WVBE-FM

Last updated
WVBE-FM
WVBE-AM WVBE-FM WVBB-FM 2014.png
Broadcast area Metro Lynchburg
Frequency 100.1 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingThe Vibe 100.1 & 97.7
Programming
Format Urban adult contemporary
Subchannels HD2: WZZU simulcast (Active rock)
Affiliations Premiere Networks
Ownership
OwnerMel Wheeler, Inc.
WFIR, WPLI, WPLY-FM, WSLC-FM, WSLQ, WVBB, WXLK, WZZU
History
First air date
1948;76 years ago (1948)
Former call signs
  • WWOD-FM (1948–1979)
  • WKZZ (1979–1991)
  • WLYK (1991–2001)
  • WVBE (2001–2002)
Call sign meaning
ViBE
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 9690
Class C3
ERP 20,000 watts
HAAT 100 meters (330 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
37°27′0.0″N79°4′29.0″W / 37.450000°N 79.074722°W / 37.450000; -79.074722
Translator(s) 98.5 W253BT (Madison Heights)
Repeater(s) 97.7  WVBB (Elliston-Lafayette)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website thevibe.fm

WVBE-FM (100.1 MHz "The Vibe") is a commercial radio station licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia, and serving Metro Lynchburg. It is owned and operated by Mel Wheeler, Inc., with studios and offices on Electric Road in Roanoke. WVBE-FM 100.1 and WVBB 97.7 in Elliston-Lafayette, Virginia, simulcast an urban adult contemporary radio format, with WVBB serving the Roanoke metropolitan area. Each weekday in AM drive time, The Vibe carries The Steve Harvey Morning Show .

Contents

WVBE-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 20,000 watts as a Class C3 station. The transmitter is on Country Living Lane in Madison Heights, near U.S. Route 29 (Monacan Parkway). [2] WVBE-FM broadcasts using HD Radio technology. The HD-2 digital subchannel carries an active rock format, simulcasting sister station WZZU.

History

WWOD-FM

The station signed on the air in 1948;76 years ago, the first FM station in Lynchburg. Its original call sign was WWOD-FM, powered at just 940 watts. It simulcast the programming of its sister station, WWOD 1390 AM, now WPLI. WWOD 1390 went on the air the year before, as Lynchburg's second AM radio station after WLVA. WWOD-AM-FM were network affiliates of the Mutual Broadcasting System, carrying its schedule of dramas, comedies, variety shows, news and sports, during the "Golden Age of Radio."

As network programming moved from radio to television, WWOD-AM-FM began broadcasting a full service radio format of middle of the road and country music plus news and sports with some Christian radio shows on the schedule. [3] FM 100.1's power was boosted to 3,000 watts.

Country and Top 40

FM 100.1 started its own format, becoming WKZZ, on May 12, 1979. WKZZ played automated country music. On April 1, 1984, it became a locally programmed Top 40 station. It kept that format for seven years.

On November 21, 1991, the station was purchased by Aylett Coleman of Roanoke and began a simulcast with CHR - Top 40 station 92.3 WXLK "K92" in Roanoke. The simulcast was designed to provide an improved signal for K92 in Metro Lynchburg. It took the call sign WLYK, which stood for "Lynchburg's K92." The following year, WLYK boosted power to 20,000 watts, going from a Class A to Class C3 station. WLYK and WXLK were sold a few years after Coleman's death to Mel Wheeler Inc.

100.1 The Vibe

On April 19, 2001, the station became Vibe 100, with an R&B format. It changed its call letters to WVBE-FM on March 13, 2002. The change was necessitated by the addition of 610 AM as a Roanoke-based simulcast signal for "Vibe 100", which took the calls WVBE. In 2016, the simulcast ended when WVBE 610 AM flipped to sports. [4] [5] [6] WVBE-FM got a new simulcast partner in the Roanoke area when WVBB 97.7 started airing the same Urban AC programming.

On January 20, 2016, WVBE-FM started using HD Radio technology in its broadcasts. [7] [8] The HD-2 subchannel began carrying "The Rock Channel," a mainstream rock format.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDRB</span> Radio station in Des Moines, Iowa

KDRB is a commercial FM radio station in Des Moines, Iowa. It airs an adult hits radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia. Its slogan is "We Play Everything." KDRB is the flagship station for Iowa State University sports.

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

WJOI is a commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is known on-air as "Joy 1340/98.7". WJOI is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Milwaukee Radio Group, with radio studios and offices on Milwaukee's West Side. The transmitter is on West Martin Drive in Milwaukee. Programming is also heard on 99-watt FM translator W254CU at 98.7 MHz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKSE</span> Radio station in Niagara Falls, New York

WKSE is a commercial radio station licensed to Niagara Falls, New York, serving the Buffalo metropolitan area and Western New York. It has a top 40 (CHR) radio format and is owned by Audacy, Inc., with studios on Corporate Parkway in Amherst, New York. It calls itself Kiss 98.5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSLC-FM</span> Radio station in Roanoke, Virginia

WSLC-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Roanoke, Virginia and serving the Roanoke Valley and New River Valley. WSLC-FM is owned and operated by Mel Wheeler, Inc. It airs a country music radio format, using the moniker "94.9 Star Country." WSLC-FM's studios and offices are on Electric Road in Roanoke. The transmitter is off Honeysuckle Road in Bent Mountain.

WLRN-FM and WKWM are non-commercial, listener-supported, public radio stations for South Florida and the Keys. WLRN-FM is licensed to Miami and WKWM is licensed to Marathon. They are owned by Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The offices and studios are on NE 15th Street in Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXLK</span> Radio station in Roanoke, Virginia

WXLK is a commercial radio station licensed to Roanoke, Virginia, serving the New River Valley and Southwest Virginia. WXLK airs a Top 40 (CHR) radio format and is owned and operated by Mel Wheeler, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRUM</span> Tropical music radio station in Orlando, Florida

WRUM is a commercial radio station in Orlando, Florida, known as "Rumba 100.3". It airs a Spanish-language radio format featuring Latin pop and reggaeton. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Maitland Center Parkway in Maitland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KVBH</span> Radio station in San Antonio, Texas

KVBH is a commercial radio station in San Antonio, Texas. The station is owned by Univision and it airs a rhythmic adult contemporary radio format. Studios and offices are located on Network Boulevard in Northwest San Antonio. The transmitter site is in Elmendorf, on Elmendorf-Lavonia Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMXC</span> Radio station in Mobile, Alabama

WMXC is a commercial radio station licensed to Mobile, Alabama, and serving the Mobile and Pensacola metropolitan areas. The station broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by iHeartMedia, with the broadcast license held by iHM Licenses, LLC. The studios are co-located with former sister television station WKRG-TV on Broadcast Drive in Mobile. WMXC carries several syndicated shows from co-owned Premiere Networks: Murphy, Sam & Jodi in morning drive time, Delilah in the evening and Ellen K on Saturday mornings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WIBA-FM</span> Radio station in Sauk City, Wisconsin

WIBA-FM (101.5 MHz) is a radio station licensed to Sauk City, Wisconsin, United States, serving Madison and south central Wisconsin. The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia and broadcasts a classic rock music format on its primary HD radio, while its HD2 channel carries an oldies format that is simulcast to analog translator station W265CV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMTX</span> Radio station in Tampa, Florida

WMTX is a commercial radio station in Tampa, Florida, known as "Mix 100.7". It has an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by iHeartMedia, with its studios and offices on Gandy Boulevard in Tampa. WMTX serves as the primary Emergency Alert System station for the Tampa Bay area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDBO (AM)</span> Radio station in Orlando, Florida

WDBO is a commercial radio station broadcasting a news/talk radio format. Licensed to Orlando, Florida, the station is owned by Cox Media Group. The studios and offices are located on North John Young Parkway in Orlando.

WKAR-FM is a non-commercial public radio station in East Lansing, Michigan. It is owned by Michigan State University, along with sister stations WKAR and WKAR-TV. They are owned by Michigan State University, with studios are in the Communication Arts and Sciences Building, at Wilson and Red Cedar Roads on the MSU campus.

WFSX-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Estero, Florida, and serving the Fort Myers-Naples area of Southwest Florida. It is owned by Sun Broadcasting and it airs a talk radio format. The radio studios and offices are on Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVTF</span> Public radio station in Roanoke, Virginia

WVTF is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to serve Roanoke, Virginia, featuring a public radio format branded "Radio IQ". Owned by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University through its fundraising arm, the Virginia Tech Foundation, the station carries programming from NPR, the Public Radio Exchange, American Public Media and the BBC World Service. WVTF is a listener-supported station, holding periodic fundraisers on the air. The studios and offices are on Kingsbury Lane in Roanoke.

WPLY is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Roanoke, Virginia, and serving Southwest Virginia and the New River Valley. WPLY simulcasts a sports radio format with WPLI 1390 AM in Lynchburg. Both stations are owned and operated by Mel Wheeler, Inc. Most programming is supplied by Fox Sports Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLRX (FM)</span> Radio station in Vinton, Virginia

WLRX and WAWX are FM radio stations owned by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF). WLRX is licensed to Vinton, Virginia, serving the Roanoke metropolitan area. WAWX is licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia, serving the Lynchburg metropolitan area. WLRX plays a Contemporary Christian radio format from the "K-Love" national network, while WAWX airs a Contemporary Worship format as a network affiliate of "Air1."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRON-FM</span> Radio station in Lewisburg, West Virginia

WRON-FM is a country formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Lewisburg, West Virginia, serving the Lewisburg/Ronceverte/Rainelle/Union area. WRON-FM is owned and operated by Radio Greenbrier, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVBB</span> Radio station in Elliston-Lafayette, Virginia

WVBB is a commercial radio station licensed to Elliston-Lafayette, Virginia, and serving the Roanoke metropolitan area. It is owned and operated by Mel Wheeler, Inc., with studios and offices on Electric Road in Roanoke. WVBB and sister station WVBE-FM 100.1 Lynchburg simulcast an urban adult contemporary radio format. In weekday AM drive time, the stations carry The Steve Harvey Morning Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTSL</span> Radio station in New Hampshire, United States

WTSL is a commercial radio station licensed to Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. It airs an adult hits radio format and serves the Lebanon-Hanover-White River Junction area. The station is owned by Great Eastern Radio, LLC. WTSL also broadcasts Dartmouth College Big Green football and hockey games.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for WVBE-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. Radio-Locator.com/WVBE
  3. Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-220, Broadcasting & Cable
  4. "Roanoke getting another all-sports radio station". www.roanoke.com. Retrieved 2016-01-24.
  5. "Wheeler Launches New Sports Station In Roanoke - RadioInsight". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2016-01-24.
  6. "Roanoke Gets Second Sports Station". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2016-01-24.
  7. "HD Radio station guide for Roanoke–Lynchburg, VA". hdradio.com. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  8. Staff, FCC Internet Services. "Station Search Details". licensing.fcc.gov. Retrieved 2016-01-23.