WLLC-LD

WLLC-LD is a low-power television station licensed to serve the Nashville, Tennessee market. The station is owned by JKB Associates, Inc. and operates from studios on Cool Springs Boulevard in Franklin, with its transmitter located atop the Life & Casualty Tower in Nashville's Capitol District. Its primary programming identity is tied to Univision, the Spanish-language television network, while a second digital subchannel carries UniMás programming. The station has also used its multiplexed digital signal to distribute a changing selection of English- and Spanish-language multicast networks. The station began broadcasting on November 7, 1996, as W59AW on channel 59. Its original schedule consisted of America One programming around the clock. In 1997, it moved to channel 52 and adopted the call sign W52CT. A further technical and branding transition took place in 2004, when the station moved to channel 42, became W42CR, and replaced America One with TeleFutura, a new Spanish-language network that later became UniMás. The call sign changed again in the same year to WLLC-LP. From 2005 through 2013, the station presented itself as TeleFutura 42. Following TeleFutura's rebranding as UniMás, WLLC used the UniMás Nashville identity. The station later expanded its role in the Nashville television market. In July 2014, Univision programming moved onto the principal 42.1 service, while UniMás shifted to 42.2. This arrangement made WLLC a local outlet for both of Univision's principal Spanish-language broadcast networks. WLLC's additional digital services have changed repeatedly. Bounce TV was carried on a digital subchannel after the network's 2011 launch, and in 2016 the station added Biz Television and Heartland to other multicast positions. Heartland, a general-interest network associated with country and Americana programming, designated WLLC as its flagship station after leaving WSMV-TV. Biz Television was later discontinued, then returned on another subchannel in 2018 alongside the Spanish-language NuestraVision service. In December 2019, Bounce TV and Heartland were removed from the station's lineup; Bounce TV was replaced by AMGTV, while the Heartland position temporarily displayed a test pattern. AMGTV was itself replaced by TheGrioTV in October 2021. TheGrio ceased linear network distribution in January 2025, although its content continued through cable and free ad-supported streaming outlets. The station also has a limited history of local news programming. It previously carried daily 90-second Spanish-language news updates produced by WTVF and anchored by Eva Melo. Those updates were notable because they represented the only Spanish-language newscast in the Nashville market at the time, where Spanish-speaking viewership was a small but expanding segment. WTVF no longer produced the updates by 2011. In 2014, general manager Dave Carter said WLLC was considering local news-related programming, although a conventional newscast was not expected immediately. WLLC-LP received a digital-operation license on July 14, 2021, and changed its call sign to WLLC-LD. The station remains a local broadcast platform centered on Spanish-language network television, with its identity and secondary services shaped by the changing economics of low-power television and digital multicast broadcasting.

WLLC-LD began broadcasting in Nashville on November 7, 1996, under the call sign W59AW and on channel 59. Its first programming arrangement consisted of America One programming carried throughout the day. In 1997, the station moved to channel 52 and became W52CT. The next major transition came in 2004. The station moved to channel 42, adopted the call sign W42CR, and ended its America One affiliation in favor of TeleFutura, a Spanish-language network launched to complement Univision. The station changed its call sign again that year to WLLC-LP. From 2005 to 2013, its principal on-air identity was TeleFutura 42. When TeleFutura was renamed UniMás, the station adopted the UniMás Nashville branding. WLLC expanded its Spanish-language network role in July 2014 by adding Univision to its principal 42.1 digital service. UniMás programming moved to 42.2, allowing the station to carry both networks through separate subchannels. The remainder of the station's digital capacity was used for a succession of multicast services. Bounce TV, which launched in 2011 as a 24-hour digital network created specifically for African American audiences, was carried on one of WLLC's subchannels. In 2016, the station added Biz Television and Heartland. Heartland occupied the 42.4 position from November 1, 2016, after WSMV-TV replaced it with another service, and WLLC became Heartland's flagship station. Biz Television was later discontinued, although a 42.5 service was reactivated on December 24, 2018, with NuestraVision, a Spanish-language network. The multicast lineup changed again on December 2, 2019. Bounce TV was replaced by AMGTV on 42.3, while Heartland was removed from 42.4 and that position displayed a test pattern. On October 11, 2021, TheGrioTV replaced AMGTV on the third subchannel. TheGrio later ended its linear network operation on January 1, 2025, at 4:00 a.m. Central Time, although it remained available through cable providers and free ad-supported streaming channels. The station has had a modest local-news presence. It previously carried daily 90-second Spanish-language updates produced by WTVF and anchored by Eva Melo. These updates were described as the only Spanish-language newscast in Nashville at the time, serving a growing Spanish-speaking audience in Middle Tennessee. WTVF stopped producing them by 2011. In 2014, general manager Dave Carter said WLLC intended to explore local news-related programming, but a traditional newscast was not expected until at least a later date. On July 14, 2021, WLLC-LP received authorization for digital operation and changed its call sign to WLLC-LD. The station is owned by JKB Associates, Inc., operates from Franklin, and transmits from the Life & Casualty Tower in Nashville's Capitol District. Its continuing role is that of a local low-power broadcast outlet combining Spanish-language network service with selected digital multicast programming.

• 2025

  TheGrio ends linear carriage

  [1]WLLC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  TheGrio left WLLC's linear 42.3 service on January 1 while remaining available through other distribution formats.

• 2021

  Call sign changes to WLLC-LD

  [1]WLLC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station was licensed for digital operation on July 14 and changed from WLLC-LP to WLLC-LD.

• 2019

  Multicast lineup is reorganized

  [1]WLLC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Bounce TV was replaced by AMGTV and Heartland was removed from the station's digital lineup.

• 2018

  NuestraVision launches on a reactivated subchannel

  [1]WLLC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station reactivated its 42.5 service with NuestraVision on December 24.

• 2016

  Heartland becomes a flagship service

  [1]WLLC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WLLC added Heartland to its digital lineup and became the network's flagship station after the service left WSMV-TV.

• 2014

  Univision becomes the primary network

  [1]WLLC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Univision launched on 42.1 and UniMás moved to 42.2.

• 2004

  Move to channel 42 and adoption of TeleFutura

  [1]WLLC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station became W42CR, moved to channel 42, and replaced America One with TeleFutura programming before adopting the WLLC-LP call sign.

• 1997

  Move to channel 52

  [1]WLLC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved to channel 52 and changed its call sign to W52CT.

• 1996

  Station begins broadcasting as W59AW

  [1]WLLC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station signed on November 7 on channel 59, carrying America One programming.

A Nashville-area low-power broadcast station focused on Spanish-language television, supplemented by digital multicast networks and occasional local news or community programming.

• Spanish-language television network affiliation · 2014

  Univision

  Univision is WLLC-LD's primary network service on digital channel 42.1. The affiliation gives Nashville-area viewers access to the national Spanish-language network's entertainment, news, sports, and cultural programming through the station's over-the-air signal.

• Spanish-language television network affiliation · 2014

  UniMás

  UniMás occupies WLLC-LD's second digital service on 42.2. It is the successor to TeleFutura, the network carried by the station beginning in 2004, and provides a second Spanish-language programming stream alongside Univision.

• Broadcast television distribution · 2011

  Digital multicast services

  WLLC-LD uses additional digital subchannels to distribute third-party networks. Its historical lineup has included Bounce TV, Biz Television, Heartland, NuestraVision, AMGTV, and TheGrioTV. These services have changed over time as network arrangements and channel strategies evolved.

• Local news programming

  Local Spanish-language news updates

  WLLC previously carried daily 90-second Spanish-language news updates produced by WTVF and anchored by Eva Melo. The short-form service provided local information for Spanish-speaking viewers but was no longer produced by WTVF by 2011.

• 2021

  Transition from WLLC-LP to WLLC-LDGeneration change

  Background

  The station received authorization for digital operation from the relevant broadcast regulator.

  Action taken

  It changed its call sign from WLLC-LP to WLLC-LD on July 14.

  Aftermath

  The new call sign reflects the station's licensed low-power digital operating status.

  Source

• 2019

  Reorganize the multicast lineupStrategy

  Background

  The station revised its secondary-channel portfolio after carrying several entertainment and specialty networks.

  Action taken

  Bounce TV was replaced by AMGTV on 42.3, and Heartland was removed from 42.4.

  Aftermath

  AMGTV was later replaced by TheGrioTV in October 2021, and TheGrio subsequently ended linear carriage in January 2025.

  Source

• 2016

  Expand digital multicast services with HeartlandStrategy

  Background

  Heartland returned as a television network and was displaced from WSMV-TV's digital lineup when WSMV replaced it with another service.

  Action taken

  WLLC added Heartland to 42.4 and became the network's flagship station, while also adding Biz Television to its multiplex.

  Aftermath

  Heartland remained on the station until December 2019, when the subchannel was discontinued.

  Source

• 2014

  Add Univision as primary affiliationStrategy

  Background

  WLLC already carried the TeleFutura successor UniMás and sought to provide a broader Spanish-language network offering in the Nashville market.

  Action taken

  Univision was placed on 42.1, while UniMás moved to 42.2.

  Aftermath

  WLLC became a local outlet for both major Univision-owned Spanish-language broadcast networks.

  Source

• 2004

  Replace America One with TeleFuturaStrategy

  Background

  The station moved to channel 42 during a broader technical and affiliation transition.

  Action taken

  It ended its America One affiliation, adopted TeleFutura programming, and changed its call sign to WLLC-LP later that year.

  Aftermath

  The station developed a Spanish-language identity that continued through TeleFutura's later rebranding as UniMás.

  Source

1. 1WLLC-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Bounce TV Nashvillebouncetvnashville.com