![]() | |
Broadcast area | Western North Carolina |
---|---|
Frequency | 540 kHz |
Branding | 105.7 The River |
Programming | |
Format | Adult contemporary/Full service |
Affiliations | AP News Westwood One North Carolina News Network Catamount Sports Network |
Ownership | |
Owner | Five Forty Broadcasting Company, LLC |
WBHN | |
History | |
First air date | November 8, 1957 (as WMSJ at 680) |
Former call signs | WMSJ (1957–1976) |
Former frequencies | 680 kHz (1957–2012) |
Call sign meaning | W Ronnie G. Childress (son of founder Jimmy Childress) |
Technical information [1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 73286 |
Class | D |
Power | 5,000 watts days 190 watts nights |
Translator(s) | 105.7 W289CK (Sylva) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Website | wrgc.com |
WRGC is an Adult contemporary/full service formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Sylva, North Carolina, serving Western North Carolina. [2] WRGC is owned and operated by Five Forty Broadcasting Company, LLC. [3]
Jimmy Childress and Asheville resident Harold Thomas signed on WMSJ in November 1957, operating in Sylva, North Carolina (Jackson county) on a frequency of 680 kHz. The letters of its callsign stood for "Macon/Swain/Jackson," Macon and Swain being the counties immediately south and west, respectively, of Jackson county.
The station's call sign was changed to WRGC in memory of Ronnie Childress, the former owner's son who was electrocuted while working on the transmitter during a thunderstorm in the 1970s (his initials were RGC).
WRGC broadcasts sports from Western Carolina University and Smoky Mountain High School, as well as local election results and weather. WRGC airs a "buy-sell-and-trade call-in show" called "Tradio."
Georgia-Carolina Radiocasting Company bought WRGC in 2002, changing the format from country and gospel to soft rock.
WRGC had about 8,000 listeners in Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties, though 98 percent of its advertising revenue came from Jackson County. The economic crisis hit the station hard, as several car dealers closed and other potential advertisers cut spending. [4]
On August 31, 2011, the station turned off its transmitter. A posting on their website stated, "WRGC has left the air due to the severe economic conditions." The statement also addressed the permanency of this event, "Our long term plans for WRGC are not decided, but we have notified the Federal Communications Commission to go off the air until a decision is made." [5] [6] Art Sutton, president of Georgia-Carolina Radiocasting Company, hoped someone local could buy the station, because a local owner could "better develop relationships with those smaller businesses" needed to make a station successful, as his company's stations WNCC-FM and WFSC in nearby Franklin were. [4]
Roy Burnette of Five Forty Broadcasting Company LLC. announced plans to increase the signal of WRGC to 5,000 watts, with the help of a county loan of $289,000, for which a public hearing was planned for December 12, 2011. The stronger signal will likely attract more advertisers. Burnette said, "We want to offer in-depth service to Jackson, Macon, Swain and Haywood." [7]
After test broadcasts on April 1, 2012, the new 540 AM WRGC officially signed on at 12:05 pm (on a new frequency of 540 kHz) with a welcoming statement by new owner, Roy Burnette, and the playing of the National Anthem (the Star Spangled Banner). 540 AM is a Canadian and Mexican clear-channel frequency.
On April 5, 2018, Five Forty Broadcasting was granted an FM translator Frequency (105.7 FM W289CK) by the Federal Communications Commission. Further serving the communities with a stronger and clearer signal.
In February 2020, the studios and offices of Five Forty Broadcasting Moved into a new state-of-the-art facility near Highway 107 in Sylva. Leaving the original location on Skyland Drive due to countless issues with the aging building.
On March 15, 2021, Five Forty Broadcasting totally ceased operations from Skyland Drive in Sylva where the station had been since its inception, and erected a new tower off US 23/74 near Dillsboro where 540 AM operates today.
Jackson County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,109. Since 1913, its county seat has been Sylva, which replaced Webster.
Robert Phillip Haire is a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's one hundred nineteenth House district, including constituents in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. An attorney from Sylva, North Carolina, Haire served a total of seven terms in the state House. He announced in December 2011 that he would not seek another term in the House.
WCQS is a non-commercial public radio station in Asheville, North Carolina, serving Western North Carolina. It airs a news and talk radio format and is owned by Western North Carolina Public Radio, Inc. It airs programming from NPR, American Public Media and the Public Radio Exchange and is the flagship station of Blue Ridge Public Radio. It carries locally produced news and music shows, under the BPR News branding. The BBC World Service is heard overnight.
WKSF is a country music station licensed to Old Fort, North Carolina, serving the Asheville area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and broadcasts from a tower on Mount Pisgah, southwest of Asheville.
WWCU is a radio station owned by Western Carolina University and licensed to Dillsboro, North Carolina. The station plays a variety format.
WGOG is a commercial American radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to serve the tri-county area of Oconee, Pickens, and Anderson, South Carolina. The official city of license, and studio location, is Walhalla, South Carolina. WGOG is owned by Appalachian Broadcasting Co., Inc.
WNWS-FM is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Jackson, Tennessee, United States, the station serves the Jackson area. The station is currently owned by Radiocorp of Jackson, Inc. and features programing from CBS Radio and Westwood One.
WYNN-FM is a radio station broadcasting a mainstream urban format. The station is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to serve Florence, South Carolina, and broadcast with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 6 kW. WYNN-FM is owned by Cumulus Media.
WOXL-FM is a radio station licensed to Biltmore Forest, North Carolina, United States, the station serves the Asheville area and broadcasts a hot adult contemporary music format. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Asheville Radio Group.
WEZZ is a radio station located in Canton, North Carolina, that simulcast WISE's sports format from Asheville, North Carolina from 2007 to early 2024. As of March 29, 2024, the station is owned by Lester Elton and Julie Ziegler, through licensee EZ Radio LLC. WEZZ is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast with 5,000 watts of power during the day and 30 watts at night.
WISE is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. Licensed to Asheville, North Carolina, United States, it serves the Asheville area. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Asheville Radio Group.
WPEK is a commercial AM daytimer radio station, known as "ESPN Asheville." It is licensed to Fairview, North Carolina and serves the Asheville metropolitan area. The station airs an all-sports radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Most programming comes from ESPN Radio. WPEK is largely simulcast on WMXF in Waynesville, North Carolina.
WJGA-FM broadcasts from Jackson, Georgia, on 92.1 MHz from a 325 feet above ground level tower at 6,000 watts ERP. WJGA-FM is owned by Earnhart Broadcasting Co., Inc.
WGCR is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Located in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, the station serves the Asheville area, but can be heard in upstate South Carolina and extreme northeast Georgia as well. The station is owned and operated by Anchor Baptist Broadcasting Inc.
WPTL is a radio station broadcasting the Real Country music format from Westwood One Networks. WPTL is licensed to Canton, North Carolina, United States. The station is currently owned by Skycountry Broadcasting. WPTL went on the air in 1963. Bill Reck owned the station since 1978 and retired in November 12, 2020. Bill's daughter - Terryll Evans is the new owner and is following in her fathers foot steps.
WBHN is a Classic Country formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Bryson City, North Carolina, serving Swain County in North Carolina. WBHN is owned and operated by Roy Burnette.
WSNW is a radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary and soft rock music format. Licensed to Seneca, South Carolina, United States, the station is currently owned by Blue Ridge Broadcasting Corporation. WSNW will have to move its city of license to Walhalla because WGOG will be moving its city of license to Powdersville, and the FCC is requiring that a radio station continue to be licensed to Walhalla. WSNW will be increasing its power to 5,000 watts during the day so that the station can still use the existing tower on Radio Station Road. WSNW can remain at its Ram Cat Alley studios because the studios must be within 25 miles of the city of license. Programming will also remain the same.
WJTP was an AM radio station licensed to Lithia Springs, Georgia, and served the Atlanta metropolitan area. The station was last owned by James Su.
WRGC-FM, 88.3 FM, is a public radio station licensed to and operated by Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia. The station is an affiliate of Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) and its format includes classical and jazz music, NPR news and locally produced programs.
WZQS is a radio station on 90.5 FM in Cullowhee, North Carolina, broadcasting to Jackson and Haywood counties in the western part of the state. It is owned by Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR). It is part of the "BPR Classic" network, originating from WYQS (90.5) in Mars Hill and the second HD Radio channel of WCQS in Asheville.