W251AO, WOXL-HD2, 98.1 the River is a Triple-A[2] low-power radio station in Asheville, North Carolina. It is operated by Asheville Radio Group, a subsidiary of Saga Communications, owner of WOXL-FM, WISE and WTMT.[3] In addition to the over-the-air signal, The River is also heard on WOXL's second HD Radio channel, where it began.

W251AO
Relays WOXL-HD2, Biltmore Forest
Broadcast areaAsheville, North Carolina
Frequency98.1 MHz
Branding98.1 The River
Programming
FormatTriple-A
Ownership
Owner
  • Saga Communications
  • (Saga Communications of North Carolina, LLC)
WISE, WOXL-FM, WTMT
History
First air date
Oct. 1, 2008
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID137991
ClassD
ERP250 watts
HAAT326.1 meters (1,070 ft)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Website981theriver.com

History

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Originally, 98.1 was a translator for WISE.[4] The River signed on October 1, 2008, with 10,000 songs in a row. Artists include Dave Matthews, Bob Marley, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Indigo Girls, R.E.M., U2, Norah Jones and Jack Johnson as well as less familiar performers such as Ray LaMontagne, Sara Bareilles, The John Butler Trio, My Morning Jacket, G. Love & Special Sauce and Ingrid Michaelson.[3][5][6]

General manager Bob Bolak described the station as being designed for those who do not like radio. Listeners of The River, he said, want quality music, both old and new. Brad Savage of WCNR in Charlottesville, Virginia acted as consultant. The first songs played were "Take Me to the River" by Talking Heads, "Radio Nowhere" by Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M.'s "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)."[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for W251AO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ a b "Home - Triple a Radio". www.triplearadio.com. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  3. ^ a b Tony Kiss, "New Radio Station on the Air," Asheville Citizen-Times, October 1, 2008.
  4. ^ Archived 2007-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Archived 2008-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Archived 2008-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
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