WJOS-LD
WJOS-LD was a low-power television station serving southeastern Ohio and adjacent West Virginia communities with religious, local news, school sports, and community programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WJOS-LD was a low-power television station based in Pomeroy, Ohio, serving communities in Meigs and Gallia counties in Ohio and Mason and Jackson counties in West Virginia. The station was established in 1997 by William A. "Pete" Barnhart, pastor of the Restoration Fellowship Church in Pomeroy. It began on channel 27 and initially operated from Commercial Building 3 at the Meigs County Fairgrounds. The station developed as a locally oriented Christian broadcaster. Its output combined religious and family programming with local news, gospel music, community events, and high-school athletics. A local cable system carried WJOS during its early years, first on different evening and weekend channel positions and later through a 24-hour schedule on channel 20. In 2003, the station added a new transmitter and moved its over-the-air operation to UHF channel 58; it was later identified with channel 45 in descriptions of its low-power television service. Most of WJOS-LD's schedule consisted of religious, family, and gospel-music content, including programming produced by the Christian Broadcasting Network. Local content included news broadcasts hosted by Brenda Barnhart, a pastor at Restoration Fellowship Church and William Barnhart's wife. The station also carried services from Restoration Fellowship Church and Ripley Tabernacle Baptist Church, the program Joy for Your Journey from the Syracuse Church of the Nazarene, and gospel music programming. Its sports coverage included football and basketball games involving Wahama High School, Gallia Academy, and schools in Meigs County. WJOS also participated in community life beyond its regular schedule. It promoted local tourism with the Meigs County Chamber of Commerce, took part in discussions about local news coverage, supported the creation of a bereavement support group with area residents and churches, and aired regional Christmas concerts such as the Choirs of Angels concert and performances associated with Christmas Along the River. After William Barnhart died in 2017, control of the station passed to Brenda Barnhart as executrix of his estate. In 2020, she said that discussions were under way to sell WJOS to a Texas-based individual and friend of the Barnharts whose programs had appeared on the station. The proposed buyer would have discontinued local programming while retaining Christian programming, but the transaction did not close. WJOS went dark at some point in 2021, and the Federal Communications Commission canceled its license on April 28, 2023. The station is therefore defunct, although its former website remains associated with the WJOS name.
History
WJOS-LD originated in 1997 as a low-power television station founded by William A. "Pete" Barnhart, pastor of the Restoration Fellowship Church in Pomeroy, Ohio. The station began on channel 27 and operated from Commercial Building 3 at the Meigs County Fairgrounds. Its initial service area centered on southeastern Ohio and nearby West Virginia communities, particularly Meigs and Gallia counties in Ohio and Mason and Jackson counties in West Virginia. During its early development, WJOS was also distributed through the local cable system. Cable carriage initially placed the station on channel 19 on weekday evenings and channel 23 on weekends. The schedule later expanded to continuous programming on channel 20. In 2003, the installation of a new transmitter enabled the station to move its over-the-air operation to UHF channel 58. The station was subsequently associated in reference descriptions with channel 45 as a low-power television service. Programming reflected both the station's religious ownership and its local-service ambitions. Much of the schedule was devoted to Christian, family, and gospel-music programming, including material produced by the Christian Broadcasting Network. WJOS carried worship services from Restoration Fellowship Church and Ripley Tabernacle Baptist Church, along with Joy for Your Journey from the Syracuse Church of the Nazarene. Gospel music was featured on Monday evenings. These programs gave the station a clear faith-based identity while also providing recurring content for regional religious audiences. The station supplemented syndicated and church programming with locally produced material. Brenda Barnhart hosted local news on Thursday and Friday evenings. WJOS also broadcast football and basketball games involving Wahama High School in Mason, West Virginia, Gallia Academy, and schools in Meigs County. By covering local teams, the station served communities that were not necessarily prominent in larger regional television markets. WJOS's community role extended to civic and cultural activities. The station worked with the Meigs County Chamber of Commerce to promote local tourism, participated in a forum concerning local news coverage, and collaborated with residents and churches on a support group for bereaved people. It also aired area Christmas concerts, including the 1998 Choirs of Angels concert and later performances connected with Christmas Along the River. These activities positioned WJOS as a small community broadcaster rather than solely a retransmitter of religious material. William Barnhart died in 2017. After his death, Brenda Barnhart became associated with ownership as executrix of his estate. In 2020, she announced discussions to sell the station to an unspecified Texas man and friend of the Barnharts whose programs had previously appeared on WJOS. The proposed change would have removed local programming while preserving Christian programming. The sale did not close, however, and WJOS eventually stopped broadcasting during 2021. The station's license was canceled by the Federal Communications Commission on April 28, 2023. As a result, WJOS-LD is a defunct low-power television station. The available historical record documents its religious orientation, local news and sports service, community involvement, ownership transition, failed sale, cessation of broadcasting, and final license cancellation, but does not establish a more detailed corporate ownership structure or a precise date on which its signal went dark.
- 2023
License canceled
[1]The Federal Communications Commission canceled WJOS-LD's license on April 28.
- 2021
Broadcasting discontinued
[1]WJOS went off the air at an unspecified point during the year.
- 2020
Sale discussions announced
[1]Brenda Barnhart reported talks to sell WJOS to a Texas-based acquaintance, but the proposed transaction did not close.
- 2017
Ownership estate transition
[1]After William Barnhart's death, Brenda Barnhart became executrix associated with the station's ownership.
- 2003
Transmitter upgrade and channel move
[1]A new transmitter allowed WJOS to move its over-the-air operation to UHF channel 58.
- 1998
Cable carriage and early community broadcasts
[1]The local cable system began carrying WJOS on different weekday and weekend channel positions. The station also aired the Choirs of Angels Christmas concert.
- 1997
Station established
[1]William A. "Pete" Barnhart established WJOS on channel 27 in Pomeroy, Ohio.
Products and positioning
A community-focused, Christian low-power television broadcaster combining religious programming with local news, school sports, gospel music, and regional public-affairs coverage.
Broadcast service · 1997
Television broadcasting
WJOS-LD's principal service was low-power television broadcasting for southeastern Ohio and adjacent West Virginia communities. Its schedule combined religious and family programming with local news, school sports, gospel music, community affairs, and regional cultural events. The station's broadcast operation ended in 2021 and its license was canceled in 2023.
Local programming
Local news and school sports
The station provided local news on selected evenings and televised football and basketball involving Wahama High School, Gallia Academy, and Meigs County schools. This programming gave small communities in the service area access to local information and athletics that might not have been covered by larger stations.
Religious television · 1997
Christian and religious programming
Religious programming formed the majority of WJOS's schedule. The station carried Christian Broadcasting Network material, church services, Joy for Your Journey from the Syracuse Church of the Nazarene, and gospel music. Its faith-oriented output was closely connected to the station's founding church and local religious community.
Marketing campaigns
- Local tourism promotion
Meigs County, Ohio
WJOS worked with the Meigs County Chamber of Commerce to promote local tourism and area attractions.
Outcome. The available material confirms community participation but does not quantify its reach or results.
- Community bereavement-support initiative
Southeastern Ohio · Adjacent West Virginia communities
The station worked with community members and churches to organize a support group for bereaved people.
Outcome. The source records the initiative but does not provide attendance or longer-term outcome data.
Brand decisions
2023
License cancellationOtherBackground
WJOS had ceased broadcasting during 2021.
Action taken
The Federal Communications Commission canceled the station's license on April 28, 2023.
Aftermath
WJOS-LD became a defunct television station.
2020
Proposed sale and possible programming changeM&ABackground
Brenda Barnhart discussed selling the station to a Texas-based friend of the Barnharts whose programs had aired on WJOS.
Action taken
The proposed buyer would have eliminated local programming while continuing Christian programming.
Aftermath
The sale never closed, and WJOS later went dark.
2003
Expanded transmission capability and changed channelStrategyBackground
WJOS used a new transmitter to expand or improve its over-the-air operation.
Action taken
The station moved to UHF channel 58.
Aftermath
The change became part of the station's subsequent broadcast history, although the available source does not provide technical performance data.
Recent events
- 2023
FCC canceled WJOS-LD license[1]
Regulation · Other
The Federal Communications Commission canceled the station's license on April 28, 2023, formalizing the end of WJOS-LD's broadcast operation.
- 2021
WJOS went dark[1]
Other
The station ceased broadcasting at some point during 2021 after the proposed sale failed to close.
- 2020
Proposed sale would have ended WJOS local programming[1]
M&A
Brenda Barnhart said she was discussing a sale to a Texas-based acquaintance whose programs had aired on WJOS. The proposed purchaser intended to retain Christian programming but remove local programming; the transaction ultimately did not close.
- 2017
WJOS ownership passed to Brenda Barnhart after William Barnhart's death[1]
Leadership change
Following the death of founder and owner William A. Barnhart, ownership of the station passed to his wife, Brenda Barnhart, acting as executrix of his estate.
Sources1 sources
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