WRVL explained

WRVL
Above:The Journey Flagship Station
City:Lynchburg, Virginia
Area:New River Valley
Branding:The Journey
Frequency:88.3 MHz
Format:Contemporary Christian music
Power:28,000 watts
Haat:346 meters (1,135 ft)
Class:C1
Licensing Authority:FCC
Facility Id:37249
Coordinates:37.1972°N -79.3519°W
Callsign Meaning:W Radio Victory Liberty (former branding)
Owner:Liberty University
Webcast:WRVL Webstream
Website:WRVL MyJourneyFM.com

WRVL (88.3 MHz) is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia, serving the New River Valley. WRVL is owned and operated by Liberty University and was founded by Jerry Falwell.[1] It broadcasts a Christian Contemporary radio format known as "The Journey." The station is listener-supported and holds periodic fundraisers on the air. The studios and offices are on Candlers Mountain Road in Lynchburg.

WRVL has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 28,000 watts. The transmitter is on Uphill Trail in Altavista.[2] Programming is also simulcast on 19 rebroadcasters and FM translators in Virginia and North Carolina.

History

Early years

WRVL signed on the air in . It had been powered at 100,000 watts, the maximum for most FM stations in the U.S. but on a shorter tower than it uses today. It originally broadcast Christian talk and teaching programs, including those of founder and televangelist Jerry Falwell, who started Liberty University. WRVL faced a series of technical problems in its early years revolving around interference to television reception near the station site.[3]

In December 1981, the Federal Communications Commission ordered the station to greatly reduce its effective radiated power (ERP) from 100,000 to 5,000 watts.[4] In 1982, its tower was brought down by vandals.[5] While the station was off the air, viewers reported better reception of WDBJ Channel 7, the CBS network affiliate for Roanoke-Lynchburg.[6] WRVL later moved to a new tower in Altavista, reducing interference with Channel 7.

WVTW subchannel

In 2009, WRVL broke ground by forming a partnership with NPR broadcaster 89.1 WVTW, owned by Virginia Tech. This allowed WRVL to repeat Victory FM programming on WVTW's HD-3 digital subchannel in Charlottesville, Virginia. This is noteworthy because it makes WVTW perhaps one of few HD radio stations in the nation funded by the federal Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP).[7]

On December 26, 2014, WRVL dropped nearly all its Christian talk and teaching programs, switching to a Contemporary Christian music format. The station's moniker also changed from "Victory Radio Network" to "The Journey". It uses the slogan "Life, Hope, Music."

Simulcasts

"The Journey" is carried on several stations and HD Radio digital subchannels in Virginia and North Carolina.

Call signdata-sort-type="number" FrequencyCity of licenseStatedata-sort-type="number" Facility IDClassdata-sort-type="number" ERP
(W)
88.3 FM C2 50,000
107.3 FM A 4,100
94.3 FM A 6,000
WVRP 91.1 FM A 2,000
90.5 FM A 1,200
95.5 FM A 6,000
88.5-3 FM B1 1,000
90.9 FM B 1,000
91.9-3 FM C2 4,500
90.3-3 FM B 8,800
102.1-3 FM B 20,000
89.1-3 FM C 100,000

Notes:

Translators

"The Journey" is relayed by additional translators to widen its broadcast area. W236BO at 95.1 served Burlington, North Carolina prior to 2013, until WPCM took it over.

Call signdata-sort-type="number" Frequency
(MHz)
City of licenseStatedata-sort-type="number" Facility IDClassdata-sort-type="number" ERP
(W)
Rebroadcasts
W246DD 97.1 D 99 WVTW-HD3
W234CT 94.7 D 99 WVTR-HD3
W293AS 106.5 D 10 WVTF-HD3
W235AI 94.9 D 16 WKHK-HD3
W293AX 106.5 D 10 WVTF-HD3
W297BH 107.3 D 25 WHRO-HD3
W270BO 101.9 D 10 WVTR-HD3

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WRVL Facility Record. Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. https://radio-locator.com/info/WRVL-FM?loc=37.73218%2C-79.35332&locn=Buena%20Vista%2C%20Virginia Radio-Locator.com/WRVL-FM
  3. News: FCC threatens Falwell station. Kingsport Times-News. UPI. October 3, 2019. July 15, 1981. 9A.
  4. News: FCC orders station to reduce power. December 17, 1981. The Leader. Associated Press. October 3, 2019. 11.
  5. News: Vandals Fell Rev. Falwell's 138-Foot-Tall Radio Tower. Clarion-Ledger. Associated Press. 5A. June 1, 1982. October 3, 2019.
  6. News: TV reception improves since WRVL tower down. The Leader. June 4, 1981. 9. October 3, 2019.
  7. 1n grant year 2007, the PTFP funded a project to increase the power of WVTW, extending its signal coverage to about 193,000 additional persons.