WVFJ-FM (93.3
MHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...
, "The JOY FM") is a
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
radio station
Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...
that serves western
central Georgia, including portions of
Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta, designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget as the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Alpharetta, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ...
and the
Columbus-Auburn-Opelika area. Its
city of license
In American, Canadian, and Mexican broadcasting, a city of license or community of license is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator.
In North American broa ...
is
Greenville, Georgia
Greenville is a city and the county seat of Meriwether County, Georgia, Meriwether County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. The population was 794 at the 2020 census. The city is located southwest of Atlanta and, as such, is part of t ...
. The WVFJ studio is located in
Tyrone, Georgia
Tyrone is a town in Fayette County, Georgia, United States. The population was 6,879 at the 2010 census, up from 3,916 in 2000. The estimated population in 2018 was 7,388. It is a part of the Atlanta metropolitan area.
History
The Georgia Genera ...
. It broadcasts a
Contemporary Christian format.
History
The station was originally known as WFDR-FM, the
sister station
In broadcasting, sister stations or sister channels are radio or television stations operated by the same company, either by direct ownership or through a management agreement.
Radio sister stations will often have different formats, and somet ...
to
WFDR AM 1370, which still shares Manchester as its city of license. The stations'
broadcast callsign
Broadcast call signs are call signs assigned as unique identifiers to radio stations and television stations
A television station is a set of equipment managed by a business, organisation or other entity, such as an amateur television (ATV) op ...
is a reference to former U.S. President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...
, who had his
Little White House vacation home
A holiday cottage, holiday home, vacation home, or vacation property is accommodation used for holiday vacations, corporate travel, and temporary housing often for less than 30 days. Such properties are typically small homes, such as cottage ...
in nearby
Warm Springs, Georgia. The callsign was issued on the first day of December 1978. On the last day of October 1981 it became WQCK, and two years later adopted its current callsign on July 7.
On February 13, 1981, Atlanta businessman Bill Watkins and his wife Joyce founded Provident Broadcasting Company in order to create a broadcast
ministry
Ministry may refer to:
Government
* Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister
* Ministry (government department), a department of a government
Religion
* Christian ...
for the benefit of Christian believers and those seeking spiritual inspiration. WVFJ, then called "The Joy FM", was their first station in this new ministry. In 1998, J93.3 moved its radio studios from the small community of
Manchester, Georgia
Manchester is a town in Meriwether County, Georgia, Meriwether and Talbot County, Georgia, Talbot Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, although primarily in Meriwether. The population was 4,230 at the 2010 census. CSX Trans ...
into Atlanta market as metro Atlanta's first contemporary-Christian radio station. The transmitter was moved to just outside
Greenville, Georgia
Greenville is a city and the county seat of Meriwether County, Georgia, Meriwether County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. The population was 794 at the 2020 census. The city is located southwest of Atlanta and, as such, is part of t ...
.
The station was owned and operated by Provident Broadcasting Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Watkins Associated Industries, Incorporated. Their stated mission is to provide wholesome family programming filled with joy, hope, and encouragement.
In March 2011, WVFJ became officially owned by
Radio Training Network. One of the changes under new ownership is that after 30 years, WVFJ is now-listener supported instead of advertiser supported. In May, WVFJ is expected to add 11,000 watts to its
power and be officially a
noncommercial station. Through
HD radio
HD Radio (HDR) is a trademark for an in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio broadcast technology. It generally simulcasts an existing analog radio station in digital format with less noise and with additional text information. HD Radio is used ...
and
broadcast translators, WVFJ is planning to make other improvements to their signal in the Atlanta
media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area (DMA), television market area, or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same (or similar) television and radio station offerings, and may also incl ...
, although the power increase actually adds a minimal amount of
broadcast range.
The station is currently retransmitted on W270AS 101.9 in
Carrollton to the northwest and W231AO 94.1 in Columbus to the southwest, all located southwest of Atlanta in western
Georgia. It is also listed as the primary station for 120 other translator applications filed by
Edgewater Broadcasting Edgewater may refer to:
Australia
* Edgewater, Western Australia
United States
* Edgewater, Alabama
* Edgewater, Colorado
* Florida:
**Edgewater, Broward County, Florida
** Edgewater, Volusia County, Florida
**Edgewater High School, in Orlando, F ...
in 2003, in what was called the "
Great Translator Invasion
A broadcast relay station, also known as a satellite station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator (U.S.), re-broadcaster (Canada), repeater (two-way radio) or complementary station (Mexico), is a broadcast transmitter which repeats (or tran ...
All of these are in western
Georgia (US), Georgia and eastern
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
.
On December 1, 2011, J93 became The JOY FM
For the 2011 holidays, it was broadcasting all
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music regularly performed or heard around the Christmas season. Music associated with Christmas may be purely instrumental, or, in the case of carols or songs, may employ lyrics whose subject ma ...
, competing with Christian station
WFSH-FM
WFSH-FM (104.7 MHz) is a radio station licensed to Athens, Georgia, and serving Metro Atlanta. The station is owned by Salem Media Group and it airs a Christian contemporary radio format. It is branded as ''The Fish 104.7'' and describes itself ...
104.7, and secular
WSB-FM
WSB-FM (98.5 MHz) is a commercial radio station in Atlanta, Georgia. It carries an adult contemporary radio format and is owned by the Cox Media Group, serving as the group's flagship FM station. WSB-FM is the oldest FM radio station in Atlant ...
98.5, both from Atlanta.
A new CP to help them improve their signal in Atlanta is shown on the FCC database. Once built, WVFJ will broadcast with 57,000 watts of power. To learn more about it visit: https://fccdata.org/?facid=53679
On January 12, 2023, WVFJ's transmitter tower was destroyed by a tornado.
Repeaters
Translators
Contemporary Christian music
Christian worship
Christian hip hop
See also
*
WMSL
WMSL (88.9 FM) is a Christian radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian music format. Licensed to Bogart, Georgia, United States, the station serves the Athens / Northeast Georgia area. The station is currently owned by the Radio Train ...
— 88.9 FM, licensed to
Bogart, Georgia
References
External links
{{Religious Radio Stations in Georgia
VFJ-FM
Contemporary Christian radio stations in the United States
Radio stations established in 1981
VFJ