WMIT (FM)
Encyclopedia
WMIT is a contemporary Christian radio station
in Asheville, North Carolina
. The station is licensed to the nearby town of Black Mountain
. WMIT is a noncommercial, listener supported ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
.
Despite its 35,000-watt
effective radiated power
, it boasts one of the largest coverage areas in the eastern United States. In addition to its home market of Asheville, its signal can be heard in the Tri-Cities
(where it provides city-grade coverage), Greenville
/Spartanburg, and Charlotte
. All told, WMIT claims a potential audience of five million people in seven states. This is because its transmitter is located on Clingman's Peak, over 6700 feet (2,042.2 m) above sea level
—one of the highest transmitter sites east of the Mississippi River
.
Recently, the station has begun identifying as "Black Mountain/Charlotte/Asheville," acknowledging its large following in the Charlotte area.
The station's call letters stand for Mount Mitchell
, the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi River, which is located about 2½ miles NE of the station's transmitter.
In 2007, WMIT commenced HD Radio
service with theEdge 106.9 on the HD2 channel, featuring Christian music for teenagers and young adults. They now broadcast their sister-station, 1010 AM WFGW
Talk on the HD3 channel.
Broadcasters signed on W41MM, with 50,000 watts on 44.1 megacycles
from 6885 feet (2,098.5 m) above sea level. Though licensed to Winston-Salem, 105 miles (169 km) away, the station operated by remote telephone line.
W41MM became WMIT, and moved to 97.3, then to 106.9. At one time the station operated at 325 kilowatts.
Rising 180 feet (54.9 m) above 6557 feet (1,998.6 m) Clingman's Peak, the WMIT tower's light was higher than anything else east of the Mississippi.
The two-story building housing the station included living space. The road to the top was usually passable. Diesel engines powered the station at first, but eventually power lines had to be installed.
Gordon Gray had to close the station in Spring 1950 because he did not have the time to run it. When the station returned to the air in 1951, its power was the equivalent of 325,000 watts, and it could be picked up in Atlanta, Georgia
, 190 miles (305.8 km) away. Six and a half million potential listeners could pick up the signal. Studios were in Charlotte, 90 miles (144.8 km) away, and programming was delivered by means of an STL
. Much of the music was classical
or semi-classical
, though three hours a day of local, regional music was played due to listener interest.
The station was donated to the Billy Graham ministry in 1971.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. The station is licensed to the nearby town of Black Mountain
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Black Mountain is a town in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,511 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is named for the Black Mountain range of the Blue Ridge range in the Southern Appalachians.-History:Black...
. WMIT is a noncommercial, listener supported ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is an organization started by Billy Graham in 1950. The main focus of the BGEA is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible...
.
Despite its 35,000-watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
, it boasts one of the largest coverage areas in the eastern United States. In addition to its home market of Asheville, its signal can be heard in the Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities, Tennessee
In Tennessee and Virginia the name "Tri-Cities" refers to the region comprising the cities of Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol and the surrounding smaller towns and communities in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia...
(where it provides city-grade coverage), Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
/Spartanburg, and Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
. All told, WMIT claims a potential audience of five million people in seven states. This is because its transmitter is located on Clingman's Peak, over 6700 feet (2,042.2 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
—one of the highest transmitter sites east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Recently, the station has begun identifying as "Black Mountain/Charlotte/Asheville," acknowledging its large following in the Charlotte area.
The station's call letters stand for Mount Mitchell
Mount Mitchell (North Carolina)
Mount Mitchell is the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains and the highest peak in the eastern United States. It was the highest point in any state of the United States until Texas joined the union in 1845. The nearest higher point east of the Rocky Mountains is Harney Peak in the Black Hills...
, the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi River, which is located about 2½ miles NE of the station's transmitter.
In 2007, WMIT commenced HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
service with theEdge 106.9 on the HD2 channel, featuring Christian music for teenagers and young adults. They now broadcast their sister-station, 1010 AM WFGW
WFGW
WFGW is a non-commercial talk radio station broadcasting at 50,000 watts in Black Mountain, North Carolina, operated by Blue Ridge Broadcasting since 1962. Most of the programming is Christian talk....
Talk on the HD3 channel.
History
In the summer of 1941, Mount MitchellMount Mitchell
Mount Mitchell can refer to:* Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the eastern United States* Mount Mitchell , in Jasper National Park of Canada* Mount Mitchell * Mount Mitchell , in Queensland...
Broadcasters signed on W41MM, with 50,000 watts on 44.1 megacycles
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
from 6885 feet (2,098.5 m) above sea level. Though licensed to Winston-Salem, 105 miles (169 km) away, the station operated by remote telephone line.
W41MM became WMIT, and moved to 97.3, then to 106.9. At one time the station operated at 325 kilowatts.
Rising 180 feet (54.9 m) above 6557 feet (1,998.6 m) Clingman's Peak, the WMIT tower's light was higher than anything else east of the Mississippi.
The two-story building housing the station included living space. The road to the top was usually passable. Diesel engines powered the station at first, but eventually power lines had to be installed.
Gordon Gray had to close the station in Spring 1950 because he did not have the time to run it. When the station returned to the air in 1951, its power was the equivalent of 325,000 watts, and it could be picked up in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, 190 miles (305.8 km) away. Six and a half million potential listeners could pick up the signal. Studios were in Charlotte, 90 miles (144.8 km) away, and programming was delivered by means of an STL
Studio/transmitter link
A studio-transmitter link sends a radio station's or television station's audio and video from the broadcast studio to a radio transmitter or television transmitter in another location....
. Much of the music was classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
or semi-classical
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
, though three hours a day of local, regional music was played due to listener interest.
The station was donated to the Billy Graham ministry in 1971.