WLPD-CD

WLPD-CD is a low-power, Class A television station licensed to Plano, Illinois, in the United States. The station operates within the Trinity Broadcasting Network's television portfolio and carries TBN Inspire, one of the network's digital multicast services. Its present distribution is closely connected with TBN's broader Chicago-area broadcast infrastructure, including sister station WWTO-TV, licensed to Naperville. Under a channel-sharing arrangement, WLPD-CD and WWTO-TV use transmission facilities associated with WLPD-CD's spectrum and an antenna located atop the John Hancock Center in Chicago. The station's history began on June 30, 1988, when it was established as W30AL. In its earlier configuration, the station was associated with WSPY-FM and also simulcast programming with W24AJ, a former sister station licensed to Aurora. That relationship changed in 2009 when W24AJ was sold to Polnet. The station later pursued a digital transition and expansion of its transmission capability. A 2011 report in the Sandwich Fair Times indicated that the station expected to sign on a digital service identified as DTV 35 in November of that year, with additional digital subchannels planned and substantially greater power than its previous operation. Ownership changed in 2013, when the station was sold to LocusPoint Networks for $6 million. LocusPoint subsequently developed a channel-sharing relationship with TBN. As part of that arrangement, WWTO-TV, which had previously been licensed to La Salle, moved onto the shared transmission platform in November 2017. TBN acquired WLPD-CD from LocusPoint in late January 2018 for $13 million. The acquisition consolidated the station's role within TBN's regional distribution system and enabled the station to carry TBN-related multicast programming rather than functioning primarily as an independent local outlet. In October 2019, the station changed its digital channel assignment from channel 35 to channel 32. Although its city of license is Plano, its technical arrangement gives it a role in serving viewers across the wider northern Illinois and Chicago market. WLPD-CD is therefore best understood as a broadcast distribution asset and religious television outlet rather than as a conventional consumer-facing product brand. Its principal offering is over-the-air television programming, supplemented by digital multicast capacity. Publicly available reference material identifies its current network affiliation and ownership but provides limited information about station personnel, local production, ratings, or a separate corporate website. The America One URL supplied for this record should consequently be treated as a historical or externally provided reference rather than confirmation of an actively maintained station website.

WLPD-CD was founded on June 30, 1988, under the call sign W30AL. It began as a low-power television operation associated with WSPY-FM and had a relationship with W24AJ in Aurora, with which it formerly simulcast programming. That arrangement ended after W24AJ was sold to Polnet in the summer of 2009. The station subsequently moved toward digital broadcasting. A 2011 report in the Sandwich Fair Times described plans for a service identified as DTV 35, expected to launch in November of that year, together with two additional subchannels and a power level approximately twice that of the station's earlier operation. These plans reflected the transition from a small analog outlet toward a digital broadcast configuration capable of carrying multiple services. On May 10, 2013, WLPD-CD was sold to LocusPoint Networks for $6 million. During LocusPoint's ownership, the station became part of a technical strategy involving channel sharing with Trinity Broadcasting Network. TBN used the arrangement to move WWTO-TV, then licensed to La Salle, onto the shared transmission facilities in November 2017. This linked WLPD-CD with TBN's regional broadcast infrastructure and the Chicago transmission site. Trinity Broadcasting Network acquired WLPD-CD from LocusPoint in late January 2018 for $13 million. Following the transaction, the station operated as a TBN outlet and carried TBN Inspire on its digital multicast service. WLPD-CD is sister to WWTO-TV, which is licensed to Naperville. The stations transmit through a shared arrangement using spectrum and facilities associated with WLPD-CD, including an antenna atop Chicago's John Hancock Center. In October 2019, WLPD-CD changed its digital channel assignment from channel 35 to channel 32. Its city of license remains Plano, while its technical footprint and shared Chicago facilities give it relevance across northern Illinois. The station's known role is primarily distribution of TBN religious programming rather than independent local news or general-entertainment production. Available reference material does not identify current station executives, local programming staff, audience figures, or a separately verified active website.

• 2019

  Digital channel changed to 32

  [1]WLPD-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved from channel 35 to channel 32.

• 2018

  Acquired by Trinity Broadcasting Network

  [1]WLPD-CDen.wikipedia.org

  TBN purchased WLPD-CD from LocusPoint Networks for $13 million.

• 2017

  WWTO-TV joined the shared transmission platform

  [1]WLPD-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WWTO-TV moved onto the channel-sharing arrangement associated with WLPD-CD.

• 2013

  Acquired by LocusPoint Networks

  [1]WLPD-CDen.wikipedia.org

  LocusPoint Networks purchased the station for $6 million.

• 2011

  Digital expansion announced

  [1]WLPD-CDen.wikipedia.org

  A local fair publication reported plans for a digital service called DTV 35, additional subchannels, and increased transmission power.

• 2009

  Former simulcast relationship ended

  [1]WLPD-CDen.wikipedia.org

  W24AJ, a former sister station with which WLPD-CD had simulcast, was sold to Polnet.

• 1988

  Station founded as W30AL

  [1]WLPD-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station was established on June 30, 1988, as W30AL, associated with WSPY-FM.

A low-power religious television outlet and TBN distribution platform serving Plano and the broader Chicago-area market through digital terrestrial broadcasting and channel sharing.

• Digital multicast television network

  TBN Inspire

  TBN Inspire is the digital multicast service carried by WLPD-CD. It gives the station a defined network programming role within Trinity Broadcasting Network's portfolio and uses the station's terrestrial digital capacity to distribute religious television content to viewers in the Illinois market.

• Television broadcasting · 1988

  WLPD-CD over-the-air broadcast service

  WLPD-CD provides low-power Class A digital terrestrial television service from a station licensed to Plano, Illinois. Its current technical operation is integrated with TBN's Chicago-area infrastructure and includes channel sharing with sister station WWTO-TV.

• 2019

  Digital channel reassignmentGeneration change

  Background

  The station operated within a digital channel-sharing and multicast configuration.

  Action taken

  WLPD-CD changed its digital channel assignment from 35 to 32.

  Aftermath

  The change became part of the station's continuing digital terrestrial operation under TBN ownership.

  Source

• 2018

  Sale to Trinity Broadcasting NetworkM&A

  Background

  TBN had already developed a channel-sharing arrangement involving WLPD-CD and WWTO-TV.

  Action taken

  Trinity Broadcasting Network acquired WLPD-CD from LocusPoint Networks for $13 million.

  Aftermath

  The station became part of TBN's owned broadcast portfolio and carried TBN Inspire as a digital multicast service.

  Acquisition price. $13 million (Late January 2018)

  Source

• 2013

  Sale to LocusPoint NetworksM&A

  Background

  The station changed ownership during a period of transition toward digital broadcasting and expanded technical use of its spectrum.

  Action taken

  LocusPoint Networks acquired WLPD-CD for $6 million.

  Aftermath

  LocusPoint later established a channel-sharing relationship with TBN that connected WLPD-CD with WWTO-TV's transmission operation.

  Acquisition price. $6 million (May 10, 2013)

  Source

1. 1WLPD-CDen.wikipedia.org