WMDT initiated broadcast operations in the Salisbury area on April 11, 1980. It was owned by the MDV Television Company. It was a primary ABC station with a secondary NBC affiliation. It was the brainchild of the late J. Paul Audet was a television pioneer who spent some of his early years in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Charleston, South Carolina markets. With his late son, James R. Audet, equity and debt financing of approximately $3,500,000 was raised to construct and operate the station. In its early years of operation, WMDT won AP and UPI awards for its then-innovative ENG efforts. Brechner Management Company, through its Delmarva Broadcast Service subsidiary, bought the station from MDV Television Company in 1982. WMDT launches translator station W27AJ in 1987.
Logo for translator station W27AJ
1988–1997
In 1992, the station became a sole ABC affiliate carrying that network's programming as well as a mix of syndicated shows; this left the Salisbury region without an NBC affiliate until 2014, when WRDE-LD affiliated with that network. For the 22 years that followed, cable and satellite systems in the region aired NBC programs via the network's stations in Baltimore (WMAR-TV until January 1995, then WBAL-TV), Philadelphia (KYW-TV until September 1995, then network-owned WCAU), Hagerstown (WHAG-TV, which is now WDVM-TV, an independent station ), or Norfolk (WAVY-TV), depending on the location.
1990 ID
Combined "47" logo with callsign, city of license, and ABC and NBC peacock logo
Featuring logo for translator station W27AJ
Logo for translator station W27AJ
1997–2006
SVG NEEDED
Cable-only The WB 100+ affiliation, as "WBD" (2000–2001)
Cable-only The WB 100+ affiliation, as "WBD" (2004–2006)
Notes Stations are arranged alphabetically by state and territory, and based on the station's city of license or Designated Market Area. +Station carries CW programming on a digital subchannel, via The CW Plus. +1Local CW Plus affiliate operates as cable-only channel. 1Local CW affiliate carries only sports programming.
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