 | |
| Broadcast area | Kinston, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 95.1 MHz |
| Branding | "95.1 WRNS" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WERO, WQSL, WQZL, WRNS, WXQR-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | October 12, 1968[1] |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 36950 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 459 meters (1,506 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°16′57″N 77°39′07″W / 35.2826°N 77.6520°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wrns.com |
WRNS-FM (95.1 MHz) is a radio station located in Kinston, North Carolina in the United States. Its format is contemporary country.
The station has a non-directional signal of 100,000 watts, that reaches "from the capital to the coast". The station has served Kinston and eastern North Carolina since the 1960s, when it was WFTC-FM. At one time, it was the only country station in the area and had one of the highest market shares of any station.[2] Known for its generosity, the station has held a radiothon for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital annually for the past 5 years.[when?] The station is constantly ranked as the #1 station in its market by Arbitron.
The WRNS-FM transmitter antenna is located on WCTI-TV's tower north of Trenton, North Carolina. Studios are located in New Bern.
In September 2017, Dick Broadcasting announced the purchase of Alpha Media stations in three markets — 18 stations and two translators in total, at a purchase price of $19.5 million.[3] The acquisition of WRNS-FM by Dick Broadcasting was consummated on December 20, 2017.
Jim Mantel, who spent 18 years on WGAR-FM in Cleveland and was named to the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2017, retired in 2018 after hosting the morning show since 2010, joined by Crystal Legends in 2012.[4] Bobby Bones moved from co-owned WQSL/WQZL to replace Mantel, and Legends, also program director, moved to middays.[5]