View source for WDBB

{{Short description|Television station in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WDBB
| above = {{ubl|[[broadcast relay station#Satellite stations|Satellite]] of [[WTTO]], [[Homewood, Alabama]],|and [[WBMA-LD]], [[Birmingham, Alabama]]}}
| logo = Wtto the cw.png
| logo_upright = .8
| image = ABC 3340 logo 2020s.svg
| image_upright = .5
| city = Bessemer, Alabama
| digital = 14 (UHF)
| virtual = 17
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''[[WTTO|17.1]]:''' The CW|'''[[ABC 33/40|17.2]]:''' [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| owner = [[Cunningham Broadcasting]]
| licensee = WDBB-TV, Inc.
| operator = [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
| location = [[Bessemer, Alabama|Bessemer]]–[[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]
| country = United States
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1984|10|8|p=y|br=y}}
| callsign_meaning = Original owner Dubose Broadcasting
| sister_stations = [[WABM]], WBMA-LD
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 17 (UHF, 1984–2009)|'''Digital:''' 18 (UHF, until 2020)}}
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[Independent station|Independent]] (1984–1986, 1990–1991, 1996–1997)|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] (1986–1990, 1991–1996)|[[The WB]] (1997–2006)}}
| erp = 675 kW
| haat = {{convert|637|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 71325
| coordinates = {{coord|33|28|48|N|87|25|50|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=WDBB}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{url|wtto21.com}}
}}

'''WDBB''' (channel 17) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Bessemer, Alabama]], United States, serving [[Tuscaloosa]] and west Alabama as a [[broadcast relay station#Satellite stations|satellite]] of [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]-based [[The CW|CW]] affiliate [[WTTO]] (channel 21, licensed to [[Homewood, Alabama|Homewood]]). It is owned by [[Cunningham Broadcasting]], a partner company of the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], which owns WTTO, [[MyNetworkTV]] affiliate [[WABM]] (channel 68), and regional [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate WBMA-LD (channel 58, branded as [[ABC 33/40]]), which WDBB also rebroadcasts. Sinclair supplies all of WDBB's programming under a programming services agreement, a form of [[local marketing agreement]]. However, Sinclair effectively owns WDBB, as the majority of Cunningham's stock is owned by the family of deceased group founder Julian Smith. The transmitter is located near [[Windham Springs]], east of [[Alabama State Route 69|State Route 69]].

WDBB was started a local [[independent station]] by Dubose Broadcasting in 1984; it soon expanded to cover Birmingham. In 1986, the station launched [[WPXH-TV|WNAL-TV]] (channel 44) in [[Gadsden, Alabama|Gadsden]], which together with WDBB provided regional coverage. WDBB-WNAL served as the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] affiliate for the Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and [[Anniston, Alabama|Anniston]]–Gadsden markets from the network's launch in 1986 until 1990, when the affiliation went to WTTO; WDBB began simulcasting that station the next year due to financial difficulties. WDBB and WTTO lost Fox in 1996 due to a major regional shuffle of network affiliations, affiliating with [[The WB]] in 1997 and with The CW in 2006.

==History==
On March 23, 1983, Channel 17 of Tuscaloosa, Inc., filed an application with the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) to build a new commercial TV station in the city. Shareholders in the applicant were headlined by David R. Dubose, who was then the news director at [[WUAL-FM]] at the [[University of Alabama]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-04-11.pdf#page=159|page=163|date=April 11, 1983|title=For the Record|work=Broadcasting|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151226/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-04-11.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

WDBB began broadcasting on October 8, 1984, from studios on Jug Factory Road. It served as Tuscaloosa's second commercial station and first independent. It would not, however, remain focused on Tuscaloosa for long. Even though Birmingham was just barely large enough at the time to support two independent stations, WDBB felt there was room for another station in the market, particularly because Birmingham had only two TV newsrooms at the time. In 1985, it spent $3.5 million to upgrade its transmission facility, building a {{convert|2000|ft|m}} tower midway between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.<ref name="Mont850923">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99833817/wdbb-expanding/|date=September 23, 1985|page=8A|title=WDBB Expanding|newspaper=The Montgomery Advertiser|location=Montgomery, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082736/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99833817/wdbb-expanding/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Activated in early 1986 alongside a translator in the immediate Birmingham area, W62BG, the improved signal earned WDBB a place on most cable systems in [[Jefferson County, Alabama|Jefferson County]].<ref name="Birm860307">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834046/looking-at-wdbb/|date=March 7, 1986|page=Kudzu 4, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99835075/ 5], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834056/ 6]|first=Kathy|last=Kemp|title=Looking at WDBB|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082735/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834046/looking-at-wdbb/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="Birm900421">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98939187/church-school-tv-station-beams-gospel-to/|date=April 21, 1990|page=C4|first=William C.|last=Singleton III|title=Church school TV station beams Gospel to homes|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082737/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98939187/church-school-tv-station-beams-gospel/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> In addition, it became the production home for the coaches shows of [[Alabama Crimson Tide]] athletics, and in 1986, it obtained exclusive market rights for them in Birmingham, displacing [[WBRC]] (channel 6) as their local broadcaster.<ref name="Birm860531">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99843873/wdbb-makes-impact-in-birmingham/|date=May 31, 1986|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99843889/ B3]|author-link=Paul Finebaum|first=Paul|last=Finebaum|title=WDBB makes impact in Birmingham|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082736/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99843873/wdbb-makes-impact-in-birmingham/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

May 1, 1986, brought the launch of WNAL-TV, which—while independently owned—rebroadcast WDBB's programming to eastern Alabama.<ref name="Anni860327">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834518/gadsden-tv-station-to-debut-may-1/|date=March 27, 1986|page=1D|first=Pamela|last=Grundy|title=Gadsden TV station to debut May 1|newspaper=The Anniston Star|location=Anniston, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082736/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834518/gadsden-tv-station-to-debut-may-1/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Due to low ratings and the return of [[WBMG]] to the local news game, WDBB opted to cease local news in September 1986.<ref name="Birm860910">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99827924/channel-17-dumps-9-oclock-newscast-cha/|date=September 10, 1986|page=E6|first=Grace|last=Fiorella Chandler|title=Channel 17 dumps 9 o'clock newscast: Channel 42 to resume local news operation at end of October|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082737/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99827924/channel-17-dumps-9-oclock-newscast/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> However, the stations were about to get a lift; in October 1986, WDBB-WNAL became central Alabama's first Fox affiliate.<ref name="Birm860807">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834669/wdbb-reaches-agreement-with-fox-network/|date=August 7, 1986|page=A10|first=Grace|last=Fiorella Chandler|title=WDBB reaches agreement with Fox network|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082737/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834669/wdbb-reaches-agreement-with-fox-network/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> It continued to air Fox programming until September 1, 1990, when Fox moved to WTTO.<ref name="Birm900810">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834747/fox-move-could-boost-wtto-tv/|date=August 10, 1990|page=A9|first=Cherry|last=Rich|title=Fox move could boost WTTO-TV|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082737/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834747/fox-move-could-boost-wtto-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

In the late 1980s, WDBB had several disputes over its rating status in the Birmingham [[area of dominant influence]] (ADI) as measured by [[Arbitron]], then one of two companies that produced television ratings. It had asked Arbitron in 1985 to be listed in the Birmingham ratings instead of Tuscaloosa, then a separate and far smaller ADI. The next year, Arbitron agreed as long as viewership was combined with WNAL; however, after less than a year, Arbitron rescinded this arrangement after being pressured by competing stations in Birmingham and having [[NBC]] affiliate [[WVTM-TV]] cancel its contract. In 1989, a federal jury awarded WDBB and WNAL $5.5 million in damages, finding Arbitron guilty of fraud and breach of contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1990/BC-1990-01-29.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=January 29, 1990|page=51|title=New round in Arbitron-Birmingham dispute|access-date=April 16, 2022|via=World Radio History|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108154711/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1990/BC-1990-01-29.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1990, the station also filed to change its city of license to Bessemer, a suburb of Birmingham, in order to be placed within the Birmingham ADI; the FCC turned the request down.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1990/BC-1990-03-05.pdf|date=March 5, 1990|access-date=April 16, 2022|title=For the Record|page=71|work=Broadcasting|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108154634/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1990/BC-1990-03-05.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> WDBB would ultimately win reassignment in 1996 after contesting the FCC's decision, with the review finding Bessemer was independent enough of Birmingham to be allotted the station.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-96-31A1.pdf|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|title=Memorandum Opinion and Order (11 FCC Rcd 6)|date=January 26, 1996|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082737/https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-96-31A1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to financial difficulties, WDBB and WNAL began simulcasting WTTO on January 30, 1991. In return, WTTO added several of WDBB's stronger syndicated programs to its schedule.<ref name="Birm910130">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98928585/wdbb-17-now-airing-wtto-21-programs/|date=January 30, 1991|page=D10|first=Cherry|last=Rich|title=WDBB-17 now airing WTTO-21 programs|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082738/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98928585/wdbb-17-now-airing-wtto-21-programs/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> In addition to programming contracts, WTTO also purchased WDBB's Birmingham business offices and W62BG, and WDBB moved operations back to the Jug Factory Road site.<ref name="Tusc910130">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VjgdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2aUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6474%2C6462163|page=8C|first=Max|last=Heine|work=The Tuscaloosa News|title=WDBB-TV back in Tuscaloosa|date=January 30, 1991|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082738/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VjgdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2aUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6474%2C6462163|url-status=live}}</ref> The structure of WTTO's relationship with WDBB and WNAL changed to one of an affiliation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-07-08.pdf|pages=43–44|title=Independent TV's atypical ABRY Communications|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108155952/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-07-08.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Dubose also announced the addition of local programming, including news, to the station.{{r|Tusc910130}}

In 1994, Dubose sold the station to WDBB-TV Inc., a subsidiary of H&P Communications of Las Vegas, for $2.5 million. At that time, channel 17 expanded to add noon and 5 p.m. newscasts.<ref name="Anni941002">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834938/fox-affiliate-to-add-two-new-newscasts/|date=October 2, 1994|page=3E|title=Fox affiliate to add two new newscasts|newspaper=The Anniston Star|location=Anniston, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416082738/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99834938/fox-affiliate-to-add-two-new-newscasts/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> However, turmoil was roiling the Birmingham market. Earlier that year, WBRC was sold to [[New World Communications]], which not only owned WVTM but had signed a deal to convert 12 stations into Fox affiliates, including WBRC. Due to ownership overlap, WBRC was sold directly to Fox in 1995. That would leave WTTO, WDBB, and WNAL out of an affiliation—and ABC without a carrier in Birmingham. All three stations began discussing affiliation with ABC; in fact, WDBB was already a year into negotiations by 1995.<ref name="Birm950920">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99837474/foxs-hunting-changes-plans/|date=September 20, 1995|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99837531/ A8]|first=Jed|last=Graham|title=Fox's hunting changes plans|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Amidst this uncertain backdrop, Sinclair moved to take programming control of WDBB in November 1995 with the signing of the programming services agreement.<ref name="Birm951111">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99837613/sinclair-to-buy-wdbb-abc-link-unclear/|date=November 11, 1995|page=5A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99837679/ 6A]|first=Alec|last=Harvey|title=Sinclair to buy WDBB; ABC link unclear|newspaper=Birmingham News|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022}} This report notes a purchase but is technically incorrect.</ref><!-- Sat --> However, ABC bypassed Sinclair's stations and instead opted to partner with [[Allbritton Communications]] to use WCFT in Tuscaloosa and WJSU in Anniston to start a new regional ABC affiliate.<ref name="Birm951115">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98939374/abc-programming-shuffling-to-different-s/|date=November 15, 1995|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98939385/abc/ A3]|title=ABC programming shuffling to different station coverage|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Sinclair moved to end the WDBB newscasts that December, putting 25 to 30 news staff and another 10 to 15 production employees out of work.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1MkdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Q6YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2199%2C2800446|title=Channel 17 to end news broadcasts|first=Max|last=Heine|pages=1A, 6A|date=December 6, 1995|work=The Tuscaloosa News}}</ref>

On September 1, 1996, WBRC became the new Fox affiliate for Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Anniston. WNAL-TV broke off to become the CBS affiliate for the Anniston–Gadsden area, and the other two stations continued as independents until affiliating with [[The WB]] in 1997.<ref name="Birm970116">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99840634/tube/|date=January 16, 1997|page=B1|title=Tube|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2022}}</ref><!-- Thu --> WTTO and WDBB became affiliates of [[The CW]] in 2006 when The WB and [[UPN]] merged.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/eight-sinclair-stations-sign-cw-39993|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=May 2, 2006|first=Allison|last=Romano|title=Eight Sinclair Stations Sign On With CW|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226001049/https://www.nexttv.com/news/eight-sinclair-stations-sign-cw-39993|url-status=live}}</ref> The license was transferred from H&P to Cunningham in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-Television-Factbook-IDX/IDX/00s/TV-Factbook-2012-Vol-1-OCR-Page-0050.pdf|date=2012|work=TV & Cable Factbook|title=WDBB|page=A-24|via=World Radio History}}</ref>

==Subchannels==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WDBB<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WDBB#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WDBB|website=RabbitEars|access-date=November 25, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222140658/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WDBB#station|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|- style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"
! scope = "row" | [[WTTO|17.1]] 
| rowspan=2| 720p || rowspan=3|[[16:9]] || CW || [[The CW]] ([[WTTO]])
|- style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"
! scope = "row" | [[ABC 33/40|17.2]] 
| ABC3340 || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] ([[ABC 33/40|WBMA-LD]])
|- style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"
! scope = "row" | [[ABC 33/40|17.3]] 
| 480i || Weather || [[James Spann]] 24/7 Weather ([[ABC 33/40|WBMA-LD]])
|- style="background-color:#DFEBF6; border-top: 2px solid #003399;"
! scope = "row" | [[WSES|33.1]] 
| rowspan=2|480i || rowspan=3|16:9 || H & I || [[Heroes & Icons]] ([[WSES]])
|- style="background-color:#DFEBF6;"
! scope = "row" | [[WSES|33.2]] 
| Decades || [[Catchy Comedy]] ([[WSES]])
|- style="background-color:#DFEBF6;"
! scope = "row" | [[WSES|33.3]] 
| 720p || start || [[Start TV]] ([[WSES]])
|}
{{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}}
{{legend|#DFEBF6|Broadcast on behalf of another station}}

In 2014, Sinclair purchased Allbritton Communications. However, it could not continue to own WCFT or WJSU without divestitures. Those stations were divested to [[Howard Stirk Holdings]]; in the case of the Tuscaloosa station, now [[WSES]], ABC 33/40 moved to the WDBB multiplex.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 25, 2014 |title=FCC approves sale of TV stations, including Birmingham's ABC 33/40, to Sinclair group |language=en |work=Birmingham News |url=https://www.al.com/entertainment/2014/07/fcc_approves_sale_of_allbritto.html |access-date=April 16, 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://wtto21.com/}}

{{Birmingham TV}}
{{TV Stations Alabama}}
{{SBGI}}

[[Category:1984 establishments in Alabama]]
[[Category:Bessemer, Alabama]]
[[Category:The CW affiliates]]
[[Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1984]]
[[Category:Television stations in Birmingham, Alabama|DBB]]
[[Category:Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]