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WRVL

The Journey Flagship Station
Lynchburg, Virginia
Broadcast area	New River Valley
Frequency	88.3 MHz
Branding	The Journey
Programming
Format	Contemporary Christian music
Ownership
Owner	Liberty University
History
First air date	July 1981; 43 years ago (1981-07)
Call sign meaning	W Radio Victory Liberty (former branding)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	37249
Class	C1
Power	28,000 watts
HAAT	346 meters (1,135 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	37°11′50.0″N 79°21′7.0″W / 37.197222°N 79.351944°W / 37.197222; -79.351944
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	WRVL Webstream
Website	WRVL MyJourneyFM.com

WRVL (88.3 MHz) is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia, serving the New River Valley. WRVL is owned and operated by Liberty University and was founded by Jerry Falwell. It broadcasts a Christian Contemporary radio format known as "The Journey." The station is listener-supported and holds periodic fundraisers on the air. The studios and offices are on Candlers Mountain Road in Lynchburg.

WRVL has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 28,000 watts. The transmitter is on Uphill Trail in Altavista. Programming is also simulcast on 19 rebroadcasters and FM translators in Virginia and North Carolina.

History

Early years

WRVL signed on the air in July 1981; 43 years ago (1981-07). It had been powered at 100,000 watts, the maximum for most FM stations in the U.S. but on a shorter tower than it uses today. It originally broadcast Christian talk and teaching programs, including those of founder and televangelist Jerry Falwell, who started Liberty University. WRVL faced a series of technical problems in its early years revolving around interference to television reception near the station site.

In December 1981, the Federal Communications Commission ordered the station to greatly reduce its effective radiated power (ERP) from 100,000 to 5,000 watts. In 1982, its tower was brought down by vandals. While the station was off the air, viewers reported better reception of WDBJ Channel 7, the CBS network affiliate for Roanoke-Lynchburg. WRVL later moved to a new tower in Altavista, reducing interference with Channel 7.

WVTW subchannel

In 2009, WRVL broke ground by forming a partnership with NPR broadcaster 89.1 WVTW, owned by Virginia Tech. This allowed WRVL to repeat Victory FM programming on WVTW's HD-3 digital subchannel in Charlottesville, Virginia. This is noteworthy because it makes WVTW perhaps one of few HD radio stations in the nation funded by the federal Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP).

On December 26, 2014, WRVL dropped nearly all its Christian talk and teaching programs, switching to a Contemporary Christian music format. The station's moniker also changed from "Victory Radio Network" to "The Journey". It uses the slogan "Life, Hope, Music."

Simulcasts

"The Journey" is carried on several stations and HD Radio digital subchannels in Virginia and North Carolina.

Notes:

1. ^ HD Radio subchannel
2. Added September 2015

Translators

"The Journey" is relayed by additional translators to widen its broadcast area. W236BO at 95.1 served Burlington, North Carolina prior to 2013, until WPCM took it over.

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for WRVL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. "WRVL Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
3. Radio-Locator.com/WRVL-FM
4. "FCC threatens Falwell station". Kingsport Times-News. UPI. July 15, 1981. p. 9A. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
5. "FCC orders station to reduce power". The Leader. Associated Press. December 17, 1981. p. 11. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
6. "Vandals Fell Rev. Falwell's 138-Foot-Tall Radio Tower". Clarion-Ledger. Associated Press. June 1, 1982. p. 5A. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
7. "TV reception improves since WRVL tower down". The Leader. June 4, 1981. p. 9. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
8. 1n grant year 2007, the PTFP funded a project to increase the power of WVTW, extending its signal coverage to about 193,000 additional persons.2007 PTFP Radio Awards, retrieved 2010-08-17

External links

• The Journey Online
• Facility details for Facility ID 37249 (WRVL) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WRVL in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

• 1981 establishments in Virginia
• Contemporary Christian radio stations in the United States
• Christian radio stations in Virginia
• Radio stations established in 1981
• College radio stations in Virginia
• Liberty University
• Lynchburg, Virginia