WJFP

WJFP
Broadcast areaPhiladelphia metropolitan area
Frequency740 kHz
BrandingLiberty Radio
Programming
FormatConservative talk
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
  • John Fredericks
  • (Disruptor Radio, LLC)
History
First air date
April 4, 1948 (1948-04-04)
Former call signs
WVCH (1947–2022)
Call sign meaning
John Fredericks (owner) in Philadelphia
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID74166
ClassD
Power
  • 1,000 watts (day)
  • 6 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
39°52′38.00″N 75°24′24.00″W / 39.8772222°N 75.4066667°W / 39.8772222; -75.4066667
Translator103.3 W277DL (Chester)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewjfpradio.com

WJFP (740 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Chester, Pennsylvania, United States, and serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area with a conservative talk format. It is owned by John Fredericks, with the license held by Disruptor Radio, LLC. Fredericks also owns three stations in Virginia.[2]

The transmitter is off Dutton Mill Road in Brookhaven, Pennsylvania. Programming is also heard on FM translator W277DL (103.3 FM) in Chester.

History

On April 4, 1948, the station first signed on the air.[3] The call sign from its founding until early 2022 was WVCH, standing for the "Voice of Chester". It was originally a 250-watt daytimer. It later boosted its power to 1,000 watts and got nighttime authorization at low power.

For most of its history, WVCH carried a Christian talk and teaching format branded as simply "WVCH, The Christian Station." One of the programs carried on WVCH in the 1950s was George A. Palmer's popular Morning Cheer weekday broadcast.[4]

On November 15, 2021, RadioInsight.com reported that WVCH and translator W277DL would be sold to John Fredricks of the MAGA Radio Network through Disruptor Media, LLC, for $500,000. On February 16, 2022, the station flipped to a conservative talk format as "Liberty Radio".[5][6] The sale was consummated on March 1, 2022, with the station's call sign changing to WJFP the following day.

Programming

Weekdays begin with a talk show hosted by the owner, John Fredericks, and syndicated to other stations. The remainder of the schedule includes nationally syndicated talk hosts including Bill O'Reilly, John Catsimatidis, Rita Cosby, Dominic Carter and Red Eye Radio.[7]

During the football season, WJFP carries Pittsburgh Steelers games.

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WJFP". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ JohnFredericksRadio.com/about
  3. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 255, Broadcasting & Cable
  4. ^ "Statement Issued by 'Cheer' Head". Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. July 1, 1959. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Venta, Vance. "John Fredericks To Expand Conservative Network To Suburban Philadelphia". radioinsight.com. RadioInsight. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  6. ^ Liberty Radio Debuts in Philadelphia
  7. ^ WJFPradio.com
  • Facility details for Facility ID 74166 (WJFP) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
  • WJFP in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
  • Facility details for Facility ID 200328 (W277DL) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
  •  W277DL at FCCdata.org