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WLXK 88.3 switches to preaching/talk

WLXK 88.3 Boiling Springs, NC is running a lopp announcing that they will be switching to the Truth network and directing listeners to 94.5 Greenville and 91.9/94.1 in Charlotte. I believe this is the same programming that is on WKVG 94.5 HD3 and 96.9. With all of the overlap between 88.3 and 94.5, I figured there would be a format change or sale. Yes, it is a North Carolina station, but most of the population covered is in South Carolina.
 
Interesting, not surprising EMF would want to do something else with a signal that really no longer serves a purpose for them. I don’t see anything filed, so I wonder if they’ll just LMA it or eventually sell it. Truth has a bunch of AM’s with FM translators in NC/VA. It’s run by, I believe, the son and widow of Salem Media Group’s founder. It’s evangelical Christian talk and teaching and some political stuff, no music. It is on WKVG-HD3 and feeding 96.9, so 88.3 should pick up where 96.9 begins to fade.
 
The Truth Network, if this is the same one, has a Christian Talk and Teaching format. I believe it's owned by a relative of the owner of Salem Media, the largest chain of commercial Christian radio stations (WMCA New York, KKLA Los Angeles, WYLL Chicago). So it has many of the same national religious shows heard on Salem stations.

I guess, before the talk and teaching format comes in, the station is directing listeners to other Christian Contemporary stations.
 
Yeah, Truth Network is owned by Nancy Epperson (Stuart Epperson’s widow) and Stuart Epperson, Jr (son). Stuart Epperson founded Salem and passed away a couple of years ago. I believe they have a couple of other companies as well such as Delmarva Broadcasting. It’s a separate company from Salem, but very similar I believe. They’ve been buying cheap AM’s/translators or HD channels to grow the network.
 
Yeah, Truth Network is owned by Nancy Epperson (Stuart Epperson’s widow) and Stuart Epperson, Jr (son). Stuart Epperson founded Salem and passed away a couple of years ago. I believe they have a couple of other companies as well such as Delmarva Broadcasting. It’s a separate company from Salem, but very similar I believe. They’ve been buying cheap AM’s/translators or HD channels to grow the network.

Another part of the Epperson family also owns WBRF 98.1, WPAQ 740 and a few others
 
Truth Network now on 88.3 - Boiling Springs NC.
Audio has had some (HD sounding) dropouts at times,
seems to be repeating the 94.5-3 signal all the way
at/from the 88.3 site Near Shelby NC.

Apparently it's being simulcast (relayed) twice (x2).
Once from Greenville's 94.5 HD-3, and that which is also getting it's signal from their Lynchburg VA station, according to their ID.

Top of the Hour ID is a bit weird and outdated:

"93.7 - WKHF Lynchburg (VA) /
WGTK-HD3 / 96.9 W245CH Travelers Rest."

No mention of the 88.3 on the ID yet.
No Mention of Greenville in their ID of "WGTK."
Which is now WKVP.
No Mention of the new stations (96.9 & 88.3)
on their Website either.
Maybe it will be updated soon.

Truth Network is also in the adjacent market of Charlotte on 960 AM (WCRU) and 105.7 (W289BO) Pineville & Uptown CLT / 98.5 (W253CV) Davidson
 
Last edited:
New Updated TOH ID Info:

"88 3 WLXK - Boiling Springs, North Carolina
94.5 WKVG - Greenville, South Carolina"

Forgot to mention "HD-3" (94.5-3).
 
Looks like they pulled a WMUU. WMUU was supposed to continue online after 94.5 was sold in 2012. That lasted around a year, and it silently went away.
Yeah, that was a big disappointment.

But I'm sure it was longer than that. I think I found out the stream was gone through the Facebook group.
 
Is Truth Network commercial or non-commercial? On their website, I see them trying to sell advertising, but there's a donate button too.
 
I know they have at least one commercial station, WTRU in the Greensboro market. It's a strong AM station.

It just so happens one station the company bought was co-owned with a station that tried to sell advertising but couldn't so they asked listeners to donate, reminding them the station was not a nonprofit and the donations weren't tax-deductible. The standards format from the station that took donations was dropped when the donations weren't enough, and the standards station went to a simulcast of the preaching and talk format on the other station. The former standards station was purchased by Billy Graham's people (mainly for its translator). That other station brought back the standards until it could find a buyer, which was Truth Broadcasting, which put a Spanish format on the station.
 
So just to add, I answered my own question - Truth is commercial, but they do accept non tax deductible donations. Rather unique structure for a religious broadcaster. They claim the donation portion is to help spread their message.


If they’re a “for profit business“ as the second link states, how are they allowed to be on the non-comm part of the dial at 88.3?
 
I wonder if 88.3 is also officially going to Delmarva, or will it be retained by EMF?...Or if WLXK will change their call letters as well..
 
So just to add, I answered my own question - Truth is commercial, but they do accept non tax deductible donations. Rather unique structure for a religious broadcaster. They claim the donation portion is to help spread their message.


If they’re a “for profit business“ as the second link states, how are they allowed to be on the non-comm part of the dial at 88.3?


because the stations in the non comm band are owned by the delmarva educational association and run psa's or similar announcements in commercial breaks. WTRU and etc are owned by the truth broadcasting corporation, a commercial arm.
 
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