Civic Media’s 1450 WELY/103.9 K280AT and 94.5 WELY-FM Ely MN will split programming feeds starting Monday, November 19.
The “Hometown Radio” branded Oldies format will remain on WELY/K280AT focusing on music from the 1960s and 70s. 94.5 WELY-FM will flip to an 1980s/90s centric Variety Hits brand.
Northpine reports that some local programming including a a trading show, Polka music, and “Hometown Happenings” will continue to simulcast on both stations, while WELY/K280AT will carry Minnesota Twins baseball and WELY-FM will air Minnesota Vikings football.
The two stations have been simulcasting since WELY-FM resumed operations last fall. The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa planned to shut down the stations in 2022 after losing $1.7 million over seventeen years. Zoe Communications would purchase them for $170,000, but would keep them mostly silent before selling them to Civic Media in early 2025 for $70,000.
