WCIR-FM (103.7

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...

) is a

contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio (CHR, also known as contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top ...

formatted

broadcast Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...

licensed to

Beckley, West Virginia Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 17,286 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in West Virginia, ninth-most populous city in th ...

, United States, serving Southern West Virginia. WCIR-FM is owned and operated by Southern Communications.

Coverage area

The station has an

effective radiated power Effective radiated power (ERP), synonymous with equivalent radiated power, is an IEEE standardized definition of directional radio frequency (RF) power, such as that emitted by a radio transmitter. It is the total power in watts that would ha ...

of 5,000

watt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of Power (physics), power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantification (science), quantify the rate of Work ...

s, but the

height above average terrain Height above average terrain (HAAT), or (less popularly) effective height above average terrain (EHAAT), is the vertical position of an antenna site above the surrounding landscape. HAAT is used extensively in FM radio and television, as it is ...

of the station is 452 meters (1484 feet), meaning the station broadcasts farther than a typical 5,000 watt radio station that broadcasts at normal height. As a result, the station can be heard as far as

Charleston, West Virginia Charleston () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in West Virginia, most populous city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is the county seat of Kanawha County, West Virginia, Kanawha County and ...

History

WCIR-FM was named after WCIR-AM (Now

WBKW WBKW (1070 AM) is an alternative rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Beckley, West Virginia, serving Beckley and Oak Hill in West Virginia. WBKW is owned and operated by Southern Communications. History First signed on in Ja ...

) in 1971. WCIR-AM was a former

Christian Contemporary Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith an ...

radio station, hence the Christianity In Radio call letter meaning. The station is owned by Southern Communications. The radio station was a religious format until 1976, when it was changed to top 40 and known as ''The New 103 CIR''. When the station flipped formats, announcers were Shane "Southern" Randall in mornings, Danny Robins in middays, Robert "Bob" Cannon in afternoons, Andy "Jack Daniels" Ridenour in nights and Jacque Bailey doing overnights. The station reached #1 status for quite a few years with this format.

External links

103 CIR Online
* CIR-FM Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1971 1971 establishments in West Virginia Mass media in Beckley, West Virginia {{WestVirginia-radio-station-stub