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WMFD (630 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Wilmington, North Carolina. It is owned by the Capitol Broadcasting Company and broadcasts a sports format, primarily from ESPN Radio. The radio studios and offices are on North Kerr Avenue in Wilmington.[1]
By day, WMFD’s power is 800 watts; at night it slightly increases its power to 1,000 watts. A directional antenna with a three-tower array is used at all times to protect other stations on 630 AM from interference. The transmitter is off Sampson Street in Navassa, North Carolina.[2] Programming is simulcast on 250-watt FM translator W269DF at 101.7 MHz.[3] WMFD is also heard on the HD Radio digital subchannel of co-owned 99.9 WKXB-HD3.
History
WMFD signed on the air on September 15, 1935 . It is Wilmington's oldest, though not its first, radio station. It has retained its original call sign throughout its history.[4]
In 1954, the station launched WMFD-TV Channel 6, Wilmington's first TV station, now WECT.
In May 1996, Community Broadcasting sold radio stations WMFD, WUOY, and WBMS to a new company called Ocean Broadcasting. As a talk station, WMFD added Dr. Laura Schlessinger and The Fabulous Sports Babe, as well as CNN Headline News part of the time.[5] In 1999, WMFD was airing Don Imus' morning show from New York City.[6]
In 2000, WMFD changed to sports radio and added the minor-league baseball team Wilmington Waves.[7]
In July 2004, NextMedia Group purchased WRQR, WAZO, and WMFD from Ocean Broadcasting, and WKXB and WSFM from Sea-Comm Inc.[8]
In July 2008, Capitol Broadcasting announced its purchase of NextMedia's Wilmington stations.[9]
Translator
In addition to the main station, WMFD is relayed by FM translator W269DF 101.7 to widen its broadcast area. This station rebroadcast WLTT prior to 2014.
Call sign | Frequency | City of license | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
W269DF | 101.7 FM | Wilmington, North Carolina | 250 | D | FMQ |
References
- ^ ESPNwilmington.com/station-information
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WMFD
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/W269DF
- ^ "AM Query Results: First license date" (FCC.gov).
- ^ Kristina Bartlett, "WUOY-FM, WMFD-AM AND WBMS-AM / Stations Sold to Ocean Broadcasting; New Company Purchases 3 Wilmington Radio Stations," Star-News, May 17, 1996.
- ^ Toby Eddings, "Imus on a local station? Not yet," The Sun News, Jan. 14, 1999.
- ^ Chuck Carree, "Waves Baseball; Sports Station to Carry All Games," Star-News, November 16, 2000.
- ^ Bonnie Eksten, "Ocean Broadcasting, Sea-Comm Stations Sold to NextMedia - New Owner to Operate Locally," Star-News, July 14, 2004.
- ^ "Capitol Broadcasting acquires seven radio stations in deals worth nearly $13M". www.wral.com. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-22.[title missing]
External links
- Official Website
- ESPN-WMFD-959FM-and-AM630 facebook
- WMFD in the FCC AM station database
- WMFD in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- W269DF in the FCC FM station database
- W269DF at FCCdata.org
- FCC History Cards for WMFD (covering 1934-1981)