WDHN
WDHN is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Dothan and the Wiregrass region of southeastern Alabama.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
WDHN is a television station serving Dothan, Alabama, and the surrounding Wiregrass region. Broadcasting on virtual and digital channel 18, the station is affiliated with ABC and is owned by Nexstar Media Group. Its studios and transmission facilities are located along Alabama State Route 52 in Webb, near Dothan. The station began broadcasting on August 7, 1970, becoming the Dothan area's second television station and its first UHF outlet. It was established by Dothan businessman Betts Slingluff Jr. together with other local investors. Before WDHN launched, ABC programming in southeastern Alabama was carried by WTVY, the market's established CBS affiliate, generally on a secondary or delayed basis. Although ABC was then the smallest of the major American broadcast networks, local geography influenced WDHN's affiliation decision. NBC signals from WSFA in Montgomery and WJHG-TV in Panama City already reached parts of the market, while no primary ABC station offered comparable coverage of the Wiregrass area. WDHN faced difficult economics during its early years. The launch was delayed by nearly three months because a strike at RCA postponed delivery of the station's broadcast antenna. Much of the staff had already been hired, so the delay created substantial pre-broadcast expenses. Once on the air, the station contended with the limitations of UHF broadcasting, a relatively weak analog signal, low network compensation, and competition from WTVY's stronger position. WJHG-TV's temporary move from NBC to ABC in 1972 also reduced WDHN's exclusivity in parts of the region. Slingluff's ownership group sold the station to Hi Ho Television in 1979; Hi Ho later sold it, along with WVGA in Valdosta, Georgia, to Morris Multimedia in 1986. Nexstar acquired WDHN from Morris in 2003. The station completed the United States digital television transition in 2009 by ending analog transmission and operating digitally. Its digital signal, transmitted at substantially greater effective power than its former analog service, reduced some of the coverage disadvantage associated with its earlier UHF operation. WDHN became part of the larger Nexstar station portfolio after Nexstar's acquisition of Media General, announced in 2016. WDHN's principal public-facing services are local news, weather, emergency information, and ABC network programming. Its local news schedule has included the weekday morning program Wake Up Wiregrass, a late-morning broadcast, and evening newscasts at 5, 6, and 10 p.m. The station has also produced news for WDFX-TV, a Fox affiliate serving the region, although that arrangement ended in 2025. WDHN introduced high-definition local news production in 2017, expanded its morning program in 2021, added an 11 a.m. newscast that same year, and launched weekend evening newscasts later in 2021. Its role is primarily regional rather than national: it combines network television with locally produced reporting, weather coverage, and community information for viewers in southeastern Alabama and adjacent areas.
History
WDHN began broadcasting on August 7, 1970, in Dothan, Alabama. It was the area's second television station and its first UHF outlet, operating on channel 18. The station was founded by Dothan businessman Betts Slingluff Jr. and a group of local investors. Its launch was delayed by almost three months when a strike at RCA postponed delivery of the broadcast antenna. Since employees had already been hired, the delay caused significant expenses before the station had begun generating broadcast revenue. The station selected ABC as its network affiliation at a time when ABC generally ranked behind CBS and NBC in audience strength. The decision reflected the geography of the Dothan market. NBC programming was already available from stations in Montgomery and Panama City, while southeastern Alabama lacked a primary ABC affiliate with a strong local signal. WDHN therefore filled a network-availability gap even though it entered a small, two-station market with limited economic scale. WDHN's early years were challenging. UHF stations historically faced reception limitations, and the station's analog signal was relatively modest for a major-network affiliate. It also received less network compensation than stronger affiliates and competed against WTVY, the area's established station, which had previously carried ABC programs on a secondary or delayed basis. When WJHG-TV changed its primary affiliation from NBC to ABC in 1972, WDHN temporarily lost ABC exclusivity across portions of the Wiregrass region. WJHG later returned to NBC in 1982. In 1979, Slingluff's ownership group sold WDHN to Hi Ho Television, which also owned WVGA in Valdosta, Georgia. Hi Ho sold both stations to Morris Multimedia in 1986. Nexstar Broadcasting acquired WDHN from Morris in 2003. The station later became part of the broader Nexstar Media Group structure following Nexstar's acquisition of Media General, a transaction announced in 2016. WDHN ended analog broadcasting during the nationwide digital transition in 2009. Its digital transmission operated at a higher effective power than its former analog signal, improving the practical impact of its over-the-air coverage. Cable and satellite distribution had already reduced some of the disadvantages associated with its analog signal, and digital broadcasting further strengthened the station's ability to reach the regional audience. Local news has remained central to WDHN's identity. The station produces weekday morning, late-morning, and evening broadcasts under the WDHN News and Wake Up Wiregrass brands. On December 19, 2017, it introduced a new set and began producing local news in high definition. In 2020, WDHN began producing a 9 p.m. newscast for WDFX-TV, replacing a previous arrangement in which WSFA supplied the program. WDHN expanded its morning news to two hours in February 2021, added an hour-long 11 a.m. broadcast later that month, and launched weekend evening newscasts in September 2021. The WDFX production ended in June 2025. As an ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar, WDHN combines network entertainment and news with locally produced reporting, weather, emergency alerts, advertising, and digital content. Its primary service area is Dothan and the Wiregrass region, with coverage extending into parts of neighboring Georgia and Florida.
- 2021
Local news expansion
[1]The station expands its morning program, adds an 11 a.m. newscast, and launches weekend evening broadcasts.
- 2017
High-definition local news
[1]WDHN debuts a new studio set and begins broadcasting local news in high definition.
- 2009
Digital-only broadcasting
[1]WDHN shuts down its analog transmitter and continues broadcasting digitally.
- 2003
Nexstar acquisition
[1]Nexstar purchases WDHN from Morris Multimedia.
- 1986
Morris Multimedia acquisition
[1]Morris Multimedia acquires WDHN and WVGA from Hi Ho Television.
- 1979
Local ownership sells the station
[1]The ownership group led by Betts Slingluff Jr. sells WDHN to Hi Ho Television.
- 1970
WDHN signs on
[1]WDHN begins broadcasting on August 7 as Dothan's second television station and first UHF station, affiliated with ABC.
Products and positioning
A locally focused ABC network affiliate and news provider for Dothan and the Wiregrass region, supported by Nexstar's broader television-station infrastructure.
Broadcast television affiliation · 1970
ABC network service
WDHN carries programming from the ABC television network for viewers in and around Dothan and the Wiregrass region. The affiliation has been central to the station since its 1970 launch, when WDHN helped provide the area with a primary ABC signal.
Television news · 1970
Local news
WDHN produces local reporting, weather, traffic, public-affairs coverage, and breaking-news programming. Its schedule has included Wake Up Wiregrass in the morning, Daytime at 11 a.m., and evening WDHN News broadcasts at 5, 6, and 10 p.m., together with weekend editions.
Digital terrestrial television · 2009
Digital broadcast service
Since the 2009 digital transition, WDHN has transmitted its primary service digitally and has used digital broadcasting to support additional television services and network subchannels where available.
Interstation news production · 2020
News production for WDFX-TV
From 2020 until 2025, WDHN produced a 9 p.m. newscast for Fox affiliate WDFX-TV. The arrangement extended WDHN's local-news operation beyond its own ABC-branded schedule and replaced an earlier service supplied by WSFA.
Brand decisions
2021
Expand the local news scheduleProduct launchBackground
WDHN sought to increase the amount and range of locally produced programming available to its regional audience.
Action taken
The station expanded its morning news to two hours, added an 11 a.m. newscast, and introduced weekend evening broadcasts.
Aftermath
The changes broadened WDHN's weekday and weekend local-news presence.
2020
Produce a prime-time newscast for WDFXStrategyBackground
WDFX previously received its 9 p.m. local-news programming from WSFA in Montgomery.
Action taken
WDHN began producing an hour-long 9 p.m. newscast for WDFX-TV.
Aftermath
The production arrangement continued until June 2025, when the WDFX newscast ended.
2009
Complete the transition to digital broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
United States television stations were required to transition away from full-power analog broadcasting.
Action taken
WDHN shut down its analog transmitter and continued as a digital station.
Aftermath
Digital transmission improved the practical reach of the station compared with its earlier analog UHF service.
1970
Choose ABC as the launch affiliationStrategyBackground
Although ABC was then the least established of the three major American networks, NBC programming already reached the region from stations in Montgomery and Panama City. The Wiregrass area lacked a primary ABC affiliate with comparable coverage.
Action taken
WDHN launched as an ABC affiliate rather than selecting NBC.
Aftermath
The affiliation made WDHN an important source of primary ABC programming in southeastern Alabama, although the station later faced temporary competition from WJHG-TV after that station switched to ABC.
Recent events
- 2025
WDHN ends production of the WDFX 9 p.m. newscast[1]
Other
The locally produced 9 p.m. newscast for WDFX-TV ended after a five-year run.
- 2021
WDHN expands its local news schedule[1]
Product launch
WDHN expanded Wake Up Wiregrass to two hours, added an 11 a.m. newscast, and introduced weekend evening broadcasts during 2021.
- 2020
WDHN launches a 9 p.m. newscast for WDFX[1]
Other
WDHN began producing an hour-long 9 p.m. newscast for Fox affiliate WDFX-TV, replacing an earlier news-production arrangement involving WSFA.
- 2017
WDHN introduces high-definition local news production[1]
Product generation
The station unveiled a new studio set and began presenting its locally produced news broadcasts in high definition.
- 2016
WDHN becomes part of Nexstar's expanded station group[1]
M&A
Following Nexstar's acquisition of Media General, WDHN became part of the enlarged Nexstar Media Group portfolio, alongside other stations serving Alabama and nearby markets.
- 2009
WDHN completes its digital transition[1]
Product generation · Regulation
WDHN ended analog transmission during the United States digital television transition and continued as a digital broadcast station.
- 2003
Nexstar acquires WDHN from Morris Multimedia[1]
M&A
Nexstar purchased WDHN from Morris Multimedia as part of a transaction that also included KARK-TV in Little Rock, Arkansas.
- 1970
WDHN begins broadcasting as Dothan's second television station[1]
Other
WDHN launched on August 7, 1970, as the market's first UHF television station and its second full-service broadcast outlet. It affiliated with ABC and expanded primary network coverage in the Wiregrass region.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/wdhn · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled