Meridian, Mississippi's 6 PM News Backdrop: A Love Letter to the Queen City

The WTOK-TV (ABC) 6 PM newscast in Meridian, Mississippi, uses a custom-designed studio backdrop that showcases the city's identity—blending historic architecture, cultural landmarks, and natural surroundings into a visual "postcard" of the Queen City.

Key Visual Elements

• Historic Union Station (1906): Restored Mission Revival depot — symbol of Meridian's rail heritage (Mobile & Ohio, Southern, Alabama & Vicksburg lines).
• Threefoot Building (1929): 16-story Art Deco skyscraper — tallest in Meridian, emblem of 1920s cotton/oil boom. Under renovation for hotel/mixed-use.
• MSU Riley Center (1889/2006): Grand Opera House renovated into performing arts center — 950 seats, national acts, community anchor.
• Tombigbee River: Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway — 234-mile canal linking to Gulf, commercial/recreational artery.
• Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge: 48,000 acres, 15 mi south — red-cockaded woodpecker, alligators, migratory waterfowl, boardwalks.

Why This Matters

Local TV backdrops are civic branding. They tell viewers: This is who we are, this is what we value, this is home. For Meridian—a city of ~35,000 that's reinventing itself post-industrial—the backdrop asserts: history, culture, nature, ambition.

Technical Note

Modern backdrops are typically LED video walls (replacing printed duratrans) allowing day/night transitions, weather integration, and seasonal updates. WTOK (Gray Television) upgraded to LED in ~2019.