WLNM-LD is a low‑power digital television station licensed to Lansing, Michigan, United States. Operating on UHF digital channel 29 (virtual channel 29), the station functions as a translator for WILX‑TV, the NBC‑affiliated full‑power station (channel 10) licensed to Onondaga, Michigan. Both stations are owned by Gray Television, under the corporate name Gray Television Licensee, LLC.
History
- Founding and early years: The station first signed on the air on 19 April 1991 as W69BJ, broadcasting on analog channel 69 as a translator for WAQP (channel 49), a religious station owned by Tri‑State Christian Television (TCT).
- Channel changes: In November 2003 the station moved to analog channel 27 and changed its call sign to W27CN.
- Digital transition: A flash‑cut to digital service occurred in July 2009, at which point the station added the “‑D” suffix, becoming W27CN‑D. The call sign was later changed to WLNM‑LD on 8 February 2016.
- Ownership transfer: On 14 February 2020, TCT agreed to sell WLNM‑LD to Gray Television for $175,000. The sale was completed on 1 May 2020, with a lease agreement allowing TCT to retain a subchannel on the station for five years after the transfer.
- Recent developments: In June 2024 WLNM‑LD moved to a new transmission tower, expanding its over‑the‑air coverage area within the Lansing market.
Technical parameters
- Facility ID: 67779 (FCC)
- Class: LD (low‑power digital)
- Effective radiated power (ERP): 15 kW
- Height above average terrain (HAAT): 93.8 m (308 ft) for the main transmitter; a construction permit lists a HAAT of 241.4 m (792 ft) for the new site.
- Transmitter location: River Street, southeast of Lansing, near the Red Cedar River; the primary studio facilities for the parent station WILX‑TV are on American Road in Lansing.
Programming and subchannels
WLNM‑LD’s signal is multiplexed, carrying the following subchannels (as of the latest publicly available data):
| Subchannel | Resolution / Aspect | Primary content |
|---|---|---|
| 29.1 | 1080i, 16:9 | NBC (simulcast of WILX‑DT) |
| 29.2 | 480i | MeTV |
| 29.3 | 480i | Start TV |
| 29.4 | 480i | Story Television |
| 29.5 | 480i | MOVIES! |
| 29.6 | 480i | Catchy Comedy |
| 29.7 | 480i | TCT (Trinity Christian Television) – leased subchannel |
The primary NBC affiliation provides network programming, local news, and sports originating from WILX‑TV. The additional subchannels deliver classic television series (MeTV), lifestyle and drama programming (Start TV, Story Television), movie content (MOVIES!), comedy (Catchy Comedy), and religious programming (TCT).
Ownership
WLNM‑LD is owned by Gray Television, a national broadcast group that operates television stations across the United States. The station is licensed under the subsidiary Gray Television Licensee, LLC.
Regulatory status
The station holds a low‑power digital television license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). As a translator, its purpose is to improve reception of the parent full‑power station (WILX‑TV) in areas of the Lansing market where the main signal is weak or obstructed, particularly after the digital television transition.
References
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Facility Data for WLNM‑LD (Facility ID 67779).
- “WLNM‑LD.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLNM-LD.
- Gray Television press releases and public filings regarding the 2020 acquisition of WLNM‑LD.
- WILX‑TV official website (www.wilx.com) – station information and transmitter details.