Broadcast area | New Hanover County, Brunswick County and Pender County |
---|---|
Frequency | 630 kHz |
Branding | ESPN Wilmington |
Programming | |
Format | Sports |
Affiliations |
ESPN Radio Charlotte Hornets |
Ownership | |
Owner | Capitol Broadcasting Company |
WAZO, WILT, WKXB, WRMR | |
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 / 34.27194°N 77.97444°W |
Translator(s) | 101.7 W269DF (Wilmington) |
Repeater(s) | 99.9 WKXB-HD3 ( Boiling Spring Lakes) |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | espnwilmington.com |
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.
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]
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 |