Action News 5
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This is the official page for Action News 5, the NBC affiliate in Memphis, Tennessee! Hate speech will also not be tolerated.
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Our Story
The history of the WMC5 in Memphis begins with the birth of WMC Radio. WMC Radio, "Down in Dixie," went on the air Jan. 20, 1923 as a department of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. The studio/transmitter and tower were on the top floor of the old Commercial Appeal building when it was located at 2nd Street and Court Avenue -- overlooking Court Square. Power then was 500 watts. The licensee for the new station was Commercial Publishing Company.
In 1930, a transmitter building and tower were constructed on Highway 70 (The Bristol Highway) near Highway 64. The tower is gone now, but the art-deco transmitter building remains as a boat dealer's headquarters.
In September 1931, new studios were dedicated at Hotel Gayoso downtown. As part of the opening day festivities, Milton Berle (later to become early TV's biggest star), was master of ceremonies for a remote broadcast from The Orpheum.