WMSB (FM)

Last updated
WMSB
Frequency 88.9 MHz
Programming
Format Christian
Network American Family Radio
Ownership
Owner American Family Association
History
First air date
January 4, 1971 (1971-01-04)
Former call signs
  • WNJC-FM (1971–1992)
  • WKNA (1992–2007)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 42060
Class C1
ERP 52,000 watts
HAAT 145 meters (476 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 34°39′30.4″N89°37′32.3″W / 34.658444°N 89.625639°W / 34.658444; -89.625639
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website afr.net

WMSB is a radio station on 88.9 FM licensed to Byhalia, Mississippi, United States. It is a full-time repeater of the American Family Radio (AFR) network and is owned by the American Family Association, broadcasting from a tower in Chulahoma.

Contents

Prior to being sold to AFR in 2007, this station was Mississippi's first public radio station as WNJC-FM, a service of Northwest Mississippi Junior College (NMJC) in Senatobia. After 16 years, the college shuttered the station in 1988 in order to reallocate its funds for classroom expenses. It was then acquired and operated for nearly two decades by WKNO-FM in Memphis, Tennessee.

History

WNJC-FM

Northwest Mississippi Junior College applied on April 15, 1969, for a new noncommercial educational radio station to be located on the college campus. [2] The application specified 89.9 MHz, but this was amended to 90.1 before being granted on January 28, 1970. A September 28 launch date was promoted, [3] but this was missed, and WNJC-FM made its debut on January 4, 1971. [4] Listeners to Mississippi's first noncommercial radio station heard music, news, and coverage of the college's athletic events. After resolving some issues that caused interference to television reception, the station was found eligible for Corporation for Public Broadcasting grants—and for membership in the new NPR. [5] In addition, WNJC-FM also served as a training ground for student announcers and maintained a local news operation covering northern Mississippi; on one occasion, the news director was gathering a livestock report when they were chased by a bull. [6] In 1976, the transmitter site was moved to a college-owned farm and the power increased to 18,000 watts. [2] A construction permit was issued at the end of 1981 to move to 88.9 MHz. [2]

Even though WNJC-FM had gone on the air in 1971, it was the only Mississippi-based public radio station for more than a decade. In the early 1980s, this began to change. The J. C. Maxwell Broadcasting Group was formed to build a minority-oriented public station in Jackson, [7] which went on the air as WMPR in late 1983. Simultaneously, the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television began planning and securing funds for an eight-transmitter network to carry NPR programming across the state; [8] the first seven transmitters in Public Radio Mississippi, comprising the entire network save Jackson, began that November. [9]

Purchase by WKNO

In 1988, the community college opted to close WNJC-FM and reallocate its budget to classroom and curricular needs, effective August 1; the college's president called the decision "difficult". [10] By November, the Memphis Community Television Foundation, parent of Memphis public radio station WKNO-FM, had filed to purchase the facility from NMJC. [10]

Some changes were made in the WKNO-FM lineup coinciding with the integration of the new transmitter, with Performance Today and Monitoradio dropped to add Fresh Air . [11] The station returned as a nearly full-time repeater of WKNO-FM on April 3, 1989; the only opt-outs from the parent station were to air normal programming while WKNO-FM aired Shelby County, Tennessee, commission and Memphis city council meetings. [12] After initially contemplating a sale of the Senatobia station in 1991, WKNO-FM changed tactics and split daytime weekday programming, with WNJC-FM becoming WKNA and adding several new news and talk offerings. [13] The next year, the WKNA audio was added to the Secondary Audio Program channel of WKNO television. [14] The amount of talk programming was increased in 1996, at which time WKNQ in Dyersburg, Tennessee, also began airing the speech-based opt-outs. [15] In 2003, this was changed to a fully separate service using NPR and BBC World Service programming. [16]

Sale to AFA

WKNO, however, was frustrated in its efforts to pursue further facility improvements for WKNA and WKNQ in Dyersburg. As a result, at the end of 2006, it opted to sell both facilities, with Christian broadcasters purchasing each one. The Educational Media Foundation acquired the Dyersburg outlet, while WKNA was sold to the American Family Association of Tupelo for integration into its network. [17] The sale closed on April 13, 2007, and the station was taken silent while it was relocated; Northwest Mississippi Community College, as the former junior college had renamed itself, had refused to allow AFA to use its tower site. [18] WKNO earned $1 million from the sale of the two stations. [18]

In 2008, AFA was approved to change the city of license from Senatobia to Byhalia, which allowed that city to retain one primary aural service as K-Love transmitter WKVF moved north toward Memphis. [19]

Related Research Articles

KMSU is a radio station operated by Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minnesota, United States, that carries a mixed news, talk, and music format. A repeater station, KMSK, serves the city of Austin; a translator station, K220AR, serves the city of Albert Lea. It is part of Minnesota's AMPERS network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMC-TV</span> TV station in Memphis, Tennessee

WMC-TV is a television station in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power Telemundo affiliate WTME-LD. The two stations share studios on Union Avenue in midtown Memphis; WMC-TV's transmitter is located in northeast Memphis, near the suburb of Bartlett, Tennessee.

WKNO is a PBS member television station in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The station is owned by the Mid-South Public Communications Foundation, a non-profit organization governed by a board of trustees composed of volunteers, and is operated alongside NPR member WKNO-FM (91.1). The two stations share studios on Cherry Farms Road with the TV station's transmitter on Raleigh LaGrange Road, both in the Cordova section of unincorporated Shelby County.

WKAR-TV is a PBS member television station licensed to East Lansing, Michigan, United States, serving central southern Michigan. The station is owned by Michigan State University (MSU) and operated as part of WKAR Public Media, along with NPR members WKAR and WKAR-FM (90.5). The three stations share studios in the Communication Arts and Sciences Building, at the southeast corner of Wilson and Red Cedar Roads on the MSU campus in East Lansing; WKAR-TV's transmitter is located off Dobie Road near Kinawa Drive in Meridian Charter Township between East Lansing and Williamston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBTJ</span> Urban radio station in Richmond, Virginia

WBTJ – branded as 106.5 The Beat – is a commercial urban contemporary radio station licensed to serve Richmond, Virginia. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station services the Greater Richmond Region and the Petersburg area. The WBTJ studios are located just north of Richmond proper in unincorporated Henrico County, while the station transmitter resides in the Richmond suburb of Bon Air. Besides a standard analog transmission, WBTJ broadcasts using HD Radio technology, and is available online via Audacy.

KSUA is a student-run college radio station licensed to Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. Broadcasting from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) campus with 3,000 watts effective radiated power (ERP,) it serves the Alaska Interior area. When first on the air in 1984, it was one of a few commercially licensed college stations. Reorganized in 1993, KSUA now operates under the FCC non-commercial educational license public radio rules. KSUA has won statewide and national broadcasting awards.

WLJT-DT, branded West TN PBS, is a PBS member television station licensed to Lexington, Tennessee, United States, serving western and northwestern Tennessee. The station is owned by the West Tennessee Public Television Council and maintains studios in Martin on rented space at the University of Tennessee at Martin; its transmitter is located on U.S. Route 412 midway between Jackson and Lexington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKNO-FM</span> Public radio station in Memphis, Tennessee

The WKNO FM Stations is a pair of public radio stations based in Memphis, Tennessee, that serve the "Mid-South" region with local fine arts and classical music programs, as well as news and information programs from the National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and American Public Media networks.

WUOT is a non-commercial, listener-supported, public radio station in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is owned by the University of Tennessee, and it airs a mix of news, classical music and jazz. It is a charter member of National Public Radio (NPR). The studios and offices are on Circle Park Drive in Knoxville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMC (AM)</span> Radio station in Memphis, Tennessee

WMC is a commercial AM radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, broadcasting a sports gambling format. It is one of the city's oldest radio stations, and still uses its original three-letter call sign. WMC maintains studios in the Audacy, Inc. complex in Southeast Memphis, and has its transmitter towers in Northeast Memphis.

WRTE is an American radio station broadcasting a public radio / jazz format. It is licensed to Chicago, Illinois, United States, and serves the city of Chicago. The station is owned by Chicago Public Media. WRTE broadcasts in the HD Radio format.

WSOM is a radio station in Franklin, Indiana, United States. Owned by Inter Mirifica, Inc., the station is part of its regional Catholic Radio Indy network.

WMPR is a radio station broadcasting a variety format. WMPR is a community station which specializes in gospel and blues but also features other forms of music as well as several community-oriented talk shows. Licensed to Jackson, Mississippi, United States, the station serves the Jackson area. The station is currently owned by J.C. Maxwell Broadcasting Group, Inc.

KWAM is a commercial radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, featuring a conservative talk radio format known as "The Mighty 990". Owned by Todd Starnes via Starnes Media Group, LLC, the stations serves the Memphis metropolitan area. KWAM's studios are located in Memphis, while the transmitter is in Marion, Arkansas. KWAM was founded in 1947 in West Memphis, Arkansas, as KWEM, helping "break" artists such as Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Johnny Cash, Ike Turner and Howlin' Wolf in the late 1940s and 1950s.

WBBP is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Memphis, Tennessee, featuring a gospel format. Owned by Bountiful Blessings, an extension of the Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ, the station serves the Memphis metropolitan area. WBBP's studios are located at the Temple of Deliverance's headquarters in Memphis, while the transmitter is located in the city's southeastern side. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WBBP is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLOK</span> Radio station in Tennessee, United States

WLOK is a commercial radio station licensed to Memphis, Tennessee, carrying a gospel music format. Owned by the Gilliam family doing business as WLOK Radio, Inc., the station serves the Memphis metropolitan area. WLOK's studios are located in Downtown Memphis and the transmitter resides in Memphis's Glenview Historic District. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WLOK is relayed over low-power Memphis translator W285FI and is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMSV</span> Radio station at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi

WMSV is a radio station in Starkville, Mississippi located on the campus of Mississippi State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey Public Radio</span> Radio station

New Jersey Public Radio (NJPR) is an NPR member network serving portions of northern New Jersey on four licensed stations: 88.1 WNJT-FM in Trenton, 88.5 WNJP in Sussex, 89.3 WNJY in Netcong, and 90.3 WNJO in Toms River, which were the four northernmost radio stations of the New Jersey Network (NJN) until 2011. NJPR is owned by New York Public Radio (NYPR), which also owns the two WNYC and two WQXR-FM stations. NJPR primarily serves northern New Jersey residents who are unable to get a clear signal from the WNYC stations. The network went on the air on July 1, 2011, after NJN ended operations the day before.

KWEM-LP is a low-power FM radio station in West Memphis, Arkansas, United States, owned by Arkansas State University Mid-South. The station airs a format of blues and gospel music and is also used as a training ground for students in the community college's digital media program.

Vermont Public Co. is the public broadcaster serving the U.S. state of Vermont. Its headquarters, newsroom, and radio studios are located in Colchester, with television studios in Winooski. It operates two statewide radio services aligned with NPR, offering news and classical music, and the state's PBS service. It was formed by the 2021 merger of what had been previously separate organizations, Vermont Public Radio and Vermont Public Television, which were both renamed Vermont Public in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WMSB". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. 1 2 3 FCC History Cards for WMSB
  3. ↑ "Junior College Radio Station To Go On Air". The Clarion-Ledger. June 28, 1970. p. 10. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Northwest Miss. Junior College Starting Station WNJC-FM". The Sumner Sentinel. December 31, 1970. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Radio Station WNJC-FM Now On Permanent Broadcasting". The Sumner Sentinel. April 15, 1971. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  6. ↑ "FM 90: WNJC serves wide audience". The Mississippi Sun. May 17, 1973. p. Northwest Junior College 4. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ Nichols, Bill (September 8, 1982). "First public radio station in Jackson due in early 1983". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 1D. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  8. ↑ Nichols, Bill (January 6, 1983). "Mississippi's public radio choices grow". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 1D. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Public radio station is on-the-air". The Enterprise-Tocsin. November 24, 1983. p. 1. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Smith, Whitney (November 16, 1988). "WKNO acts to add WNJC as affiliate". The Commercial Appeal. pp. C1, C4. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  11. ↑ Walter, Tom (February 4, 1989). "Broadcasting by WNJC-FM will resume". The Commercial Appeal. p. C5. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  12. ↑ "WNJC airs classics". The Commercial Appeal. April 3, 1989. p. C6. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  13. ↑ Walter, Tom (February 22, 1992). "WKNO-FM marks 20 years by adding programming". p. C5. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  14. ↑ "WKNO explains how to untangle radio/TV signals". The Commercial Appeal. June 10, 1993. p. D14. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  15. ↑ Walter, Tom (June 20, 1996). "WKNO's radio affiliates add more talk to lineup". The Commercial Appeal. p. D8. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  16. ↑ Anderson, Scott (February 27, 2003). "WLJT-11 to honor young volunteers in 'ZOOM Into Action' program". The Jackson Sun. p. WP 9. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  17. ↑ Lollar, Michael (December 21, 2006). "WKNO selling affiliates in Senatobia, Dyersburg". The Commercial Appeal. p. B1, B2. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  18. 1 2 Blank, Christopher (April 28, 2007). "Senatobia's WKNA-FM 88.9 silenced". The Commercial Appeal. p. M1.
  19. ↑ "BMPED-20070830ADY Application for Construction Permit for Reserved Channel Noncommercial Educational Broadcast Station". Federal Communications Commission. August 30, 2007. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.