Duluth Radio: Christian WWJC Sold To VCY America

One of Duluth’s pioneer radio stations is in the throes of a sale, the victim of economics, according to
duluthnewstribune.com.

WWJC 850 AM was the first Christian radio station in the Northland, going on the air in 1963. President Ted Elm confirmed that he has filed papers for approval by the Federal Communications Commission for a $400,000 purchase agreement with VCY America, a Milwaukee-based broadcaster of 21 Christian radio stations across the Midwest as well as a program producer. WWJC will remain a Christian station but probably won’t have any local programming, Elm said.

“The format will be similar,” Elm said. “There won’t be much of a hiccup.”

WWJC has always been a nonprofit struggling on the margins, Elm said, and he felt the responsible thing to do was to sell. The sale could be made final in March, and Elm is planning a farewell show for his listeners. WWJC operates only during the day, with his local midday talk show bookended with syndicated shows and music.

“We’ve cut as much as we can,” Elm said. Automation at the station helped for a while, he said. Paying fewer people to run the station kept it in his hands for at least 10 years.

“It’s not economically feasible anymore,” Elm said. Donations are down and costs are up.

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