WTCF
| File:WTCF-FM 2012.jpg | |
| Broadcast area | Northern Shenandoah Valley Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 103.3 FM MHz |
| Branding | "103.3 The Cross FM" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary Christian Christian Rock Christian Hip Hop |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Alex Media, Inc. (sale pending to Timber Ridge Ministries, Inc.) |
| WTRM | |
| History | |
First air date | August 15, 2012 |
Call sign meaning | W The Cross FM |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 189559 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 350 watts |
| HAAT | 410 meters (1,350 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°10′58.0″N 78°23′23.0″W / 39.182778°N 78.389722°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | WTCF Webstream |
| Website | WTCF Online |
WTCF is an American broadcast radio station licensed to the town of Wardensville, West Virginia, serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. WTCF carries a Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock/Christian Hip Hop format.
WTCF is owned and operated by Alex Media, Inc., though operated under a time brokerage agreement by Timber Ridge Ministries, Inc.
Pre-broadcast history
On May 23, 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Alex Media, Inc. as the highest bidder for the 103.3 FM frequency to be located in Wardensville, West Virginia, as part of Auction 91.[1] On August 17, 2011, Alex Media filed a construction permit for a radio station to broadcast on 103.3 FM and transmit from Little North Mountain in Western Frederick County, Virginia.[2]
A potential problem between the new station and existing station WLTK (which also broadcasts on 103.3) was corrected on August 17, 2011. Alex Media asked the FCC to file a "Show Cause" notice asking WLTK to move to vacant frequency 102.9 FM.[2][3] On November 7, 2011, WLTK filed to move from 103.3 FM to 102.9 FM, which will allow Alex Media to begin broadcasting on 103.3 FM without undue interference to WLTK.[4]
On March 19, 2012, the station was given the call sign WTCF.[5]
On June 15, 2012, the owners of WLTK applied for and were granted a new broadcast license moving it from 103.3 to 102.9, but from the same location and tower, at the same power and over the same coverage area as previously.[6] On June 19, 2012, WLTK officially switched frequencies from 103.3 to 102.9 MHz.
On June 21, 2012, it was announced on "The Cross FM", a web-only radio station broadcasting from WTRM's studios in Winchester, Virginia, that it would launch on WTCF in "45 to 60 days".[7] The announcement was posted on the station's official Facebook page one day later.[7]
On June 25, 2012, Alex Media entered into an Option Agreement to sell WTCF to WTRM owners Timber Ridge Ministries, Inc. for $650,000.[8] A Time Brokerage Agreement was also entered on the same date.[9]
Also on June 25, 2012, Alex Media applied for a construction permit to move to another tower, 100 feet from the authorized tower, with an increase in power, from 340 watts to 350 watts.[10]
The station announced on July 26, 2012, via their official Facebook page, that they would be launching on September 4, 2012, but will be in "testing mode" during the month of August.[11] At 10:00am on August 15, 2012, WTCF began operations in "testing mode".[12]
On August 28, 2012, Alex Media applied for an "Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station" for WTCF in advance of the station's September 4 launch.[13] It wouldn't be until one month later, on September 28, that WTCF would apply for and be granted an FM Broadcast License.[14]
Launch
WTCF ended their "testing mode" programming and officially launched on September 4, 2012 at 9:00am.[15]
WTCF's studios are located along Valley Avenue in Winchester, Virginia, in the same building as sister station WTRM.[16][17]
References
- ^ "FCC FM Broadcast Auction - Auction ID: 91 - Winning Bids". Federal Communications Commission. May 23, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ a b Delawder, Darryl K. "Exhibit 27 - Engineering Statement Regarding Section 73.315". Delawder Communications, Inc. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ Crawford, Susan N. (August 17, 2011). "Notice of Show Cause". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ "Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station". Federal Communications Commission. November 7, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ "Call Sign Desk - Query". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ Application for FM Broadcast Station License
- ^ a b "In case you missed..." The Cross FM/Timber Ridge Ministries, Inc. June 22, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
- ^ "Option Agreement". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ "Time Brokerage Agreement". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ "Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ "The Cross FM OFFICIAL LAUNCH on Your FM DIAL: September 4th!". The Cross FM/Timber Ridge Ministries, Inc. July 26, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ "The time is here..." The Cross FM/Timber Ridge Ministries, Inc. August 15, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
- ^ "Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station". Federal Communications Commission. August 28, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ^ "Application for FM Broadcast Station License". Federal Communications Commission. September 28, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ^ "As of..." The Cross FM/Timber Ridge Ministries, Inc. September 3, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
- ^ "The Cross FM - Contact Us". Timber Ridge Ministries, Inc. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
- ^ "Southern Light 91.3 - Contact Us". Timber Ridge Ministries, Inc. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
External links
- 103.3 The Cross FM Online
- 103.3 The Cross FM on Facebook
- Facility details for Facility ID WTCF ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database