Light TV

Light TV (styled LIGHTtv) is a defunct American digital broadcast television network owned by the Allen Media Group division of Entertainment Studios. that launched on December 22, 2016. The network featured family-friendly and faith-based entertainment programming.

This article is about the American television network. For the Philippine television channel of the same name, see Light TV (Philippines).
Light TV
TypeDigital broadcast television network
Country
United States
AvailabilityNationwide (available on OTA digital television and LPTV)
SloganThere is something good on
HeadquartersBeverly Hills, California
OwnerAllen Media Group
Launch date
December 22, 2016 (2016-12-22)
DissolvedJanuary 15, 2021 (2021-01-15)
Picture format
480i (SDTV)
AffiliatesList of affiliates
Official website
www.lighttv.com
Replaced byTheGrio.TV

Light TV was headed by MGM TV CEO Mark Burnett and his wife, actress Roma Downey. The pair have teamed in the past to produce several religious and family-oriented projects through the MGM subsidiary Downey leads, Lightworkers Media.[1][2]

History

The then-new over-the-top (OTT) faith-based channel was under development as early as September 2014 when MGM purchased 55% of One Three Media and LightWorkers Media, owned by Hearst Entertainment, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, and consolidated them into United Artists Media Group.[3] With MGM purchasing Hearst and Burnett and Downey's shares in UAMG, the channel was still a planned streaming service. However, Hearst and Burnett and Downey retained their stakes in the channel.[4]

MGM announced the formation of Light TV on November 16, 2016, with a launch planned for December on thirteen major market stations owned by Fox Television Stations.[5] The network launched on December 22, 2016[6] with two stations, and the rest of the group's stations launching the subchannel throughout early 2017.[7]

Light TV was sold by MGM TV in October 2020 to the Allen Media Group division of Entertainment Studios, along with its movie-oriented sister channel This TV.[8] On December 3, 2020, it was announced that the network will be relaunched as TheGrio.TV on January 15, 2021, carrying lifestyle and entertainment programming of interest to the African American community. It will be an extension of the Entertainment Studios-owned website TheGrio.[9]

On or after that date, Entertainment Studios stopped feeding Light TV programming to some of the network's affiliates (mainly those associated with Fox Television Stations), leaving a test pattern card promoting TheGrio.TV's upcoming launch, though MGM continues to feature a live stream of Light TV on its website, suggesting only the satellite transponder for Light TV was sold to Entertainment Studios; some affiliates have thus taken the subchannel dark due to a current lack of programming on that satellite space. FTS confirmed on December 9 that it would indeed carry TheGrio.TV on its stations when it launches on January 15, 2021.[10]

Programming

Light TV featured several series and movies meant to fit the network's family-oriented approach, including content from the MGM film and TV library or acquired through outside sources.[1][2] Infomercials were added to the Light TV lineup in 2019, occupying all of the overnight hours and into the early morning.

Current programming

Below is a current list of programming broadcast on The Grio:[11]

Former programming

Affiliates

Light TV initially launched on subchannels of fourteen Fox and MyNetworkTV stations owned by Fox Television Stations, with most of the initial affiliates being owned-and-operated stations of the Fox Broadcasting Company.[13] MGM then offered the network to stations outside the initial markets.[14]

City Station[15] Physical
channel		 Virtual
channel		 Owner (management company) Date of affiliation Notes

Alabama

GreensboroWDVZ-CD33.2University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa/BirminghamWVUA623.2June 1, 2017

Arkansas

HarrisonK26GS-D2626.4Reynolds Media, Inc.2017
Little RockKTVV-LD1818.2Larry Morton

California

FresnoKAIL77.2Tri-State Christian TelevisionOctober 19, 2017
SacramentoKCSO-LD333.4NBCUniversal2018
Santa BarbaraKZDF-LP8.3HC2 HoldingsDecember 2017

Colorado

SterlingKCDO-TV 323.6, 34.6[16]10.1E. W. Scripps Company2017KCDO-TV 3's display channel for Light TV is 10.1[16]

Florida

MiamiWSVN7.2[17]7.2Sunbeam TelevisionJuly 14, 2017[18]
OrlandoWOFL22.4[19]35.2Fox Television Stations
Tampa BayWTOG44.3[20]44.3CBS Corporation

Georgia

AtlantaWAGA-TV275.4Fox Television Stations2017

Hawaii

HonoluluKWHE-TV3114.2Family Broadcasting Corporation2017

Idaho

BoiseKRID-LD2222.7Karlo Maalouf[21]July 2017
Idaho FallsKVUI3131.3Ventura Broadcasting
Twins FallsKXTF3435.3Tri-State Christian Television

Illinois

Oakwood Hills (Chicago)WCHU-LD7.2[22]59.2Venture Technologies Group, LLCDecember 2020Relocated from WPWR-TV 50.3 and WFLD 32.4
MarionWTCT30.5[23]27.3Tri-State Christian Television
PeoriaWAOE39.3[24]59.3Venture Technologies Group2017

Indiana

AngolaWINM1212.3Tri-State Christian TelevisionSeptember 2017
Fort WayneWEIJ-LD38.5[25]38.3

Iowa

Des MoinesKDMI19.3[26]19.3Tri-State Christian Television
Iowa CityKWKB2520.2KM Communications Inc.2017

Kansas

WichitaKGPT-CD2426.7Great Plains Television

Kentucky

LexingtonWLJC-TV765.2Hour of Harvest
LouisvilleWBNA821.3Word Broadcasting NetworkMarch 2017[27]

Louisiana

Baton RougeKPBN14.4Pelican Broadcasting NetworkJanuary 1, 2018

Michigan

DetroitWHNE-LD20.1[28]14.1Tait Broadcasting, LLC[28]Since late August 2017
Traverse City-CadillacWMNN-LD14.6[29]26.6Freelancer Television Broadcasting, Inc.[29]Since August 2017
Flint/Saginaw/Bay CityWAQP48.5[30]49.3Tri-State Christian TelevisionSince September 2017
Grand Rapids/KalamazooWTLJ2454.32018

Missouri

Kansas CityKSMO-TV32.4[31]62.2Meredith CorporationMay 6, 2018
Springfield, MissouriKRFT-LD218.2Craft BroadcastingNovember 9, 2017[32]

Nevada

Las VegasKGNG-LD2647.5King Kong Broadcasting, Inc.[33]October 23, 2017Century Link Cable Channel 22
RenoKTVN112.2Sarkes Tarzian, Inc.2018

New Mexico

AlbuquerqueKTVS-LD36.1[34]36.1Alpha Omega Broadcasting[34]October 2017[35](physical and virtual) channel 36.3 is a simulcast of 36.1[34]

New York

AlbanyWNYA13.4[36]51.2Hubbard BroadcastingNovember 1, 2017 Replaced Antenna TV
JamestownWNYB26.5[37]26.3Tri-State Christian Television?
BuffaloWBNF15.5[38]15.3Tri-State Christian Television
RochesterDWNIB-LD42.3[39]42.3Tri-State Christian Television

North Carolina

CharlotteWJZY47.10[40]46.8Nexstar Media Group2017

Ohio

CincinnatiWBQC-LD ("WKRP-TV")47.7[41]25.5Elliot Block2018
MansfieldWMFD-TV1268.3Mid-State Television, Inc.2017
MarionWOCB-CD22.5[42]39.5Central Ohio Assoc. of Chr. Broadcasters

South Carolina

GreenvilleWGGS-TV16.6[43]16.4Carolina Christian Broadcasting2017

Tennessee

ChattanoogaWRCB33.2Sarkes Tarzian, Inc.2018
NashvilleWJFB44.3[44]44.3Tri-State Christian TelevisionNovember 20, 2017

Texas

AustinKGBS1919.5CNZ CommunicationsOctober 9, 2017Operated by HC2 Holdings
San AntonioKGMM-CD24.4[45]24.2CNZ Communications

Utah

OgdenKULX-CD1410.5NBCUniversal
Salt Lake CityKTMW2020.5

Virginia

GrundyWLFG49.4[46]68.2Living Faith Ministries, Inc.February 3, 2018

Washington

SeattleKYMU-LD6.2[47]Seattle 6 Broadcasting LLC2019

Wisconsin

MilwaukeeWIWN68.2CNZ CommunicationsSeptember 1, 2017

Former affiliates
Market Station Channel Current owner Years of affiliation Notes
Chicago, IllinoisWFLD-TV32.4Fox Television Stations2018-2020
Colorado Springs, ColoradoKWHS-LD51.2[48]Christian Television Network2017-2019Replaced by CTN Lifestyle[48]
Dallas-Fort Worth, TexasKDFI27.5Fox Television Stations2017-2020
Gary, Indiana
(Chicago, Illinois)		WPWR-TV50.42017-2018
Houston, TexasKRIV26.22017-2020Replaced by Decades to prepare for theGrio launch on January 15, 2021 on sister station KTXH 20.3.[49]
Los Angeles, CaliforniaKCOP13.8 [50]2016-2020
Minneapolis–Saint Paul, MinnesotaKMSP-TV9.52017-2020
New Orleans, LouisianaWHNO20.2Christian Television Network2016-2018Replaced by CTN Lifestyle
New York City, New YorkWNYW5.4[51]Fox Television Stations2016-2020
Oklahoma City, OklahomaKBZC-LD42.2HC2 HoldingsReplaced by CBN News Channel, and later Revenue Frontier.
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaWTXF-TV29.3[52]Fox Television Stations2017-2020
Phoenix, ArizonaKSAZ-TV10.4
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaWPCW19.4CBS Corporation2018-2020Position taken by Circle TV moving from 19.5, which is now vacated
Tulsa, OklahomaKWHB47.2Christian Television Network2017-2019Replaced by Dabl
Washington, D.C.WDCA20.4Fox Television Stations2017-2018Was dropped due to channel share with sister station WTTG

References
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  2. "Faith-Based LIGHT TV Coming To FOX 32.2 In December". Chicagoland Radio & Media. November 16, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  3. Busch, Mike Fleming Jr,Anita (September 22, 2014). "MGM Buys 55% Of Roma Downey And Mark Burnett's Empire; Relaunches United Artists". Deadline. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  4. Lieberman, David (December 14, 2015). "MGM Taps Mark Burnett To Run TV Operation After Buying Out JV Partners". Deadline. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  5. Busch, Anita (November 16, 2016). "Roma Downey, Mark Burnett And MGM Launch Light TV With Fox Stations On Board". Deadline. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  6. Bouma, Luke (March 3, 2017). "Three New Over-the-Air TV Networks Recently Launched - Cord Cutters News". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  7. "Light TV". Light TV.com. LightWorker Media OTT, LLC. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  8. "Allen Media Group Buys Two Networks From MGM," from Deadline, 10/28/2020
  9. Haring, Bruce (2020-12-04). "Byron Allen's Light TV Will Transition To 'TheGrio.TV' Next Month To Kick Off MLK Day Weekend". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  10. Miller, Mark (9 December 2020). "Fox O&Os Adding TheGrio.TV To Subchannels". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  11. "LIGHT_SCHEDULE_AUGUST_24_UPDATE" (PDF). 2017-08-01.
  12. https://lighttv.com/schedule/
  13. "Fox Stations Sign on For Roma Downey and Mark Burnett Network". TVSpy. Prometheus Global Media. November 16, 2016.
  14. Kate Stanhope (November 16, 2016). "Roma Downey, Mark Burnett and MGM to Launch Faith Digital Network on Fox Stations". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
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