By Marty Trese, KnoxPages.com
MOUNT VERNON – Thanks to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Mount Vernon’s only AM radio station since the 1950’s is now also available to listen to on the FM band. WMVO-AM began simulcasting on a new FM frequency of 100.9 Wednesday evening.
Curtis Newland, General manager of WMVO and WQIO-FM, told KnoxPages.com, “The FCC is doing an AM revitalization program and many daytime AM stations across the country have taken the opportunity to purchase and put up an FM translator. It’s basically a low power FM frequency that will cover the city of license (Mount Vernon) and Knox County.”
All the WMVO programs are now available on the FM signal, 100.9, including longtime local morning swap shop show, Tradio; talk show AM Knox County and the early morning music program The Good Life. A majority of the programming is oldies music. Mount Vernon High School sports have been a staple on WMVO for decades and will continue.
Newland says there are no immediate plans to hire additional staff right now. There are plans in the works to construct a new building. The station’s current facility built in 1951 – at the corner of Coshocton and Upper Gilchrist Roads – is for sale.
WMVO and WQIO have been owned by Fremont-based BAS Broadcasting for 10 years.