WLNN-CD, virtual and UHF digital channel 24, branded on-air as the Mountain Television Network and MTN 18, was a low-powered, Class A television station licensed to Boone, North Carolina, United States. The station was owned by the Carolina Rays. On cable, the station was seen on channel 18, 15, 16, and 7 throughout Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. History 1990s It was an independent station with some national programming from Youtoo America. The station was originally owned by Tim Baxter and Bob Flanagan, who did an excellent job starting the station in the early 1990s and providing local news and show content to the viewers in the High Country. 2000s After many years of excellent public service to the local communities, it had become increasingly difficult to financially operate a local television station, and so they sold MTN in 2003 to Steve Rondinaro. Rondinaro had many years of broadcast experience as a news anchor, and he had previously owned a group of successful radio stations in the Boone area. Prior to moving to the Boone area, Rondinaro had been a very successful evening news anchor in Miami, Florida. Rondinaro sold his group of high country radio stations and used these proceeds to purchase MTN in the Fall of 2003. As the television industry changed because of the introduction of cable and satellite networks, resulting in more television stations becoming available to viewers through cable and satellite providers, then local stations such as MTN faced increasing competition for viewers and advertisers. As a result, it became more and more difficult for MTN to survive financially. MTN was losing money every month, and Rondinaro was forced to spend his own money every month to keep the station going. Eventually, he put the station up for sale in 2007. However, with no buyers coming forward throughout 2007 and 2008, and Rondinaro no longer in Boone because of the news anchor position he had taken at WWAY on the East Coast of North Carolina, then MTN was on the brink of closure for two years. Then, just when it appeared that MTN would close, a buyer, Terry Smith, came in at the last minute, and Rondinaro sold WLNN to Terry Smith in 2008. Smith had grown up in the local area before going on to play and coach professional football and baseball, while also previously serving as a teacher and head coach in