WOPI (1490

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) is a

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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

Bristol, Tennessee Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 27,147 at the 2020 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundary be ...

, United States. WOPI is owned and operated by Glenwood Communications Corporation though subsidiary Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation.

History

WOPI signed on June 15, 1929 at State and 22nd Streets in Bristol, Tennessee, as the first radio station in the Tri-Cities. W.A. Wilson, former chief

telegraph Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages where the sender uses symbolic codes, known to the recipient, rather than a physical exchange of an object bearing the message. Thus flag semaphore is a method of telegraphy, whereas ...

operator for

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's Bristol office, came up with the plan for a radio station when he spent several years selling and installing radios. His son James C. Wilson worked at WOPI and later bought the Tri-Cities' second-oldest radio station, Johnson City-based WJHL, and changed the calls to WJCW. An early show on the station was "WOPI Jamboree", which featured live

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

. In the 1940s, WOPI and WKPT formed a network called "the Sister City Network" for broadcasting local information. WOPI-FM signed on

Christmas Day Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A liturgical feast central to Christianity, Chri ...

1946 as the area's first FM station. It was sold to the owner of WKYE in the 1960s and is now WXBQ-FM. In 1966, owner Tri-Cities Broadcasting Company successfully requested that the FCC have the station jointly licensed to Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia. Wilson wanted to emphasize that the two Bristols were essentially a single community. ( Guide to reading History Cards) In 1990, WOPI was

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and Joe Morrell bought the station. Morrell wanted to increase the amount of country music on the station, bringing it back to its roots. In 1991, WOPI joined the WKPT network. Glenwood Broadcasting, owner of WKPT, bought the station in 1996. For most of the time since 1991, WOPI has been a simulcast of WKPT, though it breaks off from the simulcast to air Tennessee High sports.

Translator

In addition to the main station, WOPI is relayed by an FM translator to widen its broadcast area.

References

External links

ESPN Tri-Cities Online
* * OPI OPI Sports radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1929 1929 establishments in Tennessee 1929 establishments in Virginia ESPN Radio stations {{Tennessee-radio-station-stub