 | |
| Broadcast area | Western and Central Maine |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 88.9FM |
| Branding | God's Country 89FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Light of Life Ministries |
| History | |
First air date | January 2006; 19 years ago (2006-01) |
Call sign meaning | "Words and Music for Daily Rejoicing" |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Class | C0 |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 391 meters (1,283 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 44°15′00″N70°25′23″W / 44.250°N 70.423°W /44.250; -70.423 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | WorshipPraiseNetwork.org |
WMDR-FM (88.9MHz) is anon-commercial, listener-supportedFMradio stationlicensed toOakland, Maine. It calls itself "God's Country 88.9 FM". WMDR-FM broadcasts asouthern gospel andChristian countryradio format for theAugusta-Waterville,Lewiston-Auburn,Norway-South Paris andBath-Brunswick areas, as well as parts ofDowneast Maine and NorthernNew Hampshire. It is owned by Light of Life Ministries withstudios and offices on Riverside Drive in Augusta.
WMDR-FM is aClass C0 station with aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000watts, the maximum for most American FM stations. Thetransmitter is on Kilgore Way inBuckfield, Maine, offMaine State Route 117, just east of Norway.[1] Programming issimulcast onWWLN91.5 FM inLincoln, Maine.
The stationsigned on the air in January 2006.[2] It has always been aChristian radio station. It was founded by Ray and Susanne Bouchard who began the Worship Radio Network in 2004 when a friend donated the parent station,WMDR (1340 AM) in Augusta. The network also includesChristian contemporary stationWWWA (95.3 FM) inWinslow, known as "Reach FM."
WMDR-FM was originally powered at 600 watts, a fraction of its current output. In March 2007, the southern gospel format on WMDR 1340 AM moved to WMDR-FM 88.9. Meanwhile, WMDR-FM's contemporary format moved to WWWA, while WMDR 1340 AM began airing children's Christian programming. In 2010, WMDR-FM boosted its power to 100,000 watts as a Class C station, greatly expanding its coverage area.
Despite the name, the Maine "God's Country" stations have noaffiliation with theGod's Country Radio Network.
In addition to the main station, WMDR-FM is relayed by the followingFM translator:
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W264BQ | 100.7 FM | Bangor, Maine | 145527 | 170 | D | LMS |
In 2010God's Country significantly expanded its signal, with a power upgrade and a transmitter move from atower inSkowhegan to a taller tower in Buckfield. It also signed on a full-powered rebroadcaster, 91.5WWLN inLincoln, Maine.
With the power upgrade to WMDR-FM and the addition of WWLN, severalbroadcast translators that previously simulcasted WMDR-FM switched to a simulcast of 95.3WWWA. In 2012, more full-power rebroadcasters went on the air including 89.3WRPBBenedicta and 91.7WRNMEllsworth.