5:00 p.m. newscast due to budget cutbacks at the station spurred by the economic downturn. On October 26, 2009, WBRC became the second television station in the Birmingham-Tuscaloosa-Anniston market (after WVTM-TV) – and the third station in Alabama – to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition; the news set and the graphics were also redesigned as part of the transition. On September 12, 2016, the station debuted a 4:00 p.m. newscast, placing the station in competition with WVTM and WBMA, which have both aired 4:00 p.m. newscasts for several years. Controversy David Neal lawsuit In May 2008, David Neal (who had been with WBRC since 1997) filed a breach of contract and fraud lawsuit against WBRC and members of the station's management team, after he was fired as chief meteorologist of the station's weather department without explanation that March. The station denied any wrongdoing, and began defending the lawsuit. In July 2008, the station announced that James-Paul Dice – a former meteorologist at CBS affiliate WHNT-TV in Huntsville – would replace Neal as chief meteorologist. On July 29, 2008, the parties to the lawsuit filed a stipulation of dismissal, stating that the dispute had been resolved in mediation. The terms of the settlement were not immediately disclosed. Neal now works for WeatherNation as chief meteorologist. Notable former on-air staff Wynette Byrd (Tammy Wynette) – featured performer on Country Boy Eddie (later became established country music artist; deceased) Fannie Flagg – co-host of The Morning Show (1960s; later comedian and writer for Candid Camera) Eli Gold – sports anchor (1981–1989; now University of Alabama football play-by-play announcer and host of the weekly radio call-in show NASCAR Live on MRN) Mike Hogewood – sports anchor (1981–1986; later lead broadcaster for the Atlantic Coast Conference, now deceased) Larry Langford – reporter (1970s; former mayor of Birmingham, now deceased) Don Lemon – weekend anchor (1996–1997; now anchor and host of CNN Tonight on CNN) Harry Mabry – anchor (1960s–1970s; deceased) James Spann – meteorologist (1989–1996; now at WBMA-LD) Sally Wiggin – anchor/reporter (1977–1980; now at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh) Tom York – sports anchor/host of WBRC's long-running The Morning Show (1957–1989; deceased) Technical information Subchannels The station's digital signal is multiplexed: Analog-to-digital conversion WBRC shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 6, at 8:55 a.m. on June 12, 2009, the official date in which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned