Originally signed on the air on December 1, 1953 as WJDM-TV, an independent station and later a primary NBC affiliate and secondary CBS and ABC affiliates on VHF channel 7. It was owned by local businessman J. D. Manley. It became known by many people as "Wait Just a Darn Minute" (a play on its call letters) because it would frequently go off the air with technical problems. Mel Wheeler purchased the station in 1957.
WJHG-TV[]
1960–1964[]
In 1960, James H. Gray, Sr., the founder of Gray Communications (now Gray Television) bought the station and changed the call letters to the current WJHG-TV after his initials. It was the second television station in Gray's portfolio, after company flagship WALB-TV in Albany, Georgia.
1964–1970[]
SVG NEEDED
1967–1972[]
1972–1974[]
On August 1, 1972, channel 7, along with then-sister station KTVE in El Dorado, Arkansas switched its primary affiliation to ABC, leaving the area without a primary NBC affiliate until WDTB (now WMBB) began a year later as the NBC affiliate.
1974–1975[]
1975–1982[]
In the 1970s, the "Circle 7" was added to this station. It is sort of a similar design to the original G. Dean Smith "Cricle 7" design.
Slide from February 1976.
Slightly different Circle 7 seen in ads by itself.
Slide from 1978.
1982–1993[]
Two versions of this Circle 7 emblem were used in tandem, the first becoming less common around the late 1980s in favor of the bolder version.
1982–1988[]
In 1982, WMBB and WJHG switched networks; WJHG returned to NBC.
Sign from this era, displayed until 2010.
ID slide (May 1982)
News slide (1982)
ID slide (September 1983)
ID slide (September 1984)
ID slide (September 1984)
ID slide (September 1984)
ID slide (December 1985)
ID slide (December 1985)
ID slide (December 1985)
"TV 7 Live" variant, used from 1986 to 1993
Variant with skinnier Circle 7 used in IDs until 1993.