WLTZ

WLTZ is a television station serving Columbus, Georgia, and the surrounding regional market. The station broadcasts on digital channel 38 and is affiliated with NBC, while a digital subchannel carries The CW Plus. Its signal, studios, and transmission facilities are associated with the east side of Columbus, although master control and much of its internal operational infrastructure are located at shared facilities used by sister and co-managed stations in the city. The station began broadcasting on October 29, 1970, under the call sign WYEA-TV. It was established as the Columbus market's NBC outlet after a series of competing applications for a new UHF station. The station's launch was delayed by construction problems, including a labor stoppage affecting the manufacture of its transmission antenna. Before WYEA-TV went on air, WTVM and WRBL-TV had carried some NBC programming on a secondary basis, but the new station became the market's dedicated NBC affiliate from its first day. WLTZ has historically faced a difficult competitive position in Columbus local news. Its UHF signal, comparatively smaller operating resources, and competition from the established WTVM and WRBL-TV stations contributed to persistently low news ratings. Owners attempted several strategies, including early-evening counterprogramming, changes in presentation, recruitment of recognizable local television personalities, and repeated efforts to establish or expand a news department. The station also briefly operated under the NewsCenter branding and introduced a late-evening newscast in 1979. The station was acquired in 1978 by American Family Corporation, the parent company of Aflac, through its American Eagle Broadcasting subsidiary. American Family treated the purchase as an entry into television ownership but later concluded that the Columbus property was the least profitable station in its portfolio. Former Savannah mayor Julius Curtis Lewis Jr. acquired WYEA-TV in 1981. Under Lewis, the station adopted the WLTZ call letters and the Z-38 identity. The ownership period included cost reductions, staffing changes, and attempts to reposition the station, but its local news performance remained weak. WLTZ eliminated its regular local news department in 1993, beginning a period of roughly fourteen years without routinely scheduled locally produced newscasts. It returned to weekday news in 2007 after SagamoreHill Broadcasting purchased the station from Lewis. The initial relaunch used a hybrid production model involving the Independent News Network, local reporters, and the Ledger-Enquirer newspaper. In 2012, WLTZ again produced local news from Columbus with a dedicated news operation. The station became a digital-only broadcaster in 2009 and added The CW to a digital subchannel after the network's prior local affiliate ended its relationship with the network. In 2020, SagamoreHill entered a shared-services agreement with Gray Television. WLTZ's local news production ended later that year, after which it began airing newscasts produced by WTVM. The arrangement consolidated master control, engineering, promotional, and news functions across the stations. Gray announced an agreement to purchase WLTZ from SagamoreHill in 2025. Following regulatory review and the use of failing-station waiver procedures, the Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction in May 2026, and the sale closed shortly afterward. WLTZ consequently became part of Gray Media's Columbus station group alongside ABC affiliate WTVM, while Fox affiliate WXTX continued to be co-managed under the group's local operating arrangements. The station's present identity is therefore built around its NBC network affiliation, its CW Plus digital service, and its role within a shared regional broadcast infrastructure rather than around a large standalone news operation.

WLTZ traces its origins to a late-1960s effort to establish a third commercial television station in Columbus, Georgia. Several groups sought authorization for new channels. The applications associated with Inland Broadcasting and Gala Broadcasting were eventually combined, leading to a construction permit for the station that became WYEA-TV. A building permit was issued in December 1969 for a site on Buena Vista Road, and construction began the following spring. The station was intended to launch in time for NBC coverage of the 1970 World Series. Its opening was delayed, however, partly because a strike at RCA interrupted production of the station's antenna. WYEA-TV ultimately began broadcasting on October 29, 1970. It became an NBC affiliate from its first day, replacing the prior secondary carriage of NBC programs by existing Columbus stations. The station initially attempted to compete through counterprogramming and a limited local-news operation rather than by matching the larger staffs and resources of WTVM and WRBL-TV. A fire in January 1975 caused serious damage to the station's second-floor offices. The newsroom suffered water damage and unprocessed news film was destroyed, but the station returned to the air within approximately a day. Its first local newscast was a 5:30 p.m. program called 1st Edition News, scheduled to avoid direct competition with the established 6 p.m. broadcasts. The station periodically recruited television personalities from rival outlets and experimented with its news schedule, but it remained a distant competitor in local news ratings. American Family Corporation, the parent company of insurer Aflac, announced the purchase of the station in 1977 and took control through American Eagle Broadcasting on March 1, 1978. The company viewed the acquisition as an entry into television ownership. WYEA-TV presented substantial challenges: its news department was small, its main anchor and sportscaster worked part time, and it produced only one daily newscast with no regular weekend editions. The station also faced competition from the expanded coverage of WSFA in Montgomery, Alabama. American Family introduced the NewsCenter identity and added an 11 p.m. newscast in 1979. Several of these improvements were later reduced for economic reasons. By 1981, American Family had decided that WYEA-TV was the least profitable and least competitive station in its group. Lewis Broadcasting, headed by former Savannah mayor Julius Curtis Lewis Jr., purchased the station and assumed control on July 1, 1981. The station changed its call letters to WLTZ on August 31 and promoted itself as Z-38. Lewis-era WLTZ reduced parts of its news operation almost immediately. The late newscast was dropped and staff positions were eliminated. The station briefly employed Ed Harbison, who later became a Georgia state senator, as its first Black evening news anchor in Columbus television. Despite periodic efforts to improve its journalism and entertainment schedule, WLTZ remained behind WTVM and WRBL-TV, and its signal was less competitive in the wider market than in the Columbus metropolitan area. In November 1993, management announced that the news department would be dissolved because of low ratings and limited market acceptance. Most of the seven-person staff was laid off, and WLTZ did not operate regular local newscasts for approximately fourteen years. A former staff member was later invited to provide short news updates during NBC's coverage of the 1996 Summer Olympics, but this did not represent a full restoration of the department. Lewis attempted to sell WLTZ in the mid-1990s to Piney Creek Broadcasting, which would have contracted with WXTX owner Jack Pezold under a local marketing agreement. Competing Columbus stations challenged the proposed transaction. Although the FCC rejected those challenges, the transaction collapsed in 1995 after Congress ended a tax-certificate program that had helped facilitate certain broadcast-station sales. SagamoreHill Broadcasting finally acquired WLTZ in 2007, making it the last television property owned by Lewis. That November, WLTZ restored weekday newscasts through a partnership with the Independent News Network in Davenport, Iowa. The format combined presenters based outside Georgia with reporting prepared locally, and the station also worked with the Ledger-Enquirer newspaper. In 2009, WLTZ converted to digital-only broadcasting and added The CW to a digital multicast channel. A locally based news department was restored in 2012. In September 2020, SagamoreHill and Gray Television entered an eight-year shared-services agreement. Gray provided back-office, master-control, engineering, promotional, and news-related services. WLTZ's independent news production ended in November 2020, after which the station carried newscasts produced by WTVM. The arrangement placed much of the station's operational activity at facilities shared with WTVM and WXTX. Gray announced its purchase of WLTZ in August 2025. The company sought failing-station waivers during the regulatory process. The FCC approved the transaction on May 6, 2026, and Gray completed the acquisition two days later. WLTZ consequently became part of Gray Media's Columbus group, alongside WTVM and the co-managed WXTX, creating a shared local broadcast structure in the market.

1. 2026Gray completes acquisition

   The FCC approves the purchase and Gray completes the acquisition of WLTZ.

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2. 2020Gray shared-services agreement begins

   Gray begins providing operational and news-related services under an agreement with SagamoreHill.

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3. 2012Local news production restored

   The station reestablishes local news production from Columbus.

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4. 2009Digital transition and CW Plus launch

   WLTZ becomes a digital-only station and adds The CW to a multicast subchannel.

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5. 2007SagamoreHill acquires WLTZ

   The station changes ownership and soon restores weekday newscasts through an external production partnership.

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6. 1993Regular news department dissolved

   WLTZ ends regularly scheduled locally produced newscasts because of weak ratings.

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7. 1981WLTZ name and Z-38 branding introduced

   Lewis Broadcasting assumes control and changes the station's call sign from WYEA-TV to WLTZ.

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8. 1978American Family takes ownership

   American Family Corporation acquires the station through American Eagle Broadcasting.

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9. 1975Station offices suffer fire damage

   A fire damages the second-floor offices and newsroom, but the station returns to the air within about a day.

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10. 1970WYEA-TV begins broadcasting

    The station launches on October 29 as WYEA-TV and becomes a full-time NBC affiliate in Columbus.

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A locally focused broadcast station positioned primarily as the Columbus market's NBC affiliate, with additional CW Plus programming and shared news and operational services within Gray Media's local station group.

• NBC programmingNetwork television affiliation1970

  WLTZ's primary service is its carriage of NBC network programming for viewers in the Columbus, Georgia market. The station has been affiliated with NBC since its launch as WYEA-TV in 1970. Its schedule combines network entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming with station identification, advertising, and other locally relevant broadcast content.

• The CW PlusDigital multicast television2009

  WLTZ carries The CW Plus on a digital subchannel. The service expands the station's programming portfolio beyond its NBC primary channel and provides access to CW network programming and related syndicated content for the Columbus-area audience.

• Local newsLocal television news1970

  WLTZ has operated several distinct local-news models over its history, including an in-house newsroom, externally supported newscasts, and a later locally produced department. Since 2020, its scheduled newscasts have been produced by WTVM under the shared-services relationship associated with Gray Media.

• 2026Gray Media acquisition completedM&A

  Gray announced the purchase of WLTZ from SagamoreHill and sought regulatory permission to complete the transaction.

  What changed. The FCC approved the deal using failing-station waivers, and Gray closed the acquisition two days later.

  Aftermath. WLTZ joined Gray's Columbus station group with WTVM, while WXTX remained co-managed in the local operating structure.

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• 2020Shared-services consolidationStrategy

  SagamoreHill sought operational support for WLTZ while Gray already operated other Columbus television properties.

  What changed. The companies entered an eight-year agreement covering master control, engineering, promotion, back-office functions, and news services.

  Aftermath. WLTZ ended its standalone newscast production and began airing WTVM-produced news later in the year.

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• 2007Weekday news relaunchStrategy

  Following SagamoreHill's purchase, the station sought to restore a local-news presence without immediately rebuilding a large standalone newsroom.

  What changed. WLTZ partnered with the Independent News Network, local reporters, and the Ledger-Enquirer to produce weekday newscasts.

  Aftermath. The station later established a more conventional local news operation in 2012.

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• 1993Local news department closureStrategy

  WLTZ's newscasts had continued to draw substantially lower ratings than competing Columbus stations.

  What changed. Management dissolved the regular news department and eliminated most of its seven positions.

  Aftermath. The station went without regular local newscasts for approximately fourteen years, apart from limited special arrangements.

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• 1978American Family enters Columbus televisionM&A

  American Family Corporation sought to expand into broadcasting and viewed the Columbus station as its first television property.

  What changed. The company acquired Eagle Broadcasting and placed WYEA-TV under its American Eagle Broadcasting subsidiary.

  Aftermath. American Family introduced changes to the station's news presentation, but the station remained a difficult and relatively weak competitor in local news.

  Purchase price. $1.5 million plus assumption of $1.7 million in debt (Announced in 1977; ownership began March 1, 1978)

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• 2026Gray completes acquisition of WLTZ

  The FCC approves the transaction using failing-station waiver procedures, and Gray completes its purchase of WLTZ shortly afterward.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2025Gray announces purchase of WLTZ

  Gray announces an agreement to acquire WLTZ and related SagamoreHill stations, subject to regulatory approval.

  M&A
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• 2020WLTZ enters a shared-services agreement with Gray

  SagamoreHill and Gray Television establish an agreement covering master control, engineering, promotional services, and newscast production.

  M&A
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• 2020WLTZ switches to WTVM-produced newscasts

  WLTZ ends its latest standalone news production and begins carrying newscasts produced by sister station WTVM.

  Leadership change
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• 2012WLTZ returns to locally produced news

  The station reestablishes local news production from Columbus after several years of externally supported newscasts.

  Product launch
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• 2009WLTZ adds The CW to a digital subchannel

  The station begins carrying The CW on a multicast channel after the network's previous local relationship ends.

  Product launch
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• 2007SagamoreHill restores weekday newscasts

  After SagamoreHill Broadcasting acquires WLTZ, the station restores weekday newscasts using a production partnership involving the Independent News Network and local reporting resources.

  Product launchOther
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• 1993WLTZ closes its regular news department

  The station ends regular locally produced newscasts, citing weak ratings and insufficient market acceptance.

  Leadership changeOther
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• 1981Station adopts the WLTZ call sign

  Following its acquisition by Lewis Broadcasting, the station changes its call letters from WYEA-TV to WLTZ and adopts the Z-38 branding.

  Other
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• 1978American Family Corporation acquires WYEA-TV

  American Family Corporation, the parent company of Aflac, acquires the station through its American Eagle Broadcasting subsidiary.

  M&A
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• 1970WLTZ begins broadcasting as WYEA-TV

  The Columbus television station begins operation as WYEA-TV and becomes the market's dedicated NBC affiliate.

  Other
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1. WLTZ