WYAM-LD

WYAM-LD (channel 51) is a low-power television station licensed to Priceville, Alabama, United States, serving the Decatur area. Owned by the Wiley family through Decatur Communication Properties LLC, it is sister to WYAM (890 AM), a Spanish-language radio station in the area. The two outlets share studios on Central Parkway on Decatur's south side; WYAM-LD's transmitter is located on Deere Road southeast of the city.

WYAM-LD

Priceville–Decatur, Alabama United States
City	Priceville, Alabama
Channels	Digital: 28 (UHF) Virtual: 51
Branding	WYAM TV51
Programming
Affiliations	51.1: Independent 51.2: Unknown 51.3: Audio of WYAM (890 AM)
Ownership
Owner	Wiley family (Decatur Communication Properties LLC)
Sister stations	WYAM
History
Founded	1994
First air date	1996 (28 years ago) (1996)
Former call signs	W56DE (1994–1996) WYAM-LP (1996–2010)
Former channel number(s)	Analog: 56, 51 Digital: 51 (UHF, 2010–2013); 15 (UHF, 2013–2020)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	17351
Class	LD
ERP	12.2 kW
HAAT	57.2 m (188 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	34°34′0″N 86°54′46″W
Links
Public license information	LMS

History

The station started on channel 56 in 1996. In 2000, the Wiley family purchased the station; it was added to the local Charter cable system, increasing its reach and making it available to cable households for the first time.^[2] Two years later, the station began broadcasting Decatur city council and Morgan County Commission meetings, which it continued to do through 2016.^[3] It also aired high school sports and a local talk show, Valley Happenings; the station had seven live programs, including one in Spanish, by 2004.^[2]

In 2022, the Wileys announced their intention to retire after selling WYAM radio and television, which were listed for $3.4 million.^[4]

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WYAM-LD^[5]

Channel	Res.	Aspect	Short name	Programming
51.1	720p	16:9	WYAM 51	Main WYAM-LD programming
51.2	480i			Unknown[a]
51.3			WYAM 89	Audio of WYAM (890 AM)

Notes

1. Formerly broadcast Azteca América, which folded on December 31, 2022.

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for WYAM-LD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. Bell, Christopher (April 5, 2004). "Decatur couple 'retire' to local TV station". The Huntsville Times. p. 1B.
3. Hughes, Bayne (April 29, 2023). "Officials push for more widespread livestreaming of public meetings". The Decatur Daily.
4. Hughes, Bayne (July 24, 2022). "Wileys selling TV and radio stations with plans to retire". The Decatur Daily.
5. "RabbitEars TV Query for WYAM-LD". rabbitears.info. Retrieved August 20, 2023.