WTLW
Encyclopedia
WTLW is a religious and family-entertainment television station in Lima, Ohio
. The station is owned by American Christian Television Services, and broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 44. It runs infomercials and religious programming before 5 p.m.; and family dramas, first-run talk shows, family movies, local sports programming, and reality shows after 5 p.m.
station WTGN-FM
, also in Lima. In 1976, WTGN solicited its listeners for seed money for a new television station. Before the station received FCC
approval, however, WTGN opted not to own nor operate the new station, and the people behind the drive to get WTLW on the air decided to incorporate as American Christian Television Services, Inc.
The station chose a hangar at the former site of Lima Allen County Airport
on Baty Road near Elida
, northwest of Lima, to build a studio
. The new studios, measuring 80 feet by 80 feet (24 m by 24 m), was believed by the station founders to be the largest television studio in Northwest Ohio
. The hangar was converted into a television studio in 1980, through the efforts of volunteers.
On June 13, 1982, WTLW signed on the air.
The station's owner, American Christian Television Services, should not be confused with the American Christian Television System
, a defunct television network, or Associated Christian Television System, owners of WACX
in Orlando, Florida
.
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
. The station is owned by American Christian Television Services, and broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 44. It runs infomercials and religious programming before 5 p.m.; and family dramas, first-run talk shows, family movies, local sports programming, and reality shows after 5 p.m.
History
WTLW has its roots in Christian radioChristian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
station WTGN-FM
WTGN
WTGN is a non commercial FM radio station in Lima, Ohio at 97.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 6,000 Watts. It is owned by Associated Christian Broadcasters Inc.and is Limaland's first and oldest Christian radio station...
, also in Lima. In 1976, WTGN solicited its listeners for seed money for a new television station. Before the station received FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
approval, however, WTGN opted not to own nor operate the new station, and the people behind the drive to get WTLW on the air decided to incorporate as American Christian Television Services, Inc.
The station chose a hangar at the former site of Lima Allen County Airport
Lima Allen County Airport
Lima Allen County Airport is a public use airport located five nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Lima, a city in Allen County, Ohio, United States. It is owned by the Allen County Regional Airport Authority.-History:...
on Baty Road near Elida
Elida, Ohio
Elida is a village in Allen County, Ohio, United States with a population of 1,917 as of the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Elida is located at ....
, northwest of Lima, to build a studio
Television studio
A television studio is an installation in which a video productions take place, either for the recording of live television to video tape, or for the acquisition of raw footage for post-production. The design of a studio is similar to, and derived from, movie studios, with a few amendments for the...
. The new studios, measuring 80 feet by 80 feet (24 m by 24 m), was believed by the station founders to be the largest television studio in Northwest Ohio
Northwest Ohio
Northwest or northwestern Ohio consists of multiple counties in the northwestern corner of the US state of Ohio. This area borders Lake Erie, southern Michigan, and eastern Indiana. Some areas in northwestern Ohio are also considered the Black Swamp area. The Toledo metropolitan area is also part...
. The hangar was converted into a television studio in 1980, through the efforts of volunteers.
On June 13, 1982, WTLW signed on the air.
The station's owner, American Christian Television Services, should not be confused with the American Christian Television System
American Christian Television System
The American Christian Television System was a television network developed in the 1980s by the Southern Baptist Convention . Plans for the network involved a combination of low and full-power stations, most of which were to be built, and carriage on local cable TV networks.Religious denominations...
, a defunct television network, or Associated Christian Television System, owners of WACX
WACX
WACX is a Christian television station serving Orlando, Florida, licensed to nearby Leesburg with studios in Altamonte Springs. It is locally owned by the Bowers family and their company, Associated Christian Television System. It broadcasts on UHF channel 40, virtual channel 55. The station's...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
.