WEPG

WEPG (104.9 FM and 910 AM, "104.9 The River") is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to South Pittsburg, Tennessee, United States. The station is owned by Spencer Travis Hickman and features local programming and syndicated programming from ABC News Radio.The station simulcasts on a co-located FM translator at 104.9 mHz, which is also licensed to South Pittsburg. [1]

WEPG
CitySouth Pittsburg, Tennessee
Branding104.9 The River
Slogan"The Best Country"
Frequency910 kHz
Translator(s)104.9 W285FW (South Pittsburg)
First air date1954
FormatCountry
Power5,000 watts (day)
95 watts (night)
ERP250 watts
ClassD
Facility ID40154
Transmitter coordinates35°0′57.00″N 85°42′0.00″W
Call sign meaningEaton P. Govan (founder and original owner's initials)
AffiliationsABC News Radio
OwnerTennessee Valley Broadcasting
(Spencer Travis Hickman)
Sister stationsWSDQ
Websitewww.theriver1049.com

History

WEPG went on the air in 1954 from studios and transmitting facilities located at Railroad and 3rd Streets in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, not far from the location of the present-day studios and transmitter. Application for the construction permit with the FCC was filed in June of 1953 by station engineer, Frank H. McIntosh, calling for a 500 watt facility to serve the valley. Owner and founder, Eaton P. Govan, Jr., launched the station under the business name of Marion County Broadcasting Service, Inc., to fill a void for a local to Marion County, Tennessee radio station. WEPG moved from its Railroad Street location in or around 1969 to its current location on Ash Avenue along the Tennessee River just in the shadow of local landmark, the Shelby Rhinehart Bridge 'aka' the "Big Blue Bridge" that spans the river connecting South Pittsburg to neighboring New Hope, Tennessee. WEPG utilizes the broadcast tower, which was erected sometime around 1968 or 1969, and which has a height of 255 feet (78 m). The tower and studios border the Tennessee River.

WEPG ownership changed several times throughout the years, with one of the owners eventually acquiring WSDQ in nearby Dunlap, Tennessee in 2002, which remains a sister-station of WEPG to this day.

Travis Hickman, present-day Owner and General Manager, has been with WEPG since 1982 and is the longest-tenured personality with the station. Other notable personalities from WEPG's past include David Carroll, Logan Carmichael, Rusty Brown, Mikey McCullough, Tommy Jett, Dave Daffron, Chris Goforth, Lucky Knott, Rob Hunter (Rex Holiday), Bob Collins, Mike Middleton, and a host of others throughout the years -- always giving them the boost to a successful and long career in radio and broadcasting.

As part of the format WEPG also filters in some Bluegrass from time to time. WEPG is a big supporter of "The Mother Church of Country Music." The world-famous Grand Ole Opry.

WEPG's popular morning "Swap & Shop" show has been a mainstay on the station since shortly after the station signed-on the air.

WEPG also offers its programming over local cable television on Charter (Spectrum) channel 197 and the iTV Chattanooga smart TV app, in addition to their 104.9 FM translator and the original 910 AM signal.

References
  1. "WEPG Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.



This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.