WDEM-CD — BrandWiki

WDEM-CD

callsign	WDEM-CD
location	Columbus, Ohio
country	United States
digital	24 (UHF)
virtual	17
affiliations	see
owner	Innovate Corp.
licensee	HC2 Station Group, Inc.
founded	January 8, 1986
airdate	August 31, 1987
former callsigns	W17AI (1986–1998) WDEM-LP (1998–2008) WDEM-CA (2008–2009)
former affiliations	Independent (via WWAT-TV, 1987–1992) HSN (1992–1998, 2007–February 2009) America's Store (1998–2007) Local programming (February–July 2009) Universal Sports (July 2009–2011) Silent (2011–2013) Telemundo (2013–2019) Azteca América (2019–2022) Estrella TV (2023–2024) Infomercials (2024)
former channel numbers	Analog: 17 (UHF, 1988–2009) Digital: 17 (UHF, 2009–2019)
erp	15 kW
haat	219.6 m
facility id	54414
class	CD
coordinates	39.97056°N, -83.02111°W
licensing authority	FCC

WDEM-CD (channel 17) is a low-power, Class A television station in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The station is owned by Innovate Corp. and mostly broadcasts subchannels featuring infomercials and diginets. Since December 2024, its primary channel has served as the Columbus affiliate for the Rock Entertainment Sports Network.

History

W17AI began broadcasting in 1987. It was owned by Regional Broadcasting Corporation, owned by Gary and Susan Clarke; beginning in 1988, it primarily served to rebroadcast WWAT-TV in Chillicothe. At the time, WWAT-TV had been removed from all three of the cable systems in the Columbus area.[1][2] This was a change from Clarke's original plan for programming W17AI after he purchased the permit from the LaMarca Group of New York City the year before; he had originally intended on programming oriented to the large campus audience at Ohio State University.[3]

WDEM-CD

History

Subchannels

References