WRHT
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| City of license | Morehead City, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area |
Greenville/New Bern Jacksonville |
| Branding | "96.3 Thunder Country" |
| Slogan | Today's best Country! |
| Frequency | 96.3 (MHz) |
| Format | Country |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 150 meters |
| Class | C1 |
| Facility ID | 18296 |
| Former callsigns |
WMBL-FM (1978-1981) WMBJ (1981-1986) |
| Former frequencies | 95.9 MHz (1970s-1980s) |
| Owner | Inner Banks Media |
| Sister stations | WNBU, WLGT, WTIB, WRHD |
| Website | thundercountryonline.com |
WRHT (also known as "Thunder Country") is a radio station, broadcasting with 100,000 watts that cover the Greenville/New Bern/Jacksonville area with a country music format. WRHT is licensed to Morehead City. WRHT is owned and operated by Inner Banks Media, owned by Henry Hinton.
History
WRHT started in the 1970s as WMBL-FM on 95.9 FM. For a time the station used to simulcast on WMBL-AM 740 with a MOR/Standards format. In 1981 WMBL-FM changed their calls to WMBJ as "J-96" and later 'Sunny 95.9'. In the mid 1980's, WMBJ moved to 96.3 and became "Sunny 96.3". In the late 1980s 96.3 changed calls to WRHT and became a CHR music station as '96.3 The Hot FM'.
Simulcast
In the early 2000s WRHT/WCBZ were known as "Hot 96 and 103-7".[citation needed]
In 2003, Archway Broadcasting Group, LLC, announced its acquisition of WRHT, WCBZ, and two other Greenville market stations--WNBR and WZBR--from Eastern North Carolina Broadcasting Company, Inc. for $6.5 million. Also that year, Archway bought WGPM and WCZI.[1]
In January 2004, WCBZ changed callsign to WRHD. That same year while under ownership of Archway Broadcasting, the station's studios moved to New Bern.
In September 2005, both stations became "The HOT FM" again as part of their 15th Anniversary.[citation needed]
Inner Banks Media LLC bought WRHT and WRHD as part of a cluster of stations from Archway for $4.5 million in March 2007.[2]
On April 25, 2007, HOT FM moved to the weaker frequencies of WWHA-FM 94.1 (formerly WNBR) in Oriental and WWNK-FM 94.3 (formerly WGPM) in Farmville. Both were the home of country "94 HANK-FM". The Country format moved to the stronger 96.3/103.7 frequencies and became now known as "Thunder Country"[citation needed].
On March 15, 2010, Thunder Country and WTIB-FM traded frequencies.
On April 5, 2010, Thunder Country added Big D and Bubba. The stations also air The Big Time with Whitney Allen.
On May 3, 2010 WRHD split from the "Thunder Country" simulcast and changed their format to adult contemporary, branded as "Star 94.3".
Current On-Air
Current On-Air Personalities include: Raeford & Friends, Mudflap, Jenny Cruz, Dylan McKay, Chase, C.K., Charley, Bobby and Blake.
On January 14th, 2012, Chase joined the on-air staff by becoming the late night personality for WRHT. His show is called "The Thunder Country Later Late Show" and airs weeknights from 7p.m. to midnight.[3]
On October 1st, WRHT switched to a 24 hour (weekday) on-air schedule between all weekday personalities. ( Raeford & The Thunder Morning Show (6a-9a), Dylan McKay (10a-2p), Jenny Cruz (2p-6p), Chase (6p-10p), Mudflap (10p-2a) and C.K. (2a-6a))[4]
References
- ↑ "Archway Broadcasting Group, LLC Completes First Three Acquisitions". The Free Library by Farlex. 2003-03-12. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
- ↑ "Deals". Broadcasting & Cable. 2007-01-14. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
- ↑ http://www.thundercountryonline.com/pages/15250124.php
- ↑ http://www.thundercountryonline.com/pages/15172803.php
External links
- 96.3 Thunder Country official website
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WRHT
- Radio-Locator information on WRHT
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WRHT
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Coordinates: 34°45′07″N 76°52′55″W / 34.752°N 76.882°W