WRYD
| Broadcast area | Greater Birmingham - Central Alabama |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.7 MHz |
| Branding | American Family Radio |
| Programming | |
| Format | Christian Talk and Teaching |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | TBTA Ministries |
| WJHO, WKRE, WKUA | |
| History | |
First air date | May 15, 1953 (as WEZZ) |
Former call signs | WEZZ (1953–1982) WEZZ-FM (1982–2006) WHPH (2006–2018) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 61231 |
| Class | C3 |
| ERP | 13,000 watts |
| HAAT | 140 meters (459 feet) |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°58′55″N 86°51′02″W / 32.98194°N 86.85056°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
History
[edit]The station signed on the air on May 15, 1953. 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.[5] 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.[6] The deal was approved by the FCC on October 30, 2003, and the transaction was consummated on November 28, 2003.[7] 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.[8]
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".[9] 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.[10] Programs are hosted by James Dobson, Jim Daly, David Jeremiah, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Adrian Rogers.
Previous logo
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WRYD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
- ^ AFR.net/station-finder
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WRYD
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-3. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ "Great South RFDC Wireless has taken ownership of WEZZ FM and WKLF AM in Clanton". The Clanton Advertiser. January 10, 2004.
- ^ "Application Search Details (BALH-20030814AHV)". FCC Media Bureau. November 28, 2003.
- ^ "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. January 29, 2007.
- ^ Alabama Broadcast Media Page
- ^ Alabama Broadcast Media Page
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 61231 (WRYD) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WRYD in Nielsen Audio's FM station database