WMFD (AM)
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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 two-tower array is used during the day and three-tower array at night 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, 1935Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".. 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.
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.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
External links
- Official Website
- ESPN Wilmington WMFD 101.7FM AM630 Facebook page
- Template:FCC Licensing and Management System facility
- WMFD in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Template:FCC-LMS-Facility
- Template:FXL
- FCC History Cards for WMFD (covering 1934-1981)
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