WTLW

WTLW is a religious and family-entertainment television station in Lima, Ohio. The station is owned by American Christian Television Services, and broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 44. It runs infomercials and religious programming before 5 p.m.; and family dramas, first-run talk shows, family movies, local sports programming, and reality shows after 5 p.m.

History

WTLW has its roots in Christian radio station WTGN-FM, also in Lima. In 1976, WTGN solicited its listeners for seed money for a new television station. Before the station received FCC approval, however, WTGN opted not to own nor operate the new station, and the people behind the drive to get WTLW on the air decided to incorporate as American Christian Television Services, Inc.

The station chose a hangar at the former site of Lima Allen County Airport on Baty Road near Elida, northwest of Lima, to build a studio. The new studios, measuring 80 feet by 80 feet (24 m by 24 m), was believed by the station founders to be the largest television studio in Northwest Ohio. The hangar was converted into a television studio in 1980, through the efforts of volunteers.