WDBD
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| Jackson, Mississippi | |
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| Branding | Fox 40 WDBD Fox 40 News Me-TV Jackson (on DT2) |
| Slogan | So Fox 40 |
| Channels | Digital: 40 (UHF) Virtual: 40 (PSIP) |
| Subchannels | 40.1 Fox 40.2 Me-TV |
| Owner | Roundtable Broadcasting, LLC (Jackson Broadcasting, LLC) |
| First air date | February 28, 1983 |
| Sister station(s) | WUFX |
| Former channel number(s) | 40 (UHF analog, 1984–2009) 6 (VHF digital) |
| Former affiliations | Independent (1983–1988) The WB (2001–2006) |
| Transmitter power | 981.2 kW |
| Height | 598 m |
| Class | DT |
| Facility ID | 71326 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 32°12′49.4″N 90°22′56.2″W / 32.213722°N 90.382278°W |
| Website | FOX40TV.com MeTVJackson.com |
WDBD is the Fox-affiliated television station for Jackson, Mississippi. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 40 from a transmitter on Thigpen Road in Raymond. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 6 and in high definition on digital channel 434. Owned by Roundtable Broadcasting, WDBD operates MyNetworkTV affiliate WUFX (owned by Vicksburg Broadcasting, LLC) through a local marketing agreement (LMA). The two outlets share facilities on Leggett Drive (official address is One Great Place) in Jackson next to the studios of ABC affiliate WAPT. Syndicated programming on this station includes American Dad, Family Guy, Two and a Half Men, and The Big Bang Theory among others.
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[edit] Digital programming
On WDBD-DT2 and Comcast channel 15 is Me-TV.
| Channel | Video | Aspect | Name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40.1 | 720p | 16:9 | WDBD-HD | Main WDBD programming / Fox |
| 40.2 | 480i | 4:3 | WDBD-DT2 | Simulcast of WXMS-LP |
[edit] History
The station began broadcasting on February 28, 1983 as the market's first Independent outlet. It was also the first television station in Mississippi to not be affiliated with a network. In February 1988, WDBD became the area's first Fox affiliate although the forth broadcast network had launched back in October 1986. The station switched to The WB in October 2001 leaving Jackson without an over-the-air Fox affiliate for the next two years. It would not be until September 2003 when WUFX signed-on in nearby Vicksburg and became the area's second Fox affiliate.
In January and February 2006, respectively, it was announced that the UPN and WB networks would merge and form The CW while News Corporation (owner of Fox) made public another new programming service called MyNetworkTV would start up as well. UPN affiliate WRBJ was announced as Jackson's CW affiliate while WUFX eventually joined MyNetworkTV. In advance of switching to the latter network, WUFX and WDBD swapped affiliations. On July 3, 2006, the former picked up The WB but began identifying itself on-air as "My 35" in anticipation of joining the new service. Meanwhile, WDBD rejoined Fox for a second time and became known as "Fox 40". On May 4, 2009, the station made the switchover to digital after turning-off its analog signal.
It then moved its digital signal back to the previous analog channel allotment. WDBD increased the new digital signal's power to full-powered as opposed to the special temporary authority operation before the switchover. That change was needed because its previous VHF digital signal had a tough time reaching the outer suburbs of Jackson. The current UHF signal pushes well into the Monroe, Louisiana market to the west and the Greenwood/Greenville/Cleveland DMA to the north. WDBD and WUFX were sold by previous owner Jackson Television to Roundtable Broadcasting in early-2010. However, its licensee listing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) still says Jackson Television. Marc Jaromin is the station's current President/General Manager.[1][2] Fellow Fox affiliate WNTZ-TV in nearby Natchez technically serves the Alexandria, Louisiana market (through a low-powered repeater) but shares some of its coverage territory with WDBD. WNTZ also maintains a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation and therefore encroaches on WUFX's home territory as well.
[edit] News operation
In the early-1990s, WDBD aired a local newscast called Mississippi News Tonight which was simulcasted on WXXV-TV in Gulfport. Likewise, it featured regional news and weather coverage despite being produced at this station's studios in Jackson. Due to low ratings and inconsistent viewership, the program was dropped from both outlets after only a year. In August 2008, WDBD established a second news department and added a thirty minute prime time show. Known as Fox 40 News at 9, this was originally seen every night.
After a short period of time, however, weekend broadcasts were dropped due to inadequate resources. On January 24, 2009, the weeknight newscast began airing in high definition resulting in the station becoming Jackson's first television outlet to make the upgrade. With the change came a new logo and updated graphics package based on the theme seen on Fox owned-and-operated stations.
In April 2010, WDBD added two weeknight newscasts, both thirty minutes. The early evening show, known as Fox 40 News at 6, directly competed with news seen on the area's big three stations. This would subsequently be dropped for Fox 40 News at 5:30 which airs against the national evening network broadcasts. The late night program, called Fox 40 News at 10 on My 35, airs on sister station WUFX and also competes with the area's big three outlets. A further expansion occurred on January 17, 2011 after WDBD launched a weekday morning show called Fox 40 & Friends (name adapted from Fox & Friends which can be seen at the same time on Fox News Channel).
The broadcast (currently known as Fox 40 A.M.) airs for two hours from 7 until 9 providing a local alternative to the national morning shows. There are news headlines, weather forecasts, and traffic updates included in the production but the majority of time consists of various entertainment/lifestyle features (including cooking demonstrations conducted from a fully functional kitchen). To correspond with the addition, the weeknight prime time show at 9 was reformatted. It now includes a fast-paced segment featuring the top stories of the day and a complete weather forecast in the first nine minutes before a commercial break. At some point in time, there may be an expansion of newscasts on weekday mornings and weekends although no actual plans have been announced yet.[3][4]
[edit] News team[5]
Anchors
- C.E. Huffman - weekday mornings Fox 40 A.M.
- Joy Redmond - weeknights at 5:30 and 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. on WUFX
StormTrack 40 HD Weather
- Dave Roberts (AMS Seal of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5:30 and 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. on WUFX
- Lindsey Slater - meteorologist; weekday mornings Fox 40 A.M., also "Pet of the Week" segment producer
- Mike MacGown (NWA Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; fill-in
Sports team (all seen on Sports Deck)
- Travis Recek - sports director; weeknights at 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. on WUFX, also "Who's Next" segment producer
- Jon Wiener - sports multimedia journalist; also news producer
- Chuck Stinson - sports reporter
Reporters
- Nicole Cyprian - general assignment reporter; also assignment editor
- Courtney Ann Jackson - general assignment reporter
- Deshundra Jefferson - general assignment reporter
- Kylee Knoles - general assignment reporter
[edit] References
- ^ "Another deal, another ownership situation for NAB graduate". Television Business Report. March 18, 2010. http://www.rbr.com/tv-cable/tv_deals/22534.html. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
- ^ http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/469540-Market_Eye_Lots_of_Action_in_Jackson.php
- ^ The ClarionLedger: WDBD to start local newscasts
- ^ http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2011/01/18/48442/new-morning-show-news-team-at-wdbd
- ^ Contact Us
[edit] External links
- FOX40TV.com (Official WDBD-TV Website)
- MeTVJackson.com (Official Me-TV Jackson Website)
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WDBD
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