WLQP-LD

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WLQP-LP is the low-powered Ion and Retro Television Network-affiliated television station for Northwestern Ohio that was licensed to Lima. It aired an analog signal on UHF channel 18 from a transmitter west of Cridersville in Auglaize County. Owned by Metro Video Productions, the station was sister to low-powered CBS affiliate WLMO-LP. The Ion and RTV programming replaced the ABC affiliation, channel 35.1 in digital 720p HD.

History

WLQP was originally a full-time repeater of sister station WOHL-CA (now WOHL-CD) but became a UPN affiliate in 1999. On September 1, 2006, this station became an affiliate of ABC. CW affiliation went to WB 100+ channel "WBOH" and WLIO-DT2. As of late-2008, The CW is no longer being shown in the Lima market over-the-air having been reverted to a cable-only CW Plus channel. Eventually, that was dropped in favor of WBDT from Dayton. At one point, WLQP carried America One on secondary basis that was shared with WLMO. This channel had applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to perform a "flash-cut" of its signal to digital in 2006. However as of mid-2009, it decided to apply for a displacement low-power digital station on UHF channel 45 with the calls WLQP-LD. [1] At this time, it has yet to be granted a construction permit.

On November 29, 2008, it was announced that Metro Video Productions would sell its stations (including WLQP) to West Central Ohio Broadcasting. One of that company's heads, Allan J. Block, is the chairman of Block Communications (owner of WLIO). [2] While Block assumed control of the station's operation after the sale's completion, it was initially stated that WLQP would not consolidate its facilities with WLIO. [3] It has since been stated that some consolidation would take place. [4] On September 28, 2009, WLQP-LP terminated its analog operations [5][6] and programming was shifted to WOHL-CD. Fox and MyNetworkTV programming continues to be aired on WLIO-DT2. Its previous logo looks similar to Medford, Oregon's KDRV which is also an ABC affiliate. However, neither station is related to the other.