WMFD (AM)
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] The radio station carries the games of the Cape Fear Rugby Football Club.
 | |
| City | Wilmington, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | New Hanover County, Brunswick County and Pender County |
| Frequency | 630 kHz |
| Branding | ESPN Wilmington |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Affiliations | ESPN Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Capitol Broadcasting Company |
| WAZO, WILT, WKXB, WUIN | |
| History | |
First air date | September 15, 1935 |
Former frequencies | 1370 kHz (1935-1941) 1400 kHz (1941-1949) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 61701 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 800 watts day 1,000 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 34°16′19″N 77°58′28″W |
| Translator(s) | 101.7 MHz W269DF (Wilmington) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | espnwilmington.com |
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 (MHz) | City of license | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W269DF | 101.7 | Wilmington, North Carolina | 250 | D | FCC FM Query |
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.
- http://www.wral.com/business/story/3215727/, Retrieved on 2008/09/22.
External links
- WMFD in the FCC AM station database
- WMFD on Radio-Locator
- WMFD in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- W269DF in the FCC FM station database
- W269DF on Radio-Locator
- FCC History Cards for WMFD (covering 1934-1981)