WRFD

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WRFD is an AM radio station in Columbus, Ohio, located at 880 kHz. Its official brand identifier is The Word 880 WRFD. WRFD is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as a daytime-only radio station, operating with a non-directional power of 23 kW. After hours, the 880kHz frequency is taken over locally by WCBS, broadcasting from New York City. The current license holder is Salem Media of Ohio, Inc.

[edit] History

WRFD was originally aimed at the agricultural market (hence the use of RFD), and had its studios and transmitter located on East Powell Road in rural Delaware County, north of Columbus. For many years, WRFD was owned and operated by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

In 1961, WRFD opened a sibling FM station, WRFD-FM. By the 1970s, WRFD-FM had changed its call sign to WNCI and had been sold to the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.^[1]

[edit] "The Word" Personalities

WRFD has a variety of voices for the station. Anne Rea hosts weekday mornings from 7am to 10am; Jason Whitt takes the board from 10am to 3pm. On weekends, Vince Tornero is the Sunday voice of the station. He is "running the show" from 7am to 6pm.

[edit] Live WRFD Talk

The Word also has several live talk shows. Bob Burney hosts Bob Burney Live on weekdays from 3:30pm to 6pm on weekdays. On Saturdays, however, there is Let's Talk Real Estate, Saturday Live, and Langford Live.

[edit] WRFD Format

In the 1980s, WRFD was sold and has since operated with a Christian talk radio format, it still regularly broadcast features of interest to farmers and agribusiness by Ohio Farm Radio. throughout the next two decades. Possibly the best known of all farm broadcasters for WRFD was Ed Johnson from 1967 until 1972. It was shortly after leaving WRFD when he ventured out on his own and founded The Agri Broadcasting Network (ABN) which he owned and operated until his death in February of 2001. The longest serving Farm Director at the station during the Salem Years was Joe Cornely, who broadcast daily farm news and information until 1998, when he joined the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation staff. He was followed by Darrin Johnston, who was replaced in 2002 by A. Vance who left Salem Communications to pursue other interests. In 2005, Salem executives, with hopes of providing a more consistent programming schedule, decided to discontinue WRFD's agricultural programming.

The studios of WRFD are currently located at 8101 North High Street.

[edit] The Word's Parent Company

Salem Communications Corporation, the parent company of WRFD, is a leading U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content and conservative values. In addition to its radio properties, Salem owns Salem Radio Network, which syndicates talk, news and music programming to approximately 2,000 affiliates; Salem Radio Representatives, a national radio advertising sales force; Salem Web Network, a leading Internet provider of Christian content and online streaming; and Salem Publishing�, a leading publisher of Christian-themed magazines. The company owns and operates approximately 100 radio stations, including stations in 23 of the top 25 markets.

[edit] Notes

1. ^  Nationwide Insurance and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation have had a long and close relationship; Nationwide having originally been created by the farm bureau to meet the insurance needs of farmers.

[edit] External links

• Official website

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