This station signed on the air in 1984. Prior to its sign-on, it had been assigned the call letters WIKV by the FCC. Since these calls were deemed by constructing supervisor Dave Murray (husband of Martha Murray, the original licensee) to be too close to the calls of a prominent FM in the market, WIKQ, the calls were changed, to WPRQ. All this transpired before the station ever officially hit the air.
The original power was 5,000 watts. This was increased later to 10,000 watts. The signal, which shares the clear channel of 870 kHz with Class-A 50,000-watt WWL in New Orleans, was licensed as daytime-only, which it remains today.
The original format was contemporary Christian hit music. Other formats have followed, including news/talk and religious talk. In the late 1980s/early 1990s, the station was dark (silent) for a time, but was sold and returned to the air. Its current owner, Kenneth Clyde Hill, owns other stations as well.
The transmitter was originally a single tower near Warrior's Path State Park in Colonial Heights, Tennessee, which is south of Kingsport, Tennessee. It remains there today.
The original studio was in a residence, in Colonial Heights, Tennessee, which was owned by Dave and Martha Murray.
In November 2017, WPWT rebranded as "96.3 The Possum" (simulcasting on FM translators W242CQ 96.3 Colonial Heights and W264BY 100.7 Kingsport)
WPWT is a classic country music formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Colonial Heights, Tennessee, serving the Tri-Cities, VA/TN area. WPWT is owned and operated by Kenneth Clyde Hill.
WPWT
Colonial Heights, Tennessee
Broadcast area Tri-Cities, VA/TN
Frequency
870 kHz
Branding
96.3 The Possum
Slogan
Eat More Possum Tri-Cities' Home For Timeless Country.
Programming Format
Classic Country
Ownership
Kenneth Clyde Hill
Sister stations
WABN, WHCB, WHGG
History
First air date
1984
Technical information
Facility ID
42652
Class D
Power
10,000 watts daytime only
Translator(s)
96.3 MHz - (W242CQ, Colonial Heights)
100.7 MHz - (W264BY, Kingsport)
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