WBRF

WBRF is a Classic country, Bluegrass and Americana formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Galax, Virginia, serving Southwestern Virginia, Southside Virginia and the western Piedmont Triad, including Winston-Salem.[1] WBRF is owned and operated by Blue Ridge Radio, Inc.[4]

WBRF
Broadcast areaSouthwestern Virginia
Southside Virginia
Piedmont Triad
Frequency98.1 FM MHz
BrandingClassic Country 98-1
Programming
FormatClassic country
Bluegrass
Americana[1]
AffiliationsCBS Radio News
MRN Radio
PRN Radio
Virginia News Network
Ownership
OwnerBlue Ridge Radio, Inc.
History
First air date
December 15, 1961[2]
Former call signs
WBOB-FM (1961–1985)
WBRF (1985-Present)[3]
Call sign meaning
W Blue Ridge Family (Radio)
Technical information
Facility ID5986
ClassC
Power100,000 Watts horizontal
96,000 watts vertical
HAAT535 meters (1,755 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
36°33′34.0″N 80°49′25.0″W
Links
WebcastWBRF Webstream
WebsiteWBRF Online

History

WBRF signed on December 15, 1961 at 5:15pm as WBOB-FM with a power of 6,000 watts. WBOB-FM shared studios with WBOB-AM (now WCGX).

WBOB-FM began its Country/Bluegrass/Americana format around the same time it was purchased by Blue Ridge Radio Inc. in April 1985. At the same time, the station switched its callsign to WBRF.

In 1990, the WBRF transmitter moved and the power increased to 100,000 Watts from Fisher Peak in Surry County, just across the Virginia/North Carolina border.

On June 15, 2009, Toby Young returned to radio with his "Aunt Eloise" character who was part of WTQR radio for 23 years.[5]

WBRF is also heard on WKBA in the Roanoke, Virginia area most of the time.

Programming

WBRF-FM broadcasts the classic country music show, "Blue Ridge Back Roads", live from the Rex Theater in Galax weekly.[6] It also broadcasts from the Old Fiddler's Convention every August in Felt's Park, also in Galax.

The station is the flagship of Wake Forest Demon Deacons football and men's basketball. However, since the station provides marginal coverage to much of the Triad, the Deacons also air their games on WPOL in Winston-Salem and simulcast partner WKEW in Greensboro.

References
  1. "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  2. Broadcasting Yearbook 2010 (PDF). ProQuest, LLC/Reed Publishing (Nederland), B.V. 2010. p. D-564. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  3. "Call Sign History". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  4. "WBRF Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  5. "State Closes Land Deal at Grandfather," Winston-Salem Journal, June 5, 2009.
  6. Rex Theater: About the Venue


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