WMPV-TV

WMPV-TV is a religious television station broadcasting on channel 21 from Mobile, Alabama, with coverage extending across southwest Alabama and northwest Florida. The station is owned and operated by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), a Christian television network whose programming forms the core of WMPV-TV's schedule. Its transmission facilities are located near Robertsdale, Alabama. The station began broadcasting in December 1985. It was established by professional poker player Doyle Brunson and initially operated as a general-entertainment independent station. In 1989, WMPV was sold to Sonlight Broadcasting Systems, a newly established Christian broadcasting ministry based in Mobile. Sonlight was co-founded by television producer Paul Crouch Jr. and attorney and broadcaster Jay Sekulow. Under Sonlight, WMPV became the ministry's flagship station and changed to a Christian television format. Sonlight subsequently expanded its broadcast holdings, including the acquisition of WMCF-TV in Montgomery, Alabama. Its stations were affiliated with TBN, which had been co-founded by Paul Crouch Jr.'s parents, Paul Crouch Sr. and Jan Crouch. WMPV generally carried TBN's network schedule, although it could sometimes replace network programming with alternate content. This arrangement connected the Mobile station to TBN's broader religious broadcasting operation while preserving some local programming flexibility. In 1997, WMPV and Sonlight's other stations were sold to All American TV, a minority-owned broadcasting company with close ties to TBN that already owned WTJP-TV in Gadsden, Alabama. The transaction made WMPV a more fully integrated TBN affiliate. TBN acquired all of All American TV's stations in 2000, making WMPV a TBN-owned-and-operated station. WMPV historically maintained a studio on the Interstate 65 Service Road in Mobile. TBN closed that facility in 2019, along with several other station studios, after the Federal Communications Commission repealed the Main Studio Rule. That rule had required full-power television stations to maintain a main studio in or near their communities of license. The closure changed the station's local physical operating model but did not end its over-the-air service. WMPV also transitioned from analog broadcasting as part of TBN's full-power station network, permanently ending analog transmissions on April 16, 2009. Today, WMPV-TV functions primarily as a regional outlet for TBN's Christian television programming. Its identity is defined by religious broadcasting, network distribution, and terrestrial service to communities in the Alabama–Florida Gulf Coast region rather than by commercial general-entertainment programming.

WMPV-TV began broadcasting in December 1985 as a general-entertainment independent station licensed to Mobile, Alabama. The station was founded by professional poker player Doyle Brunson. Its original programming identity was not religious; it operated independently and served the Mobile-area market with general television content. A major change came in 1989, when WMPV was sold to Sonlight Broadcasting Systems, a Christian broadcasting ministry based in Mobile. Sonlight was co-founded by television producer Paul Crouch Jr. and attorney and broadcaster Jay Sekulow. After the acquisition, WMPV changed to a Christian television format and became Sonlight's flagship station. Sonlight later expanded its portfolio by acquiring additional stations, including WMCF-TV in Montgomery. The ministry's stations were affiliated with the Trinity Broadcasting Network, which had been founded by Paul Crouch Jr.'s parents, Paul Crouch Sr. and Jan Crouch. As a TBN affiliate, WMPV carried most of the network's schedule, while occasionally substituting alternate programming. The affiliation gave the station access to TBN's national Christian programming and established its long-term role as a religious broadcaster in the Alabama Gulf Coast region. In 1997, Sonlight's stations, including WMPV, were sold to All American TV. The buyer was a minority-owned broadcasting company with close ties to TBN and an existing station, WTJP-TV in Gadsden, Alabama. Under All American TV, WMPV became a full-fledged TBN affiliate. TBN later purchased all of All American TV's stations in 2000, converting WMPV into a TBN-owned-and-operated station. The station's over-the-air technical history also reflects the broader transition in American television from analog to digital transmission. TBN-owned full-power stations, including WMPV, permanently ended analog transmissions on April 16, 2009. For many years, WMPV operated from a studio on the Interstate 65 Service Road in Mobile. In 2019, TBN closed that facility together with several other station studios. The closures followed the Federal Communications Commission's repeal of the Main Studio Rule, which had required full-power television stations to maintain a main studio in or near their communities of license. WMPV retained its broadcast role, with its transmitter located near Robertsdale, Alabama. WMPV-TV remains a TBN-owned religious station serving southwest Alabama and northwest Florida. Its principal function is the distribution of Christian television programming through the TBN network and its own regional over-the-air signal.

• 2019

  Mobile studio closes

  [1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  TBN closed WMPV's former Mobile studio following repeal of the FCC Main Studio Rule.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WMPV permanently ceased analog transmission as part of TBN's full-power station transition.

• 2000

  TBN ownership begins

  [1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  TBN acquired All American TV's stations and made WMPV a network-owned-and-operated station.

• 1997

  Sale to All American TV

  [1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WMPV and Sonlight's other stations were sold to All American TV, a broadcaster connected to TBN.

• 1989

  Sale to Sonlight Broadcasting Systems

  [1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sonlight acquired WMPV, changed it to a Christian format, and made it the ministry's flagship station.

• 1985

  Station founded and launched

  [1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WMPV-TV began broadcasting in December as an independent general-entertainment station licensed to Mobile, Alabama.

A regional Christian television outlet and TBN-owned-and-operated station serving viewers in southwest Alabama and northwest Florida.

• Religious television programming · 1989

  TBN network programming

  WMPV's central offering is the distribution of Trinity Broadcasting Network programming. The schedule consists primarily of Christian television content supplied through TBN, with the station historically retaining the ability to substitute alternate programming at selected times.

• Broadcast television service · 1985

  WMPV-TV channel 21

  The station's regional over-the-air service is identified as channel 21 and is licensed to Mobile, Alabama. Its coverage area includes southwest Alabama and northwest Florida, with transmission facilities near Robertsdale, Alabama.

• 2019

  Closure of the Mobile studioStrategy

  Background

  The FCC repealed the Main Studio Rule, which had required full-power stations such as WMPV to maintain a studio in or near their communities of license.

  Action taken

  TBN closed WMPV's former studio on the Interstate 65 Service Road in Mobile as part of a broader group of facility closures.

  Aftermath

  WMPV continued broadcasting, but its local physical studio presence was reduced.

  Source

• 2009

  Transition from analog to digital transmissionGeneration change

  Background

  TBN's full-power television stations were transitioning away from analog broadcasting.

  Action taken

  WMPV permanently ceased analog transmissions on April 16, 2009.

  Aftermath

  The station continued as a digital over-the-air television service.

  Source

• 2000

  TBN acquisition of All American TV stationsM&A

  Background

  WMPV was part of All American TV's station portfolio after the 1997 sale.

  Action taken

  TBN purchased all of All American TV's stations, including WMPV.

  Aftermath

  WMPV became a TBN-owned-and-operated station rather than an independently owned affiliate.

  Source

• 1997

  Sale of WMPV to All American TVM&A

  Background

  Sonlight Broadcasting Systems owned WMPV and other Christian-format stations affiliated with TBN.

  Action taken

  All American TV acquired WMPV together with Sonlight's other stations.

  Aftermath

  WMPV became a full-fledged TBN affiliate within a broadcaster that had close ties to the network.

  Source

• 1989

  Conversion to a Christian television formatStrategy

  Background

  WMPV had operated as a general-entertainment independent station since its 1985 launch. Sonlight Broadcasting Systems acquired the station as part of a Christian broadcasting expansion.

  Action taken

  The station changed its format to Christian television and became Sonlight's flagship outlet, while affiliating with TBN.

  Aftermath

  WMPV's programming identity shifted from independent general entertainment to religious broadcasting, a role it has retained under TBN ownership.

  Source

• 2019

  WMPV-TV closes its Mobile studio after FCC Main Studio Rule repeal[1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  TBN closed WMPV's Interstate 65 Service Road studio as part of a broader group of facility closures following the FCC's repeal of the Main Studio Rule.

• 2009

  TBN full-power stations end analog transmissions[1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Regulation

  WMPV was among TBN-owned full-power stations that permanently ceased analog transmissions on April 16, 2009.

• 2000

  TBN acquires WMPV-TV through purchase of All American TV stations[1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  TBN purchased all of All American TV's stations, including WMPV, and made the Mobile station a TBN-owned-and-operated outlet.

• 1997

  WMPV-TV becomes a full TBN affiliate after All American TV acquisition[1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The station was sold with Sonlight Broadcasting Systems' other stations to All American TV, bringing WMPV into a more fully integrated TBN affiliate structure.

• 1989

  WMPV-TV changes from general entertainment to Christian programming[1]WMPV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following its sale to Sonlight Broadcasting Systems, WMPV adopted a Christian television format and became the ministry's flagship station.

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