The Channel 26 license has been in existence since the 1960s, when it was utilized by an independent station called WNYP-TV circa 1966-1969, when the station went dark.
The license was re-issued to a new group years later, and Channel 26 signed on again as September 24, 1988 under the new calls WTJA. Part of the station's programming lineup duplicated those on the Buffalo stations. The station once again went dark in 1991 due to financial problems.
Grant Broadcasting purchased the license in 1995. Rather than immediately putting the station back on the air, Grant negotiated with Tri-State Christian Television, owner of WNYB Channel 49 (now WNYO), for the Channel 49 position, in exchange for the Channel 26 position, cash and a new broadcasting facility.
Tri-State accepted, and on January 10, 1997, it took over the Channel 26 position, moving its religious programming and the WNYB call letters to the new channel. (Grant in turn took over Channel 49, which became WB affiliate WNYO.).