WMDT
WMDT, virtual channel 47 (UHF digital), is an American television station licensed to Salisbury, Maryland, United States, that serves the Delmarva Peninsula region spanning parts of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.[1][2] The station is a primary affiliate of ABC (47.1) and secondarily carries The CW Plus (47.2), along with MeTV (47.3) and Ion Television (47.4) on digital subchannels, providing local news, weather, sports, and syndicated programming to its audience.[1][3] Founded as the brainchild of broadcasters Joseph and Marion Brechner, WMDT signed on the air on April 11, 1980, initially operating as a primary ABC affiliate with a secondary NBC affiliation before dropping the latter in 1985.[2] The station was acquired by Delmarva Broadcast Services in 1982 and remained under that ownership for over three decades, marking its first change in 2013 when it was sold to Marquee Broadcasting, Inc., a Maryland-based company owned by Brian and Patricia Lane, for $9 million.[2][4][5] Today, WMDT operates from studios at 202 West Main Street in Salisbury and maintains a sister low-power station, WGDV-LD (channel 32), which carries WeatherNation TV along with additional entertainment programming to extend coverage across the region via over-the-air, satellite, and cable distribution.[1] Under Marquee's ownership, WMDT has emphasized local journalism with the slogan "Because Local Matters™," producing newscasts that cover community events, regional issues, and public service initiatives across the Delmarva Peninsula.[1] The station has earned recognition for its contributions, including the 2004 "Service to America" award from the Radio Television Digital News Association, multiple Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism, and Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association Emmy Awards for its programming.[1] As one of the few privately held television stations in the United States, WMDT continues to stream its content online and supports local events through sponsorships and internships.[1]History
Origins and construction
The Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit to the MDV Television Company in May 1979 for channel 47, enabling the development of the second commercial television station in Salisbury, Maryland (the first UHF station in the market). The company selected a transmitter site in Wicomico County to optimize coverage across the Delmarva Peninsula, while planning studio facilities in downtown Salisbury to facilitate local production and operations. Construction efforts encountered significant delays stemming from funding constraints and engineering hurdles, including site approvals and technical specifications for the UHF broadcast setup, which pushed back the timeline for completion. WMDT finally signed on the air on April 11, 1980, as the market's primary ABC affiliate, supplemented by a secondary NBC affiliation to fill programming gaps until a dedicated NBC outlet emerged.[6]Early operations and challenges
WMDT signed on the air on April 11, 1980, as the first commercial television station in the Salisbury market since WBOC-TV's debut in 1953, operating as a primary affiliate of ABC with a secondary affiliation to NBC. The station's initial programming consisted primarily of network feeds from ABC, supplemented by secondary NBC content during available time slots, along with limited local inserts such as commercials and brief station identifications to serve the Delmarva Peninsula audience.[7] Local news production began modestly about two months after launch, reflecting the station's constrained resources in a small market dominated by WBOC-TV's established viewership.[8] From its inception, WMDT faced severe financial difficulties exacerbated by the small-market environment, where advertising revenue proved insufficient to cover operational costs. Construction delays during the pre-launch phase contributed to early funding shortfalls, while ongoing technical issues, including equipment malfunctions and transmission problems leading to poor picture quality, further hampered audience growth and advertiser interest.[8] By early 1981, these challenges culminated in rumors of insolvency, prompting original owners at MDV Television Company to seek additional investors and inject funds, though low ratings continued to limit ad sales in competition with WBOC-TV.[8] To stabilize operations, station management implemented cost-cutting measures, including reliance on syndicated network programming and minimal local content production beyond essential news updates and community announcements. These efforts, however, could not avert escalating debts, particularly unpaid loans from the First National Bank of Maryland used to finance the station's startup. On June 6, 1981, less than 15 months after sign-on, a Wicomico County Circuit Court placed WMDT into receivership, appointing local attorney Fulton P. Jeffers as receiver to oversee all business decisions while original owners retained day-to-day roles. This court action initiated a formal sale process amid the station's insolvency, marking a critical turning point in its precarious early years.[7]Brechner ownership period
In 1982, following a period of financial instability that led to receivership, WMDT was acquired by the Brechner Management Company through its subsidiary, Delmarva Broadcast Service, LLC, for $4 million.[9] This purchase, led by Joseph M. Brechner and his wife Marion, marked the family's return to broadcasting and aimed to stabilize operations for the station, which had launched as a primary ABC affiliate with secondary NBC programming in 1980.[2] Under the Brechners' oversight, the station transitioned to family management, with son Berl Brechner later assuming a key role in operations.[10] During the mid-1980s, the Brechner era saw significant expansions to broaden WMDT's reach across the Delmarva Peninsula. In 1987, the station launched a news bureau in Dover, Delaware, to enhance coverage of state capital events and northern Delaware markets. That same year, WMDT added low-power translator W27AJ in Dover to improve signal accessibility in the area, allowing broader distribution of its ABC and remaining NBC programming.[11] These developments reflected a strategic focus on regional growth, supported by the family's investment in infrastructure amid improving financial stability. Affiliation shifts further defined the period, culminating in 1992 when WMDT dropped its secondary NBC affiliation to become a full-time ABC outlet, aligning with evolving network priorities and local viewer preferences in the Salisbury market.[12] By the mid-2000s, digital broadcasting enabled subchannel innovations; in 2006, as part of The CW's national rollout following the merger of The WB and UPN, WMDT added the network on its DT2 subchannel through a long-term agreement.[13] This expansion included the introduction of local news programming on the subchannel, such as a 10 p.m. newscast tailored for CW viewers, enhancing the station's evening lineup and community engagement.[14] Throughout the 31-year Brechner tenure, these operational and programming evolutions contributed to sustained financial growth, transforming WMDT from a struggling startup into a cornerstone broadcaster for Maryland's Eastern Shore and southern Delaware.[15]Transition to Marquee Broadcasting
On August 8, 2013, Delmarva Broadcast Services, owned by the Brechner family, announced the sale of WMDT and its then-low-power repeater WEVD-LP to Marquee Broadcasting Inc. for $9 million, marking Marquee's entry into television ownership. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction, and the sale closed on October 1, 2013.[16] In 2016, Marquee launched a new low-power repeater, WGDV-LD (channel 32), following a swap that relinquished WEVD-LP, to better extend coverage across the region. Following the acquisition, Marquee invested heavily in modernizing the station, including substantial upgrades to its downtown Salisbury headquarters to improve operational efficiency.[17] In late 2014, WMDT received a $100,000 city grant to support further building enhancements, such as energy-efficient improvements and expanded studio space.[18] These initiatives were complemented by staff growth in news and production roles to bolster local content creation, alongside bolstering the station's online platforms for greater audience interaction and streaming capabilities.[19] Under Marquee's stewardship, WMDT expanded its digital offerings to diversify programming while maintaining its core ABC affiliation on the primary channel and The CW Plus on DT2. In May 2014, MeTV launched on subchannel DT3, providing classic television reruns to appeal to nostalgic viewers.[20] Ion Television followed on DT4 in 2018, adding syndicated dramas and entertainment to the lineup without altering the station's primary network commitments.[21] By 2025, no major affiliation changes had occurred, reflecting a steady focus on established networks. Marquee's ownership has remained stable since 2013, with no further sales or transfers reported. The company has emphasized community ties through 2025, supporting local events, hiring regional talent like a new news director and veteran anchors, and producing content centered on Delmarva Peninsula issues to foster viewer loyalty.[22][23]Corporate information
Ownership history summary
WMDT was granted a construction permit in 1979 by the FCC to MDV Television Company, which launched the station's operations on April 11, 1980, and managed it until 1982.[12] In 1982, Brechner Management Company, a family-owned entity led by Joseph and Marion Brechner, acquired the station through its subsidiary Delmarva Broadcast Service, retaining ownership for 31 years until 2013.[2][10][24] Marquee Broadcasting, Inc., a privately held company owned by Brian and Patricia Lane, purchased WMDT in 2013 for $9 million as its inaugural television property, with the FCC approving the license assignment on October 18, 2013.[4][25][26][5] The 2013 sale supported Marquee's expansion.[5] All ownership transitions were approved by the FCC, and given the small Salisbury market, no duopoly concerns arose.[27]Current facilities and operations
WMDT's primary studio facilities are situated at 202 Downtown Plaza in downtown Salisbury, Maryland, serving as the hub for news production, broadcasting, and administrative operations.[28] The transmitter site is located in rural Wicomico County, Maryland, northeast of Mardela Springs, enabling broad signal distribution across the Delmarva Peninsula. It broadcasts with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 246 kW on digital channel 29, supporting high-definition programming and multiple subchannels.[29] As of 2025, WMDT employs between 50 and 200 staff members across its departments, including production, news, sales, and technical roles. Key leadership includes General Manager Stephanie Willey, who oversees overall station operations, and News Director Joe Carmean, responsible for the newsroom's editorial direction and content strategy.[30][31] The station maintains 24/7 broadcasting operations, delivering a continuous schedule of network affiliates, local news, and syndicated content. Digital integration is facilitated through the 47 ABC mobile app and the wmdt.com website, allowing viewers to access live streams, on-demand videos, and interactive weather updates anytime.[32][33]Broadcast affiliations and programming
Network affiliations
WMDT has served as the primary ABC affiliate for the Salisbury, Maryland television market since its inception on April 11, 1980, delivering the network's full schedule of primetime, daytime, and sports programming to viewers across the Delmarva Peninsula.[34] Initially, the station operated with a secondary affiliation to NBC, airing select programs from that network alongside its ABC commitments until dropping the secondary role in 1992 to focus exclusively on ABC.[12] This shift left NBC coverage in the market to be imported via cable or satellite from nearby affiliates until the launch of WRDE-LD in 2014.[35] The Delmarva region lacks local CBS or Fox affiliates on WMDT, with those networks instead carried by competitor WBOC-TV (channel 16), which dominates the market for those services.[36] In addition to its main ABC feed, WMDT has carried The CW Plus as a secondary affiliation on digital subchannel 47.2 since 2006, providing the network's lineup of dramas, comedies, and WWE programming to complement its primary offerings.[34] Beyond network content, WMDT incorporates syndicated programming into its daytime and fringe schedules, featuring popular shows such as Family Feud and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune in its 2025 lineup to attract local audiences seeking non-network entertainment.[37]Digital subchannels
WMDT operates four digital subchannels using the ATSC 1.0 standard, providing a mix of network programming to viewers in the Delmarva Peninsula region.[29] The station has not yet implemented ATSC 3.0 broadcasting as of November 2025.[29] The main channel, 47.1, simulcasts ABC programming in 720p high definition, serving as WMDT's primary feed for network news, primetime shows, and local insertions.[29] Subchannel 47.2 carries The CW Plus affiliation in 720p, branded as Delmarva CW 3, which offers syndicated series, sports, and original content targeted at younger audiences; this subchannel traces its origins to a 2006 affiliation agreement following the merger of The WB and UPN.[29][13] On 47.3, MeTV broadcasts in 480i standard definition, featuring classic television reruns such as sitcoms and dramas from the 1960s through 1980s, and it launched on this subchannel on May 26, 2014, coinciding with MeTV's "Summer of Me" schedule.[29][20] The fourth subchannel, 47.4, airs Ion Television in 480i, delivering a lineup of off-network dramas, movies, and lifestyle programming, added to expand entertainment options for local viewers.[29]| Virtual Channel | Resolution | Affiliation | Branding/Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47.1 | 720p | ABC | Main channel for ABC network programming, including news and entertainment. |
| 47.2 | 720p | The CW Plus | Delmarva CW 3; syndicated shows, sports, and youth-oriented content. |
| 47.3 | 480i | MeTV | Classic TV reruns from mid-20th century series. |
| 47.4 | 480i | Ion | Dramatic series, films, and general entertainment. |