WVIE (107.3 MHz), branded on-air as K-LOVE, is a non-commercial FM radio station in Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands. The station is currently owned by Educational Media Foundation and carries network programming from K-LOVE, EMF's main Contemporary Christian music network.

WVIE
Frequency107.3 MHz
BrandingK-LOVE
Programming
FormatContemporary Christian
Ownership
OwnerEducational Media Foundation
WJKL
History
First air date
1991
Former call signs
WVNX (1991–1998)
WVGN (1998–2015)
Former frequencies
97.1 MHz (1991-2001)
Call sign meaning
Virgin Islands Radio Entertainment
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID14999
ClassA
ERP1,650 watts
HAAT439 meters (2315 feet)
Transmitter coordinates
18°21′24″N 64°57′59″W / 18.35667°N 64.96639°W / 18.35667; -64.96639
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.klove.com

Ownership

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The station, then known as WVGN, was acquired by Caribbean Broadcasting Network (then known as LKK Group; Keith Bass, President) from Calypso Communications in 2002.[2][3]

While Caribbean Broadcasting Network is a company whose television stations are affiliates of commercial networks, WVGN was operated under a separate arm, Caribbean Community Broadcasting, and solicited and accepted donations from listeners, as would most other NPR members.

Caribbean Broadcasting Network reached a deal to sell WVGN to R.J. Watkins, owner of WHPR-FM and operator of W33BY-D in Detroit, on August 7, 2014;[4] the sale was completed on February 17, 2015,[5] accompanied by a call sign change to WVIE.[6] WVGN's NPR programming continued through March 15, 2015; Watkins replaced this programming with contemporary music and talk shows.[7]

Since November 7, 2015, WVIE's signal was simulcast on W33BY's 3rd subchannel. Until then, it had been a SD simulcast of 33.1, 33.2 and 33.4, however, are still simulcasting W33BY-DT1 in SD.

Sale to Educational Media Foundation

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On March 14, 2023, it was announced that the Educational Media Foundation was buying WVIE for $150,000. The station would be EMF's second located in a U.S. territory and would switch to the company's K-Love network. The sale was completed on May 26, 2023.

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WVIE". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Application Search Details". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  3. ^ BIA Financial Networks (2002-03-11). "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  4. ^ "APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. August 7, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  5. ^ "Consummation Notice". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. February 17, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  6. ^ "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  7. ^ "Contemporary format to replace NPR programs as 107.3 is sold". Virgin Islands Daily News. March 14, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
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