WLFT-CD
WLFT-CD, virtual and UHF digital channel 30, is a low-powered, Class A MeTV-affiliated television station serving Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States that is licensed to Baker. The station is owned by Touch Family Broadcasting. The station's transmitter is located in Interstate 10 near Siegen Lane across from TopGolf.
 | |
| Baker / Baton Rouge, Louisiana United States | |
|---|---|
| Channels | Digital: 30 (UHF) Virtual: 30 (PSIP) |
| Branding | Me-TV Baton Rouge |
| Slogan | We're Louisiana Family Television |
| Programming | |
| Subchannels | 30.1: MeTV (primary)/Independent (secondary)/Antenna TV (tertiary)/NewsNet (mornings) 30.2: MeTV (full schedule) 30.3: NewsNet 30.4: Antenna TV |
| Affiliations | MeTV (2011–present) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Touch Family Broadcasting (Bethany World Prayer Center, Inc.) |
| History | |
| Founded | August 19, 1998 |
First air date | August 31, 1998 (as a cable channel) 2005 (over the air) |
Former call signs | K52CQ (1989-1998) WLFT-LP (1998-2003) WLFT-CA (2003-2011) |
Former channel number(s) | Analog: 52 (UHF, 1998–2005) 30 (UHF, 2005–2011) |
| Analog/DT1: Pax (1998-2002) FamilyNet (2002–2011) DT3: Zuus Country (2012–2013) TV Scout (2013–2014) GetTV (2014-2017) HSN (2017-2018) DT4: Soul of the South (2013–2016) | |
Call sign meaning | We're Lifeline Family Television Lifeline Family Television Louisiana Family Television Local Free TV |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| ERP | 150 kW |
| HAAT | 500 ft (150 m) |
| Transmitter coordinates | 30°22′55.6″N 91°03′16.6″W |
| Links | |
Public license information | Profile LMS |
| Website | wlft.com |
The station originates at its studios at 13567 Plank Road in Baker, Louisiana.
History
WLFT started as Cox cable channel 4, with programming from the Pax network in 1998. It also broadcast local religious programming on cable channel 17 and over the air on channel 52, as "WLFT/2". The call sign originally stood for Lifeline Family Television after Bethany's flagship program and was later extended to mean Louisiana Family Television and later Local Free TV until 2019 when it stop using a slogan.
In 2002, WLFT converted to all-religious programming and Pax was moved to cable channel 14 (now on 70), as a direct network feed. The station also aired some programming from FamilyNet. In November of that year, WLFT-CA launched its new 500-foot (150 m) tower, allowing the station to increase its signal strength and reach more homes in communities like Hammond, Gonzales, New Roads and St. Francisville.
In fall 2005, WLFT-CA would relocate from channel 52 (where the signal wasn't as strong) to channel 30.
In July 2011, the station converted to digital and began to carry programming from MeTV during the late-afternoon through early morning hours.
In the fall of 2011, the station launched a second HD subchannel, 30.2, which carried MeTV's entire lineup.
WLFT launched a third subchannel on October 3, 2012, which carried The Country Network (present-day Zuus Country). One year later, on October 2, 2013, Zuus Country was removed in favor of TV Scout. TV Scout was removed in July 2014 in favor of GetTV, which remained on channel 30.3 until late June 2017 before being replaced with the Home Shopping Network on July 1, 2017. On January 1, 2019, the Home Shopping Network was removed, and WLFT became a charter affiliate for NewsNet, airing the network on this subchannel.[1]
In August 2013, the station added the African-American centered Soul of the South Network to its fourth subchannel. On September 14, 2016, WLFT brought Antenna TV programming to Baton Rouge on channel 30.4.
As of 2017, channel 30.1 primarily airs MeTV, some religious programming and infomercials scattered throughout the day, and select programs from Antenna TV during primetime and NewsNet from 6:30 AM to 8 AM every weekday with local news segments every half hour.
As of 2018, channel 30.1 (Cox 117) began carrying more original, local programming, especially a Thursday night lined up of original shows: A Better Life, Black & White, Let's Talk About Dogs, Kel's Cars and Colorado Xtreme.
Digital channels
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.1 | 16:9 | 720p | MeTV | Main WLFT-CD programming / MeTV (WLFT original programming preempting MeTV) |
| 30.2 | 4:3 | 480i | MeTV (full feed) | |
| 30.3 | NewsNet | NewsNet | ||
| 30.4 | ANT-TV | Antenna TV |
WLFT 30 over-air broadcasts 4 channels:
- Channel 30.1, WLFT broadcasts MeTV when not broadcasting its own original, local programming. 30.1 is also carried by Cox Cable in greater Baton Rouge on 117, Eatel in Ascension and Livingston on 130, and Eatel in Plaquemine on 35. The station also airs some Antenna TV programming in primetime and NewsNet from 6:30 AM to 8 AM every weekday morning with local news cut ins.
- Channel 30.2 is full time MeTV, retro television series.
- Channel 30.3 is full time NewsNet, the first 24/7 over-the-air news network.
- Channel 30.4 is full time Antenna TV, retro television series.
WLFT also maintains a web site at WLFT.com as well as a Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram account.