WTMS-CA

WTMS-CA was a low-power, Class A television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis–Saint Paul television market. The station operated as a local broadcast outlet rather than as a national consumer brand. Its principal identity was associated with Spanish-language programming through an affiliation with Telefutura, the U.S. Spanish-language television network that later became UniMás. WTMS-CA was one of two Spanish-language television outlets identified in Minnesota at the time, alongside sister station WUMN-LP, which was affiliated with Univision. The station’s programming history also included affiliations with the Daystar Television Network and ShopNBC. These changes reflected the commercial and operational pressures affecting low-power television stations, which often relied on network affiliations, leased programming, or specialized formats to reach a viable audience and maintain advertising or carriage relationships. WTMS-CA’s coverage was focused on the Twin Cities area, although its low-power status distinguished it from the market’s full-power television stations. WTMS-CA became involved in the financial difficulties surrounding Equity Media Holdings. On June 25, 2008, Equity disclosed that it intended to sell the station to Luken Communications, LLC. Equity subsequently entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in December 2008, and proposed acquisitions by Luken Communications involving Equity-owned stations in several markets were withdrawn. WTMS-CA was later sold at auction to Silver Point Capital on April 16, 2009. The transaction closed on August 17, 2009. The station’s license was canceled shortly afterward, on August 25, 2009, effectively ending WTMS-CA’s licensed operation. A related digital companion construction permit, identified as WTMS-LD, remained active for a time after the license cancellation. That permit later expired; the facility was subsequently listed as DWTMS and marked for deletion from the Federal Communications Commission database. WTMS-CA is therefore a defunct local television-station brand whose history is principally documented through broadcast-licensing records, affiliation changes, ownership transactions, and bankruptcy-related events.

WTMS-CA was a low-power Class A television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. The station’s broadcast identity changed over time through several affiliations. It was associated with Telefutura, a Spanish-language television network, and was described as one of two Spanish-language television stations serving Minnesota, together with WUMN-LP, a Univision affiliate. WTMS-CA also carried programming from the Daystar Television Network and, during another phase of its operation, served as a ShopNBC affiliate. The station’s low-power status placed it in a different regulatory and commercial position from the major full-power stations serving the Twin Cities. Its business model depended substantially on network affiliations and syndicated or leased programming rather than on a large independent local-production operation. The Telefutura affiliation gave it a Spanish-language market position, while the Daystar and ShopNBC affiliations represented alternative programming strategies within the limited-power television environment. WTMS-CA’s later history was shaped by the financial problems of Equity Media Holdings. On June 25, 2008, Equity announced that it was selling WTMS-CA to Luken Communications, LLC. Equity filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2008, and Luken’s proposed acquisitions of Equity-owned stations in six markets were subsequently withdrawn. As a result, the proposed Luken transaction did not become the station’s final ownership arrangement. On April 16, 2009, WTMS-CA was sold at auction to Silver Point Capital, an investment firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut. The sale closed on August 17, 2009. Only eight days later, on August 25, the station’s license was canceled. This cancellation ended the station’s licensed operation and removed WTMS-CA from the active television-station landscape. A related digital companion construction permit, identified as WTMS-LD, remained active as of February 7, 2010. That permit did not develop into a continuing operating station. It later expired, and the facility was listed as DWTMS and marked for deletion from the Federal Communications Commission database. WTMS-CA is consequently remembered as a defunct Minneapolis-area low-power television station whose principal historical features were its Spanish-language Telefutura affiliation, additional Daystar and ShopNBC programming, ownership changes during Equity Media Holdings’ bankruptcy, and eventual license cancellation.

• 2010

  Digital companion permit remains temporarily active

  [1]WTMS-CAen.wikipedia.org

  The related WTMS-LD digital construction permit was still active as of February 7, 2010, before later expiring.

• 2009

  Station sold at auction

  [1]WTMS-CAen.wikipedia.org

  WTMS-CA was sold at auction to Silver Point Capital on April 16.

• 2009

  Silver Point transaction closes

  [1]WTMS-CAen.wikipedia.org

  The sale of WTMS-CA to Silver Point Capital closed on August 17.

• 2009

  Broadcast license canceled

  [1]WTMS-CAen.wikipedia.org

  WTMS-CA’s license was canceled on August 25, ending its licensed operation.

• 2008

  Proposed sale to Luken Communications disclosed

  [1]WTMS-CAen.wikipedia.org

  Equity Media Holdings disclosed on June 25 that it planned to sell WTMS-CA to Luken Communications, LLC.

• 2008

  Equity Media Holdings files for Chapter 11

  [1]WTMS-CAen.wikipedia.org

  Equity entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December, disrupting proposed transfers of several Equity-owned stations.

A low-power local television outlet serving the Minneapolis–Saint Paul market, with a significant Spanish-language programming identity during its Telefutura affiliation.

• Spanish-language television network affiliation

  Telefutura affiliation

  WTMS-CA’s Telefutura affiliation gave the station a Spanish-language programming identity in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul market. It was part of the station’s role as one of the Spanish-language television outlets serving Minnesota. The affiliation connected the low-power local station with nationally distributed Spanish-language entertainment and related network programming.

• Religious television programming

  Daystar programming

  At another point in its operating history, WTMS-CA carried programming from the Daystar Television Network. This affiliation provided a religious-programming format and represented an alternative to the station’s Spanish-language network role.

• Home-shopping television programming

  ShopNBC programming

  WTMS-CA also operated as a ShopNBC affiliate during part of its history. The arrangement placed home-shopping content on the station and reflected the use of specialized network programming by low-power broadcasters.

• 2009

  Auction sale to Silver Point CapitalM&A

  Background

  After Equity Media Holdings entered bankruptcy and the proposed Luken transaction was withdrawn, WTMS-CA was offered through an auction process.

  Action taken

  Silver Point Capital acquired the station at auction on April 16, 2009; the sale closed on August 17.

  Aftermath

  WTMS-CA’s license was canceled on August 25, 2009, shortly after the ownership transaction closed.

  Source

• 2009

  License cancellationOther

  Background

  Following the change in ownership, the station’s licensed operation did not continue.

  Action taken

  The WTMS-CA license was canceled on August 25, 2009.

  Aftermath

  The associated digital construction permit later expired, and the facility was listed as DWTMS and marked for deletion from the FCC database.

  Source

• 2008

  Planned transfer to Luken CommunicationsM&A

  Background

  Equity Media Holdings disclosed a proposed sale of WTMS-CA to Luken Communications on June 25, 2008. Equity’s subsequent bankruptcy affected the proposed transaction.

  Action taken

  The station was included in Luken’s proposed acquisition of Equity-owned broadcast assets.

  Aftermath

  The proposed Luken acquisition was withdrawn, and WTMS-CA was later sold at auction to Silver Point Capital.

  Source

1. 1WTMS-CAen.wikipedia.org