WINC-FM

For the Winchester, Virginia, radio station that held the call sign WINC-FM at 92.5 FM from 1981 to 2020, see WAIW (FM).
WINC-FM
Broadcast area
Frequency105.5 MHz
Branding105.5 WINC-FM (pronounced "Wink FM")
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatHot adult contemporary
Ownership
Owner
  • Darrin Jones
  • (Euclid Avenue Properties, LLC)
WINC
History
First air date
August 13, 1979
(45 years ago) (1979-08-13)
Former call signs
  • WWOO (1979–1987)
  • WAPP (1987–2002)
  • WWRE (2002–2009)
  • WXNB (2009–2011)
  • WXBN (2011–2020)[1]
Call sign meaning
Winchester
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID60363
ClassA
ERP3,000 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
Websitetalkwinchester.com/winc-fm/

WINC-FM (105.5 FM) is a hot adult contemporary-formatted radio station licensed to Berryville, Virginia, serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley.[3] WINC-FM is owned by Darrin Jones, through Euclid Avenue Properties, LLC.[4][5]

History

[edit]

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).[6][7] 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.[8][9] Fellow sister station WINC was not included in the sale.[8][9] 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.[10] Shaw further said Metro thought WZFC's format was "probably the best format for the Winchester market" for ad revenue.[10]

On June 30, long-time morning show host Barry Lee signed off after 37 years at the station.[11] Hours later, long-time afternoon host Paula Kidwell would also sign off.[12] The sale of WINC-FM and sister WKDV-FM was completed the same day.[13]

WINC-FM was acquired by funeral home operator Darrin Jones, through his Euclid Avenue Properties, effective December 12, 2022.[4] 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.[14] 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.[15] 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.[15]

References

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