WLXI explained

Callsign:WLXI
City:Greensboro, North Carolina
Digital:33 (UHF), shared with WUNL-TV
Virtual:43
Affiliations:43.1: TCT
Owner:Tri-State Christian Television
Licensee:Radiant Life Ministries, Inc.
Country:United States
Callsign Meaning:"LXI" = Roman numeral 61 (former analog channel)
Erp:1,000 kW
Haat:5000NaN0
Facility Id:54452
Coordinates:36.3755°N -80.3715°W
Licensing Authority:FCC

WLXI (channel 43) is a television station licensed to Greensboro, North Carolina, United States, owned and operated by and broadcasting Tri-State Christian Television (TCT). WLXI shares a transmitter on Sauratown Mountain with WUNL-TV;[1] the signal reaches the entire Piedmont Triad area. Programs are fed to the transmitter from the TCT studio center in Marion, Illinois; WLXI maintained studios on Patterson Street in Greensboro until TCT ended local operations nationally in June 2018.[2]

WLXI went on the air in 1984 and originally aired music videos. This lasted for under 18 months until converting to religious programming.

History

UHF channel 61 was first assigned to Greensboro in the 1960s, but no application was made for it until 1979, when Consolidated Broadcasting Corporation filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to build it. It originally proposed a low-power facility operating on the former tower of WFMY-TV. Consolidated's principals included Eugene Johnston, a Greensboro attorney, and two lawyers from Winston-Salem.[3] The FCC granted the construction permit on July 28, 1981, but before going on air, Johnston exited most of his share in the business as a result of having been elected to Congress in 1980.[4] At that time, it was hoped that WLXI would be in service by midyear from a tower used by WQMG and studios that a decade earlier had housed WUBC (channel 48), a short-lived UHF outlet.

However, it would be another two years, as Consolidated opted instead to build studios near Kernersville. By February 1983, Consolidated had decided instead to format the station as an all-music video outlet.[5] Under this format, WLXI began broadcasting on March 5, 1984,[6] with an airstaff of local video jockeys (VJs); the first program manager left within a week of signing on.[7] Despite difficulties attracting advertisers to the format and turnover of the entire initial staff (including on-air and sales employees), ownership claimed to have found stable footing by November.[8] A stunt in which the station played "This is the Life" by "Weird Al" Yankovic for 18 straight hours attracted national press attention.[9]

This was not enough to save the station's format as Billy Satterfield of Winston-Salem took over ownership. On July 1, VJ Todd Yohn walked off the job after playing "Take This Job and Shove It" by Johnny Paycheck after hearing rumors that WLXI had been sold; these rumors suggested a religious broadcaster would be channel 61's new operator.[10] Another VJ resigned the next day, with Jay Johnson telling viewers he was leaving "because I feel like the station won't exist very much longer".[11] WLXI experienced no further staff changes for the rest of July, but on August 1, another VJ and a receptionist were fired by Satterfield. VJ Erin Spencer told the News & Record that Satterfield said to her, "You shouldn't be doing this. It's the devil's work. Think of those 7- and 8-year-olds who are watching and being influenced. Video music is the work of the devil."[12]

The next day, Satterfield confirmed the station would switch to Christian programming in a gradual manner and that he had met with executives of the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).[13] TBN then bought WLXI from Satterfield for $300,000 and a $1.4 million loan to cover station debts.[14] The full conversion to TBN programming took place in September 1985 ahead of the network closing on the sale in February.[15] [16]

In 1989, TBN put WLXI and KNAT-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico, up for sale; one possible reason was that cable systems in the area had dropped WLXI in 1986 for not having a measurable audience.[17] Two years later, it sold WLXI to Tri-State Christian Television of Marion, Illinois, for $1.9 million, giving TCT its first station in the South.[18] In April 2007, TCT pulled TBN programming from its stations in favor of programming supplied by the company.

From 1993 to 2009, WLXI's signal was relayed on low-power translator station W18BG (channel 18, now WMDV-LD) in Danville, Virginia. In June 2009, that station was sold to the Star News Corporation (owners of WGSR-LD in that market) and stopped rebroadcasting WLXI's programming.

At the end of June 2018, TCT closed WLXI's local studio and ended its local programming with the FCC's repeal of the Main Studio Rule, and the station from then on would be programmed through TCT's default national schedule.[19]

Technical information

Subchannel

WLXI is broadcast as one subchannel on the shared multiplex.

Channel! scope = "col"
Res.AspectShort nameProgramming
43.1 WLXI TCT

Analog-to-digital conversion

WLXI shut down its analog signal on June 12, 2009, as part of the FCC-mandated transition to digital television for full-power stations.[20] The station then adopted channel 43 as its virtual channel instead of 61.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Modification of a License for DTV Application. Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. April 24, 2023. April 24, 2023.
  2. Web site: WNYB-TV ends local productions, station site is for sale. The Buffalo News. July 2, 2018. July 2, 2018. July 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180702164108/https://buffalonews.com/2018/07/02/wnyb-tv-ends-local-productions-station-site-is-for-sale/. live.
  3. News: Station Hopes For June. GenealogyBank. A12. Jerry. Kenion. Greensboro Daily News. May 30, 1979. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116082723/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68DA9EC1533C@GB3NEWS-14A9E0A26382FD60@2444024-14A3A05157CCBB62@11-14A3A05157CCBB62?clipid=rsgcftggdsxpyyzbqimekaaukmezdixa_wma-gateway014_1668581927263. live.
  4. News: City's third TV station may be on air by summer. GenealogyBank. B1. Jim. Schlosser. The Greensboro Record. February 2, 1982. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116092744/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68CD17067F8E@GB3NEWS-1401AE544CBCFDE4@2445003-14017150E003022B@12-14017150E003022B?clipid=stbwyzyiqvecmkiqiybtedipqnfzmwzi_wma-gateway008_1668581996478. live.
  5. News: TV station plans unusual concept. Sue. Robinson. GenealogyBank. B1. February 23, 1983. The Greensboro Record. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116082726/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68CD17067F8E@GB3NEWS-11ED30BEA3764328@2445389-11ED2F4821152978@10-11ED2F4821152978?clipid=icudwupaclflzfycsmhqivglnqzdseox_wma-gateway017_1668582156854. live.
  6. Bessman . Jim . November 24, 1984 . Greensboro Station: We're Not MTV . 32 . . May 8, 2024.
  7. News: Sue. Robinson. VJs: Channel 61's music videos beamed out by 'communicators' pioneering new trade. B1, B2. The Greensboro Record. March 16, 1984. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116084230/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68CD17067F8E@GB3NEWS-14026EE2471EBC45@2445776-14026E8A5FC85257@12-14026E8A5FC85257?clipid=fwuqvgjjepivcffjizaaaldlfxdhydss_wma-gateway016_1668582225035. live.
  8. News: Channel 61 hitting stride after having problems at start. November 9, 1984. Greensboro News & Record. B4. GenealogyBank. Sue. Robinson. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116161355/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68C14C72638D@GB3NEWS-1407006F60FB3B32@2446014-140659ECA82C13FC@19-140659ECA82C13FC?clipid=gonpcenddpxyuizrvbxtccglmhbpdgkr_wma-gateway017_1668582365265. live.
  9. News: Video gimmick puts 61 centerstage. Sheryl. James. GenealogyBank. Greensboro News & Record. March 1, 1985. C1, C3. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116091239/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68C14C72638D@GB3NEWS-1406C9F0007017D0@2446126-1406B3543B28C1AA@20-1406B3543B28C1AA?clipid=wlqxmhifmwijgrlklrgiglqwgkyalzcm_wma-gateway020_1668582533626. live.
  10. News: Channel 61 broadcaster walks off in a huff. Sue. Robinson. July 2, 1985. B8. Greensboro News & Record. GenealogyBank. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116115750/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68C14C72638D@GB3NEWS-1406FAA7B118BB01@2446249-14065A3382EC9CB0@23-14065A3382EC9CB0?clipid=gcdshkqtewzxnelpzxhbhljfdodkwadk_wma-gateway004_1668582614880. live.
  11. News: Second TV employee quits on the air. C7. Greensboro News & Record. July 3, 1985. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116115750/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68C14C72638D@GB3NEWS-1406FAAA384463BB@2446250-1406F474777D0A71@41-1406F474777D0A71?clipid=ifppfkpfipqfpveowtlwbylarvpebxnk_wma-gateway001_1668582675999. live.
  12. News: Two more announcers leave Triad's music video station. D1. August 2, 1985. Sue. Robinson. Greensboro News & Record. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116211505/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68C14C72638D@GB3NEWS-1408AC761737FA09@2446280-14089CBFEC4D25F5@32-14089CBFEC4D25F5?clipid=cpiwqehdweezfiohdcyevykjvmnjbktf_wma-gateway012_1668582770081. live.
  13. News: D2. August 3, 1985. WLXI-TV chief announces switch to religious programs. Sue. Robinson. Greensboro News & Record. November 16, 2022. November 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221117103231/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68C14C72638D@GB3NEWS-1408AC7EB8A16731@2446281-140700836A38E4CE@41-140700836A38E4CE?clipid=wzjzwjwjjvofshenlwixqvlepjdupsbp_wma-gateway001_1668583049012. live.
  14. News: Sandra Hughes leaving PM Magazine for management. August 23, 1985. Sue. Robinson. Greensboro News & Record. November 16, 2022. January 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230110074447/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68C14C72638D%40GB3NEWS-1408625CDD85A5BD%402446301-1407009573E9DD73%4019-1407009573E9DD73?clipid=ynlcxcjtbzcziaxszzzjapyqvrmkqvqr_wma-gateway019_1668583101609. live.
  15. News: On the flipside: trouble in music-video land. 53, 56, 58. Broadcasting. February 10, 1986. November 16, 2022. December 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221206091011/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-02-10.pdf. live.
  16. News: March 27, 1986. Greensboro News & Record. Public television supporters in N.C. first among states. B5. GenealogyBank. November 16, 2022. November 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221116102756/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68C14C72638D@GB3NEWS-1408A18EE91DB39B@2446517-14089D30AD573374@21-14089D30AD573374?clipid=scunncgznscagebdogktnogdockahgng_wma-gateway004_1668586755821. live.
  17. News: Ch. 61, sister station are put up for sale. A11. Nick. Brown. Greensboro News & Record. March 29, 1989. November 16, 2022. January 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230110074448/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68C14C72638D%40GB3NEWS-14B4080A81BA8319%402447615-14B3BCCF21F42CF8%4050-14B3BCCF21F42CF8?clipid=jcioguizdyrfmipgpkrkaqawthmtorhq_wma-gateway005_1668583455308. live.
  18. News: For the Record. October 28, 1991. Broadcasting. 76. November 16, 2022. December 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221201041248/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-10-28.pdf. live.
  19. News: WLXI, a longtime carrier of Christian programming, signs off. McLaughlin. Nancy. News & Record. June 28, 2018. June 28, 2018. June 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180628120142/https://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/wlxi-a-longtime-carrier-of-christian-programming-signs-off/article_11a62ad0-5cdd-5eee-b763-535a6b15cecf.html. live.
  20. Web site: May 23, 2006 . DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf . August 29, 2013 . August 29, 2021 . Federal Communications Commission.

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