WSTM-TV is a television station licensed to Syracuse, New York, United States, serving the Central New York region. It broadcasts as the primary NBC affiliate for the market and also carries MyNetworkTV on its second digital subchannel. The station is owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, which also provides shared services to Fox affiliate WSYT (channel 68) and MyNetworkTV/CW+ affiliate WNYS-TV (channel 43), the latter owned by Cunningham Broadcasting. WSTM-TV's studios are located on James Street in Syracuse, and its transmitter is located on Sentinel Heights in La Fayette, New York.
History
The station first signed on the air on September 15, 1950, as WSYR-TV, originally broadcasting on VHF channel 5. It was owned by the Newhouse Newspapers, alongside WSYR radio (570 AM and 94.5 FM, now WPHR-FM). WSYR-TV was the second television station to sign on in Syracuse, following WHEN-TV (now WTVH), and became the market's original NBC affiliate.
In 1962, WSYR-TV moved from VHF channel 5 to VHF channel 3 following a reallocation of channels in the Syracuse market by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Newhouse continued to own and operate the station until 1982, when it sold WSYR-TV to the A. H. Belo Corporation. At this time, the WSYR-TV call letters and the ABC affiliation were transferred to the former WIXT (channel 9), which then became the "new" WSYR-TV. The station on channel 3 adopted the new call letters WSTM-TV and retained its longtime NBC affiliation.
A. H. Belo owned WSTM-TV until 2000, when it was sold to Raycom Media. In 2010, Raycom Media sold the station to Allbritton Communications. In 2013, Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired WSTM-TV as part of its acquisition of Allbritton Communications' television stations.
Programming
WSTM-TV clears the entire NBC network schedule, including its daytime, primetime, and late-night programming. In addition to network programming, WSTM-TV produces local newscasts under the branding "Central New York's NewsChannel 3."
Since 2006, WSTM-DT2 has served as the MyNetworkTV affiliate for the Syracuse market, providing programming from the secondary network during primetime hours. Prior to this, MyNetworkTV programming was carried on WSYT.
Technical Information
WSTM-TV transmits its digital signal on UHF channel 24, using virtual channel 3. The station's main programming (NBC) is broadcast in 1080i high definition, while its subchannels are broadcast in standard definition.