Joseph04

Low-powered stations do not significantly affect station ownership, which is why WNBD was established. The market still allows for programming from outside CW affiliates, and I can still access KATV and WLBT on cable in Greenville. Regarding WXVT, although the Harkers purchased the station in 2013, WABG and WXVT operated separately for the first three years. When the Harkers left the business and Northwest took over, they decided to merge the stations to reduce costs. The decision to take WXVT off the air and eventually move it to a different channel was driven by the need to lower operating expenses and retain CBS. Operating Channel 15 was very costly, which is why they decided to sell it.

As a longtime resident of Greenville and the Mississippi Delta, I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment over the frequent changes in ownership and the glaring lack of investment in our local television stations. Cox and even Imagicomm, as current owners, have not lived up to their responsibilities. It’s disheartening to think that an area struggling with economic challenges—one of the poorest in the nation—is served by station owners who seem indifferent to the needs of the community. The dedicated viewers and hardworking staff at these stations unquestionably deserve far better than what they currently receive. This mounting situation underscores the urgent need for a collaborative effort to rejuvenate our local media landscape. Our station, WABG, has the potential to shine; it simply requires modernization and owners who genuinely care about nurturing this small television market. Historically, the Delta's stations have lagged, often equipped with outdated technology that places them years behind other television markets across the state. If WABG could attain even half the production quality demonstrated by WLBT or KTVE, our community would feel far more satisfied and engaged with the local news coverage. It genuinely pains me to hear fellow community members express their disillusionment, many stating they no longer tune into our local news broadcasts and instead turn to sources from Jackson or Little Rock. The disconnect is palpable, and we must take steps to rekindle pride in our local news.