WDLV

WDLV (88.7 FM) is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station in Fort Myers, Florida. It airs a Christian Contemporary radio format and is part of the Educational Media Foundation's K-Love network.

WDLV

Fort Myers, Florida United States
Broadcast area	Southwest Florida
Frequency	88.7 MHz (HD Radio)
Programming
Format	Contemporary Christian
Subchannels	HD2: Air1 HD3: K-Love 90s
Network	K-Love
Ownership
Owner	Educational Media Foundation
History
First air date	October 9, 1987; 37 years ago (1987-10-09)
Former call signs	WAYJ (1986–2012) WNPS (2012–2015)
Call sign meaning	Contains LV for "Love"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	64256
Class	C1
ERP	75,000 watts
HAAT	306.8 meters (1,007 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	26°25′23″N 81°37′48″W
Translator(s)	90.5 W213BQ (Immokalee)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live HD2: Listen live HD3: Listen live
Website	www.klove.com HD2: www.air1.com

WDLV has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 75,000 watts. Programming is also heard on FM translator 90.5 W213BQ in Immokalee.

History

WAY-FM

The station was founded by Bob and Felice Augsburg as WAYJ, a contemporary Christian music (CCM)-formatted station. It was a way to expand messages about Christianity to a younger audience, following the success of their weekly program for youth on another local Christian station, WSOR.^[2]

WAYJ was first station and former flagship of the WAY-FM Network; after establishing additional stations, the WAY-FM group would relocate its corporate offices to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2001.

Ownership changes

On February 14, 2012, Classical South Florida said it was in the process of acquiring WAYJ from WAY-FM for $4.35 million. Following the announcement of the sale, WAY-FM announced that the organization would acquire competing station WSRX 89.5. It is licensed to Naples and was owned by the Family Church of Marco Island. This move was designed to continue WAY-FM programming in its legacy Southwest Florida market.^[3] In the interim, programming from WAYJ began simulcasting on WSRX on March 1, 2012.^[4]

Upon completion of the sale on June 7, 2012, WAYJ's call sign was changed to WNPS. The WAYJ call letters were transferred to 89.5 on June 18, 2012.

K-Love

On July 17, 2015, WNPS was sold to Educational Media Foundation and switched to EMF's K-Love under new call letters, WDLV.^[5] In consequence, the CCM format, which is featured on K-Love, resumed at 88.7 FM after three years, but is now competing with the former occupant of 88.7, WAYJ.

Following this switch of formats, the prior K-Love affiliate in the Fort Myers area, 98.5 FM WLVO, became affiliated with Radio Nueva Vida. EMF's purchase of WDLV, along with co-owned WFLV, WMLV, W214BD, and W270AD, was consummated on November 2, 2015, at a price of $21.7 million.