WNBJ-LD

WNBJ-LD is a low-power digital television station serving Jackson, Tennessee, and surrounding areas of West Tennessee. The station operates on channel 39 and is affiliated with NBC on its primary service. Its digital lineup also carries The CW Plus on a second subchannel and a combined Heroes & Icons/MyNetworkTV service on a third subchannel. The station is owned by Coastal Television Broadcasting Company, which acquired it as part of a broader transaction involving Waypoint Media television properties. The station’s origins lie in efforts to establish a locally available NBC affiliate in the Jackson market. Planning began after New Moon Communications acquired a former Trinity Broadcasting Network repeater in 2011. The original Jackson construction permit used the call sign W16DE-D, while earlier plans also involved the proposed call sign WZMC-LP. Those initial arrangements were affected by ownership changes and the cancellation of an earlier Jackson authorization in 2013. The current WNBJ-LD call letters were adopted on July 9, 2014. Before WNBJ began operating, Jackson viewers generally depended on distant NBC signals from WMC-TV in Memphis or WSMV in Nashville, received through strong over-the-air antennas or cable systems. In some northern portions of the wider region, WPSD from Paducah, Kentucky had also been receivable before the transition to digital broadcasting. WNBJ therefore filled a local-market network-affiliation gap: NBC had been the last of the four major U.S. broadcast networks without a local Jackson outlet. WNBJ began service on Dish Network on October 6, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. Central Time. Its over-the-air signal followed on November 6, 2014, and carriage on DirecTV began in January 2015. The station initially operated under Jackson TV, LLC, with Waypoint Media providing operations through an outsourcing arrangement. A transaction announced in February 2016 transferred the licensee into a subsidiary of SagamoreHill Broadcasting; that transaction closed on April 1, 2016. The station expanded beyond its primary NBC service through digital multicast programming. On August 6, 2018, WNBJ-LD2 began carrying a high-definition feed of the national CW Plus service under the brand “West Tennessee’s CW 39,” replacing the market’s former cable-only WBJK service. In September 2019, MyNetworkTV programming moved to WNBJ-LD3 as a secondary affiliation with Heroes & Icons after WYJJ-LD became largely automated and its ownership ended local programming efforts. WNBJ launched a local news operation on August 28, 2017. The initial newscasts were produced by the Independent News Network in Little Rock, Arkansas, with centralized on-air talent supplemented by local contributions. The operation was later renamed News Hub after Waypoint Media acquired Independent News Network in June 2019. Coastal Television acquired News Hub in connection with its later expansion. As described in station information from the period, WNBJ carried approximately seven and a half hours of weekday local news, including an early-evening NBC newscast and a later newscast associated with the CW subchannel. Beyond network programming and news, WNBJ has carried locally oriented entertainment and public-interest programming. Exit82 is a concert-and-interview program produced by Red Art Studios that features established and emerging musicians from Jackson and nearby communities. The station has also aired Harmony Road, Tennessee Gospel Show, and Vertical Descent, a hunting program produced in Chester County. Its 15,000-watt low-power signal covers most of the Jackson market and reaches portions of the Memphis market, although terrain, distance, and reception conditions limit direct over-the-air coverage in some areas. Cable, satellite, fiber, or other signal-delivery arrangements extend access beyond the station’s primary broadcast footprint.

WNBJ-LD developed from a series of attempts to create a local NBC affiliate for Jackson, Tennessee. In 2011, New Moon Communications acquired a former TBN repeater, W35AH, from the Minority Media and Television Council as part of a package involving stations in several markets. The Jackson authorization was associated with the construction-permit call sign W16DE-D. Earlier plans also contemplated the use of WZMC-LP, but the initial Jackson authorization was canceled in July 2013 after ownership and licensing developments affected the proposed station. The current identity emerged in 2014, when the call letters WNBJ-LD replaced the station’s translator-style designation on July 9. In September of that year, the station’s planned NBC affiliation was confirmed. The launch was significant for the Jackson market because local viewers had previously relied on distant NBC stations, particularly WMC-TV in Memphis or WSMV in Nashville, through antennas or cable carriage. WNBJ first became available through Dish Network on October 6, 2014. Its terrestrial digital signal began on November 6, followed by DirecTV carriage in January 2015. Jackson TV, LLC initially held the station’s license and entered into an outsourcing agreement with Waypoint Media, allowing Waypoint to operate the service. In February 2016, the original owners agreed to merge the licensee with a SagamoreHill Broadcasting subsidiary. The merger was completed on April 1, 2016. The station subsequently broadened its programming portfolio through digital multicast services. A CW Plus feed was added to WNBJ-LD2 on August 6, 2018, replacing the market’s former cable-only WBJK service. The subchannel was promoted as West Tennessee’s CW 39. In September 2019, the market’s MyNetworkTV affiliation moved to WNBJ-LD3, where it was carried alongside Heroes & Icons after WYJJ-LD became an automated operation and its parent company withdrew from local programming. WNBJ’s local news operation began on August 28, 2017. The initial production arrangement used the Independent News Network in Little Rock, Arkansas. The centralized operation supplied most of the on-air talent, while local material was incorporated into the broadcasts. Lon Tegels, a veteran television news professional, served as the first news director, with reporters including Jackson Overstreet and Camila Rueda identified in station history. Waypoint Media purchased the Independent News Network in June 2019 and renamed the centralized operation News Hub. Coastal Television later acquired News Hub in connection with the company’s expansion. The station’s schedule has included local news, NBC programming, CW Plus, Heroes & Icons, MyNetworkTV, and locally produced shows. Exit82, produced by Red Art Studios, uses a concert-and-interview format to feature musicians from Jackson and surrounding communities. The title refers to the Interstate 40 interchange with U.S. Route 45 in Jackson. WNBJ has also carried Harmony Road, Tennessee Gospel Show, and Vertical Descent, a hunting program produced in Chester County. WNBJ-LD operates as a 15,000-watt low-power station. Its signal serves most of the Jackson television market, including Carroll, Chester, Gibson, Hardin, Henderson, and Madison counties, and reaches portions of the Memphis market. Coverage is not uniform: Hardin County is identified as the only portion of the home market outside the station’s normal broadcast range, while parts of Crockett, Hardeman, Haywood, northern Fayette, and McNairy counties may receive the signal. Cable, satellite, fiber, or alternate signal-delivery methods can extend access where direct reception is limited. In July 2021, Coastal Television agreed to acquire WNBJ-LD as part of a nine-station Waypoint Media sale, reportedly for $36.9 million for the package. The transaction closed on January 4, 2022, and WNBJ-LD became part of Coastal Television’s station group.

1. 2022Coastal Television ownership begins

   Coastal Television completed its acquisition of WNBJ-LD on January 4.

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2. 2019News operation becomes News Hub

   Waypoint's acquisition of the Independent News Network led to the centralized operation being renamed News Hub.

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3. 2019MyNetworkTV moves to WNBJ-LD3

   MyNetworkTV joined Heroes & Icons on the station's third digital subchannel.

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4. 2018CW Plus added to digital subchannel

   WNBJ-LD2 began carrying CW Plus in high definition as West Tennessee's CW 39.

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5. 2017Local news operation launches

   WNBJ introduced locally oriented newscasts produced through the Independent News Network.

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6. 2016Licensee merger closes

   A merger placing the licensee with a SagamoreHill Broadcasting subsidiary was completed on April 1.

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7. 2015DirecTV carriage begins

   The station became available on DirecTV in January.

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8. 2014WNBJ-LD call letters adopted

   The station replaced its translator-style call sign with WNBJ-LD on July 9.

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9. 2014NBC service launches

   WNBJ began service on Dish Network in October and launched its over-the-air digital signal in November.

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10. 2013Earlier Jackson authorization is canceled

    An earlier Jackson authorization associated with the proposed WZMC-LP operation was canceled in July.

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11. 2011Construction-permit history begins

    The station's development traces to a construction permit associated with the call sign W16DE-D after New Moon Communications acquired a former TBN repeater in Jackson.

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A local, multiplatform television service for Jackson and West Tennessee that combines NBC network programming with multicast entertainment, local news, and community-oriented programming.

• WNBJ-LDNBC-affiliated broadcast service2014

  The station's primary digital service carries NBC network programming and locally oriented programming for Jackson, Tennessee. It was created to provide the Jackson market with a local NBC outlet rather than relying primarily on distant signals from Memphis or Nashville. The service also carries local news and other station programming.

• WNBJ-LD2CW Plus multicast service2018

  The second digital subchannel carries a high-definition feed of The CW's national CW Plus service. It is branded as West Tennessee's CW 39 and serves the Jackson market as the successor to the former cable-only WBJK service.

• WNBJ-LD3Heroes & Icons and MyNetworkTV multicast service2019

  The third digital subchannel carries Heroes & Icons programming with MyNetworkTV as a secondary affiliation. The arrangement followed changes at WYJJ-LD, whose parent company ended local programming efforts after the station became automated.

• WNBJ local newsTelevision news2017

  WNBJ's news operation began in 2017 using production support from the Independent News Network. The schedule described in station history included weekday evening newscasts, including programming associated with the primary NBC service and the CW subchannel.

• Exit82Local music and interview program

  Produced by Red Art Studios, Exit82 combines live or recorded performances with interviews featuring established and emerging musical acts from Jackson and nearby communities. Its name refers to the Interstate 40 interchange with U.S. Route 45 in Jackson.

• 2021Agreement to sell WNBJ-LD to Coastal TelevisionM&A

  Waypoint Media announced the sale of nine television stations as part of a portfolio transaction.

  What changed. Coastal Television agreed to acquire WNBJ-LD and the other stations.

  Aftermath. The transaction closed in January 2022, placing WNBJ-LD in the Coastal Television group.

  Reported package purchase price. $36.9 million (Announced July 2021; transaction completed January 4, 2022)

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• 2019Expansion of the third digital subchannelStrategy

  WYJJ-LD became largely automated and its parent company ended local programming efforts.

  What changed. MyNetworkTV programming moved to WNBJ-LD3 as a secondary affiliation alongside Heroes & Icons.

  Aftermath. WNBJ expanded its multicast portfolio and became the market outlet for both Heroes & Icons and MyNetworkTV programming.

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• 2018Addition of CW Plus on WNBJ-LD2Product launch

  The Jackson market's previous CW Plus presence had been provided through the cable-only WBJK service.

  What changed. WNBJ added a 720p CW Plus feed to digital subchannel 39.2 and branded it West Tennessee's CW 39.

  Aftermath. The CW Plus service gained a digital broadcast outlet connected to WNBJ's terrestrial signal.

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• 2014Launch of local NBC serviceProduct launch

  Jackson had previously relied on distant or cable-imported NBC stations, leaving the market without a local NBC affiliate.

  What changed. WNBJ launched first through Dish Network, then over the air, and later through DirecTV.

  Aftermath. The station became the Jackson market's local NBC outlet and added a digital broadcast service to the market's television choices.

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• 2022Coastal Television completes WNBJ-LD acquisition

  The transaction transferring WNBJ-LD from the Waypoint portfolio to Coastal Television was completed on January 4.

  M&A
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• 2021Coastal Television agrees to acquire WNBJ-LD

  Coastal Television announced an agreement to acquire WNBJ-LD among nine television stations being sold by Waypoint Media.

  M&A
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• 2019MyNetworkTV moves to WNBJ-LD3 with Heroes & Icons

  MyNetworkTV programming moved to WNBJ's third digital subchannel as a secondary affiliation alongside Heroes & Icons.

  Product launch
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• 2018WNBJ adds CW Plus multicast service

  The station added a high-definition CW Plus feed on digital subchannel 39.2 under the West Tennessee's CW 39 brand.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2014WNBJ begins NBC service in the Jackson market

  WNBJ launched on satellite before beginning over-the-air broadcasting, giving Jackson viewers a local NBC affiliate for the first time.

  Product launch
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1. WNBJ-LD
2. WNBJ television station website