WBRW

Infobox Radio station
name = WBRW


city = Blacksburg, Virginia
area = New River Valley
branding = "105.3 The Bear"
slogan = "The New River Valley's Rock Station"
airdate = 1964
frequency = 105.3 MHz
format = Active Rock
power = 12,000 Watts
erp =
haat = 479 Meters
class = C3
facility_id = 37° 11' 12" N 80° 28' 54" W
coordinates = coord|37|11|12.0|N|80|28|54.0|W|type:landmark
callsign_meaning = W BeaR W
former_callsigns =
owner = Cumulus Media
licensee = Cumulus Licensing, LLC
sister_stations = WFNR, WFNR-FM, WPSK-FM, WRAD, WWBU
webcast =
website = [http://www.1053thebear.com/ WBRW Online]
affiliations = Virginia Tech Radio Network

WBRW is an Active Rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Blacksburg, Virginia, serving the New River Valley. WBRW is owned and operated by Cumulus Media.

History

WBRW was formerly Rock 105 WVVV on frequency 104.9 FM. In the mid 1990s, WVVV changed call letters to WVMJ, and adopted a Hot AC music format. In 1997, WVMJ switched frequencies with a Roanoke radio station on 105.3 FM in a move that improved the signal coverage for both stations. In March 1998, owners Travis Broadcasting changed the format to oldies, and enjoyed instant ratings success. But under the new ownership of New River Valley Radio Partners, WVMJ switched to a classic rock format in the spring of 1999 with new call letters, name, and slogan: WBRW The Bear "The Valley's Classic Rock Station". For the entire weekend prior to the format change, the station aired a heartbeat with a periodic sound of a bear growling. This naturally led to numerous calls to the station inquiring about what they were hearing, and rather than telling the callers about the stunt, they recorded the callers and aired their questions in-between the bear growl sound effect. They continued to air callers all weekend but revealed no answers until Monday morning when the new format was officially launched.

In 2002, the station abandoned the 100% classic rock format and began integrating newer and harder rock from the 1990s and 2000s. By 2004, The Bear had completely moved away from classic rock in favor of an active rock format. Also in 2004, The Bear switched to syndicated morning talk show "The Bob & Tom Show" after a 4-year run with the "Lex & Terry Show". In October 2006, WBRW dropped Bob & Tom in favor of "Shut Up and Rock! Mornings" —an all-music morning show with no DJ host.

Iowa native Valerie Hiatt was brought on-board in October 2005 to anchor the 10am-3pm mid-day shift, but left in April 2008 to return to her home state. AJ, formerly of the Bear Nighttime, took over mid-days for Hiatt and every weekday at Noon she features 1980s and early 1990s rock during the Retro Lunch.

Programming

The Bear is programmed by Joe "Big" Johnson, an alum of the University of Florida, receiving both a bachelor's and master's degree from UF. Johnson has been with WBRW since April 2005 and is the host of the afternoon show from 3-7pm. He joined the bear staff after stints in Mississippi and Florida. Johnson broadcasts live every Wednesday night from local Blacksburg comedy club Attitudes Bar & Café.

WBRW is the flagship station for Virginia Tech Sports, including all broadcasts of Hokies Football and Men's Basketball, and weekly Monday night call-in show the Hokie Hotline.

Bear Nighttime

In September 2005, Jason Gore, long-time host and founder of the Bear Nighttime, left to work for 96rock/WKLS in Atlanta, GA, and Greg Travis took over the 7pm-Midnight shift. Though originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Travis, an alum of Blacksburg High School and Radford University, has been on the radio in the New River and Roanoke Valleys since 1996. Most recently, he served as Music and Program Director for WZZI-FM Z101.5 FM Roanoke from 1999-2003 during the station's run with the modern rock format. From 1997-1999, Travis was the Program Director and 7pm-midnight on-air host of current sister station 100.7 WFNR-FM when the station was modern rock WBZV The Buzz. Chris "Toker" Singleton temporarily took over the Bear Nighttime on May 14, 2007 when Travis left for a summer internship in London, England then ultimately to pursue a master's degree from Florida State University.

On Monday, July 15, 2007, Amanda "AJ" Radley took the reins of the Bear Nighttime. AJ is a senior at Radford University majoring in Media Studies. Though born in Connecticut, she has lived in Tampa, Florida and Raleigh, North Carolina, but has lived in Christiansburg, Virginia since 1997 and is a graduate of CHS. Before taking over the Bear Nighttime, AJ was a regular guest during "Road Rage with Big Johnson", was heard on The Bear on weekends, and, showing off her diversity, even did the nighttime shift on sister station 107 Country PSK during the summer of 2007.

The new era of the Bear Nighttime began Monday, April 21, 2008. With the exit of Valerie Hiatt from the 10am-3pm timeslot, AJ moved to mid-days, and weekend DJ DreZ moved into his new weeknight home as host of the Bear Nighttime. DreZ, like his predecessors, is a Media Studies major from Radford University. DreZ has been a regular voice on live remote broadcasts, weekends, and part-time fill-in.

External Links

* [http://www.1053thebear.com/ 105.3 The Bear Online]
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