WWMT

WWMT is a television station licensed to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and serving the wider West Michigan television market. The station broadcasts CBS programming on its main channel and operates a digital subchannel that became the independent service ARC West Michigan after its CW affiliation moved elsewhere in January 2024. WWMT is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and maintains studios on West Maple Street in Kalamazoo. Its transmitter is located north of Gun Lake along M-179 in Barry County, a position that gives the station coverage across Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and surrounding communities. The station began broadcasting on June 1, 1950, as WKZO-TV. It was established by John Fetzer, who also owned WKZO radio, and became a primary CBS affiliate shortly after launch. It was the second television station to begin service in West Michigan and one of the earliest stations in Michigan. During its first years, it also carried selected programming from NBC and the DuMont Television Network, and later aired some ABC programs. Its local programming included agricultural and women's features, sponsored community events, and the long-running children's program Channel 3 Clubhouse. WKZO-TV started local news programming in 1953, but its news operation initially lagged behind competitors in audience performance and production resources. The station gradually expanded its regional reach. Its transmitter was moved from the Plainwell area to a site near Gun Lake in 1961, improving coverage toward Grand Rapids. In the early 1980s, the station added microwave facilities that allowed live material from the northern part of the market to reach the Kalamazoo newsroom more efficiently. It also expanded its bureaus and newscast schedule, although it remained less competitive overall until a later investment program. Fetzer sold the television station in 1985 while retaining the WKZO radio operation. The television station changed its call sign to WWMT in December of that year. Under Gillett Communications and subsequently Busse Broadcasting, management invested in technical facilities, syndicated programming, staffing, and newsroom practices. The station added a morning newscast in 1989 and later expanded into noon, weekend-morning, and early-evening news. These changes helped WWMT become more competitive in Kalamazoo and across the broader market. Ownership changed several times in the 1990s. Granite Broadcasting acquired WWMT in 1995, and Freedom Communications purchased it in 1998. During the Freedom period, WWMT developed a digital subchannel affiliated with The CW, branded CW7 in some local cable systems. The subchannel began carrying a 10 p.m. newscast in 2008. WWMT also supplied certain operational and news services to WLAJ in Lansing for part of this period. Sinclair Broadcast Group announced its acquisition of Freedom's television stations in 2011 and began operating WWMT in December of that year; the transaction formally closed in April 2012. Sinclair expanded the station's morning and weekend news coverage, upgraded newsgathering equipment, and lengthened the CW subchannel's late newscast. A proposed Sinclair acquisition of Tribune Media in 2017 would have created ownership complications involving WXMI in the same market, and the broader transaction was ultimately terminated in 2018. In 2023, the station reported that it had reached second place in all-day news ratings. WWMT remains an active local broadcast brand centered on CBS programming, regional news, weather, sports, and community coverage.

WWMT traces its history to an application filed by Fetzer Broadcasting Company in 1948 for a Kalamazoo television station. The Federal Communications Commission granted the construction permit in July of that year. Test transmissions began in April 1950, and regular programming followed on June 1. The station initially used the call sign WKZO-TV, matching John Fetzer's Kalamazoo radio station. It became a primary CBS affiliate in July 1950, while also carrying limited programming from other networks during its early years. The station initially shared facilities with WKZO radio in Kalamazoo's Burdick Hotel. In 1958, the radio and television operations moved to Broadcast House, a former automobile dealership renovated with two television studios and a facility capable of radio-television simulcasts. The station strengthened its technical coverage by increasing power and moving its transmitter from near Plainwell to a taller tower near Gun Lake in 1961. This location improved service toward Grand Rapids and helped WWMT develop a broader West Michigan identity rather than remaining primarily a Kalamazoo outlet. Local news began in 1953. Early programming also included agricultural and women's shows, community events, and Channel 3 Clubhouse, a children's program that remained part of the station's schedule for decades. Despite its early start and strong performance in Kalamazoo proper, WKZO-TV was often criticized for weak market-wide news ratings and limited news investment. In the 1970s, an FCC commissioner criticized its amount of news and public-affairs programming and its minority employment record; station management disputed the employment criticism and cited scholarship support for minority students. The newsroom began modernizing in the early 1980s. Microwave links made it easier to transmit live reports from Grand Rapids, and the station added bureaus, additional newscasts, and improved production facilities. Fetzer sold the television station in 1985 to Gillett Communications, retaining the radio operation. The television call sign changed to WWMT on December 5, 1985. Gillett recruited new management, added photographers and newsroom procedures, upgraded equipment, and strengthened the station's syndicated programming. In 1987, WWMT became part of Busse Broadcasting after Gillett's acquisition of Storer Communications required the divestiture of several smaller-market stations. The newsroom became more competitive, particularly in Kalamazoo. Granite Broadcasting acquired WWMT in 1995 for a reported $95 million. Granite later managed aspects of Lansing ABC affiliate WLAJ from Kalamazoo and transferred some personnel between the stations. In 1998, Granite sold WWMT and WLAJ to Freedom Communications in a transaction reported at $170 million for the two stations. Freedom continued the relationship with WLAJ for several years and launched WWMT's CW digital subchannel in 2006. A 10 p.m. newscast was added to the CW service in 2008. Freedom announced its exit from television in 2011 and agreed to sell its stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair began operating WWMT on December 1, 2011, and completed the acquisition in April 2012. Under Sinclair, the station received additional newsroom resources, extended its morning newscast to an early-morning start, restored weekend morning news, improved field equipment, and expanded the CW late newscast to an hour. Sinclair's proposed 2017 acquisition of Tribune Media raised regulatory issues because Tribune-owned WXMI was also a major station in the market. The transaction was terminated in 2018. WWMT's analog signal ended on June 12, 2009, as part of the United States digital television transition. Its post-transition digital signal operated on channel 8 while retaining virtual channel 3 branding. The station's CW affiliation ended on January 1, 2024, when the programming moved to WOTV 41.2. The former CW subchannel became the independent ARC West Michigan. WWMT continues to operate as a CBS affiliate with local news, weather, sports, and public-service coverage.

1. 2024CW affiliation moves to WOTV

   WWMT's former CW subchannel became the independent ARC West Michigan.

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2. 2012Sinclair ownership begins

   Sinclair completed its acquisition of Freedom's television stations, including WWMT.

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3. 2009Analog transmission ends

   The station ended analog broadcasting during the national digital television transition.

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4. 2006CW digital subchannel launches

   WWMT added a digital subchannel affiliated with The CW.

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5. 1998Freedom Communications acquisition

   Freedom Communications acquired WWMT from Granite.

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6. 1995Granite Broadcasting acquisition

   Granite Broadcasting agreed to acquire the station from Busse Broadcasting.

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7. 1989Morning news expands

   WWMT introduced a regular morning newscast.

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8. 1985Gillett acquisition and WWMT name adopted

   Gillett acquired the television station, and the WKZO-TV call sign changed to WWMT in December.

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9. 1961Transmitter moves near Gun Lake

   A new tower improved the station's coverage toward Grand Rapids and northern parts of the market.

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10. 1958Broadcast House opens

    The station moved into renovated studios on Maple Street in Kalamazoo.

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11. 1953Local news launches

    WKZO-TV aired its first local newscast, anchored by Hugh Harper.

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12. 1950WKZO-TV begins regular broadcasting

    The station began regular service on June 1 and joined CBS as a primary affiliate in July.

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13. 1948Construction permit application filed

    Fetzer Broadcasting Company applied to build a television station in Kalamazoo.

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A long-established West Michigan broadcast station combining CBS network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, and community information.

• WWMT CBS serviceNetwork television affiliate1950

  The station's primary television service carries CBS network programming alongside locally produced news, weather, sports, public-service content, and syndicated programming for viewers in West Michigan. The service retains the station's long-standing virtual channel 3 identity.

• ARC West MichiganDigital television subchannel2024

  An independent digital subchannel created after WWMT's CW affiliation moved to WOTV 41.2 in January 2024. It replaced the locally branded CW7 service and provides an additional programming outlet within WWMT's broadcast operation.

• WWMT Local NewsLocal news service1953

  WWMT's local news operation covers Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and other West Michigan communities through scheduled broadcasts, breaking-news reports, weather coverage, and digital publishing. The newsroom expanded substantially after ownership changes in the 1980s and again after Sinclair's acquisition.

• 2024Conversion of former CW subchannel to an independent serviceStrategy

  The CW affiliation moved to WOTV 41.2 at the beginning of 2024.

  What changed. WWMT rebranded the former CW digital subchannel as ARC West Michigan.

  Aftermath. The station retained an additional digital outlet but no longer carried The CW on that subchannel.

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• 2012Sinclair acquisitionM&A

  Freedom Communications announced that it would leave the television business.

  What changed. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Freedom's television stations, including WWMT.

  Aftermath. Sinclair expanded early-morning and weekend news coverage, upgraded equipment, and increased the CW subchannel's late-news duration.

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• 1998Sale to Freedom CommunicationsM&A

  Granite sought funding for another acquisition and elected to sell WWMT and WLAJ.

  What changed. Freedom Communications acquired the two stations.

  Aftermath. Freedom launched WWMT's CW digital subchannel in 2006 and continued selected services for WLAJ.

  reported combined acquisition price for WWMT and WLAJ. 170000000 USD (1998)

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• 1995Granite Broadcasting acquisitionM&A

  Busse Broadcasting sold WWMT during a period of consolidation among local television station groups.

  What changed. Granite Broadcasting acquired WWMT.

  Aftermath. Granite later coordinated certain operations with Lansing station WLAJ before selling both stations to Freedom Communications.

  reported acquisition price. 95000000 USD (1995)

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• 1985Sale to Gillett CommunicationsM&A

  John Fetzer decided to sell the television station after decades of ownership while retaining the related WKZO radio operation.

  What changed. Gillett acquired WKZO-TV and the station changed its call sign to WWMT.

  Aftermath. The new ownership invested in newsroom staffing, technology, and programming, helping the station become more competitive.

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• 2023Bomb threat at WWMT facilityControversy

  A person entered the station and claimed to have a bomb, leading to an evacuation and a police response. The suspect surrendered within several hours, while authorities secured the building because of a backpack left by the person.

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• 2024CW affiliation leaves WWMT subchannel

  The CW affiliation moved to WOTV 41.2, after which WWMT's former CW subchannel became an independent service branded ARC West Michigan.

  Product generation
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• 2011Sinclair takes over operation of WWMT

  Sinclair began operating WWMT after acquiring Freedom Communications' television stations; the transaction formally closed in 2012.

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• 2006WWMT launches a CW digital subchannel

  The station announced a new digital subchannel affiliated with The CW, later known locally as CW7.

  Product launch
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• 1985WWMT changes call sign from WKZO-TV

  Following the sale of the television station by John Fetzer, the station adopted the WWMT call sign while WKZO radio remained under separate ownership.

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1. WWMT
2. WWMT official website