WVFJ-FM
Encyclopedia
WVFJ-FM is a contemporary Christian radio station that serves southwestern metro Atlanta
and western middle Georgia, and has listeners in the nearby metro areas of Columbus, Georgia
and Auburn, Alabama
, and to some extent west of Macon, Georgia
. Its city of license
is Manchester, Georgia
.
to WFDR
1370, which still shares Manchester as its city of license. The stations' broadcast callsign is a reference to former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
, who had his Little White House
vacation home in nearby Warm Springs, Georgia
. The callsign was issued on the first day of December 1978. On the last day of October 1981 it became WQCK, and two years later adopted its current callsign on July 7.
On February 13, 1981, Atlanta businessman Bill Watkins and his wife Joyce founded Provident Broadcasting Company in order to create a broadcast ministry
for the benefit of Christian believers and those seeking spiritual inspiration. WVFJ, then called "The Joy FM", was their first station in this new ministry. In 1998, J93.3 moved its radio studios from the small community of Manchester, Georgia
into Atlanta market as metro Atlanta's first contemporary-Christian radio station. Despite the move, the station still broadcasts from its tower near Manchester in the area north-northwest of Greenville, Georgia
.
The station was owned and operated by Provident Broadcasting Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins Associated Industries, Incorporated. Their stated mission is to provide wholesome family programming filled with joy, hope, and encouragement.
In March 2011, WVFJ became officially owned by Radio Training Network. One of the changes under new ownership is that after 30 years, WVFJ is now-listener supported instead of advertiser supported. In May, WVFJ is expected to add 11,000 watts to its ffective radiated power|power}} and be officially a noncommercial station. Through HD radio
and broadcast translators, WVFJ is planning to make other improvements to their signal in the Atlanta media market
, although the power increase actually adds a very minimal amount of broadcast range.
The station is currently retransmitted on W257AA 99.3 in LaGrange
to the west, W270AS 101.9 in Carrollton
to the northwest, and W231AO 94.1 in Columbus to the southwest, all located southwest of Atlanta in west Georgia. It is also listed as the primary station for 120 other translator applications filed by Edgewater Broadcasting in 2003, in what was called the "Great Translator Invasion".http://cdbs.recnet.net:8080/fmq.php?call=wvfj-fm All of these are in western Georgia and eastern Alabama
.
On December 1, 2011, J93 became The Joy FM. http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2011/11/29/j93-3-becomes-the-joy-fm-dec-1-with-new-morning-show/
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
and western middle Georgia, and has listeners in the nearby metro areas of Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
and Auburn, Alabama
Auburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2010 population of 53,380. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area...
, and to some extent west of Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
. Its city of license
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
is Manchester, Georgia
Manchester, Georgia
Manchester is a city located in Meriwether and Talbot Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, although primarily in Meriwether. The population was 3,769 at the 2010 census.-Demographics:...
.
History
The station was originally known as WFDR-FM, the sister stationSister station
In broadcasting, sister stations or sister channels are radio and/or television stations operated by the same ownership....
to WFDR
WFDR (AM)
WFDR AM 1370 is a radio station broadcasting a gospel music format. It is licensed to serve Manchester, Georgia, USA, south-southwest of metro Atlanta. The station is currently owned by Ploener Radio Group, LLC....
1370, which still shares Manchester as its city of license. The stations' broadcast callsign is a reference to former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, who had his Little White House
Little White House
The Little White House, in the Warm Springs Historic District in Warm Springs, Georgia, was Franklin Delano Roosevelt's personal retreat. He first came to Warm Springs for treatment of his paralytic illness, and liked the area so much that, as Governor of New York, he had a home built on nearby...
vacation home in nearby Warm Springs, Georgia
Warm Springs, Georgia
Warm Springs is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 478 at the 2010 census.-History:Warm Springs first came to prominence in the 19th century as a spa town, due to its mineral springs which flow constantly at nearly 32 °C...
. The callsign was issued on the first day of December 1978. On the last day of October 1981 it became WQCK, and two years later adopted its current callsign on July 7.
On February 13, 1981, Atlanta businessman Bill Watkins and his wife Joyce founded Provident Broadcasting Company in order to create a broadcast 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...
for the benefit of Christian believers and those seeking spiritual inspiration. WVFJ, then called "The Joy FM", was their first station in this new ministry. In 1998, J93.3 moved its radio studios from the small community of Manchester, Georgia
Manchester, Georgia
Manchester is a city located in Meriwether and Talbot Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, although primarily in Meriwether. The population was 3,769 at the 2010 census.-Demographics:...
into Atlanta market as metro Atlanta's first contemporary-Christian radio station. Despite the move, the station still broadcasts from its tower near Manchester in the area north-northwest of Greenville, Georgia
Greenville, Georgia
Greenville is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 946 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Meriwether County. southwest of Atlanta...
.
The station was owned and operated by Provident Broadcasting Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Watkins Associated Industries, Incorporated. Their stated mission is to provide wholesome family programming filled with joy, hope, and encouragement.
In March 2011, WVFJ became officially owned by Radio Training Network. One of the changes under new ownership is that after 30 years, WVFJ is now-listener supported instead of advertiser supported. In May, WVFJ is expected to add 11,000 watts to its ffective radiated power|power}} and be officially a noncommercial station. Through HD radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
and broadcast translators, WVFJ is planning to make other improvements to their signal in the Atlanta media market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
, although the power increase actually adds a very minimal amount of broadcast range.
The station is currently retransmitted on W257AA 99.3 in LaGrange
LaGrange, Georgia
LaGrange is a city in Troup County, Georgia, United States. It is named after the country estate near Paris of the Marquis de La Fayette, who visited the area in 1825. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census...
to the west, W270AS 101.9 in Carrollton
Carrollton, Georgia
Carrollton is a city in West Georgia, United States, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,388...
to the northwest, and W231AO 94.1 in Columbus to the southwest, all located southwest of Atlanta in west Georgia. It is also listed as the primary station for 120 other translator applications filed by Edgewater Broadcasting in 2003, in what was called the "Great Translator Invasion".http://cdbs.recnet.net:8080/fmq.php?call=wvfj-fm All of these are in western Georgia and eastern Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
On December 1, 2011, J93 became The Joy FM. http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2011/11/29/j93-3-becomes-the-joy-fm-dec-1-with-new-morning-show/