WLLV
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WLLV
| image =
| city = Louisville, Kentucky
| branding = Gospel 101.9 FM & 1240 AM
| frequency = 1240 kHz
| translator = 101.9 W270CR (Louisville)
| repeater =
| airdate = {{start date and age|1940|6}} (as WINN)
| format = Urban Gospel
| power = 530 watts
| class = C
| facility_id = 1125
| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|38|13|50|N|85|49|20|W|region:US_type:city}}}}
| callsign_meaning = W L LoVe{{cite web|url=http://www.oldradio.com/archives/nelson/origins.call-list.html |title=Call Letter Origins |work=Radio History on the Web }}
| former_callsigns = WINN (1941–1982)
| affiliations =
| owner = Peter Boyce and David Smith
| licensee = New Albany Broadcasting Co., Inc.
| sister_stations = WLOU
| webcast =
| website = [http://wllvonline.com wllvonline.com]
| licensing_authority = FCC
}}
WLLV (1240 AM) is a commercial radio station broadcasting an urban gospel format. Licensed to Louisville, the station serves the Louisville metropolitan area, including sections of Kentucky and Indiana. The station is owned by New Albany Broadcasting, which also owns urban adult contemporary station WLOU 1350 AM.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=WLLV |title=WLLV Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }} The studios are on Muhammad Ali Boulevard in Louisville.
WLLV is a Class C station transmitting with 530 watts non-directional. Programming is also heard on FM translator W270CR on 101.9 MHz in Louisville.
History
The station signed on the air in {{Start date and age|1940|6}}.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1977/C%20Section%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201977%20P-6.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-85. Retrieved Jan. 7, 2024] Its original call sign was WINN. It was a network affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System and carried its dramas, comedies, news and sports during the "Golden Age of Radio."
By the 1960s, network programming had shifted from radio to television. In 1965, the station turned to country music, now affiliated with the ABC Entertainment Network. This continued until late 1982.
At that point, WINN was sold to a group of African-American pastors from the Chicago area. They switched the format to urban gospel music, and the callsign changed from WINN to WLLV. Popular announcers through the gospel programming years included Pastor James Ford, Elder Ben Higgins, Minister Ben Walker, Minister Sylvia Walker, gospel singer Archie Dale and Bishop D.V. Lyons.
In 2024, a new General Manager was named to head WLLV, WLOU and WMYO-CD. Steve Murphy had been the president of a private equity fund.[https://www.insideradio.com/people_moves/steve-murphy/article_b5cf5fe0-1228-11ef-b467-1b88bf721819.html InsideRadio.com "People Moves--Steve Murphy" May 14, 2024. Retrieved Jan. 7, 2025.]
WLLV has undergone a power reduction from 1,000 watts to 530 watts due to the relocation of the station's tower for a sewer district project. Management hopes to have WLLV's signal restored to its 1,000–watt standard.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{AM station data|1125|WLLV}}
- {{FCC-LMS-Facility|91679|W270CR}}
- {{FXL|W270CR}}
- [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=60934 FCC History Cards for WLLV]
{{Louisville Radio}}
Category:Southern Gospel radio stations in the United States
Category:Gospel radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1941
Category:1941 establishments in Kentucky
{{Kentucky-radio-station-stub}}
{{Louisville-stub}}