A Dothan, Alabama television station affiliated primarily with CBS and MyNetworkTV and operated by Gray Media.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WTVY is a commercial television station serving Dothan and the Wiregrass region of southeastern Alabama. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 4 and is primarily affiliated with CBS, while also carrying MyNetworkTV programming. Its digital operation includes simulcasts associated with WRGX-LD, Gray Media's NBC and CW+/Telemundo operation serving the Dothan market. WTVY's studios are located in the historic Woods Building, formerly the Houston Hotel, on North Foster Street in downtown Dothan. Its main transmitter is in Bethlehem, Florida, southwest of Dothan, placing the transmission facility technically within the Panama City television market. WTVY began broadcasting on February 12, 1955, as a CBS affiliate on channel 9. The station was established by Charles Woods and a group of local investors. It briefly carried programming from the NTA Film Network in the late 1950s and also operated as a secondary ABC affiliate until the launch of WDHN in 1970. In a federally coordinated signal reallocation intended to reduce interference among stations in Alabama and Georgia, WTVY moved from channel 9 to channel 4 on November 2, 1960. The move was accompanied by new facilities in Webb, east of Dothan, including a 1,209-foot tower that was then the tallest structure in Alabama. The station introduced color broadcasting in 1966 using two color cameras acquired from WDSU in New Orleans. In 1975, WTVY became one of the early American stations to operate continuously around the clock. In 1978, it moved its transmitter to a much taller tower in Bethlehem. The 1,847-foot structure significantly expanded the station's coverage across southeastern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and parts of adjacent markets. WTVY consequently served for decades as the effective CBS outlet for Panama City, even though its studios remained in Dothan. WTVY moved its studios to the former Houston Hotel in 1993. The building, subsequently known as the Woods Building, remains central to the station's operations, including its news studio and a microwave link to the transmitter. That same year, financial difficulties affecting Charles Woods led to the transfer of the station to Chemical Bank and Dothan Holdings, LLC. Benedek Broadcasting acquired WTVY in 1995 for $28 million. When Benedek exited the television business, Gray Television acquired WTVY and the company's other stations in 2002. Gray's expansion in the region changed WTVY's relationship with neighboring stations. Gray launched WECP-LD as a Panama City-based CBS affiliate in September 2012, ending WTVY's primary role as the Panama City market's CBS station, although cable systems continued carrying WTVY for a short period. Gray then launched WRGX-LD as a Dothan-based NBC affiliate in June 2013, replacing the previous reliance on Panama City's WJHG-TV and Montgomery's WSFA for NBC service in the Dothan area. WTVY and WRGX now share facilities and cooperate operationally while maintaining distinct network identities. Local news and weather remain central to WTVY's brand. The station has historically been a ratings leader in the Wiregrass region, helped by its larger coverage footprint compared with local competitors. WTVY operates a dedicated Doppler weather radar installation and became the first station in the Dothan market to broadcast local newscasts in high definition on June 4, 2012. In addition to its CBS programming, WTVY supports WRGX-related local programming and carries additional services through its digital subchannels. Its broad transmitter reach and long-established local-news presence make it one of the best-known broadcast brands in southeastern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
History
WTVY signed on February 12, 1955, in Dothan, Alabama, initially operating on channel 9 as a CBS affiliate. Charles Woods established the station with local investors. During its early years, WTVY briefly carried NTA Film Network programming and also maintained a secondary ABC affiliation. The ABC relationship ended after WDHN began broadcasting in 1970. A major technical change came on November 2, 1960, when a Federal Communications Commission frequency reallocation moved WTVY to channel 4. The change was designed to reduce interference among stations in Alabama and Georgia. WTVY also relocated to new facilities in Webb, east of Dothan, where it operated a 1,209-foot tower. At the time, the tower was the tallest structure in Alabama. The station introduced color service in 1966 with cameras purchased from WDSU in New Orleans. WTVY expanded its operating schedule in 1975 by becoming one of the first American stations to broadcast continuously for 24 hours a day. In 1978, it replaced the Webb transmission site with a 1,847-foot tower in Bethlehem, Florida. The location and height of the tower gave WTVY an unusually large coverage area extending through southeastern Alabama and much of the Florida Panhandle. It also allowed WTVY to function for many years as the practical CBS affiliate available to viewers in the Panama City area. The station moved its studios in 1993 to the historic Houston Hotel in downtown Dothan. The building, later called the Woods Building, contains the station's news facilities and remains its principal studio location. Financial difficulties encountered by Charles Woods that year led to a change in ownership. Chemical Bank and Dothan Holdings, LLC assumed control, while other Woods broadcast assets were transferred through separate arrangements. Benedek Broadcasting purchased WTVY from Chemical Bank and Dothan Holdings in 1995 for $28 million. Benedek announced its withdrawal from television broadcasting in 2002, and Gray Television acquired WTVY as part of that divestiture. Under Gray, WTVY became a sister station to Panama City's WJHG-TV. Gray later established WECP-LD in Panama City in 2012, giving that market its own CBS affiliate and ending WTVY's central role there. In 2013, Gray launched WRGX-LD as a Dothan-based NBC affiliate, replacing the area's prior reliance on WJHG and WSFA for NBC programming. WTVY has maintained a strong local-news and weather identity. The station operates a dedicated Doppler weather radar installation at its downtown facility and upgraded its local newscasts to high definition on June 4, 2012. It continues to provide CBS programming, MyNetworkTV programming and digital multicast services, while sharing facilities and selected operational resources with WRGX-LD. Its transmitter remains in Bethlehem, creating a technical footprint that reaches well beyond the immediate Dothan area.
- 2013
WRGX-LD launches
[1]Gray launches a Dothan-based NBC affiliate that shares facilities with WTVY.
- 2012
Local news switches to high definition
[1]WTVY becomes the first Dothan-market station to air local newscasts in high definition.
- 2002
Gray acquires WTVY
[1]Gray Television purchases WTVY during Benedek Broadcasting's exit from television ownership.
- 1995
Benedek Broadcasting acquisition
[1]Benedek Broadcasting acquires WTVY from Chemical Bank and Dothan Holdings.
- 1993
Studios move to the Woods Building
[1]WTVY relocates its studios to the former Houston Hotel in downtown Dothan.
- 1978
Bethlehem transmission tower enters service
[1]A new 1,847-foot tower in Bethlehem, Florida expands WTVY's regional signal footprint.
- 1975
24-hour broadcasting begins
[1]WTVY starts continuous, around-the-clock broadcasting.
- 1966
Color broadcasting begins
[1]WTVY introduces color television using two cameras acquired from WDSU in New Orleans.
- 1960
Frequency reassignment to channel 4
[1]The station moves from channel 9 to channel 4 during an FCC-coordinated signal reallocation.
- 1955
WTVY begins broadcasting
[1]WTVY signs on in Dothan as a channel 9 CBS affiliate.
Products and positioning
A long-established, full-power local television station positioned around broad regional coverage, CBS network programming, local news, weather information and community service for the Wiregrass area.
Broadcast television station · 1955
WTVY Channel 4
WTVY's primary full-power television service in Dothan, Alabama. It carries CBS programming and operates additional local and syndicated services under the WTVY brand. Its transmitter in Bethlehem, Florida provides broad coverage across the Wiregrass region and parts of the Florida Panhandle.
Television news
WTVY Local News
WTVY's local news and weather operation focuses on Dothan, the Wiregrass region and nearby areas of southeastern Alabama and northwestern Florida. The station operates dedicated weather resources, including a Doppler radar installation, and produces programming connected with the broader Gray Media station operation in Dothan.
Network television service
MyNetworkTV programming
WTVY carries MyNetworkTV programming alongside its primary CBS affiliation. This expands the station's schedule beyond CBS network content and local production.
Digital television
Digital multicast services
WTVY's digital operation includes services associated with WRGX-LD, including simulcasts of WRGX-LD1 and WRGX-LD2. The referenced station profile notes that these simulcasts are not currently broadcast in high definition.
Brand decisions
2013
Establish a locally based NBC affiliate for DothanStrategyBackground
Before 2013, Dothan viewers depended on out-of-market stations for NBC programming.
Action taken
Gray launched WRGX-LD as a Dothan-based NBC affiliate and operated it alongside WTVY.
Aftermath
The Dothan market gained a local NBC service, while WTVY and WRGX began sharing facilities and selected operational resources.
2012
Upgrade local news production to high definitionOtherBackground
High-definition production was becoming standard in local television, and WTVY sought to modernize its news presentation.
Action taken
WTVY converted its local newscasts to high-definition broadcasting.
Aftermath
WTVY became the first station in the Dothan market to broadcast local newscasts in high definition.
2012
Launch of a separate CBS affiliate in Panama CityStrategyBackground
WTVY had historically served as the practical CBS affiliate for Panama City despite being based in Dothan.
Action taken
Gray launched WECP-LD as a Panama City-based CBS affiliate.
Aftermath
WTVY's primary CBS role in Panama City ended, although some cable systems continued carrying WTVY temporarily before replacing it with WECP-LD.
1978
Move the transmitter to Bethlehem, FloridaStrategyBackground
WTVY sought to improve its signal in Panama City and along the Florida Gulf Coast while preserving broad regional coverage.
Action taken
The station moved transmission operations from Webb to a much taller tower in Bethlehem, Florida.
Aftermath
The new facility created one of the largest television coverage areas in the southeastern United States and supported WTVY's long-standing role as a CBS source for Panama City.
Sources2 sources
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