WIRO (FM)
| Broadcast area | Huntington/Ashland/Ironton |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 107.1 MHz |
| Branding | Ho Ho Radio |
| Programming | |
| Format | Stunting (Christmas music) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Total Media Group |
| History | |
First air date | 1973 (as WITO) |
Former call signs | WITO (1973–1985) WMLV (1985–1997) WFXN (1997–2002) WBKS (2002–2010) WLRX (2010–2019) WAWT (2019–2022) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 61686 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,100 watts |
| HAAT | 137 meters (449 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 38°31′23″N 82°39′11″W / 38.523°N 82.653°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
WIRO (107.1 FM) is a station covering the Huntington, West Virginia area. The station broadcasts at 107.1 MHz with an ERP of 3.1 kW, is licensed to Ironton, Ohio and is currently branded as "Ho Ho Radio" stunting with Christmas music.
History
[edit]WIRO, which originally signed on the air in 1973 as WITO, would later go through format and call sign changes as WMLV (1985–97) and WFXN (1997–2002) before Clear Channel Communications transformed them into a local version of the KISS-FM brand under the WBKS call sign. But unlike the traditional mainstream top 40 format that was used at their sister stations, this version focused on rhythmic hits and did not use the trademarked blue ball. The reason for this was due to having a sister station in WKEE, which is the market's top 40 outlet.
On or before December 31, 2009, WBKS underwent a format change, becoming a simulcast of active rock station WAMX. On January 19, the station changed its call sign from WBKS to WLRX.
On October 30, 2012, the station underwent another format change, joining 24/7 Comedy.[2]
On June 2, 2014, WLRX flipped to classic country as 107.1 The Bear.[3]
On March 3, 2019, iHeartMedia announced it would sell four stations in its Aloha Station Trust, including WLRX, to the Educational Media Foundation in exchange for six translators already operated by iHeartMedia. The station was expected to flip to one of EMF's national networks (K-Love, Air1, or K-Love Classics) upon the sale's closure.[4]
On May 31, 2019, the sale to Educational Media Foundation was closed and WLRX began operating under the Air1 branding.[5] The station changed its call sign to WAWT.[6]
The station changed its call sign to WIRO on November 9, 2022.
On December 5, 2024, Total Media Group of Jackson, Ohio announced they would be purchasing WIRO. In anticipation of the sale receiving FCC approval and closing, Total Media Group began operating WIRO under a time management agreement, dropping the Air1 branding and worship music format and began stunting a Christmas music format, branded as "Ho Ho Radio". The sale to Total Media Group was approved by the FCC and closed on December 10, 2024. WIRO's permeant format will be announced in January 2025.[7]
Former logo
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WIRO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Radio station starts 24/7 comedy broadcasting". The Herald-Dispatch. October 30, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
- ^ "WLRX Shifts To Classic Country". RadioInsight. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
- ^ "iHeartMedia Swaps Four From Aloha Station Trust To EMF For Six Translators". RadioInsight. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
- ^ "AM-Translator Combos In Maine, Tennessee, Florida Sold". AllAccess.com. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
- ^ "EMF Sets New Call Letters For Cumulus/Aloha Acquisitions; WRQX Moves To..." RadioInsight. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
- ^ WIRO Becomes Ho Ho Radio Ahead of New Format Launch Radioinsight - December 5, 2024
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 61686 (WIRO) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WIRO in Nielsen Audio's FM station database