WHFT-TV

WHFT-TV is a religious television station serving South Florida from the Miami–Fort Lauderdale television market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 45 and is owned by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), a Christian television network. Its facilities, including its studios and transmitter, are located at the Lakeside Park complex in Pembroke Park, Florida, although the station uses a Hollywood mailing address. The station began broadcasting on March 17, 1975, under the call sign WFCB-TV. Its original owner was Florida Christian Television, which operated it as a religious independent station. The initial schedule was limited to approximately five hours per day and combined locally produced church services, Bible instruction, children's Christian programming, and programs supplied by nationally recognized television evangelists. The station's original construction permit had been issued more than five years before the eventual sign-on, on August 29, 1969. Florida Christian Television encountered financial difficulties and placed the station on the market in early 1976, seeking a purchaser associated with Christian ministry. The Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association acquired the station in July of that year. The organization later became known as LeSEA Broadcasting. Following the transaction, the call sign changed to WHFT-TV, reflecting the name World Harvest Florida Television. The station also changed its operating model from viewer-supported broadcasting to an advertiser-supported format. Under LeSEA, WHFT expanded its daily schedule to about nine hours. The new programming included additional Christian material supplied by the owner, programs from outside ministries such as The 700 Club, and, for a period, secular family-oriented entertainment. This represented a broader independent religious-station format than the station's original limited schedule. In 1980, WHFT was sold to the Trinity Broadcasting Network despite an earlier public statement by Lester Sumrall that the station was not for sale. TBN's acquisition changed the station's programming direction: secular programming was removed, while TBN committed to expanding programming from local religious ministries. WHFT also became a production location for TBN content, including the network's nationally distributed Monday-night edition of Praise the Lord and a substantial portion of TBN's Spanish-language programming. TBN acquired the Pembroke Park mobile-home complex containing the station's tower and former studios in 1983. The purchase was intended in part to reduce conflicts with nearby residents, many of whom were seasonal French Canadian occupants. The property became known as Trinity Towers and was later renamed Lakeside Park Estates in 2017; current station descriptions identify the broader facility as Lakeside Park. The tower has been the subject of several unauthorized climbs, including two incidents attributed to the same individual a decade apart. WHFT later transitioned from analog to digital broadcasting. TBN's full-power stations permanently ended analog transmissions on April 16, 2009. WHFT's digital signal continued on its pre-transition UHF channel 46 while retaining virtual channel 45. The station remains part of TBN's religious broadcasting operation in South Florida, carrying network and ministry-oriented programming rather than operating as a general-entertainment independent station.

WHFT-TV originated as WFCB-TV, a religious independent station established in the Miami area by Florida Christian Television. Although the station's construction permit was issued on August 29, 1969, it did not begin regular broadcasting until March 17, 1975. Its first schedule was modest, running for roughly five hours each day. Programming consisted of local church services, Bible teaching, children's Christian material, and shows supplied by nationally known television evangelists. The original ownership group was unable to maintain the station's financial viability. Florida Christian Television therefore placed WFCB-TV up for sale in early 1976 and sought a buyer connected with Christian ministry. In July 1976, the Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association purchased the station. The organization subsequently became known as LeSEA Broadcasting. The new owner changed the call sign to WHFT-TV, commonly explained as World Harvest Florida Television, and changed the station's support model from viewer contributions to advertising. LeSEA broadened WHFT's schedule to approximately nine hours per day. It added more Christian programming from its own organization and carried programs from outside religious broadcasters, including The 700 Club. The station also temporarily added secular family entertainment, giving it a hybrid religious-independent format during this period. The station changed ownership again in 1980. Although Lester Sumrall had reportedly said one month earlier that WHFT was not for sale, the Trinity Broadcasting Network announced and completed its purchase. TBN promised to increase the station's output from local religious ministries, but it removed the secular programs that had been carried under LeSEA. From that point, WHFT became more closely integrated with TBN's national religious network. Its facilities were used for productions including the Monday-night national edition of Praise the Lord and a significant share of TBN's Spanish-language programming. In 1983, TBN purchased the Pembroke Park mobile-home property where WHFT's tower and former studios were located. The acquisition was intended to reduce disputes with neighboring residents. The facility was known as Trinity Towers and was renamed Lakeside Park Estates in 2017. The station's tower has experienced several unauthorized climbs, including two attributed to the same climber separated by ten years. WHFT's technical operations later shifted from analog to digital transmission. TBN's full-power stations ceased analog broadcasts on April 16, 2009. WHFT continued digitally on UHF channel 46, while its virtual channel remained 45. The station continues to operate as a TBN religious television outlet for the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market, distributing Christian ministry, worship, instructional, family, and Spanish-language content.

• 2017

  Station property receives a new name

  [1]WHFT-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The complex previously known as Trinity Towers was renamed Lakeside Park Estates.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]WHFT-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WHFT-TV ended analog broadcasting as part of TBN's transition to digital transmission and continued on digital UHF channel 46 with virtual channel 45.

• 1983

  TBN purchases the Pembroke Park complex

  [1]WHFT-TVen.wikipedia.org

  TBN purchased the mobile-home property containing the station's tower and former studios, partly to reduce conflicts with neighboring residents.

• 1980

  Trinity Broadcasting Network purchase

  [1]WHFT-TVen.wikipedia.org

  TBN acquired WHFT and shifted the station toward an exclusively religious schedule, eliminating its secular family entertainment programs.

• 1976

  LeSEA Broadcasting acquires the station

  [1]WHFT-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association acquired the financially troubled station, changed its call sign to WHFT-TV, and expanded its schedule and programming.

• 1975

  Station signs on as WFCB-TV

  [1]WHFT-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station began broadcasting on March 17, 1975, as WFCB-TV under the ownership of Florida Christian Television.

• 1969

  Construction permit issued

  [1]WHFT-TVen.wikipedia.org

  A construction permit for the future station was issued on August 29, 1969, more than five years before the station began broadcasting.

A local broadcast outlet for Trinity Broadcasting Network religious, ministry, worship, instructional, family, and Spanish-language television programming in South Florida.

• Broadcast television · 1975

  WHFT-TV over-the-air service

  WHFT-TV is the station's primary broadcast service for the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market. It operates as a TBN-owned religious outlet and uses virtual channel 45. Following the digital transition, the station's digital signal continued on UHF channel 46 while preserving the channel 45 identity for viewers.

• Religious television · 1975

  Christian ministry programming

  The station's core programming consists of Christian worship, church services, Bible instruction, evangelistic programs, and other ministry-oriented content. After TBN acquired WHFT, the station removed secular programming and concentrated on religious material supplied by TBN and affiliated ministries.

• Multilingual television · 1980

  Spanish-language programming

  WHFT's facilities have been used to produce a substantial portion of TBN's Spanish-language output. This role connects the local station with TBN's broader multilingual religious broadcasting activities.

• Religious talk and worship program · 1980

  Praise the Lord

  WHFT's studios have been associated with production of the nationally distributed Monday-night edition of TBN's Praise the Lord, a major network program combining Christian teaching, worship, interviews, and ministry content.

• 2009

  Digital transmission transitionOther

  Background

  TBN's full-power stations moved away from analog broadcasting.

  Action taken

  WHFT-TV ended analog transmissions and continued using digital UHF channel 46 with virtual channel 45.

  Aftermath

  The station continued its over-the-air service in digital form for the South Florida market.

  Source

• 1980

  Trinity Broadcasting Network acquisitionM&A

  Background

  TBN announced the purchase of WHFT after the station had operated under LeSEA Broadcasting.

  Action taken

  TBN acquired the station, retained its WHFT-TV identity, and committed to increasing programming from local religious ministries.

  Aftermath

  The station discontinued secular programming and became integrated into TBN's national religious production and distribution operation.

  Source

• 1976

  Switch to advertiser-supported religious broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  After Florida Christian Television placed the financially troubled station on the market, the Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association acquired it.

  Action taken

  The new owner changed the call sign from WFCB-TV to WHFT-TV and moved the station from a viewer-supported model to advertiser-supported operation while expanding the schedule.

  Aftermath

  WHFT carried more Christian programming, including material from LeSEA and outside ministries, and temporarily added secular family entertainment.

  Source

1. 1WHFT-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Trinity Broadcasting Networktbn.org