WTLW

WTLW
Lima, Ohio
United States
Branding WTLW 44
Slogan Your Local Family Station
Channels Digital: 44 (UHF)
Virtual: WTLW 44.1 Religious Independent
WTLW 44.2 WOSN
Owner American Christian Television Services, Inc.
First air date June 13, 1982 (1982-06-13)
Call letters' meaning Witnessing
The
Living
Word
Former channel number(s) 44 (UHF analog, 1982-2008)
Transmitter power 165 kW
Height 207 m
Facility ID 1222
Transmitter coordinates 40°45′47″N 84°10′59″W / 40.76306°N 84.18306°W / 40.76306; -84.18306
Website www.wtlw.com

WTLW is a religious and family-entertainment television station in Lima, Ohio. The station is owned by American Christian Television Services, and broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 44. It runs infomercials and religious programming before 5 p.m.; and family dramas, first-run talk shows, family movies, local sports programming, and reality shows after 5 p.m.

History

WTLW has its roots in Christian radio station WTGN-FM, also in Lima. In 1976, WTGN solicited its listeners for seed money for a new television station. Before the station received FCC approval, however, WTGN opted not to own nor operate the new station, and the people behind the drive to get WTLW on the air decided to incorporate as American Christian Television Services, Inc.

The station chose a hangar at the former site of Lima Allen County Airport on Baty Road near Elida, northwest of Lima, to build a studio. The new studios, measuring 80 feet by 80 feet (24 m by 24 m), was believed by the station founders to be the largest television studio in Northwest Ohio. The hangar was converted into a television studio in 1980, through the efforts of volunteers.

On June 13, 1982, WTLW signed on the air.

The station's owner, American Christian Television Services, should not be confused with the American Christian Television System, a defunct television network, or Associated Christian Television System, owners of WACX in Orlando, Florida.

In 1988 the station expanded its focus from religious broadcasts to incorporate full length broadcasts of local high school basketball games. Eventually, football games were added as well. In the fall of 2010, WTLW launched a 24-hour all-sports network on its digital sub-channel, 44.2. The station was called WOSN, standing for West Ohio Sports Network.

WOSN now covers 70 schools and several colleges and airs hundreds of full length sporting events throughout the year. WOSN is also home to several sports related shows - Sports Report, Big Sports Weekend, Buckeye Insider and Marks Madness. The majority of games aired on WOSN are football and basketball games, but Soccer, Volleyball, Tennis, Swimming, Softball, Baseball, Track, Bowling and even Soapbox Derby Racing have been featured.

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