Another notable signal is preparing for a new chapter as Hubbard Radio has reached an agreement to lease 103.9 WTLP in Braddock Heights, Maryland, to K-Love Inc., with the programming transition scheduled to begin August 1.
For nearly two decades, WTLP has served as a simulcast partner for News 103.5 WTOP, extending the station’s award-winning news coverage into Frederick and portions of Montgomery County. Now, the station is preparing to transition from news to faith-based programming under a long-term lease agreement.
While K-Love Inc. has not yet announced which of its national networks will ultimately occupy the frequency, the addition gives the Christian broadcaster another valuable signal serving the rapidly growing communities northwest of Washington, D.C. The organization already has a presence in portions of the region and continues to expand its broadcast footprint through strategic acquisitions and leasing agreements.
According to FCC filing details, the lease will remain in effect through December 31, 2029, with provisions allowing for an automatic three-year extension unless either party elects to end the agreement before the specified notification deadline. Financial terms of the agreement were not publicly disclosed.
The move is another example of how broadcasters are increasingly using lease agreements to reposition signals, broaden audience reach, and maximize spectrum assets without an outright ownership transfer. For Hubbard, the agreement allows the company to monetize a valuable FM signal while maintaining its focus on core operations. For K-Love Inc., it represents another opportunity to strengthen its already expansive national network and introduce its programming to additional listeners across central Maryland.
As the switch approaches, listeners in Frederick will soon hear a very different sound coming from 103.9 FM, marking the end of one era and the beginning of another for a frequency that has long been associated with all-news programming.
On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including ownership changes, station launches, signal moves, programming updates, and broadcast trends from across the United States.
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