In 1963, Chapman Radio and Television Company—then the owners of radio station WCRT (1260 AM, now WYDE and 96.5 FM, now WMJJ)—filed a petition to the FCC to move the dormant channel 21 allocation to Birmingham, arguing that a new television station could better serve the region's ethnic and economic minority communities. The FCC granted the allocation of channel 21 in August 1965; however, the FCC chose to resume hearings on the matter after other applicants protested the granting of Chapman's petition. The Alabama Television Corporation (a group owned by John Jemison) was awarded the channel 21 license in the fall of 1968; Chapman subsequently filed a lawsuit against Jemison on the basis that it had already been granted the allocation.