WBRF
 | |
| Broadcast area | Southwestern Virginia Southside Virginia Piedmont Triad |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.1 FMMHz |
| Branding | Classic Country 98-1 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic Country-Bluegrass-Americana[1] |
| Affiliations | CBS News Radio MRN Radio PRN Radio Virginia News Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Blue Ridge Radio, Inc. |
| WKBA | |
| History | |
First air date | December 15, 1961[2] |
Former call signs | WBOB-FM (1961–1985) WBRF (1985–Present)[3] |
Call signmeaning | Blue Ridge Family Radio |
| Technical information[4] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 5986 |
| Class | C |
| Power | 100,000wattshorizontal polarization 96,000 watts vertical |
| HAAT | 535 meters (1,755 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 36°33′34.0″N80°49′25.0″W/ 36.559444°N 80.823611°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | WBRF Webstream |
| Website | WBRF Online |
WBRF(98.1MHz) is acommercialFMradio stationlicensedtoGalax, Virginia,and serving Southwestern Virginia,Southside Virginiaand the westernPiedmont Triad,includingWinston-Salem.[1]It is owned and operated by Blue Ridge Radio, Inc., withstudiosand offices on Poplar Knob Road in Galax.[5]WBRF plays a mix ofClassic country,BluegrassandAmericanamusic. Most programming issimulcastonWKBA1550 and 93.1 in theRoanoke, Virginia.
WBRF has aneffective radiated power(ERP) of 100,000wattshorizontal polarizationand 96,000 watts vertical. Thetransmitteris on Fishers Peak Road inLowgap, North Carolina,near theVirginiaborder.[6]
History
[edit]The stationsigned onthe air at 5:15pm on December 15, 1961.The originalcall signwas WBOB-FM, with a power of 6,000 watts. WBOB-FM shared studios with WBOB-AM (nowWCGX).
WBOB-FM began its Country/Bluegrass/Americana format around the same time it was purchased by Blue Ridge Radio Inc. in April 1985. At the same time, the station switched its call sign to WBRF.
In 1990, the power was increased to 100,000 watts and thetransmittermoved to Fishers Peak inSurry County,near the Virginia–North Carolina border.[citation needed]
On June 15, 2009, air personality Toby Young returned to radio with his "Aunt Eloise" character who was part ofWTQRradio for 23 years.[7]
Beginning in January 2023, WBRF startedsimulcastingmost of its programming on co-ownedWKBA1550 and 93.1 in theRoanoke metropolitan area.[8]
Programming
[edit]WBRF-FM broadcasts the classic country music show,Blue Ridge Back Roads,live from the Rex Theater in Galax weekly.[9]It also broadcasts from the Old Fiddler's Convention every August in Felt's Park, also in Galax.
The station is theflagship stationofWake Forest Demon Deacons footballandmen's basketball.However, since the station provides marginal coverage to much of the Triad, the Deacons also air their games onWPOLinWinston-Salemand simulcast partnerWKEWinGreensboro.
References
[edit]- ^ab"Arbitron Station Information Profiles".Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings.RetrievedJuly 7,2015.
- ^Broadcasting Yearbook 2010(PDF).ProQuest, LLC/Reed Publishing (Nederland), B.V. 2010. p. D-564.RetrievedJuly 7,2015.
- ^"Call Sign History".Federal Communications Commission,audio division.RetrievedJuly 7,2015.
- ^"Facility Technical Data for WBRF".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^"WBRF Facility Record".Federal Communications Commission,audio division.RetrievedJuly 7,2015.
- ^Radio-Locator.com/WBRF
- ^"State Closes Land Deal at Grandfather,"Winston-Salem Journal,June 5, 2009.
- ^RadioInsight.com/ "Classic Country 93.1 Launches in Roanoke" Jan. 16, 2023
- ^Rex Theater: About the Venue
External links
[edit]- Classic Country 98-1 Online
- Facility details for Facility ID 5986 (WBRF)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WBRFinNielsen Audio's FM station database