Wikipedia

WGRQ

For the radio station in Buffalo, New York, licensed as WGRQ from 1973 to 1985, see WGRF.

WGRQ (95.9 FM) is a classic hits formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Fairview Beach, Virginia, serving Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Courthouse, and Bowling Green in Virginia.[1] WGRQ is owned and operated by Telemedia Broadcasting, Inc.[5]

WGRQ
Broadcast areaFredericksburg, Virginia
Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia
Bowling Green, Virginia
Frequency95.9 MHz
BrandingSuper Hits 95.9
Programming
FormatClassic hits[1]
AffiliationsWashington Commanders Radio Network
Virginia Sports Radio Network
Ownership
OwnerTelemedia Broadcasting, Inc.
WGRX
History
First air date
May 3, 1986
(38 years ago) (1986-05-03)[2]
Former call signs
WPOT (1985)[3]
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID64922
ClassA
ERP2,500 watts
HAAT157.9 meters (518 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
38°16′21.0″N 77°29′46.0″W / 38.272500°N 77.496111°W / 38.272500; -77.496111
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitesuperhits959.com

Programming

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WGRQ broadcasts a classic hits music format to the Fredericksburg, Virginia, area.[1] As of April 2021, weekday on-air personalities include Dave Adler on morning drive, Paula Kidwell on mid-days, Brad Majors on afternoons, Throwback Nation Radio with Tony Lorino in the evenings[6] and Casey Kasem's American Top 40 on Sunday evenings. Each year, around Thanksgiving, WGRQ flips to all-Christmas music programming and becomes "The Christmas Station." This format flip completed its 15th year in 2020.[6]

In addition to its music programming, WGRQ also broadcasts Washington Commanders games as a member of the Washington Commanders Broadcast Network.[7]

History

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Launch

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After an application was filed in March 1983, the original construction permit for this station was granted by the FCC on December 7, 1984.[8] This would be a new station broadcasting on 95.9 MHz with 3,000 watts of effective radiated power from an antenna 91.3 meters (300 ft) in height above average terrain. The new station's city of license was to be Colonial Beach, Virginia.[8] The still-under construction station was assigned call sign WPOT on February 25, 1985.[3]

In November 1985, original permit holder Colonial Beach Broadcasting, Inc., applied to the FCC to transfer the permit to Potomac Broadcasting, Inc.[9] The call sign was changed to WGRQ on December 1, 1985, and has remained stable for more than 25 years.[3] The sale to Potomac Broadcasting was finalized in March 1986.[9]

Telemedia era

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WGRQ began broadcasting under program test authority on May 3, 1986, with an adult contemporary music format.[10] The station received its broadcast license from the FCC on November 16, 1987.[11] Just days later, Potomac Broadcasting applied to the FCC to transfer the license to Telemedia Broadcasting, Inc.[12] The FCC approved the transfer on January 4, 1988, and the transaction was consummated on January 20, 1988.[12]

Previously known as "Virginia's Rockin' Oldies 95.9", the station flipped formats from oldies to classic hits on January 17, 2005.[13] WGRQ had broadcast Virginia Tech Hokies football games as a longtime member of the Virginia Tech Sports Network before transitioning to Virginia Cavaliers football broadcasts in September 2009.[14][15][16]

Studio controversy / facilities changes

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The station was involved in controversy when a rival broadcasting company complained to the FCC in July 2001 that WGRQ's main studios were located too far from the station's city of license, a violation of FCC regulations which required the distance be 25 miles (40 km) or less.[17] WGRQ acknowledged that its studios were 28.8 miles (46.3 km) from the center of Colonial Beach, Virginia, but successfully asserted that it was in compliance with the law because "unique terrain" kept the studio location within the station's "principal community contour".[17][18]

In August 2005, Telemedia Broadcasting applied for a "main studio waiver" which would have allowed them to relocate their broadcast studios even farther from the center of Colonial Beach.[19] The new site, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) farther from the city center, would have allowed the station to eliminate a 100-foot tower built for the studio-transmitter link, a point of contention with the Spotsylvania County Planning Commission.[20] The FCC denied this application on September 20, 2005.[19]

In January 2010, Telemedia Broadcasting applied to the FCC to change WGRQ's city of license from Colonial Beach to Fairview Beach, Virginia.[13][21] Fairview Beach is a census-designated place in King George County, Virginia, roughly 15 miles (24 km) WNW of Colonial Beach and significantly closer to the primary market of Fredericksburg. The FCC authorized the change on April 27, 2010.[21] On April 2, 2013, WGRQ received approval to begin transmitting from a tower located off U.S. Route 1 just south of Fredericksburg.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  2. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 2010 (PDF). ProQuest, LLC/Reed Publishing (Nederland), B.V. 2010. p. D-562. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Call Sign History". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  4. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WGRQ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^ "WGRQ Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "On Air". 95.9 WGRQ. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  7. ^ "Redskins Radio Broadcast Network". Washington Redskins. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Application Search Details (BPH-19830317AA)". FCC Media Bureau. December 7, 1984. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Application Search Details (BAPH-1985-1105GW)". FCC Media Bureau. March 17, 1986. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  10. ^ "Westmoreland Viewers Dislike Radio Station's TV Interference". Richmond Times-Dispatch. August 15, 1986. p. C5. Retrieved January 26, 2011.[dead link]
  11. ^ "Application Search Details (BLH-19860513KB)". FCC Media Bureau. November 16, 1987. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Application Search Details (BALH-19871120HG)". FCC Media Bureau. January 20, 1988. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  13. ^ a b "Fredericksburg". vartv.com. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  14. ^ "WGRQ-FM 95.9 Joins Virginia Football Radio Network" (Press release). VirginiaSports.com. September 2, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  15. ^ "Hokies, WGRQ-FM extend radio partnership" (Press release). Virginia Tech Hokies. April 21, 2003. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  16. ^ "Virginia Tech ISP Sports 2008 Football Affiliates" (PDF). Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati - FedEx Orange Bowl (Press release). Virginia Tech Hokies. January 1, 2009. p. 4. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  17. ^ a b "Memorandum Opinion and Order (EB-01-IH-0456)". FCC Enforcement Bureau. July 31, 2002. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  18. ^ Cole, Harry (October 5, 2010). "Longley-Rice Dependent Studio Site? No Prior Authorization? $7K, Please!". CommLawBlog. Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  19. ^ a b "Application Search Details (BSW-20050804ADU)". FCC Media Bureau. December 15, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  20. ^ "Request for Confirmation of Compliance (1800B3-MFW)" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. September 20, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  21. ^ a b "Application Search Details (BPH-20100120ACQ)". FCC Media Bureau. April 27, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  22. ^ "FM Broadcast Station License (BLH-20130306AAX)" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. April 2, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
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