About WLBT 3
The Lamar Life Insurance Company, proprietors of radio station WJDX, established WJBT on December 19, 1953. It is Jackson's second-oldest television station, behind WJTV (channel 12), which began broadcasting in January 1953. Channel 3 is also the third-oldest television station in Mississippi (now-sister station WTOK-TV in Meridian went on the air three months earlier). The station was renamed WLBT (Lamar Broadcasting Television) a few weeks after its launch since the previous call letters sounded close to WJTV.It has always been an NBC affiliate, albeit it shared ABC with WJTV until 1970, when WAPT (channel 16) began airing. The station was also temporarily linked with the NTA Film Network in the late 1950s.