WLFT-CD
A low-power Class A religious television station licensed to Baker, Louisiana, serving the Baton Rouge area as the flagship station of the SonLife Broadcasting Network.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
WLFT-CD is a low-power Class A television station licensed to Baker, Louisiana, and serving the Baton Rouge market. The station broadcasts on digital channel 30 and is associated with the SonLife Broadcasting Network, the religious television network operated by Family Worship Center Church in Baton Rouge. Its transmitter is located on Honore Lane southeast of Baton Rouge. The station’s current identity reflects a history of repeated changes in ownership, programming, channel configuration, network affiliations, and branding. The station began in 1998 as a cable-oriented service associated with Bethany World Prayer Center and its subsidiary Touch Family Broadcasting. Early operations included programming from the Pax network on Cox Cable channel 4, alongside locally produced religious material on cable channel 17 and over the air on channel 52 under the WLFT/2 presentation. The call letters were initially explained as “Lifeline Family Television,” referring to Bethany’s flagship program. During the Touch Family Broadcasting era, the station also used interpretations including “Louisiana Family Television” and “Local Free TV.” In 2002, WLFT moved to an all-religious programming format. Its Pax programming was shifted to another cable position, and the station also carried selected FamilyNet material. That November, WLFT-CA activated a 500-foot tower on channel 52, increasing its reach across communities including Hammond, Gonzales, New Roads, and St. Francisville. The station moved from channel 52 to channel 30 in fall 2005. WLFT converted to digital broadcasting in July 2011. During the following period, its schedule combined local and religious programming with national multicast-network services. MeTV was initially carried during portions of the day and later received a full schedule on digital subchannel 30.2. The station subsequently experimented with a succession of multicast services, including Zuus Country, TV Scout, GetTV, the Home Shopping Network, NewsNet, Soul of the South Network, and Antenna TV. These changes reflected the fluid economics and network arrangements typical of smaller digital television stations. For much of the 2010s, local cable carriage generally focused on the station’s primary signal. By 2018, the main channel was emphasizing original and locally oriented programming. Its Thursday-night schedule included shows such as A Better Life, Black & White, Let’s Talk About Dogs, Kel’s Cars, and Colorado Xtreme. In 2021, after losing its MeTV affiliation, WLFT reorganized its digital lineup and gave greater prominence to Antenna TV, NewsNet, local material, films, and programming connected with Louisiana events. Touch Family Broadcasting sold the station to Red Stick Broadcasting in September 2021. Red Stick Broadcasting was owned by station manager Lucas Fry and Kerry Denny. Under that ownership, WLFT adopted the “Live Festival Television” presentation and promoted coverage of festivals, parades, tailgate parties, and other events in South Louisiana. The station also established a relationship with New Orleans Telemundo affiliate KGLA, carrying a simulcast of WLFT on KGLA’s fourth digital subchannel and a simulcast of KGLA’s Telemundo programming on WLFT subchannel 30.2. In October 2022, Lucas Fry applied to transfer the station to Family Worship Center Church, associated with Jimmy Swaggart and based in Baton Rouge. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transfer in November 2022. WLFT’s principal channel began simulcasting SonLife Broadcasting Network programming in December 2022. In early 2023, NewsNet and Antenna TV were removed from the station’s remaining digital subchannels, leaving the main SonLife service and the KGLA-related programming as the principal services reported in the station’s lineup. WLFT-CD therefore operates primarily as a religious broadcast outlet and flagship local station for SonLife, while its historical record includes substantial experimentation with commercial, classic-television, shopping, news, entertainment, and locally produced programming.
History
WLFT began operations in 1998 under Bethany World Prayer Center’s Touch Family Broadcasting subsidiary. It initially used a mixed distribution model, carrying Pax programming on Cox Cable while also presenting locally produced religious content on cable and over-the-air outlets. The station’s early call-sign explanations referred to Lifeline Family Television, with later branding references to Louisiana Family Television and Local Free TV. In 2002, WLFT adopted an entirely religious format. It also improved its terrestrial coverage through a new 500-foot tower associated with channel 52, extending reception into portions of the Baton Rouge region and nearby communities. The station later moved to channel 30 in fall 2005. Digital conversion took place in July 2011, after which the station operated a changing collection of main-channel and multicast services. During the 2010s, WLFT carried MeTV, FamilyNet-related material, Soul of the South Network, Antenna TV, Zuus Country, TV Scout, GetTV, Home Shopping Network, and NewsNet at different times. These services occupied different digital subchannels as affiliations changed. The station also developed a stronger local programming profile. By 2018, its primary service included original programs such as A Better Life, Black & White, Let’s Talk About Dogs, Kel’s Cars, and Colorado Xtreme. A significant restructuring occurred in 2021. WLFT lost MeTV to WBXH’s digital operation and adjusted its subchannel lineup. In September, Touch Family Broadcasting sold the station to Red Stick Broadcasting, owned by Lucas Fry and Kerry Denny. Red Stick used the “Live Festival Television” brand to emphasize local event coverage, including festivals, parades, tailgate parties, and other activities in South Louisiana. The station also formed a programming relationship with KGLA, carrying a WLFT simulcast in New Orleans and Telemundo programming from KGLA in Baton Rouge. In October 2022, Fry filed an FCC application to sell the station to Family Worship Center Church. The regulator approved the transfer in November. Family Worship Center is associated with Jimmy Swaggart and SonLife Broadcasting Network. Beginning in December 2022, WLFT’s main channel simulcast SonLife programming. In early 2023, the station removed its NewsNet and Antenna TV feeds from the reported subchannel lineup. WLFT consequently became principally a religious station and SonLife flagship, while continuing the reported KGLA-related service on a secondary channel.
- 2023
NewsNet and Antenna TV feeds are removed
[1]The station’s reported lineup is reduced to the SonLife main service and the KGLA-related secondary service.
- 2022
FCC approves sale to Family Worship Center
[1]The FCC authorizes the transfer of the station license to Family Worship Center Church.
- 2022
SonLife programming begins on the main channel
[1]WLFT’s primary digital service starts simulcasting the SonLife Broadcasting Network.
- 2021
Red Stick Broadcasting acquires WLFT
[1]Ownership transfers from Touch Family Broadcasting to Red Stick Broadcasting.
- 2021
Live Festival Television branding introduced
[1]The station positions itself around South Louisiana event coverage and local programming.
- 2018
Original local lineup expands
[1]The primary channel increases its locally produced and locally oriented programming.
- 2012
Third digital subchannel launches
[1]The third subchannel initially carries Zuus Country.
- 2011
Digital conversion
[1]WLFT converts to digital transmission and begins using multicast capacity for additional programming services.
- 2005
Station moves from channel 52 to channel 30
[1]WLFT relocates its over-the-air channel assignment to channel 30.
- 2002
Station adopts an all-religious format
[1]WLFT ends its mixed Pax arrangement and shifts its principal programming identity to religious broadcasting.
Products and positioning
A local religious television station and broadcast flagship for the SonLife Broadcasting Network, with a secondary role in South Louisiana community programming and digital television distribution.
Religious television service · 1998
WLFT-CD channel 30.1
The station’s primary digital service. Following Family Worship Center’s acquisition, it began carrying SonLife Broadcasting Network programming in December 2022. Historically, the main channel also carried local religious programming, original shows, films, syndicated entertainment, and selected network programming.
Digital television subchannels · 2011
WLFT digital multicast services
WLFT has used its digital capacity for a succession of affiliated services, including MeTV, Zuus Country, TV Scout, GetTV, Home Shopping Network, NewsNet, Soul of the South Network, Antenna TV, and a KGLA-related Telemundo simulcast. Subchannel assignments changed repeatedly as affiliations and ownership evolved.
Local event programming brand · 2021
Live Festival Television
A Red Stick Broadcasting-era presentation focused on South Louisiana festivals, parades, tailgate parties, and other community events. It represented an effort to distinguish WLFT through regional event coverage rather than relying solely on national multicast networks.
Television programs · 2018
Original local programming
During the late 2010s, WLFT’s local schedule included programs such as A Better Life, Black & White, Let’s Talk About Dogs, Kel’s Cars, and Colorado Xtreme. The group covered lifestyle, discussion, pets, automotive interests, and outdoor or adventure subjects.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Live Festival Television
South Louisiana · Baton Rouge area
Red Stick Broadcasting promoted WLFT as Live Festival Television, highlighting coverage of regional festivals, parades, tailgate parties, and other local events.
Outcome. The campaign became the station’s principal local branding during the Red Stick Broadcasting ownership period.
Brand decisions
2022
Transfer to Family Worship Center ChurchM&ABackground
Red Stick Broadcasting’s ownership period included a stronger local-event and independent-programming emphasis.
Action taken
Lucas Fry filed an FCC application to sell WLFT to Family Worship Center Church; the FCC approved the transfer on November 15, 2022.
Aftermath
The main channel began carrying SonLife Broadcasting Network programming in December 2022, and several other subchannel services were later discontinued.
2021
Sale to Red Stick BroadcastingM&ABackground
Touch Family Broadcasting had operated WLFT since its launch.
Action taken
The station was sold to Red Stick Broadcasting, owned by Lucas Fry and Kerry Denny.
Aftermath
The station adopted Live Festival Television branding and adjusted its mix of local, film, syndicated, and multicast programming.
2011
Conversion to digital broadcastingOtherBackground
Digital transmission enabled the station to use multiple program streams.
Action taken
WLFT converted its signal to digital operation and subsequently developed additional subchannels.
Aftermath
The station gained flexibility to carry several national networks and local services at different times.
2002
Shift to all-religious programmingStrategyBackground
WLFT had initially combined Pax-related programming with local religious material.
Action taken
The station converted its principal format to entirely religious programming and moved Pax to another cable position.
Aftermath
Religious broadcasting became the station’s defining programming direction, although it later carried numerous multicast networks.
Sources2 sources
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