 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | |
| Frequency | 105.5MHz |
| Branding | 105.5 WINC-FM (pronounced "Wink FM") |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Hot adult contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WINC | |
| History | |
First air date | August 13, 1979 (45 years ago) (1979-08-13) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | Winchester |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 60363 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,000 watts |
| HAAT | 91 meters (299 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°7′3.0″N77°58′21.0″W / 39.117500°N 77.972500°W /39.117500; -77.972500 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | talkwinchester |
WINC-FM (105.5FM) is ahot adult contemporary-formatted radio station licensed toBerryville, Virginia, serving the NorthernShenandoah Valley.[3] WINC-FM is owned by Darrin Jones, through Euclid Avenue Properties, LLC.[4][5]
In November 2020, the then-WXBN flipped tohot adult contemporary, assuming the hot adult contemporary format and "WINC-FM" (pronounced "Wink FM") branding previously heard on theWinchester-based 92.5 frequency (which was in the process of being sold to theEducational Media Foundation).[6][7] The station would take over the WINC-FM legacy callsign on December 29, 2020.[1]
On April 30, 2021, Centennial Broadcasting announced it was selling WINC-FM and sister stationWZFC toFairfax, Virginia-based Metro Radio, Inc. for $225,000.[8][9] Fellow sister stationWINC was not included in the sale.[8][9] Allen B. Shaw, Centennial's president and CEO, said in a May 2021 interview withThe Winchester Star that Metro Radio, Inc. had had insured Shaw "they do not intend to" change the format of WINC-FM and WZFC.[10] Shaw further said Metro thought WZFC's format was "probably the best format for the Winchester market" for ad revenue.[10]
On June 30, long-time morning show host Barry Lee signed off after 37 years at the station.[11] Hours later, long-time afternoon host Paula Kidwell would also sign off.[12] The sale of WINC-FM and sisterWKDV-FM was completed the same day.[13]
WINC-FM was acquired by funeral home operator Darrin Jones, through his Euclid Avenue Properties, effective December 12, 2022.[4] Following the sale's completion, on December 16, 2022, WINC-FM began stunting withChristmas music, ahead of an announcement to be made on January 5, 2023, at 10:55 am.[14] At that time, the station relaunched its hot adult contemporary format from a new Winchester studio; Metro Radio had operated the station from Fairfax, with the intent of servingLeesburg.[15] WINC-FM is operated in conjunction with its former AM sister station, which had been sold in the interim to Todd Bartley's Colonial Radio Group of Williamsport and renamed WZFC; the arrangement saw the AM station reclaim its former WINC call sign.[15]