13WMAZ.com Our History

Here's a look at our rich history:

1922 WMAZ radio signs on. The radio station begins as a Mercer University physics class project. When the school applies for its call letters it chooses the letters "MAZ" to follow the government assigned "W". Together the letters stand for "Watch Mercer Attain Zenith".

1935 Wilton Cobb, E.K. Cargill, George Rankin, Jr. and Wallace Miller form the Southeastern Broadcasting Company and purchase WMAZ-AM.

1947 Southeastern Broadcasting Company applies for and receives an FM frequency at 99.1 on the dial. In 1947, the company is located in the Bankers Health and Life Insurance building in downtown Macon.

1952 Southeastern Broadcasting Company applies for a television frequency on Channel 7. The application is not approved.

1953 A new application for Channel 13 is approved. The transmitter is placed on U.S. Highway 129 east of Macon, also known as the Cochran Short Route.
13 WMAZ signs on and begins broadcasting Central Georgia's first VHF (very high frequency) signal on Sunday, September 27, 1953 at 2:30 p.m. Wilton Cobb officially signs on the station with the words "This is WMAZ-TV, your Macon-Warner Robins station on Channel 13." In 1953, Wilton Cobb is president and 23% owner of Southeastern Broadcasting Company. He regularly anchors news reports, which are Central Georgia's first local television newscasts.
Television is a new adventure, and everything airs live. To read commercials, a news anchor simply stops in the middle of the newscast and makes product endorsements while sitting at the anchor desk.
Some fear signing on as Channel 13 is unlucky, but station owners decide to capitalize on it. TeeVee the black cat becomes the station's trademark.
Uncle Ned and the Hayloft Jamboree make the transition from radio to television and become one of the most popular programs on 13 WMAZ. They did a noon or afternoon program every day for an hour and a night time program once a week.

1957 Del Ward brings "Date with Del" to television.

1958 Most watched programs included: Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, Little Rascals, Playhouse 90, Edge of Night, Lone Ranger and December Bride.

1963 13 WMAZ is purchased by the company that would later become Mulitmedia, Inc.

1967 13 WMAZ becomes the first television station in Central Georgia to broadcast in color.

1974 In December, 13 WMAZ's offices move from the Southern Trust Building on Cherry Street to our current location at 1314 Gray Highway in Macon.

1976 13 WMAZ improves the speed of news delivery with the area's first electronic news gathering cameras.

1982 Don McGouirk is named General Manager.

1983 13 WMAZ introduces the line "Straight from the Heart", and the first version of the "Straight from the Heart" song is recorded.

1995 On November 30th Gannett Co. Inc., the current owner of the station, becomes the owner of 13 WMAZ.

1997 The station makes a major investment in a Doppler Radar to bring Central Georgia the life-saving advantages of live weather information. 13 WMAZ Live Doppler Radar remains the area's only live Doppler Radar today.

2002 On August 22nd at 10:10 a.m., 13 WMAZ begins broadcasting Central Georgia's first digital television signal.
Frank Malloy celebrates 20 years at 13WMAZ.

2003 13WMAZ Celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

2004 In April 2004 13WMAZ introduces Central Georgians to multi-casting. The station provides high definition coverage of the Masters on WMAZ-DT, 13.1, while simultaneously providing its regularly scheduled programming on WMAZ, channel 13.

>> Learn more about Digital Television

2005 March 17, 2005, 13WMAZ showcases the future of multi-casting as the station offers Central Georgians every game of the NCAA Basketball Tournament via digital television. The multi-cast is also made available on COX Digital Cable.
May 27, 2005, President, General Manager Don McGouirk announces his retirement effective December 31, 2005. Dodie Cantrell, formerly Vice President/News Director, is promoted to Vice President, General Manager of 13WMAZ.
June 13, 2005, The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation honors 13WMAZ with the prestigious Service to Children Award for the station’s Junior Journalist program.
September 2005, 13WMAZ offers its first podcast. The first podcast includes your weather forecast, a look at the big news of the day and what's happening in the world of entertainment.
November 20, 2005, It Starts With The Heart Featuring Mr. Food becomes the first locally produced high definition television program to air in Central Georgia.
December 2005, 13wmaz.com hits a milestone with nearly 1,000,000 page views in a 24-hour period during severe storms that rip through the area.

2006 January 1, 2006 Dodie Cantrell is named 13WMAZ President, General Manager

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1922	WMAZ radio signs on. The radio station begins as a Mercer University physics class project. When the school applies for its call letters it chooses the letters "MAZ" to follow the government assigned "W". Together the letters stand for "Watch Mercer Attain Zenith".
1935	Wilton Cobb, E.K. Cargill, George Rankin, Jr. and Wallace Miller form the Southeastern Broadcasting Company and purchase WMAZ-AM.
1947	Southeastern Broadcasting Company applies for and receives an FM frequency at 99.1 on the dial. In 1947, the company is located in the Bankers Health and Life Insurance building in downtown Macon.
1952	Southeastern Broadcasting Company applies for a television frequency on Channel 7. The application is not approved.
1953	A new application for Channel 13 is approved. The transmitter is placed on U.S. Highway 129 east of Macon, also known as the Cochran Short Route. 13 WMAZ signs on and begins broadcasting Central Georgia's first VHF (very high frequency) signal on Sunday, September 27, 1953 at 2:30 p.m. Wilton Cobb officially signs on the station with the words "This is WMAZ-TV, your Macon-Warner Robins station on Channel 13." In 1953, Wilton Cobb is president and 23% owner of Southeastern Broadcasting Company. He regularly anchors news reports, which are Central Georgia's first local television newscasts. Television is a new adventure, and everything airs live. To read commercials, a news anchor simply stops in the middle of the newscast and makes product endorsements while sitting at the anchor desk. Some fear signing on as Channel 13 is unlucky, but station owners decide to capitalize on it. TeeVee the black cat becomes the station's trademark. Uncle Ned and the Hayloft Jamboree make the transition from radio to television and become one of the most popular programs on 13 WMAZ. They did a noon or afternoon program every day for an hour and a night time program once a week.
1957	Del Ward brings "Date with Del" to television.
1958	Most watched programs included: Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, Little Rascals, Playhouse 90, Edge of Night, Lone Ranger and December Bride.
1963	13 WMAZ is purchased by the company that would later become Mulitmedia, Inc.
1967	13 WMAZ becomes the first television station in Central Georgia to broadcast in color.
1974	In December, 13 WMAZ's offices move from the Southern Trust Building on Cherry Street to our current location at 1314 Gray Highway in Macon.
1976	13 WMAZ improves the speed of news delivery with the area's first electronic news gathering cameras.
1982	Don McGouirk is named General Manager.
1983	13 WMAZ introduces the line "Straight from the Heart", and the first version of the "Straight from the Heart" song is recorded.
1995	On November 30th Gannett Co. Inc., the current owner of the station, becomes the owner of 13 WMAZ.
1997	The station makes a major investment in a Doppler Radar to bring Central Georgia the life-saving advantages of live weather information. 13 WMAZ Live Doppler Radar remains the area's only live Doppler Radar today.
2002	On August 22nd at 10:10 a.m., 13 WMAZ begins broadcasting Central Georgia's first digital television signal. Frank Malloy celebrates 20 years at 13WMAZ.
2003	13WMAZ Celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
2004	In April 2004 13WMAZ introduces Central Georgians to multi-casting. The station provides high definition coverage of the Masters on WMAZ-DT, 13.1, while simultaneously providing its regularly scheduled programming on WMAZ, channel 13. >> Learn more about Digital Television
2005	March 17, 2005, 13WMAZ showcases the future of multi-casting as the station offers Central Georgians every game of the NCAA Basketball Tournament via digital television. The multi-cast is also made available on COX Digital Cable. May 27, 2005, President, General Manager Don McGouirk announces his retirement effective December 31, 2005. Dodie Cantrell, formerly Vice President/News Director, is promoted to Vice President, General Manager of 13WMAZ. June 13, 2005, The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation honors 13WMAZ with the prestigious Service to Children Award for the station’s Junior Journalist program. September 2005, 13WMAZ offers its first podcast. The first podcast includes your weather forecast, a look at the big news of the day and what's happening in the world of entertainment. November 20, 2005, It Starts With The Heart Featuring Mr. Food becomes the first locally produced high definition television program to air in Central Georgia. December 2005, 13wmaz.com hits a milestone with nearly 1,000,000 page views in a 24-hour period during severe storms that rip through the area.
2006	January 1, 2006 Dodie Cantrell is named 13WMAZ President, General Manager