Delta-area local broadcast coverage
- Digital television transmission on channel 33
Brand decisions
- 2022Change of city of licenseOther
The station had originally been associated with Grenada, Mississippi.
What changed. WNBD-LD changed its city of license to Greenwood on February 2, 2022.
Aftermath. The regulatory designation aligned the station more closely with the Delta communities it serves.
- 2017Resolution of Cable One carriage disputeOther
Cable One removed Northwest Broadcasting stations after the companies failed to reach a carriage agreement.
What changed. The station group and Cable One reached a new carriage deal, restoring the affected channels to the lineup.
Aftermath. WNBD-LD and related Northwest Broadcasting stations returned to Cable One distribution on February 1, 2017.
- 2016Temporary relocation of CBS programming to WNBD-LDStrategy
WXVT went off the air after the ownership transition while its operator searched for new programming.
What changed. WXVT's CBS programming was temporarily carried on a WNBD-LD digital subchannel and mapped to WXVT's former channel position.
Aftermath. The CBS affiliation later moved to WXVT-LD on June 26, 2017.
- 2010Launch of a locally based NBC affiliateProduct launch
Before WNBD-LD began operation, viewers in the Delta market generally received NBC programming from stations in Arkansas, Jackson, or Memphis.
What changed. Commonwealth Broadcasting launched WNBD-LD as a low-power digital station on December 13, 2010.
Aftermath. The station became the first NBC affiliate based in the market and was subsequently added to a cable lineup.
Recent events
- 2025Deltavision Media agrees to acquire WNBD-LD and the Greenville station group
Imagicomm announced in April 2025 that the Greenville-area stations, including WNBD-LD, would be acquired by Deltavision Media. The transaction was completed on August 15, 2025.
M&A - 2022WNBD-LD changes its city of license to Greenwood
The station's city of license changed to Greenwood, Mississippi, on February 2, 2022.
Regulation - 2022Imagicomm Communications agrees to acquire WNBD-LD
Cox Media Group announced the sale of WNBD-LD, WXVT-LD, WABG-TV, and additional stations to Imagicomm Communications on March 29, 2022. The transaction closed on August 1, 2022.
M&A - 2019WNBD-LD becomes part of the Cox Media Group transaction
Apollo Global Management acquired Brian Brady's television portfolio and integrated Northwest Broadcasting into the Cox Media Group structure. The broader transaction was completed on December 17, 2019.
M&A - 2017Cable One temporarily removes Northwest Broadcasting stations
Cable One removed stations owned by Northwest Broadcasting from its lineup on January 1, 2017, after the companies failed to reach a carriage agreement. The channels returned on February 1 under a new deal.
PricingOther - 2016WNBD-LD changes ownership and temporarily carries WXVT's CBS programming
The Cala transaction closed on August 1, 2016. After WXVT went off the air, its CBS programming was temporarily moved to a WNBD-LD digital subchannel.
M&AProduct generation - 2015Cala Broadcast Partners agrees to acquire WNBD-LD and related stations
Commonwealth Broadcasting Group agreed to sell WNBD-LD, WABG-TV, and WFXW-LD to Cala Broadcast Partners in a transaction announced on October 30, 2015.
M&A - 2010WNBD-LD begins operation under the W33CT-D call sign
The FCC granted the station's application on February 25, 2010, and the station began under the digital call sign W33CT-D.
Product launch - 2010Station adopts the WNBD-LD call sign
The station changed its call sign from W33CT-D to WNBD-LD on May 14, 2010.
Other - 2010WNBD-LD signs on as the Delta area's first locally based NBC affiliate
WNBD-LD began broadcasting on December 13, 2010, providing a locally based NBC affiliate for a market that had previously relied on distant NBC stations.
Product launch - 2009Commonwealth Broadcasting files application for a new low-power station
Commonwealth Broadcasting Group, owner of WABG-TV, filed an application for a low-power television station on RF channel 33, originally associated with Grenada, Mississippi.
Other
Sources
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