WRYD
{{short description|Radio station in Jemison, Alabama}}
{{for|the Snow Hill, Maryland radio station formerly using WRYD|WICO-FM}}
{{redirect|WHPH|the former high school radio station|WHPH (New Jersey)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WRYD
| logo =
| logo_size =
| city = Jemison, Alabama
| area = Greater Birmingham - Central Alabama
| branding = American Family Radio
| frequency = 97.7 MHz
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1953|5|15}} (as WEZZ)
| format = Christian Talk and Teaching
| erp = 13,000 watts
| haat = 140 meters (459 feet)
| class = C3
| facility_id = 61231
| licensing_authority = FCC
| coordinates = {{coord|32|58|55|N|86|51|02|W|display=inline,title|region:US-AL_type:landmark}}
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns = WEZZ (1953–1982)
WEZZ-FM (1982–2006)
WHPH (2006–2018)
| affiliations =
| owner = TBTA Ministries
| licensee =
| sister_stations = WJHO, WKRE, WKUA
| webcast = [https://afr.net/talk-player/ Listen Live]
| website = [https://afr.net afr.net]
}}
WRYD (97.7 FM) is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Jemison, Alabama, and serving Central Alabama including parts of Greater Birmingham.{{cite web |work=Arbitron |url=http://www.arbitron.com/ |title=Station Information Profile}} It is owned TBTA Ministries, a non-profit organization based in Tupelo, Mississippi. WRYD is part of the American Family Radio Network, airing a Christian talk and teaching format.[https://afr.net/station-finder/ AFR.net/station-finder] The network seeks donations on the air and on its website.
WRYD is a Class C3 FM station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 13,000 watts. The transmitter is off County Route 107 west of Jemison.[https://radio-locator.com/info/WRYD-FM?loc=33.23116%2C-86.82383&locn=Alabaster%2C%20Alabama Radio-Locator.com/WRYD]
History
The station signed on the air on {{Start date and age|1953|5|15}}. It was the FM sister station to WKLF 980 AM (now on 1000 AM). The call sign was WEZZ and its original city of license was Clanton, Alabama.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1977/C%20Section%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201977%20P-6.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-3. Retrieved March 10, 2025.] It was powered at only 3,000 watts, a fraction of its current output.
In August 2003, the station's longtime owner, Southeastern Broadcasting Company, Inc., reached an agreement to sell WEZZ to Great South RFDC, LLC.{{cite news |work=The Clanton Advertiser |title=Great South RFDC Wireless has taken ownership of WEZZ FM and WKLF AM in Clanton |url=http://www.clantononline.com/clanton/great-south-rfdc-wireless-has-taken.asp |date=January 10, 2004}} The deal was approved by the FCC on October 30, 2003, and the transaction was consummated on November 28, 2003.{{cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau |title=Application Search Details (BALH-20030814AHV) |url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=695689 |date=November 28, 2003}} In January 2007, this station was acquired by Great South Wireless LLC from Great South RFDC LLC as part of a six station deal for a reported total sale price of $100 plus an assumption of certain debts and obligations.{{cite web |work=Broadcasting & Cable |title=Changing Hands |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6410626.html |date=2007-01-29}}
Effective July 23, 2018, TBTA Ministries closed on the purchase of the then-WHPH from Great South Wireless for $525,000. The following day, the new owners changed the station's format from oldies to Christian rock, branded as "Revocation Radio".[http://www.almediapage.info Alabama Broadcast Media Page] The call letters were switched to WRYD on July 31, 2018.
On January 30, 2025, WRYD flipped from Christian rock to American Family Radio's format of Christian talk and teaching.[https://www.almediapage.info/news.html Alabama Broadcast Media Page] Programs are hosted by James Dobson, Jim Daly, David Jeremiah, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Adrian Rogers.
Previous logo
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{FM station data|61231|WRYD}}
{{Birmingham Radio}}
Category:Chilton County, Alabama