WMDT

{{Infobox television station

| callsign = WMDT

| logo = WMDT 47 ABC logo.png

| logo_size = 180px

| logo_alt = A red rounded rectangle with the ABC network logo overlapping it in the lower right corner. In a blue rounded rectangle beneath, white letters W M D T.

| image = WMDT-DT2 2024.svg

| image_alt = The CW network logo in orange. Above it, the word Delmarva. To the right, a numeral 3. Beneath, the words "Digital 47.2".

| image_size = 150px

| branding = {{ubl|47 ABC|Delmarva CW 3 (on DT2)}}

| digital = 29 (UHF)

| virtual = 47

| translators =

| affiliations = {{ubl|47.1: ABC|47.2: CW+|for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}}}

| network =

| country = United States

| founded =

| airdate = {{start date and age|1980|4|11|p=y}}

| last_airdate =

| location = Salisbury, Maryland

| callsign_meaning = Maryland / Delaware Television{{efn|The owners had hoped to name the station WMDV, with a V for Virginia, but that call sign was already in use.{{r|Dail800330}}}}

| former_callsigns =

| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|Analog: 47 (UHF, 1980–2008)|Digital: 53 (UHF, 2000–2008), 47 (UHF, 2008–2020)}}

| owner = Marquee Broadcasting, Inc.

| licensee =

| sister_stations = WGDV-LD

| former_affiliations = NBC (secondary, 1980–1992)

| erp = 246 kW

| haat = {{convert|307|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| facility_id = 16455

| coordinates = {{coord|38|30|6.4|N|75|44|7.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}

| licensing_authority = FCC

| website = {{URL|https://www.wmdt.com/}}

}}

WMDT (channel 47) is a television station in Salisbury, Maryland, United States, affiliated with ABC and The CW Plus. It is the flagship television property of locally based Marquee Broadcasting, and has common ownership with low-power WeatherNation TV affiliate WGDV-LD (channel 32). The two stations share studios on West Main Street (mailing address is Downtown Plaza) in Salisbury; WMDT's transmitter is located in Wicomico County northeast of Mardela Springs.

WMDT was the second commercial station to serve the Delmarva Peninsula, signing on in April 1980. It struggled financially and was placed in court-appointed receivership less than 18 months after beginning broadcasting. From 1982 to 2013, it was owned by the Brechner family. Marquee Broadcasting acquired WMDT in 2013 as its first TV station property. In local news ratings, WMDT has long been a distant second-place station to WBOC-TV.

History

=Construction and early struggles=

In early 1978, the MDV Television Company petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to insert a second commercial television channel at Salisbury, then served only by primary CBS affiliate WBOC-TV (channel 16) and a Maryland Public Television repeater. In its application, MDV claimed that Delmarva was inadequately served by the Philadelphia and Baltimore stations and that WBOC-TV's local news coverage was also inadequate.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-new-tv-outlet-proposed-h/124137687/|date=April 5, 1978|page=11|first=Kenneth|last=Dalecki|title=New TV Outlet Proposed Here|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} The commission assigned the channel in July 1978, allowing potential owners to apply for a construction permit to build and operate the station.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-fcc-clears-way-for-new-t/124137706/|date=July 15, 1978|page=6|first=Kenneth B.|last=Dalecki|title=FCC Clears Way For New TV Station|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}}

Even though MDV Television received the permit in May, it spent part of the year fighting with local authorities in Wicomico County over the construction of a transmitting tower; some nearby landowners feared its construction would affect their property values.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-tower-snag-is-delaying-t/124137724/|date=May 8, 1979|page=2|title=Tower Snag Is Delaying Things: New TV Station Gets FCC Approval|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-tv-group-seeks-new-heari/124137731/|date=April 13, 1979|page=3|first=Glenn|last=Tolbert|title=TV Group Seeks New Hearing|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} Wicomico County approved construction of the tower in June.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-television-tower/124149153/|date=July 3, 1979|page=3|title=Television Tower|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} The station announced it had obtained ABC affiliation in July; this was in part because among its stockholders were William Sheehan and Walter Pfister, former president and director of special news events, respectively, at ABC.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-new-shore-tv-station-g/124149002/|date=July 18, 1979|page=B6|first=Bill|last=Carter|title=New Shore TV station gets ABC affiliation|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} WMDT set up in studio facilities that once housed a Rite Aid drug store and restaurant on Salisbury's Downtown Plaza.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-shore-will-soon-have-2-t/124137768/|date=December 23, 1979|page=D1|first=Kent|last=Messick|title=Shore Will Soon Have 2 Television Stations|newspaper=The Sunday Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-restaurant-is-to-be-clos/124137775/|date=January 10, 1980|page=10|title=Restaurant Is To Be Closed|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} Shortly before launch, it picked up a secondary affiliation with NBC.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-wmdt-tv-new-salisbury-s/59369135/|date=March 30, 1980|page=D1|first=Tom|last=Leonard|title=WMDT-TV: New Salisbury Station Will Soon Be On The Air|newspaper=The Sunday Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}}

WMDT began broadcasting on April 11, 1980, but it was another two months before the station aired local news programming.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-injunction-deals-lates/124149326/|date=June 12, 1981|page=C3|first=Mary|last=Corddry|title=Injunction deals latest of many blows to Shore TV station|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} The station struggled in its early years from technical issues, low ratings against WBOC-TV (the only station on Delmarva for 26 years{{r|Balt810612}}), and consistent rumors of financial trouble. In March 1981, MDV announced an infusion of new cash into the business.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-channel-47-battling-fina/124137829/|date=March 8, 1981|page=C13|title=Channel 47 Battling Financial Problems|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} President J. Paul Audet, who had previously been involved in the startup of TV stations in New Mexico and South Carolina,{{r|Balt790718}} noted that the station was three months late in getting on air, leaving it undercapitalized. In June, a receiver was appointed on a petition from the First National Bank of Maryland, which it owed $3 million plus interest.{{r|Balt810612}}

=Brechner ownership=

In 1982, a court approved the sale of WMDT to Mid-Florida Television, which owned a partial stake in WFTV in Orlando, Florida.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-court-oks-sale-of-channe/124149804/|date=February 2, 1982|page=3|first=Bill|last=Robinson|title=Court OKs Sale Of Channel 47 Station|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-channel-9-ownership/124150301/|date=July 2, 1981|page=2-C|first=Anne|last=Groer|title=Channel 9 ownership approved after 24 years|newspaper=Sentinel Star|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} The sale received an objection from the station's law firm, which claimed it was owed money,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-judge-denies-tv-47-suit/124149769/|date=June 20, 1982|page=A2|first=Paul|last=Bedard|title=Judge Denies TV-47 Suit Seeking $17,000|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} but it was finalized in July.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-sun-salisbury-tv-unit-sold/124150530/|date=July 9, 1982|page=C7|title=Salisbury TV unit sold|newspaper=The Evening Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} Joseph Brechner, the president of the company, died in 1990,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-brechner-founder-o/124150712/|date=February 27, 1990|pages=B-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-brechner/124150727/ B-4]|first=Charlie|last=Jean|title=Brechner, founder of Channel 9, dies|newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} followed by his wife Marion in 2011.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-marion-brechner/124150861/|date=January 9, 2011|page=B2|title=Marion Brechner|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}}

WMDT launched a bureau in Dover, Delaware, as well as translator W27AJ there, in 1987.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news-station-expands/124152436/|date=July 16, 1987|page=D2|title=Station expands|newspaper=The Morning News|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} The next year, the station debuted Newswatch 27, a newscast specifically for Dover and Kent County, produced from a studio in the city and only aired on the translator; the long-term goal was to have television ratings agencies assign Kent County into the Salisbury media market, thereby making it larger and increasing revenues.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news-dover-gets-its-own-tv-n/115500038/|date=July 11, 1988|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news-newscast/115500047/ B6]|first=Gary|last=Mullinax|title=Dover gets its own TV newscast: Station looks northward from Salisbury, Md., for new business|newspaper=The Morning News|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} The Dover translator remained with WMDT, later under the call sign WEVD-LD, until later owner Marquee Broadcasting swapped it for three low-power stations owned by Lowcountry 34 Media in 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/marquee-low-country-media-to-swap-lptvs/|date=April 3, 2020|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|title=Marquee, Low Country Media to Swap LPTVs}}

WMDT launched "WBD", a cable-only affiliate of The WB as part of The WB 100+ Station Group, in May 2000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-wb-on-the-air/124151238/|date=May 9, 2000|page=3|title=WB on the air|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} This service affiliated with The CW in 2006, when The WB and UPN merged,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-wmdt-to-add-noon-10-pm/124137869/|date=September 1, 2006|page=35|title=WMDT to add noon, 10 p.m. newscasts|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} and was broadcast as a subchannel of WMDT by 2008.{{r|Dail080922}} Upon the launch of The CW, it began carrying a midday and 10 p.m. newscast.{{r|Dail060901}}

=Marquee Broadcasting ownership=

Brechner Management Company announced the sale of WMDT to Marquee Broadcasting on August 8, 2013.{{cite news|title=Marquee Broadcasting To Acquire WMDT-TV|url=http://www.wmdt.com/story/23086121/mar|access-date=August 9, 2013|newspaper=WMDT 47 News|date=August 8, 2013|archive-date=August 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811004905/http://www.wmdt.com/story/23086121/mar|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Michael|title=WMDT in Salisbury, Md. Sells for $9 Million|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/494989-WMDT_in_Salisbury_Md_Sells_for_9_Million.php|access-date=August 9, 2013|newspaper=Broadcasting & Cable|date=August 8, 2013|archive-date=September 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909051349/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/494989-WMDT_in_Salisbury_Md_Sells_for_9_Million.php|url-status=live}} It was the first broadcast property for the company, owned by Brookeville residents Patricia and Brian Lane, who had sought to buy a TV station for five years.{{Cite news|title=WMDT station sold for $9 million|work=The Daily Times|id={{ProQuest|1418711576}}|date=August 8, 2013}}

=Notable former on-air staff=

Bonnie Bernstein, later with ESPN and CBS Sports{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-bernstein-is-cbs-bound/124166238/|date=June 19, 1998|page=C5|title=Bernstein is CBS-bound as reporter|newspaper=Asbury Park Press|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}}
Greg Fishel, later with WRAL-TV{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-fishels-leap-of-f/124166339/|date=August 2, 2020|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-fishel/124166295/ 4A], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-fishel/124166313/ 5A]|first=Brooke|last=Cain|title=Fishel's leap of faith' leads him away from his North Carolina home|newspaper=The News and Observer|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}}
Gregg Jarrett, now with Fox News Channel{{Cite news|url=https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2014/05/23/fox-anchor-pills/9479499/|work=The Daily Times|agency=USA Today|title=Pills possible factor in Fox News anchor's arrest|first=Doug|last=Stanglin|date=May 23, 2014|access-date=May 6, 2023|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410131841/https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2014/05/23/fox-anchor-pills/9479499/|url-status=live}}
Mike Seidel, now with The Weather Channel{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-a-forecast-for-success/124166165/|date=July 14, 1995|pages=11, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-seidel-high-pressure-fo/124166197/ 12]|first=George|last=Roache|title=A forecast for success: Salisbury's Mike Seidel turns childhood hobby into a career with The Weather Channel|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}}

Technical information

=Subchannels=

The station's signal is multiplexed:

class="wikitable" \|+Subchannels of WMDT{{Cite web\|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WMDT#station\|website=RabbitEars\|title=TV Query for WMDT\|access-date=February 5, 2014\|archive-date=February 22, 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222000230/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WMDT#station\|url-status=live}} ! scope = "col" \| Channel ! scope = "col" \| Res. ! scope = "col" \| Aspect ! scope = "col" \| Short name ! scope = "col" \| Programming
scope = "row" \| 47.1 \| rowspan=2\| 720p \|\| rowspan=4\| 16:9 \|\| ABC \|\| ABC
scope = "row" \| 47.2 \| CW \|\| The CW Plus
scope = "row" \| 47.3 \| rowspan=2\| 480i \|\| MeTV \|\| MeTV
scope = "row" \| 47.4 \| Ion \|\| Ion Television

class="wikitable"

|+Subchannels of WMDT{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WMDT#station|website=RabbitEars|title=TV Query for WMDT|access-date=February 5, 2014|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222000230/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WMDT#station|url-status=live}}

! scope = "col" | Channel

! scope = "col" | Res.

! scope = "col" | Aspect

! scope = "col" | Short name

! scope = "col" | Programming

scope = "row" | 47.1

| rowspan=2| 720p || rowspan=4| 16:9 || ABC || ABC

scope = "row" | 47.2

| CW || The CW Plus

scope = "row" | 47.3

| rowspan=2| 480i || MeTV || MeTV

scope = "row" | 47.4

| Ion || Ion Television

=Analog-to-digital conversion=

WMDT discontinued regular programming on its analog signal on September 22, 2008.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-wmdt-digital-switch-is-o/124137882/|date=September 22, 2008|page=A5|first=Kathleen|last=McLain|title=WMDT digital switch is on, starting today|newspaper=The Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 6, 2023}} This enabled work to conclude on relocating WMDT's digital signal from its pre-transition channel 53 to channel 47.{{r|Dail080922}}{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} WMDT relocated its signal from channel 47 to channel 29 on March 13, 2020, as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction.{{Cite web|url=http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|title=FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table|format=CSV|website=Federal Communications Commission|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160749/http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|url-status=live}}