KNLC

KNLC is a full-power television station serving the St. Louis, Missouri, market on virtual channel 24. The station was established by Reverend Larry Rice, leader of the New Life Evangelistic Center, and began broadcasting on September 12, 1982. It was the first new television station to sign on in the St. Louis market since KDNL-TV launched in 1969. KNLC originally operated as a religious station, carrying programming produced by or associated with the New Life Evangelistic Center alongside nationally syndicated Christian programs. Its early schedule included religious broadcasts from organizations and evangelists such as The 700 Club, The PTL Club, Richard Roberts, and Jimmy Swaggart.

KNLC began broadcasting on September 12, 1982, under the ownership of the New Life Evangelistic Center, a ministry led by Reverend Larry Rice. Its launch added a new full-power television outlet to the St. Louis market for the first time since KDNL-TV signed on in 1969. The station's original identity was explicitly religious. Its schedule was made up almost entirely of Christian programming, including locally produced ministry programs and syndicated shows associated with well-known American evangelical broadcasters. In September 1984, KNLC adopted a hybrid format that combined religious programming with older secular television series. The station initially arranged these programs in short, scattered blocks rather than in a conventional independent-station schedule. By the late 1980s, the format had become more regular: cartoons occupied key morning and afternoon periods, classic sitcoms filled portions of the early evening, and religious programs remained a substantial part of the broadcast day. The station also added syndicated cartoons, sitcoms, westerns, and public-domain films. In 1986, the New Life Evangelistic Center expanded its broadcasting activities by launching KNLJ in New Bloomfield for the Columbia–Jefferson City market; KNLJ was later sold to Christian Television Network in 2007. KNLC declined an opportunity to become an original St. Louis affiliate of the United Paramount Network before UPN launched in January 1995. During the same period, it obtained the local rights to Fox Kids after other market stations declined to carry the children's block or could not accommodate it because of new network and local programming commitments. KNLC's Fox Kids schedule combined weekday and Saturday broadcasts with the station's existing religious identity. The arrangement became strained because KNLC did not sell conventional local advertising within the block and instead aired public-service announcements and Christian messages. Fox executives also objected to religious proselytizing during commercial breaks. Concerns about KNLC's comparatively weak signal, including its reception on cable systems, further affected the relationship. Fox moved the children's programming to KTVI in September 1996. As children's programming and older syndicated television became less central to broadcast television, KNLC reduced spending on secular acquisitions. It nevertheless accepted a part-time UPN affiliation in May 1999, restoring UPN programming to the St. Louis market after the network's prior secondary affiliation ended. KNLC did not clear most of UPN's output because management considered some of the network's programs and advertising unsuitable. UPN subsequently moved its programming to KPLR-TV in September 2000. KNLC also rejected an offer to affiliate with Pax TV, now known as Ion Television, after changes in the market's station affiliations. The station completed a significant technical transition in January 2009, ending its analog transmission on channel 24 and continuing digitally on UHF channel 14 while retaining virtual channel 24. The early shutdown was coordinated with KMOV's move of its digital signal to channel 24, which had become available as higher UHF channels were removed from broadcast use. KNLC's then-owner also worked with KMOV to help low-income viewers obtain digital converter boxes. In February 2009, KNLC launched a digital subchannel carrying Renewable Energy Satellite, a 24-hour service focused on renewable-energy topics and operated by a New Life-associated nonprofit. Weigel Broadcasting announced its acquisition of KNLC in September 2017, and the sale closed on December 14 of that year. Weigel converted the primary service from a predominantly religious and mixed independent schedule into a secular classic-television outlet. New Life retained a digital subchannel, initially carrying NLEC TV. On February 1, 2018, MeTV moved from KMOV's 4.2 service to KNLC's primary channel, giving MeTV a high-definition terrestrial outlet and satellite distribution in the St. Louis area. Other digital channels subsequently carried Weigel services including Heroes & Icons, Movies!, and Catchy Comedy. In 2024, NLEC TV announced the planned end of its over-the-air service on KNLC-DT2, while indicating that its programming would remain available online.

• 2024

  NLEC TV announces end of terrestrial carriage

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  NLEC TV indicates that its KNLC-DT2 over-the-air service will end on June 24, with online distribution planned to continue.

• 2018

  MeTV becomes the primary service

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  MeTV moves to KNLC's main channel on February 1.

• 2017

  Weigel Broadcasting acquisition announced

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  Weigel announces the purchase of KNLC for $3.75 million.

• 2017

  Sale to Weigel completed

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition closes on December 14, transferring the station to Weigel Broadcasting.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  KNLC ends analog broadcasting on January 19 and continues with a digital signal using virtual channel 24.

• 2000

  UPN programming moves to KPLR-TV

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  UPN shifts its St. Louis programming from KNLC to KPLR-TV.

• 1999

  Part-time UPN affiliation begins

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  KNLC begins carrying selected UPN programming on a part-time basis.

• 1996

  Fox Kids moves to KTVI

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  Fox relocates Fox Kids programming from KNLC to KTVI amid concerns involving scheduling, promotion, religious messaging, and signal reach.

• 1995

  KNLC carries Fox Kids

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  KNLC takes over local carriage of the Fox Kids programming block after the St. Louis market's Fox affiliation changes.

• 1986

  New Life launches KNLJ

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  The New Life Evangelistic Center launches KNLJ in New Bloomfield to serve the Columbia–Jefferson City market.

• 1984

  Hybrid religious and secular format introduced

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  The station adds classic secular television series to its primarily religious schedule.

• 1982

  KNLC signs on

  [1]KNLCen.wikipedia.org

  KNLC begins broadcasting in the St. Louis market on September 12 under New Life Evangelistic Center ownership.

A locally rooted broadcast outlet that evolved from a religious independent station into a mainstream classic-television outlet under Weigel Broadcasting, while retaining a religious programming presence on a digital subchannel.

• Classic television network · 2018

  MeTV

  MeTV is KNLC's primary broadcast service on virtual channel 24.1. The network specializes in library television programming, including classic sitcoms, dramas, westerns, and other older series. Its move to KNLC in 2018 made the service available in high definition over the air and expanded its distribution through satellite providers in the St. Louis market.

• Religious digital subchannel · 2017

  NLEC TV

  NLEC TV is the New Life Evangelistic Center's retained programming service on KNLC's digital capacity. It continued the ministry's religious broadcasting presence after Weigel acquired the station. Its over-the-air carriage on channel 24.2 was scheduled to end in June 2024, with the organization indicating that an online feed would continue.

• Educational digital subchannel · 2009

  Renewable Energy Satellite

  Renewable Energy Satellite was a 24-hour digital service devoted to renewable-energy topics and related programming. It launched on KNLC-DT2 in 2009 and was operated by Missouri Renewable Energy, a nonprofit group associated with the New Life Evangelistic Center.

• Classic television network

  Heroes & Icons

  Heroes & Icons is a Weigel Broadcasting network carried on KNLC digital capacity after the ownership transition. Its programming emphasizes action, crime, science-fiction, western, and other genre-oriented television series.

• Movie network

  Movies!

  Movies! is a Weigel-associated multicast network carried on one of KNLC's digital subchannels. It provides a schedule centered on feature films and extends the station's portfolio beyond series-based classic television.

• Classic comedy television network

  Catchy Comedy

  Catchy Comedy is a Weigel multicast service carried on KNLC digital channel 24.5. It focuses on classic comedy and sitcom programming.

• 2024

  End NLEC TV terrestrial carriageStrategy

  Background

  Weigel planned to use the digital capacity for a new classic-cartoon service.

  Action taken

  KNLC announced that NLEC TV's over-the-air broadcast on channel 24.2 would end on June 24, while New Life planned to maintain online distribution.

  Aftermath

  The change reduced New Life's terrestrial presence on KNLC but did not necessarily end its programming operation.

  Source

• 2018

  Move MeTV to the primary channelProduct launch

  Background

  MeTV had previously been available on KMOV's second digital channel in the St. Louis area.

  Action taken

  Weigel moved MeTV to KNLC's virtual channel 24.1 on February 1.

  Aftermath

  The move provided an HD over-the-air feed and made MeTV available through Dish Network and DirecTV in the market.

  Source

• 2017

  Sell the station to Weigel BroadcastingM&A

  Background

  The New Life Evangelistic Center agreed to transfer the station after decades of religious and hybrid programming.

  Action taken

  Weigel Broadcasting acquired KNLC and converted the principal service toward secular classic television, while New Life retained subchannel capacity for its own programming.

  Aftermath

  MeTV became the primary service in 2018 and other Weigel multicast networks were added.

  Purchase price. $3.75 million (Announced September 2017; transaction completed December 14, 2017)

  Source

• 1999

  Take a part-time UPN affiliationStrategy

  Background

  UPN programming had lost its previous secondary outlet in the St. Louis market.

  Action taken

  KNLC began carrying selected UPN programs in May 1999 but did not clear most of the network's schedule.

  Aftermath

  UPN moved its programming to KPLR-TV in September 2000.

  Source

• 1995

  Accept Fox Kids carriageStrategy

  Background

  Following major affiliation changes in the St. Louis market, KNLC had an opportunity to carry Fox's children's programming block.

  Action taken

  KNLC acquired local carriage rights and scheduled Fox Kids on weekday and Saturday blocks while continuing its religious programming identity.

  Aftermath

  Fox later moved the block to KTVI after concerns about advertising practices, religious messages, and signal coverage.

  Source

1. 1KNLCen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KNLC websiteknlc.tv