WLMT

WLMT, virtual channel 30 (UHF digital channel 31), is a CW-affiliated television station located in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The station is owned by the Nexstar Broadcasting Group, as part of a duopoly with ABC affiliate WATN-TV (channel 24). The two stations share studios located at the Shelby Oaks Corporate Park on Shelby Oaks Drive in the northeast section of Memphis, WLMT's transmitter is located in unincorporated Brunswick. WLMT-WATN's studio facilities also handle master control and some internal operations for Jackson-licensed Fox affiliate WJKT (channel 16).

History

The station first signed on the air as WMKW-TV on April 18, 1983. It was the second independent station in the Memphis market. The "KW" in its callsign referred to Kemmons Wilson, founder of Holiday Inn, which was then based in Memphis. The station was founded by the TVX Broadcast Group, which at that time, owned UHF independent stations in several medium-sized markets. WMKW ran a general entertainment format featuring afternoon cartoons, sitcoms, old movies, drama shows and some sports. Right from the start, it began a viewership rivalry with fellow independent outlet WPTY. In April 1987, WMKW became the market's original Fox affiliate as part of an affiliation deal involving the rest of the TVX stations, and began branding as "Fox 30" on-air. It was at this point that WMTU (now WJKT) in Jackson became a semi-satellite of WMKW.