WDEM-CD
{{Short description|Television station in Columbus, Ohio}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WDEM-CD
| logo = WDEM-CD17.jpg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_caption = HC2 default slide
| location = Columbus, Ohio
| country = United States
| digital = 24 (UHF)
| virtual = 17
| affiliations = see {{Section link||Subchannels}}
| owner = Innovate Corp.
| licensee = HC2 Station Group, Inc.
| founded = January 8, 1986
| airdate = {{start date and age|1987|8|31|p=y|br=yes}}
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|W17AI (1986–1998)|WDEM-LP (1998–2008)|WDEM-CA (2008–2009)}}
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|Independent (via WWAT-TV, 1987–1992)|HSN (1992–1998, 2007–February 2009)|America's Store (1998–2007)|Local programming (February–July 2009)|Universal Sports (July 2009–2011)|Silent (2011–2013)|Telemundo (2013–2019)|Azteca América (2019–2022)|Estrella TV (2023–2024)|Infomercials (2024)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|Analog: 17 (UHF, 1988–2009)|Digital: 17 (UHF, 2009–2019)}}
| erp = 15 kW
| haat = {{convert|219.6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 54414
| class = CD
| coordinates = {{coord|39|58|14|N|83|1|16|W|type:landmark}}
| licensing_authority = FCC
}}
WDEM-CD (channel 17) is a low-power, Class A television station in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The station is owned by Innovate Corp. and mostly broadcasts subchannels featuring infomercials and diginets. Since December 2024, its primary channel has served as the Columbus affiliate for the Rock Entertainment Sports Network.
History
W17AI began broadcasting in 1987. It was owned by Regional Broadcasting Corporation, owned by Gary and Susan Clarke; beginning in 1988, it primarily served to rebroadcast WWAT-TV in Chillicothe. At the time, WWAT-TV had been removed from all three of the cable systems in the Columbus area.{{cite news|page=11F|title=Channel 17 has plans for live TV: Station to start with programs from Channel 53|date=August 26, 1988|work=The Columbus Dispatch}}{{Cite news|title=WWAT Buys Share of Channel 17|work=Columbus Business First|date=August 29, 1988|page=7|first=Stephen|last=Lilly|id={{ProQuest|232371732}}}} This was a change from Clarke's original plan for programming W17AI after he purchased the permit from the LaMarca Group of New York City the year before; he had originally intended on programming oriented to the large campus audience at Ohio State University.{{cite news|page=8B|first=David|last=Jones|title=Low-power TV goes strong|work=The Columbus Dispatch|date=April 21, 1987}}{{Cite news|title=CBS looks at invasion by Latin neighbors|first=David|last=Jones|work=The Columbus Dispatch|date=September 3, 1985|page=D9}} The Clarkes sold the station in August 1989 to WWAT-TV owner Wendell A. Triplett.{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-LPTV/LPTV-Report/LPTV-Report-1989.pdf|page=45|work=LPTV Report|date=October 1989|title=At the FCC}} In 1991, W17AI split from WWAT-TV to broadcast the Home Shopping Network.{{cite news|title=Broadcast bits|date=November 13, 1991|page=9E|work=The Columbus Dispatch}} The call sign was changed to WDEM-LP in 1998.
In early 2009, the station—still owned by Triplett—changed its programming from home shopping to an arts and culture format known as "Lifeline Columbus" under the leadership of David Chesnet.{{Cite news|title=Tiny station seeks niche as beacon of culture|date=March 9, 2009|first=Tim|last=Feran|page=1D|work=The Columbus Dispatch}} The station had previously become a Class A station in December 2008, changing call signs from WDEM-CA to WDEM-CD.{{cite web
| title = Report No. 513 Media Bureau Call Sign Actions December 17, 2008
| publisher = Federal Communications Commission
| url = http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2008/db1217/DOC-287324A1.txt
| access-date = February 5, 2009}} The station also converted to digital in 2009 and added a subchannel airing Telemundo in 2010. Subchannels aired in the 2010s included Universal Sports and Justice Network (now True Crime Network). Minority Brands, owned by Richard Schilg, acquired WDEM-CD from Triplett for $75,000 in 2014.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/richard-schilg-acquires-wdem-columbus-132809|date=July 30, 2014|title=Richard Schilg Acquires WDEM Columbus|work=Broadcasting & Cable}}
On April 3, 2019, HC2 Holdings closed on its acquisition of WDEM from Minority Brands, Inc., for $866,000.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbr.com/hc2-closes-on-columbus-class-a/|title=HC2 Closes On Columbus Class A|last=Jacobson|first=Adam|date=April 3, 2019|website=Radio & Television Business Report|language=en-US|access-date=April 20, 2019}} The station then moved from channel 17 to channel 24 as part of the repack, with Telemundo replaced by HC2-owned Azteca América.
Since December 4, 2024, WDEM's primary channel has carried programming from Gray Media's Rock Entertainment Sports Network.{{cite web |date=December 4, 2024 |title=Rock Entertainment Sports Network available in Columbus: How to watch |url=https://www.cleveland19.com/2024/12/04/rock-entertainment-sports-network-available-columbus-how-watch/ |access-date=January 6, 2025 |website=WOIO}}
Subchannels
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of WDEM-CD{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_station&facility_id=54414 |website=RabbitEars.info|title=RabbitEars listing for WDEM-CD}} ! scope = "col" | Channel ! scope = "col" | Res. ! scope = "col" | Aspect ! scope = "col" | Short name ! scope = "col" | Programming |
| scope = "row" | 17.1
|720p | rowspan="7" | 16:9 | rowspan="9" |WDEM-CD |
|---|
| scope = "row" | 17.2
| rowspan="8" |480i | Oxygen |
| scope = "row" | 17.3 |
| scope = "row" | 17.4
| 365BLK |
| scope = "row" | 17.5
| Defy |
| scope = "row" | 17.6
| Outlaw |
| scope = "row" | 17.7 |
| scope = "row" | 17.8
| 4:3 || ShopHQ |
| 17.9
|16:9 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Columbus TV}}
{{HC2 Holdings}}
{{Other Ohio Stations}}
Category:Television channels and stations established in 1986