WRLM

WRLM is a full-power religious television station licensed to Canton, Ohio, and serving the broader Cleveland–Akron television market. The station currently operates as part of Total Christian Television (TCT), a Christian broadcasting group whose programming is distributed through a network of television stations in the United States. Although its present identity is associated with religious programming, the station has passed through several markedly different formats and ownership structures since its launch. The station began broadcasting on March 1, 1982, under the call sign WOAC on UHF channel 67. Founded by businessman Morton Kent, it initially operated as an independent Canton-area station. Its early schedule consisted primarily of syndicated reruns, movies, and local news updates, reflecting the programming model commonly used by independent stations in smaller or developing television markets. The station's original signal was concentrated largely in Canton and Stark County, limiting its reach within the larger Northeast Ohio market. In 1995, Canton 67 Ltd. sold WOAC to Whitehead Media. Whitehead entered into a local marketing agreement with Paxson Communications, which subsequently moved the station away from conventional entertainment programming. In late 1995, WOAC adopted an infomercial-oriented schedule supplied by Paxson's Infomall TV Network, also known as inTV. After Paxson acquired WAKC-TV in Cleveland, WOAC and WAKC carried inTV programming during the period following the expiration of WAKC's ABC affiliation contract in December 1996. WOAC continued with that arrangement until 1998, when it was sold to the Shop at Home Network and converted to home-shopping programming. The station's technical position later improved substantially. Its antenna was moved to the Brimfield site and its analog transmission power was increased to the maximum permitted for an analog UHF station, giving it coverage that more closely competed with other stations in the regional market. WOAC began digital broadcasting on UHF channel 47 in early 2006 at the maximum allowable digital transmission power. Following the end of the Shop at Home network's original operations in 2006, the station carried a mixture of Shop at Home and Jewelry Television programming. In late 2006, Shop at Home's station assets, including WOAC, were sold by the E. W. Scripps Company to Multicultural Television. After the transaction closed, home-shopping programming ended at the station. The schedule shifted toward infomercials and locally produced programs, including restaurant and lifestyle material such as Dining With Steve and The Art of Living. Multicultural later encountered financial difficulties and defaulted on its loans, resulting in the station being placed into a trust before it was sold to Tri-State Christian Television. On June 25, 2009, the station adopted the call sign WRLM and began carrying TCT's religious programming. The calls were associated with Radiant Life Ministries, the licensee name used by TCT in connection with the station. WRLM subsequently became part of TCT's Christian television network rather than a conventional local entertainment, shopping, or general-interest outlet. WRLM also underwent the United States television industry's transition from analog to digital broadcasting. Its analog signal on channel 67 was shut down on February 17, 2009, while its digital signal remained on physical UHF channel 47. On June 25, 2009, its virtual channel was remapped from the former analog channel designation to 47.1. The station historically maintained studios on Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls, but TCT closed its local studios in June 2018 after the Federal Communications Commission repealed the Main Studio Rule. WRLM's transmission operation continues through shared facilities with PBS member station WEAO: both stations use WEAO's spectrum from an antenna in Copley, Ohio.

WRLM traces its history to WOAC, a Canton, Ohio, television station that began broadcasting on March 1, 1982, on UHF channel 67. Businessman Morton Kent founded the station, which initially operated independently with syndicated reruns, movies, and local news updates. Its early coverage was concentrated in Canton and Stark County rather than the entire Cleveland–Akron market. In 1995, Canton 67 Ltd. sold WOAC to Whitehead Media. Whitehead entered into a local marketing agreement with Paxson Communications, and WOAC soon shifted from general entertainment to infomercials supplied by Paxson's Infomall TV Network, or inTV. Paxson's acquisition of WAKC-TV led to both stations carrying inTV programming after WAKC's ABC affiliation ended on December 31, 1996. WOAC retained the infomercial format until 1998, when the Shop at Home Network acquired the station and introduced home-shopping programming. The station's technical reach expanded after its antenna was moved to the Brimfield site and its analog power was increased to the maximum authorized level for an analog UHF station. WOAC began digital operations on UHF channel 47 in early 2006 using the maximum permitted digital power. Later that year, the E. W. Scripps Company announced that Shop at Home would suspend operations. Jewelry Television subsequently assumed aspects of the network's operations, and WOAC carried a combination of Shop at Home and Jewelry Television material. Scripps announced in September 2006 that it would sell WOAC and other Shop at Home stations to Multicultural Television. The transaction closed on December 20, 2006. Multicultural ended the station's home-shopping schedule and substituted infomercials and locally produced programming, including programs focused on restaurants and lifestyle subjects. Multicultural later experienced financial problems and defaulted on loans. WOAC was placed into a trust and ultimately sold to Tri-State Christian Television, a Marion, Illinois-based Christian broadcasting group. On June 25, 2009, the station changed its call sign from WOAC to WRLM and began carrying religious programming from Total Christian Television. The call letters reflected Radiant Life Ministries, the licensee name under which TCT owned the station. They were not connected to a separate Washington state group using a similar name. WRLM shut down its analog transmission on February 17, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition to digital television. Its digital signal remained on physical UHF channel 47, and its virtual identification was later changed to 47.1. The station formerly maintained studios on Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls. Those local studios were closed in June 2018 after the FCC repealed the Main Studio Rule. The station currently operates as a TCT religious outlet serving the Cleveland–Akron television market. Through a channel-sharing arrangement with PBS member station WEAO, WRLM transmits using WEAO's spectrum from an antenna in Copley, Ohio.

• 2018

  Local studio operations end

  [1]WRLM (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  TCT closes its local studios, including WRLM's former Cuyahoga Falls facility, after the FCC repeals the Main Studio Rule.

• 2009

  WOAC becomes WRLM

  [1]WRLM (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The station adopts the WRLM call sign and begins broadcasting Total Christian Television religious programming.

• 2009

  Analog shutdown and digital remapping

  [1]WRLM (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The analog channel 67 service ends, and the station's digital service is identified on virtual channel 47.1.

• 2006

  Digital operation begins and station ownership changes

  [1]WRLM (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  WOAC begins digital broadcasting on UHF channel 47 and later transfers from Scripps-related Shop at Home ownership to Multicultural Television.

• 1998

  Conversion to Shop at Home programming

  [1]WRLM (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The station is sold to the Shop at Home Network and replaces Paxson's inTV service with home-shopping programming.

• 1995

  Whitehead Media acquisition and Paxson programming agreement

  [1]WRLM (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  Whitehead Media acquires WOAC and enters a local marketing agreement with Paxson Communications, leading to a move toward infomercial programming.

• 1982

  WOAC signs on

  [1]WRLM (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The station begins broadcasting on March 1 as an independent station on UHF channel 67, serving Canton and nearby areas.

A local broadcast outlet within Total Christian Television, positioned around Christian religious programming for viewers in Northeast Ohio.

• Religious broadcast television · 2009

  WRLM digital television service

  WRLM is the station's current broadcast service in the Cleveland–Akron market. It carries programming supplied by Total Christian Television and is transmitted digitally on physical UHF channel 47, with virtual channel identification 47.1. The service operates through shared transmission facilities involving PBS member station WEAO and an antenna site in Copley, Ohio.

• 2018

  Closure of local studio facilitiesStrategy

  Background

  TCT closed its local studios after the Federal Communications Commission repealed the Main Studio Rule.

  Action taken

  WRLM's former Cuyahoga Falls studio operation was closed.

  Aftermath

  The station continued broadcasting as part of TCT's network without the former local studio presence.

  Source

• 2009

  Conversion to TCT religious programmingStrategy

  Background

  Multicultural Television encountered financial problems and defaulted on loans, after which the station was placed into a trust and later sold to Tri-State Christian Television.

  Action taken

  The station changed its call sign from WOAC to WRLM and adopted Total Christian Television's religious programming.

  Aftermath

  WRLM became a Christian television outlet serving Northeast Ohio and remained associated with TCT.

  Source

• 2006

  Sale of WOAC to Multicultural TelevisionM&A

  Background

  The E. W. Scripps Company announced the sale of WOAC and other Shop at Home stations after Shop at Home suspended its operations.

  Action taken

  Multicultural Television acquired WOAC, with the transaction closing on December 20, 2006.

  Aftermath

  Home-shopping programming ended and was replaced by infomercials and locally produced programming.

  Reported transaction value. $170 million (Announced September 26, 2006; transaction completed December 20, 2006)

  Source

• 1998

  Adoption of home-shopping programmingStrategy

  Background

  WOAC was sold to the Shop at Home Network after its period carrying Paxson's inTV service.

  Action taken

  The station replaced infomercials with Shop at Home home-shopping programming.

  Aftermath

  The station remained associated with home shopping through the 2006 ownership transition, later carrying a mix of Shop at Home and Jewelry Television content.

  Source

• 1995

  Move from independent entertainment to infomercialsStrategy

  Background

  After Whitehead Media acquired WOAC and entered a local marketing agreement with Paxson Communications, the station changed its programming model.

  Action taken

  WOAC dropped most entertainment programming and adopted Paxson's Infomall TV Network schedule.

  Aftermath

  The station continued operating as a primarily infomercial-oriented outlet until its later conversion to home shopping.

  Source

1. 1WRLM (TV)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Total Christian Televisiontct.tv