WBRF

Galax, Virginia
Broadcast area	Southwestern Virginia Southside Virginia Piedmont Triad
Frequency	98.1 FM MHz
Branding	Classic Country 98-1
Programming
Format	Classic Country - Bluegrass - Americana[1]
Affiliations	CBS News Radio MRN Radio PRN Radio Virginia News Network
Ownership
Owner	Blue Ridge Radio, Inc.
Sister stations	WKBA
History
First air date	December 15, 1961; 62 years ago (1961-12-15)[2]
Former call signs	WBOB-FM (1961–1985) WBRF (1985-Present)[3]
Call sign meaning	Blue Ridge Family Radio
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	5986
Class	C
Power	100,000 watts horizontal polarization 96,000 watts vertical
HAAT	535 meters (1,755 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	36°33′34.0″N 80°49′25.0″W / 36.559444°N 80.823611°W / 36.559444; -80.823611
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	WBRF Webstream
Website	WBRF Online

WBRF (98.1 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Galax, Virginia, and serving Southwestern Virginia, Southside Virginia and the western Piedmont Triad, including Winston-Salem.^[1] It is owned and operated by Blue Ridge Radio, Inc., with studios and offices on Poplar Knob Road in Galax.^[5] WBRF plays a mix of Classic country, Bluegrass and Americana music. Most programming is simulcast on WKBA 1550 and 93.1 in the Roanoke, Virginia.

WBRF has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts horizontal polarization and 96,000 watts vertical. The transmitter is on Fishers Peak Road in Lowgap, North Carolina, near the Virginia border.^[6]

History

The station signed on the air at 5:15pm on December 15, 1961; 62 years ago (1961-12-15). The original call sign was WBOB-FM, with a power of 6,000 watts. WBOB-FM shared studios with WBOB-AM (now WCGX).

WBOB-FM began its Country/Bluegrass/Americana format around the same time it was purchased by Blue Ridge Radio Inc. in April 1985. At the same time, the station switched its call sign to WBRF.

In 1990, the power was increased to 100,000 watts and the transmitter moved to Fishers Peak in Surry County, near the Virginia–North Carolina border.^{[citation needed]}

On June 15, 2009, air personality Toby Young returned to radio with his "Aunt Eloise" character who was part of WTQR radio for 23 years.^[7]

Beginning in January 2023, WBRF started simulcasting most of its programming on co-owned WKBA 1550 and 93.1 in the Roanoke metropolitan area.^[8]

Programming

WBRF-FM broadcasts the classic country music show, Blue Ridge Back Roads, live from the Rex Theater in Galax weekly.^[9] It also broadcasts from the Old Fiddler's Convention every August in Felt's Park, also in Galax.

The station is the flagship station of Wake Forest Demon Deacons football and men's basketball. However, since the station provides marginal coverage to much of the Triad, the Deacons also air their games on WPOL in Winston-Salem and simulcast partner WKEW in Greensboro.