By day, WPLY transmits 5,000 watts, but at night (when radio waves travel farther) it reduces power to 1,000 watts to protect other stations on 610 AM. WPLY has a directional antenna, using a five-tower array. The transmitter is at the end of Newman Drive in Salem.[3] Programming is also heard on 175-watt FM translatorW266CY at 101.1 MHz in Roanoke.[4]
Just before noon on October 1, 1940; 83 years ago (1940-10-01), the station signed on.[5] The original call sign was WSLS.[6] During the "Golden Age of Radio," the station carried programs from the NBC Blue Network, dramas, comedies, news, sports, soap operas, game shows and big band broadcasts. (The Blue Network later became ABC.) A partner FM station, 99.1 WSLS-FM, launched in 1947, largely simulcasting the AM station. WSLS-TV followed five years later on Channel 10.
As network programming moved from radio to television, 610 WSLS switched to a full service, Country music format. In 1969, Park Communications purchased WSLS-AM-FM-TV. Due to FCC ownership restrictions, Park kept the television station and sold the radio stations to Bass Brothers Telecasters. As the stations could no longer share a call sign after the purchase, the AM became WSLC at midnight on August 1, 1972, keeping its country sound. The FM switched to album-oriented rock and briefly became WSLC-FM before settling on current call sign WSLQ. Only the TV station still carries the original call letters.[7] Mel Wheeler purchased the two stations in 1976.[8]
Urban AC and Sportsedit
At noon on May 25, 2000, WSLC began simulcasting with its new sister station 94.9 WSLC-FM, formerly easy listening turned classic rock station WPVR, after that station was purchased by Mel Wheeler Inc. This continued until March 13, 2002, when the country format moved full-time to WSLC-FM. 610 WSLC was flipped to new call letters as WVBE, simulcasting co-owned 100.1 WVBE-FM Lynchburg, and brought urban adult contemporary and R&B music full-time to Roanoke.[9]
Former logo
On January 20, 2016, the station dropped its Urban AC format for sports talk with the new call sign WPLY. The station became an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio.[10][11][12]
wply, plymouth, wisconsin, radio, station, that, held, wply, call, sign, from, 1954, 1991, wgxi, wply, commercial, radio, station, licensed, roanoke, virginia, serving, southwest, virginia, river, valley, wply, simulcasts, sports, radio, format, with, wpli, 13. For the Plymouth Wisconsin radio station that held the WPLY call sign from 1954 1991 see WGXI WPLY 610 kHz is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Roanoke Virginia and serving Southwest Virginia and the New River Valley WPLY simulcasts a sports radio format with WPLI 1390 AM in Lynchburg Both stations are owned and operated by Mel Wheeler Inc 2 Most programming is supplied by Fox Sports Radio WPLYRoanoke VirginiaBroadcast areaSouthwest VirginiaNew River ValleyFrequency610 kHzBrandingSports Radio VirginiaProgrammingFormatSportsAffiliationsFox Sports RadioCarolina Panthers Radio NetworkOwnershipOwnerMel Wheeler Inc Sister stationsWFIR WPLI WSLC FM WSLQ WVBB WVBE FM WXLK WZZUHistoryFirst air dateOctober 1 1940 83 years ago 1940 10 01 Former call signsWSLS 1940 1972 WSLC 1972 2002 WVBE 2002 2016 Call sign meaningPLaYTechnical information 1 Licensing authorityFCCFacility ID41111ClassBPower5 000 watts day 1 000 watts night Transmitter coordinates37 18 11 0 N 80 2 33 0 W 37 303056 N 80 042500 W 37 303056 80 042500Translator s 101 1 W266CY Roanoke Repeater s 1390 WPLI Lynchburg LinksPublic license informationPublic fileLMSWebcastListen LiveWebsitesportsradiova com By day WPLY transmits 5 000 watts but at night when radio waves travel farther it reduces power to 1 000 watts to protect other stations on 610 AM WPLY has a directional antenna using a five tower array The transmitter is at the end of Newman Drive in Salem 3 Programming is also heard on 175 watt FM translator W266CY at 101 1 MHz in Roanoke 4 Contents 1 History 1 1 WSLC Country 1 2 Urban AC and Sports 2 References 3 External linksHistory editWSLC Country edit Just before noon on October 1 1940 83 years ago 1940 10 01 the station signed on 5 The original call sign was WSLS 6 During the Golden Age of Radio the station carried programs from the NBC Blue Network dramas comedies news sports soap operas game shows and big band broadcasts The Blue Network later became ABC A partner FM station 99 1 WSLS FM launched in 1947 largely simulcasting the AM station WSLS TV followed five years later on Channel 10 As network programming moved from radio to television 610 WSLS switched to a full service Country music format In 1969 Park Communications purchased WSLS AM FM TV Due to FCC ownership restrictions Park kept the television station and sold the radio stations to Bass Brothers Telecasters As the stations could no longer share a call sign after the purchase the AM became WSLC at midnight on August 1 1972 keeping its country sound The FM switched to album oriented rock and briefly became WSLC FM before settling on current call sign WSLQ Only the TV station still carries the original call letters 7 Mel Wheeler purchased the two stations in 1976 8 Urban AC and Sports edit At noon on May 25 2000 WSLC began simulcasting with its new sister station 94 9 WSLC FM formerly easy listening turned classic rock station WPVR after that station was purchased by Mel Wheeler Inc This continued until March 13 2002 when the country format moved full time to WSLC FM 610 WSLC was flipped to new call letters as WVBE simulcasting co owned 100 1 WVBE FM Lynchburg and brought urban adult contemporary and R amp B music full time to Roanoke 9 nbsp Former logo On January 20 2016 the station dropped its Urban AC format for sports talk with the new call sign WPLY The station became an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio 10 11 12 References edit Facility Technical Data for WPLY Licensing and Management System Federal Communications Commission WPLY Facility Record Federal Communications Commission audio division Radio Locator com WPLY Radio Locator com W266CY Wsls Am Roanokeradio com Retrieved 2016 01 30 Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 311 Broadcasting amp Cable WSLC AM 610 Roanokeradio com 1972 08 01 Retrieved 2016 01 30 FCC History Cards for WPLY 610 WSLC drops country WSLC FM for Urban AC WVBE FM Format Change Archive Formatchange com 12 March 2002 Retrieved 2016 01 30 Roanoke getting another all sports radio station www roanoke com Retrieved 2016 01 23 Roanoke Gets Second Sports Station Insideradio com Retrieved 2016 01 23 Wheeler Launches New Sports Station In Roanoke RadioInsight Retrieved 2016 01 23 External links editWPLY Online WPLY in the FCC AM station database WPLY in Nielsen Audio s AM station database W266CY in the FCC FM station database W266CY at FCCdata org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title WPLY AM amp oldid 1221251345, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
