WOPI (AM)

WOPI is a Sports formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Bristol, Virginia, serving Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee.[2] WOPI is owned and operated by Glenwood Communications Corporation, though subsidiary Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation.[3]

WOPI
CityBristol, Virginia
Broadcast areaBristol, Virginia
Bristol, Tennessee
Frequency1490 AM kHz
Branding"ESPN Tri-Cities"
Programming
FormatSports
AffiliationsESPN Radio
Ownership
OwnerGlenwood Communications Corporation
(Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation)
Sister stationsWKPT, WKTP, WRZK, WTFM
History
First air date1929
Call sign meaningWatch Our Popularity Increase[1]
Technical information
Facility ID31405
ClassC
Power1,000 Watts day and night
Transmitter coordinates36°35′45.0″N 82°9′42.0″W
Links
WebcastWOPI Webstream
WebsiteWOPI Online

History

WOPI signed on June 15, 1929 at State and 22nd Streets in Bristol, Tennessee as the first radio station in the Tri-Cities. W.A. Wilson, former chief telegraph operator for Western Union's Bristol office, came up with the plan for a radio station when he spent several years selling and installing radios. His son James C. Wilson worked at WOPI and later bought the station which is now WJCW. An early show on the station was "WOPI Jamboree", which featured live country music. In the 1940s WOPI and WKPT formed a network called "the Sister City Network" for broadcasting local information.[1]

WOPI-FM signed on Christmas Day 1946 as the area's first FM station. It was sold to the owner of WKYE in the 1960s and is now WXBQ-FM.[1]

In 1966, owner Tri-Cities Broadcasting Company successfully requested that the FCC change the city of license to Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia.[1]

In 1990, WOPI was bankrupt and Joe Morrell bought the station. Morrell wanted to increase the amount of country music on the station, bringing it back to its roots. Later, WOPI joined the WKPT network.[1]

Translator

In addition to the main station, WOPI is relayed by an FM translator to widen its broadcast area.[4]

Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseFacility
ID		ERP
(W)		Height
(m (ft))		ClassFCC info
W251CJ98.1 FMBristol, Tennessee27506250 watts70 m (230 ft)DFCC

References
  1. "History of WOPI-AM". Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  2. "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  3. "WOPI Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  4. "W251CJ Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.


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