WJTB-FM (95.3 FM) – branded GNN Radio – is a commercial Christian radio station licensed to serve South Congaree, South Carolina. Owned by Augusta Radio Fellowship Institute, Inc., the station services the Columbia metropolitan area and surrounding Midlands region as an affiliate of GNNradio. The WJTB-FM studios are located in Downtown Columbia while the station transmitter resides in Red Bank. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WJTB-FM broadcasts over three HD Radio channels, and is available online. The WJTB-HD2 digital subchannel, which airs the "Worship and Word Network", and the WJTB-HD3 digital subchannel, which airs the "Millennial-FM Network", also simulcast over low-power FM translators.[2]

WJTB-FM
Broadcast areaColumbia metropolitan area
Frequency95.3 MHz
BrandingGNN Radio
Programming
FormatChristian radio
AffiliationsGNNradio
Ownership
OwnerAugusta Radio Fellowship Institute, Inc.
History
First air date
October 29, 1993; 31 years ago (1993-10-29)
Former call signs
WFMV (1993–2019)
WFMV-FM (2019–2020)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID24376
ClassA
ERP6,000 watts
HAAT93.7 meters
Transmitter coordinates
33°53′58″N 81°13′29″W / 33.89944°N 81.22472°W / 33.89944; -81.22472
Translator(s)HD2: 105.1 W286CT (Columbia)
Links
Public license information
Websitegnnradio.org

History

edit

In early 1991, WKWQ, later known as WZMJ, changed frequencies from 95.3 to 93.1, leaving the 95.3 frequency open. The frequency was reallocated to South Congaree by the FCC and after two years, the license was awarded to Glory Communications, a group led by former WWDM sales manager/media specialist Alex Snipe. The station signed on the air on October 29, 1993 as WFMV. It carried an urban contemporary gospel format.[3] The call letters, WFMV, had been previously assigned to an FM radio station in Blairstown, New Jersey.

WFMV offered mostly contemporary black gospel music with some classic artists such as CeCe Winans, Smokie Norful, Mary Mary, Shirley Caesar, John P. Kee, The Georgia Mass Choir, and Kirk Franklin. Informational programming included The Morning Inspirations, Wellness Watch, Real Power (for voters), Kid's Korner and Watchdog (for consumers); on weekends, I-95 covered community issues.

WFMV was part of the Glory Radio Network along with WTUA, WLJI, WPDT and WSPX.[4] WFMV was named Southeast Music Award station of the year in 1995.[4] On March 24, 1997, WLJI, in Summerton, South Carolina, signed on the air as a full-time simulcast of WFMV.

The station changed its call sign to WFMV-FM on November 13, 2019, which allowed WGCV (620 AM) to take the WFMV call letters.

On February 11, 2020, the sale of WFMV-FM by Glory Communications to Augusta Radio Fellowship Institute, Inc. for $2 million was consummated. The station simultaneously switched its call letters to WJTB-FM and began carrying programming from the Good News Network. The Urban Gospel format heard on WFMV-FM had moved to WFMV earlier in the month.

FM translators

edit

WJTB-FM's HD-2 subchannel feeds FM translator station W286CT (105.1 FM), airing the "Worship & Word Network."[2]

Broadcast translator for WJTB-FM
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W286CT 105.1 FM Columbia, South Carolina 147585 99 70.5 m (231 ft) D 33°57′35″N 81°02′27″W / 33.95972°N 81.04083°W / 33.95972; -81.04083 LMS

References

edit
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WJTB-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ a b Venta, Lance (2020-02-03). "WFMV Relocates Following Sale". radioinsight. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  3. ^ "Contemporary Gospel Station Makes Debut Today", The State, October 29, 1993.
  4. ^ a b "About Glory Communications, Inc". Retrieved 2011-10-12.
edit