WLBT 3 On Your Side history

Station manager Fred Beard editorialized on the air against the admission of James Meredith to the University of Mississippi in 1962, arguing that states should determine who should and should not be allowed to attend their schools.

In 1966, the court, in an opinion by Warren Burger, later to become Chief Justice of the United States, ruled that the public had the right to take part in FCC hearings in order to protect the public interest.

At a new hearing held in 1967, the FCC again ruled in favor of Lamar.

The UCC again appealed to the Appeals Court, which found Lamar's record to be beyond repair and ordered the FCC to revoke Lamar's license in 1969.

It has always been an NBC affiliate, given WJDX's affiliation with that network, though it shared ABC with WJTV until WAPT (channel 16) started broadcasting in 1970.

Lamar appealed, but lost in 1971.

In 1973, the FCC was asked to revoke WLBT's broadcast license because the station's largest shareholder, William Mounger, also served as a Jackson Academy Vice President.

In 1984, Civic Communications, one of the five groups that won the full license, bought out its partners and became sole owner of the station.

In 2000, Melton sold the station to Liberty Corporation.