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WRVL
The Journey Flagship Station
Broadcast areaNew River Valley
Frequency88.3 MHz
BrandingThe Journey
Programming
FormatContemporary Christian music
Ownership
OwnerLiberty University
History
First air date
July 1981; 43 years ago (1981-07)
Call sign meaning
W Radio Victory Liberty (former branding)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID37249
ClassC1
Power28,000 watts
HAAT346 meters (1,135 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
37°11′50.0″N 79°21′7.0″W / 37.197222°N 79.351944°W / 37.197222; -79.351944
Links
Public license information
WebcastWRVL Webstream
WebsiteWRVL MyJourneyFM.com

WRVL (88.3 MHz) is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia, serving the New River Valley. WRVL is owned and operated by Liberty University and was founded by Jerry Falwell.[2] It broadcasts a Christian Contemporary radio format known as "The Journey." The station is listener-supported and holds periodic fundraisers on the air. The studios and offices are on Candlers Mountain Road in Lynchburg.

WRVL has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 28,000 watts. The transmitter is on Uphill Trail in Altavista.[3] Programming is also simulcast on 19 rebroadcasters and FM translators in Virginia and North Carolina.

History

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Early years

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WRVL signed on the air in July 1981; 43 years ago (1981-07). It had been powered at 100,000 watts, the maximum for most FM stations in the U.S. but on a shorter tower than it uses today. It originally broadcast Christian talk and teaching programs, including those of founder and televangelist Jerry Falwell, who started Liberty University. WRVL faced a series of technical problems in its early years revolving around interference to television reception near the station site.[4]

In December 1981, the Federal Communications Commission ordered the station to greatly reduce its effective radiated power (ERP) from 100,000 to 5,000 watts.[5] In 1982, its tower was brought down by vandals.[6] While the station was off the air, viewers reported better reception of WDBJ Channel 7, the CBS network affiliate for Roanoke-Lynchburg.[7] WRVL later moved to a new tower in Altavista, reducing interference with Channel 7.

WVTW subchannel

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In 2009, WRVL broke ground by forming a partnership with NPR broadcaster 89.1 WVTW, owned by Virginia Tech. This allowed WRVL to repeat Victory FM programming on WVTW's HD-3 digital subchannel in Charlottesville, Virginia. This is noteworthy because it makes WVTW perhaps one of few HD radio stations in the nation funded by the federal Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP).[8]

On December 26, 2014, WRVL dropped nearly all its Christian talk and teaching programs, switching to a Contemporary Christian music format. The station's moniker also changed from "Victory Radio Network" to "The Journey". It uses the slogan "Life, Hope, Music."

Simulcasts

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"The Journey" is carried on several stations and HD Radio digital subchannels in Virginia and North Carolina.

Call sign Frequency City of license State Facility ID Class ERP
(W)
WVRL 88.3 FM Elizabeth City North Carolina 86560 C2 50,000
WVRA 107.3 FM Enfield North Carolina 164202 A 4,100
WVRH 94.3 FM Norlina North Carolina 1208 A 6,000
WVRP 91.1 FM Roanoke Rapids North Carolina 85603 A 2,000
WVRD 90.5 FM Zebulon North Carolina 41094 A 1,200
WBOP 95.5 FM Buffalo Gap Virginia 68304 A 6,000
WVTW-HD3 88.5-3 FM[a] Charlottesville Virginia 63547 B1 1,000
WVRI 90.9 FM Clifton Forge Virginia 177072 B 1,000
WVTR-HD3 91.9-3 FM[a] Marion Virginia 70340 C2 4,500
WHRO-HD3 90.3-3 FM[a] Norfolk Virginia 25940 B 8,800
WRXL-HD3[b] 102.1-3 FM[a] Richmond Virginia 11961 B 20,000
WVTF-HD3 89.1-3 FM[a] Roanoke Virginia 70338 C 100,000

Notes:

  1. ^ a b c d e HD Radio subchannel
  2. ^ Added September 2015

Translators

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"The Journey" is relayed by additional translators to widen its broadcast area. W236BO at 95.1 served Burlington, North Carolina prior to 2013, until WPCM took it over.

Call sign Frequency
(MHz) 		City of license State Facility ID Class ERP
(W) 		Rebroadcasts
W246DD 97.1 Charlottesville Virginia 142781 D 99 WVTW-HD3
W234CT 94.7 Marion Virginia 142574 D 99 WVTR-HD3
W293AS 106.5 Pulaski Virginia 139561 D 10 WVTF-HD3
W235AI 94.9 Richmond Virginia 150414 D 16 WKHK-HD3
W293AX 106.5 Roanoke Virginia 150414 D 10 WVTF-HD3
W297BH 107.3 Suffolk Virginia 155036 D 25 WHRO-HD3
W270BO 101.9 Wytheville Virginia 139560 D 10 WVTR-HD3

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WRVL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WRVL Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WRVL-FM
  4. ^ "FCC threatens Falwell station". Kingsport Times-News. UPI. July 15, 1981. p. 9A. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  5. ^ "FCC orders station to reduce power". The Leader. Associated Press. December 17, 1981. p. 11. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "Vandals Fell Rev. Falwell's 138-Foot-Tall Radio Tower". Clarion-Ledger. Associated Press. June 1, 1982. p. 5A. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  7. ^ "TV reception improves since WRVL tower down". The Leader. June 4, 1981. p. 9. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  8. ^ 1n grant year 2007, the PTFP funded a project to increase the power of WVTW, extending its signal coverage to about 193,000 additional persons.2007 PTFP Radio Awards, retrieved 2010-08-17
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