WCRW

This article is about the radio station in Virginia. For the long-time Chicago station, see WCRW (defunct). For stations that have briefly used this call sign, see WCRW (disambiguation).
WCRW
City of license Leesburg, Virginia[1]
Broadcast area Loudoun County, Virginia
Branding "WCRW"
Slogan "China Radio International"
Frequency 1190 kHz[1]
First air date 1958[2]
Format simulcast of China Radio International
Power 50,000 watts daytime
1,000 watts nighttime[1]
Class D (construction permit to B)
Facility ID 54876
Former callsigns WAGE (1958-2011)[2]
Owner Potomac Radio, LLC (Delaware)[2]
Sister stations WUST
Webcast Listen Live

WCRW is a broadcast radio station licensed to Potomac Radio, LLC in Leesburg, Virginia, part of the Washington, DC metropolitan area. WCRW is owned and operated by Potomac Radio's subsidiary New World Radio, Inc.[3]

History

In 1958, the station first went on the air as WAGE, on 1290 kHz.[2] In 1995, WAGE moved to 1200 kHz, allowing the use of a stronger full-time signal.[2]

On October 29, 2008, WAGE received a permit from the Federal Communications Commission to move to 1190 kHz and increase its power to 50,000 watts. If the move had occurred, it would have caused Annapolis-based WBIS, currently on 1190 kHz, to shut down.[1] While the station covered local news throughout its history, the music format changed over the years, going from classical music, to easy listening music, to country, to light rock and pop.[2]

Logo used until August 2009.

On August 2, 2009, WAGE fell silent due to "tough economic conditions" and an ongoing attempt to move the station to AM 1190 and up the power to 50,000 watts.[4] On April 21, 2010, the FCC approved WAGE's application to increase its daytime power to 50,000 watts and its nighttime power to 1,300 watts from different antenna sites, along with the frequency shift to 1190 kHz.[5]

On December 30, 2010, WBIS, which broadcast on 1190 kHz in Annapolis, Maryland, shut down to make room for WAGE.

WCRW returned to the air on April 11, 2011, with the new callsign and format. [6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "AM Query Results -- Audio Division (FCC) USA work=AM Query". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Cheney, Catherine (August 13, 2009). "Loudoun's Radio Station Signs Off". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  3. ↑ "WCRW Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  4. ↑ "Leesburg's WAGE Suspends Operations". August 2, 2009. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012.
  5. ↑ "WAGE Gets Approval For New Nighttime Signal". April 22, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  6. ↑ Hager, Hannah (April 13, 2011). "WAGE orients itself to Asian market". Loudoun Times Mirror. Retrieved April 14, 2011.

External links

Coordinates: 39°02′28″N 77°26′42″W / 39.04111°N 77.44500°W