WRFK (FM)
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WRFK
| logo = WRFK FM Logo 2017.png
| logo_size = 200px
| city = Barre, Vermont
| country = US
| area = Washington County, Vermont
| branding = 107.1 Frank FM
| frequency = 107.1 MHz
| repeater = {{Radio Relay|107.1|WWFK|Plattsburgh West, New York}}
| airdate = {{start date|1974|08|05}} (as WORK){{cite book|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999|year=1999|page=D-455|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1999/D-Radio-NE-Ter-BC-YB-1999..pdf|accessdate=November 15, 2012}}
| format = Classic rock
| erp = 3,900 watts
| haat = {{convert|125|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class = A
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 34810
| coordinates = {{coord|44|9|30.2|N|72|28|44.3|W|region:US-VT_type:landmark|name=WRFK|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning = "Frank"
| former_callsigns = WORK (1974–2012)
| affiliations =
| owner = Great Eastern Radio, LLC
| licensee =
| sister_stations = WWFY, WWFK
| webcast = [http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/WRFK Listen Live]
| website = [http://www.frankvermont.com/ frankvermont.com]
}}
WRFK (107.1 MHz, "Frank FM") is an FM radio station licensed to Barre and serving central Vermont. Established in 1974, the station is owned by Jeffrey Shapiro's Great Eastern Radio. WRFK airs a classic rock format, and is simulcast in the Champlain Valley on WWFK (also on 107.1 FM) in Plattsburgh West, New York. The transmitter is located off Websterville Road and the studios and offices are on Jacques Street.
History
The station signed on August 5, 1974, as WORK.{{cite news|title=For the Record|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1974/1974-03-11-BC.pdf|accessdate=November 15, 2012|newspaper=Broadcasting|date=February 11, 1974}} It was originally owned by Robert Kimel, who also owned WSNO in Barre and WWSR AM-FM in St. Albans, and programmed an automated Top 40/hot AC format known as "Hit Parade".{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1975|year=1975|page=C-195|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1975/C%202%201975%20Radio.pdf|accessdate=November 15, 2012}} Kimel sold WORK and WSNO to Bull Moose Broadcasting in 1997;{{cite news|last=Fybush|first=Scott|title=Back From the Dead...|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-970126.html|accessdate=November 15, 2012|newspaper=North East RadioWatch|date=January 26, 1997}} two years later, the stations were purchased by Vox Radio Group.{{cite news|last=Fybush|first=Scott|title=The Eagle Has Crash-Landed|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-990402.html|accessdate=November 15, 2012|newspaper=North East RadioWatch|date=April 2, 1999}} Nassau Broadcasting Partners acquired most of Vox's northern New England radio stations in 2004,{{cite news|title=Nassau Will Buy 10 Vox Stations in New England|url=http://www.rwonline.com/article/nassau-will-buy-10-vox-stations-in-new-england/10025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524014413/http://www.rwonline.com/article/nassau-will-buy-10-vox-stations-in-new-england/10025|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 24, 2013|accessdate=November 15, 2012|newspaper=Radio World|date=March 16, 2004}} and changed WORK's format to classic hits on September 15, 2006.{{cite news|title=Top 40 WORK Flips To Frank-FM|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/14428/top-40-work-flips-to-frank-fm|accessdate=November 15, 2012|newspaper=All Access|date=September 18, 2006}}
WORK, along with 29 other Nassau stations in northern New England, was purchased at bankruptcy auction by Carlisle Capital Corporation, a company controlled by Bill Binnie (owner of WBIN-TV in Derry, New Hampshire), on May 22, 2012. The station, and 12 of the other stations, were then acquired by Vertical Capital Partners, controlled by Jeff Shapiro.{{cite news|title=Carlisle Capital Corp. Wins Bidding For Rest Of Nassau Stations|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/106283/carlisle-capital-corp-wins-bidding-for-rest-of-nas|accessdate=May 22, 2012|newspaper=All Access|date=May 22, 2012}}{{cite news|last=Venta|first=Lance|title=Nassau Broadcasting Auction Results|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/57250/nassau-broadcasting-auction-results/|accessdate=May 24, 2012|newspaper=RadioInsight|date=May 22, 2012}} (updated May 23, 2012) On November 14, 2012, the call letters changed to WRFK.{{cite web |title=Call Sign History |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=34810&Callsign=WRFK}} The deal was completed on November 30, 2012.{{cite news|last=Kitch|first=Michael|title=Binnie closes on purchase of WLNH|url=http://www.laconiadailysun.com/index.php/newsx/local-news/64052-binnie-s-radio-franchise|accessdate=December 1, 2012|newspaper=Laconia Daily Sun|date=December 1, 2012}} The Vertical Capital Partners stations were transferred to Shapiro's existing Great Eastern Radio group on January 1, 2013.{{cite web|title=APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGN BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE OR TO TRANSFER CONTROL OF ENTITY HOLDING BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1533507&Service=FM&Form_id=316&Facility_id=17798|date=December 11, 2012|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=June 8, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Consummation Notice|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1536345&Form_id=905&Facility_id=17798|date=January 4, 2013|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=June 8, 2013}}
On June 26, 2020, WRFK began simulcasting on WPLA (renamed WWFK) in Dannemora, New York, which also operates on 107.1 FM; this brought the "Frank FM" programming into the Champlain Valley area.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/189651/frank-fm-expands-to-burlington-vt-with-great-eastern-purchase/|title = Frank-FM Expands to Burlington VT with Great Eastern Purchase}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.frankvermont.com/}}
- {{FM station data|34810|WRFK}}
{{Montpelier-Barre-St. Johnsbury Radio}}
{{Classic Rock Radio Stations in Vermont}}
Category:Classic rock radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1974
Category:1974 establishments in Vermont
Category:Barre (city), Vermont
{{Vermont-radio-station-stub}}