WSFJ-TV
Encyclopedia
WSFJ-TV is a Trinity Broadcasting Network
-owned and operated television station in Columbus, Ohio
, licensed to Newark
. It broadcasts in digital
on UHF channel 24.
Initially the station ran only Christian programs, including (but not limited to) PTL Club, Jimmy Swaggart
, 700 Club, Another Life
, and children's programming. That fall, WSFJ began running Independent Network News
and New Zoo Revue
during the week, and Wild Kingdom
, along with some hunting and wildlife shows, on Saturdays, though programming remained predominantly Christian. It was the only over-the-air source of non-network programming in central Ohio until WTTE
signed on in 1984.
In the fall of 1998, the station affiliated with Pax TV (later i and now ION Television), running the network's programming from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and again from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. WSFJ also began to be seen on a translator in Columbus, WCPX-LP
channel 48, which was owned by Pax's parent company, Paxson Communications (now ION Media Networks
). WSFJ itself was the largest ION affiliate owned by a company other than ION Media Networks.
WSFJ was sold to Guardian Enterprise Group in 2004. In 2005, WSFJ began to acquire some family-friendly programming separate from its affiliation with i. This group of programming was known as "Guardian Television Network", and the station as a whole branded as GTN51. Guardian Enterprise Group was located in the same office as WSFJ. Other companies under the Guardian Enterprise Group include Guardian Studios, and Guardian Human Resources.
In March 2007, WSFJ moved its master control and studio into a facility at Easton Town Center
, which generated the content that was sent to their new digital transmission facility in Pataskala
, off of SR 161. That year, WSFJ launched its digital station on channel 24.
ION sold WCPX-LP in 2007, and in January 2008 it was relaunched as an Azteca América
affiliate. At the same time, ION programming disappeared from WSFJ, leaving it exclusively with family entertainment, religious shows, and paid programming.
In July 2008, it was announced that Guardian would sell WSFJ to the Trinity Broadcasting Network
for $16 million. Guardian retained its other properties, including the upcoming .2 Network
, and acquired W23BZ, which had been a low-power repeater of TBN; it picked up WSFJ's programming when channel 51 began carrying TBN programming on October 1, 2008. However, by selling off its full-powered station and getting a low-powered signal, GTN would find themselves at a disadvantage -- being on a low-power signal, it lost its must-carry
status; as a result, Guardian urged viewers to contact their cable systems to pick up GTN after the move to channel 23.
WSFJ now repeats the TBN feed most of the day, with virtually no local programming. TBN has long been known for buying existing stations in order to get must-carry status on local cable systems.
TBN-owned full-power stations ceased analog transmissions on April 16, 2009. WSFJ remained on its pre-transition channel number, 24, using PSIP to appear on viewers' sets as channel 51.
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
-owned and operated television station in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, licensed to Newark
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
. It broadcasts in digital
ATSC
ATSC standards are a set of standards developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee for digital television transmission over terrestrial, cable, and satellite networks....
on UHF channel 24.
History
WSFJ-TV began operations on March 9, 1980. It was the first independent television station in Columbus, as well as the first new commercial station in the area in 31 years. Columbus had a much longer wait for an independent station than many other cities that got full network service before 1950. However, the Columbus market is a very large market geographically, and UHF stations do not carry well across large blocks of territory.Initially the station ran only Christian programs, including (but not limited to) PTL Club, Jimmy Swaggart
Jimmy Swaggart
Jimmy Lee Swaggart is a Pentecostal American pastor, teacher, musician, television host, and televangelist. He has preached to crowds around the world through his weekly telecast...
, 700 Club, Another Life
Another Life
Another Life is an American television soap opera produced and broadcast by the Christian Broadcasting Network from June 1, 1981 to October 5, 1984...
, and children's programming. That fall, WSFJ began running Independent Network News
Independent Network News (US)
The Independent Network News was a nationally-syndicated nightly news program, seen from June 1980 until June 1990. The newscast was designed to serve the same purpose as the nightly network news programs, and was produced by Tribune Company-owned station WPIX in New York...
and New Zoo Revue
New Zoo Revue
New Zoo Revue is an American half-hour children's television show that ran in syndication from 1972-1977. Stations usually broadcast the program in the early or middle part of the morning hours, when many pre-schoolers were watching it as well as similar shows such as the franchised Romper Room and...
during the week, and Wild Kingdom
Wild Kingdom
Wild Kingdom, sometimes known as Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, is an American television show that features wildlife and nature. It was originally produced from 1963 until 1988, and was revived in 2002...
, along with some hunting and wildlife shows, on Saturdays, though programming remained predominantly Christian. It was the only over-the-air source of non-network programming in central Ohio until WTTE
WTTE
WTTE is the Fox-affiliated television station for Columbus, Ohio. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 36 from a transmitter on Stimmel Road. The station can be seen on Insight, Time Warner, and WOW! channel 8. For high definition digital cable, it is offered on Insight...
signed on in 1984.
In the fall of 1998, the station affiliated with Pax TV (later i and now ION Television), running the network's programming from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and again from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. WSFJ also began to be seen on a translator in Columbus, WCPX-LP
WCPX-LP
WCPX-LP is a low-power television station in Columbus, Ohio, was broadcasting locally as analog channel 48 until March 2010 as an affiliate of Azteca América. Founded January 29, 1985, the station is owned currently by Columbus Hispanic Media, LLC.-History:...
channel 48, which was owned by Pax's parent company, Paxson Communications (now ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks is an American television broadcasting company that owns and operates over 60 television stations in most major American markets. It is now a privately owned company.-History:...
). WSFJ itself was the largest ION affiliate owned by a company other than ION Media Networks.
In March 2007, WSFJ moved its master control and studio into a facility at Easton Town Center
Easton Town Center
Easton Town Center is a large mixed-use town center in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It is designed to look like a classic American main street, with public spaces, fountains, a street grid, and metered storefront parking....
, which generated the content that was sent to their new digital transmission facility in Pataskala
Pataskala, Ohio
Pataskala is a city in Licking County, Ohio, United States. The population was 10,249 at the 2000 census. Pataskala was a small community until 1996, when what was then the village of Pataskala merged with Lima Township, vastly increasing its population and geographic area.-Geography:Pataskala is...
, off of SR 161. That year, WSFJ launched its digital station on channel 24.
ION sold WCPX-LP in 2007, and in January 2008 it was relaunched as an Azteca América
Azteca América
Azteca América is a broadcast television network marketed toward Spanish-speaking families residing in the United States. As a rapidly-growing Spanish language network, Azteca América now reaches 89% of the Hispanic households in the U.S., operating in sixty-two markets nationwide. Wholly owned by...
affiliate. At the same time, ION programming disappeared from WSFJ, leaving it exclusively with family entertainment, religious shows, and paid programming.
In July 2008, it was announced that Guardian would sell WSFJ to the Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
for $16 million. Guardian retained its other properties, including the upcoming .2 Network
.2 Network
.2 Network was the name of a planned television network designed for digital television subchannels owned by Guardian Enterprise Group that will replace the GTN network on a date never announced....
, and acquired W23BZ, which had been a low-power repeater of TBN; it picked up WSFJ's programming when channel 51 began carrying TBN programming on October 1, 2008. However, by selling off its full-powered station and getting a low-powered signal, GTN would find themselves at a disadvantage -- being on a low-power signal, it lost its must-carry
Must-carry
In cable television, governments apply a must-carry regulation stating that locally-licensed television stations must be carried on a cable provider's system.- Canada :...
status; as a result, Guardian urged viewers to contact their cable systems to pick up GTN after the move to channel 23.
WSFJ now repeats the TBN feed most of the day, with virtually no local programming. TBN has long been known for buying existing stations in order to get must-carry status on local cable systems.
Digital television
Unlike other TBN affiliates, WSFJ is not presently multiplexed. It broadcasts only the primary TBN satellite feed.TBN-owned full-power stations ceased analog transmissions on April 16, 2009. WSFJ remained on its pre-transition channel number, 24, using PSIP to appear on viewers' sets as channel 51.