History:
WSFJ-TV is a non-profit organization incorporated in June of 1975 and began providing cable programming to Lancaster, OH in 1976. In 1980 Guardian Vision International (formerly Christian Television of Ohio) received an FCC permit as a full power commercial UHF television station licensed to Newark, Ohio. The first program aired March 9, 1980 from our Thornville facility. In July 2024, Guardian Vision International (GVI) completed construction of a new transmission and production facility located 1 mile west of the intersection of Hwy 310 and Hwy 161 in Licking County, OH a few miles east of New Albany, OH. Phase 1 included a 1,500 sq ft transmission building and a new 310ft broadcast tower, along with a new transmitter and antenna. For the first time in 25 years, WSFJ can now be received over-the-air in the metropolitan area of Columbus and Franklin County, as well as Madison, Pickaway and Delaware counties. This now gives WSFJ complete over-the-air coverage in the Columbus DMA (designated market area) with an approximate 36% increase in overall coverage. You may ask, what does this mean? More people can view GTN 51 than ever before. On October 1, 2024, WSFJ transitioned from a PAX affiliate and launched the Flagship station GTN51. GTN51 was launched with the mission to entertain, inform and feed the souls of families in Central Ohio. GTN also operates a national television ministry channel known as the Guardian Television Network which is a separate programming feed distributed via the SkyAngel satellite network. We continue to promote the ministry programming within the family-friendly line up on both GTN51 in Central Ohio, as well as in the GTN national channel, in an increasing effort to promote the message of Christ and fish for more souls! The studios division of GTN, known as Guardian Studios, continues to create programming distributed to North America and more than 100 countries worldwide with programs like Bananas, Taylor’s Attic, Comedy at Large, and Every Young Man’s Battle.

Future:
WSFJ along with all other commercially licensed television stations in the United States must make a transition from Analog to full power Digital broadcasting by July 2024 and GVI will be installing a new full power digital transmitter and antenna system, providing the maximum digital service allowed to Central Ohio. In 2024, GVI will also be completing Phase 2 of the Transmission and Production facility in Licking County while GTN continues to build a blend of ministry and entertaining programming for the GTN51 and GTN National network viewers. You will also see more from Guardian Studios, as they continue to partner with national networks to produce original programming for the television industry.