WLMO-LD

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WLMO-LP is the low-powered CW-affiliated television station for Northwestern Ohio that was licensed to Lima. It aired an analog signal on UHF channel 38 from a transmitter west of Cridersville in Auglaize County. Owned by Taylor Media Stations Group, the station was sister to low-powered Ion/RTV affiliate WLQP-LP. The CW programming has replaced CBS, channel 38.1 in digital 720p HD. Also carries The CW Plus on channel 38.2, a movie channel This TV on 38.3, and Anime 100 on 38.4.

History

WLMO was a full-time repeater of WOHL-CA (now WOHL-CD) but became a CBS affiliate in 2002. At one point, this station also carried America One on a secondary basis that was shares with WLQP. After picking up CBS, WLMO fought an uphill battle with Time Warner Cable. The company initially refused to carry the station on their Lima system due to the presence of two other CBS affiliates, WHIO-TV from Dayton and WBNS-TV in Columbus. The latter replaced Toledo's WTOL-TV and WHIO was widely considered the de-facto CBS affiliate for the Lima market. With WLMO being a low-powered station with no support from any full-powered channels, Time Warner was not obligated to carry the station. Must-carry regulations do not apply to low-powered stations regardless of affiliation. However on March 29, 2006, Time Warner added the station to several their systems in Lima, Cridersville, and Wapakoneta. [1]

WLMO had applied to the FCC to perform a "flash-cut" of its signal to digital in 2006. This application was dismissed as of July 1, 2009 because they decided to apply for a low-power digital companion channel on UHF channel 47 with the calls WLMO-LD. [2] At this time, it has yet to be granted a construction permit. On September 28, 2009, WLMO terminated their analog operations [3] and programming was shifted to WOHL-CD's second digital subchannel. On November 29, 2008, it was announced that Metro Video Productions would sell its stations (including WLMO) to West Central Ohio Broadcasting. One of that company's heads, Allan J. Block, is the chairman of Block Communications (owner of NBC affiliate WLIO). [4] While Block assumed control of the station's operation after the sale's completion, it was initially stated that the company would not consolidate its facilities with WLIO. [5] It has since been stated that some consolidation would take place. [6]