WDHN
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Dothan, Alabama United States |
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| Branding | WDHN (general) WDHN News (newscasts) |
| Slogan | First In Local News |
| Channels |
Digital: 21 (UHF) Virtual: 18 (PSIP) |
| Subchannels | 18.1 ABC 18.2 Escape 18.3 Laff |
| Owner |
Nexstar Media Group (Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.) |
| First air date | August 7, 1970 |
| Call letters' meaning | DotHaN |
| Sister station(s) | WZDX, WMBB |
| Former callsigns | WDHN-TV (1970–1998) |
| Former channel number(s) | 18 (UHF analog, 1970–2009) |
| Transmitter power | 1,000 kW |
| Height | 190.4 m |
| Class | DT |
| Facility ID | 43846 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 31°14′25.9″N 85°18′41.4″W / 31.240528°N 85.311500°W |
| Licensing authority | FCC |
| Public license information: |
Profile CDBS |
| Website | www.dothanfirst.com |
WDHN is the ABC-affiliated television station for Southeastern Alabama's Wiregrass Region. Owned by the Nexstar Media Group and licensed to Dothan, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 21 (or virtual channel 18.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter at its studios on AL 52 in Webb. The station can also be seen on Comcast, Bright House Networks, and Time Warner channel 8 with high definition available on Bright House Networks digital channel 241 and Comcast digital channel 431. Syndicated programming on WDHN includes Entertainment Tonight, Dr. Phil, The Doctors, Hot Bench, The Insider, The 700 Club, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
WDHN-TV launched August 7, 1970 as the area's second television station and aired an analog signal on UHF channel 18. It was owned by Dothan businessman Betts Slingluff, Jr. and a partnership of other local investors. Although conventional wisdom then suggested that it should have opted for an NBC affiliation, it has been an ABC affiliate for its entire existence. This seemed to be an unusual move for a two-station market, especially one (then as now) as small as Dothan. ABC was the smallest and weakest network, and would not be anywhere near par with CBS and NBC in terms of ratings until later in the decade. However, geography played a decisive part in channel 18 going with ABC. The Alabama side of the market received a fairly strong signal from WSFA-TV in Montgomery. Further, at the time the station signed on, no ABC affiliate provided even a grade B signal to the Wiregrass. The only nearby ABC programs were on WJHG-TV in Panama City, Florida on a part-time basis. Slinguff thus figured that WDHN wouldn't face much local competition if it took an affiliation with ABC.
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