| WLVX | |
| Area: | Youngstown, Ohio |
| City: | Greenville, Pennsylvania |
| Branding: | K-LOVE |
| Airdate: | July 1965 (as WGRP-FM) September 10, 2010 (as K-LOVE) |
| Frequency: | 107.1 (MHz) |
| Format: | Christian adult contemporary (K-LOVE) |
| Power: | 2,100 watts |
| Class: | A |
| Owner: | Educational Media Foundation |
| Former Callsigns: | 1985-2011: WEXC 1965-1985: WGRP-FM |
| Sister Stations: | WYLR |
| Website: | http://www.klove.com |
| Licensing Authority: | FCC |
WLVX (107.1 FM) is a radio station that is licensed to Greenville, Pennsylvania. It operates twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week at 2,100 watts.
The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation, which officially received assignment of the licenses of WEXC, WLOA and WGRP from Beacon Broadcasting on December 23, 2010.[1] Vilkie Communications assumed control of WLOA and WGRP from Educational Media Foundation on December 15, 2011.
WLVX is an affiliate of EMF's national non-commercial Adult Contemporary radio network playing Contemporary Christian music.
WLVX was originally a locally focused voice for the communities of Greenville, Pennsylvania, The Shenango Valley, and Youngstown, Ohio. The 107.1 frequency was first registered as WGRP-FM, a sister signal to the then co-owned WGRP 940-AM. The WEXC calls were first registered for 107.1 on May 16, 1985.
The first DJ hired on WEXC FM was J. Robert Irvine, (Bob James) until 1986 when he moved to Television at WYTV, WTAE and KDKA until 1992 when he started at WKBN TV Production and News until 1999. Later he returned as manager for Beacon Broadcasting between 2000 and 2003. On January 7, 2011, soon after the FCC approved the sale of the station to EMF, WLVX became the new call letters for the station.[2]
The station's final incarnation under Beacon Broadcasting ownership was C-107.1, featuring an adult contemporary format. Before adopting the C-107.1 and the Christian rock formats of Freq 107 and Indie 107, the station was known as "Goodtime Oldies WEX-C 107" from 2001 to 2003. Prior to this oldies format, it broadcast Christian adult contemporary, and before Beacon Broadcasting's acquisition, it aired mainstream adult contemporary. WEXC was an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Network. The baseball broadcasts have since been moved to WLLF ESPN 96.7 Mercer, PA.
In 1998, WEXC and WGRP were sold to Youngstown-based Beacon Broadcasting. Beacon's principal owner, Harold Glunt was a steel supply company owner from the surrounding Warren, Ohio area. He purchased the stations to further Christian communications in the valley, concurrently, WEXC dropped the oldies format to assume a Christian rock format known as Freq 107 (which was later renamed Indie 107).
Before the sale to EMF, WEXC changed formats to the "Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites" Hot AC genre as C-107.1, boosting their listenership greatly.
"C-107.1" had been getting more involved in the community under the direction of G.M. Richard Esbenshade and air talent Gregg "Allen" Robison and John "The Madman" Madden. In addition to carrying syndicated talk hosts Glenn Beck and Jason Lewis, WEXC also started to air Donny Osmond's syndicated morning show. Most recently, the station was involved in one of several "Tea Parties" being held all across the country. C-107 also sponsored live concert events and giveaways for Kennywood and Waldameer Amusement Parks.
Harold Glunt died on January 22, 2010; his son subsequently put all of the Beacon stations up for sale. As of Friday, September 10, 2010, a sale of WEXC, WGRP and WLOA to Educational Media Foundation for $225,000 was announced, with an intent to spin off WGRP and WLOA to separate owners. The Hot AC format was dropped to relay the "K-LOVE" Christian music network following the conclusion of a high school football game that evening.