The station signed-on October 29,1970 as WYEA-TV (pronounced as "YAY-TV" and featuring promotions showing a cheerleader with pompoms) owned by Huntsville, Alabama broadcaster Charles Grisham and his company, Gala Broadcasting.
The station signed-on October 29,1970 as WYEA and aired an analog signal on UHF channel 38. WYEA was originally owned by Huntsville, Alabama broadcaster Charles Grisham and his company, Gala Broadcasting.