WKRR (92.3 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Asheboro, North Carolina in the Piedmont Triad radio market.[3] It broadcasts a classic rock radio format, branded as Rock 92, and is the Triad's affiliate for the Carolina Panthers Radio Network. WKRR is owned by Dick Broadcasting, along with WKZL 107.5 KZL in Winston-Salem. Both stations broadcast from studios and offices on East Lewis Street in Greensboro. The transmitter is off Island Ford Road in Randleman, North Carolina (35°50′0.0″N 79°50′1.0″W / 35.833333°N 79.833611°W / 35.833333; -79.833611).[4]

WKRR
Broadcast areaPiedmont Triad
Frequency92.3 MHz
BrandingRock 92
Programming
FormatClassic rock
AffiliationsCarolina Panthers Radio Network
Ownership
Owner
  • Dick Broadcasting
  • (Dick Broadcasting Company of Tennessee[1])
WKZL
History
First air date
November 1948 (as WGWR-FM)
Former call signs
  • WGWR-FM (1948–1973)
  • WCSE (1973–1984)
  • WRLT (1984–1985)
Former frequencies
107.9 MHz (1948)
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID16892
ClassC0
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT393 meters (1,289 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
35°49′59.5″N 79°50′1.1″W / 35.833194°N 79.833639°W / 35.833194; -79.833639 (WKRR)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websiterock92.com

History

edit

In November 1948, WGWR-FM signed on as the sister station to WGWR (1260 AM). At first, WGWR-FM simulcast WGWR. From the late 1960s until 1984, the station played country music with the WCSE call sign. On April 4, 1984, the call sign was changed to WRLT.[5] It played a "light" soft adult contemporary format.

The station's call sign was changed to WKRR on October 11, 1985.[5] FM pioneer James Dick bought the station and made his son, Allen, station manager. Under Allen's watch, it became one of the highest-rated stations in the Triad. Allen took over the company after his father retired in 1992.[6] Though WSEZ was already playing album oriented rock (AOR) when Rock 92 started, that station did not last.[7] WKRR evolved to classic rock in the early 1990s,[citation needed] changing its name to Classic Rock 92 when other rock stations began competing.[7]

Dick Broadcasting sold off almost all of its stations to Cumulus Media in 2000, but retained WKRR and WKZL.[6] However, years later, the licensee name still reads "Dick Broadcasting Company of Tennessee".[1]

Personalities

edit

WKRR aired the syndicated John Boy and Billy morning show for three years, ending January 1, 1999. John Boy and Billy are syndicated from WRFX in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The station is home to the 2 Guys Named Chris Show, which airs every morning and evening on weekdays. The show is currently hosted by Chris Kelly, Chris Demm, "Biggie", and Dave Aiken. 2 Guys Named Chris is one of the most popular radio programs in central North Carolina.[8]

Dave Aiken was fired on July 31, 2024 as a part of significant layoffs that occurred throughout Dick Broadcasting stations in the Mid-Atlantic.

WKRR is the Triad's affiliate for the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.

Broadcast Signal

edit

WKRR is short-spaced to WXLK K92 (licensed to serve Roanoke, Virginia) as they operate on the same channel and the distance between the stations' transmitters is 96 miles as determined by FCC rules.[9] The minimum distance between a Class C0 FM radio station (WKRR) and a Class C FM radio station (WXLK) operating on the same frequency according to current FCC rules is 175 miles.[10] Both stations use directional antennas to reduce their signals toward each other.[4][11] Even with this restriction, WKRR provides at least grade B coverage as far west as Charlotte, as far east as Raleigh and Fort Bragg, as far south as Rockingham and as far north as the Virginia border.[12]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "WKRR Facility Record". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WKRR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "60 dBu Service Contour for WKRR, Asheboro, NC, 92.3 MHz BMLH-19961120KD". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "FM Query Results for WKRR". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Call Sign History [WKRR]". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "The History of Dick Broadcasting". dickbroadcasting.com. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Sprouse, Catherine (September 22, 1994). "Rock 'n a hard place". Triad Business News. p. 1.
  8. ^ "Radio Stations". 2 Guys Named Chris. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  9. ^ "Reference points and distance computations. 47 CFR § 73.208". Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  10. ^ "Minimum distance separation between stations. 47 CFR §73.207 (b)(1)" (PDF). Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "FM Query Results for WXLK". fcc.gov. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "WKRR Coverage Map". radio-locator.com. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
edit