WTOF
Encyclopedia
WTOF is a radio station
licensed to serve Bay Minette, Alabama
. The station is owned by Buddy Tucker Association, Inc. It airs a Christian radio
format including syndicated Christian talk and Christian ministry
plus Southern Gospel
music.
, under the ownership of the Southwest Alabama Broadcasting Company. The 1,000 watt
daytime-only station broadcast on a frequency of 1150 kHz using the callsign WBCA. Faulkner Radio Inc. acquired the station in December 1958. The WBCA callsign was said to stand for "Wonderful Baldwin County Alabama".
In 1967, the Federal Communications Commission
granted the station a construction permit
to change frequencies to the current 1110 kHz and increase broadcast power to 10,000 watts.
In March 1986, after nearly three decades of continuous ownership, Faulkner Radio Inc., reached an agreement to transfer the broadcast license for WBCA to Faulkner University
. The deal was approved by the FCC on April 2, 1986, and the transaction was consummated on August 4, 1986. In March 1987, Faulkner University agreed to transfer the broadcast license for this station to Faulkner-Phillips Media, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on April 15, 1987, and the transaction was consummated on May 22, 1987.
In October 1994, Gordon F. Earls Radio, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Gaston Monroe. The deal was approved by the FCC on December 5, 1994, and the transaction was consummated on January 6, 1995.
In April 1998, Gaston Monroe agreed to sell this station to Southern Media Communications, Inc., for a reported sale price of $91,200. The deal was approved by the FCC on June 1, 1998, and the transaction was consummated on July 22, 1998.
In March 2006, Southern Media Communications, Inc., made a deal to sell this station to Gulf Coast Broadcasting, Inc., as part of a three-station deal valued at $550,001. The deal was approved by the FCC on October 18, 2006, but the transaction was never consummated and the stations stayed with Southern Media Communications.
In anticipation of the sale, the station was assigned the current WTOF call letters by the FCC on November 28, 2006. The WTOF call letters were previously used by a similarly-formatted religious radio station in Canton, Ohio
. That station also used the "Tower of Faith" branding.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to serve Bay Minette, Alabama
Bay Minette, Alabama
Bay Minette is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 7,820. According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had an population of about 7,726 people. The city is the county seat of Baldwin County...
. The station is owned by Buddy Tucker Association, Inc. It airs a Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
format including syndicated Christian talk and Christian ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
plus Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
music.
The beginning
This station first began licensed broadcasting on April 16, 19571957 in radio
The year 1957 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting history.-Events:*WCOW in St. Paul, Minnesota becomes WISK.*KNOC in Dallas, Texas becomes a full time Rhythm and blues station, the first station in the market to exclusively do so....
, under the ownership of the Southwest Alabama Broadcasting Company. The 1,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
daytime-only station broadcast on a frequency of 1150 kHz using the callsign WBCA. Faulkner Radio Inc. acquired the station in December 1958. The WBCA callsign was said to stand for "Wonderful Baldwin County Alabama".
In 1967, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
granted the station a construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
to change frequencies to the current 1110 kHz and increase broadcast power to 10,000 watts.
In March 1986, after nearly three decades of continuous ownership, Faulkner Radio Inc., reached an agreement to transfer the broadcast license for WBCA to Faulkner University
Faulkner University
Faulkner University is a private Christian university, located in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, and affiliated with the Church of Christ. The University was founded in 1942 as Montgomery Bible School. In 1953 the school's name was changed to Alabama Christian College . In 1965, the college was moved to...
. The deal was approved by the FCC on April 2, 1986, and the transaction was consummated on August 4, 1986. In March 1987, Faulkner University agreed to transfer the broadcast license for this station to Faulkner-Phillips Media, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on April 15, 1987, and the transaction was consummated on May 22, 1987.
The 1990s
In May 1990, Faulkner-Phillips Media, Inc., contracted to sell this station to Lake Area Radio, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 10, 1990, and the transaction was consummated on May 22, 1990. In August 1990, Lake Area Radio, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Gordon F. Earls Radio, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on September 27, 1990, and the transaction was consummated on October 5, 1990.In October 1994, Gordon F. Earls Radio, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Gaston Monroe. The deal was approved by the FCC on December 5, 1994, and the transaction was consummated on January 6, 1995.
In April 1998, Gaston Monroe agreed to sell this station to Southern Media Communications, Inc., for a reported sale price of $91,200. The deal was approved by the FCC on June 1, 1998, and the transaction was consummated on July 22, 1998.
In March 2006, Southern Media Communications, Inc., made a deal to sell this station to Gulf Coast Broadcasting, Inc., as part of a three-station deal valued at $550,001. The deal was approved by the FCC on October 18, 2006, but the transaction was never consummated and the stations stayed with Southern Media Communications.
The present
In November 2006, Southern Media Communications, Inc., then agreed to sell this station to Buddy Tucker Association, Inc., for a reported sale price of $300,000. The deal was approved by the FCC on January 6, 2007, and the transaction was consummated on January 11, 2007.In anticipation of the sale, the station was assigned the current WTOF call letters by the FCC on November 28, 2006. The WTOF call letters were previously used by a similarly-formatted religious radio station in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. That station also used the "Tower of Faith" branding.