WIWN

WIWN is a full-power television station licensed to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and principally serving the Milwaukee television market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 68 and maintains its transmitter in Milwaukee's Estabrook Park neighborhood. Its current primary affiliation is Cozi TV, a network specializing in classic television series and films. WIWN also carries programming associated with the Sonlife Broadcasting Network, a Christian television service owned by the same broader organization as the station. The station began broadcasting in March 1995 as WMMF-TV. Its initial operation was short-lived, and it returned to the air in December 2000 under Pappas Telecasting with FamilyNet programming. In late 2004, the call sign changed to WWAZ in anticipation of a possible Azteca América affiliation. That planned affiliation did not materialize, and the station continued to operate without a stable local programming identity. During this period, its signal reached parts of the Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay areas from a transmitter near Iron Ridge in Dodge County, although terrain and low distribution among cable and satellite providers limited its practical audience. WWAZ ceased broadcasting in January 2008 as Pappas Telecasting encountered growing financial problems. Pappas later sought authority to convert the station to digital operation and relocate its transmission facilities to the Milwaukee area. The Federal Communications Commission conditionally approved the move to channel 5 in 2009. The relocation was controversial because it reduced the station's direct service to its original Fond du Lac-area community and raised interference and market-competition concerns from other broadcasters and an educational licensee. Pappas proposed low-power translators to preserve service in portions of the former coverage area, but those proposals did not become part of the station's lasting operation. The station returned to the air in August 2012 under the call letters WIWN, initially carrying WeatherNation TV. It subsequently passed through several ownership and programming phases. Caballero Acquisition LLC acquired the station from Pappas-related interests in 2014, and the station carried paid programming, OnTV4U, religious programming, shopping networks, and several multicast services during Caballero's ownership. Sonlife Broadcasting Network became a major service on the station in December 2014, while the station's digital subchannels were used for services including Evine, LATV, QVC, QVC Plus, Shop LC, Light TV, Quest, getTV, This TV, and other leased or network programming. WIWN adopted Cozi TV as its main-channel affiliation in June 2017. The change gave the classic-television network a full-power outlet in the Milwaukee region after its prior local distribution arrangements changed. Cozi remains the station's primary service, although portions of the schedule may be preempted for paid programming. WIWN has also worked to improve reception. The station received authorization in 2019 to increase effective power from approximately 9 kW to 35 kW, responding to reception difficulties associated with its low-VHF channel. In 2022, it petitioned to move its radio-frequency assignment from channel 5 to high-VHF channel 7 and proposed an additional distributed-transmission facility serving Fond du Lac County. In November 2023, the planned sale of WIWN to Family Worship Center Church, the Baton Rouge-based organization associated with Jimmy Swaggart and Sonlife Broadcasting Network, was announced. The transaction closed on January 24, 2024. The acquisition placed the station under the ownership of the organization whose Sonlife service had already been carried on WIWN. WIWN therefore operates today as a Milwaukee-area over-the-air television outlet with a Fond du Lac license, a Cozi TV primary affiliation, and religious and other multicast programming connected to its owner.

WIWN signed on in March 1995 as WMMF-TV, becoming only the second television station licensed to Fond du Lac. The first, KFIZ-TV, had operated for a short period from 1968 to 1972. WMMF-TV did not maintain continuous operation and returned to the air in December 2000 under Pappas Telecasting, carrying FamilyNet programming. Its original transmission facilities were near Iron Ridge in Dodge County, and the station's over-the-air coverage extended across portions of southeastern and east-central Wisconsin. In late 2004, the station changed its call sign to WWAZ in preparation for a proposed Azteca América affiliation. The affiliation was never launched. Pappas later experienced a wider dispute with Azteca América and replaced many of its Spanish-language network relationships with its own TuVision service, but WWAZ did not carry TuVision. The station's uncertain affiliation status, weak local differentiation, and limited cable and satellite distribution constrained its audience. Its signal also faced terrain-related reception problems, particularly east of the Kettle Moraine range and in portions of Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties. Cable distribution improved temporarily in 2007 when Pappas invoked must-carry provisions with Time Warner Cable's northeastern Wisconsin systems. WWAZ was added in Green Bay and the Fox Cities in June of that year. Nevertheless, the station continued to face limited carriage and technical operating problems. It went silent in January 2008 as Pappas Telecasting's financial difficulties intensified. Pappas filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2008, although the WWAZ license and facilities were not included in the bankruptcy filing. The station sought to become a digital-only operation and proposed a frequency and facility change. After WFRV-TV abandoned its analog use of channel 5 during the digital transition, WWAZ requested permission to use the channel and relocate its main transmitter to Milwaukee. The FCC conditionally approved the move in 2009. The proposal drew objections from Weigel Broadcasting, a Chicago low-power broadcaster, and Grand Valley State University, primarily concerning service abandonment, competition, and possible interference. Pappas proposed low-power translators for Fond du Lac and Columbus, but those applications did not become permanent components of the station's network. WIWN returned to the air in August 2012, carrying WeatherNation TV and using new call letters that became official on August 13. DirecTV added the station to its southeastern Wisconsin lineup soon afterward. Charter began carrying the station in April 2014, and Time Warner Cable added it in December of that year. In June 2014, Pappas and its bankruptcy trustees agreed to sell the station to Caballero Acquisition LLC for $1.8 million. Caballero operated the station under a local marketing arrangement before completing the purchase on September 24. Caballero's programming strategy relied heavily on multicast and paid services. OnTV4U displaced WeatherNation in parts of the schedule, and the station later carried Sonlife Broadcasting Network, Evine, LATV, QVC, QVC Plus, Shop LC, Light TV, Quest, getTV, This TV, and other services. Sonlife became the principal service in December 2014, while WIWN continued to use multiple digital subchannels for network and leased programming. In 2017, Sonlife moved to a higher-numbered digital subchannel and Cozi TV took over the primary channel. The Cozi affiliation made WIWN a regional outlet for classic television programming and improved the network's full-power distribution in the Milwaukee area. The station continued making technical and service changes. In 2019, the FCC authorized an increase in power from roughly 9 kW to 35 kW to improve reception, especially because low-VHF digital signals can be difficult to receive. In March 2022, WIWN petitioned to move its RF operation from channel 5 to channel 7 and proposed a second distributed transmitter in Fond du Lac County. In November 2023, Family Worship Center Church announced an agreement to acquire the station for $8.9 million. The transaction closed on January 24, 2024, while the seller retained WMKE-CD. WIWN is now owned by Family Worship Center Church and continues to operate as a Fond du Lac-licensed, Milwaukee-area station with Cozi TV as its primary affiliation.

• 2024

  Family Worship Center Church takes ownership

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  The sale to Family Worship Center Church closes on January 24, placing WIWN under the ownership of the organization associated with Sonlife Broadcasting Network.

• 2022

  Frequency-change petition filed

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  WIWN asks to move its RF assignment from low-VHF channel 5 to high-VHF channel 7 and add a Fond du Lac County transmitter.

• 2019

  Transmission power increases

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC permits WIWN to increase power to improve over-the-air reception.

• 2017

  Cozi TV becomes primary affiliation

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  WIWN places Cozi TV on its main channel, replacing the earlier primary-channel arrangement.

• 2014

  Caballero acquisition closes

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  Caballero Acquisition LLC completes its purchase of the station and introduces a broad multicast and paid-programming strategy.

• 2012

  Station returns as WIWN

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  The station resumes broadcasting under the WIWN call sign with WeatherNation TV.

• 2009

  FCC conditionally approves Milwaukee relocation

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC approves the station's planned move to channel 5 and a Milwaukee-area transmitter site.

• 2008

  Station goes silent

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  WWAZ ceases broadcasting in January during Pappas Telecasting's financial crisis.

• 2007

  Expanded cable carriage

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  Time Warner Cable adds the station to systems in Green Bay and the Fox Cities after a must-carry filing.

• 2004

  Call sign changes to WWAZ

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  The station changes its call letters in anticipation of a planned Azteca América affiliation that ultimately does not occur.

• 2000

  WMMF-TV returns to the air

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  After an earlier interruption, the station resumes operations in December with FamilyNet programming under Pappas Telecasting.

• 1995

  Station launches as WMMF-TV

  [1]WIWNen.wikipedia.org

  The station begins broadcasting in March under the WMMF-TV call sign.

A full-power regional television station combining classic television programming with religious and other digital multicast services.

• Primary television affiliation · 2017

  Cozi TV

  WIWN's primary service is Cozi TV, a national network built around classic American television series, films, and related archival entertainment programming. The affiliation began in June 2017 and made WIWN a full-power Milwaukee-area outlet for the network.

• Religious digital multicast service · 2014

  Sonlife Broadcasting Network

  Sonlife Broadcasting Network provides Christian religious programming associated with Family Worship Center Church and Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. It has appeared on several WIWN digital subchannels over time and remains connected to the station under its current ownership.

• Multicast television · 2012

  Digital multicast channels

  WIWN has used its digital capacity for a changing collection of national networks and leased services, including WeatherNation, OnTV4U, Evine, LATV, QVC, QVC Plus, Shop LC, Light TV, Quest, getTV, and This TV. These channels have changed as ownership, carriage agreements, and network availability evolved.

• 2023

  Sale to Family Worship Center ChurchM&A

  Background

  WIWN's programming already included Sonlife Broadcasting Network, creating an operational connection with Family Worship Center Church.

  Action taken

  Family Worship Center Church agreed to acquire WIWN for $8.9 million; the transaction closed on January 24, 2024.

  Aftermath

  WIWN became part of the Sonlife and Family Worship Center ownership structure, while WMKE-CD remained with Milwaukee Media.

  Purchase price. $8.9 million (Announced November 21, 2023; completed January 24, 2024)

  Source

• 2019

  Power increase for reception improvementStrategy

  Background

  Viewers reported difficulty receiving the station, reflecting the limitations of digital broadcasting on low-VHF frequencies.

  Action taken

  The FCC permitted WIWN to raise transmission power from approximately 9 kW to 35 kW.

  Aftermath

  The increase was intended to improve over-the-air coverage, although a further increase was also proposed.

  Source

• 2017

  Cozi TV affiliation beginsProduct launch

  Background

  Cozi TV had lost its previous Milwaukee-area full-power outlet and was temporarily available through a lower-power station.

  Action taken

  WIWN placed Cozi TV on its primary channel beginning June 22.

  Aftermath

  Cozi TV gained a full-power outlet in the Milwaukee region, while WIWN established a clearer classic-television identity.

  Source

• 2014

  Sale to Caballero Acquisition LLCM&A

  Background

  Pappas Telecasting and its bankruptcy trustees sought to resolve ownership of the station while Pappas faced broader financial difficulties.

  Action taken

  Caballero Acquisition LLC agreed to purchase WIWN for $1.8 million and operated it under a local marketing arrangement before closing.

  Aftermath

  The station adopted a heavily multicast-oriented schedule with religious, shopping, leased, and paid programming.

  Purchase price. $1.8 million (Announced June 2014; completed September 24, 2014)

  Source

• 2009

  Relocation of the main transmitter to the Milwaukee areaStrategy

  Background

  The station's original Dodge County facility provided uneven service across southeastern Wisconsin, while the owner sought a more commercially useful position in the Milwaukee market.

  Action taken

  Pappas pursued and received conditional FCC approval to move the station to channel 5 and construct a Milwaukee-area transmission facility.

  Aftermath

  The move supported the station's later Milwaukee-oriented operation but prompted objections concerning service to Fond du Lac and possible interference.

  • Weigel Broadcasting — Weigel objected that the move could abandon the station's original community and create a stronger competitor in Milwaukee.

  Source

1. 1WIWNen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WIWN official websitewiwn.tv