WJMF-LD

WJMF-LD is a low-power broadcast station serving Jackson, Mississippi, United States. The station is owned by Rainey Radio and transmits from a site on Kerr Drive, near U.S. Route 80 on Jackson’s south side. Its history spans both Spanish-language television and radio-oriented programming, reflecting the unusual use of a low-power television allocation for an FM-like audio service. The station originally operated under the WJMF-LP call sign. During its television period, it was affiliated with Univision and rebroadcast the satellite feed of KUOK in Oklahoma City. KUOK and WJMF were formerly connected through Equity Media Holdings. This arrangement made WJMF a distinctive outlet in Mississippi: it was described as Univision’s only Mississippi affiliate and the state’s only Spanish-language television station at that time. Because the station carried KUOK’s feed, viewers could see Oklahoma station identifications and advertisements that were not specifically produced for the Jackson market. WJMF was initially announced as a prospective LAT TV affiliate, but Equity Media Holdings instead placed LAT TV on co-owned WJXF-LP. WJXF later adopted Equity’s Retro Jams network and ultimately ceased operations in 2010. WJMF’s connection with KUOK ended after the station was sold at auction to Rainey Radio on April 16, 2009. The transaction closed on July 10, 2009, while KUOK was sold separately to Tyler Media. In early 2011, WJMF-LP moved to channel 6 and was relaunched under the EZ 87.7 brand with an oldies and classic-hits format. Although the underlying authorization remained that of a low-power television station, the service was presented to listeners as a radio-style outlet. A Saturday-evening request program hosted by Gearshift Gary was added in June 2015, providing a locally oriented feature within the music format. The classic-hits format later moved to WZQK. WJMF-LP signed off shortly before midnight on July 13, 2021. The station received authorization for digital operation on January 11, 2022, and its call sign was changed to WJMF-LD. Available reference material does not establish a detailed current programming schedule or clarify whether the EZ 87.7 service continues in its earlier form. Accordingly, WJMF-LD is best understood as an active licensed low-power broadcast property whose historical identity includes a Univision television affiliation and a subsequent classic-hits audio presentation.

WJMF-LD is a low-power broadcast station in Jackson, Mississippi. Before receiving its current digital-era call sign, it operated as WJMF-LP. Its early identity was principally associated with low-power television and Univision programming. WJMF-LP carried a satellite feed from KUOK in Oklahoma City. KUOK was formerly a sister station through Equity Media Holdings, and the arrangement meant that WJMF transmitted programming intended for the Oklahoma market rather than a fully localized Jackson production. The station also carried KUOK identifications and Oklahoma advertising. Despite these limitations, the arrangement gave WJMF an unusual role in Mississippi broadcasting: it was identified as the state’s only Univision affiliate and its only Spanish-language television station at the time. A LAT TV affiliation for WJMF was announced, but the network was ultimately assigned to co-owned WJXF-LP. WJXF later switched to Equity’s Retro Jams service and closed in 2010. WJMF’s corporate position changed in 2009 when Rainey Radio acquired the station at auction on April 16. The sale closed on July 10, separating WJMF from KUOK; KUOK was sold to Tyler Media. In early 2011, the station moved to channel 6 and changed its operating identity. Rather than continuing its previous television affiliation, it was relaunched as EZ 87.7, an oldies and classic-hits service presented in a radio-like format. This programming model made WJMF notable as a low-power television license used to support an audio-oriented broadcast brand. In June 2015, the station expanded its local character by adding a Saturday-evening request show hosted by Gearshift Gary. The classic-hits format subsequently moved to WZQK. WJMF-LP signed off shortly before midnight on July 13, 2021. The station later received authorization for digital operation on January 11, 2022, and adopted the WJMF-LD call sign. The available reference material does not provide a complete account of its post-2022 programming, staffing, or current commercial activity. Its documented history nevertheless shows several distinct phases: a Spanish-language television affiliation, a change of ownership, an audio-oriented classic-hits relaunch, the relocation of that format to another station, and a transition to digital low-power television status.

• 2022

  Digital authorization and call-sign change

  [1]WJMF-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station was licensed for digital operation on January 11 and changed its call sign to WJMF-LD.

• 2021

  Analog-era service signs off

  [1]WJMF-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WJMF-LP signed off shortly before midnight on July 13 after its classic-hits programming had moved to WZQK.

• 2015

  Saturday request program introduced

  [1]WJMF-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station added a Saturday-evening request show hosted by Gearshift Gary.

• 2011

  Launch of EZ 87.7

  [1]WJMF-LDen.wikipedia.org

  After relocating to channel 6, WJMF-LP was relaunched with an oldies and classic-hits format under the EZ 87.7 name.

• 2009

  Rainey Radio wins WJMF at auction

  [1]WJMF-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WJMF was sold at auction to Rainey Radio on April 16, and the transaction closed on July 10, ending its prior connection with KUOK and Equity Media Holdings.

A Jackson-area low-power broadcast outlet with a distinctive history spanning Spanish-language television, syndicated programming, and an oldies/classic-hits service branded EZ 87.7.

• Spanish-language television broadcasting

  Univision television service

  WJMF-LP formerly carried a satellite feed from KUOK in Oklahoma City. The service made WJMF a Univision affiliate in Mississippi, although the feed also included Oklahoma station identifications and advertising rather than fully local Jackson-market material.

• Classic-hits radio-style broadcasting · 2011

  EZ 87.7

  Introduced after WJMF-LP moved to channel 6 in early 2011, EZ 87.7 presented an oldies and classic-hits format through the low-power broadcast facility. The format later moved to WZQK.

• Local radio programming · 2015

  Saturday evening request show

  A Saturday-evening listener-request program hosted by Gearshift Gary was added in June 2015 as a local feature within the EZ 87.7 schedule.

• 2022

  Transition to digital low-power operationGeneration change

  Background

  WJMF-LP signed off in 2021 after its classic-hits format had moved elsewhere.

  Action taken

  The station received a digital-operation license on January 11, 2022, and changed its call sign to WJMF-LD.

  Aftermath

  The digital call sign identifies the station’s post-analog authorization, although current programming details are not established by the available source.

  Source

• 2011

  Conversion to the EZ 87.7 classic-hits serviceStrategy

  Background

  After its ownership change and a move to channel 6, the station no longer centered its identity on the former Univision television affiliation.

  Action taken

  WJMF-LP was relaunched as EZ 87.7 with an oldies and classic-hits format.

  Aftermath

  The station operated as a radio-style classic-hits outlet until the format moved to WZQK.

  Source

• 2009

  Sale to Rainey RadioM&A

  Background

  WJMF was previously connected with KUOK through Equity Media Holdings, but that ownership and affiliation structure changed during the 2009 station auction process.

  Action taken

  Rainey Radio acquired WJMF at auction on April 16, 2009; the sale closed on July 10.

  Aftermath

  The transaction separated WJMF from KUOK. KUOK was sold separately to Tyler Media.

  Source

1. 1WJMF-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WJMF-LD official websiteez877fm.com