WBBJ-DT3

WBBJ-DT3 is a digital television subchannel associated with WBBJ-TV, the Jackson, Tennessee television station historically known for its ABC affiliation. The subchannel was created to restore CBS programming to the Jackson television market after a long absence. It began operating as the area's CBS affiliate on January 1, 2012, giving local viewers access to CBS network programming through WBBJ's broadcast facilities rather than relying primarily on signals from Memphis-area station WREG-TV. The subchannel operates within WBBJ-TV's broader broadcast operation. WBBJ-TV maintains studios on Muse Street in Jackson and a transmitter on Potts Chapel Road in unincorporated eastern Madison County. WBBJ-DT3's programming identity is therefore closely connected to the main WBBJ brand, while its network role is distinct: WBBJ's primary channel carries ABC programming, and DT3 carries CBS. The subchannel also carries locally produced news in time periods designed for its CBS schedule, including weekday noon news and separate weekday evening broadcasts. From its launch in 2012 through September 2021, WBBJ-DT3 combined CBS programming with selected MeTV programming. MeTV was shown during certain weekday afternoon and weekend overnight periods, making the subchannel a dual CBS/MeTV service for part of its history. In September 2021, MeTV programming moved to WBBJ-DT4, allowing DT4 to carry the MeTV schedule on a full-time basis and leaving DT3 focused on CBS programming and local content. The channel's significance is primarily regional rather than national. It provides network television, local journalism, weather information, and syndicated or locally scheduled programming to viewers in and around Jackson and West Tennessee. Its CBS affiliation also gives WBBJ-TV a two-network presence in the market: ABC on the main channel and CBS on DT3. This arrangement is reflected in the station's news presentation, including CBS-specific newscasts and local broadcasts that are not simply identical to the main channel's schedule. WBBJ-DT3 is not an independently incorporated television station or separately listed company. It is a branded broadcast service delivered through WBBJ-TV's digital multiplex. Ownership and corporate control therefore follow the parent station. The supplied reference identifies Bahakel Communications as the longtime owner of WBBJ-TV and reports an announced sale of the station to Gray Media in December 2025, with completion reported for February 13, 2026. Because the subchannel's ownership follows the station, that transaction would place WBBJ-DT3 within Gray Media's station portfolio if the reported completion remains authoritative. The channel's present operating status and ownership should be checked against current regulatory and station records.

WBBJ-DT3 is part of the digital broadcast operation of WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tennessee. The parent station began broadcasting in 1955 as WDXI-TV, Jackson's first television station, and changed its call letters to WBBJ-TV in 1966 after acquisition by Cy Bahakel. WBBJ-TV switched from CBS to ABC when the new call letters were adopted, leaving the Jackson market without a locally based CBS affiliate for several decades. During that period, CBS programming was available primarily through WREC-TV, later WREG-TV, in Memphis. The digital subchannel that became WBBJ-DT3 initially served a different technical and informational purpose. Before receiving a network affiliation, it carried a continuous live feed of a National Weather Service Doppler radar, accompanied by NOAA Weather Radio audio. This service used WBBJ's digital capacity to provide localized weather information to viewers. On January 1, 2012, WBBJ-DT3 became the Jackson area's CBS affiliate. The launch reintroduced CBS programming to the market through WBBJ's facilities and created a complementary relationship between the station's services: WBBJ-TV's main channel remained affiliated with ABC, while DT3 delivered CBS. The arrangement also enabled viewers to receive national CBS entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming locally over the air and through systems carrying the WBBJ signal. For much of its first decade as a CBS outlet, DT3 also carried selected MeTV programming. From 2012 until September 2021, MeTV occupied particular weekday afternoon and weekend overnight periods on the subchannel, while CBS programming remained the principal network service. This dual use ended when WBBJ launched or reassigned a fourth digital subchannel, WBBJ-DT4, for a full MeTV schedule. The change simplified DT3's programming identity and gave MeTV a dedicated home. WBBJ-DT3 also functions as a local news outlet. Its schedule includes local news at noon on weekdays and additional weekday evening broadcasts at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Because CBS Evening News airs at 6 p.m. Central Time, the channel's schedule differs from the main WBBJ service and from many conventional local-news lineups. Some programming is produced through simulcasts or shared resources with WBBJ-TV, while other broadcasts occupy time slots specifically associated with the CBS subchannel. The subchannel's history is tied to improvements and changes in the parent station's news operation. WBBJ introduced updated graphics, music, branding, and a weather set in 2007, and unveiled a new newsroom-backed news set in January 2013. The later set used the Circle 7 mark without the ABC logo, reflecting WBBJ's operation of both ABC and CBS services. These changes supported a broader station presentation in which DT3 could maintain a distinct CBS role while sharing facilities and journalistic resources with the main channel. WBBJ-DT3 is a subchannel brand rather than an independently owned broadcast license. Its corporate identity, facilities, personnel, and regulatory status derive from WBBJ-TV. The supplied reference describes Bahakel Communications as the longtime owner and reports a sale to Gray Media announced in December 2025 and completed in February 2026. That reported transfer would make DT3 part of Gray Media's Tennessee and regional station holdings, although current ownership should be verified against authoritative broadcast records.

• 2021

  MeTV moves to WBBJ-DT4

  [1]WBBJ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  In September, MeTV programming moves from selected periods on DT3 to a dedicated fourth subchannel, leaving DT3 centered on CBS and local programming.

• 2013

  WBBJ introduces a new news set

  [1]WBBJ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The parent station debuts a newsroom-centered set on January 23. The presentation uses the Circle 7 identity without an ABC logo, reflecting the station's ABC and CBS services.

• 2012

  WBBJ-DT3 becomes a CBS affiliate

  [1]WBBJ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  On January 1, WBBJ-DT3 begins carrying CBS programming and restores a locally available CBS affiliate to the Jackson market.

• 2009

  Parent station completes analog shutdown

  [1]WBBJ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WBBJ-TV ends analog broadcasting on VHF channel 7 on June 12 as part of the federally mandated United States digital television transition, enabling continued reliance on digital multiplex services.

• 1966

  Parent station adopts the WBBJ call letters

  [1]WBBJ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  After Cy Bahakel acquires the station, WDXI-TV changes its call letters to WBBJ-TV on December 7 and shifts its primary network relationship from CBS to ABC.

• 1955

  WBBJ-TV predecessor begins broadcasting

  [1]WBBJ-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WDXI-TV signs on in Jackson on March 6 as the first television station in the city. The station is the broadcast operation from which WBBJ-DT3 later develops.

A local CBS broadcast service operated as the third digital subchannel of WBBJ-TV, complementing the station's primary ABC service and providing network, local news, weather, and community programming to West Tennessee.

• Broadcast television network affiliation · 2012

  CBS network service

  The core offering of WBBJ-DT3 is its local broadcast carriage of CBS programming. The service began on January 1, 2012, restoring CBS network availability through a Jackson-based television operation. It includes the network's regularly scheduled programming and special events, subject to local scheduling and station obligations.

• Broadcast news · 2012

  Local news and weather

  WBBJ-DT3 carries local news through programming produced within the WBBJ-TV operation. The cited schedule includes a weekday noon newscast and weekday evening broadcasts at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The service also benefits from WBBJ's broader weather and newsroom resources.

• Classic television programming · 2012

  MeTV-selected programming

  From the DT3 launch until September 2021, the subchannel carried selected MeTV programming during weekday afternoon and weekend overnight periods alongside CBS. MeTV subsequently moved to WBBJ-DT4, which became the dedicated full-schedule outlet.

• 2025

  Reported sale of the parent station to Gray MediaM&A

  Background

  WBBJ-DT3 operates as a subchannel of WBBJ-TV, so a transfer of the parent station would also affect the subchannel's ownership structure.

  Action taken

  The supplied reference reports that Gray Media agreed to acquire WBBJ-TV and related physical broadcast assets.

  Aftermath

  The reference reports completion on February 13, 2026, which would place WBBJ-DT3 under Gray Media as part of the WBBJ-TV operation.

  Reported transaction value. $8.25 million (Announced December 16, 2025; reported completed February 13, 2026)

  Source

• 2021

  Separation of CBS and MeTV servicesStrategy

  Background

  DT3 had combined CBS with selected MeTV programming since 2012.

  Action taken

  WBBJ moved MeTV to WBBJ-DT4 in September and used the new subchannel for the full MeTV schedule.

  Aftermath

  DT3 obtained a clearer CBS-focused identity, while MeTV received a dedicated digital outlet.

  Source

• 2012

  Launch of local CBS serviceProduct launch

  Background

  Jackson had lacked a locally based CBS affiliate since WBBJ-TV changed from CBS to ABC in 1966, with CBS programming largely supplied from Memphis.

  Action taken

  WBBJ-TV assigned CBS programming to its third digital subchannel, WBBJ-DT3, beginning January 1.

  Aftermath

  The market regained a local CBS service, while WBBJ-TV retained ABC on its primary channel.

  Source

1. 1WBBJ-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WBBJ-TV official websitewbbjtv.com