Nashville, Tenn. TV chronology

[Ccook55]

1950
WSMV/ch. 4 (NBC primary; ABC, CBS, Dumont all secondaries)

1953
WSMV/ch. 4 drops CBS as a secondary.
WSIX/ch. 8 (CBS) signs on.

1954
WSMV/ch. 4 drops ABC as a secondary.
WLAC/ch. 5 (CBS) signs on.
WSIX/ch. 8 switches to ABC.

1956
WSMV/ch. 4 drops Dumont as a secondary.

1962
WDCN/ch. 2 (NET) signs on.

1968
WMCV/ch. 17 (independent) signs on.

1970
WDCN/ch. 2 becomes a PBS affiliate.

1971
WMCV/ch. 17 goes off the air.

1973
WDCN/ch. 2 relocates to channel 8.
WSIX/ch. 8 relocates to channel 2 and changes call to WNGE.

1975
WLAC/ch. 5 changes call to WTVF.

1976
WMCV/ch. 17 returns and changes call to WZTV.

1978
WCTE/ch. 22 (PBS) signs on. It is licensed to and originates from Cookeville, Tenn.

1983
WNGE/ch. 2 changes call to WKRN.
WFYZ/ch. 39 (independent) signs on. It is licensed to Murfreesboro, Tenn. and originates from Mt. Juliet, Tenn.

1984
WCAY/ch. 30 (independent) signs on.

1985
WFYZ/ch. 39 changes call to WHTN.

1987
WCAY/ch. 30 becomes a Fox affiliate.

1988
WJFB/ch. 66 (various ad hoc networks) signs on. It is licensed to and originates from Lebanon, Tenn.

1989
WMTT/ch. 28 (independent) signs on. It is licensed to and originates from Cookeville, Tenn.
WCAY/ch. 30 changes call to WXMT.

1990
WZTV/ch. 17 becomes a Fox affiliate.
WXMT/ch. 30 reverts to independent.

1991
WHTN/ch. 39 becomes a CTN affiliate (religious).

1992
WPGD/ch. 50 (Trinity) signs on. It is licensed to and originates from Hendersonville, Tenn.

1993
WMTT/ch. 28 changes call to WKZX.

1995
WXMT/ch. 30 becomes a UPN affiliate.
WNAB/ch. 58 (WB) signs on.

1996
WXMT/ch. 30 changes call to WUXP.

1998
WKZX/ch. 28 becomes a Pax affiliate and changes call to WNPX.

2000
WDCN/ch. 8 changes call to WNPT.

2005
WNPX/ch. 28 becomes an "I" affiliate.

2006
WUXP/ch. 30 becomes a My Network TV affiliate.
WNAB/ch. 58 becomes a CW affiliate.

2007
WNPX/ch. 28 becomes an Ion affiliate.

2009
The analog shutdown.
WKRN/ch. 2 (27) - 2.2 - Nashville WX; 2.3 - Live Well Network
WSMV/ch. 4 (10) - 4.2 - Heartland
WTVF/ch. 5 (5) - 5.2 - NewsChannel 5; 5.3 - This TV
WNPT/ch. 8 (8) - 8.2 - Worldview (12 Mid. - 6 AM); PBS Encore (6 AM - 12 Mid.)
WZTV/ch. 17 (15)
WCTE/ch. 22 (22) - 22.2 - World; 22.3 - Create
WNPX/ch. 28 (36) - 28.2 - qubo; 28.3 - Ion Life; 28.4 - Ion Shop; 28.5 - QVC; 28.6 - HSN
WUXP/ch. 30 (21)
WHTN/ch. 39 (38) - 39.2 - CTN International
WJFB/ch. 44 (44--had relocated its virtual from ch. 66 and affiliated with America One) - 44.2 - America One (SD)
WPGD/ch. 50 (33) - 50.2 - Church Channel; 50.3 - JUCE TV; 50.4 - Enlace USA; 50.5 - Smile Of A Child
WNAB/ch. 58 (23) - 58.2 - ZUUS Country

 

[anotherguyTN]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Markd]

WFYZ/ch. 39 (independent) signs on. It is licensed to Murfreesboro, Tenn. and originates from Mt. Juliet, Tenn.

1984
WCAY/ch. 30 (independent) signs on.

In the Spring of 1985 Channel 39 dropped cartoons, movies, drama shows, and sitcoms and went with Music Videos.

1985
WFYZ/ch. 39 changes call to WHTN.


WFYZ became a religious station in 1986 taking Trinity Broadcasting Network


1989
WMTT/ch. 28 (independent) signs on. It is licensed to and originates from Cookeville, Tenn.
WCAY/ch. 30 changes call to WXMT.


TVX sells WCAY and WMKW Memphis to GM of WCAY/WXMT Mike Thompson. Act III Buys 17 WZTV

1990
WZTV/ch. 17 becomes a Fox affiliate.
WXMT/ch. 30 reverts to independent.

Actually Act II takes Fox affiliation from WXMT and buys all WXMT's cash shows. WXMT switches to Home Shopping Network programming 16 hours a day, religion 4 hours a day, and cartoons 4 hours a day.


WHTN/ch. 39 becomes a CTN affiliate from previous religious shows (religious).


1993
WMTT/ch. 28 changes call to WKZX.

Also WXMT reverts to general entertainment gradually from 1991 to 1994.

 

[Stevens]

Devotion to accuracy: WSMV was originally WSM-TV. The station was sold to Gillett in 1981 forcing a call letter change and ending its long time co-ownership with National Life and Accident Insurance Company/NLT's WSM AM & FM.