TBN repeaters in the Tampa Bay DMA
Encyclopedia
The Trinity Broadcasting Network
operates four low-powered satellite stations in the Tampa Bay
market. W56EB channel 56 serves Tampa, while W36CO channel 36 serves St. Petersburg
and Clearwater
, WLWN-LP channel 48 serves the Sarasota
-Bradenton
area, and W51DY channel 51 serves Sebring
and Avon Park
. All programming is delivered directly from TBN's national satellite feed.
All four stations are currently owned by TBN.
The history of these stations are unknown, though W36CO originally signed-on in the early-1990s on channel 60. Also, W51DY was originally on channel 60 (as W60CE) until December 2006. WLWN-LP (formerly W48CN) was owned by National Minority Television, a TBN subsidiary, until 2008, when it was transferred to TBN directly.
In April and May 2006, TBN applied for construction permits for each of these repeaters to begin converting operations to digital television. Upon completion, each station will become a digital repeater of TBN, broadcasting all five TBN services. Some of these stations will broadcast at a lower power than they did at analog. Two of these will also have new channel reassignments -- W56EB would move to channel 31, and W60CE would relocate to channel 51, in which it would become W51DY. This is due to channels 53 to 69 being phased out of television broadcasting.
None of these stations are available on cable; however, the national feed is available on Bright House
digital channel 131. It is not available on Comcast
systems.
In May 2009, TBN sold W36CO to Local HDTV. The new owners plan to convert that repeater to digital and recall the station as WFHD-LD; programming would include Mega TV
programming on digital subchannel 36.2.
TBN took W48CN silent April 2, 2010 due to declining support, which has been attributed to the digital transition; the repeater was one of many donated to the Minority Media and Telecon Council, which in turn sold the transmitter to Citadel Communications
in January 2011 for $149,757 cash. Citadel changed its call letters to WLWN-LP.
W36CO, whose sale to Local HDTV has yet to be consummated, went silent April 13, 2010 for the same reason as W48CN.
W51DY has sinced been sold to Rehoboth Beach Communications, and has since changed its calls to WGPS-LP. W56EB moved to channel 31 and is now a digital low-power station, W31CZ-D.
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
operates four low-powered satellite stations in the Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...
market. W56EB channel 56 serves Tampa, while W36CO channel 36 serves St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
and Clearwater
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
, WLWN-LP channel 48 serves the Sarasota
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
-Bradenton
Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2007 population to be 53,471. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833...
area, and W51DY channel 51 serves Sebring
Sebring, Florida
Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...
and Avon Park
Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.-History:...
. All programming is delivered directly from TBN's national satellite feed.
All four stations are currently owned by TBN.
The history of these stations are unknown, though W36CO originally signed-on in the early-1990s on channel 60. Also, W51DY was originally on channel 60 (as W60CE) until December 2006. WLWN-LP (formerly W48CN) was owned by National Minority Television, a TBN subsidiary, until 2008, when it was transferred to TBN directly.
In April and May 2006, TBN applied for construction permits for each of these repeaters to begin converting operations to digital television. Upon completion, each station will become a digital repeater of TBN, broadcasting all five TBN services. Some of these stations will broadcast at a lower power than they did at analog. Two of these will also have new channel reassignments -- W56EB would move to channel 31, and W60CE would relocate to channel 51, in which it would become W51DY. This is due to channels 53 to 69 being phased out of television broadcasting.
None of these stations are available on cable; however, the national feed is available on Bright House
Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks is a cable television company, the seventh largest cable operator and the sixth largest traditional multiple system operator in the United States owned by Advance/Newhouse, headquartered in Syracuse, New York...
digital channel 131. It is not available on Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
systems.
In May 2009, TBN sold W36CO to Local HDTV. The new owners plan to convert that repeater to digital and recall the station as WFHD-LD; programming would include Mega TV
WSBS-TV
WSBS-TV is a Spanish-language television station in Key West, Florida, broadcasting to the lower Florida Keys on VHF channel 3 as an Mega TV flagship station. The station also operates a repeater in Miami, WSBS-CD channel 50, and has been available nationally on DirecTV since October 17, 2007 and...
programming on digital subchannel 36.2.
TBN took W48CN silent April 2, 2010 due to declining support, which has been attributed to the digital transition; the repeater was one of many donated to the Minority Media and Telecon Council, which in turn sold the transmitter to Citadel Communications
Citadel Communications
Citadel Communications Ltd. is a Bronxville, NY-based private broadcasting company that operates 5 full-power television stations and 1 low-power station...
in January 2011 for $149,757 cash. Citadel changed its call letters to WLWN-LP.
W36CO, whose sale to Local HDTV has yet to be consummated, went silent April 13, 2010 for the same reason as W48CN.
W51DY has sinced been sold to Rehoboth Beach Communications, and has since changed its calls to WGPS-LP. W56EB moved to channel 31 and is now a digital low-power station, W31CZ-D.