WDFX-TV
WDFX-TV is the FOX-affiliated television station for the Wiregrass area of southeastern Alabama that is licensed to Ozark. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 33 from a transmitter southeast of Wicksburg along the Houston and Geneva County line. Owned by Raycom Media, the station has studios on Ross Clark Circle (a.k.a. U.S. 231 and AL 210) near the Barrett section of Dothan. Syndicated programming on WDFX includes: Two and a Half Men, Judge Judy, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and The Doctors. It shares the same management as sister station and FOX affiliate WPGX in Panama City, Florida. Each station serves its own respective market but share a common look that can be seen on several other Raycom FOX affiliates.
History
The station signed-on in February 1991 broadcasting an analog signal on UHF channel 34 with the calls WDAU. That call sign was originally used on CBS affiliate WYOU in Scranton / Wilkes-Barre which incidentally is a sister station to ABC affiliate WDHN. WDAU started in Ozark when a small group of investors saw the need for a FOX affiliate in the area. The call sign was changed to the current WDFX-TV in 1995 under the ownership of David Woods of Montgomery. As a part of Woods Television, the station grew in popularity. It was bought by Waitt Media in June 1999. Under that company, WDFX moved to their current facilities with the sales and traffic offices being together for the first time. On December 15, 2003, Raycom Media bought the station.
Newscast
On January 7, 2008, sister station and NBC affiliate WSFA in Montgomery launched a newscast, known as FOX News at 9, on WDFX. Originally airing for 35 minutes on weeknights, a weekend 30 minute edition began in Summer 2008. The broadcasts originate from a secondary set at WSFA's studios on East Delano Avenue in the Cloverland section of Montgomery. Since the start of the 9 o'clock news, WDFX has been referred to (on WSFA) as the Wiregrass Newsroom and has two reporters and a photojournalist based at their studios. For the broadcasts, this station renovated their facilities and added live production capabilities. On August 3, WSFA began broadcasting their local newscasts in high definition. The news set and graphics were redesigned with the WDFX broadcasts being included.
Anchors Mark Bullock - Monday though Thursday
Sally Pitts - Friday and Saturday
Cody Holyoke - Sundays
Meteorologists Allyson Rae - Sunday through Thursday
Rich Thomas - Fridays
Dan Atkinson - Saturdays
Sports Jeff Shearer - Monday through Thursday
Derek Styer - Friday through Sunday
Reporters Doug Gooden - photojournalist
Daniel Curtis
Melissa McKinney
Additional news personnel are seen from WSFA. See that article for a complete listing.
Past Personalities Chris Holmes - anchor (left June 2008)
Kyle Montgomery - sports (left November 2008)
Abby Chin - fill-in sports (left December 2008)
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