WRFC (AM)

WRFC (960 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Athens, Georgia. It airs a sports radio format, mostly using programming from ESPN Radio. Owned by Cox Media Group, the television and radio subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, the station is sister to radio stations WNGC, WGAU, WGMG, WPUP, WXKT and the WSB family of stations in nearby Atlanta. WRFC has studios in downtown Athens. The transmitter is located off West Vincent Drive in the North Valley neighborhood, northwest of Athens.[1]

WRFC
CityAthens, Georgia
Broadcast areaAthens metropolitan area
Frequency960 kHz
BrandingSportsRadio 960 The Ref
Programming
FormatSports
AffiliationsESPN Radio
Georgia Bulldogs Radio Network
Atlanta Braves Radio Network
Atlanta Falcons Radio Network
Ownership
OwnerCox Media Group
(Cox Radio, LLC)
WNGC, WGAU, WGMG, WPUP, WXKT, WSB, WSBB-FM, WSB-FM, WSRV-FM, WALR-FM, WTSH-FM, WSB-TV
History
First air date
May 1, 1948
Call sign meaning
Robert Franklin Christian (father of original owner)
Technical information
Facility ID1218
ClassB
Power5,000 watts day
2,500 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
33°59′58.00″N 83°26′0.00″W
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website960theref.com

Programming

WRFC features local sports shows during weekday morning and afternoon drive time, as well as a Georgia Bulldogs hour at noon. The rest of the schedule uses programming from ESPN Radio. The station carries University of Georgia sports, as well as Atlanta Braves baseball games and Atlanta Falcons football games.

History

On May 1, 1948, WRFC first signed on the air.[2] It was originally owned by L. H. Christian, with the call sign chosen for his father, Robert Franklin Christian. The station began as a 1,000-watt daytimer, required to go off the air at night. The studios were at 279​1⁄2 North Lumpkin Street, in Athens.

WRFC later operated for many years at 5,000 watts non-directional daytime and 500 watts directional nighttime using a three tower array northeast of Athens, with studios in an impressive mansion in downtown Athens. It featured a full service middle of the road format of popular music, news and sports.

On February 20, 1971, NORAD broadcast a normal required weekly test of the Emergency Broadcast System. However, AT&T reported that the U.S. Air Force used the wrong tape by accident, initiating an Emergency Action Notification, normally issued by the president. It prompted all north Georgia radio stations by order of the FCC to operate under emergency procedures and feed the broadcast from primary station 750 WSB in Atlanta through their transmitters. Everett Langford was at the microphone at WRFC and had no idea what had happened. He listened to WSB but heard no emergency announcements. He was attempting to call the owner, L.H. Christian, when he heard the corrected message from the Air Force. Listeners could hear in his voice that he was very relieved it was only a mistake.

In January 2008, WRFC was sold (along with sister stations WGMG, WPUP, WNGC, and WGAU) to Cox Radio in Atlanta. Southern Broadcasting of Athens and associated owners continue as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox.[3]

Former on-air staff
  • John Holliman (news, later with CNN) (deceased)
  • Bill Hartman (sports and news)
  • Johnny Jay (real name: Howard Toole)
  • Larry Melear (1965–75) (was also chief engineer 1965–70 and 1971–75) (deceased)
  • Jim Byard (1968 -1970)
  • Tom Collins (1968 - 1971)
  • Earl Pledger (1969–71)
  • Everett Langford (1967–71) (was also chief engineer 1970–71)
  • Ed Thilenius (sports)
  • A.O. "Red" Healan
  • Kate Murphy (Kathleen Emerson-Lambert)
  • Jim Koger
  • Morris "Night Owl" Knight
  • Larry Johnson
  • Charles Pinckney
  • Craig Williams
  • Jim Powell

References
  1. Radio-Locator.com/WRFC
  2. Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 116
  3. "Deals," Broadcasting & Cable, January 28, 2008.
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