WIYC
A Troy, Alabama-licensed television station serving the Montgomery area and affiliated with Cozi TV.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WIYC is a television station licensed to Troy, Alabama, and serving the Montgomery television market. The station operates on channel 48 and is currently associated with Cozi TV, the classic-television network owned by NBCUniversal. Its transmitter is located on County Road 37 in rural Bullock County, while its operational facilities are shared with sister stations in Montgomery’s Normandale section on WCOV Avenue. The station began broadcasting on November 24, 2000, under the call sign WRJM-TV. It initially carried programming from the United Paramount Network, or UPN. After the planned UPN–The WB combination led to the creation of The CW, WRJM instead joined MyNetworkTV when that service launched on September 5, 2006. During this period, the station supplemented network programming with syndicated shows, local programming, and sports coverage, including events involving Troy University and area high schools. WRJM experienced serious financial difficulties in the late 2000s. In February 2008, it entered receivership after defaulting on a $2.9 million loan from Citizens Bank. The receiver subsequently notified the Federal Communications Commission that the station was being offered for sale and that a buyer would need to complete its authorized digital facilities. Southern Venture Capital Group began operating the station under a local marketing agreement in January 2009 and agreed to acquire it several months later. That transaction was ultimately assigned to Artists and Fans Network, Inc. The station’s programming and technical situation changed substantially in 2009. It stopped carrying MyNetworkTV programming in April, citing satellite and equipment-reconfiguration issues related to the digital transition. A lightning strike the following month forced the end of analog transmission and further complicated the conversion to digital broadcasting. The station later dropped its remaining syndicated programming and carried The Country Network, a service focused on country-music videos and performances. In November 2009, the call sign changed from WRJM-TV to WIYC. WIYC went through additional network changes during the next decade. In 2011 it replaced The Country Network with WeatherNation, a weather-information service. In 2013 it became a Cozi TV affiliate. MyNetworkTV eventually returned to the station in 2020 on digital subchannel 48.2, while the main service continued its relationship with Cozi TV according to the referenced station history. Ownership also changed repeatedly. Woods Communications Corporation announced an agreement to purchase WIYC in 2017, with the transaction completed in April 2018. The acquisition was structured to create a relationship with Woods-owned Fox affiliate WCOV-TV, although the buyer required a failing-station waiver because of local ownership limits. In December 2021, Allen Media Group announced an agreement to acquire WIYC, WCOV-TV, and WALE-LD for $28.5 million; the transaction closed in April 2023. Allen Media Group later disclosed that it was reviewing strategic alternatives amid financial pressure and rising debt. In August 2025, Gray Media was announced as the buyer of WIYC and WCOV-TV among a larger group of Allen Media stations, with the referenced material stating that the transaction closed on May 1, 2026. WIYC’s identity is therefore primarily that of a local broadcast outlet rather than a national consumer brand. Its history is defined by affiliation changes, digital-transition difficulties, financial restructuring, and successive changes in ownership. The station’s principal public-facing role is the distribution of national network programming to viewers in and around Montgomery, supplemented by the programming carried on its digital multicast channels.
History
WIYC began broadcasting on November 24, 2000, as WRJM-TV, a UPN affiliate licensed to Troy, Alabama. The station served the broader Montgomery market and carried a combination of network, syndicated, local, and sports programming. When the planned merger of UPN and The WB resulted in the creation of The CW, WRJM selected MyNetworkTV instead. It joined that service on September 5, 2006, the first day of MyNetworkTV operations. The station encountered major financial problems in 2008. It entered receivership after defaulting on a $2.9 million loan from Citizens Bank. The receiver informed the FCC that the station was being offered for sale and noted that an acquirer would have to complete the station’s digital facilities. In January 2009, Southern Venture Capital Group began operating WRJM under a local marketing agreement. SVCG agreed to buy the station outright for $3 million in April, but later assigned the operating agreement and purchase contract to Artists and Fans Network, Inc. Programming and transmission arrangements changed during 2009. WRJM stopped airing MyNetworkTV programming in April, attributing the decision to satellite problems and technical work connected with the digital transition. The station also discontinued its remaining syndicated schedule and moved toward carriage of The Country Network, a music-video and performance service. A lightning strike in May forced the station to stop analog transmission, after which equipment was ordered for digital operation. In November 2009, the station adopted the WIYC call sign. WIYC subsequently shifted its multicast strategy several times. In 2011 it replaced The Country Network with WeatherNation. In 2013 it joined Cozi TV, whose programming emphasizes classic television series and films. MyNetworkTV later returned in 2020 through digital subchannel 48.2, sharing the multiplex with Decades. The station’s principal network identity remained connected with Cozi TV in the referenced history. Ownership changed again in the late 2010s. Neal Ardman filed in November 2017 to sell WIYC to Woods Communications Corporation for $1 million. The proposed purchase would have placed the station under common ownership with Fox affiliate WCOV-TV. Because Montgomery lacked enough stations to permit the proposed ownership structure under ordinary rules, Woods requested a failing-station waiver. The sale closed on April 3, 2018. Allen Media Group announced in December 2021 that it would acquire WIYC, WCOV-TV, and WALE-LD for $28.5 million. The transaction closed on April 14, 2023. In June 2025, Allen Media Group said it was considering strategic alternatives for its television assets in the context of financial pressure and rising debt. In August 2025, Gray Media was announced as the purchaser of WIYC and WCOV-TV among 13 stations being sold by Allen Media Group. The supplied reference states that this transaction was completed on May 1, 2026. Today, WIYC is described as a Gray Media station serving the Montgomery area. Its studios are shared with WCOV-TV and WALE-LD on WCOV Avenue in Montgomery, while its transmitter is situated on County Road 37 in rural Bullock County. The station’s history reflects the changing economics of local television, including affiliation realignment, the transition from analog to digital broadcasting, multicast experimentation, receivership, and consolidation among station groups.
- 2026
Gray Media acquisition reported as completed
[1]The supplied reference states that Gray Media completed its acquisition of WIYC on May 1, 2026.
- 2023
Allen Media Group acquisition closes
[1]Allen Media Group completed its acquisition of WIYC and related Montgomery-area stations on April 14.
- 2020
MyNetworkTV returns on subchannel 48.2
[1]MyNetworkTV returned to WIYC through a digital multicast channel.
- 2018
Woods Communications acquisition closes
[1]Woods Communications completed its purchase of WIYC on April 3.
- 2013
Cozi TV affiliation begins
[1]WIYC became an affiliate of Cozi TV.
- 2011
WeatherNation affiliation
[1]WIYC replaced The Country Network with WeatherNation.
- 2009
Call sign changes to WIYC
[1]After technical and programming changes, the station changed its call letters from WRJM-TV to WIYC in November.
- 2008
Receivership
[1]The station entered receivership after defaulting on a $2.9 million bank loan.
- 2006
WRJM-TV joins MyNetworkTV
[1]The station switched from UPN to MyNetworkTV on September 5, the new network’s first broadcast day.
- 2000
Station launches as WRJM-TV
[1]WRJM-TV began broadcasting on November 24 as a UPN affiliate licensed to Troy, Alabama.
Products and positioning
A local commercial television station serving the Montgomery, Alabama market through network programming and digital multicast services.
Television network affiliation · 2013
Cozi TV
WIYC’s principal described affiliation is Cozi TV, a national television network focused on classic television series and related library programming. The affiliation began in 2013 and provides the station with its main schedule for viewers in the Montgomery market.
Digital multicast television · 2020
MyNetworkTV on digital subchannel 48.2
MyNetworkTV returned to WIYC in 2020 through digital subchannel 48.2. The service had previously been carried by the station from its launch in 2006 until the station discontinued the programming in 2009.
Broadcast programming
Local and regional programming
During earlier phases of its operation, WIYC and its predecessor carried local programming and sports, including coverage involving Troy University and high-school athletics. The supplied material does not identify a current specific local-programming lineup.
Brand decisions
2025
Sale to Gray MediaM&ABackground
Allen Media Group announced that it was exploring strategic options amid financial difficulties and rising debt.
Action taken
Gray Media agreed to acquire WIYC and WCOV-TV as part of a transaction involving 13 Allen Media stations.
Aftermath
The supplied reference reports that the sale closed on May 1, 2026 and placed WIYC within Gray Media’s Montgomery station group.
Purchase price for the station package. $171 million (2025 announced transaction)
2021
Sale to Allen Media GroupM&ABackground
Allen Media Group pursued a larger Montgomery-area television grouping that included WIYC, WCOV-TV, and WALE-LD.
Action taken
Allen Media Group agreed to purchase the three stations for $28.5 million.
Aftermath
The acquisition closed on April 14, 2023.
Purchase price. $28.5 million (2021 announced transaction)
2017
Proposed sale to Woods CommunicationsM&ABackground
Neal Ardman filed to sell WIYC to Woods Communications Corporation for $1 million. The proposed ownership combination raised FCC ownership-limit issues.
Action taken
Woods sought a failing-station waiver to acquire WIYC alongside WCOV-TV.
Aftermath
The transaction closed on April 3, 2018.
Purchase price. $1 million (2017 announced transaction)
2013
Join Cozi TVProduct launchBackground
After a period carrying weather-information programming, WIYC selected a classic-television network affiliation.
Action taken
WIYC became a Cozi TV affiliate.
Aftermath
Cozi TV became the station’s principal described network identity.
2011
Switch to WeatherNationProduct launchBackground
WIYC reevaluated its digital multicast programming after carrying The Country Network.
Action taken
The station replaced The Country Network with WeatherNation.
Aftermath
The WeatherNation affiliation lasted until WIYC joined Cozi TV in 2013.
2009
Shift away from MyNetworkTV and syndicated programmingStrategyBackground
The station cited satellite problems and equipment work associated with the digital transition.
Action taken
WRJM stopped carrying MyNetworkTV programming and moved toward The Country Network and other programming changes.
Aftermath
The station later changed its call sign to WIYC and adopted further multicast affiliations.
2006
Switch from UPN to MyNetworkTVStrategyBackground
The impending combination of UPN and The WB created uncertainty for affiliates. WRJM-TV selected MyNetworkTV rather than joining the planned CW network.
Action taken
The station became a MyNetworkTV affiliate on September 5, 2006.
Aftermath
The affiliation continued until the station discontinued MyNetworkTV programming in 2009; the service later returned on digital subchannel 48.2 in 2020.
Sources1 sources
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