WDLI-TV
WDLI-TV is a Canton, Ohio television station serving the Cleveland–Akron market and carrying Bounce TV programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WDLI-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Canton, Ohio, and serving the broader Cleveland–Akron market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 17 and is currently affiliated with Bounce TV. It is owned by Inyo Broadcast Holdings alongside WVPX-TV, an Ion Television affiliate serving the same regional market. The two stations share operational facilities in Warrensville Heights and transmit through a channel-sharing arrangement using WVPX-TV’s spectrum and transmitter infrastructure in Norton, Ohio. The station began broadcasting on January 3, 1967, under the call sign WJAN. It was established by Janson Industries as an independent UHF station, initially offering locally produced shows, syndicated programs, feature films, cartoons, religious programming, and local news. Like many early UHF independents, WJAN faced the challenge of competing for syndicated programming in a market dominated by stronger and longer-established Cleveland stations. During its earliest period, the station’s live studio output was produced in black and white because it lacked the resources to acquire color studio cameras, although externally supplied films and videotaped programs were generally presented in color. The station later upgraded its studio equipment, first with IVC color cameras and then with Norelco PC-70 cameras. Religious programming became increasingly important to the station’s schedule. WJAN began carrying The PTL Club in the mid-1970s, and in August 1977 Janson Industries sold the station to Jim Bakker, the program’s founder. Under Bakker’s ownership, WJAN adopted an almost continuous Christian programming format while retaining some local news. It became the first commercial television station in Ohio to operate on a near-24-hour schedule. After the PTL Satellite Network launched, the station installed satellite-reception facilities and shifted much of its schedule to satellite-delivered programming. Bakker was required to sell the station in December 1982. The purchaser was the David Livingstone Missionary Foundation, which soon changed the call sign to WDLI-TV. The station continued carrying the PTL Satellite Service until 1986, when the foundation sold it to the Trinity Broadcasting Network. TBN replaced the PTL schedule with its own religious programming and operated WDLI for several decades. During this period, the station expanded its digital subchannel offerings, including TBN-related services and children’s programming. Its former translators in the Youngstown and northeastern Cleveland-area regions were later discontinued as digital broadcasting reduced the need for some secondary facilities. A major structural change occurred after TBN participated in the Federal Communications Commission’s 2016 broadcast-spectrum incentive auction. WDLI’s spectrum was sold for $31.6 million, but the station remained on the air through a channel-sharing agreement with WVPX-TV. WDLI shut down its separate non-shared signal on March 30, 2018, and the transaction and related license transfer were completed later that year. Ion Media Networks acquired the station from TBN in September 2018, creating a duopoly with WVPX-TV. TBN programming ended, and the station began carrying Ion Life programming, which was rebranded Ion Plus in 2019. The E. W. Scripps Company announced its acquisition of Ion Media in 2020 in a transaction valued at $2.65 billion. WDLI and WVPX became part of Scripps’ portfolio, although WDLI subsequently carried programming associated with Scripps Networks and later changed affiliation. The station is now identified with Bounce TV and remains a regional over-the-air broadcast outlet rather than a standalone national network. Its technical facilities are concentrated around the Norton and Warrensville Heights area, while Canton remains its official city of license.
History
WDLI-TV signed on January 3, 1967, as WJAN, an independent station owned by Janson Industries. Although licensed to Canton, it was treated as part of the Cleveland market, making the acquisition of desirable syndicated programming difficult and expensive. Its early schedule combined locally produced news and variety programs with cartoons, films, syndicated material, and religious broadcasts. Studio production initially remained black and white because the station could not afford color cameras, but it later upgraded to color-capable equipment. Religious programming became central during the 1970s. WJAN added The PTL Club in 1974, and Janson Industries sold the station to PTL founder Jim Bakker in August 1977. Under Bakker, WJAN adopted an almost 24-hour Christian schedule while retaining local news. After the PTL Satellite Network began operating, the station installed satellite-reception equipment and used satellite delivery for most of its programming. Bakker sold the station to the David Livingstone Missionary Foundation in December 1982. The new owner changed the call sign to WDLI-TV, and the station continued with PTL Satellite Service programming. In March 1986, the foundation sold WDLI to the Trinity Broadcasting Network, which replaced PTL material with TBN programming. TBN later operated several digital subchannels and carried services including TBN, JUCE, Smile of a Child, and TBN Salsa at different times. The station’s former translators in Youngstown and northeastern Greater Cleveland were eventually shut down. WDLI underwent a major technical and ownership transformation after TBN sold its spectrum in the FCC’s 2016 incentive auction. The station retained its license and service through a channel-sharing agreement with WVPX-TV. It ended transmission on its former standalone facility on March 30, 2018, and the associated transaction was completed in September of that year. Ion Media Networks acquired WDLI, replaced TBN programming with Ion Life, and thereby created a duopoly with WVPX. Ion Life was renamed Ion Plus in July 2019. Scripps announced its acquisition of Ion Media in September 2020 for $2.65 billion. WDLI and WVPX consequently became part of Scripps’ television holdings. WDLI later carried programming associated with Scripps Networks and is identified in the current reference material as a Bounce TV affiliate under Inyo Broadcast Holdings. The station continues to serve Canton and the Cleveland–Akron market through shared transmission facilities.
- 2020
Scripps announces Ion Media acquisition
[1]The E. W. Scripps Company announces a $2.65 billion acquisition of Ion Media.
- 2019
Ion Life becomes Ion Plus
[1]The Ion Life network carried by the station is rebranded Ion Plus.
- 2018
Channel-sharing operation begins
[1]WDLI ends its standalone signal and continues through a shared arrangement with WVPX-TV.
- 2018
Ion Media takes control
[1]Ion Media completes the acquisition and introduces Ion Life programming.
- 2017
WDLI spectrum is sold
[1]The FCC announces the incentive-auction results, including the sale of WDLI’s UHF spectrum for $31.6 million.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]TBN-owned full-power stations, including WDLI, permanently cease analog broadcasting.
- 1986
TBN acquires WDLI-TV
[1]Trinity Broadcasting Network purchases WDLI and replaces PTL programming with TBN programming.
- 1982
Station is sold and renamed WDLI-TV
[1]The David Livingstone Missionary Foundation acquires the station and changes its call sign from WJAN to WDLI-TV.
- 1981
Satellite-delivery infrastructure is added
[1]A satellite-receive facility is built at the studio-transmitter site as the PTL Satellite Network expands.
- 1977
Jim Bakker acquires WJAN
[1]Janson Industries sells the station to Jim Bakker, founder of the PTL Club.
Products and positioning
A regional, free-to-air broadcast station serving Northeast Ohio through a digital multicast affiliation, with a long history that has moved from independent local programming and religious broadcasting to national entertainment-network carriage.
Digital multicast television network
Bounce TV
WDLI-TV’s current referenced affiliation is Bounce TV, a digital multicast network focused primarily on entertainment programming and serving the station’s Northeast Ohio coverage area through virtual channel 17.
Digital multicast television network · 2019
Ion Plus
After Ion Media acquired WDLI in 2018, the station carried Ion Life programming. The service was rebranded Ion Plus in 2019 and represented the station’s transition from TBN religious programming to a national lifestyle and entertainment-oriented network.
Religious television programming · 1986
TBN programming
From 1986 until the 2018 ownership transition, WDLI served as a Trinity Broadcasting Network outlet, carrying TBN’s religious schedule and related digital multicast services.
Local television programming · 1967
Local independent programming
During its WJAN years, the station produced local news, live variety programs, children’s entertainment, church services, and other local material alongside syndicated shows and feature films.
Brand decisions
2018
Ion Media acquisition and programming transitionM&ABackground
TBN’s spectrum sale created an opportunity to transfer WDLI’s license while maintaining service through the WVPX channel share.
Action taken
Ion Media Networks acquired WDLI and replaced TBN programming with Ion Life.
Aftermath
The acquisition created a duopoly with WVPX-TV and shifted WDLI from religious broadcasting to Ion’s national entertainment and lifestyle schedule.
2017
Spectrum-sale and channel-sharing strategyStrategyBackground
TBN participated in the FCC incentive auction and sold WDLI’s UHF spectrum while seeking to preserve the station’s licensed service.
Action taken
WDLI arranged to share WVPX-TV’s transmission spectrum rather than leave the air.
Aftermath
WDLI retained virtual channel 17 and continued broadcasting with substantially different transmission infrastructure.
Spectrum auction proceeds. 31600000 (2017)
1986
Trinity Broadcasting Network purchaseM&ABackground
WDLI was operating primarily as a PTL-affiliated religious station after its 1982 sale to the David Livingstone Missionary Foundation.
Action taken
The David Livingstone Missionary Foundation sold WDLI-TV to Trinity Broadcasting Network.
Aftermath
PTL programming was removed and replaced with TBN programming, beginning a decades-long period under TBN ownership.
1977
Sale of WJAN to Jim BakkerM&ABackground
WJAN was an independent UHF station facing the programming and economic challenges typical of a smaller outlet in the Cleveland market.
Action taken
Janson Industries sold the station to Jim Bakker, whose PTL organization was already supplying religious programming.
Aftermath
The station moved toward an almost continuous Christian format and became closely integrated with the PTL Satellite Network.
Sources1 sources
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