WDCN-LD
WDCN-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Fairfax, Virginia, that operates a Spanish-language FM6 radio service for the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WDCN-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Fairfax, Virginia, and serving the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Although its regulatory identity is that of a television station on channel 6, the station has become best known for its associated 87.7 MHz FM audio service. Its Spanish-language programming has been marketed under several names, including La Nueva 87.7, DC 87.7, and Latino 104.1/87.7. The station’s dual television-and-radio character reflects the unusual technical position of low-power channel 6 stations: in the analog television era, their audio carriers operated at 87.75 MHz, close enough to the FM broadcast band for reception on ordinary FM radios. WDCN-LD began carrying primarily audio-oriented programming in 2009. Before that transition, it operated as a conventional low-power television outlet with Spanish religious programming. An early plan called for the station to be leased to Mega Media as a second outlet for Pulse 87, a dance-oriented service already associated with WNYZ-LP in New York City. That arrangement did not take effect, and Mega Media entered bankruptcy later in 2009. WDCN-LD instead adopted a Spanish contemporary-hits format under the La Nueva 87.7 identity. The station’s programming arrangements changed in 2022, when Costa Media assumed programming responsibilities and rebranded the service as DC 87.7. That period coincided with Costa Media’s acquisition of WFAX, an AM station operating at 1220 kHz. The Costa Media local marketing agreement ended on December 31, 2025. According to the referenced station history, WDCN-LD then began simulcasting WLNO, a Spanish contemporary-hit station broadcasting at 104.1 MHz, and adopted the Latino 104.1/87.7 presentation. WDCN-LD’s operating model was affected by the nationwide conversion of full-power television stations to digital broadcasting. Low-power analog television stations were initially permitted to remain analog, enabling channel 6 outlets to continue exploiting the relationship between their television audio carriers and the FM band. The Federal Communications Commission later required low-power stations to cease analog television operation. WDCN-LD stopped its analog transmission on July 13, 2021, and resumed service on October 5, 2021, with The Country Network as its television programming and an embedded FM signal. The station was subsequently included in the FCC’s FM6 framework, which permits certain channel 6 television stations to provide an ancillary or supplementary FM radio service alongside a qualifying digital television transmission. The station’s studios are on Old Gallows Road in Tysons, while its transmitter is located on Lee Highway near Interstate 495 in Merrifield. In addition to its music programming, WDCN-LD has carried Spanish-language sports. It broadcast D.C. United soccer matches from 2010 through 2012, including games that were not otherwise televised. Since the 2019 NFL season, it has served as the Spanish-language flagship radio outlet for the Baltimore Ravens. WDCN-LD has also previously been associated with a simulcast on WOWZ-LP, another low-power channel 6 station licensed to Salisbury, Maryland, although that station later changed to a simulcast of WVES.
History
WDCN-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Fairfax, Virginia, with facilities serving the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Its studios are located on Old Gallows Road in Tysons, and its transmitter is situated on Lee Highway near Interstate 495 in Merrifield. The station broadcasts on television channel 6 and has developed a parallel identity as a Spanish-language radio service on 87.7 MHz. The station’s unusual radio presence derives from the technical characteristics of analog channel 6. During the analog television era, channel 6 stations transmitted an audio carrier at 87.75 MHz, a frequency receivable by many standard FM radios. Some low-power channel 6 broadcasters used this circumstance to market themselves like conventional FM stations. These outlets were informally called “Franken-FMs,” although they remained regulated television stations and were required to transmit at least some video content. Before adopting its audio-focused identity, WDCN-LD was a conventional low-power television outlet carrying Spanish religious programming. In 2009 it began broadcasting primarily audio content. Mega Media initially planned to lease the station as a second outlet for Pulse 87, a service associated with WNYZ-LP in New York City. The arrangement fell through, and Mega Media entered bankruptcy later that year. WDCN-LD subsequently launched Spanish contemporary hits under the La Nueva 87.7 name. The station’s regulatory and technical environment changed after the FCC required low-power television stations to transition away from analog transmission. WDCN-LD signed off on July 13, 2021, and returned on October 5, 2021, with The Country Network on its television service and an embedded FM signal. The FCC later developed a framework for selected channel 6 stations to continue providing FM audio as an ancillary or supplementary service alongside digital television. Its July 20, 2023, Report and Order named WDCN-LD as one of 13 stations allowed to continue such an FM6 operation. Programming and branding have changed several times. In 2022, Costa Media took over programming and presented the service as DC 87.7. The change occurred around the time Costa Media acquired WFAX, an AM station at 1220 kHz. The Costa Media local marketing agreement ended on December 31, 2025. The station history identifies the subsequent service as a simulcast of WLNO, a Spanish contemporary-hit station at 104.1 MHz, with the resulting Latino 104.1/87.7 identity. WDCN-LD has also used its local reach for Spanish-language sports. From 2010 through 2012 it carried all D.C. United soccer matches, including games unavailable through television coverage. Beginning with the 2019 NFL season, it became the Spanish-language flagship radio station for the Baltimore Ravens. It previously simulcast with WOWZ-LP, a Maryland channel 6 station serving the Ocean City–Salisbury area; WOWZ-LP later changed to a simulcast of WVES.
- 2025
End of Costa Media local marketing agreement
[1]Costa Media’s local marketing agreement for the station ended on December 31, 2025.
- 2023
FCC FM6 authorization
[1]An FCC Report and Order listed WDCN-LD among channel 6 stations permitted to continue an ancillary or supplementary FM service.
- 2021
Analog shutdown and digital restart
[1]The station ended analog transmission in July and resumed in October with digital television and an embedded FM audio service.
- 2019
Baltimore Ravens Spanish-language flagship role
[1]WDCN-LD became the Spanish-language flagship radio station of the Baltimore Ravens beginning with the 2019 NFL season.
- 2012
D.C. United arrangement ends
[1]WDCN-LD’s documented run as a Spanish-language D.C. United outlet covered the 2010–2012 seasons.
- 2010
D.C. United Spanish-language broadcasts begin
[1]The station began carrying Spanish-language D.C. United soccer broadcasts.
- 2009
Launch of Spanish audio-focused programming
[1]WDCN-LD moved from primarily Spanish religious television programming toward an audio-led Spanish contemporary-hits format, eventually branded La Nueva 87.7.
Products and positioning
A Spanish-language Washington-area media service combining low-power digital television with an FM6 audio outlet at 87.7 MHz.
Television broadcasting
Low-power digital television service
WDCN-LD operates as a low-power television station on channel 6. After the 2021 analog shutdown, its television service resumed digitally and was documented as carrying The Country Network. The television transmission provides the regulatory and technical platform supporting the station’s associated FM6 audio service.
Spanish-language radio service
Latino 104.1/87.7
Latino 104.1/87.7 is the station’s Spanish-language audio identity associated with its channel 6 FM6 signal. The service is positioned around Spanish contemporary hits and, following the end of the Costa Media arrangement, has been described as a simulcast of WLNO at 104.1 MHz.
Spanish-language radio service · 2009
La Nueva 87.7
La Nueva 87.7 was the branding used after the station’s 2009 shift toward primarily audio programming. The format centered on Spanish contemporary hits and established the station’s long-running identity as a radio-like service despite its television-station license.
Spanish-language radio service · 2022
DC 87.7
DC 87.7 was the branding adopted when Costa Media took over programming in 2022. It represented a subsequent presentation of the station’s Spanish contemporary-hit audio service during Costa Media’s local marketing agreement.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022DC 87.7 rebrand
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
Costa Media refreshed the station’s identity as DC 87.7 after taking over programming.
Outcome. The rebrand continued the Spanish contemporary-hit format under Costa Media’s programming arrangement.
- 2009La Nueva 87.7 launch
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
WDCN-LD introduced a Spanish contemporary-hits identity after an intended Pulse 87 leasing arrangement with Mega Media failed to materialize.
Outcome. The station established its long-term Spanish-language FM-style positioning.
Brand decisions
2025
Change in programming arrangementStrategyBackground
Costa Media’s local marketing agreement ended on December 31, 2025.
Action taken
The station switched to a simulcast of WLNO, another Spanish contemporary-hit service.
Aftermath
The service was presented under the Latino 104.1/87.7 identity.
2023
Continuation of FM6 serviceOtherBackground
Channel 6 stations faced regulatory uncertainty over continued FM audio operation after the analog television transition.
Action taken
The FCC included WDCN-LD among 13 stations permitted to provide an ancillary or supplementary FM broadcast service.
Aftermath
WDCN-LD retained a regulatory pathway for its 87.7 MHz audio service alongside digital television.
2021
Transition from analog to digital televisionGeneration changeBackground
The FCC ended analog operation by low-power television stations, requiring WDCN-LD to discontinue its analog transmission.
Action taken
WDCN-LD signed off on July 13, 2021, and returned on October 5 with digital television and an embedded FM signal.
Aftermath
The station preserved its FM-style audio presence within a digital television operating structure.
Recent events
- 2026
WDCN-LD begins WLNO simulcast[1]
Product generation
Following the end of the Costa Media agreement, the station switched to a simulcast of WLNO, another Spanish contemporary-hit service operating at 104.1 MHz.
- 2025
Costa Media programming agreement ends[1]
Leadership change
The local marketing agreement under which Costa Media programmed WDCN-LD ended on December 31, 2025.
- 2023
WDCN-LD included in FCC FM6 authorization[1]
Regulation
The FCC’s July 20, 2023, Report and Order included WDCN-LD among 13 channel 6 stations permitted to continue an ancillary or supplementary FM radio service.
- 2022
Costa Media takes over WDCN-LD programming[1]
M&A · Campaign
Costa Media assumed programming responsibilities and changed the station’s branding to DC 87.7 while also acquiring WFAX.
- 2021
WDCN-LD ends analog television transmission[1]
Regulation · Other
The station signed off its analog television service on July 13, 2021, in connection with the FCC’s nationwide end of analog operation by low-power television stations.
- 2021
WDCN-LD resumes service with digital television and embedded FM audio[1]
Product generation · Regulation
WDCN-LD returned to the air on October 5, 2021, carrying The Country Network and an embedded FM signal after its analog shutdown.
Sources2 sources
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