WAAY-TV
WAAY-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Huntsville and northern Alabama.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WAAY-TV is a local broadcast television station serving Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, and surrounding communities in northern Alabama. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 31 and is affiliated with the ABC television network. Its studios are located on Memorial Parkway in Huntsville, while its transmitter is situated on Monte Sano Boulevard atop Monte Sano Mountain. WAAY-TV operates alongside NBC affiliate WAFF and low-power Telemundo affiliate WTHV-LD under Gray Media ownership. The station began broadcasting on August 1, 1959, as WAFG-TV. It was the second television station serving the Huntsville area and was notable as Alabama's first primary ABC affiliate. In 1963, the station was acquired by Smith Broadcasting, whose holdings included WAAY radio. Following the acquisition, the television station adopted the WAAY-TV call sign. Smith Broadcasting had previously held a construction permit for a different UHF station, but chose to acquire the operating WAFG facility instead of building a new station. WAAY-TV changed its network affiliation from ABC to NBC in 1968. It returned to ABC on December 11, 1977, citing ABC's stronger ratings at the time and the absence of a competing ABC affiliate in nearby Florence. Although NBC regained substantial national strength during the 1980s, WAAY-TV remained a competitive local station and occasionally aired selected NBC programs that its former network affiliate preempted. It has operated as an essentially exclusive ABC affiliate since the late 1970s. Technology and severe-weather coverage have been important parts of the station's identity. WAAY-TV adopted weather radar technology early, using radar during the 1974 tornado outbreak to follow storms in real time while many other local outlets relied primarily on telephone reports. The station later developed the StormForce 31 weather brand and operated its own Doppler radar. It also launched HiWAAY Information Services in 1995, expanding an internal data network into an independent regional internet service provider. The station remained locally owned by the Smith family until 1999, when it was sold to GOCOM Broadcasting, later associated with Piedmont Communications. Calkins Media acquired WAAY-TV in 2007. After Calkins exited broadcasting, the station was sold in 2017 to Heartland Media through USA Television MidAmerica Holdings, a joint venture with MSouth Equity Partners. Allen Media Broadcasting announced an acquisition of WAAY-TV in 2019, and the station subsequently became part of Allen Media Group's television portfolio. Gray Media announced an agreement to acquire WAAY-TV in 2025, with the reported transaction intended to place it alongside WAFF in the Huntsville market. WAAY-TV's output includes local news, weather, investigative and community reporting, ABC network programming, syndicated content, and digital video. Its news operation has included early-morning, midday, afternoon, evening, and late-night broadcasts, as well as news produced for other local stations. The station introduced high-definition news production in 2011 and has maintained bureaus in Decatur and Florence. Its digital and multicast initiatives have included specialized websites, a regional weather service, Ion Television programming, and coverage of the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
History
WAAY-TV's history begins on August 1, 1959, when it signed on as WAFG-TV in Huntsville, Alabama. It was the second television station in the Huntsville region, following WMSL-TV, now WAFF. Because WMSL was still licensed to Decatur at the time, WAFG-TV is regarded as the longest-serving station licensed directly to Huntsville. The new station operated as a primary ABC affiliate, an unusual arrangement for a relatively small two-station market. In 1963, Smith Broadcasting acquired the station and changed its call sign to WAAY-TV, aligning it with the company's WAAY radio property. Smith had held a permit for a new UHF station on channel 25 but decided that purchasing the operating WAFG facility was preferable to constructing a new outlet. Channel 25 was later assigned to WHIQ, an Alabama Public Television station. Under Smith ownership, WAAY-TV became part of the established local broadcast landscape and remained associated with the Smith family's regional media interests for several decades. On September 2, 1968, WAAY-TV switched from ABC to NBC. Nine years later, on December 11, 1977, it returned to ABC. The station cited ABC's improved network performance and the lack of a second ABC outlet in nearby Florence. During the 1980s and 1990s, WAAY-TV generally ranked first or second in local ratings despite ABC's weaker national position relative to NBC. During the 1980s it also aired selected NBC programs, including Late Night with David Letterman and Friday Night Videos, when WAFF preempted them. WAAY-TV subsequently settled into its long-term role as Huntsville's ABC affiliate. The station developed a reputation for weather technology. It adopted radar equipment in the early 1970s and used the system during the 1974 tornado outbreak to track storms in real time. In 1995, WAAY-TV expanded its internal computer network into HiWAAY Information Services, an internet service provider that continued operating independently after surviving strong competition in the Huntsville area. A major physical disaster occurred on September 4, 2003, when a 1,000-foot tower leased by the station collapsed, killing three people. The station continued to maintain its main facilities on Monte Sano Boulevard, even as other Huntsville television outlets moved production and office operations closer to the city. The collapse was one of the most significant incidents associated with the station's transmission infrastructure. Ownership changed in 1999 when Smith Broadcasting sold WAAY-TV to GOCOM Broadcasting, later known as Piedmont Communications. In 2006, Piedmont agreed to sell the station to Calkins Media, and the transaction closed on February 1, 2007. Calkins, which also owned television stations in Florida and newspapers in Pennsylvania, made WAAY-TV its only broadcast property outside Florida. Calkins later announced its exit from broadcasting. After an initially reported plan involving Raycom Media and American Spirit Media, Calkins instead sold WAAY-TV to Heartland Media through USA Television MidAmerica Holdings, a joint venture with MSouth Equity Partners; the sale closed on April 30, 2017. Allen Media Broadcasting announced in 2019 that it would acquire eleven Heartland Media stations, including WAAY-TV and WTVA. The station subsequently operated within Allen Media Group's television portfolio. In 2025, Allen Media Group disclosed that it was reviewing strategic options amid financial pressure and debt. It later announced a proposed sale of twelve stations, including WAAY-TV, to Gray Media. The reported transaction was intended to place WAAY-TV alongside Gray-owned WAFF in the Huntsville market. The supplied reference states that the sale was completed on May 1, 2026; because that date is beyond the current reference point, the final ownership status should be verified against current regulatory and company records. WAAY-TV's news operation expanded over time. It introduced the WAAY 31 FirstNews identity in 2010, became the first Huntsville-market station to air a 4:30 a.m. local newscast, and offered weekday 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. broadcasts. It produced a prime-time newscast for WHDF in the early 2000s and began producing a nightly 9 p.m. newscast for WZDX in 2010 under a news-sharing agreement. Its news bureaus have included locations in Decatur and Florence. The station converted its news output to high definition in December 2011. It also launched specialized digital sites covering Alabama's space, military, and technology sectors, although those sites were later discontinued. Its StormForce 31 WeatherNation multicast service operated from 2014 to 2017, after which Ion Television replaced it on digital channel 31.2. The station has also carried home games of the Rocket City Trash Pandas on a later multicast channel.
- 2025
Gray Media acquisition announced
[1]Gray Media announces an agreement to acquire WAAY-TV from Allen Media Group.
- 2017
Heartland Media acquisition closes
[1]Heartland Media acquires the station through USA Television MidAmerica Holdings.
- 2011
News broadcasts move to HD
[1]WAAY-TV begins producing local news in high definition.
- 2007
Calkins Media ownership begins
[1]Calkins Media completes its acquisition of WAAY-TV.
- 2003
Monte Sano tower collapse
[1]A tower leased by the station collapses, killing three people.
- 1995
HiWAAY Information Services launches
[1]The station expands its internal data network into a regional internet service provider.
- 1977
Return to ABC
[1]The station returns to ABC and remains associated with the network thereafter.
- 1974
Real-time tornado tracking
[1]WAAY-TV uses early weather radar technology during a major tornado outbreak to track storms in real time.
- 1968
Switch to NBC
[1]WAAY-TV changes its network affiliation from ABC to NBC.
- 1963
WAAY-TV name adopted
[1]Smith Broadcasting acquires WAFG-TV and changes its call sign to WAAY-TV.
Products and positioning
A locally focused ABC television station emphasizing northern Alabama news, weather, severe-storm information, community coverage, and regional sports.
Local news · 2010
WAAY 31 FirstNews
WAAY-TV's branded local news operation, covering Huntsville and surrounding northern Alabama communities through early-morning, midday, afternoon, evening, and late-night broadcasts. The operation has included bureaus in Decatur and Florence, weather and traffic reporting, regional public-affairs coverage, and news production for partner stations.
Weather service
StormForce 31
WAAY-TV's severe-weather and forecasting brand, supported by station-operated radar known as Live Storm Force 31 Doppler Max. The brand developed from the station's early adoption of radar technology and emphasizes fast warnings, storm tracking, and local forecasts for northern Alabama.
Multicast weather channel · 2014
StormForce 31 WeatherNation
A 24-hour regional weather multicast service launched by WAAY-TV in partnership with WeatherNation TV. It combined national and regional weather programming with local forecasts from the WAAY weather team and was carried on digital subchannel 31.2 before ending in 2017.
Broadcast television · 1959
ABC channel 31 service
The station's principal over-the-air service, carrying ABC network programming alongside WAAY-TV's local news, weather, public-affairs, syndicated, and community programming for the Huntsville market.
Sports broadcasting · 2021
Rocket City Trash Pandas broadcasts
WAAY-TV has carried home games of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Double-A baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, on a multicast channel since 2021.
Brand decisions
2025
Centralized weather operation proposed and reversedStrategyBackground
Allen Media Group announced plans to reduce local meteorologist and weather-forecaster positions across its stations amid broader financial pressure.
Action taken
The proposed local staffing cuts at WAAY-TV were to be replaced by a weather hub produced by The Weather Channel.
Aftermath
Management reversed the plan within a week after negative reaction from viewers and advertisers.
2025
Sale to Gray Media announcedM&ABackground
Allen Media Group announced that it was reviewing strategic options amid financial difficulties and rising debt.
Action taken
Gray Media announced an agreement to acquire WAAY-TV as part of a transaction involving twelve Allen Media stations.
Aftermath
The transaction was intended to create a Huntsville-market duopoly with Gray-owned WAFF. The supplied reference reports completion on May 1, 2026, which requires verification against current records.
Reported transaction value for twelve stations. $171 million (Announcement reported August 8, 2025)
2017
Ion Television replaces WeatherNationProduct launchBackground
WAAY-TV's weather-focused multicast service had occupied digital subchannel 31.2 since 2014.
Action taken
Ion Television replaced StormForce 31 WeatherNation on subchannel 31.2.
Aftermath
The change ended the station's dedicated WeatherNation multicast service.
2014
Launch of specialized regional websitesProduct launchBackground
Northern Alabama has major space, military, and technology industries that were not fully covered by a general local-news site.
Action taken
WAAY-TV launched SpaceAlabama.com, RedstoneAlabama.com, and TechAlabama.com.
Aftermath
The sites were later discontinued and were described as defunct by 2021.
2010
Launch of WZDX-produced 9 p.m. newsOtherBackground
WAAY-TV entered a news-sharing arrangement with Fox affiliate WZDX.
Action taken
WAAY-TV began producing a nightly 9 p.m. newscast for WZDX.
Aftermath
The arrangement extended WAAY-TV's local news production beyond its own channel.
1977
Return to ABCStrategyBackground
The station cited ABC's stronger national ratings at the time and the absence of a duplicate ABC affiliate in Florence.
Action taken
WAAY-TV returned to ABC on December 11, 1977.
Aftermath
ABC became WAAY-TV's long-term affiliation, with the station continuing to clear most or all of the network's programming.
1968
Change network affiliation to NBCStrategyBackground
WAAY-TV was operating in a small two-station market and chose to change its primary network affiliation after nearly a decade with ABC.
Action taken
The station switched from ABC to NBC on September 2, 1968.
Aftermath
The NBC affiliation lasted until 1977, after which WAAY-TV returned to ABC.
Recent events
- 2025
Allen Media Group announces planned weather staffing reductions[1]
Leadership change · Other
Allen Media Group announces plans to replace some local meteorology positions with a centralized weather operation, including at WAAY-TV, but reverses the decision within a week after reaction from viewers and advertisers.
- 2025
Gray Media announces acquisition of WAAY-TV[1]
M&A
Gray Media announces an agreement to acquire WAAY-TV and other Allen Media stations, a transaction intended to create a Huntsville-market television duopoly with WAFF.
- 2017
Heartland Media acquires WAAY-TV[1]
M&A
Heartland Media completes its acquisition of WAAY-TV through USA Television MidAmerica Holdings.
- 2011
WAAY-TV moves news production to high definition[1]
Product generation
The station begins broadcasting its local news programming in high definition, including news produced for WZDX.
- 2007
Calkins Media completes acquisition of WAAY-TV[1]
M&A
Calkins Media completes its purchase of the station from Piedmont Broadcasting.
- 2003
Broadcasting tower collapse kills three people[1]
Other
A 1,000-foot broadcasting tower leased by WAAY-TV collapses on Monte Sano Mountain, killing three people.
- 1977
WAAY-TV returns to ABC affiliation[1]
Other
After nine years as an NBC affiliate, the station returns to ABC, where it remains affiliated.
- 1963
Station adopts the WAAY-TV call sign[1]
M&A
Smith Broadcasting acquires WAFG-TV and changes its call sign to WAAY-TV.
- 1959
WAAY-TV begins broadcasting as WAFG-TV[1]
Other
The station signs on in Huntsville as WAFG-TV, becoming the second television outlet in the region and a primary ABC affiliate.
Sources2 sources
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