WPRS-FM
Encyclopedia
WPRS-FM is an Urban Gospel formatted radio station
in the Washington, D.C.
, metropolitan area. The station broadcasts from Waldorf
, Maryland, at 104.1 MHz.
Owned by Radio One, the station began broadcasting on April 7, 2007, as "Praise 104.1". The station was previously owned by Bonneville International
.
Bonneville announced the local marketing agreement with Radio One for the 104.1 signal on April 6, 2007. The 103.9 signal – which had been paired at the time with 104.1 – was switched the same date to a simulcast of WTOP
, while the 104.1 frequency went dark in anticipation of a format switch. Praise 104.1 launched the next morning. On April 24, 2007 WXGG changed their call letters to WPRS.
radio station. The station used "George FM" (as in George Washington
) instead of the usual "Jack FM
" for this format, because Jack FM is owned by Big Sticks Broadcasting and is licensed almost exclusively to CBS Radio
. The station broadcasted from Braddock Heights
, Maryland
at 103.9 MHz FM
, and from Waldorf
, Maryland, at 104.1 MHz.
George 104 began broadcasting on the afternoon of January 22, 2007, at 3 p.m. EST, after the announcement of the end of classical music station WGMS, which had aired on the two frequencies since early 2006 and maintained a classical music
format in Washington for 60 years. At the time of the format change, Bonneville announced that it had reached a deal with public radio station WETA-FM
to return the latter station to a classical format. WETA hired Jim Allison, the longtime program director of WGMS, and Bonneville donated its 15,000-disc WGMS music library to WETA. Bonneville also gave WETA the right to use the WGMS call sign.
Bonneville said at the time of the format change that it planned to broadcast commercial
-free on George 104 for 104 continuous days, in order to give the station time to establish itself.
The format change took place after an abortive effort by Bonneville in late 2006 to sell the two frequencies to Washington Redskins
owner Daniel Snyder
. Snyder planned to buy WGMS to convert it to a sports radio
format, adding its frequencies to the Triple X ESPN Radio network. Snyder withdrew from the preliminary purchase agreement, however, citing "a change in the radio climate" and hopes that "a better signal will soon become available in the market." News accounts suggested that a comment to The Washington Post
from an unnamed Bonneville executive, who said Snyder had offered "50 percent more than WGMS was worth," had stalled the negotiations.
The adult hits George format moved to the 103.5-2 subcarrier frequency of WTOP but was eventually discontinued altogether.
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 the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, metropolitan area. The station broadcasts from Waldorf
Waldorf, Maryland
Waldorf, Maryland is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Charles County, Maryland, United States. It is south-southeast of Washington, D.C. The population of the census-designated area only was 67,752 at the 2010 census...
, Maryland, at 104.1 MHz.
Owned by Radio One, the station began broadcasting on April 7, 2007, as "Praise 104.1". The station was previously owned by Bonneville International
Bonneville International
Bonneville International Corporation is a broadcasting company wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through its for-profit arm, Deseret Management Corporation...
.
Bonneville announced the local marketing agreement with Radio One for the 104.1 signal on April 6, 2007. The 103.9 signal – which had been paired at the time with 104.1 – was switched the same date to a simulcast of WTOP
WTOP-FM
WTOP is an all-news formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Washington, D.C., serving Metropolitan Washington, DC area. WTOP is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.WTOP is one of two all-news stations in the Washington, D.C...
, while the 104.1 frequency went dark in anticipation of a format switch. Praise 104.1 launched the next morning. On April 24, 2007 WXGG changed their call letters to WPRS.
History
Before becoming an urban contemporary gospel station, WPRS was known as WXGG (nicknamed George 104), an adult hitsAdult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
radio station. The station used "George FM" (as in George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
) instead of the usual "Jack FM
Jack FM
JACK FM is the alternative name and on-air brand of 60 radio stations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. Jack stations play a mix of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles. Jack's slogan "playing what we want" can also be...
" for this format, because Jack FM is owned by Big Sticks Broadcasting and is licensed almost exclusively to CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
. The station broadcasted from Braddock Heights
Braddock Heights, Maryland
Braddock Heights is a census-designated place in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,627 at the 2000 census. Braddock Heights is part of the Middletown, Maryland School District...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
at 103.9 MHz FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
, and from Waldorf
Waldorf, Maryland
Waldorf, Maryland is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Charles County, Maryland, United States. It is south-southeast of Washington, D.C. The population of the census-designated area only was 67,752 at the 2010 census...
, Maryland, at 104.1 MHz.
George 104 began broadcasting on the afternoon of January 22, 2007, at 3 p.m. EST, after the announcement of the end of classical music station WGMS, which had aired on the two frequencies since early 2006 and maintained a classical music
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...
format in Washington for 60 years. At the time of the format change, Bonneville announced that it had reached a deal with public radio station WETA-FM
WETA (FM)
WETA is a non-commercial, public radio station in Washington, DC broadcasting a classical music radio format on 90.9 FM. Its studios are located in...
to return the latter station to a classical format. WETA hired Jim Allison, the longtime program director of WGMS, and Bonneville donated its 15,000-disc WGMS music library to WETA. Bonneville also gave WETA the right to use the WGMS call sign.
Bonneville said at the time of the format change that it planned to broadcast commercial
Radio commercial
Commercial radio stations make most of their revenue selling “airtime” to advertisers. Of total media expenditures, radio accounts for 6.9%. Radio advertisements or “spots” are available when a business or service provides valuable consideration, usually cash, in exchange for the station airing...
-free on George 104 for 104 continuous days, in order to give the station time to establish itself.
The format change took place after an abortive effort by Bonneville in late 2006 to sell the two frequencies to Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
owner Daniel Snyder
Daniel Snyder
Daniel M. Snyder is the current owner of the Washington Redskins American football team, owner of the Dick Clark Productions television production company, and primary investor in Red Zebra Broadcasting, which is home to the Redskins Radio Network. Snyder has a net worth of $1.05 billion...
. Snyder planned to buy WGMS to convert it to a sports radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
format, adding its frequencies to the Triple X ESPN Radio network. Snyder withdrew from the preliminary purchase agreement, however, citing "a change in the radio climate" and hopes that "a better signal will soon become available in the market." News accounts suggested that a comment to The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
from an unnamed Bonneville executive, who said Snyder had offered "50 percent more than WGMS was worth," had stalled the negotiations.
The adult hits George format moved to the 103.5-2 subcarrier frequency of WTOP but was eventually discontinued altogether.