WBRF

Last updated
WBRF
WBRF-FM 2014.PNG
Broadcast areaSouthwestern Virginia
Southside Virginia
Piedmont Triad
Frequency 98.1 FM MHz
BrandingClassic Country 98-1
Programming
Format Classic Country - Bluegrass - Americana [1]
Affiliations CBS News Radio
MRN Radio
PRN Radio
Virginia News Network
Ownership
OwnerBlue Ridge Radio, Inc.
WKBA
History
First air date
December 15, 1961;62 years ago (1961-12-15) [2]
Former call signs
WBOB-FM (1961–1985)
WBRF (1985-Present) [3]
Call sign meaning
Blue Ridge Family Radio
Technical information [4]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 5986
Class C
Power 100,000 watts horizontal 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 / 36.559444; -80.823611
Links
Public license information
Webcast WBRF Webstream
Website WBRF Online

WBRF (98.1 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Galax, Virginia, and serving Southwestern Virginia, Southside Virginia and the western Piedmont Triad, including Winston-Salem. [1] It is owned and operated by Blue Ridge Radio, Inc., with studios and offices on Poplar Knob Road in Galax. [5] WBRF plays a mix of Classic country, Bluegrass and Americana music. Most programming is simulcast on WKBA 1550 and 93.1 in the Roanoke, Virginia.

Contents

WBRF has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts horizontal polarization and 96,000 watts vertical. The transmitter is on Fishers Peak Road in Lowgap, North Carolina, near the Virginia border. [6]

History

The station signed on the air at 5:15pm on December 15, 1961;62 years ago. The original call sign was WBOB-FM, with a power of 6,000 watts. WBOB-FM shared studios with WBOB-AM (now WCGX).

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 the transmitter moved to Fishers Peak in Surry 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 of WTQR radio for 23 years. [7]

Beginning in January 2023, WBRF started simulcasting most of its programming on co-owned WKBA 1550 and 93.1 in the Roanoke metropolitan area. [8]

Programming

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 the flagship station of Wake Forest Demon Deacons football and men's basketball. However, since the station provides marginal coverage to much of the Triad, the Deacons also air their games on WPOL in Winston-Salem and simulcast partner WKEW in Greensboro.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings . Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  2. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 2010 (PDF). ProQuest, LLC/Reed Publishing (Nederland), B.V. 2010. p. D-564. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Call Sign History". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WBRF". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ↑ "WBRF Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  6. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/WBRF
  7. ↑ "State Closes Land Deal at Grandfather," Winston-Salem Journal, June 5, 2009.
  8. ↑ RadioInsight.com/ "Classic Country 93.1 Launches in Roanoke" Jan. 16, 2023
  9. ↑ Rex Theater: About the Venue
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