WCMN-LD
ATSC 3.0 station
Channels
Programming
AffiliationsReligious Independent
Ownership
OwnerStarcom, LLC
History
FoundedAugust 28, 1989
First air date
June 9, 1992 (31 years ago) (1992-06-09)
Former call signs
  • K13VS (1989–1996)
  • WCMN-LP (1996–2022)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 13 (VHF, 1992–2022)
Silent (2021–2022)
Call sign meaning
Central Minnesota
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID62341
ClassLD
ERP15 kW
HAAT95.1 m (312 ft)
Transmitter coordinates45°32′35″N 94°15′42″W / 45.54306°N 94.26167°W / 45.54306; -94.26167
Links
Public license information
LMS

WCMN-LD (channel 13) is a low-power television station licensed to both St. Cloud and Sartell, Minnesota, United States, which primarily broadcasts religious programming. Owned by StarCom, LLC, the station maintains a transmitter on Julep Road (off State Highway 23) in Waite Park, Minnesota.

History

Channel 13 began as K13VS in 1992; it was affiliated with the Main Street TV network and was the first new TV venture in St. Cloud since KXLI channel 41 started in 1982.[2] While it also aired several local shows, it was hindered by a lack of visibility on cable systems.[3] By 1994, the station was purchasing time on a local cable channel to make its weekday evening shows, including a local newscast available to cable homes.[4]

StarCom sold three radio stations to Regent Broadcasting in 2000 so it could purchase and develop channel 13, which had become WCMN-LP in 1996.[5] It returned to the air on August 20, 2001, airing All News Channel with local inserts.[6] When ANC folded in 2002, the station switched to America One and then The Sportsman Channel.[7]

On January 4, 2022, the station filed a license to cover application for digital facilities,[8] stating that it is broadcasting in the ATSC 3.0 format, making it the first such station in Minnesota. It had operated in analog on VHF channel 13 until the FCC-mandated shutdown of analog LPTV stations on July 13, 2021, and did not construct an ATSC 1.0 facility.[9] The station was licensed for digital operation effective September 21, 2022, changing its call sign to WCMN-LD.

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCMN-LD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Banks, David (July 16, 1992). "St. Cloud gets new TV station: K13VS beams shopping shows, joins network". St. Cloud Times. p. 1A, 10A. Retrieved February 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Hotakainen, Jerry (September 6, 1992). "Local TV show fishes for viewers: Program aimed at attracting sportsmen". St. Cloud Times. p. 10D. Retrieved February 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Fox, Jeff (September 2, 1994). "Local TV station to air on TCI". St. Cloud Times. p. 3A. Retrieved February 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Merger clears way for local TV". St. Cloud Times. June 22, 2000. p. 1A. Retrieved February 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Halena, Sue (August 19, 2001). "St. Cloud TV station goes on air Monday". St. Cloud Times. p. 1A. Retrieved February 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Ellis, Jon (September 2003). "Broadcasting News". Northpine.com.
  8. ^ "License To Cover for LPTV Station Application". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  9. ^ Ellis, Jon (January 7, 2022). "Minnesota's First NextGen TV Station Signs On". Northpine.com. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
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