WBRW
Broadcast areaNew River Valley
Roanoke metropolitan area
Frequency105.3 MHz
Branding105.3 The Bear
Programming
FormatActive rock[1]
AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
Premiere Networks
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Ownership
OwnerMonticello Media LLC
WPSK-FM, WRAD, WRAD-FM, WVHK
History
First air date
December 1964; 59 years ago (1964-12)[2]
Former call signs
WVVV (1964–1995)[3]
WVMJ (1995–1999)[4]
Former frequencies
104.9 MHz (1964–1996)[5]
Call sign meaning
W BeaR W
Technical information
Facility ID5795
ClassC3
Power12,000 watts
HAAT146 meters (479 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
37°11′12.0″N 80°28′54.0″W / 37.186667°N 80.481667°W / 37.186667; -80.481667
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website1053thebear.com

WBRW (105.3 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Blacksburg, Virginia, and serving the New River Valley and part of the Roanoke metropolitan area.[1] It broadcasts an active rock radio format known as "The Bear." It is owned by Monticello Media LLC, with radio studios and offices on Lee Highway (U.S. Route 11) in Radford. WBRW carries the nationally syndicated drive time show, Rover's Morning Glory from WMMS Cleveland. It also carries Virginia Tech Hokies football games.

WBRW has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 12,000 watts. The transmitter is on Stroubles Creek Road in Blacksburg.[6]

History

The station signed on the air in December 1964; 59 years ago (1964-12)[2] It was the FM counterpart to WJJJ 1260 AM. The original call sign was WVVV and its frequency was 104.9 MHz. The owner was Blacksburg-Christiansburg Broadcasters and it aired a Album Rock radio format.[7]

In 1996, WVVV moved to its current dial position after changing its call letters the previous year to WVMJ. In 1999, the station switched to its current call sign, WBRW, flipping to an active rock format.

WBRW had been owned and operated by Cumulus Media.[8] On September 6, 2018, Cumulus Media announced it would sell its Blacksburg cluster to Monticello Media.[9] The sale was approved December 1, 2018.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Broadcasting Yearbook 2010 (PDF). ProQuest, LLC/Reed Publishing (Nederland), B.V. 2010. p. D-560. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  3. ^ "For the record" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 21, 1964. p. 109.
  4. ^ "Call Sign History". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  5. ^ "WBRW Facility Data". FCCData.
  6. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WBRW
  7. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1997 page C-217, Broadcasting & Cable
  8. ^ "WBRW Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  9. ^ Cumulus Sells Blacksburg Cluster To Monticello Media
  10. ^ Six areas radio stations sold

External links


Radio stations in the Blacksburg–Christiansburg, Virginia, metropolitan area (New River Valley)
Active rock radio stations in the state of Virginia
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Categories