The FCC selected Holt-Robinson in early 1982 for the channel 40 licence and obtained the NBC affiliation for the Tallahassee market. The company planned a January 30 launch date for the station to coinicide with NBC's broadcast of Super Bowl XVII (due to the delays regaiding channel 40's launch it was ultimately carried on NBC's exising Florida affiliates via cable in that area). However, the plan was dashed during construction of the station's tower. The station finally made its debut on April 21, 1983 using an temporary antenna. Previously cable providers relied on either WALB (channel 10) from Albany or WMBB (channel 7, now WJHG-TV) from Panama City for NBC programming.
1986–1996[]
In August of 1991, Paramount Domestic Television sued Holt-Robinson for broadcasting Cheers after having the rights revoked for nonpayment. Due to this, Holt-Robinson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In 1993, Holt-Robinson was placed onto recievership. In 1994, Soundview Media Investments planned to purchase channel 40 and WHYY-AM-FM in Montogmery. After Soundview's bid failed to close, Guy Gannett Communications purchased channel 40 in 1996.
1Owned by Tennessee Broadcasting and operated by Sinclair under an outsourcing agreement. 2Nominally owned by Cunningham Broadcasting and operated by Sinclair under an LMA. However, trusts belonging to members of Sinclair's founding Smith family control almost all of Cunningham's stock. 3Operated by Nexstar Media Group under an LMA. 4Owned by Second Generation of Iowa, Ltd. and operated by Sinclair under a LMA. 5Owned by Manhan Media and managed by Sinclair. 6Owned by Howard Stirk Holdings, operated by Sinclair under an LMA. 7Owned by Mercury Broadcasting Company and operated by Sinclair. 8Owned by Deerfield Media and operated by Sinclair under an LMA. 9Owned by Roberts Media, but operated by Sinclair. 10Owned by Mitts Telecasting and operated by Sinclair. 11Owned by GOCOM Media and operated by Sinclair. 12Owned by Waitt Broadcasting, but operated by Sinclair under an SSA. 13Owned by Granite Broadcasting Corporation and operated by Sinclair through a JSA and SSA. 14Owned by New Age Media and operated by Sinclair under an MSA. 15Owned by MPS Media, but operated by New Age Media under an LMA. 16Owned by Diamond Sports Group, a joint venture of Sinclair and Entertainment Studios. 17Co-owned with Yankee Global Enterprises, The Blackstone Group, Amazon, RedBird Capital and Mubadala Investment Company. 18Co-owned with Chicago Cubs. 19Owned by Sinclair and operated by Jukin Media. 20Owned by Palm Television, L.P. and operated by Cunningham Broadcasting under an LMA.
