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Stay up to date with the latest news and information about 90.7 WMFE & 89.5 WMFV

90.7 WMFE closes on new sister station, announces call letters

90.7 WMFE CLOSES ON NEW SISTER STATION

89.5 WMFV EXTENDS PUBLIC RADIO SERVICE TO THE VILLAGES & SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

Live in 89.5 WMFV's coverage area (The Villages, Leesburg and the Golden Triangle)? Please take the WMFV Community Survey to help us design the station around your needs:  http://bit.ly/wmfvsurvey

Jan. 8, 2018 – Orlando-based public radio station 90.7 WMFE closed Thursday, Jan. 4, on the purchase of a new signal, and plans to introduce new programming sometime in February.

In September, Community Communications Inc. (DBA 90.7 WMFE) announced that it had reached an agreement with Daystar Public Radio Inc. to purchase the radio station license for WKSG-FM 89.5 (The Boulevard) in Cedar Creek, just north of The Villages.

On Jan. 4, WMFE submitted the paperwork to finalize the purchase, and announced the station’s new call letters – WMFV –aligned with the WMFE brand, with the “V” as a nod to the new station’s focus on The Villages, Leesburg, the Golden Triangle and other surrounding communities. The Federal Communications Commission recognized the completed deal on Jan. 5.

"Today we closed on the purchase of WKSG, officially welcoming a new radio station into our family, and we are excited to soon announce programming plans to meet the needs of our expanded audience," said LaFontaine Oliver, president and general manager of 90.7 WMFE. "It is not every day that you have the opportunity to launch a new service from the ground up so we are excited."

WMFE is working to resolve transmission issues that knocked WKSG off the air a few weeks ago. Oliver said they hope to come on the air with new programming in February 2018. WMFE is considering a variety of new programs to bring to the 89.5-FM audience. Listeners may submit feedback and suggestions by emailing wmfe@wmfe.org.  A specific schedule of programming will be announced in the near future. WMFE’s current program lineup is available at www.wmfe.org/programs.

The purchase agreement between WMFE and Daystar includes the license as well as the station’s broadcast tower and the 14.45 acres of land upon which it sits. The final sales price was $885,000, negotiated down from $900,000 based on transmission issues that caused the station to go off the air.

Funding for the purchase came from proceeds from the 2012 sale of the WMFE-TV PBS station to the University of Central Florida as well as dedicated major gifts for the purchase from the station’s supporters and organizations. Public Media Company represented 90.7 WMFE throughout the analysis and negotiation process.

The Villages is a master-planned age-restricted community in Sumter County and the nation’s fastest growing metro area for the last three years, according to U.S. Census data.

Read the initial release here.

Live in 89.5 WMFV's coverage area (The Villages, Leesburg and the Golden Triangle)? Please take the WMFV Community Survey to help us design the station around your needs:  http://bit.ly/wmfvsurvey

About 90.7 WMFE:

90.7 WMFE is a non-profit, member-supported, community-based public broadcasting company that operates 90.7 WMFE-FM, metro Orlando’s primary provider of NPR programming; and 90.7-2 Classical; and starting in February 2018, 89.5 WMFV-FM. Part of the community since 1980, WMFE focuses on providing quality national and local news and programming. Visit wmfe.org for more information.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES: Please contact Communications & Marketing Specialist Jenny Babcock at jbabcock@wmfe.org or 407-273-2300 ext. 112.