Chamber News

WHEO Radio Broadcasting on the FM airwaves for the first time

STUART, VIRGINIA -- After more than three years planning and executing, WHEO Radio in Stuart will begin broadcasting on the FM airwaves for the first time in station history Monday, June third.

For more information, contact:

WHEO Radio
(276) 694-3114

wheo1270am@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STUART, VIRGINIA -- After more than three years planning and executing, WHEO Radio in Stuart will begin broadcasting on the FM airwaves for the first time in station history Monday, June third.

WHEO Radio 1270 AM was first established in Patrick County in 1960 and went through various owners and formats before closing its doors in April 2015. Realizing the community was missing out on daily news, information, events, obituaries and more, a group was formed to purchase the radio station and turn it into a non-profit focused on serving its community and providing quality musical entertainment. WHEO resumed broadcasting September 1, 2015, just hours before the station license expired. Its current format, spotlighting the greatest hits from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, covers three generations of music most of us grew up with.

When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) shifted its focus to AM Revitalization, WHEO applied for a construction permit to begin building an FM station. A three-year construction permit was issued and station engineer Lemont Bryant was able to complete the engineering work in under 18 months. WHEO then applied for the FM license, which was granted this spring.

The FM signal on 92.7 will simulcast the AM programming, which means you will hear the same programming on AM and FM dials during the daytime hours. When the AM station goes off air at sunset, listeners who haven't already changed over to FM can do so, and continue enjoying a host of nationally syndicated programs.

Although WHEO Radio has already been providing round-the-clock programming online at wheoradio.com and tunein.com, as well as through Apple and Android apps, the addition of the FM broadcasting will allow WHEO to share its programming with a broader audience more attuned to listening to radio on the FM dial.

WHEO was able to make FM possible through the generous support of its community. The station conducted two fundraising raffles in the early stages of planning, which raised a sufficient amount of money to get the project off the ground. Raffle ticket purchases and donations from local individuals, businesses and the Patrick County Tourism Department aided considerably in making FM in Stuart a reality.