WMNS-LD

WMNS-LD was a low-power television station licensed to Charlotte Amalie on Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Operating on channel 22, the station provided an over-the-air outlet for programming associated with TV2, a cable-only channel serving the territory. Although it was described as an independent station, its programming history included a period carrying Daystar religious programming and a later role in extending TV2's availability to viewers who could not receive the cable service. The station began operations under the call sign K22GA after being founded on October 17, 2001. On December 22, 2003, it adopted the call sign WMNS-LP. The station's facilities included a transmitter located atop Hawk Hill, allowing its low-power signal to serve viewers in the Saint Thomas area. The call sign was later represented as WMNS-LD, reflecting the station's digital low-power broadcasting status. Before July 13, 2009, WMNS-LP carried programming from Daystar, a religious television network. Its role changed after CBS programming moved from WVXF to TV2, which was available only through cable. WMNS-LD then supplied an over-the-air transmission of TV2 programming, helping make the channel's schedule accessible beyond cable subscribers. Innovative Communications Corporation operated the station alongside TV2, while ownership remained with V.I. Christian Ministries, Inc. The station ultimately ceased broadcasting on September 20, 2023, when V.I. Christian Ministries ended its operations. The license was surrendered to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on December 12, 2023. WMNS-LD is therefore a defunct local broadcast outlet rather than an ongoing national television brand. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about its staffing, finances, audience size, detailed programming schedule, or commercial strategy.

WMNS-LD was established as a low-power television station serving Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its original call sign was K22GA, and the station's founding date is recorded as October 17, 2001. It operated on channel 22 and was licensed to Charlotte Amalie. As a low-power facility, it functioned primarily as a local and territorial distribution outlet rather than as a large-market network station. On December 22, 2003, the station changed its call sign to WMNS-LP. Its transmission facilities were located atop Hawk Hill, a site used to provide broadcast coverage to the local service area. The station's ownership was associated with V.I. Christian Ministries, Inc., while Innovative Communications Corporation operated it alongside TV2, a cable-only television service in the territory. The station's programming role developed over time. Before July 13, 2009, WMNS-LP carried programming from Daystar, a religious television network. In 2009, CBS programming moved from WVXF to TV2. Because TV2 was cable-only, WMNS-LD became important as an over-the-air outlet for TV2 programming, making that content available to viewers who were not connected to the cable platform. This arrangement gave the station a distribution function within the local television ecosystem, even though it was not itself described as a major network-owned station. The station was subsequently identified under the WMNS-LD designation, consistent with its digital low-power operation. Available reference material does not document a substantial independent news operation, a broad commercial programming portfolio, or a large corporate brand structure. Instead, the station's identity was closely tied to its channel assignment, its license in Charlotte Amalie, the ministries organization that owned it, and its operating relationship with Innovative Communications and TV2. V.I. Christian Ministries ceased operations on September 20, 2023. The station's license was surrendered on December 12, 2023, bringing its regulatory and broadcasting history to a close. WMNS-LD is consequently classified as defunct. The available sources do not provide verified information about individual executives, financial performance, audience measurements, advertising revenue, or the circumstances behind the decision to discontinue the service beyond the recorded cessation of operations and license surrender.

• 2023

  Operations ended

  [1]WMNS-LDen.wikipedia.org

  V.I. Christian Ministries ceased operations of WMNS-LD on September 20, 2023.

• 2023

  Broadcast license surrendered

  [1]WMNS-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station's license was surrendered on December 12, 2023.

• 2009

  Role shifted to TV2 over-the-air distribution

  [1]WMNS-LDen.wikipedia.org

  After CBS programming moved from WVXF to cable-only TV2, WMNS-LD provided an over-the-air outlet for TV2 programming. Before this change, the station had carried Daystar programming.

• 2003

  Call sign changed to WMNS-LP

  [1]WMNS-LDen.wikipedia.org

  On December 22, 2003, the station adopted the WMNS-LP call sign.

• 2001

  Station founded as K22GA

  [1]WMNS-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The low-power television station was founded on October 17, 2001, under the call sign K22GA and was licensed to Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas.

A local low-power broadcast outlet that extended television programming to viewers in Saint Thomas and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including over-the-air access to programming associated with cable-only TV2.

• Low-power television station · 2001

  Channel 22 broadcast service

  WMNS-LD operated as a low-power television station on channel 22, licensed to Charlotte Amalie on Saint Thomas. Its transmitter was located atop Hawk Hill and served viewers in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The station was principally a local distribution outlet rather than a broad national television network.

• Television programming distribution · 2009

  TV2 over-the-air programming

  Following the movement of CBS programming from WVXF to cable-only TV2 in 2009, WMNS-LD carried TV2 programming over the air. This service extended access to TV2 content for viewers who did not receive the cable channel.

• Religious television programming

  Daystar programming

  Before July 13, 2009, the station broadcast programming from Daystar, a religious television network. This was part of WMNS-LD's earlier programming identity before its later distribution role for TV2.

• 2023

  Station closure and license surrenderOther

  Background

  V.I. Christian Ministries ended the station's operations on September 20, 2023.

  Action taken

  The station ceased broadcasting and its license was surrendered on December 12, 2023.

  Aftermath

  WMNS-LD became a defunct television station, ending its over-the-air service in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  Source

• 2009

  Shift from Daystar programming to TV2 distributionStrategy

  Background

  Before July 13, 2009, the station carried Daystar programming. CBS programming subsequently moved from WVXF to TV2, a cable-only channel.

  Action taken

  WMNS-LD was used to provide an over-the-air outlet for TV2 programming, changing its principal distribution role.

  Aftermath

  The station became a terrestrial access point for programming otherwise associated with the cable-only TV2 service.

  Source

1. 1WMNS-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WMNS-LD affiliated websitecbstv2vi.com