WKRP-LP
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| City of license | Raleigh, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Raleigh |
| Branding | 101.9 WKRP |
| Slogan | "This is... 101.9 WKRP." |
| Frequency | 101.9 MHz |
| First air date | December 5, 2015 |
| Format | Community Radio |
| ERP | 100 watts |
| HAAT | 8 meters |
| Class | L1 |
| Facility ID | 191806 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 35°50′26″N 78°33′33″W / 35.84056°N 78.55917°W |
| Owner | Oak City Media, Inc. |
| Website | http://www.WKRPFM.com |
WKRP-LP, or 101.9 WKRP is a community low power FM ("LPFM") radio station operating in Raleigh, North Carolina.
History
Organization
Capital Area Team Sports, Inc., a non-profit organization which had operated for nearly two decades as an operator of amateur sports programs and competitions, was granted a construction permit by the Federal Communications Commission to build an LPFM on March 18, 2014.[1] The permit was the first LPFM construction permit granted in Raleigh since WRLY-LP over a decade earlier.
The organization changed its corporate name to "Oak City Media" to reflect its new and broader mission on June 15, 2014. Fundraising for the station progressed slowly over an 18-month period, concluding in October 2015 with the organization's long-time executive director, D.P. McIntire, donating the final $10,000 toward the project to ensure its completion.
Call sign and branding
Upon learning of the construction permit grant, the organization's executive director contacted the FCC with intent to secure use of either "WNQQ" or "WASP" as the station's call sign. During the conversation he jokingly wished WKRP were an available call sign, never expecting it to be due to its popularity and use on WKRP in Cincinnati. The representative advised that the WKRP call sign was, in fact, available; at which point the organization immediately chose it over its intended selections as an homage to the series. On the day the station's antenna mast was erected, Oak City Media president Patrick Weiss would hoist an American flag from its top, jokingly proclaiming that the call letters henceforth would stand for "We Keep Raleigh Patriotic." So as to avoid potential trademark issues however, the station is branded as 101 9 WKRP.
Construction and sign-on
Station studio construction was completed in September 2015, with its transmitter, antenna and related equipment installed in November.[2] The station's license was formally granted on November 30, 2015, and after a week of signal testing it went on the air at noon on December 5, 2015, playing "Babe" by Styx.
The station's current broadcast radius encompasses an area described on-air as "Between the 40's," a reference to Beltline and I-540 in northeast Raleigh. Plans exist to accompany its 100 watt terrestrial signal with a live internet stream of its programming via www.wkrpfm.com in early 2016.[3]
"We Keep Replacing Parts"
On December 23, 2015, just weeks after going on air, the station's transmitter suffered a failure requiring that the station temporarily shut down. After nearly two weeks of examination by the manufacturer, the cause was found to be what the manufacturer described a "five-cent capacitor." The station resumed broadcasting January 25, 2016, whereupon Oak City Media president Patrick Weiss joked on-air that WKRP's call sign should henceforth stand for "We Keep Replacing Parts."
Format
Currently 101.9 WKRP features a Variety programming format, but with intent to gradually roll out a full service format over time, with a variety of programming including commercial-free music, news, sports, comedy, educational programs and talk.
References
- ↑ http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1624266
- ↑ Barr, Sarah (July 28, 2014). "New station snags WKRP call: Low-power FM radio wants to serve Northeast Raleigh". News & Observer.
- ↑ http://www.wkrpfm.com
External links
- Official WKRP Website
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WKRP
- Radio-Locator information on WKRP-LP
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WKRP
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