The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Radio Station For "Retirees" Does It Old School

**Posted by RadioActive** July 15, 2025 6:42 am

This story about a small town radio station for retirees (it's in Florida, where else?) explains how it does it old school, with almost no voice tracking, live and local personalities, and strict ties to the local community of the town called "The Villages."

The audience for WVLG is small - around 160,000 - yet somehow they manage to pay the bills while being hyper-local. They hire veteran DJs who are the same age as the audience. And so far, according to those in charge, it's working.

And while it's operated in an old fashioned throwback kind of way, they haven't ignored current trends - a lot of people stream it right into their golf carts! The station has some FM repeaters, but most listen on their major 640 signal.

Those in charge think AM has a future if it's done right.

"I’d love to take a bunch of AM stations and just help them realize they should go back to the way it was. I think AM station owners need to do a better job proving their value. And how do they do that? Again, it’s about connectivity. It’s the lost pets. It’s having live people on air. It’s communicating with the audience on their level: cognitive and emotional."

An unusual profile of an increasingly rare kind of radio station.

It Takes A Village: Radio, Reinvented the Old-Fashioned Way

Curious what it sounds like? You can listen live with a VPN here.

**Posted by mace** July 15, 2025 9:37 am

According to Radio Locator, the station's 930 watt daytime signal reaches as far east as Daytona Beach, north to Gainsville and south to Lakeland. According to the contours, Tampa is just outside the fringe limit, but with a good quality radio, WVLG might still be heard. The 860 watt night signal coverage area is significantly reduced.

**Posted by g121** July 15, 2025 12:08 pm

RadioActive wrote:
This story about a small town radio station for retirees (it's in Florida, where else?) explains how it does it old school, with almost no voice tracking, live and local personalities, and strict ties to the local community of the town called "The Villages."
.
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Kathleen Madigan "The Villages" : )) ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrawpRYV6uc

**Posted by RadioActive** July 15, 2025 12:41 pm

Hearing Kathleen Madigan again reminds how much I still miss Funny 820...

**Posted by Dale Patterson** July 15, 2025 1:42 pm

I've heard that station and it is quite good!

I would hiighly recommend volunteering at a community station for radio retirees. It's great fun!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_community_radio_stations_in_Canada

Last edited by Dale Patterson (July 15, 2025 1:48 pm)

**Posted by mojo55** July 15, 2025 2:02 pm

WMKV is a public radio station, broadcasting at 89.3 FM, owned and operated by Maple Knoll Communities, Inc., and located in Reading, Ohio. It is known for its focus on big band music, standards, classic radio comedies and dramas, and oldies, as well as providing news and weather information. WMKV also streams live online and is the first FM educational public radio station licensed to a retirement community.
Here's a more detailed look:

Target Audience:

WMKV primarily targets older adults and their caregivers with its programming, aiming to be a companion for seniors, families, and caregivers, according to WMKV – 89.3 FM.

Content:

The station features a mix of music, including big bands, standards, Broadway tunes, and classic radio shows. They also incorporate news and weather , as well as community announcements and information relevant to older adults. They feature local talk shows on a wide range of subjects from health, pets, to antiques and trivia
which are not paid programming

Community Involvement:

WMKV actively participates in community events, providing music, announcements, and information about the station and its programming.

Unique Position:

WMKV is notable as the only nonprofit radio station in the country dedicated to serving seniors. It also distinguishes itself by being housed within a retirement community and focusing on timeless music, engaging talk shows, and valuable community resources.

Streaming and Accessibility:

WMKV broadcasts live on 89.3 FM and offers streaming audio online at wmkvfm.org, making its content accessible globally.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** July 16, 2025 6:55 am

RadioActive wrote:
Hearing Kathleen Madigan again reminds how much I still miss Funny 820...

Just yesterday I was thinking the same RA, Funny 820 was my go-to when I wasn’t finding anything interesting to listen to on other stations. Miss it!

**Posted by g121** July 16, 2025 7:27 am

Shorty Wave wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
Hearing Kathleen Madigan again reminds how much I still miss Funny 820...
Just yesterday I was thinking the same RA, Funny 820 was my go-to when I wasn’t finding anything interesting to listen to on other stations. Miss it!

I want 'talk' not 'music' when going to sleep, so Funny 820 was my bedtime go-to for a long time.
When Funny 820's demise was imminent, I created my own personal 'Funny 820' which is now up to 1,000+ comedy stand-up clips. My comedy playlist gets randomized each night.