Radio Training Network began operating Entravision’s Spanish Tropical “98.1 Salsa y Más” WNUE-FM Deltona/Orlando FL this morning flipping the station to its “The Joy FM” Christian AC network.
Radio Training Network will pay $4 million for the station. During the LMA period ahead of closing, the buyer will pay for the costs and maintenance of the transmitter including engineering services with a limit of $7200 per month charged.
The launch brings a second Christian AC to the market as WNUE-FM takes on Z Ministries’ “Z88.3” WPOZ Orlando. For awhile this weekend it appeared the Orlando market would become home to two “Joy” branded stations as WPOZ announced it would rebrand as “Joy 88.3” this morning, however they backed off from that plan.
Radio Training Network operates “The Joy FM” network across Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The addition of WNUE-FM makes for continuous access of their programming across Northern and Central Florida.
On Monday, April 19, 2021 at 7:30 A.M., The JOY FM (Radio Training Network) held a “family meeting” for a live sign-on at 98.1 FM Deltona/Orlando/Daytona. The Morning Cruise spent the rest of the morning welcoming new listeners and taking calls and messages to introduce The JOY FM.
The Contemporary Christian Music network is currently heard on 21 FM signals in Florida (13), Georgia (5) and Alabama (3). The move to 98.1 will connect the in-car listener experience from Jacksonville (WCRJ 88.1 FM) to the Gulf Coast as far south as North Fort Myers (WJIS 88.1 FM).
“We are excited to connect the dots, coast to coast in Florida,” said General Manager Carmen Brown. “Serving listeners in the Orlando/Deltona region will meet a growing demand we’ve seen and tracked in that area. In fact, our research showed that in 2020, the Orlando area ranked second to Tampa Bay in app downloads and digital sessions. We’re thrilled to share the neighborhood with Z88.3! We appreciate the legacy and ministry of The Z, and we believe there is plenty of room for our mission, Helping You Find JOY! For 35 years, we have brought JOY to listeners wherever we believed God was calling us. This is the next step in being faithful to the Lord and listeners.”
The JOY FM’s flagship station is 91.5 FM WCIE, Tampa Bay/Port Richey. Those call letters represent the original RTN station, launched in 1975 in Lakeland, Florida. RTN Founder and President, Jim Campbell, long considered a pioneer of Contemporary Christian Radio, still heads the not-for-profit network.
Original Report 4/16: Entravision Spanish Tropical “98.1 Salsa y Más” WNUE-FM Deltona/Orlando FL will drop its format on Monday as a new operator prepares to take over operations of the station.
Program Director/morning host Arnaldo ‘JR Al Aire’ Olivieri posted a video explaining that the entire staff of the station has been let go ahead of the LMA. No details yet about who will be taking over the station after this weekend, although rumors in the market center on English language Christian operators.
WNUE-FM had a 1.9 share in the February 2021 Nielsen Audio ratings. That placed it behind iHeartMedia’s “Rumba 100.3” WRUM’s 5.6 share and Cox Media Group’s Spanish CHR “Exitos 96.5” WOEX’s 2.4 share.
Entravision also operates Univision’s two television stations in the Orlando market.
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