WLJT

{{Infobox television station

| callsign = WLJT

| city = Lexington, Tennessee

| logo = West TN PBS logo.png

| logo_alt = The words "West TN" in a slightly thinner blue font next to the PBS network logo.

| branding = West TN PBS

| analog =

| digital = 27 (UHF)

| virtual = 11

| subchannels =

| translators =

| affiliations = {{ubl|11.1: PBS|11.2: PBS Kids|11.3: Create}}

| network =

| founded =

| airdate = {{start date and age|1968|2|13|p=y}}

| location = {{ubl|Lexington–Martin–|Jackson, Tennessee}}

| country = United States

| callsign_meaning = Lexington Jackson Tennessee

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WLJT (1968–2010)|WLJT-DT (2010–2025)}}

| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|Analog: 11 (VHF (1968–2009)|Digital: 47 (UHF, 2004–2018)}}

| owner = West Tennessee Public Television Council, Inc.

| licensee =

| sister_stations =

| former_affiliations = NET (1968–1970)

| erp = 142 kW

| haat = {{convert|205|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| facility_id = 71645

| coordinates = {{coord|35|42|12|N|88|36|10|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}

| licensing_authority = FCC

| website = {{URL|http://www.westtnpbs.org/}}

}}

WLJT (channel 11), branded West TN PBS, is a PBS member television station licensed to Lexington, Tennessee, United States, serving western and northwestern Tennessee. The station is owned by the West Tennessee Public Television Council and maintains studios in Martin on rented space at the University of Tennessee at Martin; its transmitter is located on U.S. Route 412 midway between Jackson and Lexington.

WLJT began broadcasting in 1968. Built as one of four educational stations under the control of the Tennessee Department of Education, it almost exclusively rebroadcast WKNO in Memphis. In 1981, studios were established at UT–Martin, allowing for the station to begin local programming. That same year, the state began the process to spin WLJT out to community control. The station's local programming focuses on sports and community events in rural West Tennessee.

History

=State ownership=

In 1953, officials with the Tennessee Educational Television Commission requested the assignment of several channels across the state for noncommercial educational use, including channel 11 at Lexington, in addition to existing assignments for Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-more-educati/126847383/|date=November 28, 1953|page=12|agency=United Press|title=More Educational TV Stations for State Proposed|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-date=June 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622111849/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-more-educati/126847383/|url-status=live}} The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted the assignments in March 1954.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-sneedville/126847413/|date=March 19, 1954|page=6|title=Sneedville, Cookeville Get Educational TV|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-date=June 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622074726/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-sneedville/126847413/|url-status=live}} In 1965, the Tennessee Department of Education filed with the FCC for a construction permit and with the federal government to request a grant to cover construction costs. The station would serve 553,000 people, including 137,000 schoolchildren.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leaf-chronicle-state-files-applicati/126847672/|date=October 20, 1965|page=7|title=State Files Application For Educational TV Booster|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Leaf-Chronicle|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-date=June 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623184001/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leaf-chronicle-state-files-applicati/126847672/|url-status=live}} The station would not have associated studios but initially serve to repeat Memphis educational station WKNO (channel 10).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-area-tv-scope-to-be-wide/127097552/|date=May 20, 1965|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-area-tv/127097729/ 11]|first=James|last=Casey|title=Area TV Scope To Be Widened|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 25, 2023}}

The grant and construction permit were received in April 1966.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-228338-granted-for-tv/127097780/|date=April 1, 1966|page=6|title=$228,338 Granted For TV Station At Lexington|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 25, 2023}} Construction work had begun in earnest by June 1967,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-new-etv-station-to-open/127097938/|date=June 20, 1967|page=1|title=New ETV Station To Open In Fall|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 25, 2023}} and WLJT began operations on February 13, 1968.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80144950/|accessdate=June 23, 2021|date=February 6, 1968|page=7|title=ETV Facility Sets Program Tests|work=The Jackson Sun|agency=Associated Press}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-etv-reception-studied/126892144/|date=February 22, 1968|page=5|title=ETV Reception Studied|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-date=June 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622124521/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-etv-reception-studied/126892144/|url-status=live}} It rebroadcast WKNO with extremely limited local programming;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-why-are-both-educational/127098071/|date=March 30, 1978|page=1|title=Why are both educational television stations...|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 25, 2023}} while it broadcast on weekdays in 1977,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-alternative-programming/127098191/|date=September 23, 1977|pages=Leisure 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-believed-to-lure-viewers/127098167/ 2]|first=Michael|last=Mercer|title=Alternative Programming On Public TV|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 25, 2023}} it did not do so in 1978, leaving the local cable system to carry WKNO itself.{{r|Jack780330}}

=Community ownership=

In 1980, controversy over programming at WSJK-TV in Sneedville led to scrutiny of the state educational television system, which had grown to four state-owned stations plus WKNO and WDCN in Nashville, which were community-owned. One of the two reports suggested that WLJT be sold to WKNO;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-knox-educati/126892742/|date=July 10, 1980|page=10|first=David|last=Lyons|title=Knox Educational-TV Transmitter Urged|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-date=June 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622111850/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-knox-educati/126892742/|url-status=live}} the other recommended spinning out all of the stations in the system to community licensees.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-memphis-press-scimitar-drop-educatio/126892640/|date=April 11, 1980|page=1|agency=Associated Press|title=Drop Educational TV Network, Panel Advises State|newspaper=The Memphis Press-Scimitar|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-date=June 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623184619/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-memphis-press-scimitar-drop-educatio/126892640/|url-status=live}} After WKNO expressed no interest,{{r|Jack810819}} the state chose the latter option when legislators passed and Governor Lamar Alexander signed the Tennessee Educational Television Network Act of 1981,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-residents-seek-own/126893543/|date=September 7, 1983|page=A3|first=Richard|last=Locker|title=Residents Seek Ownership of WLJT|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-date=June 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622111853/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-residents-seek-own/126893543/|url-status=live}} This legislation provided for the transfer of the four Department of Education-owned stations to community entities by 1986.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press-state-senate-passes-b/126871979/|date=April 3, 1981|page=6|first=Lloyd H.|last=Karnes|title=State Senate passes bill on educational television|newspaper=Johnson City Press-Chronicle|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-date=June 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622082625/https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press-state-senate-passes-b/126871979/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-state-budget-on-h/126893529/|date=May 17, 1981|page=8A|agency=Associated Press|title=State budget on House floor, Senate finance committee|newspaper=The Daily News-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-date=June 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622094826/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-state-budget-on-h/126893529/|url-status=live}}

In August 1981, the West Tennessee Public Television Council was formed, and WLJT began local programming from studios at UT–Martin.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80142568/|title=WLJT-TV to initiate local programming|work=The Jackson Sun|first=Sue Ann|last=Tanzer Roberts|date=August 19, 1981|page=1B|access-date=June 23, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} This also added hands-on experience opportunities to UT–Martin's broadcasting program.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-public-gives-ut-at-marti/127099147/|date=June 24, 1986|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-public-gives/127099163/ 8A]|first=Stephanie|last=Siegel|title=Public gives UT at Martin high ranking|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 26, 2023}} In 1982, the second year of local content, it produced 101 hours of its own programming. In April 1984, the spin-off was completed, and the station began on-air fundraising efforts.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80143150/|access-date=June 23, 2021|date=February 5, 1984|page=1B|work=The Jackson Sun|first=Bill|last=Roberts|title=WLJT struggles for identity, dollars|via=Newspapers.com}} In addition to typical PBS programming, WLJT aired local sports and a regional country music show as part of its local output.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-area-public-tv-earns-its/127099279/|date=December 26, 1987|page=7A|first=Steve|last=Visser|title=Area public TV earns its place: Coverage of community events boosts WLJT support, funds|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 26, 2023}} In 1993, engineering operations were able to move to Martin when a new master and remote control facility opened at the studios.{{Cite web|url=https://www.westtnpbs.org/history-and-mission/|title=History and Mission|website=West TN PBS|access-date=June 25, 2023|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320191949/https://www.westtnpbs.org/history-and-mission/|url-status=live}}

WLJT began digital broadcasting on channel 47 on February 20, 2004,{{r|hist}} and discontinued analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|agency=Associated Press|title=List of TV stations ending analog broadcasts|date=February 17, 2009|work=NBC News|access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-date=January 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106052115/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|url-status=live}} The station continued to broadcast on channel 47, using virtual channel 11,{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} until being repacked to channel 27 as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction on August 10, 2018; channel 14 had been originally assigned.{{Cite web|url=http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|title=FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table|format=CSV|website=Federal Communications Commission|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160749/http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|url-status=live}}

Funding

In fiscal year 2022, WLJT generated $1.72 million in revenue. Nearly half of that came in the form of grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, while $467,000 came from state agencies. The station's 892 members contributed $75,000 in funding.{{Cite web|url=https://www.westtnpbs.org/bento-api/filer-file-download/285834/|title=Annual Financial Report 2022|website=West TN PBS|access-date=June 25, 2023}}

Local programming

In 2022, WLJT broadcast {{frac|23|1|2}} hours (12 on broadcast, {{frac|11|1|2}} online) of local community events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.westtnpbs.org/bento-api/filer-file-download/285835/|title=Local Content and Service Report|date=2022|website=West TN PBS|access-date=June 25, 2023}}

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

class="wikitable" \|+Subchannels of WLJT{{Cite web\|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WLJT-DT#station\|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WLJT\|website=RabbitEars\|access-date=August 23, 2016\|archive-date=September 18, 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918045909/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WLJT-DT#station\|url-status=live}} ! scope="col" \| Channel ! scope="col" \| Res. ! scope="col" \| Aspect ! scope="col" \| Short name ! scope="col" \| Programming
scope="row" \| 11.1 \| 1080i \|\| rowspan="2"\| 16:9 \|\| WLJT-HD \|\| PBS
scope="row" \| 11.2 \| rowspan="2"\| 480i \|\| rowspan="2"\|WLJT-DT \|\| PBS Kids
scope="row" \| 11.3 \| 4:3 \|\| Create

class="wikitable"

|+Subchannels of WLJT{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WLJT-DT#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WLJT|website=RabbitEars|access-date=August 23, 2016|archive-date=September 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918045909/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WLJT-DT#station|url-status=live}}

! scope="col" | Channel

! scope="col" | Res.

! scope="col" | Aspect

! scope="col" | Short name

! scope="col" | Programming

scope="row" | 11.1

| 1080i || rowspan="2"| 16:9 || WLJT-HD || PBS

scope="row" | 11.2

| rowspan="2"| 480i || rowspan="2"|WLJT-DT || PBS Kids

scope="row" | 11.3

| 4:3 || Create