vice versa. The show also helped increase viewership for WBMA+ in the 4:00 p.m. timeslot, due to it being the only local newscast airing at that hour in the Birmingham market. Notable current on-air staff James Spann (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval) – chief meteorologist; weeknights Notable former on-air staff John Oldshue – meteorologist (1997–2007; left to operate a small business) Dave Baird – veteran news broadcaster (retired 2017) Technical information Subchannels The stations' digital signals are multiplexed, however each station (especially WABM and WDBB due to pre-existing affiliations) carries different channel feeds on their digital signals in addition to simulcasts of WBMA-LD and either of its digital subchannels: Analog-to-digital conversion Although WBMA-LP was not obligated to shut off its analog signal, as the law exempted low-powered stations from the national transition from analog to digital television broadcasts, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) encouraged low-power television stations to vacate from high-band UHF channels 52 to 69, as these out-of-core allotments were removed from broadcasting use as a result of the conversion. On December 3, 2010, the FCC granted WBMA-LP a construction permit to flash-cut its digital signal into operation on UHF channel 40 (formerly occupied by the analog signal of WJSU) and shut down the analog signal. WBMA-LP had a permit to operate on VHF channel 11, but due to possible interference with fellow ABC affiliates WTVM in Columbus, Georgia and WTOK-TV in Meridian, Mississippi (the latter of which transmits on its former analog frequency), the station decided to modify the application to transmit the signal on UHF channel 40. WBMA-LP signed on its low-power digital signal in late May 2011, under the call letters WBMA-LD; through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 58. See also WBTS-CD, which uses a similar setup in the Boston, Massachusetts market to provide a full-market NBC O&O to viewers References External links BMA-LD ABC network affiliates Charge! (TV network) affiliates Stadium (sports network) affiliates Hoover, Alabama Low-power television stations in the United States Sinclair Broadcast Group Television channels and stations established in 1996 1996 establishments in Alabama