| Broadcast area | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 105.5 FM MHz |
| Branding | 105.5 WINC-FM (pronounced "Wink FM") |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Hot adult contemporary Christmas music (November-December) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | August 13, 1979 (as WWOO) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | Winchester[2] |
| Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 60363 |
| Class | A |
| Power | 3,000 watts |
| HAAT | 91 meters (299 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°7′3.0″N 77°58′21.0″W / 39.117500°N 77.972500°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | WINC-FM online |
WINC-FM (105.5 FM) is a hot adult contemporary-formatted radio station licensed to Berryville, Virginia, serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley.[4] WINC-FM is owned by Darrin Jones, through Euclid Avenue Properties, LLC.[5][6]
History
In November 2020, the then-WXBN flipped to hot adult contemporary, assuming the hot adult contemporary format and "WINC-FM" (pronounced "Wink FM") branding previously heard on the Winchester-based 92.5 frequency (which was in the process of being sold to the Educational Media Foundation).[7][8] The station would take over the WINC-FM legacy callsign on December 29, 2020.[1]
On April 30, 2021, Centennial Broadcasting announced it was selling WINC-FM and sister station WZFC to Fairfax, Virginia-based Metro Radio, Inc. for $225,000.[9][10] Fellow sister station WINC was not included in the sale.[9][10] Allen B. Shaw, Centennial's president and CEO, said in a May 2021 interview with The Winchester Star that Metro Radio, Inc. had had insured Shaw "they do not intend to" change the format of WINC-FM and WZFC.[11] Shaw further said Metro thought WZFC's format was "probably the best format for the Winchester market" for ad revenue.[11]
On June 30, long-time morning show host Barry Lee signed off after 37 years at the station.[12] Hours later, long-time afternoon host Paula Kidwell would also sign off.[13] The sale of WINC-FM and sister WKDV-FM was completed the same day.[14]
WINC-FM was acquired by funeral home operator Darrin Jones, through his Euclid Avenue Properties, effective December 12, 2022.[5] Following the sale's completion, on December 16, 2022, WINC-FM began stunting with Christmas music, ahead of an announcement to be made on January 5, 2023, at 10:55 a.m.[15] At that time, the station relaunched its hot adult contemporary format from a new Winchester studio; Metro Radio had operated the station from Fairfax, with the intent of serving Leesburg.[16] WINC-FM is operated in conjunction with its former AM sister station, which had been sold in the interim to Todd Bartley's Colonial Radio Group of Williamsport and renamed WZFC; the arrangement saw the AM station reclaim its former WINC call sign.[16]
References
- ^ a b "Call Sign History". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ^ "Call Letter Origins: The List". Bob Nelson/Barry Mishkind. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WINC-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ^ a b Venta, Lance (October 14, 2022). "Station Sales Week Of 10/14". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ "WINC-FM Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ^ Venta, Lance (October 8, 2020). "Educational Media Foundation Acquires WINC-FM". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ^ Venta, Lance (November 17, 2020). "WINC-FM Begins Frequency Move Ahead Of EMF Sale". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ a b Venta, Lance (April 30, 2021). "Metro Radio Inc. Acquires WINC-FM". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Assignment of Authorization". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ a b Powell, Mickey (May 5, 2021). "WINC-FM and its sister station to be sold to Fairfax firm". The Winchester Star. Winchester, Virginia: Ogden Newspapers. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
- ^ Venta, Lance (June 30, 2021). "Barry Lee Retires From WINC-FM Mornings After 37 Years". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Today is my last day on WINC FM..." Paula Kidwell/Centennial Broadcasting/Facebook. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Notification of Consummation". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ "WINC-FM Enters Holiday Mode Until January 5 Announcement". December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ a b Powell, Mickey (January 6, 2023). "Under new ownership, WINC-FM resumes broadcasting in Winchester". The Winchester Star. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
External links
- 105-5 WINC-FM online
- WINC in the FCC FM station database
- WINC in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
This page was last edited on 19 March 2024, at 02:02