KWMS-LP
A former low-power television station licensed to West Monroe, Louisiana, that carried local programming and several multicast television networks.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KWMS-LP was a low-power television station licensed to West Monroe, Louisiana, and associated with channel 18. The station was operated by Sonrise Communications, a subsidiary of the First Baptist Church of West Monroe. Its programming combined religious content, community-oriented local productions, high-school sports, and programming supplied by national multicast networks. The station ceased broadcasting in August 2017, and the Federal Communications Commission canceled its license in September 2020. The station began operations in 2001 as an independent outlet operated by First Baptist Church of West Monroe. It initially used the call sign K17FV, reflecting its earlier channel designation, before receiving the requested KWMS-LP call sign in May 2002. Its early identity was closely connected to its church ownership and local-service mission. Among its principal programs were live services from First Baptist Church and sports events involving West Monroe High School. It also broadcast Girlfriends, a local program produced by On Fire Ministries. As the station developed, KWMS-LP increasingly used its limited-power television signal to provide a combination of local programming and national network content. In 2011, it became the Monroe-area affiliate of RTV, a digital multicast network focused on television programming. On April 1, 2013, it replaced RTV with MeTV. That affiliation ended in 2015 when MeTV moved to KMLU. KWMS-LP then affiliated with Heroes & Icons, commonly abbreviated H&I, which was its most recent network affiliation. The station also had a relationship with sister station KMCT. During a period when KMCT was broadcasting at low power, KWMS-LP carried the Voice Network on its digital subchannel 18.2 until KMCT returned to full-power operation. According to station information cited in reference material, KWMS-LP achieved cable carriage across cable systems in Ouachita Parish and in Bastrop, extending its reach beyond its over-the-air low-power signal. KWMS-LP's studios and transmitter were located on Pine Street in downtown West Monroe. Its service model reflected the role often played by locally operated low-power stations: it provided a platform for community and religious programming while using digital multicast affiliations to offer recognizable national content. The station stopped broadcasting on August 6, 2017. The FCC later canceled the station's license on September 4, 2020, marking the end of KWMS-LP as an authorized broadcast operation.
History
KWMS-LP was established in 2001 as a low-power television station serving West Monroe and the surrounding Monroe-area market in Louisiana. It was operated by First Baptist Church of West Monroe through its Sonrise Communications subsidiary. The station's early programming reflected that ownership structure and its local-service orientation. It carried live services from the church, broadcasts of West Monroe High School sporting events, and locally produced material, including Girlfriends from On Fire Ministries. The station originally operated under the call sign K17FV. In May 2002, it received the requested KWMS-LP call sign. Its facilities were located on Pine Street in downtown West Monroe, where both its studios and transmitter were based. As a low-power station, KWMS-LP had a smaller technical footprint than full-power commercial broadcasters, but its availability through cable systems helped expand its audience. Station information indicated carriage on cable systems throughout Ouachita Parish and in Bastrop. During the 2010s, KWMS-LP combined locally originated programming with national digital multicast services. In 2011, it affiliated with RTV and served as the network's Monroe affiliate. On April 1, 2013, the station changed affiliations, replacing RTV with MeTV. This arrangement lasted until 2015, when MeTV moved to KMLU. KWMS-LP subsequently affiliated with Heroes & Icons, also known as H&I, and retained that affiliation most recently reported for the station. KWMS-LP was also connected operationally with KMCT. While KMCT was transmitting at low power, KWMS-LP temporarily carried the Voice Network on digital subchannel 18.2. That temporary arrangement ended when KMCT returned to full-power operation. The combination of church programming, local sports, community productions, multicast network schedules, and cable distribution gave KWMS-LP a mixed identity rather than that of a conventional general-market commercial station. The station discontinued broadcasting on August 6, 2017. It did not resume service, and the FCC canceled its license on September 4, 2020. KWMS-LP is therefore a defunct broadcast-station brand and former licensed television operation. The available reference material does not establish a specific reason for the cessation of broadcasting or the later license cancellation.
- 2020
License canceled
[1]The FCC canceled KWMS-LP's license on September 4.
- 2017
Broadcast operations end
[1]KWMS-LP ceased broadcasting on August 6.
- 2015
Heroes & Icons affiliation begins
[1]After MeTV moved to KMLU, KWMS-LP affiliated with Heroes & Icons.
- 2013
MeTV affiliation begins
[1]The station replaced RTV with MeTV on April 1.
- 2011
RTV affiliation begins
[1]KWMS-LP became the Monroe-area affiliate of RTV.
- 2002
KWMS-LP call sign adopted
[1]The station received the KWMS-LP call sign in May, replacing its original K17FV designation.
- 2001
Station founded and begins independent operation
[1]KWMS-LP began operating as an independent low-power television station under First Baptist Church of West Monroe.
Products and positioning
A locally operated low-power television station combining church and community programming with national digital multicast network content for viewers in the Monroe–West Monroe area.
Television programming · 2001
Local religious programming
KWMS-LP's core locally connected programming included live services from First Baptist Church of West Monroe. This content reflected the station's ownership and gave it a religious-broadcasting component distinct from a purely entertainment-oriented multicast station.
Local sports broadcasting · 2001
West Monroe High School sports
The station broadcast sporting events involving West Monroe High School, providing locally focused coverage for viewers in its immediate service area and reinforcing its community-station role.
Local television program
Girlfriends
Girlfriends was a local program produced by On Fire Ministries and carried by KWMS-LP. It formed part of the station's locally originated schedule alongside church services and school sports.
Digital multicast network programming · 2011
RTV affiliation
From 2011, KWMS-LP carried programming from RTV as the network's Monroe-area affiliate. The affiliation supplemented the station's local schedule with nationally distributed multicast content.
Digital multicast network programming · 2013
MeTV affiliation
KWMS-LP carried MeTV beginning April 1, 2013, replacing RTV. The affiliation ended in 2015 when MeTV moved to KMLU.
Digital multicast network programming · 2015
Heroes & Icons affiliation
Heroes & Icons was KWMS-LP's most recently reported network affiliation. It followed the station's loss of MeTV carriage and remained part of its schedule before broadcasting ended.
Brand decisions
2017
End broadcasting operationsOtherBackground
The available reference material records that the station discontinued service but does not identify the specific operational reason.
Action taken
KWMS-LP ceased broadcasting on August 6, 2017.
Aftermath
The station did not return to service, and the FCC canceled its license in 2020.
2015
Switch to Heroes & IconsStrategyBackground
KWMS-LP lost its MeTV affiliation after MeTV moved to KMLU.
Action taken
The station affiliated with Heroes & Icons as its replacement multicast network.
Aftermath
Heroes & Icons was the station's last reported network affiliation before it stopped broadcasting.
2013
Replace RTV with MeTVGeneration changeBackground
After two years with RTV, the station changed its multicast network affiliation.
Action taken
KWMS-LP began carrying MeTV on April 1, 2013.
Aftermath
The MeTV affiliation ended in 2015 when KMLU acquired the affiliation.
2011
Join RTV as Monroe-area affiliateStrategyBackground
KWMS-LP expanded beyond its independent local schedule by adding a digital multicast network affiliation.
Action taken
The station affiliated with RTV in 2011.
Aftermath
The RTV affiliation lasted until KWMS-LP replaced it with MeTV in 2013.
Recent events
- 2020
FCC cancels KWMS-LP license[1]
Regulation
The Federal Communications Commission canceled the station's license on September 4, 2020, formally ending its authorization to operate.
- 2017
KWMS-LP ceases broadcasting[1]
Other
The station stopped broadcasting on August 6, 2017.
- 2015
KWMS-LP adopts Heroes & Icons affiliation[1]
Product generation
After losing MeTV carriage to KMLU, the station affiliated with Heroes & Icons, which became its last reported network affiliation.
- 2013
KWMS-LP switches from RTV to MeTV[1]
Product generation
On April 1, 2013, KWMS-LP replaced RTV with MeTV as its principal multicast network affiliation.
- 2011
KWMS-LP affiliates with RTV[1]
Product launch
KWMS-LP became the Monroe-area affiliate of RTV, adding national digital multicast programming to its local and religious schedule.
- 2002
Station receives the KWMS-LP call sign[1]
Other
The station changed from its original K17FV call sign after receiving the requested KWMS-LP designation in May 2002.
- 2001
KWMS-LP begins operations as an independent station[1]
Other
The low-power station began operating in West Monroe under the operation of First Baptist Church of West Monroe, carrying church services, local sports, and other community-oriented programming.
Sources1 sources
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