21 WFMJ has been a family owned business for over 50 years. WFMJ-TV first went on the air on March 8, 1953 on Channel 73. On August 7, 1954, WFMJ changed its channel position to 21 - our current channel position. In the early days, much of WFMJ's programming was local and done live. Some of the early programs included Quiz A Catholic, 5 O'clock Showtime, Kitchen Corner, Cartoon Showtime Sportlight and Hi-Fi Rumpus Room.

21 WFMJ remains the most powerful television station in the Youngstown television market with 3.7 million watts of radiated power. We serve Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio and Mercer and Lawrence counties in western Pennsylvania. 21 WFMJ is affiliated with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and is carried on more than 50 local cable systems. We maintain our studios and offices in downtown Youngstown (the only station to do so).

21 WFMJ has been a local broadcast pioneer with several Youngstown "firsts:"

  • 1st station to do a LIVE remote.
  • 1st station to broadcast in stereo.
  • 1st station to offer on screen time and temperature.
  • 1st station to have a presence on the World Wide Web.
  • 1st station to have a national network television program broadcast live from the Valley ("The Today Show" with Willard Scott from the Canfield Fair).
  • 1st station to offer a sports ticker during local news.

Today, 21 WFMJ broadcast 24 hours a day Monday through Friday and produces more than 19 hours of local news each week.

21 WFMJ is Our Valley's Only Local TV!