The local Christian radio station has been 'donated' to Toccoa Falls College and the on air content will be delivered from there. No word on what will happen to the local talent or to what relationship the new ownership will have with Drake Enterprises owned Dalton's Christian Bookstore and the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, which have been heavily advertised on WPFJ. "The Dove".
Drake Enterprises was established in 1977 and incorporated in North Carolina. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of $75,000,000 and employs a staff of approximately 500. It owns numerous other local businesses in the Franklin area, including:
1040.com
Drake Software
Dnet
For Rent in the Mountains
Premiere Marketing
Macon Printing
Liberty Wood Products
Providence Buildeers
Dalton's Christian Bookstore
Tech Place
WPFJ (now donated to Toccoa Falls College)
WNC Sport Zone
The Athlete's Foot
The Franklin Golf Course
The Fun Factory
The Real Estate Buyer's Guide
The Boiler Room Steak House
Drake Enterprises is also involved in building a shopping center in the Frogtown area of Franklin, NC.
Here is the Press Release regarding the donation of the radio station:
TOCCOA FALLS RADIO NOW HEARD OVER AM 1480 WPFJ
Franklin, North Carolina -- August 1, 2011 -- Today operational control and ownership of AM
1480 WPFJ has transferred from Drake Enterprises over to Toccoa Falls College. “We are excited
about the new opportunities WRAF brings to Macon county listeners by keeping Christian radio
available in Franklin while expanding its community supported, non-profit programming to
Western North Carolina. ” Drake Enterprises owner, Phil Drake said about the donation.
Toccoa Falls College operates a network of non-commercial Christian radio stations in northeast
Georgia and the western Carolinas. Their flagship station, WRAF, can be heard in parts of the
region on 90.9 FM, 100.9 FM and now 1480 AM. WRAF’s programming is very similar to that
previously heard on WPFJ. Contemporary Christian music (Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith,
Hillsong) is featured during the morning and afternoon commute while Southern Gospel
(Gaither Vocal Band, Greater Vision, The Hoppers) is played at lunch time. The acquisition of
WPFJ will allow WRAF to upgrade the translator at 100.9 and have an FM quality signal that
covers Franklin and beyond.
WRAF station manager Bryan Race noted; “Many of the same programs listeners of WPFJ
previously enjoyed will continue to be heard over AM 1480 including: Focus On The Family,
Turning Point with David Jeremiah, and Adventures in Odyssey.” Race also said; “WRAF airs
some of the ministry short features WPFJ listeners have enjoyed over the years from Ken Davis,
Ron Hutchcraft, Chuck Bentley, and Ken Ham.” The similarity in the format between WPFJ and
WRAF along with Toccoa Falls’ commitment to compellingly communicating the Gospel from a
conservative and evangelical perspective, were major reasons behind Drake Enterprises choice
to donate the station to the college.
WRAF has been broadcasting as a listener-supported ministry since 1980. Regular donations
from over 10,000 local listeners and churches make it possible for the station to play popular
preaching and Bible teaching programs from: Chuck Swindoll, Charles Stanley, James Dobson,
Joni Eareckson Tada, Chuck Colson, Kay Arthur and many more of the nation’s premier Christian
radio ministries.
Just as many other stations have expanded their listenership to include anyone with an internet
connection or who owns a Smartphone, WRAF can be heard via iPhone and Android apps and
through AudioNow, a service allowing anyone to listen by calling 678-804-6378. Listeners can
also interact with Toccoa Falls Radio and its DJ’s on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. A
complete program schedule along with a live audio feed is available on the Toccoa Falls Radio
website at www.myfavoritestation.net.
About Toccoa Falls College
Toccoa Falls College is considered one of the top Christian colleges in the nation. It consistently
ranks in the top 50 colleges in the country according to US News and World Report. The
campus, which is located in the foothills of northeast Georgia, consists of more than 1,100 acres
and is bordered by national forest. The natural beauty of the area is breathtaking and provides
endless opportunities for outside activities like hiking, whitewater activities, camping and much
more.
The motto of the school is “Where Character is Developed with Intellect.” Degree programs
include: Business Administration, Biology, Cross-Cultural Studies, Teacher Education,
Counseling-Psychology, Biblical Studies, English, and much more. A high percentage of the
graduates of Toccoa Falls go on to receive further degrees related to fields of study. They also
serve in a wide range of secular and non-secular vocations around the world.
For more information about Toccoa Falls College and a complete degree listing, please visit
www.tfc.edu or call 1-888-785-5624.
Contact:
Bryan Race
WRAF Station Manager
800.251.8326
radio@myfavoritestation.net
Commentary
I'll miss seeing the 1480-AM The Dove van at local events (pictured above). They were the only radio station that provided live coverage of local festivals due to the influence of Brenda Wooten, who is a local legend of local ive broadcasting. She worked at WRFR-FM(now WNCC-FM)/WFSC-AM for years and could be counted on to be broadcasting from local businesses and events. This also means that all the "local" radio stations will be owned by companies out of Georgia. WNCC-FM and WFSC-AM are owned by Georgia-Carolina Radiocasting. And two of the four newspapers in Macon County are also owned by a company in Georgia.
Posts
0 comments :
Post a Comment