WGTS
 | |
| Broadcast area | Washington metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 91.9 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary Christian |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Atlantic Gateway Communications, Inc. |
| History | |
Call sign meaning | Washington's Gateway To Service |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 12460 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 23,500 watts (analog) 940 watts (digital)[1] |
| HAAT | 186 meters |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wgts919.com |
WGTS (91.9 FM) is a non-commercial, FM radio station licensed to Rockville, Maryland. The station is licensed to and owned by Atlantic Gateway Communications, Inc. It broadcasts a Contemporary Christian music format. Its broadcast tower is located near Arlington, Virginia at (38°53′30.0″N 77°07′54.0″W / 38.891667°N 77.131667°W).[2] The call letters echo Washington Adventist University's motto Washington's "Gateway To Service".[3]
Proposed sale and Spin-off
In July 2007, Washington Adventist University considered selling WGTS to American Public Media (the parent company of Minnesota Public Radio).[4] Several websites were set up to lobby for the Christian format of WGTS, which would be dropped should the station be sold. American Public Media offered US$20–25 million to purchase WGTS. A $10 million initial offer by the WGTS board of directors to keep the station within Washington Adventist University was rejected. On September 20, 2007, the college board voted to halt any current discussions of selling WGTS.[5]
In 2018, the Washington Adventist University board voted to spin-off WGTS to a new nonprofit, Atlantic Gateway Communications, for a purchase price of $12 million. The divestiture was submitted to the FCC on July 3, and the transaction was consummated on September 11, 2018. No changes to management came with the sale, and AGC signed a five-year lease for the station's current facilities. WAU Board of Trustees members sit on the board of Atlantic Gateway Communications, although it is not under the direct control of the university.[6]
References
- ^ "FCC 335-FM Digital Notification [WGTS]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. September 12, 2014. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
- ^ "FM Query Results for WGTS". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
- ^ https://www.wau.edu/wgts-gateway-service/
- ^ Roland, Kara (July 16, 2007). "WGTS license likely for sale". Washington Times. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
- ^ Farhi, Paul (September 21, 2007). "Christian College to Keep Radio Station". Washington Post. p. C07. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
- ^ Venta, Lance (3 July 2018). "Washington Adventist University Divests WGTS Washington DC". RadioInsight.
External links
- WGTS Official Website
- Facility details for Facility ID WGTS ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database