| WMFD | |
| City: | Wilmington, North Carolina |
| Area: | New Hanover County, Brunswick County and Pender County |
| Branding: | ESPN Wilmington |
| Frequency: | 630 kHz |
| Translator: | 101.7 W269DF (Wilmington) |
| Repeater: | 99.9 WKXB-HD3 (Boiling Spring Lakes) |
| Format: | Sports |
| Power: | 800 watts day 1,000 watts night |
| Class: | B |
| Facility Id: | 61701 |
| Coordinates: | 34.2719°N -77.9744°W |
| Former Frequencies: | 1370 kHz (1935–1941) 1400 kHz (1941–1949) |
| Affiliations: | ESPN Radio Charlotte Hornets |
| Owner: | Capitol Broadcasting Company |
| Sister Stations: | WAZO, WILT, WKXB, WRMR |
| Webcast: | Listen Live |
| Website: | espnwilmington.com |
| Licensing Authority: | FCC |
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 . 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.