WLPC-CD

WLPC-CD is a religious television station serving the Detroit metropolitan area from a license assignment in Redford, Michigan. The station operates as a low-power Class A digital television outlet and uses virtual channel 28. Its programming has historically centered on Christian religious content and has been distributed through a combination of over-the-air broadcasting, cable carriage, and online streaming. The station is owned by Glenn and Karin Plummer. The outlet's history includes several technical identities and branding phases. It originally operated as WLPC-LP and carried America One programming from 1986 through 1998. During the late 1980s and early 1990s it also carried the Worship Network, and in the early 1990s it added FamilyNet before becoming an all-FamilyNet affiliate. These affiliations placed the station within the broader American religious and specialty-television ecosystem while allowing it to serve a localized Detroit audience. WLPC's terrestrial operation was disrupted in 2011 when CHWI-TV, the Windsor, Ontario station, moved its repeater to UHF channel 26. Because WLPC-LP was using an unprotected allocation, it was required to leave its existing frequency. The station received temporary authority to move its analog operation to channel 38, a frequency previously used by WADL, but it did not implement that move. Its temporary authority expired in July 2011, and the owner subsequently notified the Federal Communications Commission that over-the-air broadcasting had been suspended. During this period, the station remained available on Comcast's digital cable system in southeastern Michigan. Around the same period, the station shifted its public identity and distribution strategy. It had previously used the Christian Television Network or CTN branding, but changed that identity after a branding conflict with the separate Christian Television Network based in Clearwater, Florida. The station subsequently used the Impact Network name and began offering online streaming, reflecting the growing importance of digital distribution for religious broadcasters. In mid-November 2011, the station converted to digital operation as WLPC-LD. It transmitted on UHF channel 40 from a tower atop Detroit's Cadillac Tower and used virtual channel 40.1. In May 2014, the FCC recognized the station's Class A status by changing its call letters from WLPC-LD to WLPC-CD. The change distinguished the outlet from ordinary low-power digital stations while preserving its local broadcast identity. On June 9, 2019, WLPC-CD completed a channel and power transition associated with the United States 600 MHz spectrum repack. It moved from UHF channel 40 at approximately 2.342 kW to UHF channel 28 at approximately 4 kW. The change was intended to improve coverage across Metro Detroit after broadcast channels in the upper UHF range were removed or reassigned through the spectrum auction and repacking process. The station's reception can extend across the immediate Detroit area and, under favorable conditions, into downtown and southern Windsor. Exceptional tropospheric propagation has at times allowed reception considerably farther north in Michigan. WLPC-CD remains a locally oriented religious television outlet whose reach combines terrestrial service with cable and internet distribution.

WLPC-CD is a Detroit-area religious television station licensed to Redford, Michigan. Its early operating history is associated with the WLPC-LP call sign and with specialty and Christian television affiliations. From 1986 to 1998, it was affiliated with America One. It also carried Worship Network programming in the late 1980s and early 1990s, later adding FamilyNet in the early 1990s and eventually becoming an all-FamilyNet affiliate. A major interruption occurred in 2011. CHWI-TV announced that it would move its Windsor repeater to UHF channel 26, and the change displaced WLPC-LP because the station's prior allocation was not protected. WLPC received temporary authorization to move its analog service to channel 38, formerly associated with WADL, but did not implement the proposed relocation. The temporary authority expired on July 28, 2011. In April of that year, owner and pastor Glenn R. Plummer filed an FCC notification stating that the station had suspended over-the-air operations. The station nevertheless continued to be available through Comcast's digital cable service in southeastern Michigan. During the same general period, WLPC changed its identity and delivery model. It had operated under the Christian Television Network or CTN name, but relinquished that branding after a request from the unrelated Clearwater, Florida-based Christian Television Network, which used the same name. The station began using the Impact Network identity and developed an internet streaming presence. This helped maintain distribution while its terrestrial service was interrupted and positioned the outlet within a broader digital religious-media operation. By mid-November 2011, the station had converted to digital operation as WLPC-LD. It transmitted on UHF channel 40 from a facility on Detroit's Cadillac Tower and used virtual channel 40.1. On May 27, 2014, the station's call letters changed to WLPC-CD, formally reflecting its long-standing Class A status. The station later participated in the U.S. television spectrum repack following the 600 MHz auction. On June 9, 2019, it moved from UHF channel 40, where it operated at approximately 2.342 kW, to UHF channel 28 at approximately 4 kW. The move was designed to improve service within Metro Detroit after channels 38 through 51 were removed from broadcast television use or reassigned. WLPC-CD's reception is principally local to the Detroit area, although coverage may extend into downtown and southern Windsor with suitable antennas. Unusual tropospheric conditions can produce reception farther north in Michigan. The station remains a religious Class A broadcaster using terrestrial, cable, and online distribution.

• 2019

  Moves to channel 28 at higher power

  [1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WLPC-CD completes its post-spectrum-auction transition from channel 40 to channel 28 and increases power to approximately 4 kW.

• 2014

  Adopts WLPC-CD call letters

  [1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC upgrades the call sign from WLPC-LD to WLPC-CD to reflect the station's Class A status.

• 2011

  Terrestrial service is suspended after channel displacement

  [1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  A frequency change by CHWI-TV displaces WLPC-LP from its unprotected allocation. The station's owner reports the suspension of over-the-air broadcasts, while cable distribution continues.

• 2011

  Begins digital operation as WLPC-LD

  [1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moves to digital broadcasting on UHF channel 40 from the Cadillac Tower and uses virtual channel 40.1.

• 1990

  Adds Worship Network and FamilyNet programming

  [1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the station carries Worship Network programming and later adds FamilyNet before becoming an all-FamilyNet affiliate.

• 1986

  Begins America One affiliation

  [1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station begins a long-running affiliation with America One, continuing through 1998.

A Detroit-area Christian television outlet combining local broadcast coverage with religious programming and digital distribution.

• Broadcast television

  WLPC-CD terrestrial television service

  The station's primary offering is a digital, low-power Class A television signal serving the Detroit metropolitan area. Following its 2019 transition, the service operates on UHF channel 28 with virtual channel 28 and approximately 4 kW of power. Its coverage is focused on the immediate Detroit region, with possible reception in parts of Windsor, Ontario, depending on location, antenna, and propagation conditions.

• Religious media network · 2011

  The Impact Network

  The Impact Network is the identity used by the station during its transition toward online and broader digital distribution. It represents the outlet's Christian programming orientation and has been associated with internet streaming in addition to broadcast and cable availability.

• Television programming affiliation

  FamilyNet affiliation

  FamilyNet programming formed an important part of the station's early religious-television profile. WLPC added FamilyNet in the early 1990s and later operated as an all-FamilyNet affiliate before subsequent branding and programming changes.

• 2019

  Post-auction channel and power transitionGeneration change

  Background

  The 600 MHz spectrum auction and subsequent repacking removed or reassigned upper-UHF television channels, requiring affected stations to change frequencies.

  Action taken

  WLPC-CD moved from UHF channel 40 at approximately 2.342 kW to UHF channel 28 at approximately 4 kW.

  Aftermath

  The transition was intended to improve the station's coverage across Metro Detroit.

  Source

• 2011

  Pursuit of a temporary channel 38 relocationOther

  Background

  WLPC-LP lost access to its prior frequency after CHWI-TV moved its Windsor repeater to channel 26. The station sought a temporary analog relocation to channel 38.

  Action taken

  The FCC granted Special Temporary Authority on January 28, 2011, but WLPC did not implement the proposed move. The authorization expired on July 28, 2011.

  Aftermath

  The station reported suspended over-the-air operations while remaining available through Comcast digital cable and later moving to a digital operation.

  Source

• 2011

  Adoption of Impact Network identity and online distributionStrategy

  Background

  The station's former CTN branding conflicted with the name used by another Christian television network.

  Action taken

  WLPC moved away from the CTN identity, adopted the Impact Network name, and began streaming programming online.

  Aftermath

  The change gave the station a distinct public identity and maintained audience access during the period when terrestrial broadcasting was unavailable.

  Source

• 2019

  WLPC-CD completes 600 MHz repack channel move[1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The station moved from UHF channel 40 to channel 28 and increased power from approximately 2.342 kW to 4 kW to improve Metro Detroit coverage after the U.S. spectrum repack.

• 2014

  WLPC-LD receives Class A call-sign designation[1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Leadership change

  The FCC changed the station's call letters to WLPC-CD, reflecting its Class A status.

• 2011

  CHWI-TV channel relocation forces WLPC-LP off its frequency[1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  A planned move by Windsor station CHWI-TV to UHF channel 26 displaced WLPC-LP from its unprotected channel allocation, interrupting the station's terrestrial broadcast service.

• 2011

  WLPC receives temporary authority for a proposed channel 38 move[1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The station received Special Temporary Authority to relocate its analog signal to channel 38, but the proposed move was not carried out and the authorization later expired.

• 2011

  WLPC shifts toward Impact Network branding and streaming[1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  After discontinuing its earlier CTN branding, the station adopted the Impact Network identity and expanded its availability through internet streaming while it was not broadcasting terrestrially.

• 2011

  WLPC-LP converts to digital operation as WLPC-LD[1]WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Other

  The station resumed digital terrestrial operation from Detroit's Cadillac Tower on UHF channel 40, using virtual channel 40.1.

1. 1WLPC-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WLPC-CD official websitewatchimpact.com