WETM-TV

WETM-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Elmira, New York, and serving viewers across the Central Twin Tiers region. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 18 and is affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest U.S. television station groups, and operates from studios on East Water Street in downtown Elmira. Its transmitter is located on Hawley Hill in nearby Big Flats, a site associated with channel 18 broadcasting since the 1950s. The station's lineage begins with WECT, an earlier channel 18 operation that broadcast for less than a year in 1953 and 1954. After that license was surrendered, the channel was reassigned for a new station backed by the Newhouse organization, then owner of Syracuse NBC affiliate WSYR-TV. Broadcasting began on September 15, 1956, under the callsign WSYE-TV. Initially, much of the programming came from Syracuse, although the Elmira operation also produced some local material. The station was an NBC affiliate from its launch, establishing the network relationship that remains central to its identity. In 1980, Times Mirror acquired Newhouse's television properties and changed the station's callsign from WSYE-TV to WETM-TV. Times Mirror gradually developed the outlet as a more independent full-service station rather than simply a satellite of its Syracuse sister station. Smith Broadcasting purchased WETM-TV in 1986 and moved its studios and sales operations to a more central Elmira location in 1988. During the 1990s, the station expanded its regional role, including a cable-based Binghamton service and later arrangements involving low-power station WBGH. Ownership changed again during the 2000s. Smith Broadcasting entered a management agreement with The Ackerley Group in 2000; Clear Channel Communications inherited that arrangement after acquiring Ackerley. Clear Channel purchased WETM-TV outright in 2004. Clear Channel later sold its television group to Providence Equity Partners, which operated the stations under the Newport Television name. Newport sold WETM-TV to Nexstar Broadcasting Group in a transaction completed in December 2012. Nexstar Media Group subsequently became the station's corporate parent following its corporate evolution and consolidation of the Nexstar television portfolio. WETM-TV's core business is local television broadcasting. Its programming mix includes NBC network content, syndicated shows, local news, weather, sports, public-service material, and digital multicast programming. The station has historically maintained a substantial local news operation and has been a strong competitor in the Elmira market. Its news schedule has included morning updates, midday coverage, evening broadcasts, a late newscast, and a 10 p.m. program carried on its second channel. The station also supplies or has supplied news content to related outlets in the broader Twin Tiers region. Its second digital channel has undergone several transformations. It developed from the former W30AA translator operation associated with PBS station WSKG-TV, later becoming the low-power UPN outlet WTTX-LP. After the UPN-WB merger created The CW, the channel continued in changing local and multicast roles. It subsequently carried the WETM2 identity, local high-school sports, Elmira Jackals hockey, New York Yankees baseball, and later Antenna TV. According to the cited station history, the second channel was scheduled to become a CW Plus owned-and-operated station on September 1, 2025, while Antenna TV moved to a different subchannel. WETM-TV has also been part of the transition from analog to digital broadcasting. It began transmitting a high-definition digital signal in 2001 and ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, the federally mandated transition date for full-power U.S. television stations. Local newscasts moved to high-definition production in July 2014. The station's public-facing brand is closely associated with its NBC affiliation, its local news department, the MyTwinTiers digital platform, and its role as a regional information source for communities in and around Elmira.

Channel 18 in Elmira was first used by WECT, a short-lived station operated by El-Cor Television, a joint venture involving local newspapers. WECT broadcast from September 30, 1953, until May 27, 1954, after which its license was surrendered. A new effort to reactivate the channel emerged in the mid-1950s. A proposal from the owners of Syracuse NBC affiliate WSYR-TV ultimately prevailed, and the Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit on April 4, 1956. Broadcasting began on September 15 of that year under the callsign WSYE-TV. The station used the Hawley Hill transmission site and initially functioned partly as a rebroadcaster of WSYR-TV, while also originating selected local programming. Its network affiliation was NBC. Newhouse sold its television division to Times Mirror in 1980. The new owner changed the callsign to WETM-TV and gradually reduced the station's operational dependence on Syracuse. Smith Broadcasting acquired WETM-TV in 1986 and relocated its studios and sales operations to a more central Elmira facility in 1988. In the 1990s, Smith expanded the station's regional reach through a cable-only Binghamton version of WETM-TV and through its acquisition of low-power station WBGH-LP, which operated for a time as a semi-satellite. WETM-TV established an internet presence in 1998. Smith entered a management agreement with The Ackerley Group in 2000. Clear Channel Communications assumed the agreement after purchasing Ackerley in 2001 and acquired WETM-TV outright in 2004. Clear Channel sold its television stations group to Providence Equity Partners in 2007, with WETM-TV subsequently operating under Newport Television. Newport announced the sale of twelve stations, including WETM-TV, to Nexstar Broadcasting Group in 2012; the transaction closed on December 3 of that year. The station's local news operation has long been an important part of its market identity. It has produced local morning inserts, midday and evening newscasts, a late broadcast, and a 10 p.m. program associated with its second channel. In 2009, financial reductions at Newport led WIVT and WBGH in Binghamton to consolidate portions of their news operations with WETM-TV. The Binghamton outlets initially simulcast WETM programming, later adding a more locally focused taped newscast with Binghamton-based reporting and production elements. WETM upgraded its local-news production to high definition in 2014. The station's multicast history includes the former WSKG translator W30AA and UPN low-power station WTTX-LP. Following the 2006 creation of The CW, changing market arrangements and the eventual shutdown of WTTX-LP resulted in programming being carried on WETM-TV's second digital subchannel. Branded WETM2, the service carried local sports and later Antenna TV. The cited station history states that WETM2 was scheduled to become a CW Plus owned-and-operated station on September 1, 2025, with Antenna TV moving to channel 18.3. WETM-TV began digital high-definition transmission in 2001. It ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009, and moved its digital signal to UHF channel 18. The station continues to operate as an NBC affiliate serving the Elmira-Corning market, with local studios in downtown Elmira and transmission facilities at Hawley Hill in Big Flats.

• 2025

  CW Plus transition reported

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The second subchannel is reported as scheduled to become a CW Plus owned-and-operated station, with Antenna TV moving to channel 18.3.

• 2020

  Antenna TV programming begins

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The second digital channel begins carrying Antenna TV programming.

• 2014

  Local newscasts move to HD

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WETM-TV upgrades local-news production to high definition.

• 2012

  Nexstar acquisition closes

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group completes its purchase of WETM-TV from Newport Television on December 3.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WETM-TV shuts down its analog signal during the U.S. full-power television digital transition.

• 2004

  Clear Channel acquires station

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Clear Channel purchases WETM-TV outright after previously managing it through an inherited agreement.

• 2001

  Digital high-definition signal begins

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WETM-TV launches a digital signal and becomes the first Elmira station described as broadcasting a high-definition feed.

• 1998

  Internet presence established

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WETM-TV becomes the first outlet in the Elmira market described in the source history as having an internet presence.

• 1986

  Smith Broadcasting ownership

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Smith Broadcasting purchases WETM-TV.

• 1980

  Calls become WETM-TV

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Times Mirror acquires the station through its purchase of the Newhouse television division and changes the callsign to WETM-TV.

• 1956

  WSYE-TV launches

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  A new NBC-affiliated station begins broadcasting on September 15 as WSYE-TV.

• 1954

  WECT license surrendered

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The short-lived WECT operation ends and its license is surrendered.

• 1953

  First channel 18 operation begins

  [1]WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WECT begins broadcasting on channel 18 in Elmira, but operates for less than a year.

A locally focused NBC affiliate and regional news provider for Elmira and the Central Twin Tiers, combining network programming with extensive local news, weather, sports, and community coverage.

• Broadcast television station · 1956

  WETM-TV channel 18

  The station's primary service is an NBC-affiliated broadcast channel serving Elmira, Corning, and surrounding communities in the Central Twin Tiers. It combines NBC network programming with local news, weather, sports, syndicated programs, public-service content, and advertising.

• Local television news

  WETM 18 News

  WETM-TV's local-news operation provides reporting, weather, sports, and community coverage for the Elmira-area market. Its schedule has included morning updates, midday programming, evening broadcasts, weekend news, and a late newscast.

• Digital multicast channel · 2004

  WETM2

  WETM2 is the station's second digital service, developed from earlier translator and low-power operations. It has carried local high-school sports, Elmira Jackals hockey, Yankees baseball, syndicated programming, and Antenna TV; the cited history reports a planned CW Plus transition in 2025.

• Digital news platform · 1998

  MyTwinTiers

  MyTwinTiers is WETM-TV's web-facing news and information brand, supporting the station's regional reporting, weather, video, and community-facing coverage.

• 2025

  Convert second subchannel to CW Plus serviceProduct launch

  Background

  The second digital channel had carried WETM2 and Antenna TV programming after earlier UPN and translator arrangements ended.

  Action taken

  The channel was reported as scheduled to become a CW Plus owned-and-operated station, with Antenna TV moved to channel 18.3.

  Aftermath

  The change would expand Nexstar's CW distribution in the market while preserving Antenna TV through another multicast position.

  Source

• 2014

  Upgrade local news production to high definitionGeneration change

  Background

  Television production standards and competing local stations were moving toward HD workflows.

  Action taken

  WETM-TV converted its local newscast production to high definition on July 15, 2014.

  Aftermath

  The station's local broadcasts gained a modern HD production format for viewers in the Elmira market.

  Source

• 2009

  Consolidate regional news productionStrategy

  Background

  Newport Television implemented broad reductions affecting its stations, including WIVT and WBGH in Binghamton.

  Action taken

  Those stations initially simulcast WETM-TV newscasts while retaining local facilities and engineering staff, then added a more Binghamton-focused taped program.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement shifted over time, with local news and sports elements returning to Binghamton production while WETM continued as a regional news resource.

  Source

• 1980

  Develop WETM-TV as an independent local stationStrategy

  Background

  After Times Mirror acquired the station and changed its callsign, the operation was no longer treated simply as a Syracuse rebroadcaster.

  Action taken

  Times Mirror gradually separated WETM-TV's operations from WSYR-TV and strengthened its full-service Elmira identity.

  Aftermath

  WETM-TV evolved into a standalone local NBC affiliate with its own news, sales, and programming presence.

  Source

1. 1WETM-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WETM-TV official websitemytwintiers.com