WAND

Overview

WAND (channel 17) is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Decatur, Illinois, serving the Champaign-Springfield-Decatur market of central Illinois. It is owned by Gray Media alongside WBXC-CD.

History

The station signed on as WTVP on August 16, 1953, the first television station built in central Illinois and an original ABC affiliate. LIN Broadcasting acquired the station and changed its call letters to WAND in 1966. LIN sold majority ownership to Block Communications in 2000, retaining a minority stake and continuing to operate the station until Block purchased the remainder in November 2007. WAND switched its network affiliation from ABC to NBC on September 5, 2005, as part of a group agreement between LIN and NBC. On August 1, 2025, Gray Media announced it would acquire Block Communications' broadcast television stations, including WAND, WDRB and WLIO, for $80 million; the sale received FCC approval and closed May 6, 2026.

Location and contact info

Address
904 W. South Side Dr.
Decatur, IL
Website
https://www.wandtv.com