WDHN Dothan

15476
ABC Channel 18 Dothan, Alabama

WDHN (ABC affiliate) owned by Nexstar Media Group is a station operating in Dothan and serves across Wiregrass Region of southeastern Alabama. WMBB and WZDX are the sisters of the channel launched on Aug 7, 1970. AL 52 in Webb serves as the transmitter site.

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Slogan: First in Local News

Sub-Channels: 18.1 ABC

18.2 Escape

18.3 Laff

18.4 Cozi TV

Website: www.dothanfirst.com

History

WDHN-TV first signed on air on Aug 7, 1970 as the second television station in the Dothan and used to air on UHF Ch 18. Dothan businessman Betts Slingluff, Jr. was the original owner alongside a group of local investors. Since its inception it has maintained itself as an ABC affiliate by rejecting NBC affiliation. The conventional wisdom would pick NBC, however, the move was contrary to that and even unusual in a two-station small market of Dothan. At that time NBC was the weakest network and was nowhere near NBC or CBS in terms of size and ratings. However, the geography at that time was a crucial factor for WDHN to opt ABC. Moreover, at that time none of the ABC affiliate would throw a Grade B signal to the Wiregrass. The move was calculated as Slingluff was true in its actions considering the very little local competition. Slingluff sold the WDHN to Hi Ho Television in 1979 after foreseeing the possible financial loss is future. Hi Ho then became the owner of Valdosta-based WVGA and Dothan-based WDHN which it released to Morris Multimedia in 1986. The suffix TV was dropped from the calls in 1998. Nexstar purchased the station in 2003.

In 2009, the channel closed its analog facility following the digital transition. Nexstar in 2016 purchased Media General allowing WDHN to join a number of its siblings in Alabama including WIAT, WRBL and WKRG; all three are affiliated with CBS.

Programming, News Operation and Rating

At present WDHN 2.5 hours of news on weekdays which start with Wake Up Wirgrass (replaced Top of the Morning with Charlie Platt) @6am before ending with WDHN News in the evening with 5, 6 and 10 pm bulletins. Apart from local and national News and Weather updates, the channel broadcasts Sports stories, lifestyle programming, contests and more trending stuff. It historically has been lagged behind WTVY in ratings mainly because of the lesser coverage area and also because of the competition that came from WSFA. On Dec 19, 2017, WDHN started to broadcast in HD.

Programs

 The Kids Are Alright  Yule Better Watch Out American Housewife
 Dr. Phil Law & Order  The Kids Are Alright
 Strahan & Sara Access​​  The Drew Carey Show
 Without a Trace  Look Who’s Not Talking  3rd Rock from the Sun
 Home Improvement  General Hospital  ABC World News Tonight with David Muir
 Night Court  Punk Chick The Doctors
 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?  The 700 Club  Boston Legal
 For Whom the Belch Tolls  Spin City  Water Tower
The View  Lincoln  Trick or Treat
Da Vinci’s Inquest  Forensic Files  Hot Bench

 

Personalities

Mandy McQueen Mike Gurspan Tonya Pruitt
Ben Stanfield Scott Roberts