Urban AC on FM in Knoxville

[RMarino]

While dial flipping yesterday in West Knoxville, I stopped on 99.7 and heard Urban AC music. After a couple of songs, I heard an ID for WJBE AM 1040 and 99.7 FM. It indeed is a simulcast with 1040, although as far as I know, 1040's legal call is WWAM. Does anyone know where this 99.7 is transmitting? I'm assuming this is a translator but I can't find anything about it.

 

[Elkhosen]

WJBE ID's on-air that way, but it still shows WWAM on the FCC site. That 99.7 translator is on Sharps Ridge and was sporadically simulcasting WHCB 91.5 out of Bristol (who still owns it - for now at least). "WJBE" has a website, but it doesn't mention 99.7.

http://wjbe.am/

There's quite a history behind the calls WJBE since that used to be urban 1430 WJBE (later WBMK before going silent in the 90's). JBE = James Brown Enterprises -- as in the "Godfather of Soul" James Brown who owned it for a decade or so.

 

[Elkhosen]

Here's the translator:

http://cdbs.recnet.net:8080/fmq.php?facid=156669

 

[K-Town Listener]

I'm really pullin' for WJBE! Think it's great. And I caught the 99.7 translator yesterday too. But while I was listening they were airing a "Contemporary Urban Gospel" type show yesterday. Maybe just some sort of "special" programming.

 

[BRH]

Pretty decent signal for a translator as well. I pick them up clearly all the way out west on I-40 to Farragut (and pretty decent/listenable signal to just below Lenoir City). With the Sharp's Ridge location, I imagine they will have no problems with East Knoxville and the inner city northwest communities where they'll need to reach.

On a side note, wonder if they may hurt rhythmic CHR Hot 104.5 a bit. While Hot certainly isn't urban, they do get a lot of default listeners due to urban not being available in the market recently.