WIAT
WIAT is a Birmingham, Alabama television station identified with channel 42 and the Alabama's 42 brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WIAT is a television station serving Birmingham, Alabama, and surrounding parts of Central Alabama. The station operates on channel 42 and is owned by Nexstar Media Group. Its studios and transmission facilities are located on Red Mountain in Birmingham. The station has historically been a CBS affiliate and has used the CBS 42 identity, although the supplied reference material states that it is scheduled to lose CBS programming to WVTM-TV on August 1, 2026, before taking CW programming from WTTO on September 1, 2026. Because these affiliation changes are future-dated in the reference material, the station's precise current network status should be verified against contemporaneous regulatory and station sources. The station began broadcasting on October 17, 1965, under the call sign WBMG. Its creation followed nearly a decade of regulatory, ownership, and construction delays. Birmingham Television Corporation originally sought ultra-high-frequency channel 42 at a time when UHF stations faced significant technical and commercial disadvantages. The station's UHF signal was weaker than the established VHF signals of Birmingham's leading stations, and the region's hilly terrain further limited coverage. WBMG initially carried CBS and NBC programs that Birmingham's then-primary affiliate did not show. In 1970, it became Birmingham's full-time CBS affiliate after WAPI-TV retained NBC. WBMG struggled to compete with the city's established VHF stations and with CBS affiliates in nearby Tuscaloosa and Anniston. Roy H. Park Broadcasting acquired the station in 1973 and invested in equipment, towers, and local production, but the channel generally remained a low-rated outlet. Its local news operation was suspended in 1982 and restored in 1987 as Action News Birmingham. That service developed a reputation for aggressive, metro-focused reporting and for emphasizing longer or more confrontational stories, although its audience remained substantially smaller than those of WBRC and WVTM-TV. A major relaunch occurred in the late 1990s after Media General acquired Park Communications. In December 1997, the station dismissed its on-air news presenters and other news employees and temporarily replaced its scheduled evening newscasts with countdown clocks while rebuilding the newsroom. On February 5, 1998, WBMG adopted the call sign WIAT, derived from the slogan “It’s About Time,” and introduced the 42 Daily News format. The initial service used short reports, a high story count, and limited on-camera reporting. After ratings leveled off, WIAT shifted toward a more conventional local-news model and recruited established Birmingham media personalities. Ownership changed several times in the following two decades. Media General sold WIAT to New Vision Television in 2006 as part of a transaction involving WVTM-TV. LIN Media acquired New Vision in 2012, and Media General acquired LIN in 2014. Nexstar acquired Media General in 2017, placing WIAT within Nexstar's national television-station portfolio. The station's principal business remains local television programming, including news, weather, sports, syndicated content, and network programming when affiliated.
History
The origins of WIAT reach back to March 1956, when Birmingham Television Corporation, associated with Harry and Elmer Balaban, applied for Birmingham's unused UHF channel 42. A competing application from WSGN was later withdrawn and consolidated with the Balaban-backed proposal. For several years, the permit remained threatened by the broader debate over whether Birmingham should receive another VHF channel. The station's builders repeatedly pursued alternatives, but the FCC did not approve the proposed VHF changes. In 1963, Winston-Salem Broadcasting became the sole owner of Birmingham Television Corporation after buying the Balabans' interest. In 1964, Winston-Salem Broadcasting sought approval to sell a two-thirds interest to a group of investors led by William P. Dubois. The FCC approved the transaction in March 1965, allowing construction to proceed. WBMG began broadcasting on October 17, 1965, from former radio facilities on Red Mountain. It had no exclusive network affiliation at launch because WAPI-TV held primary CBS and NBC rights. WBMG therefore filled programming gaps, carrying selected CBS and NBC programs, including major network news and late-night programming. A new, taller tower and increased transmission power were introduced in 1969, but coverage limitations caused by UHF technology and Central Alabama's terrain remained central competitive problems. In 1970, WAPI-TV became the full-time NBC affiliate and WBMG became the full-time CBS affiliate. WBMG moved into larger Red Mountain studios in 1971. Roy H. Park Broadcasting bought the station in 1973 and made continuing investments in its technical plant, news-gathering equipment, antenna, and transmission facilities. The station also produced local public-affairs, religious, children’s, community, and sports-related programming. Its facilities were used for early programs associated with Mother Angelica, although that relationship ended in 1981 after a programming dispute involving a CBS miniseries. Local news was a persistent challenge. WBMG's early news operation was small compared with those of WBRC and WAPI-TV/WVTM-TV. The station experimented with formats such as Metro News, but low audience levels led it to replace regular newscasts with brief updates in 1982. Local news returned in January 1987 as Action News Birmingham. The operation concentrated on the Birmingham metropolitan area rather than attempting to cover the largest possible regional footprint. Under news director John Herrod in the early 1990s, the station became known for aggressive reporting, longer stories, and a willingness to challenge officials and competitors. Academic research cited in the reference material found that the operation aired more local stories and longer reports than its higher-rated rivals during one measured week, even though its ratings remained low. Park Communications changed ownership in 1994, and the station subsequently moved toward a more conventional news style. It added morning, weekend, and early-evening newscasts and expanded its newsroom. In the late 1990s, Birmingham's affiliation realignment and the arrival of ABC 33/40 altered the competitive landscape. Media General acquired Park Communications in 1997 and undertook a radical overhaul of WBMG. General manager Eric Land dismissed the existing on-air news staff and other newsroom employees in December. For approximately a month, the station displayed countdown clocks during the former evening-news periods while the replacement newsroom was assembled. On February 5, 1998, WBMG became WIAT, a call sign linked to the “It's About Time” slogan, and launched 42 Daily News. The format used short, densely scheduled stories and minimal on-camera presentation. Although it did not immediately make WIAT a ratings leader, the relaunch improved the station's presentation and audience performance relative to its previous service. During the 2000s, WIAT gradually adopted a more familiar local-news structure and added veteran Birmingham personalities. Media General acquired WVTM-TV in 2006 and divested WIAT to New Vision Television to address ownership restrictions. LIN Media bought New Vision in 2012, then Media General acquired LIN in 2014 and retained WIAT. Nexstar completed its acquisition of Media General in 2017. The station continued operating as a local Birmingham television outlet under Nexstar, with its brand and programming shaped by CBS affiliation, local news competition, and the economics of U.S. broadcast television. The supplied reference material describes further CBS and CW affiliation changes scheduled for 2026; those future events require verification as their effective dates approach.
- 2017
Nexstar ownership begins
[1]Nexstar completes its acquisition of Media General.
- 2014
Media General reacquires LIN
[1]Media General acquires LIN Media and retains WIAT.
- 2012
LIN Media acquires New Vision
[1]WIAT becomes part of LIN Media's television-station portfolio.
- 2006
New Vision ownership begins
[1]WIAT is sold to New Vision Television in connection with Media General's acquisition of WVTM-TV.
- 1998
WIAT identity introduced
[1]WBMG changes its call sign to WIAT and launches 42 Daily News.
- 1997
Media General acquires Park
[1]Media General acquires Park Communications and begins a major restructuring of WBMG.
- 1987
Action News Birmingham launches
[1]The station restores full local newscasts with a Birmingham-metro focus.
- 1982
Regular local news suspended
[1]WBMG replaces its low-rated newscasts with brief news updates.
- 1973
Park Broadcasting acquisition
[1]Roy H. Park's broadcasting group acquires WBMG.
- 1970
Full-time CBS affiliation begins
[1]WBMG becomes Birmingham's full-time CBS affiliate after WAPI-TV takes NBC exclusively.
Products and positioning
A Birmingham-focused local television station emphasizing news, weather, community coverage, and broad Central Alabama service.
Television station · 1965
WIAT Channel 42
The station's over-the-air television service for Birmingham and Central Alabama. Its programming has included network, syndicated, local, and community content, with its affiliation and branding changing over time.
Broadcast news · 1965
Local news operation
WIAT's local-news service has operated under several names and formats, including Action News Birmingham and 42 Daily News. It provides local reporting, weather, traffic, public-affairs coverage, and other Birmingham-area programming.
Brand decisions
2026
Planned network affiliation transitionOtherBackground
The reference material describes a future Birmingham affiliation realignment involving CBS, WVTM-TV, WTTO, and WIAT.
Action taken
WIAT is stated to be scheduled to end CBS programming on August 1 and begin carrying CW programming from WTTO on September 1.
Aftermath
The station would operate with a different network identity, but the dates and implementation should be independently confirmed when the transition occurs.
1998
Rebuild and relaunch the news operationStrategyBackground
After years of weak ratings and a difficult competitive position, Media General undertook a substantial reconstruction of the station's newsroom.
Action taken
The station dismissed much of its news staff, used temporary countdown clocks during former newscast periods, changed its call sign from WBMG to WIAT, and launched 42 Daily News.
Aftermath
The new format improved the quality and ratings relative to the earlier operation, though WIAT remained outside the market's leading position until it later adopted a more conventional news style.
Sources2 sources
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