Dutch Doelitzsch, owner of WDDD radio, built Marion television station WDDD-TV Channel 27.  It took three years for the station to be approved by the FCC and following construction of tower, transmitter, and new studio building, the station signed on the air in August, 1981 as the first independent (non-network affiliated) station in the region, competing with the three existing network stations and WSIU, the PBS affiliate.  At the time, most stations were network affiliates and the network provided most of the station’s programming. 

Channel 27’s programming included a large number of movies and off network syndicated programs such as the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Bonanza, and dozens of others.  The station was the first in the region to install large satellite dishes to receive programs such as Entertainment Tonight and live sports.  University of Kentucky, University of Illinois, and Chicago Cubs games were well received, as well as many other live sporting events.

Cable systems weren’t very popular at the time as they were limited to 12 channels, using tall towers to bring in stations from Evansville and St. Louis.  CNN and other cable channels were not available, so nearly all television viewing was on local stations received by off air antennas.

  Channel 27 was purchased by Tri State Christian Television in 1984 with new call letters of WTCT.  It became the network origination hub of TCT’s international group of broadcast and satellite stations and continues to serve as the world headquarters of the group.

( Data and photos from Dutch Doelitzsch and 1989 Sesquicentennial History, WCHS; Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 03/02/2013)