WLFT-CD

Last updated

WLFT-CD
City Baker, Louisiana
Channels
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner Family Worship Center Church, Inc.
History
FoundedAugust 19, 1998
First air date
  • August 31, 1998;25 years ago (1998-08-31) (as a cable channel)
  • 2005;19 years ago (2005) (over the air)
Former call signs
  • K52CQ (1989–1998)
  • WLFT-LP (1998–2003)
  • WLFT-CA (2003–2011)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 52 (UHF, 1998–2005), 30 (UHF, 2005–2011)
Call sign meaning
  • Lifeline Family Television
  • Louisiana Family Television
  • Local Free TV
  • Live Festival Television
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 8653
Class CD
ERP 11.76 kW
HAAT 144.8 m (475 ft)
Transmitter coordinates 30°22′50.4″N91°3′16.5″W / 30.380667°N 91.054583°W / 30.380667; -91.054583
Translator(s) KGLA-DT 42.4 (35.6 UHF) New Orleans
Links
Public license information

WLFT-CD (channel 30) is a low-power, Class A religious television station licensed to Baker, Louisiana, United States, serving the Baton Rouge area as the flagship station of the Sonlife Broadcasting Network. The station is owned by Family Worship Center Church, and has its transmitter on Honore Lane southeast of Baton Rouge.

Contents

History

WLFT started as channel 4 on Cox Cable, with programming from the Pax network, in 1998. It also broadcast local religious programming on cable channel 17 and over the air on channel 52, as "WLFT/2". It was originally launched by the Bethany World Prayer Center through its subsidiary Touch Family Broadcasting, and the call sign originally stood for "Lifeline Family Television" after Bethany's flagship program. Other call acronyms used during the era of Touch Family Broadcasting included "Louisiana Family Television" and later "Local Free TV" until 2019 when it stopped using a slogan in its callsign.

In 2002, WLFT converted to all-religious programming and Pax was moved to cable channel 14 (and later to 70), as a direct network feed. The station also aired some programming from FamilyNet. In November of that year, WLFT-CA launched its new 500-foot (150 m) tower on channel 52, allowing the station to increase its broadcast range and reach more homes in communities like Hammond, Gonzales, New Roads, and St. Francisville. It remained on channel 52 until fall 2005 when it relocated to channel 30.

In July 2011, the station converted to digital and began to carry programming from MeTV during the late-afternoon through early morning hours while airing local and religious-based programming at other hours. In the fall of 2011, the station launched a second HD subchannel, 30.2, which carried MeTV's entire lineup.

WLFT launched a third subchannel on October 3, 2012, which carried Zuus Country (now The Country Network). One year later, on October 2, 2013, Zuus Country was removed in favor of TV Scout. TV Scout was removed in July 2014 in favor of GetTV, which remained on subchannel 30.3 before being replaced with the Home Shopping Network on July 1, 2017. On January 1, 2019, HSN was removed, and WLFT became a charter affiliate for NewsNet, airing the network on this subchannel. [2]

In August 2013, the station added the African-American centered Soul of the South Network to its fourth subchannel. On September 14, 2016, WLFT brought Antenna TV programming to Baton Rouge on channel 30.4. During the 2010s, only the main channel, 30.1, was carried by local cable providers.

By 2018, channel 30.1 (Cox 117) began carrying more original, local programming, especially a Thursday night lineup of original shows: A Better Life, Black & White, Let's Talk About Dogs, Kel's Cars and Colorado Xtreme. On June 28, 2021, WLFT lost its MeTV affiliation to a subchannel of MyNetworkTV affiliate WBXH, and so it moved its Antenna TV affiliation to its main channel, took channel 30.2 dark, and duplicated Antenna TV feed on 30.3 full time, and shifted its NewsNet feed to 30.4.

On September 22, 2021, Touch Family Broadcasting sold the station to Red Stick Broadcasting, owned by WLFT station manager Lucas Fry and Kerry Denny. [3] When this happened, Antenna TV disappeared from the station's main feed with its primary feed reverted to channel 30.4, Newsnet was moved back to 30.3, and the main channel aired a mixture of movies from Soul of the South Network, independent films produced and/or filmed in Louisiana, and other local and syndicated programming, including NewsNet during the morning hours. Red Stick Broadcasting also branded WLFT as "Live Festival Television," providing coverage of numerous festivals, parades, tailgate parties, and other events throughout South Louisiana. On November 1, 2021, WLFT simulcast its main feed in standard definition on the fourth subchannel of New Orleans Telemundo affiliate KGLA, and it brought Telemundo programming to Baton Rouge for the first time by airing a standard definition simulcast (later upgraded to high definition in April 2022) of KGLA on subchannel 30.2.

On October 3, 2022, Lucas Fry filed an application with the FCC to sell WLFT to Jimmy Swaggart's Family Worship Center, locally based in Baton Rouge. The FCC granted this license transfer on November 15, 2022. [4] [5] On December 5, 2022, WLFT's main channel began simulcasting Sonlife Broadcasting Network's programming. [6] In late January 2023, Family Worship Center turned channels 30.3 (NewsNet) and 30.4 (Antenna TV) dark, leaving only the main Sonlife feed on 30.1 and the rebroadcast of KGLA on channel 30.2. Antenna TV would return to Baton Rouge on March 1, 2023, when network owner Nexstar launched the network on WVLA-TV's fourth subchannel.

Subchannels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WLFT-CD [7]
Channel Res. Aspect Short nameProgramming
30.1 720p 16:9 WLFT-CD Sonlife
30.2 Telemun Telemundo (KGLA-DT)
  Simulcast of subchannels of another station

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KPLC</span> NBC/CW affiliate in Lake Charles, Louisiana

KPLC is a television station in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with NBC and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television, which provides certain services to dual Fox/ABC affiliate KVHP under a shared services agreement (SSA) with American Spirit Media. Both stations share studios on Division Street in downtown Lake Charles, while KPLC's transmitter is located near Fenton, Louisiana.

WWJS is a religious television station licensed to Hickory, North Carolina, United States, owned and operated by the Sonlife Broadcasting Network. It serves the northwestern corner of the Charlotte media market, a region locally referred to as "The Unifour". WWJS' primary transmitter is located on Bakers Mountain in southwestern Catawba County, with a secondary transmitter in the unincorporated area of Newell in northeastern Mecklenburg County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KADN-TV</span> Fox/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Lafayette, Louisiana

KADN-TV is a television station licensed to Lafayette, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with Fox and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Allen Media Group alongside low-power NBC affiliate KLAF-LD. The two stations share studios on Eraste Landry Road in Lafayette; KADN-TV's transmitter is located south of Church Point, in rural Acadia Parish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBRZ-TV</span> ABC affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

WBRZ-TV is a television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with ABC. The station is owned by the Manship family, who formerly published the Baton Rouge daily newspaper, The Advocate, and is one of a handful of TV stations today to have locally based ownership. WBRZ-TV is sister to Class A This TV affiliate KBTR-CD, and the two stations share studios on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, just south of downtown. WBRZ-TV's transmitter is located in the Sunshine neighborhood of St. Gabriel, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAFB</span> CBS affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

WAFB is a television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, affiliated with CBS. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power, Class A MyNetworkTV affiliate WBXH-CD. The two stations share studios on Government Street in downtown Baton Rouge; WAFB's transmitter is located on River Road near the city's Riverbend section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVLA-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

WVLA-TV is a television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by White Knight Broadcasting, which maintains joint sales and shared services agreements (JSA/SSA) with Nexstar Media Group, owner of Fox affiliate WGMB-TV, CW owned-and-operated station WBRL-CD and independent station KZUP-CD, for the provision of certain services. The four stations share studios on Perkins Road in Baton Rouge; WVLA-TV's transmitter is located near Addis, Louisiana.

KBCA is a television station in Alexandria, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with the digital multicast network Heroes & Icons. The station is owned by Wilderness Communications, and broadcasts from a transmitter in Oakdale, Louisiana.

KLWB is a television station licensed to New Iberia, Louisiana, United States, serving the Lafayette area as a dual affiliate of MeTV and Telemundo. It is owned by Delta Media Corporation alongside low-power station KXKW-LD and Class A station KDCG-CD. The three stations share studios on Evangeline Thruway in Carencro; KLWB's transmitter is located on West Wilderness Trail in northern Lafayette Parish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBRL-CD</span> CW TV station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

WBRL-CD is a low-power, Class A television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, serving as the local outlet for The CW. It is owned and operated by network majority owner Nexstar Media Group alongside Fox affiliate WGMB-TV and independent station KZUP-CD ; Nexstar also provides certain services to NBC affiliate WVLA-TV under joint sales and shared services agreements (JSA/SSA) with White Knight Broadcasting. The four stations share studios on Perkins Road in Baton Rouge; WBRL-CD's transmitter is located near Addis, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDAM-TV</span> NBC/ABC affiliate in Laurel, Mississippi

WDAM-TV is a television station licensed to Laurel, Mississippi, United States, serving the Hattiesburg area as an affiliate of NBC and ABC. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power Telemundo affiliate WLHA-LD. The two stations share studios on US 11 in unincorporated Moselle in southern Jones County, where WDAM-TV's transmitter is also located.

WBXH-CD is a low-power, Class A television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Gray Television alongside CBS affiliate WAFB. The two stations share studios on Government Street in downtown Baton Rouge, where WBXH-CD's transmitter is also located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGMB-TV</span> Television station in Louisiana, United States

WGMB-TV is a television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside CW owned-and-operated station WBRL-CD and independent station KZUP-CD ; Nexstar also provides certain services to NBC affiliate WVLA-TV under joint sales and shared services agreements (JSA/SSA) with White Knight Broadcasting. The four stations share studios on Perkins Road in Baton Rouge; WGMB-TV's transmitter is located near Addis, Louisiana.

KPBN-LD is a Low-power television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. The station is owned by Pelican Broadcasting.

KDCG-CD is a low-power Class A television station in Carencro, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with Heroes & Icons. It is owned by Delta Media Corporation alongside dual MeTV/Telemundo affiliate KLWB and NewsNet affiliate KXKW-LD. The three stations share studios on Evangeline Thruway in Carencro; KDCG-CD's transmitter is located northeast of Lafayette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KALB-TV</span> NBC/CBS/CW affiliate in Alexandria, Louisiana

KALB-TV is a television station in Alexandria, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with NBC, CBS and The CW Plus. Owned by Gray Television, the station maintains studios on Washington Street in downtown Alexandria, and its transmitter is located in Forest Hill.

KVHP is a television station in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with Fox and ABC. It is owned by American Spirit Media, which maintains a shared services agreement (SSA) with Gray Television, owner of dual NBC/CW+ affiliate KPLC, for the provision of certain services. The two stations share studios on Division Street in downtown Lake Charles; KVHP's transmitter is located in rural northwestern Calcasieu Parish five miles (8 km) northwest of Edgerly.

KBTR-CD, is a low-power Class A television station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, affiliated with This TV. It is owned by Louisiana Television Broadcasting alongside ABC affiliate WBRZ-TV. The two stations share studios on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, where KBTR-CD's transmitter is also located.

WIWN is a television station licensed to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States, but primarily serving the Milwaukee area as an affiliate of Cozi TV. It is owned by CNZ Communications as sister to Milwaukee-licensed low-power, Class A station WMKE-CD. The two outlets share studios on West Stratton Drive in suburban New Berlin; WIWN's transmitter is located on North Humboldt Boulevard in Milwaukee's Estabrook Park neighborhood.

WYJJ-LD is a low-power television station in Jackson, Tennessee, United States, affiliated with several digital multicast networks. The station is owned by Innovate Corp., and maintains a transmitter on Radio Road on Jackson's north side.

KPJO-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Pittsburg, Kansas, United States, serving the Joplin, Missouri–Pittsburg, Kansas market as an affiliate of the digital multicast network Court TV. The station is owned by Innovate Corp. and licensed to its DTV America subsidiary. KPJO-LD's transmitter is located near the corner of NE Bethlehem Road and NE 80th Street in a rural section of Cherokee County, Kansas, near Galena.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for WLFT-CD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "Where to watch NewsNet".
  3. "Baton Rouge TV station changes hands, going on the air in New Orleans". October 25, 2021.
  4. "TV Station WLFT-CD - Applications and Related Materials - FCC Public Inspection Files".
  5. "SonLife Secures a Bayou State TV Property | Radio & Television Business Report". October 4, 2022.
  6. "SonLife Broadcasting Network on Instagram: "We are excited to announce that SBN is now airing in HD on WLFT Channel 30.1 and Cox Channel 117 in Baton Rouge, LA! #sonlifebroadcastingnetwork"".
  7. RabbitEars TV Query for WLFT