WBFJ (AM)

WBFJ 1550 AM is a radio station broadcasting a Christian teaching and talk format. Licensed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, it serves the Piedmont Triad area and is currently owned by Triad Family Network, Inc.

WBFJ-AM
Broadcast areaPiedmont Triad
Frequency1550 kHz AM
Programming
FormatChristian Teaching and Talk
AffiliationsUSA Radio
Ownership
OwnerTriad Family Network, Inc.
WBFJ-FM
History
Former call signs
WPEG
WFCM
WPGD
Call sign meaning
We Broadcast For Jesus
Technical information
Facility ID73708
ClassD
Power1,000 watts day
Transmitter coordinates
36°06′33″N 80°14′44″W
Translator(s)103.5 MHz W278AM (Sedalia)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitezktdad.wixsite.com/stereo1550

History

The station began broadcasting in 1960 from a transmitter and studios on Northwest Blvd. in Winston-Salem with the call letters WPEG (based on the name of then-owner Nick Reisenweaver's wife, Peggy). The theme song was "Peg O' My Heart".[1] The station broadcast a popular music and light classical format, mostly instrumental with "lush strings and a lot of show tunes".[2] WPEG became the area's first country music station in 1963,[3] also playing gospel music. A plan to move to 1560 AM and increase to 10,000 watts was never carried out.[2] In October 1966, Suburban Radio Group of Belmont, North Carolina, bought WPEG and changed its call letters to WFCM.[4] After its 1971 sale to Rev. Robert A. Mayer, Pastor D.W. Long of Thomasville, North Carolina, became manager[5] and WFCM switched to Southern Gospel and preaching.

The station was previously owned by Forsyth Broadcasting and Quality Media.

In 1979, after its sale to Word of Life Broadcasting, Inc., the station changed its callsign to WBFJ, moved its studios to Trenwest Drive in Winston-Salem, and began playing a mix of Contemporary Christian music (CCM) and evangelical Christian and Charismatic teaching & talk. In the early 1990s, WBFJ moved its studios to the current location on North Trade Street in Winston-Salem and began broadcasting in AM stereo, while retaining the same format. In September 1994, sister station WBFJ-FM, 89.3 Winston-Salem, signed on the air with a mostly-music CCM format;[6] the AM station expanded its Christian teaching-and-talk lineup, dropping most of its music blocks but retaining its stereo signal. WBFJ 1550 reverted to AM mono broadcasting in March 2010.

Around 2016, WBFJ aired Dave Ramsey's financial advice show.,[7] but the show is no longer heard on the station.

Effective November 23, 2016, Word of Life Broadcasting was dissolved and WBFJ was acquired by Triad Family Network, Inc., which also owns WBFJ-FM.

References
  1. Sandra Whisnant, "Radio Station Is Named for 'Peg of His Heart," Winston-Salem Journal, November 6, 1960.
  2. Barron, Richard (April 10, 1966). "Piano Music From Prison Thrilled Early Radio Fans Here". Winston-Salem Journal. p. J8.
  3. "WPEG Is Changing Its Format," Twin City Sentinel, February 16, 1963.
  4. "Familiar Voice Returns to Radio," Winston-Salem Journal, November 14, 1966.
  5. "New Owner of WFCM Takes Over," Winston-Salem Journal, October 6, 1971.
  6. "Station Provides Christian Content", Greensboro News & Record, February 7, 1997.
  7. Clodfelter, Tim (February 10, 2016). "Ask SAM". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved March 3, 2016.


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