 | |
| Broadcast area | Tri-Cities,VA/TN |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 870kHz |
| Branding | 96.3 The Possum |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic country |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Kenneth Clyde Hill |
| WABN,WHCB,WHGG | |
| History | |
First air date | 1984 |
Call sign meaning | WPoWerTalk (former format) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 42652 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 10,000watts daytime only |
| Translator(s) | 96.3MHz - (W242CQ, Colonial Heights) 100.7 MHz - (W264BY,Kingsport) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 963thepossum |
WPWT (870 AM) is aclassic country music formattedbroadcastradio station licensed toColonial Heights, Tennessee, serving theTri-Cities,VA/TN area. WPWT is owned and operated by Kenneth Clyde Hill.
This station signed on the air in 1984. Prior to its sign-on, it had been assigned the call letters WIKV by the FCC. Since these calls were deemed by constructing supervisor Dave Murray (husband of Martha Murray, the original licensee) to be too close to the calls of a prominent FM in the market, WIKQ, the calls were changed, to WPRQ. All this transpired before the station ever officially hit the air.
The original power was 5,000 watts. This was increased later to 10,000 watts. The signal, which shares the clear channel of 870 kHz with Class-A 50,000-wattWWL inNew Orleans, was licensed as daytime-only, which it remains today.
The original format was contemporary Christian hit music. Other formats have followed, including news/talk and religious talk. In the late 1980s/early 1990s, the station was dark (silent) for a time, but was sold and returned to the air. Its current owner, Kenneth Clyde Hill, owns other stations as well.
The transmitter was originally a single tower nearWarrior's Path State Park inColonial Heights, Tennessee, which is south ofKingsport, Tennessee. It remains there today.
The original studio was in a residence, inColonial Heights, Tennessee, which was owned by Dave and Martha Murray.
In November 2017, WPWT rebranded as "96.3 The Possum" (simulcasting on FM translators W242CQ 96.3 Colonial Heights and W264BY 100.7 Kingsport).[2]
Dr. Kenneth C. Hill is the owner of WPWT and sister stationsWHCB andWHGG.
36°27′40″N82°27′12″W / 36.46111°N 82.45333°W /36.46111; -82.45333
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