WWMT

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WWMT
Image:WWMT-2007logo.jpg

Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids/Muskegon, Michigan
Branding CBS 3 (normal)
News Channel 3 (newscasts)
CW 7 (on DT2, cable slot)
Slogan Live, Local, Breaking News
Channels Analog: 3 (VHF)
Digital: 2 (VHF) 8 (post 2009)[1]
Affiliations CBS
The CW (on DT2)
Owner Freedom Communications
Founded June 1, 1950 on ch. 4 (moved to ch. 3 in 1956)
Call letters meaning We're West Michigan Television
Former callsigns WKZO-TV (1950-1985)
Former affiliations NBC (1950-60)
ABC (1950-62)(both secondary)
Website www.wwmt.com/

WWMT "CBS 3" is the CBS television affiliate for the West Michigan television market. Licensed to Kalamazoo, where its studios are located, the station is owned by Freedom Communications. The station broadcasts an analog signal on VHF channel 3 and a digital signal on VHF channel 2 from a transmitter located southwest of Middleville. WWMT's studios are also the location of master control and operations for its sister station in Lansing, ABC affiliate WLAJ channel 53. WWMT operates a CW affiliate on its DT2 digital subchannel, "CW 7" (carried on cable channel 7)

Contents

WWMT debuted on June 1, 1950, as WKZO-TV (W Kalamazoo). It is West Michigan's second-oldest television station, and was owned by broadcasting pioneer John Fetzer along with WKZO-AM 590, which he had launched in 1931.

WKZO initially had reception problems due to the presence of WTMJ-TV across Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. In 1953, WTMJ moved to channel 4. In 1956, WKZO-AM-FM-TV moved to an old car dealership on West Maple Avenue in Kalamazoo, which has been the station's home ever since. It was the primary CBS affiliate by default in the South Bend / Elkhart area in Northern Indiana, a significant part of its advertising area, before Northern Indiana got the UHF channels that dominate that market and WKZO's signal was moved to a more northerly location.

Channel 3 has been a primary CBS station from the very beginning, but initially had secondary affiliations with NBC and ABC). However, in 1960, Fetzer built a new 1100 foot transmitter near Gun Lake. The new tower added Grand Rapids to its city-grade coverage and turned West Michigan into a single television market. WKZO then shared ABC with WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids until WZZM signed on in 1962.

When John Fetzer owned the Detroit Tigers baseball team, WKZO frequently pre-empted primetime CBS broadcasting for Tigers baseball games, including preseason exhibition.

Until it was dethroned by WZZM in the late 1970s, WKZO was West Michigan's top television station. In 1985, Fetzer retired and sold off his vast broadcasting empire. WKZO was sold to Busse Broadcasting, who changed the call letters to the current WWMT-TV (We're West Michigan Television). For a time in the mid 1990s, even though most of its fellow CBS affiliates were in third place or worse, WWMT was number one. Freedom Communications purchased WWMT in 1998 from Granite Broadcasting along with sister station WLAJ.

WWMT and WLNS in Lansing are the longest-serving CBS affiliates in the state of Michigan, primarily due to WJBK in Detroit joining the FOX network.

In September of 2006, WWMT created a second digital channel to began airing programming from The CW, which was created as a result of the UPN and WB networks merging. From the September 18, 2006 launch through early December, the CW affiliate was known as West Michigan's CW. On December 7, 2006, the station rebranded as CW7 (as it is carried on cable channel 7).

For the 2007 season, the Detroit Tigers returned to WWMT, with games airing on CW7.

WWMT DT2, "CW 7", offers The Daily Buzz weekdays from 6 to 9 AM. The station's weather radar is called "Doppler First Radar". The opening sequence refers to the newscast title as "NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 6" (for the morning and evening 6:00 broadcasts). NewsChannel 3 Live at 6 airs on "CW 7" when the news is preempted on the main channel.


Former Partner

CBS affiliate WWTV / WWUP, Cadillac / Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan

  • "Live Local Breaking News" (current)
  • "Where News Comes First" (until 2006)
  • "Channel 3 & You" (1987-1994)
  • "We're West Michigan Television," "Hello West Michigan" (1985)
  • "We're the ones to see." (1970s)
  • "Kalamazoo Direct to You" (1960s)

Hi-Lite Nite is the weekly Friday night high school football program.

NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 5am (3 hours)

  • Weekdays:
    • Jeff Varner - Anchor.
    • Holly Doyle - Anchor.
    • Ron Boyd - Weather.

NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at Noon

  • Weekdays:
    • Jeff Varner - Anchor.
    • Holly Doyle - Anchor.
    • Ron Boyd - Weather.

NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 5

  • Weekdays:
    • Judy Markee - Anchor.
    • Jeff McAtee - Anchor.
    • Keith Thompson - Chief Meteorologist.

NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 5:30

  • Weekdays:
    • Jeff McAtee - Anchor.
    • Judy Markee - Anchor.
    • Keith Thompson - Chief Meteorologist.

NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 6

  • Weekdays:
    • Judy Markee - Anchor.
    • Jeff McAtee - Anchor.
    • Keith Thompson - Chief Meteorologist.
    • Ed Kengerski - Sports Director.
  • Weekends:
    • Diane Daniels - Anchor.
    • Brian James - Meteorologist
    • Andy Pepper - Sports.

NEWSCHANNEL 3 Live at 11

  • Weekdays:
    • Judy Markee - Anchor.
    • Jeff McAtee - Anchor.
    • Keith Thompson - Chief Meteorologist.
    • Ed Kengerski - Sports Director.
  • Weekends:
    • Diane Daniels - Anchor.
    • Brian James - Meteorologist.
    • Andy Pepper - Sports.

Founded by John Fetzer in 1950.

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