WTHZ
Encyclopedia
WWLV is a radio station
licensed to Lexington, North Carolina
, and serving the Piedmont Triad
metropolitan area. The station is an affiliate of K-LOVE
.
were acquired for the FM station but it remained simulcast with WBUY until 1976, when the station would break away from the simulcast at certain times during the day to air Christian
programming. WLXN's programming had become largely separate from that of WBUY by late 1983. On January 1, 1984, the Christian
programming and WLXN call letters were transferred to the AM station and the WBUY call letters came to the FM, which then initiated a Country
format. In April 1985 WBUY-FM changed call letters to WKOQ "Q-94" and continued the Country
format, increasing its power to cover the entire Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point market. In 1988 WKOQ became WWGL ("We Witness God's Love"), a Christian radio
station which emphasized Southern gospel
music and later Contemporary Christian. Another signal boost was made several years later when WWGL built a new, taller tower north of Lexington, which it would eventually share with WFDD
.
In 2000, the station began calling itself WTHZ "Hitz 94", playing mostly 80s music. The station eventually evolved to a Hot AC format, still using the "Hitz 94" name, with the slogan "The 80s, 90s, and Now."
The station began the Oldies
format (music from roughly 1964-1984) in November 2006 after local Entercom Oldies
outlet WMQX flipped to Country music
. First calling itself "Your Station for the Oldies", then "the Best of the 60's 70's and 80's", Majic 94.1 later used "The Carolinas' Greatest Hits" with a very large playlist primarily of the 1960`s to 1980's top 40 songs.
On March 14, 2010; the station began leasing its frequency to K-LOVE. Station owner Gig Hilton said advertisers were unwilling to buy time on the station because it attracted an older demographic, and the big companies who owned several stations could offer cheaper advertising rates. The recession made the deal from Educational Media Foundation
very attractive. Hilton did say switching back to oldies would be considered if the situation changed or if he was able to move the transmitter closer to Charlotte
(see below). He also said that many listeners had complained. The station's call letters were changed to WWLV to better reflect its new format in late March 2010.
, Mooresville
, Kannapolis and Albemarle
), and provides at least grade B coverage of most of Charlotte itself. As WTHZ, it acquired a fairly loyal following in the northern portion of the Charlotte market, which hasn't had a full-market oldies station since WWMG-FM (Magic 96.1) flipped to CHR as WIBT.
For many years, Davidson County Broadcasting has been trying to build a tower in western Rowan County
, which is part of the Charlotte market. It has also applied to move its city of license to Faith, North Carolina
. This location would significantly improve its coverage in Charlotte, but it would presumably still be reckoned as a Triad-market station.
Almost two years after Rowan County denied a conditional use permit in November 2005, the North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld the June 2006 Superior Court ruling which agreed with the county. Miller Air Park pilots and a state aviation official said the proposed 1350 feet (411.5 m) tower five miles (8 km) east of Mooresville would cause problems for the airplanes landing and taking off, while the Federal Aviation Administration
found "determination of no hazard"; the FAA only had authority over public airports. Station president Gig Hilton claimed that the private airport was given more favorable treatment than a public airport.
Richard L. and Dorcas Parker, owners of the property where the tower would be located, offered free space on the tower for county emergency communications, but in February 2009 county telecommunications director Rob Robinson said the tower would not give the area the coverage needed. Planning director Ed Muire said the communications equipment would not exempt the tower from the usual zoning procedures. On May 19, the county zoning board of adjustment ruled Muire was correct.
The Parkers requested that 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) of their farm be annexed
by Mooresville, which declined on March 1, 2010 to do so. However, most of the county commissioners who turned down a conditional use permit in 2005 were replaced, and Hilton decided to try again. This time, he was requesting a 1200 feet (365.8 m) tower, which Davidson County Broadcasting intended to show has been declared "no hazard" by the FAA. After three days of hearings in August 2011, county commissioners approved the tower.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,953. It is located in central North Carolina, twenty miles south of Winston-Salem. Major highways include I-85, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 70, U.S. Route 52 ...
, and serving the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
metropolitan area. The station is an affiliate of K-LOVE
K-LOVE
K-LOVE is a Contemporary Christian music radio programming service in the United States operated by the Educational Media Foundation. As of January 2011, K-LOVE's programming is carried on over 440 FM stations and translators in 45 states. K-LOVE claims an audience of 250,000 people each week via...
.
History
94.1 began in the early 1940s as WBUY by Davidson County Broadcasting as a simulcast partner of their AM station WBUY at 1440 on the dial. By the early 70's separate calls of WLXNWLXN
WLXN is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format. Licensed to Lexington, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Piedmont Triad area. The station is currently owned by Davidson County Broadcasting...
were acquired for the FM station but it remained simulcast with WBUY until 1976, when the station would break away from the simulcast at certain times during the day to air Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
programming. WLXN's programming had become largely separate from that of WBUY by late 1983. On January 1, 1984, the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
programming and WLXN call letters were transferred to the AM station and the WBUY call letters came to the FM, which then initiated a Country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format. In April 1985 WBUY-FM changed call letters to WKOQ "Q-94" and continued the Country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format, increasing its power to cover the entire Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point market. In 1988 WKOQ became WWGL ("We Witness God's Love"), a Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
station which emphasized Southern gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
music and later Contemporary Christian. Another signal boost was made several years later when WWGL built a new, taller tower north of Lexington, which it would eventually share with WFDD
WFDD
WFDD is a public radio station located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is the flagship National Public Radio station for the Piedmont Triad. Owned by Wake Forest University, it serves 32 counties in North Carolina and Virginia. It also operates a translator on 104.7 FM in...
.
In 2000, the station began calling itself WTHZ "Hitz 94", playing mostly 80s music. The station eventually evolved to a Hot AC format, still using the "Hitz 94" name, with the slogan "The 80s, 90s, and Now."
The station began the Oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format (music from roughly 1964-1984) in November 2006 after local Entercom Oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
outlet WMQX flipped to Country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. First calling itself "Your Station for the Oldies", then "the Best of the 60's 70's and 80's", Majic 94.1 later used "The Carolinas' Greatest Hits" with a very large playlist primarily of the 1960`s to 1980's top 40 songs.
On March 14, 2010; the station began leasing its frequency to K-LOVE. Station owner Gig Hilton said advertisers were unwilling to buy time on the station because it attracted an older demographic, and the big companies who owned several stations could offer cheaper advertising rates. The recession made the deal from Educational Media Foundation
Educational Media Foundation
Educational Media Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that operates the K-LOVE and Air 1 radio networks. EMF is based in Rocklin, California....
very attractive. Hilton did say switching back to oldies would be considered if the situation changed or if he was able to move the transmitter closer to Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
(see below). He also said that many listeners had complained. The station's call letters were changed to WWLV to better reflect its new format in late March 2010.
Tower controversy
Due to its location in Lexington, roughly halfway between Charlotte and Greensboro, WWLV's signal covers roughly three-fourths of both the Charlotte and Triad markets. It easily covers the northern portion of the Charlotte market (including StatesvilleStatesville
Statesville may refer to the following places in the United States:*Statesville, North Carolina*Statesville, Tennessee...
, Mooresville
Mooresville
Mooresville may refer to:* Mooresville, Alabama* Mooresville, Indiana* Mooresville, Missouri* Mooresville, North Carolina...
, Kannapolis and Albemarle
Albemarle, North Carolina
Albemarle is the county seat of Stanly County, North Carolina. The population was 15,680 at the 2000 census. It is governed by Mayor Elbert L. "Whit" Whitley, Jr...
), and provides at least grade B coverage of most of Charlotte itself. As WTHZ, it acquired a fairly loyal following in the northern portion of the Charlotte market, which hasn't had a full-market oldies station since WWMG-FM (Magic 96.1) flipped to CHR as WIBT.
For many years, Davidson County Broadcasting has been trying to build a tower in western Rowan County
Rowan County, North Carolina
-Demographics and economics:As of the census of 2010, there were 138,428 people, 53,140 households, and 37,058 families residing in the county. The population density was 270.7 people per square mile . There were 60,211 housing units at an average density of 117.7 per square mile...
, which is part of the Charlotte market. It has also applied to move its city of license to Faith, North Carolina
Faith, North Carolina
Faith is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, incorporated in 1903. The population was 695 at the 2000 census.Since 1946, the town has hosted a Fourth of July celebration that has become notably large for a town of its population - running for several days and drawing visitors from many states....
. This location would significantly improve its coverage in Charlotte, but it would presumably still be reckoned as a Triad-market station.
Almost two years after Rowan County denied a conditional use permit in November 2005, the North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld the June 2006 Superior Court ruling which agreed with the county. Miller Air Park pilots and a state aviation official said the proposed 1350 feet (411.5 m) tower five miles (8 km) east of Mooresville would cause problems for the airplanes landing and taking off, while the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
found "determination of no hazard"; the FAA only had authority over public airports. Station president Gig Hilton claimed that the private airport was given more favorable treatment than a public airport.
Richard L. and Dorcas Parker, owners of the property where the tower would be located, offered free space on the tower for county emergency communications, but in February 2009 county telecommunications director Rob Robinson said the tower would not give the area the coverage needed. Planning director Ed Muire said the communications equipment would not exempt the tower from the usual zoning procedures. On May 19, the county zoning board of adjustment ruled Muire was correct.
The Parkers requested that 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) of their farm be annexed
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
by Mooresville, which declined on March 1, 2010 to do so. However, most of the county commissioners who turned down a conditional use permit in 2005 were replaced, and Hilton decided to try again. This time, he was requesting a 1200 feet (365.8 m) tower, which Davidson County Broadcasting intended to show has been declared "no hazard" by the FAA. After three days of hearings in August 2011, county commissioners approved the tower.