WMOV-FM
WMOV-FM (107.7 MHz) is a commercial radio station in Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. It carries a rhythmic adult contemporary radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc..[2] The studios and offices are on Norfolk Square.
| Broadcast area | Hampton Roads |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 107.7 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | MOViN' 107-7 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Rhythmic adult contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WHBT-FM, WNOH, WOWI | |
| History | |
First air date | April 1990 |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | Movin' |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 31123 |
| Class | B1 |
| ERP | 15,000 watts |
| HAAT | 130 meters (430 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 36°48′37.0″N 76°16′58.7″W / 36.810278°N 76.282972°W |
| Links | |
Public license information |
|
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | movin1077.com |
The transmitter tower is on Poindexter Street in Chesapeake, near the Elizabeth River and Interstate 464.[3] WMOV-FM broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD-2 digital subchannel formerly ran the soft rock format of the iHeartRadio Cafe. The HD-3 subchannel formerly carried iHeart's soft adult contemporary music service "The Breeze."
History edit
WXRI-FM edit
In April 1990, the station signed on as WXRI-FM. It was owned by J.H. Communications, taking the call sign of the former station on the 105.3 frequency that had been owned by televangelist Pat Robertson until its sale in May 1989.[4] It initially broadcast a business format from the Business Radio Network.
The station stunted with Christmas music and then relaunched on Christmas Day with the contemporary Christian music format of the previous WXRI.[5] That ended when its parent company entered into an agreement in May 1992 to simulcast the music of WBSK, an urban contemporary station that was co-owned with WOWI.[6]
WSVY edit
In May 1993, WBSK-FM changed its call sign to WSVY, and shifted to an urban adult contemporary format.[7]
In July 1997, WSVY began simulcasting with 92.1 FM as "Vibe 107.7 and 92.1."[8]
By March 1999, WSVY shifted to the then-popular Jammin' Oldies format, which evolved back to urban AC. On June 25, 2001, WSVY and sister WJCD swapped formats and call letters, with the Urban AC "Vibe" format moving to 105.3 FM, while WJCD's smooth jazz format moved to 107.7.[9]
WJCD edit
On March 1, 2004, WJCD flipped to adult contemporary as "Lite FM", and resumed its simulcast with 92.1, which dropped its urban format.[10] 92.1 would drop out of the simulcast again on August 12, 2005, when it flipped to oldies as WCDG.[11]
On December 26, 2006, WJCD flipped back to smooth jazz as "Smooth Jazz 107.7."[12]
WKUS edit
On October 11, 2010, WJCD and WCDG became simulcasts again when WKUS moved from 105.3 to 107.7 and the 105.3 frequency became "Magic 105.3" with an AC-themed classic hits format. The move meant the end for WJCD's smooth jazz format and WCDG's Oldies format.[13][14] On October 27, 2010, WJCD changed their call letters to WKUS.
On March 31, 2011, at 3 pm, WKUS broke away from its simulcast of WKSA and flipped to rhythmic adult contemporary, branded as "MOViN' 107.7". The first song on "MOViN'" was "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited.[15]
WMOV-FM edit
On April 7, 2011, WKUS changed its call letters to WMOV-FM to match the new format. (The FM suffix is required because there is a WMOV on the AM dial in Ravenswood, West Virginia, with a different owner.)
On November 2, 2012, WMOV-FM began to stunt with Christmas music as "Christmas 107.7", suggesting a possible format change. This did not occur, and it returned to its regular format on December 26.[16] It has continued switching to Christmas music every Mid-November to late December, ever since.
As of October 2018, WMOV-FM began patterning itself after sister station WKTU New York City with an emphasis on rhythmic pop/dance music.
The station now competes with WVBW-FM 100.5, which flipped to Urban Adult Contemporary in June 2022.
WMOV-FM had switched to Christmas music for most of November and December, beginning in 2013. With the competition from WVBW-FM, it stopped going all-Christmas in 2023.
HD Radio edit
On WMOV-FM's HD Radio digital subchannel, its HD2 service originated "The iHeartRadio Café", a format consisting of soft rock from the 1970s and 1980s and "yacht rock" music, much of it from singer-songwriters such as Billy Joel, Carly Simon, James Taylor and Carole King. It is heard nationally through the iHeartRadio app. The HD2 channel was dropped on October 1, 2022.
The HD3 subchannel carried iHeart's "The Breeze" soft adult contemporary music service. That was also dropped in 2022.
References edit
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WMOV-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WMOV Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ "WMOV-FM 107.7 MHz - Norfolk, VA". radio-locator.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ Pryweller, Joseph (June 23, 1990). "Business radio opens shop in Hampton Roads". Daily Press. p. D1. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ Pryweller, Joseph (December 15, 1990). "WTKR news fares well in ratings; WVEC slips". Daily Press. p. D4. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ Worrell, Kris (April 25, 1992). "Airwaves Sale Irks Former WXRI Manager". Daily Press. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- ^ "B-Radio-NE-Ter-BC-YB-1994-B&W" (PDF).
- ^ . April 23, 2018. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "audio clip".
- ^ . March 11, 2004. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018.
- ^ . April 23, 2018. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "107.7 WJCD flips from AC to Smooth Jazz". December 26, 2006.
- ^ . Daily Press. October 11, 2010. Archived from the original on January 6, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
- ^ "Three Way Format Change in Norfolk/Virginia Beach". October 11, 2010.
- ^ "107.7 WKUS Norfolk Movin Towards a Divorce". March 31, 2011.
- ^ Venta, Lance (November 2, 2012). "WMOV Norfolk Is Movin To Christmas". RadioInsight. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
External links edit
- Movin' 107.7 Online
- WMOV in the FCC FM station database
- WMOV in Nielsen Audio's FM station database