WAMS-LD
A low-power television station licensed to Minster and New Bremen, Ohio, that retransmits ABC and CBS programming from WOHL-CD.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
WAMS-LD is a low-power television station serving the Lima, Ohio, television market, with licenses associated with Minster and New Bremen in western Ohio. The station functions primarily as a translator of WOHL-CD, a Lima-based Class A station carrying ABC and CBS programming. Its digital service rebroadcasts WOHL-CD subchannels, allowing the parent station's programming to reach viewers in the southern and eastern portions of the market that may have weaker reception from the Lima transmitter. WAMS-LD is also part of the same broadcast group as WLIO, a full-power station affiliated with NBC and Fox. The station began broadcasting on September 22, 1998, under the call sign W65DP. It initially operated as an analog UHF channel 65 translator of WOHL-LP, the predecessor of WOHL-CD. In 2002, the facility was spun off and adopted the call sign WLMO-LP. It moved to UHF channel 38 and became a CBS affiliate, creating a locally licensed CBS outlet in the Lima market. Before that change, CBS programming available in the area came primarily from out-of-market stations, including WHIO-TV from Dayton, WBNS-TV from Columbus, WTOL from Toledo, and WANE-TV from Fort Wayne in parts of the market. WLMO's low-power status affected its distribution. Because low-power stations generally do not receive the same mandatory cable carriage protections as full-power stations, Time Warner Cable was initially not required to carry the service on its Lima-area systems. The cable operator eventually added WLMO to systems serving Lima, Cridersville, and Wapakoneta on March 29, 2006. The station also carried America One programming at one point on a secondary basis shared with WLQP-LP. The facility went through several technical and ownership changes during the transition from analog to digital television. An initial application for a digital flash-cut was dismissed in 2009 after the station instead pursued a digital companion channel. In September 2009, the station ended regular analog operations and its programming was shifted to a digital subchannel of WOHL-CD. Analog service was later restored under special temporary authority while the station's digital transition was being developed. Block Communications, through its subsidiary West Central Ohio Broadcasting, assumed operational control after acquiring the station group that included WLMO. Some facilities were subsequently consolidated with WLIO's studios on Rice Avenue northwest of downtown Lima. The call sign changed from WLMO-LP to WAMS-LP in November 2018. The station was then converted into a digital translator of WOHL-CD, carrying ABC and CBS services on digital subchannels 29.5 and 29.6, with virtual channel numbers 35.1 and 35.2. Digital operations began by March 2020, and the call sign changed to WAMS-LD on March 2, 2020. This conversion was part of the broader federal transition requiring low-power television stations to leave analog broadcasting. In August 2025, Gray Media announced an agreement to acquire Block Communications' broadcast television stations, including WAMS-LD, WOHL-CD, WPNM-LD, and WLIO. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction on May 6, 2026, and the sale closed the same day, placing WAMS-LD within Gray Media's station portfolio. WAMS-LD remains a local relay service rather than a separately programmed full-power network station; its principal role is to extend WOHL-CD's ABC and CBS programming to communities around Minster, New Bremen, and the southern Lima market.
History
WAMS-LD signed on September 22, 1998, as W65DP, an analog translator of WOHL-LP. The facility operated on UHF channel 65 and was intended to extend the reach of the Lima-area station into communities with limited reception. In 2002, the station was separated from WOHL-LP and became WLMO-LP. It moved to UHF channel 38 and adopted CBS affiliation, giving the Lima market a locally licensed low-power CBS outlet. Prior to that affiliation, CBS service in various parts of the market was supplied by stations from Dayton, Columbus, Toledo, and Fort Wayne. WLMO's distribution was complicated by its low-power classification. Time Warner Cable was not required to carry the station under the applicable mandatory-carriage rules, and the operator initially declined to place it on its Lima system because other CBS stations were already available in the area. On March 29, 2006, Time Warner Cable added WLMO to systems serving Lima, Cridersville, and Wapakoneta. The station also carried America One programming for a period on a secondary basis shared with WLQP-LP. The station pursued several approaches to digital conversion. A 2006 application for a digital flash-cut was eventually dismissed on July 1, 2009, after the station chose to seek a digital companion facility instead. In September 2009, WLMO ended its analog operations and its programming was shifted to a digital subchannel of WOHL-CD. Analog service was later restored under special temporary authority while the station worked through the transition process. On June 8, 2010, the FCC granted a construction permit for WLMO-LD, and temporary authority was granted on June 10 to restore analog operation on channel 38. The analog signal returned on September 13 of that year. Ownership and facilities also changed. In November 2008, Block Communications announced that West Central Ohio Broadcasting would acquire the stations that included WLMO. Block already owned WLIO, and operational integration subsequently connected WLMO with WLIO. Although the buyer initially indicated that WLMO's South Central Avenue facilities would remain separate, later plans called for at least some consolidation at WLIO's Rice Avenue studios northwest of downtown Lima. The station was renamed WAMS-LP on November 15, 2018. By 2019, Block had filed plans to convert the facility into a digital translator of WOHL-CD for the southern section of the market. The proposed digital service carried ABC and CBS programming on subchannels 29.5 and 29.6, mapped virtually to channels 35.1 and 35.2. Digital operations were under way by March 2020, and the call sign changed from WAMS-LP to WAMS-LD on March 2, 2020. The transition was connected to the FCC's timetable for ending analog operation by low-power television stations. The station entered another ownership phase in 2025 when Gray Media announced a proposed $80 million acquisition of Block Communications' broadcast properties, including WAMS-LD, WOHL-CD, WPNM-LD, and WLIO. The FCC approved the transaction on May 6, 2026, and the deal closed that day. WAMS-LD therefore became part of Gray Media's Ohio broadcast operations while continuing its role as a translator of WOHL-CD. Its identity is primarily technical and distributional: it extends ABC and CBS programming from the Lima station to viewers in Minster, New Bremen, and nearby areas rather than operating as an independently programmed full-power station.
- 2026
Acquisition closes
[1]The FCC approves the transaction and Gray Media completes the acquisition on May 6.
- 2025
Gray Media announces acquisition
[1]Gray Media announces an agreement to acquire the Block Communications television stations that include WAMS-LD.
- 2020
Digital translator service begins
[1]WAMS-LP begins digital operations as a translator of WOHL-CD, carrying ABC and CBS services.
- 2020
Call sign changes to WAMS-LD
[1]The station adopts its current digital low-power call sign.
- 2018
Call sign changes to WAMS-LP
[1]The station changes its call sign from WLMO-LP to WAMS-LP.
- 2010
Digital construction permit and analog restoration
[1]The FCC grants a construction permit for WLMO-LD, while temporary authority permits restoration of analog service during the transition.
- 2009
Analog programming shifts to WOHL-CD digital service
[1]WLMO terminates regular analog operations and its programming is shifted to a WOHL-CD digital subchannel.
- 2006
Cable carriage begins
[1]Time Warner Cable adds WLMO to its Lima, Cridersville, and Wapakoneta systems.
- 2002
Becomes WLMO-LP and a CBS affiliate
[1]The station is spun off, moves to channel 38, and begins operating as a low-power CBS affiliate.
- 1998
Station signs on as W65DP
[1]The facility begins analog broadcasting on UHF channel 65 as a full-time translator of WOHL-LP.
Products and positioning
A low-power local translator designed to extend the reach of WOHL-CD's ABC and CBS programming to viewers in and around Minster, New Bremen, and the southern Lima, Ohio, television market.
Network television retransmission · 2020
ABC service
WAMS-LD retransmits WOHL-CD's ABC programming for viewers in the Minster, New Bremen, and southern Lima-area coverage zone. The service is carried digitally on subchannel 29.5 and presented to viewers through virtual channel 35.1. It is not an independently originated ABC station but a translator-based extension of WOHL-CD's network service.
Network television retransmission · 2020
CBS service
The current CBS offering is a digital retransmission of WOHL-CD's CBS service. It is carried on subchannel 29.6 and virtually mapped to channel 35.2. Historically, the facility operated directly as a low-power CBS affiliate under the WLMO-LP call sign before being repositioned as a translator of WOHL-CD.
Broadcast distribution · 1998
Local television signal extension
WAMS-LD's core function is to extend the over-the-air reach of WOHL-CD programming. Its transmitter is located off State Route 119 east of Minster, while the parent station's facilities are associated with the WLIO studios on Rice Avenue near Lima. The station serves as a local reception and distribution solution rather than a separately programmed full-power outlet.
Brand decisions
2025
Agreement to sell the station group to Gray MediaM&ABackground
Block Communications announced plans to sell its broadcast television stations, including WAMS-LD and related Lima-market stations.
Action taken
Gray Media agreed to acquire the stations for $80 million, subject to regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The FCC approved the transaction in 2026, after which WAMS-LD joined Gray Media's station portfolio.
Announced transaction value. $80 million (Announced August 1, 2025)
2020
Conversion to a digital WOHL-CD translatorGeneration changeBackground
The FCC's low-power television transition required the facility to move away from analog broadcasting, while Block Communications sought to extend WOHL-CD's ABC and CBS coverage.
Action taken
WAMS-LP began digital operations as a translator, carrying WOHL-CD services on subchannels mapped to virtual channels 35.1 and 35.2. The call sign changed to WAMS-LD.
Aftermath
WAMS-LD became primarily a digital relay station rather than a separately programmed CBS affiliate.
2018
Rebranding as WAMS-LPStrategyBackground
The facility was being repositioned for a future digital translator role serving the southern portion of the Lima market.
Action taken
The call sign changed from WLMO-LP to WAMS-LP.
Aftermath
The new identity preceded the station's conversion into a digital relay of WOHL-CD.
2009
Abandonment of the proposed digital flash-cutGeneration changeBackground
An earlier application to convert the existing facility directly to digital was dismissed as the station pursued a separate digital companion facility.
Action taken
The station ended regular analog operations and shifted programming to a WOHL-CD digital subchannel while developing its own digital transition plan.
Aftermath
Analog service was later restored under FCC special temporary authority pending further technical implementation.
2002
Shift from translator service to local CBS affiliationStrategyBackground
After operating as a translator of WOHL-LP, the facility was spun off, moved to a different UHF channel, and positioned as a low-power CBS affiliate under the WLMO-LP call sign.
Action taken
The station adopted the WLMO-LP identity and carried CBS programming for the Lima market.
Aftermath
The change created a locally licensed CBS outlet but also exposed the station to carriage challenges associated with its low-power status.
Sources2 sources
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