WXLK

WXLK (92.3 MHz "K92") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Roanoke, Virginia, serving the New River Valley and Southwest Virginia.[1] WXLK airs a Top 40 (CHR) radio format and is owned and operated by Mel Wheeler, Inc.[2]

WXLK

City	Roanoke, Virginia
Broadcast area	New River Valley Southwest Virginia
Frequency	92.3 FM MHz (HD Radio)
Branding	K92
Slogan	"Virginia's Number One Hit Music Station"
Programming
Format	Contemporary Hit Radio HD2: Active rock "The Rock Channel"
Ownership
Owner	Mel Wheeler, Inc.
Sister stations	WFIR, WLNI, WSLC-FM, WSLQ, WVBB, WPLY, WVBE-FM
History
First air date	December 17, 1960 (as WLRJ)
Former call signs	WLRJ (1960–1973) WLRG (1973–1980)
Technical information
Facility ID	9692
Class	C
Power	100,000 watts
HAAT	605 meters (1,985 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	37°11′51.0″N 80°9′10.0″W
Translator(s)	See § HD Radio
Links
Webcast	WXLK Webstream WXLK-HD2 Webstream
Website	K92radio.com therockchannelradio.com (HD2)

WXLK's studios and offices are on Electric Road in Roanoke. Its transmitter is on Honeysuckle Road in Bent Mountain.[3] WXLK broadcasts in the HD Radio format.[4] The station runs at 100,000 watts effective radiated power (ERP) on a tower 1,985 feet in height above average terrain (HAAT). The Class C station can be heard into North Carolina and West Virginia. At times it can be picked up more than 200 miles away.

History

On December 17, 1960, the station first signed on as WLRJ.[5] It was owned by Lee Hartman & Sons, a company headquartered in Roanoke that still provides audio and video services, although it no longer owns a radio station.[6] WLRJ ran at only 2,800 watts, a fraction of its current power.

The station specialized in what it called "fine music" including middle of the road artists. WLRJ was an affiliate of the ABC-FM Network.[7] It was a rare "stand alone" FM station, with no AM counterpart.

In 1972, the station was bought by CEBE Investments.[8] CEBE switched the format to beautiful music. With the new call letters WLRG, the station called itself "Large Radio - Always Beautiful."

Contemporary hit radio "K92" debuted January 1, 1980. Future WVTF general manager Glenn Gleixner, then a DJ at the station, came up with the branding and callsign – picking K because he believed it was the most memorable letter, and including an X in homage to WIXL in Newton, New Jersey, where he previously worked.[9]

In 1997, the station was acquired by its current owner, Mel Wheeler, Inc. The price tag was $7.5 million for both WXLK and 100.1 WLYK in Lynchburg, which at the time simulcast WXLK.[10] (WLYK is now WVBE-FM, which airs an urban adult contemporary format.)

HD Radio

HD Radio subchannel WXLK-HD2 debuted as classic rock formatted "97.3 & 98.5 The Rock Channel" on December 31, 2017. The subchannel is paired with two FM translators to provide reception on analog radios:[11]

Call sign	Frequency (MHz)	City of license	Facility ID	ERP (W)	Height (m (ft))	Class	FCC info	Notes
W247AD	97.3	Roanoke, Virginia	67688	99	219 m (719 ft)	D	FCC	Relays HD2
W253BT	98.5	Madison Heights, Virginia	86509	130	20 m (66 ft)	D	FCC	Relays HD2

References

1. "Arbitron Station Information Profiles". Nielsen Audio/Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
2. "WXLK Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
3. Radio-Locator.com/WXLK-FM
4. https://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?realid=447 HD Radio Guide for Roanoke-Lynchburg, Virginia
5. Broadcasting Yearbook 1961-62 page B-179
6. LeeHartman.com
7. Broadcasting Yearbook 1972 page B-220
8. Broadcasting Yearbook 1978 page C-230
9. Berrier Jr., Ralph (24 June 2018). "'Mr. Radio': Glenn Gleixner retires after 18 years as WVTF's general manager". Roanoke Times.
10. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000 page D-474
11. Venta, Lance (29 December 2017). "97.3 The Rock Channel To Debut In Roanoke - RadioInsight". RadioInsight.

External links

• K92 Online
• WXLK in the FCC's FM station database
• WXLK on Radio-Locator
• WXLK in Nielsen Audio's FM station database