Channels Digital: 8 (VHF) Founded November 10, 1983 | Affiliations Independent Sister station(s) WOCB-CD/WXCB-CD | |
Owner Central Ohio Association of Christian Broadcasters Former callsigns W08BV (1983-98)
WINJ-LP (1998-2006)
WGCT-CA (2006-2010) | ||
WGCT-CA is an independent television station located in Columbus, Ohio. It is owned by the Central Ohio Association of Christian Broadcasters, who also own WOCB-CD channel 39 in Marion and WXCB-CA channel 42 in Delaware, Ohio.
History
In 1983, the station’s construction permit was assigned by the Federal Communications Commission. The station began broadcasting in 1985, under the callsign of W08BV, as the first low-powered television station in the Columbus media market. For the first years on the air, it has been airing syndicated programming, and it also boasts an in-house sports broadcasting unit. Sports coverage on W08BV included football and basketball games involving more than 30 high schools in the area, mainly in Franklin County. It also held a contract to cover Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball, women’s gymnastics, as well as hockey and wrestling.
It changed its calls to WINJ-LP (We're INto Jesus) in 1998 and to its current calls in 2006. Prior to the purchase by its current owners, the station showed a variety of programs, the bulk of which were old public-domain movies, old cartoons, and current religious programs. Former owner Ella Flowers was featured prominently in many of the musical and religious programs.
The station switched to digital on June 13, 2010 and changed its call letters to WGCT-CD. It previously broadcast at 83 watts, but has recently increased its power to 120 watts.
Currently, this station is not available on any local cable TV outlets. Even with the power increase, it barely covers the city of Columbus itself.