KRLB-LD

KRLB-LD is a low-power television station based in Richland, Washington, serving viewers in the Tri-Cities area and surrounding southeastern Washington communities. The station operates on channel 29 and is owned by Radiant Light Broadcasting. Its programming identity is religious broadcasting, and it is affiliated with the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), a national Christian television network. KRLB-LD is also relayed full-time through KWWO-LD on channel 47 in Walla Walla, extending its broadcast footprint beyond the immediate Richland market. The station's operating history began in January 1985, when Radiant Light Broadcasting launched it as K66BW, a translator carrying TBN programming. In July 1989, the facility moved to channel 49 and adopted the call sign K49CN, while using the KRLB branding. Cable carriage helped make the station available to households across the Tri-Cities, where it became part of the local television environment despite its low-power status. Its carriage history included a notable restoration after the station was removed from a local cable system in 1996; viewer objections contributed to its reinstatement. KRLB also experienced an interruption to its technical operations in 2001, when its transmitter at Badger Mountain was vandalized. The damage temporarily prevented the station from presenting local programming. This incident illustrates the operational challenges faced by low-power broadcasters, whose service depends on a relatively small number of transmission facilities. By March 17, 2009, KRLB had completed the transition to all-digital broadcasting. The station should not be confused with WRLM in Canton, Ohio. Although WRLM's licensee name has a similar religious-broadcasting association, it is a separate station and organization. KRLB-LD's defining role is as a locally licensed, low-power religious television outlet owned by Radiant Light Broadcasting and connected to the TBN programming network.

Radiant Light Broadcasting began KRLB's broadcast history in January 1985, when the station operated as K66BW. It functioned as a translator for the Trinity Broadcasting Network, carrying nationally distributed religious programming into the Richland and Tri-Cities area of Washington. The translator model allowed the station to extend TBN's reach through a local transmission facility while maintaining a programming relationship with the national network. In July 1989, the station moved to channel 49 and became K49CN. At the same time, it used the KRLB brand, which became the station's recognizable public identity. Although low-power, KRLB achieved wider local visibility through cable carriage in the Tri-Cities. Its distribution history demonstrated the importance of cable systems to small broadcast outlets, which could otherwise reach only a limited over-the-air audience. The station's cable presence was interrupted in 1996 when it was removed from a local cable lineup. Viewer reaction led to the station being reinstated, indicating that it had developed a meaningful audience among local households. KRLB later faced a more serious technical interruption in 2001, when its Badger Mountain transmitter was vandalized. The damage temporarily left the station unable to provide local programming, highlighting the vulnerability of a broadcaster dependent on a small physical transmission network. KRLB subsequently modernized its transmission technology. As of March 17, 2009, it broadcast only in digital form. The station is now identified as KRLB-LD and operates on channel 29 from Richland. It remains owned by Radiant Light Broadcasting and affiliated with the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Its programming is also relayed full-time on KWWO-LD channel 47 in Walla Walla, allowing the KRLB service to reach an additional southeastern Washington community. KRLB-LD is a distinct station from WRLM in Canton, Ohio. Similarity in religious-broadcasting names does not indicate common identity, ownership, or operation. KRLB-LD's documented history is specific to Radiant Light Broadcasting's Washington facilities and its TBN affiliation.

• 2009

  Digital-only broadcasting

  [1]KRLB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KRLB was broadcasting exclusively in digital format by March 17, 2009.

• 2001

  Transmitter vandalism

  [1]KRLB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Vandalism at the Badger Mountain transmitter temporarily disrupted the station's local programming operations.

• 1996

  Restoration of cable carriage

  [1]KRLB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KRLB was returned to a Tri-Cities cable lineup after viewers objected to its removal.

• 1989

  Move to channel 49

  [1]KRLB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved to channel 49, became K49CN, and adopted the KRLB branding.

• 1985

  Launch as K66BW

  [1]KRLB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Radiant Light Broadcasting began operating the station as K66BW, a translator for Trinity Broadcasting Network programming.

A local low-power Christian television station that distributes Trinity Broadcasting Network programming to southeastern Washington communities through over-the-air transmission, cable carriage history, and a Walla Walla relay.

• Low-power television station · 1985

  KRLB-LD channel 29

  The primary KRLB-LD broadcast service is a low-power religious television signal based in Richland, Washington. It serves the Tri-Cities and nearby communities with Trinity Broadcasting Network programming and operates under the KRLB-LD call sign.

• Television relay

  KWWO-LD channel 47 relay

  KWWO-LD provides a full-time relay of KRLB-LD programming in Walla Walla, extending Radiant Light Broadcasting's religious television service beyond the station's primary Richland and Tri-Cities coverage area.

• Religious television programming · 1985

  Trinity Broadcasting Network programming

  KRLB-LD's principal programming offering is content affiliated with the Trinity Broadcasting Network. The station originally operated as a TBN translator and continues to be identified with the network's Christian television service.

• 2009

  Transition to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  Background

  The station updated its transmission format as television broadcasting moved from analog to digital operation.

  Action taken

  KRLB converted to an all-digital broadcast service by March 17, 2009.

  Aftermath

  The station continued its religious television service using digital transmission.

  Source

• 1989

  Channel and call-sign changeOther

  Background

  The station's original K66BW translator operation was moved to channel 49 as part of a change in its broadcast identity.

  Action taken

  It became K49CN and used the KRLB brand.

  Aftermath

  The KRLB identity became associated with the station's local cable and broadcast presence in the Tri-Cities.

  Source

1. 1KRLB-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Radiant Light Broadcasting official websiterlb.org