WYBU-CD

Channel 16, with the call sign W16AF, was on the air in Columbus by May 1987, when it placed advertising in local newspapers announcing its existence.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470754/announcing-uhf-tv-16-columbus/|date=May 3, 1987|page=C-13|title=Announcing "UHF" TV 16, Columbus, Georgia|newspaper=The Columbus Ledger|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200845/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470754/announcing-uhf-tv-16-columbus/|url-status=live}} In December 1987, the license was transferred to Dr. Stephen Hollis, a local ophthalmologist{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Cable/LPTV-Report/LPTV-Report-1988-01.pdf|date=January 1988|work=The LPTV Report|page=15|title=At the FCC|access-date=February 13, 2023|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131170552/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Cable/LPTV-Report/LPTV-Report-1988-01.pdf|url-status=live}} who had built the station. Hollis also owned W22AH (channel 22), which began broadcasting in September.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118502071/channel-22-airs-country-music-video/|date=September 11, 1987|page=B-5|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=Channel 22 Airs Country Music Video|newspaper=The Columbus Ledger|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200848/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118502071/channel-22-airs-country-music-video/|url-status=live}} In February 1989, the sale of the two stations to Brenda Walls and Linda McCarter was reported locally. Their husbands, Reid Walls and Ron McCarter, owned American Cable Company, a new cable system serving North Columbus. Where Hollis had been fighting to get cable carriage for his stations, channels 16 and 22 quickly appeared on the American lineup. At this point, channel 16 was mostly airing programming from the American Christian Television System (ACTS), the original licensee, as well as rebroadcasts of Columbus city council meetings; W22AH was airing the Trinity Broadcasting Network.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470827/tv-purchases-keep-it-all-in-the-family/|date=February 22, 1989|page=C-3|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=TV purchases keep it all in the family|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200841/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470827/tv-purchases-keep-it-all-in-the-family/|url-status=live}} Mick Walsh, television columnist for the Ledger-Enquirer, credited the cable carriage with ensuring channel 16's survival.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470937/tv-6-is-an-all-gospel-channel/|date=February 9, 1993|page=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470948/mick-walsh/ D2]|title=TV 6 is an all-gospel channel|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200838/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470937/tv-6-is-an-all-gospel-channel/|url-status=live}}

Even though the sale was reported, Hollis did not actually sell the station until 1991, when the Earley family of Birmingham, Alabama, acquired channel 16 from Hollis.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471028/tv-16-low-in-power-but-high-on-local/|date=September 19, 1993|page=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471050/earleys-keep-low-power-tv-station-on-hig/ D-4]|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=TV-16: Low in power but high on local programs|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200846/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471028/tv-16-low-in-power-but-high-on-local/|url-status=live}} In the 1990s, "TV-16" began airing considerably more local programming. In 1991, it began airing a same-day video replay of the Talkline program on local radio station WRCG (1420 AM).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470869/weam-mornings-special/|date=October 10, 1991|page=D-1|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=WEAM mornings 'special'|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200845/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470869/weam-mornings-special/|url-status=live}} A former candidate for the Georgia state legislature, James White, hosted the conservative commentary The Right Side, which debuted in 1993.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470920/its-the-same-old-story-channel-9-no/|date=January 11, 1993|page=A-6|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=It's the same old story; Channel 9 No. 1 again|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200843/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118470920/its-the-same-old-story-channel-9-no/|url-status=live}} However, the Earleys' plan to use high school football as a selling point for the station—a strategy that had been successful in Alabama—did not play in Columbus.{{r|Ledg930919}} Further, the station had signal issues, even on the cable systems that carried it. Walsh called trying to tune it in "like trying to find a pearl in a dishpan full of dirty dishes" and noted, "If TV-16 was a horse, it would have been shot long ago."{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471095/bobs-gone-spuds-dead-so-grab-a/|date=March 4, 1994|page=B-3|title=Bob's gone, Spud's dead, so grab a burger, light up|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200843/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471095/bobs-gone-spuds-dead-so-grab-a/|url-status=live}}

By 1996, Hollis owned the station again, and this time, it was sold to McClure Broadcasting, which owned a cluster of radio stations in Columbus. McClure made significant changes to revamp the station's facilities and image. New call letters, WCGT-LP, were adopted. It also announced its intention to move the transmitter to the tower of McClure-owned WCGQ and fight for a spot on the TCI-TeleCable system, the only one of three in the city that did not carry channel 16.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471144/columbus-tv-16-under-new-ownership/|date=January 18, 1996|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471156/tv-16/ B3]|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=Columbus' TV-16 under new ownership|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200837/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471144/columbus-tv-16-under-new-ownership/|url-status=live}} This particular system was the largest in the city: whereas the other cable systems airing channel 16 had 40,000 subscribers, TCI-TeleCable alone had 37,000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471184/tv-16-pushes-for-telecable-service/|date=August 30, 1996|page=C7|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=TV-16 pushes for Telecable service|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200844/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471184/tv-16-pushes-for-telecable-service/|url-status=live}} Pledges to upgrade the signal and programming were successful in earning WCGT-LP a spot on the TCI system in August 1997.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471235/wcgts-visibility-expected-to-jump-as/|date=July 11, 1997|page=B3|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=WCGT's visibility expected to jump as TCI adds it to lineup|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200846/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471235/wcgts-visibility-expected-to-jump-as/|url-status=live}}

In April 1998, WCGT-LP began airing UPN's prime time programming.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118466710/new-venue-for-annual-race-sure-to-leave/|date=April 30, 1998|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118466671/in-the-loop/ B2]|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=New venue for annual race sure to leave dogs barking|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212044446/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118466710/new-venue-for-annual-race-sure-to-leave/|url-status=live}} However, the station's timing in doing so was poor. The WB, UPN's rival, had just launched The WB 100+ Station Group of cable-only affiliates in small markets, including Columbus. That left full-power station WSWS-TV in Opelika, Alabama, without an affiliation. WSWS-TV began courting UPN nearly immediately and even announced it would be the new affiliate in October 1998,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118466062/in-the-loop-artist-credits-teacher-for/|date=October 13, 1998|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108262192/in-the-loop/ B2]|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=In the Loop: Artist credits teacher for hobby|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212044443/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118466062/in-the-loop-artist-credits-teacher-for/|url-status=live}} but channel 16 remained the sole source of UPN programming in the Columbus market{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118466595/in-the-loop-irish-author-tells-secret-o/|date=October 20, 1998|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118466565/in-the-loop/ B2]|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=In the Loop: Irish author tells secret of dramatic storytelling at CSU|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213063521/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118466595/in-the-loop-irish-author-tells-secret/|url-status=live}} until September 1999, when UPN affiliated with WSWS-TV.{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1999/BC-1999-09-13.pdf|date=September 13, 1999|page=56|title=In Brief|work=Broadcasting|access-date=February 13, 2023|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308043112/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1999/BC-1999-09-13.pdf|url-status=live}}

In 2003, Archway Broadcasting acquired the McClure radio stations, though channel 16 was not sold in the deal.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471318/imus-back-local-show-gets-boot/|date=February 7, 2003|page=C5|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=Imus back, local show gets boot|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200845/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471318/imus-back-local-show-gets-boot/|url-status=live}} The station's programming in 2004 consisted primarily of Christian religious programs and an assortment of local series,{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040206061530/http://www.wcgttv.com/WCGT%20MATRIX.html|title=WCGT Matrix|url=http://www.wcgttv.com/WCGT%20MATRIX.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 6, 2004|access-date=February 12, 2023}} though the station also aired local sports in the form of Columbus Wardogs arena football{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471372/wardogs-notes-af2-under-way-columbus/|date=April 3, 2004|page=37|title=Wardogs notes: af2 under way; Columbus begins season next week|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200840/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471372/wardogs-notes-af2-under-way-columbus/|url-status=live}} and Phenix City Central High School football.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471348/golf-pro-barnes-gets-breakfast-mulligan/|date=September 5, 2003|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471337/loop-red-devil-football-games-on-tv-16/ C3]|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=Golf pro Barnes gets breakfast mulligan|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200840/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471348/golf-pro-barnes-gets-breakfast-mulligan/|url-status=live}}

Chuck McClure, the owner of McClure Broadcasting, died in July 2004.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118503779/local-radio-pioneer-remembered-called-a/|date=July 20, 2004|page=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118503844/mcclure-believed-in-free-speech/ C3]|first=Mick|last=Walsh|title=Chuck McClure 1923–2004: Local radio pioneer remembered: Called a shrewd negotiator in competitive age|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213063521/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118503779/local-radio-pioneer-remembered-called/|url-status=live}} His estate then sold WCGT-CA to the Christian Television Network of Largo, Florida, for $300,000 in November 2005; CTN immediately assumed operational control under a local marketing agreement.{{Cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1096809&Service=CA&Form_id=345&Facility_id=17544|title=BALTTA - 20051114AEE Application for Transfer of Control of a Corporate Licensee or Permittee, or for Assignment of License or Permit of TV or FM Translator Station or Low Power Television Station|date=November 14, 2005|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=February 13, 2023|archive-date=February 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213063521/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101096809&formid=345&fac_num=17544|url-status=live}}

In addition to national programming from CTN and other Christian television producers, CTN continues to maintain the Phenix City studios for the production of local programs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471444/father-son-lead-christian-television/|date=June 10, 2017|page=B1|title=Father, son lead Christian television station WYBU|newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer|location=Columbus, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212200841/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118471444/father-son-lead-christian-television/|url-status=live}}

The station's signal is multiplexed:

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://ctnonline.com/affiliate/wybu-tv/}}

{{Christian Television Network}}

{{Columbus GA TV}}

{{Georgia (U.S. state) TV}}

Category:1987 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Christian Television Network stations

YBU

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1987

YBU-CD