WINC-FM
Broadcast area
Frequency105.5 FM MHz
Branding105.5 WINC-FM (pronounced "Wink FM")
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatHot adult contemporary
Christmas music (November-December)
Ownership
Owner
  • Darrin Jones
  • (Euclid Avenue Properties, LLC)
History
First air date
August 13, 1979
(44 years ago) (1979-08-13) (as WWOO)
Former call signs
  • WWOO (1979–1987)
  • WAPP (1987–2002)
  • WWRE (2002–2009)
  • WXNB (2009–2011)
  • WXBN (2011–2020)[1]
Call sign meaning
Winchester[2]
Technical information[3]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID60363
ClassA
Power3,000 watts
HAAT91 meters (299 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
39°7′3.0″N 77°58′21.0″W / 39.117500°N 77.972500°W / 39.117500; -77.972500
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
WebsiteWINC-FM online

WINC-FM (105.5 FM) is a hot adult contemporary-formatted radio station licensed to Berryville, Virginia, serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley.[4] WINC-FM is owned by Darrin Jones, through Euclid Avenue Properties, LLC.[5][6]

History

In November 2020, the then-WXBN flipped to hot adult contemporary, assuming the hot adult contemporary format and "WINC-FM" (pronounced "Wink FM") branding previously heard on the Winchester-based 92.5 frequency (which was in the process of being sold to the Educational Media Foundation).[7][8] The station would take over the WINC-FM legacy callsign on December 29, 2020.[1]

On April 30, 2021, Centennial Broadcasting announced it was selling WINC-FM and sister station WZFC to Fairfax, Virginia-based Metro Radio, Inc. for $225,000.[9][10] Fellow sister station WINC was not included in the sale.[9][10] Allen B. Shaw, Centennial's president and CEO, said in a May 2021 interview with The Winchester Star that Metro Radio, Inc. had had insured Shaw "they do not intend to" change the format of WINC-FM and WZFC.[11] Shaw further said Metro thought WZFC's format was "probably the best format for the Winchester market" for ad revenue.[11]

On June 30, long-time morning show host Barry Lee signed off after 37 years at the station.[12] Hours later, long-time afternoon host Paula Kidwell would also sign off.[13] The sale of WINC-FM and sister WKDV-FM was completed the same day.[14]

WINC-FM was acquired by funeral home operator Darrin Jones, through his Euclid Avenue Properties, effective December 12, 2022.[5] Following the sale's completion, on December 16, 2022, WINC-FM began stunting with Christmas music, ahead of an announcement to be made on January 5, 2023, at 10:55 a.m.[15] At that time, the station relaunched its hot adult contemporary format from a new Winchester studio; Metro Radio had operated the station from Fairfax, with the intent of serving Leesburg.[16] WINC-FM is operated in conjunction with its former AM sister station, which had been sold in the interim to Todd Bartley's Colonial Radio Group of Williamsport and renamed WZFC; the arrangement saw the AM station reclaim its former WINC call sign.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b "Call Sign History". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Call Letter Origins: The List". Bob Nelson/Barry Mishkind. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  3. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WINC-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Venta, Lance (October 14, 2022). "Station Sales Week Of 10/14". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "WINC-FM Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  7. ^ Venta, Lance (October 8, 2020). "Educational Media Foundation Acquires WINC-FM". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  8. ^ Venta, Lance (November 17, 2020). "WINC-FM Begins Frequency Move Ahead Of EMF Sale". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Venta, Lance (April 30, 2021). "Metro Radio Inc. Acquires WINC-FM". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Assignment of Authorization". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Powell, Mickey (May 5, 2021). "WINC-FM and its sister station to be sold to Fairfax firm". The Winchester Star. Winchester, Virginia: Ogden Newspapers. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  12. ^ Venta, Lance (June 30, 2021). "Barry Lee Retires From WINC-FM Mornings After 37 Years". RadioInsight/RadioBB Networks. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  13. ^ "Today is my last day on WINC FM..." Paula Kidwell/Centennial Broadcasting/Facebook. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Notification of Consummation". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  15. ^ "WINC-FM Enters Holiday Mode Until January 5 Announcement". December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Powell, Mickey (January 6, 2023). "Under new ownership, WINC-FM resumes broadcasting in Winchester". The Winchester Star. Retrieved April 20, 2023.

External links


Radio stations in the Winchester, Virginia, metropolitan area
Adult contemporary radio stations in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Categories